Post by kukurukukuk on Aug 22, 2018 8:32:25 GMT -5
I've been running Pulsars for 2 weeks now. I got them from the recent forum giveaway and I have to say that they are very effective in the right situation.
Rooting is very powerful
It can be game-changing at times. 600m range plus energy plus the effect, is a recipe for success.
Damage may be average, but you won't run rooting weapons for the damage. It is inconsequential. You may as well consider it an added bonus, however, at high levels they do hurt.
My Pulsars are at lvl 5 and they feel like energy molots fired from 700m.
I have them mounted on a Bulgasari, in my big-map hangar, and it is the setup I've experimented with the most.
Pulsars aren't effective just on unshielded bots, they can and do root anything, shield or not. The spread at 600m is NOT a disadvantage.
While I have some trouble rooting Lancelots, I regularly hunt Bulgasaris. You are very likely to land an immobilizing hit within a clip - sometimes you can root a second and rarely a third opponent before you have to reload.
Rooting stealth bots and particularly Spectres is trickier. Spectre pilots typically hide behind cover until their ability is ready, making it harder to catch them out in the open. If you do, it's often game over for them.
I know that I have rooted more Bulgasaris than Spectres.
All that said, Pulsars, Shredders and the upcoming rooting shotguns, are weapons that do better in teamplay.
Since you rely on someone else to deliver the damage, immobilizing random reds may or may not be of any use to your team.
In this regard they are similar to every other mid-long range weapon. You should be decisive about when to drop your rooting bot and be mindful of when it impedes your team's progress.
On the pulsars' usability there are two more things to note:
- Pix has finally implemented off-range-target-following.
- Pulsars can hit targets up to 610m.
This gives you some more options and is effectively a counter to Scourges.
We need to consider the psychlogical effect as well. Almost every pilot that I immobilize, will come after me and some waste multiple bots trying to reach me.
Something that I have not tried yet, is mixed setups. Will do so in the future.
Pulsar counters
Your biggest threat is, naturally, 600m midrange weapons.
I found Hydras to give me the most trouble.
Dragoon and Flux are dangerous no matter the bot you are running.
Shocktrains are 100m short but the jump can reach you and if you are the second bot to be hit it will hurt. Teaming up with Tulumbas or Shocktrain users has a risk.
Scourges are an annoyance but are easily avoided if you fight at the edge of 600m and break their lock.
Projected effects
Rooting weapons have introduced a very powerful mechanic. Should they become more widespread, I can see how camping and ranged fighting will become more common. Hydras in particular are very effective against them. The best counter to rooting as it is implemented now, is range.
A "good" thing is that, in a damage oriented league system, most pilots will opt for more DPS. Pulsars don't offer that and it may take a while for them to become common - factoring in the new economy and questionable component availability as well.
Also, they are not the super effective descend counter that I expected them to be.
I would like to hear about your experience too. Whether you have been the one using them or the one on the receiving end.
