Scouting the area | Hints Grey Goo Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
Use the minimap for scouting. There are two types of fog of war - primary, which covers the map at the beginning of the game and secondary, which appears whenever your units change their positions. However, you will soon note that the majority of the map is revealed, at the beginning of the game. The only things that you cannot see then is enemy units and buildings, but you can see hills or bushes. Thanks to this, scouting is restricted, in Grey Goo, mainly to searching for the enemy and checking out, from the map level, whether there still are deposits that can be seized. The shape of the map, without the deposits marked, can also be viewed while creating the game, in the skirmish mode, or while it is being loaded. The map will then be displayed on the right side of the screen.
Use ground scouting. It is impossible, for airplanes, to spot the enemy forces among bushes. Also, they are more exposed to attacks and unavailable at the beginning of the game. However, even later into the game, on-ground scouting proves to be very useful, especially against the scouts with the stealth ability. It suffices to hide among bushes to get a relatively stable view of the area around, including the enemy HQ, if he does not have any units or buildings with stealth detection.
Use airborne scouting. Planes are faster and more mobile than ground units. You only need to leave them up in the air, above an area that is difficult to access, and they should not be harassed. Additionally, the majority of units in the game can attack ground units, whereas airborne ones are much more difficult to get. This does not go for the Goo.
Check bushes. After you spot bushes in front of you, select a light unit and approach them. If it is destroyed, this means that there are enemies inside. You can also dispatch several units and try to drive them into the bushes. Thanks to this, you will reveal the enemy forces and their strength. The former can be used to your advantage immediately, by deploying artillery nearby and waiting for it to start firing. However, if you want to get it done quickly, simply drive the majority of your forces into the thickets. If there is something in there, it will quickly be destroyed. Also, remember to scout the thickets with a unit with stealth detection. It may turn out that there is an enemy there, just you are not capable of seeing him. The intelligent opponent issues, to the scout, the order to hold fire so, without the detection, you will not learn that he is there.
Scout the bushes around the HQ. This is a perfect hiding spot for both visible and stealth enemy scouts. You should especially take interest in the bushes right next to the key buildings, even if they are heavily guarded. The tricky enemy can find a way to hide a scout, or two, there.
Dispatch your scouts in pairs. Thanks to this, you will always have the view provided by the second one, if one of them is destroyed.