if you really want a alchemer though then its a tie between prismatech and shadowtech, both do better damage at the expense of effects, there is no "good for all tier" it depends how you play and where

personally i think you should just get a polaris for elemental and a biohazard for shadow

I personally carry a Polaris instead of an elemental Alchemer and an Umbra Driver for shadow.

The Polaris has saved me on more occasions than I can count and the DPS, I find, to be at least comparable to elemental alchemers. You might prefer a weapon that doesn't explode and an alchemer like the Storm Driver might suit you better. But be prepared to kite for long distances if you choose to use an alchemer.

On the other hand, I find the Catalyzer line to be very annoying to use, opting to go with an Umbra Driver. Sometimes you just want to do significant damage without having to rely on setting up with a few charge shots. A lot of people swear by the Catalyzer, citing it's ability to herd mobs but I feel that a Polaris used in the right hands is tons better; same slow shots to force mobs to dodge backwards with an added push at the end. Properly placed shots can force and trap entire groups in corners.

But I'm in no position to debunk their arguments as this is a matter of preference; I just find the Umbra Driver indispensable for dealing Shadow damage as a gunner.

I do also have a Cryo Driver that I sometimes carry as a fourth weapon purely for CC and to have an elemental option that won't burn my teammates eyes out. If you choose to go with the Hail Driver line, be ready to stop shooting when you see a mob get frozen and move on to prevent yourself from breaking your own CC. Hail Driver CC can be phenomenal and the thaw damage is not to be overlooked. Though if you're the type to go Rambo on mobs and fire indiscriminately, go Storm if you're absolutely set on an alchemer or go Polaris (which would be my gun of choice).

Keep in mind that as a gunner, you're more of a support for your teammates so you'll want to consider utility more than damage when choosing your weapons.

@glowing-ember. yea that's my first reaction and i was about to blow up on the op. then i realized this was moved from the general forum lol

I use the cryotech line. You really can't beat the potential for freeze if you're going for effects. Any status takes time, such as fire or shock. But both of those effects take several seconds to become active (I.E. do any damage). Now, freeze obviously takes longer to cause damage on its own, but the real benefit is that the enemy can't move. Then you have whatever at a disadvantage. To me, it is the best effect for controlled damage. Then again you have to worry about shooting an enemy twice, thus possibly negating a first shot freeze. But that just means you gotta be careful is all.

Small correction (I hope) to Akher's post: In addition to Umbra Driver, Biohazard also deals pure shadow damage. Of course, it uses the weird Catalyzer mechanics, which some find delightful and others find repugnant.

The polaris is one of my least favourite weapons. If you usually solo then sure, go for it if it works for you, but otherwise, please don't. There are very few players who are able to use the polaris without being annoying and/or detrimental to their teammates. The DPS isn't anything special and the only thing it has going for it over alchemers is the knockback and that can be annoying instead of helpful (especially to your teammates). The alchemers have ricochets which a lot of people completely disregard. My storm driver is my absolute favourite weapon (I'm an all rounder, not a gunslinger, so I'm talking best of any weapon type) and I always carry it. The ricochets are insanely helpful, especially in arenas, FSC and any other area where you get mobs of monsters close together. Hell, even with just two monsters standing beside each other the ricochets are bloody helpful. Did you know you can one-shot T3 kats with a well aimed alchemer shot?

I went with shock simply because of the statuses available, I thought it'd be most useful to have on a gun. Freeze is wicked useful, but if it's needed, someone will have a shivermist (it might be me). Same goes for fire. The voltaic tempest makes that a slightly weak point but there's less of a place for a VT than a shivermist or an AoA so I still say it's the best one to go for. Definitely don't go for fire if you FSC much.

If you're not all that interested in status effects for whatever reason, the prismatech has higher damage so it's also a good choice. And I would say get a shadowtech alongside it if you're a gunslinger; I wouldn't lump it in with the elemental alchemers and pick just one because you do need to take damage types into account.

Any Nova/Umbra Driver user worth their salt can regularly two-shot Puppies/Howlitzers/Polyps.