Rifleman Archive
Thread: Always wanted Rifleman, couple questions
kokeaux wrote:
Hello, I will start the Rifleman tree today. Yes I am grinding holocrons but way back when I mastered Marksman I went the Pistlol route since they had great kd at the time b4 the nerf. But I've always wanted to master Rifle.
1. What rifles should you use to level?
2. I assume you go up the Headshot tree 1st.
3. What rifle should be used to start with in the marksman tree till Nov rifleman. Then I assume its T21.
thanks,
kokeaux wrote:
Hello, I will start the Rifleman tree today. Yes I am grinding holocrons but way back when I mastered Marksman I went the Pistlol route since they had great kd at the time b4 the nerf. But I've always wanted to master Rifle.
1. What rifles should you use to level?
2. I assume you go up the Headshot tree 1st.
3. What rifle should be used to start with in the marksman tree till Nov rifleman. Then I assume its T21.
thanks,
Use the DLT20 to get to Rifles I, the DLT20a to get to Rifles II, the Laser (highest max damage and AP2) to get to Rifles IV. You will want to have picked up an SG82 at Rifles II, but only to have the option for a Cold vulnerable target with high energy resists; otherwise, it is pretty useless. At Rifles III, you will want to pickup a Spraystick for its better range modifiers at close range and faster speed. But this is only really useful, due to its AP0 and pistol-like damage, as an option to continue to do rifle specials at close range. You will find you are better off switching to a Pistol or melee weapon if your chances of survival are in question at close range.
At Rifles IV, definitely get a Jawa. The Jawa gives you stun damage and AP1. This will be useful against targets vulerable to stun or with low stun resists but high energy resists. It will also be useful in PvP, but most experienced riflemen advise to avoid PvP until Master because the lack of speed will get you killed.
Also at Rifles IV, you get a new choice. The E11 is energy and AP2 like the Laser, but while it has a lower max damage than the Laser, it is faster, uses less HAM and has a higher minimum damage than the Laser. Many peolpe, including myself, prefer the E11 to the Laser. But this is a matter of choice. You will get more consistent damage with it, but you will always be able to get higher hits with the Laser. Get one and try it out.
After you make Novice, get a T21. Until Master, you will probably still usually be better off with the Laser or E11 because the T21 has higher HAM costs, usually, than either and it is slower than either. It will be useful, but not really the workhorse it will be at higher level speeds. Get one, and use it in the appropriate situations (especiallyagainst heavy armor targets).
At Counter-Sniping II, you will pickup a Cert for the Disruptor Rifle (DXR6b). The cert does not show up right now, but that is where it will be added, and it acts like it is there. So when you get to CS2, pick one up. It has high minimum damage, is AP2, and is Acid damage. I will withhold judgement on the other new rifles until I actually use them.
Before Master (and before the DXR6b was added, I used the E11, the T21, and Jawa as my three primary weapons. I would switch to pistol more than use the Spraystick. But I would have the E11, the T21, the Jawa, a Laser rifle, the SG82, and Spraystick all on hot-keys for when I needed them.
Since Master and with the edition of the DXR6b, I have the T21, the Jawa, the DXR6B as my primary fighting weapons. I carry the E11 when not fighting to appear as a Carbineer and for its lower HAM costs for quick fights. And I have the SG82 and Spraystick still available. I do not use the Laser at all at this point. For close in fighting, I picked up Swordsman and Brawler for backup.
kokeaux wrote:
Hello, I will start the Rifleman tree today. Yes I am grinding holocrons but way back when I mastered Marksman I went the Pistlol route since they had great kd at the time b4 the nerf. But I've always wanted to master Rifle.
1. What rifles should you use to level?
2. I assume you go up the Headshot tree 1st.
3. What rifle should be used to start with in the marksman tree till Nov rifleman. Then I assume its T21.
thanks,
If you can get your focus buffed whenever you use it, Headshot3 is a good shot. However, unbuffed, you are better off with Headshot2 because the extra mind costs of Headshot3 outweigh the extra damage you do to the target. Also, since the bleeds nerf, Mindshot2 is only really useful in a long fight. Thus, I would recommend the following:
0 1 0 x first for Concealshot. Then use Headshot2 or Concealshot to get to 0 1 3 x for Flushingshot2 to get a high damage area effect shot that applies Stun. Using Flushingshot2will help you level quickly due to its high damage and area effect. Then go back up to 4 1 3 x to pickup Accuracy as well as Mindshot2 (gimped but not useless), Headshot3 (useful with a high focus), and Snipershot (PvP only Ranged DB). Surpriseshot is not all that useful. This also picks up your accuracy. Then I would go 44 3x then 4 4 4 x.
Of course, pickup the Rifle Special Abilities skills as soon as they are available. This raises your speed, and speed is what makes us viable.
I used a laser rifle to get novice rifleman. Now I use a T21 almost exclusively.
I picked up Intermediate Concealment first to get /concealshot. I was very, very slow, but I could hunt solo with only a V.Brandyor Muon mind buff well above my weight class. There's an untrained weilder of the Dark Side spawn 50m from my front door that I have to clear out whenever I go home, and /concealshot makes it an easy, if slow, kill.
After that, it was all the way up the accuracy tree for me. Missing /concealshots gets you noticed and attacked. I don't like being attacked.