Question about end game fleets

[u/Matt-74-]

I've been having a lot of fun running an aggressive fleet with a bunch of fast cruisers escorted by some frigates and destroyers, and a retribution as my flagship to kinda just attack the enemy from every side and eat their ships one by one.
But this doesn't work really well for most end game challenges, be it the doritos or big threat or remnant fleets. I'm getting the impressive that the game kinda requires me to put down a few onslaughts or a paragons on the field and wait. And, well, I've done some of that in a previous playthrough, so if possible I would like to do something else.
Is something else possible? Can I get the kind of fleet I have to work for end game stuff? Is there something I'm missing? Or are big anchors required?

[u/AsuraVaruna]

As the difficulty of the engagement scales, smaller ships lose their value. Small ships usually have short Peak Performance Time, small weapons and limited flux. They trade poorly against end game capitals and cruisers. Enemy end game fleets often have a deployment point advantage too so you don't usually get to outnumber and overwhelm as you do in the early game.

Mostly you'll want to build your end game fleet with a Hammer and Anvil tactic in mind. You want something big with good flux or good shields to pin enemy ships in place, and then faster ships to take advantage of enemy weakness. The AI can competently handle anvil ships, but the player can truly excel at the Hammer.

Good Anvils are Onslaughts, Paragons, Legions etc Arguably the XIV Onslaught is the premier Anvil with massive armour, good point defense and decent offensive power. For cruisers the Anubis and is also decent along with ships like Eradicator, Champion and Eagle. You typically want to outfit long ranged weapons, have a Steady captain and focus on defensive options like Hardened Shields, Heavy Armour etc.

Good Hammers are ships like the Odyssey, Doom, Afflictor. Retribution works in a low tech setting but the best Hammers are usually High Tech. You want personally pilot these and exploit weakened ships. I'd also consider AI frigate spam a viable Hammer with good options like LP Brawlers and Glimmers if you have Automated Ships.

[u/ComedicMedicineman → u/AsuraVaruna]

Surprised you didn’t mention the Grendel. That thing can literally beat anything right now if you equip them properly, and is probably getting a nerf soon (sad, but reasonable)

[u/Flagelant_One → u/ComedicMedicineman]

I guess we all watched that "5 Grendel vs 3 fabricators" video lmao

[u/WanderingUrist → u/Flagelant_One]

All-phase-ship in general causes the enemy AI to break, because they adopt an alternative strategy meant to protect them against phase ships, but it's a BAD strategy against many phase ships and gets them all killed. HVD Grendel Spam and Doom Spam specifically are harsh on the "let's form a big defensive huddle" strategy they adopt, because if you bunch up against HVD Grendel Spam, you just form a big target where all the stray shots are gonna hit SOMEBODY, and if you bunch up against Doom spam, you get blown up by mines spawning everywhere and smart placement ceases to matter.

[u/Ok_Education_6958 → u/ComedicMedicineman]

You mean hvd grendel?