Locust armor

Locust armor is a set of armor added by Royalty DLC that allows its user to make rapid rocket powered jumps to a tile within range and in line of sight while also protecting from attacks. It is a variant of recon armor and forms a full set with the recon helmet 
== Acquisition == 
Alternatively, the armor can be received as a quest reward or purchased from traders.
== Summary ==
While less protective than recon armor, locust armor contains an integrated burst rocket that, similar to the jump pack, allows the user to make up to 5 jumps before needing to be refueled. Refueling costs chemfuel per charge and is performed by select the armor's wearer and right-clicking a pile of chemfuel. The user can jump anywhere within jump range and line of sight, so they can jump over stone chunks but not walls. There is a short warm-up before jumping. A pawn cannot be injured mid-jump, even by explosions right under them, but can still get hit during a short warm-up before jumping.
Pawns will never automatically use the rocket - instead it must be manually activated by the player by use of the "Jump" gizmo, similar to using utility items. This gizmo will only appear when the pawn is drafted. NPCs will never use the jump capability at all. 
Downed allies can be carried during a jump. 
Unlike the jump pack it does not occupy the utility slot, and so can be worn with all other utility items such as the shield belt.
It is currently unknown if lower quality packs are actually faster than other methods of increase movement rates, such as archotech legs, however the i-frames offered by jumping offer an advantage to offset any speed delays.
The distance the user can jump is dependent on the quality of the armor. Note that it has the same range as a jump pack of the same quality.
Quality 	Awful	Poor	Normal	Good	Excellent	Masterwork	Legendary
Jump range	 	 	 	 	 	 	
== Analysis ==
The locust armor is slightly less protective than base recon armor ( base Sharp & Blunt protection), which makes it noticeably worse against any sort of flak vest and duster combination. In exchange, jumping can be a potent combat tool.
Jumps can help pawns disengage from combat, rescue fellow colonists, engage in melee with opponents, allow kiting, and dodge explosives. However, the jump pack allows pawns to have the exact same jump mechanic while allowing you to wear any set of armor. A jump pack + recon armor is slightly cheaper ( 10 plasteel) while fulfilling the same purpose.
Using jump packs has one key issue - they occupy the utility slot. This is most important for melee fighters, who often want to wear a shield belt. Shield belts regenerate fairly quickly and prevent all ranged damage to a pawn until the shield is depleted. Therefore, using locust armor + shield belt can be more protective than flak vest + duster + jump pack.
Locust armor can allow use of a bandwidth pack while retaining the ability to jump. It also has a niche synergy with deployable items like the firefoam pop pack and tox pack. For long-range items like the psychic lances or tornado generator, you can usually just wear them with another colonist.
== Gallery ==
Gizmo jump pack full.png|The gizmo for ordering a pawn to jump, shared with the jump pack. Includes remaining fuel supply.
Gizmo jump pack depleted.png|The jump gizmo, shared with the jump pack. Disabled due to insufficient fuel.
Locust armor takeoff.png|A pawn that has just taken off, leaving a fiery trail.
== Version history ==
* 1.2.2719 - Added.
* 1.2.2753 - Icons of spacer armor now display as off-white instead of dark gray. Now require enough chemfuel to provide their initial fuel and one more component.
* 1.3.3287 - Fix: Jumping resets "Fire at will" toggle.
== See also ==
* Jump pack - A utility item that offers a similar capability.
* Recon armor - the base model. Slightly more protective but without the jump pack.
* Prestige recon armor - a variant of recon armor that both pleases nobles and improves psychic ability.
Category:Armor