EK-X

The EK-X (Egg King-X) series of bosses based on the Egg, that were added in the game on September 21, 2019. EK-1 has existed with the release of the game but has been changed numerous times. EK-2 was also added on September 21, but secretly. EK-3, EK-4, EK-5, and EK-6 release dates are not known, but EK-6 was added far later than all other EK-X. EK-1 can spawn from the death of Egg Sanctuary, EK-2 can evolve from EK-1 if it survives for exactly 10 minutes. EK-3, EK-4, EK-5, and EK-6 are developer-only tiers, because of the fact of how OP they are and what lag they can potentially cause.

Each EK-X has unique features exclusive to this boss. Firstly, EK-X has a central cannon, that gets stronger with each tier. Cannon of EK-1 is Triplet, but cannons of other EK-X are unique. Starting from EK-4, this boss can spawn minions. Minions respawn immediately after they die, and attack the closest tank. With each next tier, minions get stronger and grow in numbers. EK-6 has 20+ minions, four of which are the EK-1.

EK-1 is extremely common. EK-2 is rarer but sometimes seen, especially if some player tediously protects it. EK-3 was seen multiple times used by developers on normal servers. EK-4 and EK-5 have only been seen for one time, used by the game developer in a normal server. EK-6 was never seen outside of developer events.

Tiers
EK-1=

Design
EK-1 has a white circular base, similar to Egg, with an attached Smasher. On the top of its base, EK-1 has a Triplet turret. On each side of the attached smasher, EK-1 has an auto-turret.

Technical
EK-1 has low health and incredibly low speed. Its Triplet turret is not very strong, but it can out-penetrate tanks with low rate of fire. Its auto-turrets are pretty weak but combined with triplet turret they can kill tanks with low DPS or low rate of fire. Only four auto-turrets can be focused on a single player at once. If alive for 10 minutes, it will evolve into EK-2.

Countering
EK-1 is one of the easiest bosses to fight, but still, you must be careful. As a bullet spammer, your job is simple - focus all your firepower on EK-1. You will likely penetrate the bullets of EK-1, but to make the job faster, you can move in a left-right pattern in order to trick EK-1 into missing more bullets. As a tank with low rate of fire, be more careful. If EK-1 can penetrate your bullets, try to hit the sides of its hitbox. As sides have no auto-turrets, you will likely land most bullets in them. In order to ensure you will land many bullets, move in a straight line, instead of dodging.

As a drone user, the Pounder branch, you have a slightly different strategy. As a drone user, wait until you have a maximum number of drones, and then charge them at EK-1. As a Pounder branch, try to use a hit-and-run strategy so that you will take almost no damage, while EK-1 will take a lot. As a minion user, you can use either strategy. Be wary of other players around, though. Also, the bullets of EK-1 are not very deadly, you will not be able to fight back two sides at once. Eliminate the player first, then come back to killing EK-1. Do not be afraid to ram into EK-1 if it is low on health if you want to get the kill and another player also damages it. Despite EK-1 has smasher, it does not do a lot of damage.
 * -|EK-2=

Design
EK-2 has a white circular base, similar to Egg, with an attached Smasher. On the top of its base, EK-2 has a single Swivel-2 turret. On each other side of the attached smasher, EK-2 has a deferred Gunner auto-turret. On every other side of the smasher, EK-2 has a long swarm drone launcher and two Basic auto-turrets. EK-2 is 1.5x larger than EK-1.

Technical
EK-2 has far higher health than EK-1, as much as most normal bosses. EK-2 also has a faster speed than EK-1, but still relatively slow. EK-2 main turret shoots powerful, fast black bullets, unique to this boss. Bullets have high penetration, damage, and speed, but medium health. Gunner auto-turrets of EK-2 are strong and fire powerful bullets. One gunner auto-turret is weaker than its main turret, but two auto-turrets are approximately equal. Its basic auto-turrets do not help the boss much. EK-2 constantly spawns strong swarm drones, which have high speed, decent damage. They have similar stats to Cruiser swarm drones, but with higher speed and penetration.

Countering
It is far harder to kill EK-2 than EK-1, and there are two reasons for that. Firstly, EK-2 has high firepower, capable of penetrating most Machine Gun branch tanks. Heavily focused bullet spammers can counter the EK-2's bullets if they are also dodging, but they typically counter another problem. One of the main strengths of EK-2 is its swarm drones: they have high speed and decent damage, capable of killing most tanks relatively fast. Swarm drones circle around the tanks, come from the flanks and then collide with the player. Swarm drones eliminate focused fire tanks, bullets eliminate bullet spammers with some spread.

Considering all of the above, it will prove a problem to kill EK-2 in solo. Firstly, bullet spammers are nearly useless against this boss. Minions will just get eliminated by the main turret of EK-2, while drones can only be used for defensive purposes. Splitter will just get surrounded by its swarm drones. If you are not skilled, do not fight EK-2 in solo. If you are skilled, however, you should use the block branch. Rebounder, Builder branch, and if used correctly Engineer branch can kill EK-2 in solo. Firstly, you need some Shield regeneration, so that you can neglect the effect of at least some swarm drones. Also, you will need movement speed in order to dodge the bullets. The whole strategy revolves around building some fortifications for yourself and exploiting block boomerang mechanic in order to hit the boss from its back. Firstly, make sure you have some blocks around you, in order to protect yourself from incoming fire. Renew the defense whenever possible. Send your blocks/pillboxes slightly further from EK-2, and then quickly turn your mouse on the center of EK-2's base. In this way, you will be able to hit EK-2 from its back.

Fighting in teams is very efficient, as one player will distract all the swarm drones. If there are some swarm drones around you, kill them first. EK-2 will likely focus only its gunner auto-turret on you, which has decent firepower by itself. Dodge in a left-right pattern to make it miss more. EK-2 will be unable to defend from two players effectively and will die.


 * -|EK-3=

Design
EK-3 has a white circular base, similar to Egg, with an attached Emitter base. In the center of its base, EK-3 has a shorter Devastator turret. Around the devastator turret, EK-3 has three drone spawners on its base. On the attached Emitter, EK-3 either has two long swarm drone spawners, or two Twin auto-turrets, alternating.

Technical
EK-3 has higher health than EK-2 but moves as fast as EK-2. Main turret of EK-3 is incredibly strong, capable of penetrating any bullet tank in the game. It fires two quick, strong bullets in rapid succession, first stronger and slower, second slightly weaker but quicker, just like Hunter branch. Twin auto-turrets of the boss are pretty decent. Although bullets are not really strong, they do high damage, have high speed and decent penetration. Swarm drones of EK-3 are even stronger than before, they have higher speed, higher damage, and health. They are spawned two times faster than EK-2's swarm drones, and there are three times more swarm drones than before. EK-3 also spawns drones at a fast rate, all of which have high damage, speed, health, and penetration.

Countering
Killing EK-3 is a major challenge, far harder than killing EK-2. EK-3 can perish most tanks in a matter of seconds, but can still be defeated. No single player can cope with its penetration, damage, and drones, as well as no sole player, can him it by themselves. If you want to kill EK-3, you will require excellent coordination with other players, as well as a team of 3+ players. EK-3 is approximately as strong as pre-nerf Elite Inferno, so make sure your team has strong tanks and is ready to work together. If you, however, encounter EK-3 in solo, you have only one option. RUN.

If you are in a team, however, you should note these problems. Firstly, EK-3 has far stronger swarm drones, as well as regular drones capable of penetrating most bullets. As such, it would be ideal to have a distraction, so that drones of EK-3 would be distracted on another player. Booster branch and Jump Smasher branch can do this ideally. As a distracting player, your primary goal is to lure all drones away, and as such, try to dodge all the drones, while keeping them close. Secondly, try to get two attacking players. Preferably bullet spammers, as they will deal the most damage. Splitter is also very effective for this, because of its high DPS. Other tanks are not as effective, as your twin-turrets can still be a nuisance. As an attacking player, do not forget about EK-3 drones. If you are attacked by an EK-3 swarm drone, kill the swarm drone first. If you are attacked by EK-3 drone, retreat and focus all firepower on the drone. Ideally, you should shoot into the closest swarm drone launcher to minimize the possible amount of drones. High DPS tank and Engineer branch tank can ideally accomplish the goal of killing drones meanwhile damaging EK-3.
 * -|EK-4=

Design
EK-4 has a white circular base with an attached Emitter. On top of its base, EK-4 has four equally redistributed Twin Assasin turrets, each near the edge of the base. On each side of the attached emitter, EK-4 has, in alternating order: a spawner, a swarm drone launcher, two Nailgun auto-turrets. There are four outside barrels of each type on the outer side of EK-4.

Technical
EK-4 has higher health than EK-3 but moves slower than EK-3 or EK-2. It has very strong Twin Assasin turrets, and all the turrets can be locked on a single player at once. These turrets can also lock on multiple players at a time. Bullets from these turrets have very high speed, penetration, health, and damage, and are fired in rapid succession. Nailgun auto-turrets are pretty strong but have mediocre penetration and health. They add up firepower to the boss. Swarm drones of EK-4 are spawned at a slower rate than EK-3 or EK-2, but they are stronger. They have high speed, penetration, and damage, but medium health. The main strength of this boss is its extremely powerful minions, which are spawned from the spawners. EK-4 has an Ultra Eagle, Ultra Hawk, and two Ultra Eggs. These are the minibosses that lock on the closest player.

Countering
Killing EK-4 is a major challenge, far harder than killing EK-3, or any other normal boss. EK-4 can perish most tanks in a matter of seconds and is incredibly hard to be defeated. No single player can cope with its penetration, swarm drones, and very strong minions. Even groups of players cannot defeat the EK-4, but coordinated teams may stand some chance. If you encounter EK-4, you have only one option, 'RUN. 'In order to run away, get away from EK-4 as soon as you see the bullets. If some minion of the boss is chasing you down, refer to the sections below in order to understand how to deal with the minion.

Killing EK-4 is very hard, so your team has to be very coordinated, somewhat skilled, and using the right strategy. Again, never fight in solo or groups, fight in teams of 4+ players. It is impossible to defeat this boss without a proper team. Firstly, you will not be able to penetrate the minions of EK-4, which will be constantly protecting it. As such, you will need to have a distraction for all of its minions. Trapper and Director branch will not just work because minions have decent health and respawn immediately after they die. As such, try to have multiple Tri-Angle branch tanks. Distracting tanks should primary get Ultra Eggs and Ultra Falcon along with Ultra Eagle. Multiple players are needed in order to neglect the immense amount of Ultra Egg spawned drones, so both players should have decent bullet penetration, movement speed, and Shield regeneration. If the minions are distracted, boss will be far more vulnerable, but even now it cannot be defeated in solo. Have at least two attacking players, with high penetration, bullet health, and damage. You should try to attack EK-4 from a medium distance. Firstly, you will need single player to also penetrate and dodge the fire of the main turrets, they are pretty powerful. Trapper, Director are ideal for this. After all three players are completely distracting the boss, another player can kill it nearly defenseless. Its Nailgun turrets have low penetration, but still some. As such, bullet spammers or Spitter are ideal at damaging this boss.

Incognito just does not stand a chance because of minions, which will block the fire. Incognito will also not be able to penetrate the heavy regeneration of this boss, so this tank is nearly useless in the battle with EK-4.


 * -|EK-5=
 * -|EK-6=

Minions
Ultra Eagle=

Design
Ultra Eagle has a front Destroyer gun and three thruster cannons.

Technical
Ultra Eagle is a spawned miniboss of EK-4, EK-5, and EK-6. It has very fast speed and decent bullets. Ultra Eagle's destroyer cannon has decent damage and speed, but low health, while its thruster cannons do nearly no damage. Ultra Eagle attacks its target by ramming into the tank and dealing a lethal damage. Ultra Eagle can kill a glass-build level 60 tanks without dying.

Countering
Ultra Eagle will respawn immediately after you kill it, so it does not make much sense to kill it. The only two cases where you would like to kill are when you are fighting with EK-4, EK-5 or EK-6, or when you are attempting to run away. If you are attempting to run away from it, run away while shooting at the Ultra Eagle. You will very likely deal it enough damage so when it rams the miniboss will die instead of you. Smasher branch is not suggested, as Ultra Eagle respawns and come in numbers.

When attempting to fight EK-4, EK-5 and EK-6, refer to strategy about the boss on killing this minion, and what you should do in those cases if there is also a living EK-X around it.
 * -|Ultra Falcon=

Design
Ultra Falcon has a front Single gun and three thruster cannons.

Technical
Ultra Falcon is a spawned miniboss of EK-4, EK-5, and EK-6. It has very fast speed and decent bullets. Ultra Falcon's destroyer cannon has decent damage and speed, but low penetration. Bullets have mediocre health. Its thruster cannons do nearly no damage but boost Ultra Falcon forward. Ultra Falcon attacks its target by ramming into the tank and dealing with serious damage. Ultra Eagle can kill a glass-build level 60 tanks without dying.

Countering
Ultra Falcon will respawn immediately after you kill it, so it does not make much sense to kill it. The only two cases where you would like to kill it are when you are fighting with EK-4, EK-5 or EK-6, or when you are attempting to run away. If you are attempting to run away from it, run away while shooting at the Ultra Falcon, while spreading some bullets to ensure mini boss dies faster. Bullets can penetrate a minority of your bullets, but you will very likely kill this mini boss before it will kill you. Smasher branch is not suggested, as Ultra Falcon respawns and come in numbers.

When attempting to fight EK-4, EK-5 and EK-6, refer to strategy about the boss on killing this minion, and what you should do in those cases if there is also a living EK-X around it.
 * -|Ultra Egg=

Design
Ultra Egg has a white octagon base, with a unique turret on top. The special turret on top of its base looks like a Gunner turret, deferred to edges, and with two more cannons on each side. On each side of its base, Ultra Egg has either two swarm drone launchers or a Penta Shot auto-turret. On each edge of the base, Ultra Egg has a basic auto-turret.

Technical
Ultra Egg is a spawned miniboss of EK-4, EK-5, and EK-6. It has medium speed, about the speed of EK-2, and medium health, less than most bosses but higher than EK-1's health. Ultra Egg has a strong turret, which shoots strong, fast bullets with decent penetration and health. Penta Shot turrets shoot slightly weaker bullets but have a higher spread. Its basic auto-turrets do not help this miniboss much. Ultra Egg constantly spawns strong swarm drones. Swarm drones have high speed, but medium damage and low penetration along with health.

Countering
It is far from easy to kill Ultra Egg, and there are a lot of reasons for that. Firstly, Ultra Egg has decent firepower, capable of penetrating any tank with a low rate of fire. Heavily focused bullet spammers can easily penetrate the bullets if they dodge, as all bullets of Ultra Egg have some spread. A strength of Ultra Egg is its swarm drones: they are fast, and can slowly sap the health of the player, and what's worse, cancel regeneration. Swarm drones will usually be able to outflank most tanks, but not Machine Gun branch. Machine gun branch can penetrate Ultra Egg's firepower, but here comes the main problem. Firstly, Ultra Egg always spawns from EK-4, EK-5, and EK-6 which will prove a problem to kill. Refer to the sections of EK-4, EK-5, and EK-6 in order to understand what to do with Ultra Egg in this case. Secondly, there are always at least two Ultra Eggs spawning.

Considering all of the above, it will prove a problem to kill Ultra Egg in solo. Firstly, ensure that there are no other players, EK-X, or another Ultra Egg around. You will just not be able to penetrate the firepower of two Ultra Eggs, so considering luring them away one by one and killing them. Rebounder, Builder branch, and if used correctly Engineer branch can kill Ultra Egg in solo, and even defend themselves successfully against two Ultra Eggs. Firstly, you need some Shield regeneration, so that you can neglect the effect of at least some swarm drones. As a bullet spammer, you should just focus all your firepower on Ultra Egg. As a Trapper branch, you should use strategy for killing EK-2.

Fighting in teams is very efficient, as the Ultra Egg will fall even faster. A team can successfully kill two Ultra Eggs, and can easily defend themselves in case EK-4, EK-5 or EK-6 will attack them. As such, it is advised to have at least some kind of team when engaging in battle with this miniboss.

Trivia

 * The EK-1 was originally called Elite Smasher.
 * The EK-5 Hunter Minion is also in the Bosses category under the name of Ultra Cannon.
 * Tank named "EK-0" is playable and is similar to EK-1
 * EK-2 is the only boss to have spawn animation.
 * EK-4 is the first boss to have respawnable mini-bosses as minions. Later more TESTBED bosses followed.
 * The mini-bosses of EK-4 are unique and are counted as X-K-X minibosses
 * EK-5 along with EK-6 are currently the only bosses that spawn other bosses.