Lancers are there to destroy tanks and turrets first and foremost. I don't really get the critics, they are useful for what they are designed for. Exactly like all other units. Unless snipers can destroys tanks, or Troopers navigate the whole map as easily as Scouts ?
Sure you can use a tank to take out enemy tanks, but there are many missions where :
- you don't have a tank
- the tank cannot access the enemy tank as easily as a lancer
- you need more firepower and there are many lancers VS 1 or 2 tanks
- you need to scatter you firepower because tanks or turrets are far apart
Lancers have other advantages :
- you can always one hit kill most enemies with a head-shot, which is almost guaranteed at the right distance, guaranteed from the back, just like every other unit
- lancers can be moved around by Captains, unlike tanks
- lancers are extremely strong against all kinds of cross fire and explosions, even without a Defense order
- lancers can be summoned from camps, which includes instant summon with the correct order
Engineers are also extremely useful :
- they can repair sand bags for free
- they replenish ammo for free, this includes tanks, snipers and lancers
- they are the only unit able to repair the tanks
- they can resurrect a fallen troop immediately with ragnaid, which is absolutely awesome and a huge gain of time
- they move almost as far as Scouts
- they will one shot enemies from behind just like other units
I finished the game and I am currently playing the hard skirmishes, and let me tell you this : all units are useful. Nothing forces you to use them, but I find all of them useful. I have 95% A ranks by the way. So I believe that I am playing it right
Something that I did not find very useful, is the ability to use the Captain command when you play as a sniper, grenadier or lancer : they don't move very far and you won't have the guys following you join the attacks. Only useful for scout, trooper and engineer if you ask me.