Let's talk about MERC Team Synergy

(K1X455) #1

Following this thread, I decided to put together my semi-pro DB playing tips for aspiring clutch seekers like me

  • Vassili - players who play long range fire overwatch, deploy your Heartbeat Sensors to use as cues for Arty, Kira or Skyhammer so they know where to send the artillery, orbital or air strike. That is the most crucial single piece of team support you can give to the team[]Redeye - players need to know how to mask defensive positions by throwing smoke and activating the thermal vision. Yes you can mask turrets, mines, sticky bombs, artillery, Phantom in waiting for ambush or even airstrike markers. Smoke obscures the enemy vision, but so does the teams so use it accordingly[]Proxy - know where to lay mines where there is a high volume of opposing player traffic. Concentrate on getting objectives done and quickly duck in and out of the heated combat zone.[]Bushwhacker - Learn to put down turrets in an effective position but concealed from long range engagement. And remember that turrets engage only one target at a time so a single ambush is the only effective way to make use of it[]Fletcher - learn to fletch sticky bombs! They’re awesome and please SD, add Bigger Blasts to Fletcher’s Augments and change the Blishok to Hochfir[]Aura - the tactical defense specialist. Don’t go tanking with that shotgun cause you need to concentrate where Rhino or Fragger should hold position so please be clever in where to put that health station where everyone can get much needed healing[]Fragger - Crowd control by cooking your grenades, and stick with an ammunition support player. Also, protect the medic and objective specialist cause you’re responsible for getting the objective specialist do their job[]Nader - deny the enemy their holding position by spamming grenades, and the Hochfir or Crotzni is a good CQB equipment. []Rhino - don’t go solo by yourself with that mini-gun. Remember to defend in corners where you have a narrow arc of fire to concentrate that BBbrrrrrrtttt power.[]Phantom - wait for SD to balance you again. Single player ambush is your specialty so if you intend to go against a crowd, make sure they got damaged previously to kill with one swing. There are very few loadouts that are effective for that type of merc play.[]Sparks - stay at a distance and team up with Vassili for that long range REVIVR support. []Sawbonez - You’re the exact definition of a Combat Medic, so revive and heal forward players who are out of AURA’s healing station reach. It would be good to get a speed buff without health penalty for this player.[]Kira, Arty, Skyhammer - your team needs ammunition so PASS it accordingly. If they give up a position because they have to run to the ammo crate, it will be your fault. Specifically, PASS ammo to those in holding positions or those who can receive ammo for you to pass conveniently.[*]Phoenix - You’re the less agile more mobile version of Aura so take that into perspective. The healing pulse is to be timely shared among the forward assault group and be mindful of the it’s cooldown. Remember, pulse healing a group is better than pulse healing just yourself or just one other player

EDIT: Added Faraleth’s demo of DBAD. See how PRO passing the support players are! P A S S the medpack/ammo if possible. Don’t just drop it!

(_retired_) #2

[quote=“K1X455;17328”]add Bigger Blasts to Fletcher’s Augments and change the Blishok to Hochfir

Nader - deny the enemy their holding position by spamming grenades, and the Hochfir or Crotzni is a good CQB equipment.[/quote]And why would you ever choose Proxy over Fletcher then?
Fletcher with bigger blasts and Hochfir would be insanely good.

And also after Crotzni nerf, SMG 9 starts to be the go to gun.

(uWotm8-AU) #3

Nice read, well done!

(gg2ez) #4

Let’s all give this guy a round of insightful. You the real MVP.

(tropicalDirector) #5

That’s a great tip K1X455. Remember to repost this in the new-players sub forum as well. + 1

(ProfPlump) #6

[quote=“K1X455;17328”][*]Sawbonez - You’re the exact definition of a Combat Medic, so revive and heal forward players who are out of AURA’s healing station reach. It would be good to get a speed buff without health penalty for this player.
[/quote]

I really think it’s best to keep all mercs with the standard levels of movement speed and max hp balance. Plus Sawbonez really doesn’t need a buff as it is - since he outclasses Sparks almost the entire time and outclasses Aura the majority of the time.

(Eox) #7

Replacing Fletcher’s Blishlok with Hochfir would make the Empire-9 in the SMG loadouts very redundant. For the sake of his loadouts, I am against that idea. Better buff the Blishlok so it can be more appealing.

(K1X455) #8

Thanks for feedbacks. Just link to it and direct new players to see how mercs contribute to the team and kindly contribute everything you find your insightful in your DB game play. This game is has a long running time if SD takes time in detailing it. I’ll update this frequently as more mercs get introduced (Phoenix, Stoker, Aimee, Turtle, etc). I’m still learning the game in different dimensions and aspects like offense and defense pacing and leveraging tactical strength against areas of strong defense (these are advanced gameplay tactics that you see only on highly organized team play).

@crabbyDimension
Proxy has faster movement speed (She’s slightly under rated because she has no unique augment for her ability) and her movement speed is the only thing that will distinguish her from Fletcher. Fletcher’s on the other hand has a better offensive ability with Sticky Bombs because he can lob them at a distance. Sticky bombs are non-automated explosive elements and are manually detonated as opposed to Proxy’s mines. Both of them deserve Bigger Blast rather than Pineapple Juggler on Proxy or Lock-on on Fletcher (unless homming sticky).

Trigger control on Crotzni still gets good results, but yeah, the Crotzni is no longer the distinguished SMG of the game thanks to fine tuning update. The Blishlok though needs higher, larger magazine size (45rnds) or fastest reload for to compensate for downsides. Also, the current combat load of 3+1 or even with the augment Spares is marginally effective for long, intense or extended engagements.

@ProfPlump I’m not quite sure if Sparks really outclasses Sawbonez because his medpacks, although large, heal the slowest healing rate among the current medic classes. Further, the healing can get interrupted if the player get’s shot or damaged again. Spark’s small medpack however, give’s a near instant boost in health so if I’m playing Sawbonez, I am more confident in picking up what Sparks passes or drops rather than relying on my own medpack to get me to full health because I can get out of cover much sooner and get to the next person needing help.

Nader got slight movement nerf that somehow affects the fuse time of her Martyrdom. So similarly while she can get a buff in health and a nerf in speed, why not Sawbonez?

(Grave_Knight) #9

Phantom = Bullet Magnet! Absorb them bullets like a mother fucking boss (than panic like a little school kid when your cloak breaks and you run like a bitch in heat).

No joke. People will focus fire on the cloaked Phantom. Good for slowing down a crowd or drawing fire from the real danger (the three or four guys flanking the enemy).