History Main / AlphaStrike

* The Alpha Strike in ''{{Iji}}'' is usually done with an entire fleet armed with [[Phantom Hammers DisintegratorRay]]. Even an incomplete sweep like in the intro ranks as a [[ApocalypseHow class 4 biosphere-destroying disaster]], and a through one can go up to class 6.

* ''EveOnline'': Fleet commanders that have command of at least one sniping battleship squadron will often tell the pilots of these vessels to move to the optimal range of their guns -- away from the rest of the fleet. The tactic being that any hostile vessel that comes near the fleet gets utterly erased from existence from the powerful first strike capability of the combined long-range heavy cannons. The reload time of said heavy cannons make them a liability in close combat so moving the snipers out gives them another line of defense, being able to see if anyone is coming for them and running for it. The Fleet Commander will usually call "Target name - Alpha this target" The target usually dies instantly.

* The term Alpha Strike is frequently used in ''CityOfHeroes'' to refer to the initial barrage of attacks any given mob is capable of using. This is because, with the exception of gimmick abilities tied to health or a timer, an AI opponent can and will throw ''everything' it is capable of throwing at you at the beginning of the fight. "Taking the Alpha Strike" is a common enough term in the game that one defense set has "difficulty taking Alpha Strikes" as it's only weakness, and an issue and task force were named after the trope.
** Players also can perform alpha strikes. A common tactic is to target the main thing you want dead, and then throw everything you have at in. Post level 50, players often open by firing [[DeathInAllDirections THE WRATH OF ALL OF THE GODS]][[hottip:*:all of them]], [[NotInTheFace IN THE FACE]], before picking off the survivors with their other AreaOfEffect attacks, leaving the toughest enemy to absorb the remaining single target attacks.

Sometimes you just need to pull out all the stops and kill stuff for good. An alpha strike is just the thing to help you accomplish that! An alpha strike refers to a unit attacking a single target with every weapon it has, all at once. When successful, the result is an absolutely devastating bombardment that turns its hapless target into a smoking crater. When ''un''successful, the attacking unit will usually be in for a world of hurt, as overextending itself with an alpha strike usually leaves it vulnerable to CounterAttack, which even worse if the attacker was a GlassCannon.

* ''MechWarrior'', being a SpinOff of ''BattleTech'' (mentioned in the TableTop Games section) makes use of alpha strikes. All weaponry installed on the mech fires, regardless of grouping. Mechs loaded with high heat weapons usually find themselves glowing like the sun, or just outright exploding.

Sometimes you just need to pull out all the stops and kill stuff for good. An alpha strike is just the thing to help you accomplish that! An alpha strike refers to a unit attacking a single target with every weapon it has, all at once. When successful, the result is an absolutely devastating bombardment that turns its hapless target into a smoking crater. When ''un''successfil, the attacking unit will usually be in for a world of hurt, as overextending itself with an alpha strike usually leaves it vulnerable to CounterAttack, which even worse if the attacker was a GlassCannon.

* ''EveOnline'': Fleet commanders that are have command of at least one sniping battleship squadron will often tell the pilots of these vessels to move to the optimal range of their guns -- away from the rest of the fleet. The tactic being that any hostile vessel that comes near the fleet gets utterly erased from existence from the powerful first strike capability of the combined long-range heavy cannons. The reload time of said heavy cannons make them a liability in close combat so moving the snipers out gives them another line of defense, being able to see if anyone is coming for them and running for it. The Fleet Commander will usually call "Target name - Alpha this target" The target usually dies instantly.

Sometimes you just need to pull out all the stops and kill stuff for good. An alpha strike is just the thing to help you accomplish that! An alpha strike refers to a unit attacking a single target with every weapon it has, all at once. When successful, the result is an absolutely devastating bombardment that turns its hapless target into a smoking crater. When [[TheWorfBarrage ''un''successful]], the attacking unit will usually be in for a world of hurt, as overextending itself with an alpha strike usually leaves it vulnerable to CounterAttack, which even worse if the attacker was a GlassCannon.

During an alpha strike, expect to see BeamSpam, {{Macross Missile Massacre}}s, MoreDakka, and any other SpamAttack that the attacker has handy, all used ''simultaneously''. Sometimes a type of AttackPatternAlpha. Often a form of DeathOrGloryAttack. See also NoKillLikeOverkill. When this trope ''fails'', it's the WorfBarrage.

** In ''ZoidsChaoticCentury'', Thomas uses an attack called Megalomax, which fires all ''seventeen'' of his Dibison's [[{{BFG}} artillery cannons]] simultaneously (which [[BellisariosMaxim somehow]] combined the individual shots into a WaveMotionGun).

* [[JohhnyMaxwellTrilogy Only You Can Save Mankind]] has the entire ScreeWee fleet [[NoKillLikeOverkill turn]] [[MoreDakka all]] its guns at once on a player-controlled fighter that Johny fails to stop.

* [[WarCraft Warcraft III]]: The "hero nuke" tactic involves acquiring three heroes with powerful single-target attack abilities, and having all three attack a single target in quick succession. This is usually used to take an enemy hero from "slightly damaged" to "dead" without any time in-between to heal.

* ''Eve Online'': Fleet commanders that are have command of at least one sniping battleship squadron will often tell the pilots of these vessels to move to the optimal range of thier guns - away from the rest of the fleet. The tactic being that any hostile vessel that comes near the fleet gets utterley erased from existance from the powerful first strike capability of the combined long-range heavy cannons. The reload time of said heavy cannons make them a liability in close combat so moving the snipers out gives them another line of defence, being able to see if anyone is coming for them and running for it. The Fleet Commander will usually call "Target name - Alpha this target" The target usually dies instantly.

Sometimes you just need to pull out all the stops and kill stuff but good. An alpha strike is just the thing to help you accomplish that! An alpha strike refers to a unit attacking a single target with every weapon it has, all at once. When successful, the result is an absolutely devastating bombardment that turns its hapless target into a smoking crater. When ''un''successful, the attacking unit will usually be in for a world of hurt, as overextending itself with an alpha strike usually leaves it vulnerable to CounterAttack. The phrase "alpha strike" originates from the VietnamWar, where it referred to a US aircraft carrier deploying its entire air wing to attack a single target, unleashing massive firepower at the cost of leaving the carrier basically defenseless for the duration of the attack. The term was eventually co-opted by tabletop wargamers, using the definition presented here.

* [[Eve Online]]: Fleet commanders that are have command of at least one sniping battleship squadron will often tell the pilots of these vessels to move to the optimal range of thier guns - away from the rest of the fleet. The tactic being that any hostile vessel that comes near the fleet gets utterley erased from existance from the powerful first strike capability of the combined long-range heavy cannons. The reload time of said heavy cannons make them a liability in close combat so moving the snipers out gives them another line of defence, being able to see if anyone is coming for them and running for it. The Fleet Commander will usually call "Target name - Alpha this target" The target usually dies instantly.

* ''Eve Online'': Fleet commanders that are have command of at least one sniping battleship squadron will often tell the pilots of these vessels to move to the optimal range of thier guns - away from the rest of the fleet. The tactic being that any hostile vessel that comes near the fleet gets utterley erased from existance from the powerful first strike capability of the combined long-range heavy cannons. The reload time of said heavy cannons make them a liability in close combat so moving the snipers out gives them another line of defence, being able to see if anyone is coming for them and running for it. The Fleet Commander will usually call "Target name - Alpha this target" The target usually dies instantly.

During an alpha strike, expect to see BeamSpam, {{Macross Missile Massacre}}s, MoreDakka, and any other SpamAttack that the attacker has handy, all used ''simultaneously''. Sometimes a type of AttackPatternAlpha. Often a form of DeathOrGloryAttack. See also NoKillLikeOverkill.

* ''MechWarrior'', being a Main/SpinOff of ''BattleTech'' (mentioned in the TableTop Games section) makes use of alpha strikes. All weaponry installed on the mech fires, regardless of grouping. Mechs loaded with high heat weapons would find themselves glowing like the sun.
** To the point where if you had enough high heat weapons your mech could immediately explode when using the Alpha strike.

* Quite a few units in ''SuperRobotWars'' have this, such the Astelion, the Valhawk and most notably the Alt Eisen's "Trump Card".

* [[BattleTech]] and it's spin-off [[Mech Warrior]] Both make use of alpha strikes. All weaponry installed on the mech fires, regardless of grouping. Mechs loaded with high heat weapons would find themselves glowing like the sun.

* ''BattleTech'': The originator of the term as we're using it here. Firing every weapon a 'mech has equipped has the potential to do ridiculous damage, but also generates enormous amounts of heat, requiring a cooldown period at the very least and destroying the 'mech when its ammo cooks off at worst!
** You don't even need ammo cooking off to cause a 'mech-death from Alpha Striking, particularly in the video game incarnations; MechWarrior specifically. Just ''exceeding'' your maximum heat limit by a specific amount will cause a 'mech to spontaneously - and instantly - explode.

* ''MobileSuitGundamWing'' gives us Gundam Heavyarms, which (depending on the [[AlternateContinuity version]]) is equipped with twin [[UnusualWeaponMounting head-mounted]] vulcan guns, two [[ShoulderCannon shoulder-mounted]] machinecannons, two to four [[GatlingGood gatling guns]] mounted in its [[ChestBlaster torso]], [[HomingProjectile homing missiles]] and [[MacrossMissileMassacre micromissiles]] mounted in the [[ShouldersOfDoom shoulders]] and [[LegCannon legs]], ''plus'' larger [[GatlingGood Gatlings]] (one [[BeamSpam beam Gatlings]] on the original, [[DoubleWeapon two]] on the MidSeasonUpgrade, and two solid Gatlings ''on each arm'' for the ''[[TheMovie Endless Waltz]]'' version. And yes, all at the same time. ''SuperRobotWars'' calls this the Full Open Attack, while ''SDGundamGGeneration'' calls it Full Fire[[hottip:*:''Zendan Hassha'', lit. "Fire all bullets"]].

* ''MobileSuitGundamWing'' gives us Gundam Heavyarms, which (depending on the [[AlternateContinuity version]]) is equipped with twin [[UnusualWeaponMounting head-mounted]] vulcan cannons, four [[GatlingGood gatling guns]] mounted in its [[ChestBlaster torso]], two [[ShoulderCannon shoulder-mounted]] machine guns, [[HomingProjectile homing missiles]] mounted in the [[LegCannon legs]], and swarms of [[MacrossMissileMassacre micromissiles]] in the [[ShouldersOfDoom shoulders]], ''plus'' [[BeamSpam beam gatlings]] that come as as {{Double Weapon}}s and it wields GunsAkimbo style (that's two beam gatlings ''in each hand'')! And yes, it fires them all at once.

During an alpha strike, expect to see BeamSpam, {{Macross Missile Massacre}}s, MoreDakka, and any other SpamAttack that the attacker has handy, all used ''simultaneously''. Often a form of DeathOrGloryAttack. See also NoKillLikeOverkill.

An Alpha Strike is a term used in wargaming, when your unit fires everything it has against an enemy unit ForMassiveDamage. Usually this means you have nothing left to defend yourself from any surprises your opponent may have left to throw at you, so it had better work.

The term comes from the VietnamWar, where an aircraft carrier would direct all (or nearly all) of its aircraft to strike a single surface target.

!!Examples
* BattleTech Uses this term for when your 'mech fires everything, possibly overheating (and even destroying your own 'mech) in the process.
* StarFleetBattles: Knowing the right time to fire everything at your enemy will win the game.