Rifleman Archive

I just got sniping 3. I keep hearing that surprise shot is useless. Is this entirely true? Should I put it on my toolbar or not bother?

It's useless. It's a slow single target random pool attack with no status effects. Flurry 1 is not only better damage but also causes dizzy.

Flurry1 is better damage? Not according to the FAQ.

According to the FAQ, Suprise Shot is the highest damage (3x)single target random pool special and has lower mind cost than any of the AoE higher damage specials. I keep it on my toolbar, but I don't use it often..

I had surprise shot on my toolbar up until last night. I finally took it off because after the first day of having it added, I haven't touched it. Flurry (=dizzy) is better.

Flurry1 is faster and does a lot more damage per second. Since surprise shot is 3x damage 3x delay you might as well just use the default attack if you're concerned about HAM costs.

Supriseshot has all the same costs as Concealshot, but it trades the chance not to be seen (Concealshot) for .5x more damage (SupriseShot). That is, they have the same costs with regard to HAM and time, but Supriseshot does 3.0x times the damage where as Concealshot does only 2.5x. However, Concealshot will not allow the target to aggro on you most of the time where as Supriseshot does not prevent this.

Also, if it was working the way it was supposed to, Supriseshot would only work from cover. That is not the case right now, but that would make it even less inviting in my book since I never really use cover.

I used it once or twice, but was not that impressed, so it is no longer on my toolbar.

LLJK_Griz,

Your argument makes sense, except for the higher level speeds achieved at Master.

Any weapon that fires at 3.3 speed or less will allow a Master Rifleman to fire Surpriseshot at 1 shot per second. With a +5 speed tape or Master Marksman i addition to Master Rifleman, the weapon only has to have a speed of 6.6 to fire Surpriseshot at 1 shot per second.

A 16% powerup will take an 8.0 speed T21 to 6.8 seconds. So with tapes or Master Marskman, you could easily fire Supriseshot usinga damaged sliced T21 at very close to 1 shot per second. That would be 3x the DPS of the default attack. With a 4.7 speed E11 with a 35% speed slice or 32% speed powerup, could get that weapon very close to the 3.3 speed, and could fire Supriseshot with it at about one shot per second.

Even without it, someone with just Master Rifleman could fire Surpriseshot with an 8.0 speed T21 at something close to 2.04 seconds per shot. That is still 1.5x the DPS of the default attack.

So it is not necessarily true that you are better off with the default attack over Supriseshot. It depends on where you are with regard to speed.