Commander

At the start of a match, you are given the option to select a Commander Chassis.

Your desired play style will determine which of the Commanders would suit you best. Their main differences are summarized in the following table:

Commander	HP	Speed	Can Jump	Build Power	Modules
Strike	High	Fast	No	Normal	Versatile
Guardian	Excellent	Medium	No	Normal	Powerful
Recon	Low	Fast	Yes	Lower	Light
Engineer	Medium	Slow	No	Improved	Support
Campaign	High	Medium	Module	Normal	All

Modules and weapons

Your Commander can be configured with a variety of Modules to better suit your play style. A Commander can be made more powerful in the middle of a round by using the 'Morph' command to gain levels. Each time you morph to a higher Commander Level, you spend metal to attach new modules.

Modules can have different costs. Morphs to a new Level have a base cost and additional cost for each module selected.

Commanders start with a Beam Laser and a radar module attached.

At Level 2, it is possible to replace your starting Weapon.

At Level 4, a second weapon (or a Special Weapon) can be added. Some weapons at this level require the use of both hands.

Each added level past level 2 gives the Commander a health boost. Commanders can morph an unlimited number of times until all possible modules are attached. Engineer Commanders will also gain additional build power with each level.

Favorite loadouts can be created and saved (up to Commander Level 6) for online play.

Experience Points (XP)

Campaign

• Each mission gives fixed XP for having completed them
• Each bonus objective gives XP
• If you've completed all the bonus objectives then you've got all the XP for a mission

General scaling per level

Commanders start at level 1. The number of modules and weapons increases with level. Equipping weapons and modules costs additional Metal, and upgrade time scales proportionally with Metal cost.

Commander level	1	2	3	4	5	6	+
Base cost	-	50	100	150	200	+50
Morph Build Power (/second)	-	5	7.5	10	12.5	15
Total Weapon slots	0	1	1	2	2	+0
Total Module slots	0	1	3	5	8	+3

Module types

Modules have cyan names in the unlock list. Their icon color depends on their nature.

Stackable

These modules are able to be stacked up to 5 times each. Stacking them repeatedly will create a powerful Commander, even though their bonuses as quite minor. These are cyan.

This type of module is the one that should be used the most, and because of their versatility, they are useful if you intend on getting Commanders which do many things, or a single buff Commander that is fast, invisible and deals lots of damage. Some of these modules will subtract speed or HP and should be used with caution, as too many will leave the Commander a sitting duck.

Name	Description	Cost	Strike	Guardian	Recon	Engineer	Campaign
Advanced Targeting System	+7.5% range for all weapons. -1 speed.	200	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Damage Booster	+15% damage for all weapons. -1 speed.	150	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
High Density Plating	+1700 HP, -2 speed. Requires Ablative Armor Plates. More effective on Guardian Commander.	400	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Ablative Armor Plates	+600 HP. More effective on Guardian Commander.	150	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Companion Drone	+1 Weak attack drone	200	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Battle Drone	+1 Drone with slowing laser, requires Companion Drone.	350	✘	✔	✘	✔	✔
CarRepairer's Nanolathe	+5 Buildpower. More effective on Engineer Commander.	200	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
High Power Servos	+3 speed, -1s reload for jumpjets	200	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Autorepair System	+10 HP/sec, -100 HP. More effective on Strike Commander.	150	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

Support

Support modules are not stackable. They can provide large expensive bonuses such as a shield, cloaking, jamming or a cloaking field. These are cyan as well.

Name	Description	Cost	Req. level	Strike	Guardian	Recon	Engineer	Campaign
Area Shield Conversion	Upgrades Personal shield. Larger shield (same as Aspis) Prevents Commander from cloaking	250	3	✘	✔	✘	✔	✔
Cloaking Field	Upgrades Radar jammer. Cloaks friendly units within 350 elmo similar to Iris 15 E/s upkeep	600	3	✔	✘	✘	✔	✔
Field Radar Module	Basic radar with 1800 elmo range.	75	1	✔ (free)	✔ (free)	✔ (free)	✔ (free)	✔
Lazarus Device	Commander can resurrect wrecks same as Athena	400	3	✘	✘	✘	✔	✔
Personal Cloak	Cloaks the Commander. 5 E/s upkeep idle, 10 E/s moving. Does not work with shields. Reduces movement speed by 12%.	400	3	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Personal Shield	Small shield with 1250 HP. No upkeep, charges at 16 HP/sec. Prevents Commander from cloaking	300	3	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Radar Jammer	500 elmo range	200	3	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Jumpjets	400 elmo range, 20 sec cooldown	400	1	✘	✘	✔ (free)	✘	✔

Weapon Boosters

These modules are expensive but give a large bonus to a few specific weapons but can only be applied once. They require a level 3 Commander. They are a space-effective way to spend a module slot, but you need to have a weapon that they affect. They are purple.

Name	Description	Cost	Weapon	Strike	Guardian	Recon	Engineer	Campaign
Disruptor Ammo	Reduced direct damage by 25%. Add slow damage equal to 2× damage.	300	Shotgun Machine gun Light/Heavy particle beam	✔	✘	✔	✔	✔
Flux Amplifier	Improves stun duration by 2 seconds and EMP damage by 25%.	300	Lightning rifle Multi stunner	✔	✘	✔	✔	✔
Napalm Warhead	Reduced direct damage by 25%. Increased AoE by at least 25%. Explosion sets targets on fire.	350	Riot cannon Rocket launcher	✘	✔	✘	✘	✔

Weapon types

There are two types of weapon, special and normal. Both weapon types are affected by the stackable range and damage modules. Weapon names are in red.

Normal

These are auto-targeting normal weapons that behave the same was as any other unit. They can be affected by weapon boosters and weapon converters given that it is the right weapon. Selecting a weapon at Level 2 has no additional cost. Adding a secondary weapon at Level 4 adds 350 to the upgrade cost. Normal weapons are all affected by stackable modules. They are red.

Name	Range	Reload time	Damage	DPS	Strike	Guardian	Recon	Engineer	Campaign	Notes
Beam Laser	330			144	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	Default weapon. Constant beam
Flamethrower	270	0.17	12.5	75	✘	✔	✔	✘	✔	Sets units on fire for 15s (15 DPS) Pierces units and terrain Does more damage against larger units
Heatray	300	0.1	0–45	0–450	✘	✔	✘	✘	✔	Damage falls off linearly with range
Heavy Particle Beam	390	3.1	800	258	✘	✘	✘	✔	✔*	Takes the level 4 special weapon slot Replaces all other weapons
Light Particle Beam	300	0.33	64	192	✔	✘	✔	✔	✔
Lightning Rifle	300	1.83	220+550	120+300	✔	✘	✔	✔	✔	EMP duration: 1s
Machine Gun	285	0.17	30	180	✔	✔	✔	✘	✔	AoE (96)
Missile Launcher	415	1	80	80	✔	✘	✘	✔	✔	Fast, homing projectile
Riot Cannon	285	1.8	220	122	✘	✔	✘	✘	✔	AoE (144)
Rocket Launcher	430	3	360	120	✘	✔	✘	✘	✔	AoE (90), Slow and unguided
Shock Rifle	600	12	1512	125	✘	✘	✘	✔	✔*	Takes the level 4 special weapon slot Replaces all other weapons
Shotgun	285	1.8	32×12 (384)	213	✔	✘	✔	✔	✔

^* Not available in the campaign.

Special

Special weapons have a long reload time and must be manually aimed with the D key. Most of them are affected only by stackable modules. They are orange and can be put only in the level 4 weapon slot. Upgrade Cost: 400

Name	Range	Reload time	Damage	DPS	Strike	Guardian	Recon	Engineer	Campaign	Special Notes
Cluster Bomb	360	30	300×9 (2700)	90	✘	✔	✔	✘	✔	Bomblets spread (like a shotgun)
Concussion Shell	450	25	850	34	✘	✘	✔	✘	✔	Has Impulse (Tosses some units)
Disintegrator	200	30	2000	46.67	✔	✔	✘	✘	✔	Directed burst of energy Damage varies on unit size
Disruptor Bomb	450	25	210+2100	8.4+84	✔	✘	✔	✔	✔	Slow effect, Has large AoE (256)
Hellfire Grenade	450	25	200	8	✘	✔	✔	✘	✔	Sets an area on fire (45s, 40dps + 3s burning)
Multi-Stunner	360	25	550/800 × 16 (8800/12800)	352/512	✔	✘	✔	✔	✔	Affected by flux amplifier. Max EMP time: 8s (upgraded: 10s)
S.L.A.M.	700	30	1512	50.4	✘	✔	✘	✘	✔	Tactical Missile with high vertical arc

Key: EMP Damage, Slow Damage

Commander Chassis

There are different types of Commander chassis to choose for a battle.

You can configure custom Commanders based on these chassis on your user page. You must be logged in to the Zero-K website and go to My Commanders page. These custom Commanders may be selected at the beginning of the game in multiplayer matches. You will still need to upgrade them as usual, but the upgrade options will be pre-filled in to your preferences.

Common attributes

Metal Production	4 per sec	Energy Production	6 per sec
Beam Range	330	HP Regen	5 per sec
Sight Distance	500	Sonar Distance	500
Radar Distance	1800	Metal/Energy Storage	500
Build Power	10	Build Power (Recon/Engineer)	8/12+
Build Range	144	Build Range (Engineer)	220+

Metal and energy production come from a unique Vanguard Economy Pack module. Any resurrected Commanders will have lost this module and produce no resources. Engineer Commanders gain additional build power and range with levels.

Chassis list

Attributes on level 1 and level 2 are equal with the exception of Engineer and Recon Commander's build power. Morphing to level 2 provides no bonus other than the weapon and module slot.

Strike Commander

• All-rounder
• Good health and highest speed (43.5)
• Can use the most weapon types
• In-combat regeneration bonus on top of the base 5 HP per second
• Carries a personal (175 elmo) radar jammer

Level	1	2	3	4	5	6
HP	4200	4200	4600	5200	5800	6400
Bonus regen.	5	8	12	16	20	25

Guardian Commander

• Best HP
• Medium speed (40)
• Gains more HP from increased levels than other chassis do
• Able to use several exotic weapons
• Gains free Companion (light) Drones with levels

Level	1	2	3	4	5	6
HP	4400	4400	5000	5700	6600	7600
Light Drones	1	1	2	2	2	3

Recon Commander

• Lowest HP
• Highest Speed (43.5)
• Can Jump
• Uses light weapons
• Has lowest buildpower (8 instead of 10)

Level	1	2	3	4	5	6
HP	3250	3250	3400	3600	3800	4000

Engineer Commander

• Lowest speed (36)
• Low HP
• Gains buildpower and small amount of build range with levels
• Increased build range (220 + 12 per level, up to 280, compared to 144 for others)
• Fewer direct-damage weapons

Level	1	2	3	4	5	6
HP	3800	3800	4000	4300	4600	5000
Build power	12	14	16	18	21	24

Campaign Commander

The campaign Commander is normally exclusive to the campaign. It can be used in multiplayer and skirmishes with the modoption "Allow campaign commander chassis".

• All-rounder
• Good health and Medium speed (40)
• Can use any weapon or module

Level	1	2	3	4	5	6
HP	4200	4200	4600	5200	5800	6400

Exact effects of attribute modifiers

Attribute modifiers are applied in this order:

• Commander Chassis absolute statistics
• Percentage modifiers both from modules and chassis
• Absolute modifiers

Percentage modifiers from Commanders and stackable modules are additive, not cumulative. Five +10% damage modules multiply a Commander's damage by 1.5 rather than by 1.1^⁵ = 1.61051.

Percentage modifiers from weapon boosters and converters are cumulative and applied before other percentage modifiers. Think of them as changing the intrinsic stats of the weapon rather than adding a bonus.