So I'm starting a new character but I don't know how to chose a bomb.
I have a friend that will be main damage (running swords) so I want to run bombs, and one of them obviously has to be shivermist buster. For my second bomb, I'm looking for something that can do a little damage, and I find nitronome kind of boring.
Is the Ash of Agni a viable choice? Is it wise to have 2 haze bombs or should I get like Dark Briar Barrage?
Bomber bombs?
Wed, 10/04/2017 - 18:46
Wed, 10/04/2017 - 20:29
#2
Long time ago...
I played this game a long time ago, and I've never noticed a problem with the Shard bombs, was it the thing where some hits wont register?
Also, is it going to be a problem to run DBB considering my new knight is only at Snarby and the next 2 bosses are both resistant to the bomb? And would it be better if I ran a sword/handgun rather than a bomb?
Wed, 10/04/2017 - 22:47
#3
:/
DBB is going to be crucial for any fiend/beast levels, you can run a haze bomb as support. You can use poison haze bomb so your primary damage bomb can deal more damage.
The normal blast bomb is also good to keep around if you craft demo suit.
The only haze bomb good for damage is ash of agni.
Shard bombs are still garbage despite what some people may want to tell you, the only one note worthy is the salt bomb as it is good against slow moving jelly. Dark retribution will still be better though.
Vortex is more for veteran bombers, and it is highly situational. Like most bombs.
Personally I would run gun/bomb for a more support oriented knight. Since RT/Vanaduke will be a pain in the butt for a pure bomb build.
Thu, 10/05/2017 - 03:37
#4
When I was new to the game I went straight for purebombing and ran AoA + RSS. Of course, that was back when RSS was a completely different beast from what it is now.
AoA is a very safe, easy-to-use damage bomb that's not bad at all for kiting large amounts of mobs, but you can get the job done faster. I used to fight the 12-mecha wave in arenas with everyone dead on the floor using AoA all the time. You said one bomb was definitely going to be a shiver. This actually combines fairly well with AoA because enemies that stop being on fire can be once more set on fire. However, it does mean the freeze itself won't do much. Midnight-DJ is wrong, however, Voltaic Tempest is incredibly good at damage if you can just gather the enemies together.
Shard bombs are not bad, especially early game. Compared to other T2 damage bombs, they cover a larger area and potentially deal more damage. more damage means you will stagger enemies more. With some damage bonus, they're capable of killing enemies in a single bomb. They're fun, and once you become really skilled with them the game will no longer punish you for it. Depending on terrain and your allies shards can now massively outperform other damage bombs. Radius bombs are easier to get good damage with in completely open terrain, but if you can bring your fight to walls and corridors, shards are really good. If you're in T2, I recommend using the damage vs enemy perks on your sprites. Damage bonuses count for a lot on shards. Unfortunately, that probably means you'll need multiple of them since appropriate damage types are a must-
Vortex is a good damage bomb as well. A bit slow, again, but very safe since you can put the bomb between yourself and your enemies, keeping them under control. It doesn't even need to be Electron Vortex, but that one is usually considered better. The pull radius is really bad before 5*, I'm not sure I'd start with it. Despite that, you can make it work.
My "I'm too lazy to do anything complicated" loadout is Dark Briar Barrage + Dark Retribution. With these two bombs you do at least neutral damage to any enemy in the game, and neutral DR damage is nothing to sneeze at. Operation Crimson Hammer does not cost particularly more than buying orbs for a 5* weapon, and you get two other good pieces of gear from it too. DBB is also substantially easier to use than Nitronome since it's purely about kiting and staggering, and not at all about predicting blast directions.
Thu, 10/05/2017 - 04:39
#5
@Zeddy
Midnight-DJ is wrong, however, Voltaic Tempest is incredibly good at damage if you can just gather the enemies together.
Correct if I am wrong, but when I checked the wiki, AoA's fire DoT is still about 4 times higher than that of the shock damage from VT, plus the former tick on a more frequent basis thus quicker damage. The only thing I see VT good for is when you want to save weapon slot and can't pick between AoA or shivermist.
Vortex is a good damage bomb as well. A bit slow, again, but very safe since you can put the bomb between yourself and your enemies, keeping them under control.
Vortex needs another high damage dealing weapon like sword to work. And Zeddy has neglected to inform you that when the vortex expires, it launches the mobs within in random directions. This can catch you with your pants down if you spam it too much. For all we know it can hurl a lumber right into your face.
And the long charge time + movement speed debuff means you will get hit, a lot. And its DPS (low thanks to the charge time) leaves something to be desired.
Thu, 10/05/2017 - 06:41
#6
The vortex thing is a common misconception. You don't need anything except for the bomb itself to deal damage with it. Swords and guns are helped immensely by the vortex, but if you use graviton vortex against enemies weak to shadow, your DPS will be higher than with Big Angry Bomb, yet considerably safer. The flinging is only a problem for inexperienced bombers. Blast bombs also fling enemies all over the place and nobody complains about that. Any bombers worth their rock salt are able to snap up the spread enemies right into the next graviton bomb by planting them just a little bit slower. It's actually a good case for Bombastic Demo.
Even if you do want to spice up your vortex damage, swords and guns are not necessary. Status barriers, shock vials, fire vials, and especially seraphinx laser will absolutely destroy a vortexed group of enemies. Freeze or shock will both prevent enemies from spreading out should you want to prevent that. This is all assuming you're playing solo and there are never anyone else in your party ready to exploit the ripe damage opportunity your vortex creates.
Fire ticks consistently every two seconds, and depending on resistance the ticks can possibly out damage shock ticks (which happen at random intervals). The advantage of shock is it's area of effect. If you clump four enemies together, every tick will hit all four enemies, quadrupling the total damage done. Many areas contain considerably more enemies than just four. This works wonderfully combined with a vortex, which is why people think electron vortex is the only good one. VT + any vortex does an even better job both in damage and control, and you only need the first vortex to gather the enemies in place.
Thu, 10/05/2017 - 09:15
#7
I do recall you posting here in the past. Welcome back it is nice to see you again.
I'd mostly listen to Zeddy on this one, except for the part where he tells you that no one minds when you knock enemies around with blast bombs. That's going to annoy your sword friend to death because he'll be trying to get in a hit with something like combuster and you'll separate all the enemies and he can't hit them-- and he would have done more damage than you, because swords have stronger but smaller charges. This isn't to say damage bombs or knockback are strictly bad or anything though, you can still use them to great effect when there are enough enemies to warrant it.
Personally my vote is shadow/piercing shards, because that loadout never sees play and it got a slight buff that makes it much cleaner and more damaging. I think that the time tested loadout of dark retribution + dark briar barrage is still better, but dark retribution requires you to purchase a thing making it somewhat very expensive, and dark briar is a boss item, also making it expensive. The piercing shard bombs are more damaging than dark briar barrage as well, they just require effort to use and don't have the anti-bubble effect that I enjoy and also aren't as straightforward. I can't believe I'm saying this, but shards actually seem like a solid option. You can even get the elemental one for FSC if you want.
Thu, 10/05/2017 - 13:55
#8
Cool!
From what I can gather, the DBB is a very solid item, I wont mind grinding for the bomb, especially since my other acc magically has the 3* one already from like a year ago...
I've used shard bombs before and I don't really like them, they seem kind of uncontrollable with the shard ticking and the multiple knockback possibilities. I like Fehzor's point about the knockback with my friend, I was trying out with the 1* bombs (cold snap firecracker) and it does knock it out of his sword radii and sometimes into him.
I'm pretty sure the Vortex (graviton, no way I'm grinding Lockdown) seems like a solid second bomb, that can maybe sub the shivermist out. (I also have the Shiver on my main already so I wont mind.)
I also have the expansion ones already unlocked from a long time ago, so I can just run those when I want to.
Thanks for everyone that responded, but I have 1 last curious topic: Zeddy said that the Graviton does enough damage (which I trust that it does from the stats) but can anyone give a bomb that can be comparable to the graviton? Like damage wise? And also, is there a massive difference from running the 3* or 4* version? Since grinding up orbs take a little while when you don't have FSC, and I might just stick with 4*.
P.S Props to Zeddy, Midnight-DJ, and Fehzor, I remember you guys from before and I love how you guys are still sticking around! (and bopp of course)
P.P.S a little off topic but where do u guys grind for cash thats not super hard to solo
Thu, 10/05/2017 - 17:26
#9
where is bopp?
he should have said something by now.
:/
Fri, 10/06/2017 - 02:12
#10
@Nertgvv
The difference between 3*, 4* and 5* graviton is enormous. It's the radius of the pull effect that increases massively especially at 5*. Even if you never heat it, I still think you should upgrade it to 5*, although that does make it a bad damage bomb.
Electron Vortex does the exact same damage as the blast from all the vaporizers. Graviton does a little more than that, 5%-10%. Charge time is the same, but might feel slower just from the walk speed.
I made a DPS chart forever ago. It's a bit broken. You can see that the DPS is more or less equal to BAB, which isn't anything spectacular but you will get stuff killed. I know bombers who swear to vortex as a damage bomb since it can be used to suck up all the mobs in a spawn at once, and it's got a ton of synergy with basically anything.
Apocrea should be coming soon where you can get Obsidian Crusher. It inflicts strong poison which is an incredibly helpful status to inflict in arenas.
Cashwise I like to find T3 arenas, but I don't mind doing FSC if that's the best option at the time. It's not hard to solo with a little practice. On one of my alts I would run it with Cyclop Cap and Fencing Jacket.
Fri, 10/13/2017 - 01:41
#11
@post#8
Shards got fixed they no longer tick which makes the status shards (SSS and SSB) viable they're also very fun to use and use nitro to reach for faraway switches or fight other monsters that aren't weak to your shards this set is one of the most fun sets I've used TBH but if you wanna go swordie friendly go with DBB + DR + a haze bomb + a vortex bomb (if you're able to afford slots) for gunner friends use whatever I suggest anything but a blast bomb if they mostly use gun charges but if they don't then use shards, for a haze I suggest stragger storm or torpor tantrum (which is undoubtedly the best CC weapon in SK and my personal fav haze bomb) for a vortex I suggest electron it's so worth the grind (best vortex in SK and one of the most fun bombs to use) and it'd be fun to see another bomber in LD who uses damage bombs instead of just spamming hazes, DBB and nitro are pretty good for LD I sometimes get over 8k damage with them in a GG, however if you still don't wanna do LD obsidian crusher is also fine, graviton is the least useful except in a poison themed slime level (only use I can find for it TBH).
I rely on vortexes more than hazes to inflict status effects cause they inflict strong status while hazes inflict minor status so graviton isn't that great compared to the other vortexes IMO.
It's also important to get blast bombs (including DBB but not irontech), haze bombs and vortexes to 5* cause of the increased range you can leave shards at 4* cause they got the same range as 5* .
What armor set are you gonna use BTW if you haven't decided yet I suggest black kat or mercurial demo + 2 CTR trinkets if you're able to afford that of course or volcanic demo (pretty good for FSC if paired with kat hiss cowl which isn't that hard to get) chaos if you use side arms or mad bomber if you're not using the specialized shards.
Sorry for the long post.
personal opinion:
Running with 2 haze bombs seems like a bad idea, from what I have seen, haze seem to be a "support type" bomb. I would get the DBB as you where saying. Or, now that the shard bombs are "fixed" you might try one of those.
BTW, I'm not a bomber, and these are just my educated guesses.
-Lord C
Edit:
I beat bopp here? wow.