Offense/Defense Oriented Mercs

(inscrutableShow) #1

@RazielWarmonic @stayfreshshoe

I (and the rest of the community) have noticed that the various mercs are biased towards offense or defense. For example, Stoker and Kira, among the fire supports, are much better at defense, while Skyhammer and Arty are better at offense. With medics, Sawbonez and Phoenix are offense biased, with Sparks and Aura being more suited to defense. I’ll make a little chart of all the mercs, because I feel like it:

Class; Fire Support Offense; Arty, Skyhammer Defense; Kira, Stoker

Class; Medic Offense; Phoenix, Sawbonez Defense; Aura, Sparks

Class; Engineer Offense; Fletcher, Turtle* Defense; Proxy, Bushwhacker

Class; Recon Offense; Phantom, Aimee Defense; Vassili, Redeye

Class; Assault Offense; Fragger, Nader Defense; Rhino, Thunder

  • I know Turtle hasn’t been released yet, but I think he’ll be offense oriented because the shield could be used to cover advances under fire. Also, I needed to make up a way to keep each class half and half between offense and defense.

Anyway, I tagged Raz and shoe because I want to know if the above is deliberate, or coincidental?

(Jostabeere) #2

That’s pretty much subjective, you know. I find Aura extremely offensive and Phantom better on defense. And some people would say Vassili is a very offensive, because they can play him really well.

(inscrutableShow) #3

Well, they can be played either way, but some mercs are kinda lean towards one role. That doesn’t mean that they CAN’T be played the other way, though.

(Mrarauzz) #4

Skydad doesn’t subject to your gender roles! Scottish men thrive in all sorts of scenarios!

(inscrutableShow) #5

Skyhammer is the exception, being essential to EV defense. Also, how do Scottish MEN thrive outside of gender roles?

(Mrarauzz) #6

M8 you took my comment way too seriously.

(inscrutableShow) #7

I was merely pointing out the flaw in your logic.

(LifeupOmega) #8

Lol, Phantom is no where near good enough to be an offense pick. He’s better for defense where you have the line-up to allow you to flank and cause chaos during the first few seconds of each spawn.

Also, Aimee’s SNITCH is far more suited for defensive scenarios, due to predictable routes from spawn and you always knowing the general direction they can push from. On offense your opponent’s positions vary far more than the alternative.

(KattiValk) #9

Artillery’s biggest utility is obliterating the EV (it’s still really good at area denial and sneaky kills during combat). All the Fire Supports work well for both sides.

None of the medics are really offense or defense only, though Aura’s design is defensive by nature.

Bushwhacker is kind of defensive, but Proxy being able to shoot her mines shows she was meant to have utility on offense too.

All the recons work for both sides.

Rhino is indeed kind of defensive due to movement speed, but Thunder is actually kind of offensive based because of his (semi)reliable ability to counter deployables.

Everyone still can be played on both sides though.

(Verticules) #10

It’s mostly all subjective. I think everyone can agree that Aura, Bushwacker, and Rhino are stronger holding a position, rather than on the move. There isn’t a single Merc that is worse at defense than they are at offense. It’s more of a fire lane and range advantage. Location is everything.

(SereneFlight) #11

[quote=“inscrutableShow;28545”]Class; Fire Support Offense; Arty, Skyhammer Defense; Kira, Stoker
Class; Medic Offense; Phoenix, Sawbonez Defense; Aura, Sparks
Class; Engineer Offense; Fletcher, Turtle* Defense; Proxy, Bushwhacker
Class; Recon Offense; Phantom, Aimee Defense; Vassili, Redeye
Class; Assault Offense; Fragger, Nader Defense; Rhino, Thunder[/quote]
…what?
http://37.media.tumblr.com/38d5e0cdec770c36c1cb4fe34a075f64/tumblr_n0je8pUwaV1s5exrfo1_400.gifhttps://uproxx.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/wynnwtf.gif?w=650

(BananaSlug) #12

from all mercs i only find bushwhacker and proxy more defensive and fletcher more offensive,

(doxjq) #13

Every merc is situational and everyone will use them differently. After 400 hours (on my in game profile not steam) my absolute top slaying offensive merc is Proxy. 99% of you will disagree with me but if you use her mines to take down groups while flanking combined with the KE12 Hochfir and MP400 combo she is pretty damn lethal if you can aim well. It’s the mix of fast movement and low recoil weapons that just lets me get stuff done that I can’t with other mercs. I think I put out 4.9 kills per minute with the Hochfir or something silly.

My end point is just that every merc will be used differently by almost everyone, and I kinda disagree with about 75% of your original post lol.

(ImSploosh) #14

Vassili and Redeye are generally better on offense in my opinion.

Vassili can be used defensively, but you tend to have a lot more opportunities to change positions when on offense. On defense, your best bet is to flank and create angles where you can see the enemies grouping up, but it’s difficult for them to see you. His heartbeat sensor is a great indicator on defense and offense, but the pure sniping ability is incredible for defending offensive objectives (C4 especially), taking out turrets, mines, health stations, and counter-sniping. He’s really the same on both sides though.

Redeye is much more offensive with my playstyle. However, as with Vassili, his ability, smoke, can be used defensively and offensively in a variety of ways. His guns are really good for wiping out entire teams with 1 clip. Being able to spot enemies rushing out of their spawn to defuse the C4 is also extremely useful.

But this is all very subjective. Every merc has multiple playstyles and can be used for both sides. Other than Proxy with her mines, I find the rest of the mercs are very capable for both sides. However, Proxy is definitely good on both sides; I just find her on defense to be incredible because people never pay attention to her bloody mines!

(Maverix) #15

[quote=“inscrutableShow;28545”]

  • I know Turtle hasn’t been released yet, but I think he’ll be offense oriented because the shield could be used to cover advances under fire.[/quote]

You literally just said “used to cover advances”. How are you perceiving that as an offensive ability? Overall, i’m just confused with this thread.

(Cletus_VanDamme) #16

[quote=“inscrutableShow;28545”]@RazielWarmonic @stayfreshshoe

I (and the rest of the community) have noticed that the various mercs are biased towards offense or defense. For example, Stoker and Kira, among the fire supports, are much better at defense, while Skyhammer and Arty are better at offense. With medics, Sawbonez and Phoenix are offense biased, with Sparks and Aura being more suited to defense. I’ll make a little chart of all the mercs, because I feel like it:

Class; Fire Support Offense; Arty, Skyhammer Defense; Kira, Stoker

Class; Medic Offense; Phoenix, Sawbonez Defense; Aura, Sparks

Class; Engineer Offense; Fletcher, Turtle* Defense; Proxy, Bushwhacker

Class; Recon Offense; Phantom, Aimee Defense; Vassili, Redeye

Class; Assault Offense; Fragger, Nader Defense; Rhino, Thunder

  • I know Turtle hasn’t been released yet, but I think he’ll be offense oriented because the shield could be used to cover advances under fire. Also, I needed to make up a way to keep each class half and half between offense and defense.

Anyway, I tagged Raz and shoe because I want to know if the above is deliberate, or coincidental?[/quote]

http://i.imgur.com/3s0cYa9.gif

(Brain_of_Britain) #17

null
Sir I do believe your own logic is flawed as you contradict yourself by saying the mercs can be played both ways but the point of this discussion is you saying that they can’t. I think that you should check which mercs you put in which category (especially the fire support mercs) and revise the list. However the entire issue is over play-style and is purely subjective.

(BlueSparkz) #18

I agree with everything except Sparks. She’s extremely useful on offense as she is capable of picking up fallen teammates much faster on the go.

(inscrutableShow) #19

[quote=“Brain_of_Britain;174641”]null
Sir I do believe your own logic is flawed as you contradict yourself by saying the mercs can be played both ways but the point of this discussion is you saying that they can’t. I think that you should check which mercs you put in which category (especially the fire support mercs) and revise the list. However the entire issue is over play-style and is purely subjective.[/quote]

It’s not exactly a contradiction, as I didn’t say that they CAN’T be played the other way, just that they’re better on one side.

[quote=“Maverix_GT;174335”][quote=“inscrutableShow;28545”]

  • I know Turtle hasn’t been released yet, but I think he’ll be offense oriented because the shield could be used to cover advances under fire.[/quote]

You literally just said “used to cover advances”. How are you perceiving that as an offensive ability? Overall, i’m just confused with this thread.[/quote]

“Used to cover advances”. Picture it. Underground. 2024. Turtle, Aimee, and Sawbonez are pinned down behind the little building thing that the first objective is in. Turtle lays down his shield just past the edge of the wall, allowing Nader to make it rain explosions without exposing herself, laying down cover for Bonez and Turtle to move forward.

[quote=“Dox;174329”]Every merc is situational and everyone will use them differently. After 400 hours (on my in game profile not steam) my absolute top slaying offensive merc is Proxy. 99% of you will disagree with me but if you use her mines to take down groups while flanking combined with the KE12 Hochfir and MP400 combo she is pretty damn lethal if you can aim well. It’s the mix of fast movement and low recoil weapons that just lets me get stuff done that I can’t with other mercs. I think I put out 4.9 kills per minute with the Hochfir or something silly.

My end point is just that every merc will be used differently by almost everyone, and I kinda disagree with about 75% of your original post lol.[/quote]

I use Proxy offensively a lot too, but mines. What is the base use for mines? Laying traps. Now, are traps better if you’re trying to keep someone from going somewhere you are, or going to that place yourself? Her ability is better on defense if you use it like it was intended to be used. I can’t use the whole “throw a mine on the ground then shoot it” strategy effectively, and I imagine that most noobs like me can’t either.

@grumpyBull @SereneFlight

Your use of rational argument astounds me. I have no words.

(SereneFlight) #20

[quote=“inscrutableShow;174774”]grumpyBull SereneFlight

Your use of rational argument astounds me. I have no words.[/quote]
Well, if our posts had any sort of an argument, what you just said here would make some sense.

I was going to actually post something else than just gifs but then I realized that your fascination of dividing mercs in each class type evenly to offensive and defensive camps is just so forced.