Yes, yes, yes! The phase node ability of this ship is priceless to me - I just set it on autocast and as soon as my fleet warps into a hostile gravity well it sets up a phase node and if I am playing as Vasari Rebels I can jump a starbase into there (all of the starbases I build I make sure to upgrade with the phase node ability). Or if I am playing as Vasari Loyalists, it can be a great way for my losing fleet to retreat to a distant planet in the same solar system or for reinforcements to jump in. I love phase gates.

And the ability that makes your entire fleet move faster around the Antorak is deceptively useful. It can get you across a gravity well in no time, and I use it to save my fleet, a damaged capital ship, or the Antorak itself quite frequently. Or to catch an enemy titan or capital ship that is on the run that would get away if not for the insane speeds of my fleet.

And I think that the Antorak Marauder is one of the most iconic ships of Sins of a Solar Empire. The design is just so... classically Vasari. It's not trying too hard to be a bug and it just flows, in a way Advent ships usually do. Plus, when the phase node ability is active, the ring on the back of the ship actually gains a phase node effect inside it. I thought that was so cool the first time I saw it.

Ummm... No.

But I play seriously against the AI. And how are phase nodes not incredibly useful, even in faster-paced competitive games?

1. The Subversion ability suffers greatly because you have to get your ship near to the planet to cast it. The Sova, on the other hand, can cast from far away and run around the gravity well, jumping out when needed. The Marauder has much less survival probability since it has to get in close to use Subversion. Nevertheless, if you want to take a risk, you can lead with the Maurauder and send in a starbase builder. If the enemy doesn't have a fleet, that subversion can stop the enemy from building enough frigates to kill the starbase while it's building.

2. In an eco spot with Vasari Rebels, the Marauder opening is a nice gambit for later game play. Build the Marauder, upgrade it with credit purchases as fast as possible, and then work toward that level 6 ability along with jumping starbases tech. You can, at the cost of some eco support for your team, get tha jumping starbase up-and-running and effective in fairly short order. This can be enjoyable, if risky (i.e., you're assuming that the rest of your team does not die from a weak eco slot while you're on a joy ride).

So the Marauder is a potentially interesting choice as a starting capital ship to juice up your life now and again. The problem is that it's a risky choice (compared to the ever-so-reliable Egg) so it should only be taken for a joy ride when you feel your team has some kind of advantage based on the 5v5 picks that were made.