One Torpedo Spread attack can hit several Xeno ships.

[elwoodps]

Thanks to Brutus Aurelius,¹ I recently learned that the Torpedo Spread ² attack trainings can hit up to 5 Xeno ships with one shot; the one targeted, plus up to 4 additional Xeno ships in the squares adjoining the target on the North, South, East and West sides. In the right situations this capability is extremely powerful. Here are some screenshots to illustrate the point:

First, one of my Tenders attacks a Xeno Mass Driver using Cadar's Critical Strike ³ training, destroying it with one shot. 


Next, a do-over of the same attack, but this time using Torpedo Spread 3: The single shot destroys the Mass Driver ship targeted, plus the one in the square North of the target, and severely damages the one in the square South of the target.


Here's another attack using Torpedo Spread 3: One shot destroys both the Xeno Mass Driver ship targeted, and the Xeno Missile ship in the square East of it. Also note that even though there were friendly ships in the squares North, West, and South of the Target, only the Xeno ships were hit.


Up until now I've been exclusively equipping all of my Torpedo ships with Cadar's awesome Critical Strike training as soon as it becomes available. But in light of this new knowledge, going forward I'll be equipping my mid-to-late game Torp Ships with both Critical Strike and the best Torpedo Spread training available: Critical Strike for attacking single Xenos and Torpedo Spread for the occasions when they line-up just right, so I can get 2 or more with one shot.

¹ See targeting multiple ships with repair ships refuel ships torp

² Torpedo Spread 1, 2 & 3, like the Multi Refuel and Multi Repair Fighter trainings, are all Area of Effect (AoE) actions.  The Area of Effect for all of these actions is a 5 square cross, centered on the ship targeted. In the case of Torpedo Spreads, each Xeno ship within the AoE "gets a separate defense and Damage roll" (per Brutus Aurelius, here).  For more information on the Multi Refuel and Multi Repair Fighter trainings, see <4 points in Repair Skill will limit Multi Refuel capability.

³ I've long favored Cadar's Critical Strike training, due to its low Water Fuel use, and incredible +15% Critical bonus.