So what is the viability of a grenadier build.

ryokoryu · August 2017

Title says it all, all the grenade powers from munitions. Also entangling mesh as it is a grenade so to speak. The viability of this is the big question. is it worth trying or are they pretty useless aside from some basic CC?

flowcyto · August 2017

Two of the grenades provide easy access to 2 nice debuffs. One can bleed, other can put up CF, the 3rd can stun. So yea.. they can be pretty useful on the whole. I'd prob use it in a BB build, since it can take adv of both dmg debuffs and its in-set:

(Unnamed Build) - Freeform
v2.2.3-24

Super Stats
Level 6: Dexterity (Primary)
Level 10: Recovery (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)

Talents
Level 1: The Predator (Str: 10, Con: 8, Dex: 10, Rec: 10)
Level 6: Acrobat (Dex: 5, Con: 5)
Level 9: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 12: Impresario (Dex: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 15: Boundless Reserves (Con: 5, End: 5)
Level 18: Accurate (Dex: 5, End: 5)
Level 21: Amazing Stamina (Rec: 5, End: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Gunslinger
Level 1: Bullet Hail (Rank 2, Wall of Bullets)
Level 6: Killer Instinct
Level 8: Form of the Tempest
Level 11: Composure (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Frag Grenade (Rank 2, Cuts and Scrapes)
Level 17: Incendiary Grenade (No Quarter)
Level 20: Bullet Ballet (Rank 2, Not Without Incident)
Level 23: Concussion Grenade (Rank 2, Stun Grenade)
Level 26: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 29: Lock N Load (Rank 2)
Level 32: Energy Shield (Rank 2)
Level 35: Rebirth
Level 38:
Adv. Points: 29/36

Travel Powers
Level 6:
Level 35:

Specializations
Dexterity: Gear Utilization (3/3)
Dexterity: Power Swell (2/2)
Dexterity: Deadly Aim (3/3)
Dexterity: Expose Weakness (2/2)
Warden: Fortified Gear (2/3)
Warden: Slaughter (3/3)
Warden: Ruthless (2/2)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (3/3)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (2/3)
Mastery: Warden Mastery (1/1)

Last power can be w/e. Gears mostly for Dex, w/ some Con and Rec.

bluhman · August 2017

Mini-mines also isn't a bad melee attack at all now, and is a pretty good mixup move for crushing melee setups (and also gets benefits from both debuffs at once incidentally). Only annoying thing is that it's counted as a pet attack so it doesn't stack enrage, even with its knockdown, but if you're going dex that probably shouldn't be an issue.

ryokoryu · August 2017

was more thinking with the grenades being the main offense. it sounds like they are just good for the debuffs from what I see here.

pantagruel01 · August 2017

ryokoryu said:
was more thinking with the grenades being the main offense. it sounds like they are just good for the debuffs from what I see here.

All of the grenades are click powers with cooldowns; you need something to fill the time between them.

jaazaniah1 · August 2017

Here's my take on such a character:

Buckshot the Grenadeer 2 - Freeform
v2.2.3-24

Super Stats
Level 6: Ego (Primary)
Level 10: Constitution (Secondary)
Level 15: Recovery (Secondary)

Talents
Level 1: The Invincible (Con: 10, End: 10, Int: 10, Ego: 8)
Level 6: Ascetic (Con: 5, Ego: 5)
Level 9: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 12: Wordly (Ego: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 15: Healthy Mind (Con: 5, Int: 5)
Level 18: Academics (Int: 5, Ego: 5)
Level 21: Negotiator (Int: 5, Rec: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Gunslinger
Level 1: Bullet Hail (Rank 2, Rank 3, Extra Bullets)
Level 6: Concentration
Level 8: Frag Grenade (Rank 2, Open Wound)
Level 11: Targeting Computer (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Killer Instinct
Level 17: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Concussion Grenade (Stun Grenade)
Level 23: Holdout Shot (Stim Pack)
Level 26: Mini Mines (Stim Pack)
Level 29: Gatling Gun (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 32: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 35: Imbue (Rank 2)
Level 38: Energy Shield (Rank 2)
Adv. Points: 36/36

Travel Powers
Level 6: Athletics (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Jet Pack (Rank 2)

Specializations
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Follow Through (3/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (2/3)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: Find the Mark (2/3)
Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (2/3)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (3/3)
Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)

Not yet 40 with endgame gear, so energy with gatling gun is still an issue. Against mooks it's fun to throw out mini mines, lob the grenades as they close in and finish off with Bullet Hail.

One thing I'm not clear on is if one can have 2 stim packs going at the same time.

criswolf09 · August 2017

No, when you use a Stim pack skill, it places a shared 4 secs cooldown until the debuff expires.

ryokoryu · August 2017

yeah I am in the proccess of experimenting with HW all cooldown skills build and was kinda hoping to do the same with the nades. The HW build started out slow but picked up a lot of momentum when I got the third CD skill and the nano thing that takes off time from all recharge skills. I also PSS int on it so as to take advantage of the cooldown reduction with energy builders

ryokoryu · August 2017

btw havn't got that nano skill yet

flowcyto · August 2017

ryokoryu said:
yeah I am in the proccess of experimenting with HW all cooldown skills build and was kinda hoping to do the same with the nades. The HW build started out slow but picked up a lot of momentum when I got the third CD skill and the nano thing that takes off time from all recharge skills. I also PSS int on it so as to take advantage of the cooldown reduction with energy builders

There isn't a spammable grenade power, so you'll just have to accept that a 'grenadier build' is best off getting a spammable attack (that isn't an end builder) to fill time. You can go w/o one, ofc, and rely on an end builder to fill time, but then ur sustained dps will take a nose-dive (and none of the end builders are grenades anyways, so it doesn't make thematic sense to make an exception for using them and not also extend that to a normal attack).

Also, when you mention the "nano skill", do you mean Nanobot Swarm? Cause that should already be available to ur FFs, and keep in mind that the power itself is on a longer cd (similar to that of ADs, ults, and AOs).

pantagruel01 · August 2017

If you want explosion spam, missile power armor builds are the way to go, but those are pretty obviously rockets, not grenades.

flowcyto · August 2017

Right, I was about to suggest using Tac Missiles, as its thematically adjacent (at least), it could serve as both AoE and single-target filler (w/ its adv), and it being Crushing dmg means both debuffing grenades affect it. Would prob use Int SS + MSA as the EU if sticking to the grenade powers w/ it. Could also throw in Rocket from Muni in there; even if its a cd, you could buff it w/ Preemptive Strike in Avenger if also using a blast like Tac Missiles.

(that actually sounds like a fun build, I may have to try it on the pts for the helluvit)

ryokoryu · August 2017

Yeah it really does look like the concept is a doomed one. The Nano skill is more of a when I need burst for say a boss in a mission. So this idea is DOA. already have a lvl 40 rocket PA build.

So what is the viability of a grenadier build.

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