This is one change I would like dev notes on, partially because it feels like it was snuck in.
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Ok, I tested Vet post-patch with the weakspot damage node increase from 15% to 30%. This is largely addressing the issues, but Ragers still require a crit to one–hit headshot. A lot of enemies still survive from close range headshots, but it has to be ultra close range.
We’re getting there. It’s so close.
I was honestly so disappointed that it was only for melee weapons. I wanted to try out a crit bolter running but ig its back to shattering impact and pinning fire.
So if it’s self rending buff now rather than brittle debuff, I have to wonder:
- What is the duration of the buff
- Does it stay active for that duration when swapping to ranged weapon
I could see some potential fun hybrids shenanigans here with like knife + brauto or similar.
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I devised this build for Accatran with a friend based on his preferences. Worked well in the field.
I mean the point is, as a vet you really have no reason to use melee when you can shoot enemies from afar
Inaccurate. Melee/hybrid Vet is very strong post patch 14.
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Yeah, Power Sword could 2 shots Crusher ez. Who need THammer anyway.
The entire right side of the vet tree really is just a confused mess tbh, It wants to be the melee/ranged hybrid hot swap tree… Except when it doesn’t, it wants to be a stealth tree, except when it doesn’t. It wants to have the highest “Raw” toughness node… Except the two talents that keep you from dying and losing that toughness are in the middle and far left.
It’s like they were too fearful of what pre nerf power sword vet was like and tap danced around the hypothetical situation.
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Not really. The way the quick swap and melee damage talents are sorted, you can combine them or go one or the other.
I have a melee vet build in which I only picked the melee relevant skills and it feels good to play. Once you get comfortable with the idea of forgoing “nice to have” skills and see many of his talents for precisely that, you start enjoying the class again.
Recon lasguns. That’s why.
Definitely agree. The weapon balance changes from patch 14 have really opened up some variety to vet, and I have been feeling very effective across a large number of builds/weapons.
To the topics original point:
I was looking forward to the changes to exploit weakness (before learning it was melee only) because I thought it was a nice trade-off for slower firing weapons. Then disappointed when I saw it was stealth changed to melee only, but in the greater context of weapon balancing I am not sure it really matters. Many ranged weapons were improved, including their effectiveness against armor. In a sense it was built right into the weapons. The new talent is excellent for melee/hybrid vets now, and melee/hybrid vets feel very effective.
I think the recon mkVId got hit a little too hard, but that is more due to the internal cooldown now on shocktrooper and the nerfs to the weapon itself than the change to exploit weakness.
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Are you referring to maelstrom and auric mission?
Yes. All content auric and Maelstrom included.
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I do agree that melee vet could be strong but I’m not sure how melee vet could deal with each of the 10+ crushers waves in maelstrom
Power sword two shots them. Nades and VoC both hard stagger them, Kraks are an option, and there’s nothing stopping you bringing plasma or an onslaught autogun (onslaught is on the way to some of the best melee talents anyway) if you really don’t want to get anywhere near them.
Honestly though what build isn’t a little scared of 10 crushers running up to them? A few Ogryn builds come to mind but generally that’s just scary for anyone if you don’t also have at least one other team mate focusing them down.
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How do you build a Powersword that does that? Haven’t been following Psword stuff sonce patch 13.
Personally on my hybrid I run a crit chainsword for exploit weakness and a Kantrael shotty and I love that build.
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This should have most of what you need: https://youtu.be/ggcSlbYWTn4?si=e3vGAKBlLQskVKa7
TL;DR on the Mk VI good damage rolls, power cycler (T3 is fine) and a carapace perk should let you push attack → light head shot kill a crusher. I only have a good Mk III so can’t test unfortunately.
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You say that, but after experimenting a lot I have found melee vet to unironically be the strongest of three vets. @alsozara is correct.
Going deep melee you get a lot of baseline crit and attack speed, melee damage, a few passives that stack and you constantly apply brittleness to anything that survives your crits.
As a bonus, you can go full melee and still decide if you want the clutch revive scream or the clutch stealth. You just need a good melee weapon. I’d even say melee Vet has more damage output than melee Ogryn (but he is less tanky).
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Counter argument, Mark 3b club exists