While I don't have a VP, I do own a Grim Repeater which also has the same knockback effect, and I can tell you even if you land a few less shots w/ it due to the kb, it'll still wreck anything which isn't strong vs shadow dmg (ofc you need to be standing somewhat close to monsters to do the most dmg). One charge-shotting lumbers and mecha knights, heck yeah!

As you said, the VP's dmg even with the fire (and its not so recent buff) is less than the Blitz/GR's dmg vs neutral enemies, which can cover all 6 monster families.

I personally consider it crap, not due to the kb, rather the less dmg it can output. Unless you are a collector, or have some extra funds, don't get it, stick w/ blitz/gr.

If it had the skin as the other 5* autoguns, I may'd have got it, a red blitz would look bada$$, but atm it looks like a stupid toy imo.

It has the usual pros of normal damage and it pulls it off fairly well. The grim repeater and blitz needle combination is incredibly powerful, but lacking on certain levels despite "covering all 6 monster families".. for instance, ghosts in the machine features construct and undead, making volcanic pepperbox the best option. Vanaduke's mask and tortodrones are also weak to normal damage, which should make volcanic pepperbox a better fit than either blitz needle or grim repeater... so it isn't completely useless and terrible.

The real selling point is that its normal hits inflict fire and can be used to ignite crowds of enemies at a distance, making it good for hit and run tactics that are less applicable with blitz needle and grim repeater. This gives it more utility in some ways than blitz needle/grim repeater, but utility that isn't really associated with autoguns because of how awful it was on blitz needle prior to the gunner update. Generally the role of high single target damage is more valuable than the offense+support oriented role of lighting enemies on fire and softening crowds for team mates to crush, but valuable in a different sense.

You're also looking at a weapon that works just about everywhere, so if you wanted a starting loadout that would get you through to the post-vanguard missions with as little crafting as possible, volcanic pepperbox would do the job incredibly well. It counters all three of the major bosses, and can even help out a bit on post game content.

Lastly the knockback doesn't have to be bad for it. You just need to get closer and understand how far back they'll get pushed to land all of it. When you've got that down, the knockback becomes beneficial. The technique showed in my video should still work, even though the gun has been changed. What a nostalgic video by the way. I was so bad at the game back then, in retrospect.

@Traevelliath "And before Fehzor gets mad..."

HOW DARE YOU MENTION TSUBASA'S PEPPERBOX FILM WITH MINE AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT? >:0

Naw, I really don't care that much. Tsubasa's is probably a bit nicer than mine anyway.

Really it depends on where you are in the game and how you play. If you play as a hybrid class and are comfortable with abusing types of damage (e.g. point damage, crowd control, finishing moves) more than just damage types (normal, elemental, piercing, shadow), then it'll be a pretty good option for you, provided you need what it offers. There are a lot of other items that would take precedent over it and are more significant on the whole, but it's a good item to have around.

Or if you're at the start of the game and are ahead of the curve. It would make an excellent starting weapon for someone that can handle it.

This gun can do lots of work

High knockback and flinch make it useful defensively
The high damage makes it good offensively
The Fire makes for a good hit and run play

It's a good sidearm for sword users who want something to hit whatever their swords are resisted by.

Plague Needle is a perfectly usable gun. It's damage is indeed lower than the other Autoguns. However, it's still an autogun, so it'll still rip stuff up.

Although if you want mass poison: Venom Veiler.

Plague needle has the potential to be much better than blitz needle, but never really gets to use that potential. Specifically, in the presence of a healer it would get boosted damage via the healer, and that boosted damage could easily put it over the top.

Damage with blitz: Some number - amount healed
Damage with plague: A bit less + amount damaged by healer

As the amount healed rises, so does the worth of bringing plague needle over blitz needle. The problem is that venom veiler does a much better job of all this healer reversing, and that there just aren't areas where this is applicable as blitz either one shots, still does more damage overall or can just be used to kill the mender.

Plague needle can also be used to buff people using blitz needle against Vanaduke, but if you've got 4 people needling Vanaduke then you aren't going to need the buff anyway.

You can use it effectively as as a support weapon to debuff crowds of enemies, though it's hard to quantify how much support you're actually giving and I really can't say how effective this actually is and again, just use venom veiler.

Should I get a shade helm?Cause right now Cyclops Cap is ma helmet, and.... it has no defence. I'm not gonna get Shadowsun cause personally, I'm not allowed that much play time, so I cannot get 5* items easily. Need to nudge it :( So is the 4* shade helm good? Which effect should I get, or should I get a Sentinel Helm? [I want shade helm cause most of t3 is shadow]

What's your other armor piece? Maybe you already have enough shadow defense.

If you want the helmet for shadow defense, then why would you even consider Sentinel?

You should probably get Firefly, for the sake of Firestorm Citadel. Definitely do not get Snakebite. But (as Fehzor says) Seerus is probably better. So consider that too.

My general advice is that you don't spend much of your resources on armor. Get a decent set, and then spend your resources trying different weapon styles.

Don't get another shield if you're having trouble finishing the 4- and 5-star items you have. Volcanic Plate is fine for defense. But consider getting Swiftstrike Buckler for offense. Even if you don't like it, you haven't wasted much money. (Haven't we been through all of this already?)

You already have a decent Firestorm Citadel set (Seerus with Chaos). So choose your Shade armor to have shock or freeze resistance.

defence too low...I cannot notice the ASI at all. I think its very minimal for guns or something, especially on my antigua/silversix.

You are right that Swiftstrike breaks very quickly. But ASI has about the same effect on guns as on swords: about 4%. See the wiki page Abilities. (I haven't seen studies since the gunner update, but ASI probably hasn't changed.) You don't notice it much on antiguas because those guns already require very fast clicking and your finger probably gets tired. No kidding.

And I was thing shade+chaos for FSC (with shade being the helmet and fire) shock super-downside is OK as a shield can block shock.

In FSC, normal and fire protection are most important. After that maybe elemental is next most important. Shadow is not very important, because its main source is zombies, which are easily dodged. The most dangerous threats (Vanaduke, slag guards, trojans) are mostly normal. I would much rather wear Seerus+Chaos than 4*Shade+Chaos in FSC.

There's not much shock in FSC --- just an occasional trojan buff attack, which is easily dodged. Not worth thinking about. I was recommending shock protection for other missions.

shock super-downside is OK as a shield can block shock

In case you don't know, shields don't block attacks anything like armor does. A shield doesn't protect you at all when you aren't using it. You might read the wiki page Shield or Shieldbearer Guide if this is news to you.

If you don't have time to play, and you are unable to earn money, then what use is equipment advice? And why do your threads always end like this?

Right. So getting the black kat hood should be no problem- just wait for that event (which is even more plausible since you have more time outside of the game and less inside of the game) and you'll be totally fine. It only costs 70 tokens to get, and doesn't (shouldn't) be upgraded to 4* anyway. If you get a book, even better. In the mean time you can start to build up an investment strategy to overcome your limitations.

Please stop selling your precious possessions. Just keep them.