Pulsar versus Blaster
Mié, 01/14/2015 - 19:16
Lots of the traits that these guns have cancel out. So, here are a few traits that cancel out with these guns:
- Both have good knockback
- Both have three shot round
- Both deal normal damage
But here is the big difference that makes me choose the Blaster line over the Pulsar line.
The Blaster bullets have a greater speed than the Pulsar's bullets.
This makes the Blaster the gun to switch switches, hit fast monsters (I always bring my Magnus with me for hitting Fiends and Beasts and Menders; read my Magnus versus Antigua post for more info), and all of that stuff.
What are your opinions?
Vie, 01/16/2015 - 06:33
#2
The blasters offer a continuous stream of simple, single target damage while the pulsars offer a more sweeping type motion that benefits in larger, open areas with many enemies. The blasters are a more solid option in general, but the pulsars can offer more in certain situations provided you're already set for close combat type situations.
Example of wildfire: if you have divine avenger backing you up, then wildfire could be used to harass mobs that refuse to get close to you, forcing them into corners and mauling them there. Mobs that do get close to you end up getting smacked away repeatedly until they die.
Example of arcana: if you have blitz needle or dread venom striker, you're probably going to be putting yourself in danger quite often to use these. You can switch to arcana to deal safe and effective damage while strafing around, and then put yourself at risk to get work done when needed.
As far as I'm concerned, these two guns are fairly well balanced with one another, as you cannot really make a straight comparison between them. The devs definitely get an A+ as far as these two weapons go.
Vie, 01/16/2015 - 18:03
#3
I know knockback is different.
I know knockback is different. Just they both deal excellent knockback.
Fehzor made a really good point on the subject of crowd control. The Pulsar is mainly a support weapon, and is not all that fit for a multi-purpose weapon. Fehzor also said that the blaster was unfit for crowd control, and I agree to that. However, I say that the Blaster is able to be used in a large crowd, if used properly. You could just kite around, dealing a steady stream of damage. But that is tedious. So, for now, I conclude that the Pulsar is the best for hitting enemies, but hitting switches is a problem. I always equip my Blaster and Magnus as a multi-purpose set, and both of those weapons are single enemy guns. For me, dealing area damage is not the best, because in my opinion, why deal weak and widespread damage while leaving enemies functional and living while you could one by one, make enemies unfuctional and dead? That is one major factor that causes me to work with the Blaster and Magnus lines. As for widespread damage, and if you are playing solo, then you could just use your Magnus's charge attack and pierce through a ton of enemies, dealing damage the whole while. As for Slimes and Constructs, the charge can still be effective. It hits multiple times, and it only takes me three charges with a Level 10 Magnus to fell a Tier 2 Lumber.
Sáb, 01/17/2015 - 03:35
#4
Yes, why leave them functional and living for longer than necessary? Why tediously pick off one monster at a time with good single-target DPS when you could much more quickly blanket a whole mess of them with good multi-target DPS?
Magnus/Tundrus is good for picking off single targets and for taking huge bites out of dense mobs. I like the Magnus-types because they offer both of those capabilities. I also like Autoguns and Alchemers for the same reason, though all 3 types differ both in how they offer those capabilities and in what other goodies they offer. Magnus is nice in parties for flinching monsters so that others can more easily tear them up, for example.
There are 2 things which I think the Magnus seems to be the best choice for. First, the Magnus/Tundrus types seem to combine well with any other weapons, so I think of them as a new middle-weight gun option that we've been lacking before the update. I've gotten comfortable with the Alchemer & Autogun combo, so now that there's a single weapon that often substitutes well enough for either, I have more freedom to mess around with another weapon type. Second, Magnus-types are great for reaching into dense mobs to scratch that hard-to-reach healer, though unfortunately it's stopped by Mecha Knights' shields, when the final wave of an arena is where that capability is very desirable.
There are times when I have to dance around monsters, such as when stuck with them in tight quarters, without cover to hide behind. For those, I am comfortable using a Blaster but I'd much rather have an Alchemer. Blaster knockback is really nice, but the Alchemers' higher DPS carries the day, so Blasters are better for moderately oppressive situations but Alchemers are better for tougher spots. Alchemers also have a much more useful charge attack, and at T3 the Thwackers' shields seem to make them extra-vulnerable to my Shadow Driver's multi-hit goodness. (for both uncharged and charged attacks)
Practicality-wise, I think Blaster is the best light weapon for Ironclaw, that being one place where its knockback really shines and Alchemers' multi-hit mechanics are actually detrimental. It's nice to have a Shadow version since that's ideal for the most hazardous mosters there. I used to consider Blaster and Pepperbox lines the ideal gun combo for that place, but the new Dark Chaingun should be even better than Pepper.
Sáb, 01/17/2015 - 09:50
#5
Pokemonviolinist
It's a little amusing that you praise Fehzor's comments about crowd control, when the phrase "crowd control" appears in my post and not in Fehzor's. :)
If you really want to nullify enemies by simply killing them, then why are we talking about pulsars and blasters at all? Talk about autoguns, alchemers (mentioned by Mnemonomnomnom), and magnuses.
Sáb, 01/17/2015 - 10:08
#6
Honestly it's more of crowd harassment than control. If you have say, ash of Agni, you can control agro and keep them in a repeatable loop of fire damage. That's control. If you have wildfire on the other hand, you can deal a ton of damage to a bunch of them and maybe kill a single one of them, but it doesn't set you up to do it again unless you somehow corner all of them. That's harassment.
Mié, 01/21/2015 - 12:46
#7
....
Pulsars really shine when they can corner targets (hard in a multi-knight group) or lock down narrow paths preventing monsters from getting in.
Blasters are much faster and are better at dealing with faster enemies. The knockback is effective at any range and is useful for kiting about or if needed making room in tight spaces.
Lun, 01/26/2015 - 14:26
#8
.
I have 3 blasters and 3 pulsars, so I consider myself an expert:)
Like pointed out before, blasters are probably the most reliable and easy to use/understand guns. No ricocheting, no expanding, no tagging, just fire away. They deal good damage, have a good range and have good knockback, so overall they are... good. They never truly shine however, they don't deal as much burst damage as Autoguns and don't have as much suppression capabilities as Pulsars. Just use them to kite around and the enemies will eventually die.
Pulsars are unlike Blasters very well suited for specific situations, but completely useless for other ones. Most people say Pulsars are spammable easy to use solo weapons, but this is definitely not true. First of all Pulsars actually require a lot of skill, since they are only useful when you are in control of the room and all enemies are far away. Imagine you are attacking some Gremlins with your Permafroster. You have them all cornered, but suddenly a single Thwacker surprises you from behind. He is too close for your Pulsar, and while you are busy killing him the others escape. The second thing is that a combination of Pulsar suppressors and Brandish hitters works a lot better than a solo Pulsar. The Brandisher doesn't have to worry about flinching and statuses, the Pulsar does that, and the Pulsar is protected from close-range attacks. You can also use a full Pulsar-party to create an impassable bullet wall.
Blasters are the first things you should craft. They are easier to use and can be used in more different situations, unlike the Pulsar which is an utility weapon. When you get further into the game Pulsars become very useful however, since at that point your arsenal will be varied enough to protect you from things you can't suppress with your Pulsar.
1. Everything ends up at 5 stars, even though Radiants are rare. You should plan all of your equipment based on 5-star items. At the 5-star level, you can't get pulsars in piercing.
2. Both of these guns have knockback, but it's really pretty different knockback. Anyone who has used these guns knows what I mean, so I won't bother to explain it.
3. Pulsars do more damage at long range than at short range. Blasters don't have any such dynamic.
4. Pulsars offer a few statuses. Blasters don't.
In the end, my opinion is that blasters are reliable but rather boring. Pulsars are easily misused but highly useful in the hands of a skilled knight in the right context (crowd control).