Search & Destroy

The “Search & Destroy” behavior, found under the Orders Menu, instructs the currently-selected units to move around the map automatically. They search unexplored or “fogged” areas for enemy troops and they open fire on everything that they find. When a unit under this behavior comes across the enemy, he will not move on until either he or the enemy is dead.

“Search & Destroy” can be used to send your troops out to destroy everything in their path without having to manually direct them. This gives you more freedom to focus on building your base or directing a different attack. Units under this behavior move somewhat randomly, however, and therefore will not stick together as a group. This leaves them more vulnerable than they would be if they’d banded together. So if you have a specific target in mind, a directed attack would be more effective.

Units under this behavior have no real thought of self-preservation. They will happily throw themselves against overwhelming odds, Neutron Accelerators, and other battles that they can’t possibly win. Typically, when you issue a “Search & Destroy” order to some units, it will be the last order you give them.

There is a way to increase a unit’s odds for survival a bit, though. If you have a Field Hospital or Repair Station built and set a unit’s Damage Tolerance to LOW or MED before you send him out, he will return to the hospital/repair station to be patched up when his health bar gets low. Units will not return while they are in the middle of combat; however, if they manage to survive a battle and end up low on health, they will retreat for repairs before searching out new targets. Once healed back up, they will return to their search and destruction orders without further input needed from you.

Note that the “Search & Destroy” behavior does not work for a Sniper that is morphed; the Sniper will not shoot at anything, but will behave as if she is under the “Scout” behavior instead.