So um, how do I use VL Titan abilities?

The phase node ability actually builds a phase stabalizer instantly at the planet its at. You don't target a different planet, you use it first then jump.

Maw is a channeling ability. If you give any order to the titan while its using it, it will cancel maw. The orange "arrow" is probably part of the animation, not telling it to do anything. Just hit the button once when a bunch of frigates are in front of your titan and let it do its job.

When i hit the button to activate maw, then an arrow is attached to my cursor. I believe it is a directly input to give to maw in some manner. Dont know how to use it though

Alright, to activate it you do have to target an enemy frigate or corvette first. However, after that do not give any orders to your titan until the maw finishes, unless you want to change targets before the ability "grays out".

So do you leave Maw Enabled or disabled? Disabled means you manually use. I want to control when I use it or not.

So the phase node on the titan is really confusing. How long is it active for? Nowhere does it tell you this. So do you leave this ability Enabled or Disabled?

All it shows is the cooldown timer.

It builds a a run-of-the-mill phase stabilizer at the planet.  It's not really that confusing..  It has no duration because the phase stabilizer will cause a node to exist as long as it does.  Destroy the stabilizer and the node goes away.

I leave most capital and titan abilities off auto-cast, but in particular I do so with the Vorastra as all of its abilities require micro to be decent (obviously excluding Desperation here because it's a passive).

You should always manually cast an ability as powerful and tricky to set up as maw.

That's because the ability itself does not make the node directly. It spawns a building, the phase stabilizer, just like you can build at your own planets. This building is what links the planet to your phase network, and can even bring it dark armadas once you research it just like normal. It is active as long as the building is not destroyed. The cooldown tells you how long you need to wait to spawn another stabalizer. It should not be confusing unless you have never built this building without the titan, in which case you should probably try that.

If you've never built a Phase Stabilizer without the Vorastra, you should really try that seeing as how Phase Missiles and Phase Stabilizers are pretty much the whole point of the Vasari as a race pre-rebellion.

Oh Ok I think I understand. So not only can the rest of your fleet jump to that node, you can call in dark reinforcements right there.

What do phase missiles go on, kanraks, missile emplacement, what else?

Correct.

PM's go on PM turrets, most capitals, Kanraks, bombers, Orkies, and titans.

Yes. The phase stabalizers you build or spawn with a titan are permanent nodes, since they don't expire unless they are destroyed, and are obviously the best nodes. You can also create temporary nodes with the Marauder, Starbase, and Kosura Cannon, but these aren't as good because they can expire leaving your fleet stranded. Of course these and your titan have the advantage that they can work on enemy planets, allowing you to jump right to them or bring in reinforcements directly.

That said, do be careful relying on your titan spawning a phase stabalizer to get your fleet to escape, a smart enemy might destroy it before your fleet can jump in dangerous gravity well, and the cooldown is long enough that you might not survive long enough to replace it, especially at lower levels.

Bombers and most capitalships. Kanraks and bombers are going to have most of your damage output, since they're the best at taking out high priority targets like capitalships and defenses anyways.

That said, as the Vasari Loyalists you actually have a very good alternative with Sarkovas Enforcers with their obscene +70% wave damage research. This allows each Heavy Cruiser to deal almost 40 DPS. Combined with having the best heavy cruiser abilities, they can be very potent, especially if you want more staying power since they get a more powerful version of the reintegration ability the light frigates get.

Hmm. Im realizing the advantages of the vasari. Dont come into play till later game though. They are more complex to play.

So I researched stripped to the core, but I dont know how or when to use it. There doesnt seem to be an option to do it anywhere

I think it says in the description (if it doesn't we'll let a dev know), but it applies on scuttling a planet. You can scuttle a planet like any other ship or structure by hitting the little yellow bar below the picture, or hitting the hot key (shift + s or whatever you want to assign it). After it scuttle, an animation will play and the planet will be destroyed and give you a ton of resources (assuming it was larger than a dwarf planet to start with).