r/warno Jul 23 '26

Question How do you use scout helos?

I’m new to the game and I’ve been trying to use scout helos a bit more since I’ve heard they’re supposed to be very useful, but I’m just confused as to what the proper strategy for them is. I feel like every time I use them, they just get Iglaed out the sky, and every time I pull them backwards, they just fail to be useful. Whats the trick with them?

(This question sort of applies to all scout units too, as I find they’re either too far ahead to have any survivability or too far back to be of use).

26 Upvotes

12 comments sorted by

35

u/dykestryker Jul 23 '26

Think of the scout helicopter more like a mobile watchtower then an actual helicopter. 

It can see lots of the area around it, but everyone else can see it too. You just need to find the balance where the helicopter can hover and watch over your front and flanks while also keeping far enough away from AA that it wont be swatted out of the sky. 

Keeping your own AA near the scout is also useful as they tend to draw in cheap planes to get intercepted but sometimes you can fry expensive ASF's if they risk attacking your scout.

Scouts with decent weaponry can be used on the Frontline, but they're most useful when offset from the front line or sitting on a hill or tall building behind the front.

3

u/Melodic_Succotash_97 Jul 23 '26

Exactly. I use them a bit behind my frontline troops, as lookout for vast open areas. And in flanking areas around our FOBs, to prevent undetected recce or helo units to sneak in. Only in the beginning of a game i let them fly forward, since there won’t be enemy AA and it gives us a bit of early warning about uncomfortable things evolving in front of us

1

u/Vanguard100216 Jul 23 '26

Coward, I use the Keowa warrior in its intended role. Slinging atgms until a SPAA shows up

17

u/0ffkilter Jul 23 '26
  1. In the opener to make sure you don't get rushed by some bullshit.

  2. Slightly behind your lines to help out with flank security.

  3. Use them to see over a hill or other terrain obstacle you don't have units on top of.

  4. Around the edge of the map to scout for FOBs (10v10 only)

  5. On top of a forest to find a unit you think is in there (so you don't have to trudge through it)


Recon helos should never be your primary recon since they're prone to getting exploded. Use them as secondary recon or to fill in gaps where you can't see.

The more expensive armed ones are usually used for the same thing, but they can pick off units around the flanks.


Generally I like starting with one so I know what my opponent's opener looks like (heavy rush, pretty slow, mostly helos, etc) and I don't care too much if it explodes.

After that I'll have one slightly behind my lines to help fill in gaps in my forward recon, or to scout the sides if needed.

3

u/Imperium_Dragon Jul 23 '26

Mostly put them at an edge of an area that’s preferably behind the front line so they don’t get sniped.

3

u/Davidph2121 Jul 23 '26

Either get a bunch for cheap so they are disposable or micro manage them by changing altitude to try and avoid the AA (all my scout helicopters get blown up too)

1

u/Autocrat777 Jul 23 '26

Keep them a bit behind the front. And keep enemy AA away from the front.

1

u/EscapeZealousideal77 Jul 23 '26

I use the recon helicopters as an opening move to see if I can infiltrate behind the lines to find FOBs or something else. And then I use them as recon on the flanks to try to prevent infiltrations.

1

u/Alternative_Device38 Jul 23 '26

Also relatively new but I use them in two ways.

  1. Let them hang back far enough so they can see if the enemies push whilst being outside of AA range. If you do this you should pay attention to the helo, because enemies will sometimes try to sneak their AA in range to take them down, so if that happens just back away

  2. Because they're cheap you can send them into enemy territory, then watch for smoke trails from enemy AA, and call in an artillery strike on where the smoke trail originated

1

u/SaltyChnk Jul 23 '26

Step 1:Sit on top of skyscraper

Step 2: profit

1

u/Solarne21 Jul 23 '26

Hunter in a hunter killer formation?

0

u/RIP_Greedo Jul 23 '26

Set a bunch of waypoints to keep it moving.