It depends on what you wanna do with it.

However, IMO Storm Driver is most useful, because it works nice against Howlitzers, Kats, Gun Puppies and other shooting Enemies. Unlike Freeze the Shock is not cured by shooting it again. Unlike Fire the Shock can damage nearby enemies and can interrupt the enemies movement. The only big weakness are Quicksilvers, which like to be shocked; fortunately their super powerful shocked state wears off very quick.

Nova is second useful, because it doesn't have the Quicksilver problem. However, it won't slow enemies down, due to no Shock.

Umbra Driver is third, because it's better vs. Polyps and Lichen Colonies. Unfortunately it's really bad vs. Howlitzers and Kats.

Hail Driver is useful when solo. It's useless in most parties, because players are somehow magically attracted to attack frozen enemies first, thus unfreezing them. I don't know why this happens, but it may be related to some sort of instinct to attack and get rid of visibly weakened enemies first. However, AFAIK it can cool down Oilers, though not fast enough (Shivermist Buster is fast enough).

Magma Driver is too dangerous vs. Oilers and can therefore easily kill entire parties, since Fire does not wear off Oilers by itself and lights up nearby Oilers. It should be forbidden to wield it without a license, IMO.

Bindi-Badgi wrote:
"You shouldn't be firing an elemental weapon at quicksilvers or oilers (or icecubes) anyway - they are slimes, use a shadow weapon!"

While it is true, that a Shadow weapon would cause more damage, because they are weak to it, Elemental still does normal damage. This also means, Storm, Nova, Cryo and Magma will do acceptable amounts of damage vs. Polyps and Lichen Colonies (i.e. Slimes with long range attacks), too. So you don't have to carry and extra Shadow gun just for Slimes. Instead, you should pick a Shadow sword, because it works fine against Slimes and Gremlins, since Gremlins tend to dodge gunshots more often than sword swings.

Anyways, the danger of accidentally firing at Quicksilvers or Oilers (or Icecubes) is what I actually meant in my previous post. The Drivers shots ricochet and split a lot and thus can accidentally light Oilers or shock Quicksilvers.

Unfortunately, in my last tier 2 expedition, I had a noob gunner in my party, who shot Quicksilvers with his Voltech Alchemer and his Kilowatt Pulsar on purpose. I was able to shield and retreat in time, but the rest didn't make it :( I think he had no other weapons equipped, because he continued doing it after I had them revived. Also, I think he didn't speak English XD

PS: Storm Driver is still less dangerous than Polaris line, because Polaris also moves enemies, which makes it even more dangerous vs. Quicksilvers and the expanding shots may still accidentally touch things they shouldn't.

If you want PVP Oritented shadow gun then go for Umbra (Biohazard prove alot better dps and usage in pve)
If you want decent damageoutput with no status effect go Nova
If you want pure DPS gun go for magma (Highest dps alchemer as long as there's proc(The mobs in FSC doesn't get ignited tho)
If you want avrage dps along with little crowdcontrol then go for Storm/Cryo

And I'm not talking about FSC. Magma driver is typically my favorite since it does arguably the greatest amount of DPS. I heard Cryo is useless because the ricochet can most likely break the ice of frozen enemies. Storm is replaced by Polaris nowadays, but Voltedge is better than both combined. I'd prefer a load out with one brandish, one Alchemer, and one haze bomb. (for me it's, Voltedge, Magma Driver, and Shivermist Buster)

Memento, those who will regret using rare weapons clearly suck at using it.

storm driver

On these forums I frequently point out that freeze can hinder you, and I frequently criticize Hail Driver, so The-Rarwcake may be thinking of me.

Sometimes freeze is very useful. Devilities are a great example. But sometimes freeze hinders you, because it prevents shield bumping, knockback, and kiting, all of which are crucial tools in the expert player's toolkit. The hindrance affects some players more than others --- for example, heavy sworders (such as Fradow) who rely on knockback to set up their hits correctly. In many FSC parties I have seen players ask other players to stop spamming Shivermist Buster everywhere. So I am not alone in my viewpoint.

I have owned a Hail Driver for at least 18 months, so I have certainly used the gun. Its fundamental problem is that attacking a frozen monster breaks its freeze. So, if you spam Hail Driver shots everywhere, you sometimes freeze monsters, but your freeze is often immediately broken by your ricochets or other shots. To use Hail Driver well, you must be disciplined rather than spammy. Thus the gun has a higher learning curve than other alchemers.

I'd prefer a load out with one brandish, one Alchemer, and one haze bomb. (for me it's, Voltedge, Magma Driver, and Shivermist Buster)

Entyre, your favorite loadout is all elemental weapons? That surprises me.

Shock does a similar job interrupting the enemy, adding a little DPS and doesnt accidentally break.
As if enemies (besides devilites) were that hard to need a complete freeze.

Now in LD it does become more intersting.

"Voltedge is better than both combined"

Clearly what he needs is a Voltedge, a Combuster, and a Glacius.