Appendix: "God Sorc"

This technique was included in "Chapter 3" of the original Pastebin. God Sorc is significantly less reliable than the forcing strategy described in Chapter 3 of this tutorial, but it can be almost 10 seconds faster if executed correctly.

Attack Strategy

This strategy is applicable to the second phase of the fight, when tanks begin to spawn. It requires an extra cannon to drop at the start of the phase. The attack plan takes advantage of two aspects of the Sorceress's behavior at this stage:

The hesitation window created when boarding the cannon during the wind-up for a blue energy attack.
The natural fleeing path of the Sorceress when the cannon is boarded while she is at the center of the arena.

If the long range attack selected is the fireball attack, the Sorceress won't hesitate, so this strategy isn't applicable. Refer back to Chapter 3 in this case.

If the long range attack selected is the blue energy attack, then aim at the center of the arena and begin shooting. As the first damage is given, gradually lead the Sorceress right (and then backward) along the predictable section of her fleeing path and continue shooting until the end of the phase.

A diagram depicting the locations of interest in the arena for blue energy attack hesitation strategy. The cannon's drop point, the Sorceress's initial position, and the ideal targets for the cannon shots are marked. — Cannon II - Attack Strategy (Blue Energy Attack Hesitation)

It is possible to finish these hits much more efficiently than in the examples, but it seems counterproductive since the vehicle phase is then completed before any of the tanks are in position to be considered for an additional drop.

If you succeed at doing this quickly, Agent 9 may drop a tank at the start of the next phase; you can use that to finish out the fight. Note that he still might not drop a tank, depending on their spawn locations and the speed with which you land the cannon shots. You'll have to fall back on the UFO in that case.