Kazamitori

A counter to heavy cruisers are the carriers. If the AI have nothing but HCs, crank out a bunch of carriers with bombers and support cruisers to go with them. Ex: Drone Host w/ Guardians, Carrier with Hoshiko, etc. If you've got a capital that's got bonus to strike craft effectiveness, all the more power to you. Also, trying to max out the tech tree is a BAD idea. You'd loose if you try to do that, so don't EVER try maxing out your research as the first thing. What wil

Well, Vasari egg is still pretty good since you can let it roam around taking out lightly defended planets by itself.

Never try this again human opponents since you'd get your butt fried....but against an AI, you can defend your planets pretty well with just defensive platforms/repair facilities and a few ships. That'll be your key defense against one of the AI while you go and flatten another one. Early on, AI doesn't defend his colony and builders too well. If you build bunch of scouts (aound 6) and send em out, you migt be able to kill one of the AI's colony ship before he can colon

Unless you're doing a scout&tech rushing to timed explosive:)