Thanatos

## In-game Description

*"Thanatos has a powerful rocket launcher with a very long range. It can annihilate dozens of infected people with a single shot. When the enemies are too close, Thanatos will fight face to face."*

## General Information

The **Thanatos** is one of four specialized units requiring Oil that can only be recruited from an Engineering Center. The other three being the Lucifer, the Titan and the Mutant. However, in order to recruit this unit you will first need to purchase the requisite research at a Foundry for 2000 gold.

Like all other units recruited at the Engineering Center it cannot be garrisoned in a tower for protection and ranged bonuses but unlike the Lucifer it can fire freely over walls.

The Thanatos is armed with a rocket launcher which serves as its primary ranged attack causing a large amount of damage in a significant area around the point of impact thus making it a very effective mobile anti swarm unit. It is also unique in that it is the only unit in the game to possess a powerful melee attack in the form of spike brass knuckles, although this does not have an area of effect like its ranged one.

Even though the Attack Damage is displayed as 70 it is weirdly uneven; the mentioned damage is only valid for the horizontal,vertical, as well as the second diagonal tiles and their close adjacent tiles from the Impact tile.

The direct impact point though can get up to 93 damage, killing executive Infected in one shot. Everything in the direct diagonal tile to the impact point gets reduced damage, down to 41 damage, so even runner zombies would survive this.

## Strategy

* Thanatos move slowly, take 3 seconds to load their weapon, and produce 500 noise each shot. This makes them awful option for expansion. Use Lucifers or Titans instead, or stick to Soldiers Center units.
* Thanatos have 10 range, high damage and considerable splash radius. This makes them excellent for colony defense, especially against swarms. For optimal usage, rally them near center of colony, and send to announced side when swarm direction is identified. When they arrive, press H so they load their bazookas in advance. Don't let them sit near wall after wave is over, it can take days for Thanatos to get to opposite side of colony.
* Don't let Thanatos in melee range. Their ranged attack is way more powerful, and their survivability is barely above that of Soldier for much higher price.
* Because it takes two splashes to kill a runner, Thanatos works best in pairs.
* Before final wave, spread Thanatos among all entrances, put 6-10 tiles behind outer layer of wall, and make sure there is something to kill Harpies: ideally a couple of Executors, or at least some Wasps or Soldiers set to target strongest enemy. While Thanatos can kill harpies in melee, being in melee disables their powerful ranged attack. If defense line is falling, order them to retreat behind another wall in advance. This can be repeated multiple times.
* Due to low fire rate, Thanatos struggles against Chubbies, Giants and Behemoths and requires support from other units and towers.
* Some mayors offer free Thanatos. Don't hire him immediately; the noise will pull every Special Infected in 32 tiles radius after first shot.

## Quotes

When trained:

* "Thanatos. Ready and cool."

When selected:

* "Cool day to blow up things."
* "Hmmmm. Nice cigar."
* "I'm the freakin' boss."
* "I smashed it last night."
* "Let me crush some skulls."
* "Let's put this awesome body to use."
* "Oh. Not sleepin', just restin' ma eyes."
* "Ready to burst some infected."
* "Shhhhhh. I'm hungover."
* "Stap starin' at ma muscles."
* "Whaa?"
* "Whaddaya want? An autograph?"

When moving:

* "Cool."
* "Gimme two seconds."
* "Gotcha."
* "Great."
* "I'm awesome and you know it."
* "Just lemme finish ma cigar."
* "Nice idea."
* "Not to be hurried."
* "Oh yeah."
* "Okay."
* "Roger that!"
* "Sounds good."
* "Take it easeh."
* "That's all?"
* "Where's the parteh?"
* "Yeah?"
* "Yes?"

When attacking:

* "Fahrin' the hole!"
* "I'm lovin' it!"
* "In how many pieces?!"
* "Let's blow them up!"
* "*Party* time!"
* "*So* funneh!"
* "Say goodbye to papa!"

When deserting:

* *"You know how expensive my cigars are?!"*
* *"Bye-bye, brother!"*

## Trivia

Thanatos is personification of death in Greek mythology.