The best way to learn how to break is to learn by example. So here is an example of how a break is done.
Scan results
Name Class Status Hull Shields Power (We./Sen.) Weapons 1 djd Eagle Defending 13,000 / 13,000 13,000 / 13,000 100% / 0% Gattling Shells 2 gunny GunShip Defending 36,000 / 36,000 28,000 / 28,000 100% / 0% Parallel Cannons 3 gunnie III GunShip Defending 36,000 / 36,000 28,000 / 28,000 100% / 0% Parallel Cannons 4 ddryueyer Corvette Defending 4,000 / 4,000 3,000 / 3,000 25% / 0% Disrupters 5 ffdsdd Destroyer Defending 28,000 / 28,000 18,000 / 18,000 100% / 0% Parallel Cannons 6 djdjdddjdgd Destroyer Defending 28,000 / 28,000 18,000 / 18,000 100% / 0% Parallel Cannons 7 weww Corvette Defending 4,000 / 4,000 3,000 / 3,000 25% / 0% Disrupters 8 ryyyt Corvette Defending 4,000 / 4,000 3,000 / 3,000 25% / 0% Disrupters 9 hjk Talon Defending 12,000 / 12,000 9,000 / 9,000 100% / 0% Ydar Lasers 10 grrr Talon Defending 12,000 / 12,000 9,000 / 9,000 100% / 0% Ydar Lasers 11 grrrrrrrrrrrr Wolverine Defending 8,000 / 8,000 8,000 / 8,000 100% / 0% Disrupters 12 gunnie II GunShip Defending 36,000 / 36,000 28,000 / 28,000 100% / 0% Parallel Cannons
Empire Defence = 142,899 [100%]
This empire has 3 Corvettes, 1 Wolverine, 2 Talons, 1 Eagle, 2 Destroyers and 3 Gunships.
The Corvettes have 4,000 Hull and 3,000 Shields.
The Wolverine has 8,000 Hull and 8,000 Shields.
The Talons have 12,000 Hull and 9,000 Shields.
The Eagle has 13,000 Hull and 13,000 Shields.
The Destroyers have 28,000 Hull and 18,000 Shields.
The Gunships have 36,000 Hull and 28,000 Shields.
First Attack
To start, we will add the Hull and Shields of the Corvettes:
4,000 + 3,000 = 7,000
(Hull + Shields = Damage Needed)
Next, count up how many ships the empire has Defending, since damage is divided evenly between all defending ships:
3+1+2+1+2+3 = 12
Now, we will see how much Damage is needed to destroy the Corvettes:
7,000 X 12 = 84,000
(Corvette Damage X Number of Ships = Damage required to Destroy all Corvettes)
Second Attack
Now that the Corvettes have been destroyed, we need to count again the Defending Ships:
12-3 = 9
Now we need to destroy the Wolverine, but before we attack again, we need to figure in the damage done in the first attack:
16,000-7,000 = 9,000
(Wolverine Hull and Shields - Corvette Hull and Shields = Hull and Shields Remaining on Wolverine)
Now it's time to attack the Wolverine:
9,000 x 9 = 81,000
(Wolverine Damage X Number of Ships Remaining = Damage Needed to Destroy Wolverine)
Third Attack
With the Corvettes and Wolverine gone, it is time to destroy the Talons. There are now 8 Ships remaining, and the Talons Hull and Shields have been decreased.
21,000 - (7,000 + 9,000) = 5,000
(Talon Hull and Shields - (First Wave + Second Wave Damage) = Hull and Shields Remaining on Talons)
Now it's time to hit the Talons:
5,000 X 8 = 40,000
With the Talons now also nothing more than scrap, it's time to wipe out the Eagle.
26,000 - (7,000 + 9,000 + 5,000) = 5,000
Fourth Attack
To kill the Eagle, we need to attack with 30,000 damage (5,000 X 6 remaining ships).
Fifth Attack
With only 2 Destroyers and 3 Gunships remaining in Defense, we're getting close! The Destroyers have a hull and shields total of 46,000. We have done 26,000 damage to the ship already. To kill the Destroyers, we need to send 100,000 damage (20,000 X 5 Remaining Ships).
Sixth Attack
Three Gunships are left, and the target is nearly open. One more hit from you or an alliance mate will do the trick! In order to open the target, we'll need to send 54,000 damage. The Gunship has only 18,000 Hull and Shields left, since we have already done 46,000 damage to it (18,000 X 3 Ships Remaining = 46,000).
Open Target
After sending this, the target has no more ships remaining, and is ready to have your leaching vettes sent in! Good work!
If you are working with a limited number of breakers, it is possible to destroy multiple ship types in one attack. For example:
If you want to kill the Wolverines and Corvettes at the same time, take the Wolverine's Hull and Shields amount (16,000) times the number of defending ships (12). This will tell you that you need 192,000 damage to kill the Wolverines along with the Corvettes in the first wave.
Note: The damage you send does not have to be exactly what these numbers say. It is OK to "oversend" a little bit.
One last important thing to mention is the "Empire Defense." When you send your ships in, you use the ships "Damage Points" when seeing what ships to send for the Damage. However, in order to succeed in your attack and gain Land, Roids or Resources, your total Attack Points of all of your ships sent has to be greater than the Empire Defense. In this example, the Empire Defence = 142,899. This means that even though you only need to send 84,000 damage to kill the Corvettes, your attack will not gain you land, roids or resources because the ED was not passed. Since you are playing as an alliance, every attack in a break does not have to pass. It is more important to Open the target. However, do make sure that your ships total Hull and Shields are greater than the ED, since this is the damage they will do to your ships. If needed, add a "Sac Vet" to your attack fleet. This means that you add a regular Corvette to your attack fleet, so that if you take a lot of damage, your Corvette will absorb most of the damage and die instead of one of your larger ships.
Good Luck!!