Air Strike

**Air Strikes** are a gameplay mechanic added in the v0.7.0 "*Incursion recursion*" update and appears in limited-time Events, first appearing in 50v50.

Air Strikes are composed of several fast-moving fighter jets that bomb the area in straight lines beneath them. A yellow ping with a picture of a bomb is shown on the Minimap before the bombing begins.

## Technical

* After the bombs strike, large explosion marks can be seen spread out in the area. Each bomb leaves a single grey mark.
	+ Air Strike bombs don't drop over indestructible structures except Silos, while destructible buildings will have bombs dropped over them and will most likely destroyed by the bombs.
* When a player is killed by an Air Strike, the Kill Counter reports *"The air strike killed <playerName>"*. This is the same for players that are Knocked Out, with the only difference being that the kill feed reports "knocked out" instead of "killed".
	+ Similarly, if an Air Strike's bombs destroy a Barrel which kills a player, it will say *"The air strike killed <playerName> out with a barrel"*.

### Naturally Occuring

* Naturally occuring Air Strikes can spawn at random times and on areas with the highest player density.
* A large yellow circle with the Air Strike ping in its center will be shown on the minimap, while only the Air Strike ping will be shown on the ground.
* Summons a number of fighter jets that can range from 2 to 5.
* Each fighter jet drops a single strip of 20 yellow Iron Bombs in a straight line.
* All bombing runs must both start and end within the yellow circle, however shrapnel can go outside the circle.
* The Iron Bombs will damage all players. No players are given credit for these kills.

### Summoned by Strobe

* An Air Stroke ping will show with no circle.
* Summons fighter jets which always come in groups of 3, or groups of 5 with the Broken Arrow perk equipped.
* Like naturally occuring ones, each fighter jet drops a single strip of 20 yellow Iron Bombs in a straight line.
* The jets start bombing in the direction that the Strobe was thrown after they pass the map ping.
* Air Strikes summoned by a Strobe will damage all players except the teammates of the player who threw it.
* All Air Strike summoned by a Strobe kills go to the player who threw it.

## Strategies

* If there is a double Air Strike, don't rush in to revive people immediately.
* Air Strikes in 50v50 at the River Town usually leave big piles of loot, so it is good for an upgrade in Weapons, Equipment, or Ammunition.
* Try to find the Flak Jacket perk, which greatly reduces the damage of explosions. This can be used to continue fighting when an air strike occurs or to use strobes more aggressively.
* In the Desert Map, use an air strike to destroy the Aged Faction Statues and get some good loot. You can also use them to destroy Hardstone Boulders and Blocks to get good loot.
* Air Strikes are often used to force people to not chase you and make them go the other way.
* Hide from air strikes in indestructible buildings. Buildings that have very small openings are best. Even a Container is able to shield you from the Air Strike bomb.
	+ Since the shrapnels can still hit you via windows, try to hide in a place that you will not be hit by the shrapnels.
	+ If there are no buildings nearby, stay in an open area and try to dodge the bombs.

## Sounds

* Ping
* Fighters
* Explosion

## Trivia

* Air Strike bombs have a much larger range than Barrels and Frag Grenades, so hiding in containers or in the entrance to a bunker may not completely shield you from the damage.
* Air Strike bombs have a piercing stat that allows them to destroy Ammo Crates, Hardstone Boulders and Blocks, Aged Faction Statues, and Bridge Columns.
* The number of jets and bombs can be increased by the Broken Arrow Perk.
* Game-spawned Air Strikes have a circle on where the bombs might land, unlike player-spawned ones.
* According to Justin, the Air Strike fighters are Mitsubishi F-1s, a Japanese supersonic fighter jet.
* If an Air Strike is in progress as the game ends, planes that have already spawned will still fly across the strike zone, but no bombs will be delivered.
* This is the second game mechanic to use planes, the first being Air Drops (and their 50v50 variant).