the beam can have a duration of about 1 second or so but if the Rhodes pilot is smart and uses the shield it can take moderate damage (instead of the one shot kill without its shields up) this encourages people to have one finger ready to block incoming fire because it can mean the difference between them surviving with some health left or having their wunderwaffe destroyed in an instant
the reason for the beams duration is because if the rhodes driver has carelessly used his energy using the long range beam cannons or jets his shields will “Flicker” when he spams sheilds and I dont want a lucky flicker to block such an important and game saving shot
all this combined means the rhodes can still fight back because the Deus Ex Machina should have a long charge up time of about 6-7 seconds and slows you down by 50% when holding in hand and when charging it you cannot move at all, only aim
this makes it so its an ambush weapon. hide in cover and fire when the rhodes cannot see you. otherwise youre liable to be toast before you fire
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