Red Alert Hints & Tips

Build Order
The best build order varies from map to map, and also depends on start location. See maps section for map-specific build order.

A good general build order though is power, (barracks here for some), ore, war, power, war, ore, ore, power. If you want the option to build MCV though, eg on Is.Wars, build repair early. Also, if channel host has 3 unit start, build 2 power first.

Only experience will enable you to have the best order every time, but basically build power ore & war until you have too many tanks and too much money.  After that build whatever you think you need (except for reqd special build order on some maps). Often I end up with 2 ore to every war, and 3 or 4 war factories. 

Build power as needed, then to help spread base once you have your second war factory. ie one way to spread base faster, is build a small power after each main construction is placed.  (Spreading out helps with placing ore refineries closer to the ore & gems, and with controlling the map.)

Small power doesn't take long to build, is cheap, and with all those power plants so spread out, you are unlikely to get low power if your opponent attacks them, particularly as while they are attacking power you are destroying tanks.

If that happens you can easily win if you launch counter at the right moment, usually soon as your base is safe.
If you want a longer more hi-tech game for building air, nukes etc., then use non-tournament channels, unless you know your opponent & have agreed on "rules" before starting.

Bridges
Some (defensive) players are summarily destroying bridges to eliminate an extra front or attack/supply route.  Good idea BUT don't fall into habit of always doing so on any map, sometimes you need those bridges. To Attack - use force move attack - hold ctrl key and click bridge. Watch out that your units don't move onto the bridge during this.
If you are doing battle in non tournament and/or on a new or unfamiliar custom map, avoid destroying bridges until you can see the map.

Grenadier
The Grenadier has awesome firepower when in groups.  Watch out for early attack by them.  If on a small map then build barracks before ore refinery, and be ready to defend.
On a larger map, use soldiers to scout the map early and be vigilant - fore-warned is fore-armed.
The Grenadier cheat. See cheats section.

Hiding Units
The hider is at times a nuisance and is mentioned in the Westwood Rules, but in most cases can easily be outwitted.
If you've basically won but can't find a hidden unit(s) or just don't want to be bothered with it, just abort.
^**You will get the win points.....^**
Otherwise, to find most hidden units, build a dome if you don't yet have one (assuming you can still build).  All units (except subs) will then show on the radar map (minimap).
Else you will have to select one of your units and scroll around the map "looking" at the possible hidaways with the mouse (In main screen or minimap). If a unit is hidden (on land) then the pointer icon will change from goto to attack mode.

*Hidden Subs*

If you are allies and your enemy has a sub pen, get a spy into it then all enemy subs are always visible.

Search with attack ships - if your boat won't move onto a point, you have found a sub.
Use a transport to make subs surface (transports are fast moving) - when your transport is in range of a sub, the sub will automatically surface to attack.  Have attack units near transport and ready to shoot when sub surfaces.  You could try using escort mode (see hotkeys).
Helis are good for killing subs

Teslas

if you build teslas you can increase armor by placing concrete wall around.
Attacker has to shoot the wall first.

Place tesla next to a building & only 3 sections of inner wall are needed. A larger building is best, and put tesla behind it so that 3 wall sections can enclose it, and another second outer wall can be raised.
Or build a defence with teslas along with rocket &/or artillery units in a small walled compound.
(see also capture flag)

If you build repair, then sell it, you still have mcv option so doesn't matter so much if u have to sell cy.

Ore Trucks
Learn how to get the most out of ore trucks, keep them working as efficiently as possible and don't run out of funds.  Generally let ore truck find nearest ore, but Mine gems first including the scattered pockets amongst ore.  At the start of a game you aren't using much funds as you are building no units yet - also there is little or no interaction with your opponent yet - hence you have time to control truck at start, so mine those small pockets first then put truck on the main field of gems.
Some players first unit is an ore truck, and it seems to work for them but I rarely build one.
 
Rushing - aka the tank rush
Early attack with a minimal number of units.

Can be done with as few as 2 (heavy/med) or 3 (light/med) tanks.  Five lights works well. Attack power and construction yard not nec in that order - attack whichever is first, unguarded, furthest from enemy tanks etc., then the other.

Spies

(nb some missions will have some fake buildings, which a spy has no effect on)

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