Flamethrowers can torch entrenched enemy infantry and structures.
Polanian Flamethrowers are specialized infantry units fielded by the Polania Republic. They are devastating against unarmored units, even ones hiding in buildings or behind walls.
The flamethrowers of all factions are functionally identical.
General Description[]
Fire has always been a double-edged sword, and these pyromaniacs level its destructive edge to punish enemies taking cover. They wear the same uniforms as Polanian riflemen with a few additions to better protect them from the back edge of their weapons; donning a thick flame-retardant apron with a left sleeve, heavy gloves, and a gas mask to prevent inhalation of smoke and fuel fumes. Their flamethrower is built to be very slim and minimalistic, while the back-mounted fuel tank is quite large.
Flamethrower units are specialist anti-infantry units, with a knack for flushing out entrenched opponents. Flamethrower attacks ignore cover and building protection, making them invaluable at razing base defenses like bunkers or removing stubborn infantry holing up in a house.
However, they are slower and have a short range compared to most other infantry. As such, Flamethrowers are a bit niche; they tend to go down quickly in a one-on-one fight and are devastated by anti-infantry mechs like the Sd. KS 49 "Grimbart." But if backed up by a well rounded army, flamethrowers will melt enemy defenses and the infantry within.
In the latest version, flamethrower infantries can no longer be trained from Polanian or Saxonian barracks. Only Rusviet can train flamethrower infantry, but players can still transform any infantry by salvaging equipment from a killed flamethrower infantry or loot from a weapon crate.
Pros[]
- Devastating against structures
- Flamethrower ignores cover/building garrison protection
- Fires in a cone of flame that damages groups of infantry
Cons[]
- Cannot be trained by Polania, can only be equipped by weapon crates or field kits
- Utterly useless against even light armored units like exo-suits and mechs
- Does damage over time and the cone locks in place: quick units can move out of the way or out of range to avoid damage if they act fast
- Short range and relatively long cooldown
- Slower than standard infantry
- Vulnerable to machine guns and anti-infantry units
Quotes[]
Idle:
- "Build a man a fire, he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire though..."
- "A flamethrower is like a woman. She'll keep you warm but'll burn your ass if mistreated."
Selected:
- "Fire squad here!"
- "Need a light?"
- "Feel the burn."
- "Yeah?"
- "Still here."
Selected multiple time (Annoyed):
- "No new orders then huh?"
- "Tall grass is always the same, like newborn babes." (Probably incorrect)
- "Maybe we oughta light a fire under their asses!"
Moving:
- "Blazing a trail!"
- "Moving out!"
- "One step at a time!"
- "Hoofing it!"
- "As quick as we can!"
Use cover:
- "We can use the cover!"
- "Don't make it easy for them!"
- "Can't be too careful."
Attacking:
- "Bring the heat!"
- "Burn 'em out!"
- "Light them up!"
- "They're toast!"
- "Fired up!"
Melee Attack:
- "Beat 'em down!"
- "Crush The buggers!"
- "Get In close!"
Ordered to Halt:
- "Hold up!"
- "Got better plans?"
Ordered to Open Create:
- "It's as good as done!"
- "Might as well!"
- "Sure thing!"
Retreating:
- "Breaking contact!"
- "We can't take the heat"
Returning to base after retreating:
- "Back to replenish and refuel."
- "Let's rekindle the flame!"
Trivia[]
- These units seem to wear a SzM-41M gas mask, which is a Polish-licensed version of the Russian ShM-41M. Instead of a breathing hose leading to a heavy and bulky EO4 filter, however, it has a screw-on/built-in tubular filter.
- Their flamethrowers resemble handheld industrial sprayers used to apply pesticides on plants, so with Polania's "scavenged equipment" motif they are likely repurposed agricultural devices.
- Thus, out of all real-life flamethrowers, they most closely resemble the Polish K-pattern flamethrower, produced in occupied Poland during World War II for use by the resistance.
- Polanian flamethrower units seem to enjoy using fire puns.
Gallery[]