From my experiences in T3, I can tell you that a Deathmark + GF/DA combo = instant assassination.
I don't think its useless, personally.
How to use Recon in LD: The guide to perhaps the hardest class in PVP *UPDATE 4 (Huge Update)*
Sat, 05/26/2012 - 22:25
#1052
~
Sat, 05/26/2012 - 22:36
#1053
@Vagueabond
I added that I meant the lines, as these weapons are applicable to all tiers of LD. Also, I will continue to update them, and if you guys think it is good enough, I might put it into the wiki. Please point out inaccuracies and grammatical errors if you see them!
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 00:21
#1054
A couple notes about Recon
Downside of the class - Sword attack speed decrease low.
Using a Shivermist bomb can let you freeze an enemy in place, place a deathmark, and land a critical blow.
However, Shivermist has very low chances of working on full Skolver and low chances on part Skolver.
Since it gives a universal CTR med - Try using spammable gun charges (Such as Valiance, Polaris, and the Alchemer lines) They'll hit hard, and have a better chance at landing kills.
And finally: The class is geared toward spamming charges as well, so spammable sword charges (Such as Brandishes and the DA) Will come in more use.
At least, that's what should be noted about a Recon, since that's mainly what I do as one.
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 00:33
#1055
...
In my experience as a Recon who has gone through countless GvG games...
Bombs are both your greatest ally and your worst nightmare. I highly suggest replacing your Polaris with a Voltaic Tempest or a Staggering Storm. Strikers and most Guardians don't have this luxury, thus need Polaris to clog up a choke point. VT and Stagger can deny any and all swordsmen from getting remotely near you, far more effectively (and safer) than Polaris. Beware though, most people react to bombers with Polaris spam or Antigua shots.
You'll want some ASI . A lot of the good Recons that I look up to manage to get about ASI high on their weapons. I've worked just fine with ASI low on my swords via a trinket, but it's hard trying to swing a sword with attack speed decrease low.
Adding onto the DA/GF stuff. If a Skolver Striker has no heart trinkets, a full 2-hit DA/GF combo will instantly kill them. If the have a heart trinket(s), another swing will kill them.
For a psychological factor, try to cloak and decloak a lot. Don't just spam shield, but if you constantly disappear/appear, it makes people think you're actually faster than what you actually are. This works great on guardians. If you're good with an FF and shield cancelling, you can appear to be a teleporting wildly around them as they hopelessly shield.
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 00:42
#1056
From Jempire's Recon
I actually use several recon tactics when playing in GvG. Not going to give away my entire playbook here, but I'll drop one that works well against inexperienced Strikers. What one does, is once the cloak is gone, is to pretend one is running away. As soon as the Striker comes in pursuit, the recon turns around and attacks with their sword. If executed properly, the Striker will be hit or killed.
For my playstyle, I'm mainly a swording recon. I carry three swords (2 ASI, 1 CTR), and one gun, a Sentenza. My primary role in combat is an offensive recon- that is, pushing forward on points, backcapping if needed, and ambushing groups. I also like to take swings at non-boosting Strikers passing along the same path as I am. My primary weapon is a 2-swing sword, and my secondary weapon is a 3-swing sword. I prefer to swing twice with my main, then continue the attack with my secondary, only switching back to the main if I feel confident I can take on the opponent with it, or if I'm in a group.
As a recon, one's greatest weakness is bombs. Even if one has gear to resist the status, the haze field still disables one's cloak, and one must uncloak to walk into the field. A flourish or a hammer is a good choice for darting in and darting out before a haze field can explode, and a gun such as an Alchemer, Valiance, AP, or Sentenza, is good for long-range offense.
Regarding deathmarking, I prefer not to use it for multiple reason. Firstly, good players know how to 'recon-hunt' with maximum efficiency, and while it wastes their time and puts them at risk, it also puts the recon at risk. Secondly, good ambushes are executed sans deathmark. That is to say, I walk up to a group on a point, do NOT ping them with my radar, and get in a nice double-swing while they don't know I'm there.
I don't really have much more to say. See you on the battlefield. Or maybe not.
~Xair the recon
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 01:03
#1057
@Xair
Email me ingame if you dont want all your secrets public, I could use them :P. I would not publish them, but it would be nice to have a few tricks! Thank you, pro, for telling us some of your awesomeness!
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 01:14
#1058
Wow, that post by Xai is
Wow, that post by Xai is probably one of the better ones on the forums so far. Very useful, thanks!
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 01:16
#1059
I prefer the tactic that Xair
I prefer the tactic that Xair mentioned, where you walk up without marking them and just go all assassin on them.
Other things to be aware of is that most Recons move EXTREMELY PREDICTABLY. That is why it is often easy to Recon hunt. If I get pinged with a mark the very first thing I do is attack directly behind me... and 75%+ of the time the Recon gets smacked. Move unpredictably, zig-zap, change directions, and giving glimpses with your cloak down can all confuse your target so you can take them down.
Speaking of being predictable. A lot of Recons will stand on a CP and cloak, which is fine and good. What is dumb is being the only one on it and cloaking... right smack in the center. Striker zips in, the first place they will attack is the center. Stand on the edge and you will have time to get out of the way hopefully.
If you plan to use the Death Mark it is best to keep your target on the edge of your radius. That way they are less likely to hit you while wildly swinging.
Good Strikers also know how to bait you out of your cloak. If you are hiding and they can't find you sometimes they'll dash away like they think you're gone or giving up. It's a lure to get you to uncloak. They'll dash back in about 2 seconds to try to take down the now visible Recon. Turn the tables and give them a sword to the face.
Oh... and for those interested. The Callahan charge has a very long range and is quite powerful. You can play sniper with it if you have good enough aim. Just remember to cloak and move afterwards or you're going to be food for the Strikers.
~Gwen
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 01:30
#1060
hehehehehehe
Trust me... Relevant. That's what I listen to before going into full recon mode. I favor the "cloak and dagger" techniques of the recon. But I've been capable of multiple things.
There's pretty much a variety of ways you can perform as a recon. I go through t1 and t2 LD regularly. I've played all classes and while not necessarily a master... I'm pretty good as a 'con.
One thing that's been pointed out... your greatest strength is also a weakness... that invisibility is all you've got between you and a toothpicker. While they won't be able to target directly... likelihood is they will find you, so precision timing, and some very technical aspects of your playstyle must be addressed... how do you play?
"Cloak and Dagger" - is a general tactic best used with a speedy weapon. You go in cloaked, walk literally into the enemies' face, swing a sword and try to cloak before they get a lock on you, you either continue the onslaught or continue moving. DO NOT APPROACH FROM BEHIND. Your prey is intelligent, treat them that way.
Pros of this tactic:
If mastered, you become an assassin.
Morale of your enemy can drop quick if you develop a killstreak.
Easy to target almost anyone... even if only to weaken them.
Cons:
You're in an extreme danger zone.
That warning mark can give you away quickly.
1v1 focus.
"Saboteur" - (note: Honestly this is very general for naming... but just go with me.) You're cloaked, you walk up on the enemy capping... he has friends helping him, so you lay back, the instant they cap and move on, you're on that CP cloaked. This tactic is pretty evasive, more often than not used by a recon who, while low on health, still is attempting to contribute on their way to heal. Now, after you begin capping, you have one of two options... spam bombs all over the CP (preferably a shock or stun haze due to the sheer amount of freeze resist) or remain cloaked/evasive while capping. Once the CP turns white, it's advised you keep a cloak on or a decent timing on your bomb spamming... because people will be coming to reclaim that point.
Pros:
Able to use even when low on health
Allows some scouting in the event your team has a voice program available
Not that hard to master due to sheer room away from the CP
Cons:
Few, if any kills made
Likely would want a recon ally along with you
"Sniper" - Grab a gun, when the enemy is visible from a distance, fire. Or fire, cloak, fire from elsewhere, cloak some more. Offensively this isn't much of a valid tactic without a trollaris if you're not much of a gunslinger. Defensively, it's a great tactic. When the enemy sees you or gets to feel a bullet, immediately they want to remove the threat. I've kept 2 strikers easily entertained at a CP for at least a minute before my death, that's a minute that our team continued to receive points. Also, a minute your enemy doesn't get points from that area. You don't get much credit for it, but those instances are what win the battle.
Pros:
Range from enemy
Combining with mindgames makes for a much underrated asset to your team
Time-burner
Cons:
Strikers will be quick to dash after you (and we all know what happens after dash)
Not credited much (and therefore if a loss comes, you stand chance of being blamed)
"Bomb spamming" - Self-explanatory tactic. Find a CP, make it no mans land. Advisable a blast and haze bomb be used in unison.
Pros:
Simple but effective tactic
Nitronome spam for once is applauded (if only barely)
Cons:
Easy tactic to avoid
Easy to interrupt timing should you be solo
"Hidden wrecking ball" - Variation of "Cloak and Dagger" run up to a battle/CP cloaked, hold attack button before shield goes down so that when finally visible... you can blast a charge off into a group. Awesome with a calibur, but has seen effective use with other means of weapons. If you can, cloak immediately after charge, retreat, then come back and do it again if possible.
Pros:
Hard hits and KB
"Tactical Nuke" effect if executed well enough
Cons:
Cloak drain is heavy
Without enough CTR, easily countered by a gunshot
Those are general tactics performed by most recons... easy to gather, tough to truly master.
Things to remember when you grab that Recon gear.
Direct confrontation is not always the best tactic.
Sometimes it's best to just let the battle rage and take an unguarded CP.
Mindgames on the enemy are worth a lot... but capturing CPs is worth more.
Don't be afraid of publicly addressing the enemy. Provoke them a bit.
Dying does not mean defeat in this class, it means your enemy no longer knows your exact whereabouts. (always a plus)
Invisibility is a gift, this isn't a striker dash, it ain' gonna recharge every 5 secs.
There's much more... but I can't give away everything.
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 01:40
#1061
Lol most i've typed my whole forum lifetime.
How is recon a hard class? Mabye it's because i've played it for so long but i find it one of the easiest classes to play, especialy with lag.
To me a good recon is someone who gets inside a players head. The recon's best atrubute is the ability to suprise someone. Speed uv's on a recon are an essential because it's taking what the enemy thinks is you weakness and making it into you strength. Learning to follow a striker's movments is also great for gunning and lets you plan ahead to attack them. Never stand on the middle of the point, that is where stikers will attack first, stand just to the right of where you think they will come, it is a place they usualy not expect or stand in a corner far away from where they will come giving you a chance to react to them coming and get to a safe place. When you attack them in stealth try to attack from where you htink they will run to, chances are they will bump into you and give you a chance to hit them with both attacks. Also people get more relaxed when they decap a point so that is a good time to attack. If the circle the point wait till you get their cycle and move in on them when they come at you, don't do second swing, cloak out and let them panic while you put a mark on them. You have a very slim chance of winning against auto-aimers it's cheap but what can you do? One thing that is good against auto-aimers is you know where they are coming from and you can counter with a bullet or some other type of counter-attack if you are ready for it. Never aim at where a striker is, you will never hit them. The storm driver is good against strikers cuz no matter how much res they have it will effect them and give you a chance to attack them while shocked. There is nothing wrong with helping another player with some gun support or a death mark. If you know you can't beat someone don't be a hero, sneak attacks are you greatest weapon but if you are decloaked by a good striker chances are you are dead, try useing guns and even though you don't move as fast little movements can save your life and end theirs. Know the range of weapons and how fast you can react to certain attacks/combos. Bring a gun for gunners because you will have a hard time hitting a gunner with swords after they know you are there. Take advantage of when an enemy is attacking a friend, wait by them and try to get behind them to attack them while they are distracted by their opponent, some people may not like you taking their kills but a dead enemy is a dead enemy in my book. Lag will get you killed that is a fact. Having resistance to a certain bomb means you can sneak up to the bomb and decloak and attack the bomber, you might not do as good a job as a striker but it can supprise a bombing recon.
If you have noticed this is all for guns and swords, i really use bombs in LD, a few haze bombs here and there but not much other than that. I'm not a good bomber. I don't play bombs well, just not good at it. I by no means consider myself a good player, i get to much lag, but the few moments of glory i do get is beacuse have good gear(What LD being about who has good gear?), know how to suprise people, and good old practice. Nothing substitutes expierence.
edit: learn to move between opponents with no cloak while gunning them. It will suprise them and let you deal some serious damage to a big group of people, be unpridictable.
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 01:56
#1062
~
I consider myself to only be mediocre at Lockdown, but I hard-mained Recon for a handful of months. Note that the following may be more applicable in T2 (also known as "the best tier").
Deathmarking is ultimately up to playstyle. If you can walk up to someone without the first mark activating, then you probably want to be attacking. But if the first mark does activate as you're walking up, then the timing between marks is such that you can get in an attack, cloak-cancel, and get the second mark placed.
I would respectfully disagree with your suggestion to walk in clockwise or counterclockwise circles. Recon is all about your movement, both when you're cloaked, and when you're uncloaked. Walking circles tends to (a) make you predictable, and (b) carry you off the capture point. Recons are not Strikers, and should focus hard on fighting on the capture point; since Recon's mobility is that much lower, chasing is almost always the wrong choice (not the answer, if you will).
As a general rule, I would agree with Tuhui that the role of a Recon is to get in the enemy's head, but not just with regards to popping out of nowhere and attacking. Getting in the enemy's head should also determine which capture points you focus on. For example, though common sense may dictate that the half-captured point with the entire enemy team is a bad place to be, it can be beneficial to stand on that point (while cloaked), stopping the capture which (a) stalls the enemy team as they try to find you, (b) gives your team a chance to either back you up or capture other points, and (c) simply stops the enemy team from accruing more points. Drawing out multiple people to either chase you or fight off the point is similarly something that may seem/be suicidal, but if you can hold your own and/or escape from multiple opponents, you're providing a distraction, which is where Recon excels.
With regards to weapons: I've only ever run the default 2 weapon slots. I always try to bring a sword and a gun, with the sword my primary damage tool, and the gun primarily for utility (and the trollstatuseffect). This is also ultimately up to playstyle, though I'd personally recommend a Toothpick and a Cryo/Volt line Alchemer. Toothpick possesses slight knockback, a huge hitbox, and solid damage, and the Alchemer is a good mix of utility and damage.
With all of the above though, experiment and create your own playstyle! There is no single best way to play Recon, it is an extremely deep and varied class. Practice and patience will make all the difference!
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 03:59
#1063
WOW.
Holy mother of carps, that is a LOT of feedback.
Thank you all, I will update my guide soon!
Thank you all for help, and if you have any more tips, feel free to post!
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 07:06
#1064
Thank you all!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP. Without it, this guide would not be as good as it is. If you have any more tips, please post! Also, all the good recons say there is so much more. I am DYING! I want to KNOW! Please share them if you can!
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 07:33
#1065
Well, I'm not usually a Recon, but try this...
WARNING: Contains Pulsars.
Vs. Strikers
Flying Troll Bullets Everywhere.
Step 1. Make sure the enemy (preferably only one) knows you're there. Pull out a pulsar line weapon.
Step 2. Cloak. While they are writhing about trying to find you, uncloak, take one shot, cloak again. Done quickly, you will only appear for a fraction of a second.
Step 3. Go around in circles around him, stay about 5 squares away from him. Change directions at random intervals, all the time firing.
Step 4. Repeat until they run away. Stay cloaked. Stand on edge of CP. Wait for him to return, then dodge around sword thrusts down middle. Hit in back with pulsar again. Rinse and repeat.
Step 5. Striker becomes completely and utterly freaked out at this randomly teleporting troll-bomb machine and flees in terror.
Disadvantages: No damage done. Heavy on cloak, do not run out of cloak while doing this or you will die.
Advantages: Easy to pull off on groups, except they're writhing in even more places.
Vs. Other Recons.
Troll spreads.
Step 1. Find a Recon. Watch as he cloaks in terror.
Step 2. Fire 3-bullet spread of Pulsar, bullets near each other, to make an impenentrable wall of Troll.
Step 3. Watch as cloaked Recon realizes he has no shield.
Step 4. Step in and smash him. Use similair tactics to against Guardian without shield - don't let them get it back up!
Disadvantages: Hard to kill him without him cloaking. However, if he does, it will be ASAP and therefore a very short time - ie. 2 seconds at most.
Advantages: Leaves you with a full cloak! Use at your leisure.
Vs. Guardians
Back-up! (actually requires skill in using weapons other than Pulsar)
Step 1. Find a fast gun. Shoot at Guardian and watch as shield goes up. When bullets hit the shield, they will be forced to stop for a little while.
Step 2. Keep shooting - all but one bullet, pause, repeat if it helps to fire faster.
Step 3. Wait for more people to turn up. If they are on the othe team, drive them off. If on your team, keep shooting in the hope that they'll get the hint.
Disadvantages: Doesn't work for Pulsar spammers or two-shot weapons. Next to no damage. Time-wasting.
Advantages: None, really. It's more hepful to actually ignore Guardians, IMO, when a Recon.
General tips:
If someone's moving frantically on the minimap, they're fighting someone. Go help them.
If you get mobbed, PANIC and try not to die too quickly - it gives your team that much longer to do what they want to.
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 09:25
#1066
Before the heart trinket in
Before the heart trinket in LD patch, you used to be able to go up with a GF, and two hit anyone not wearing ancient plate. (There was the two-cap point in the reactor one time, and there was a vog cub and a skolver standing close to each other. I was an ash tail with GF. I snuck up on them, and was able to use the wide hit radius to my advantage. Before either of them could react, they were both dead. Pretty awesome)
Now, however, you need max Dmg bonus and death mark to two hit even the dumbest and slowest of lockdown players (even they have heart trinkets). So assassination is out of the question for recons anymore.
Also, with auto-target, and more common sense, recons are far too easy to find. Just circle spam an Antigua or estimate their position and they are dead.
Basically, if you go recon, just act as a supporter and put the death mark on your enemies (it's hilarious to get a death mark on a group of enemies capping a point; the go ballistic!).
The best way to go offensive with recon class:
Swords:
You NEED a ranged fast weapon (flourish), or an ASI VH slow weapon (GF, Yellow dick, Suda, Glav). Just get close to your enemy and shield spam your sword like crazy. Or, you could go on a suicide run and streak into a group of enemies with a charged FoV or Hammer.
Guns:
Any alchemer, preferably storm or cryo; charge from a distance and release. Then death mark -> Callahan up their ass or another alchemer charge. (Highest single bullet dmg charge weapon).
Or, use Callahan to snipe targets, and alchemer for in-combat usage. Let's face it, the other guns suck when it comes to in-combat use against a skolver with no-life UVs on everything.
Bomber:
Go graviton vortex, DBB, haze burst, and voltaic tempest. Only very few people have both stun and shock resist. You could trap them in a vortex chain (only skilled bombers can do this), shock and/or stun them, continue chain of vortex, DBB to death. Work best on single opponents, since T3 vortexes are inescapable.
Optimal recon setup (IMO)
Final flourish (at least medium ASI)
Graviton vortex CTR med at least
hail driver CTR med at least
Nitronome CTR Ned at least
You can face off any person with the flourish by canceling their attacks, freeze them from a distance and lock them in a vortex chain, bomb them to death (Vortex -> Nitro X2 -> vortex again -> nitro X2 -> repeat ; I do not believe the nitro's KB can KB out of the vortex). And yes, Hail driver does freeze anyone. All types of damage too; normal, shadow, piercing, elemental.
I know some people will say I'm overthinking this, but you actually have to think, believe it or not, in Lockdown these days, in order to defeat your average player.
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 09:57
#1067
A favorite kill of mine
A favorite kill of mine involves:
1 full granfaust combo
1 Flourish swing
I play only with VH damage swords (from skolver gear) and I have found that this kills anyone playing striker in full skolver with 2 health trinkets and up to pierce high on both pieces of armor (It does not work with max pierce on both). This is a very fast kill and works if you can cut off strikers dashing to cap some point.
~Kilmefirst
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 11:26
#1068
see above
see above
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 09:58
#1069
This is some interesting
This is some interesting reading, since I haven't played much recon I don't really have anything to add. Just a question though, has anyone made or seen any good recon videos? I can find all the striker videos I could ever want on youtube but it doesn't seem like anyone's made any good recon videos. Same goes for guardian vids too.
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 10:37
#1070
asf.
Its really nice if your carrying around a bomb, since it gives CTR MED and a weapon dat does lawtsa damage liek le hamma or le troika series, one hit, dissapear, bomb (freeze) hit, dissapear. Quite fun cause it pisses peoplez off sometimes
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 10:51
#1071
Here's my two crowns
Recon Bombers should avoid using Bomb CTR gear like the plague. Yet I see it all the time. All the time.
Forgot that the CTR of the Recon Cloak stacks?
Blanket CTR Med + Bomb CTR Med + Level 10 CTR Med = MAX
Stop wasting CTR, your time, and your money.
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 11:05
#1072
...
In T2 Lockdown, I use Toxic Vaporizer MKll on Capture Points to Weaken Enemy Attacks. It doesn't look much, but it make Dusker Clones only Deal about 1-1.5 Bars of Health instead of the usual 4-5.
I use The Stable Rocket Hammer as a Recon, even though it gives it a Low Speed Decrease, it is Hardly Noticeable to me, since I'm Zipping Past Enemies, Cloaking, Attack, Zip, Cloak, Repeat. It Confuses them & makes you slightly a Harder target to Hit.
Other than the Flourish/Snarble Barb Lines' Cheap Heavy Sword Radius Swing+Shield Cancel Speed of the Flash, Dusker Clones are easy.
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 12:43
#1073
:O hi recon!
oh wow, I can't believe I missed this gem. I kinda thought of making a recon guide but I wanted to grow the number of people who recognize me as a threat (as confirmation that I'm skilled enough to be 'guiding' people), but don't quite feel I'm there yet.
Also, you should bold and italicize headers. It'll make reading this much more bearable.
I almost-exclusively play Recon in T3 (I only use Striker if the other team is really not a problem or if we need clutch removal of enemy captured points, with minimal fighting, cause I cannot drive that thing for the life of me). I have a variety of different styles and "counterpick" strategies/weapons depending on what the other team is, so I'll chime in my input. Feel free to take from this as you will.
Most of these are actually very interwoven, so categorizing is kind of tough. I might even repeat things.
=========================
Weapons
- Swords are for assassination or emergency use. They're your strong punch when you need it- slow (well, we do get an ASI penalty), powerful.
Sword-based recon tends to not make use of deathmark, though it is VERY welcome, regardless of what kind of sword you use. Cloak-stabbing works if you have ASI boosts. If swords are your main weapon, you WANT to have things boosting your ASI. Faster slash means faster cloak. Swords are terrible if you cannot shield.
- Guns are for annoyance and IMO the staple weapons for recon. They're your jabs. Jabs might feel weak, but they are VERY important.
Gun-based recons tend to be the most mobile and can/should take advantage of deathmark when possible. If you are gun-based, I highly recommend Storm Driver/Valiance/Polaris. I hear good things about Antigua-lines with good aim being able to prevent strikers from slashing up close, but I don't have that line.
Valiance is decent regularly, but it is AMAZING with deathmark. Imagine Nova/Umbra driver with 3 shots and no ricochet. That's DM Valiance. Oh, and that knockback+smart footwork can actually keep you out of stab range when fighting sword strikers up close!
I hear in order to be immune to moderate shock, you'd need natural shock-immune armor AND strong anti-shock UV's. Since Storm Driver deals moderate shock status, it's a great side arm to sword recons and a decent general-use gun. If you cannot deathmark, Umbra/Nova driver are great picks as well.
- Bombs are for holding points. Recon cannot reliably stay on points to defend like Striker/Guardian can due to shield fragility, so if you want to hold points as a recon, you want bombs. I won't speak about damage bombs here, since that's really your preference on what you consider your main weapon. Mist bombs (shock, stun) are great at holding points, especially against guardians since forcing them to shield will slow them down, and walking near them will bait them to counterattack/get status inflicted on them. Stun bombs are a little iffy on strikers though. Versus strikers, I prefer using Electron Vortex. UV's will not protect strikers from gravity, and just like PVE, the whole point of the bomb is not for damage, but control. Once you have someone stuck in vortex, you can gun or sword them down as you wish.
=========================
Playstyle
Your playstyle will tend to depend on your weapons. I see most recon playstyle basically as this:
- Enemy Harassment (usually sword-based)
- Support Roles (sword/gun/RSS)
- Capture Recon (usually bomb-based)
Harassing/Support roles are just like any other class, but if you are a capture recon, be aware of and use your strength to capture near enemy bases. You can literally keep your opponents from being all piled up at your base by sneaking around and removing their captured points. For capturing, there are really two things you should understand:
If you're losing and think your team can pull off a comeback/are on the defensive, then you want your game to last longer. In this case, you want to focus on REMOVING enemy points. Remove their control, run to the next one.
If you're trying to gain actual map control/are on the offensive, then you want to fully-capture points that are harder to get to or closer to the enemy base. I usually tell people to "catch up" and push forward - when enemies respawn, they'll usually have me sitting around as a decoy keeping them busy while my team starts to gain map control.
=========================
Dealing with Weakness/Advanced Recon Action
So as far I see it, Recon has these weaknesses in fighting:
- Mobility: slow movement when cloaked, regular movement is slower in comparison to Striker. When you don't have shield, swords become vulnerable.
- Fragility: one stray bullet will kill your shield, which also kills mobility.
One of the most terrible things that happen as recon is getting hit out of shield and having to swing your sword. Especially if you're using heavy swords, the lack of shield cancel is nearly fatal in most cases. So...
Avoid getting hit while cloaked!
- Sometimes if you know a hit is coming, or if someone's challenging you with an Antigua line, UNSHIELD.
- Have a gun? Get better skills, challenge and defeat the antigua menace! Snipe from out of their fire range using your [gasp] CTR bonus. That's the great thing about having guns/bombs as recon - you don't need cloak to use them.
Recon naturally favors the use of guns and bombs with its stats:
- When you shoot guns (all except Magnus/Autogun lines), you can still move or even switch to another weapon with little downtime. That gun ASI bonus? That helps here. You won't have the retreating speed of a striker, but you can fool player movements. When you get hit out of shield and start walking away, what's the most predictable move a Striker will do? They'll try to circle behind you and slash you to death. You can easily avoid this by switching directions. And if you're using a gun, you can deal damage/possibly even turn around the situation if you get a useful status effect in.
Autotarget is not a problem when they are both:
1) aiming in a completely wrong direction
2) out of range.
PLAY SMARTER
Everything boils down to this.
CHOICES: Are there 2+ enemy strikers and a guardian near your base? Are you alone? Do you want to be more than someone else's damage fodder? Yes? Then GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. Don't be an hero.
BEHAVIOR: It's very common to see people freak out and start slashing around them when they get the recon ping. But yet most recons will move TOWARDS their enemies anyway. Try ping-shooting (recon warning --> shoot --> cloak again) instead. This is when most strikers will go "aha! found you!" and zoom over behind where you shot from. You can usually walk towards or to the side instead, creating even more of a gap when they dash past you. At this point, they are usually either deathmarked or far away. Gun-recons are the best at harassing this way because distance and mobility makes 'catching them' so much harder since they have the ability to start moving before the strikers are in slash range. Why not just show yourself (far away or slightly out of range) from them. It's often easier to counterattack a deliberate (and baited) movement than it is to approach a paranoid person slashing/gunning wildly.
WEAPON VARIETY
Man, wouldn't it be cool if you had the mobility of a gunner recon, the ability to hold points like a bomber recon, and the strength of a sword recon?
...
Well then, why not carry ALL THREE TYPES? (if you have the weapon slots, anyway).
Weapon-switching - This is a staple technique you should be good at pulling off. The general use is this:
Attack > shield-cancel + switch to another weapon.
There is a more advanced shooting technique for gunners where you switch BACK to your original gun and I recommend learning it if you're a gunner, but regardless, get the basic weapon-switch down.
My standard loadout carries at least a heavy sword and a gun. Heavy swords are always a gamble to open with because if you don't kill your target right away, you will die. But if I start with say, Storm Driver, I deal damage, have a chance of shock, AND I can choose to 'fade' (move backwards) and repeat or approach with sword:
Weapon-switching, I can open with storm driver and switch to DA to push back if they move towards me or just straight up attack if they get shocked. Insaaaane!
Now let's say you're pulling off that gunner-deathmark action, pulling someone around by ping-shooting. It's infuriating to be chasing a gunner and suddenly having the gunner switch to a sword and stab you to death. Well, it's even more infuriating to be chasing a recon "gunner", losing all your precious defense and THEN getting slashed to death.
When weapon switching, it's usually best to have the gun out first. Switching from gun to sword is much quicker than switching from sword to gun, especially considering the ASI effects that recon has on both weapons.
It's already been said, but you also want to really try to counterpick your opponents:
Choosing DA vs GF? Well, look at their armors. Why choose GF to fight Divine set, Snarbolax when you can deal more damage using DA?
Choosing Vortex vs Mist bomb? Vortex is great vs aggro strikers, Mist bomb is good vs recons and guardians.
Fighting a bomber? Bring along that Umbra Driver, Callahan, or Valiance (valiance charge is amazing vs recon bombers lol).
:3 well, that's all for now, hope this helps. I'm more for smarter recons than cookie cutter ones that fit perfectly into those descriptions.
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 13:09
#1074
I have a very fun tactic with
I have a very fun tactic with my recon. It usually allows me to take a base solo unless they start gunning.
While dark retribution isn't as powerful, it can still be a great deterent if your spamming it on the base. Once the people see me take it, i leave a few more DRs and cloak, but always stay a little out of range to watch them try to take it. Then BAM, i smash in with the rocket hammer, fast enough to work with the .5 second delay on the warning mark.
I've taken out groups of four with this, and they always rage
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 13:13
#1075
FALCON PUNCH!
how to destroy Recons
1# Skolver BtB/FF/GF/Polaris/AP/Sentenza
2# Skills
3# Striker shield
4# shoot them with polaris/sentenza/AP intill you find that cloaked booger, and when you do he's pretty much defenseless.
5# troll with FF/BtB/GF intill they die.
6# slap Njthug with banstick.
7# ???
8# PROFITZ!
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 13:34
#1076
If this hasn't been said before, (too lazy to read all dose narsty blarcks of terxt) I will, even though I play striker most of the time.
Do the unexpected. If your enemies find you, then you're in a bad place.
What I do in this situation to survive (some of the time, at least) is below.
What I do, is I obviously try to dodge them, first. Then, once I get at least a quarter of my tank of invisibility, I walk away to a entrance, and then cloak.
Do not panic. What to do in this situation is simple, what you do, is stop, and go backwards, or hide behind a block or something, like in frostbite, those glass blocks. Whatever you do, do not just keep going. Most enemies will assume you do that.
Hope that helped..
Sun, 05/27/2012 - 19:17
#1077
Thanks!
Thank you all for MORE of your tips. I shall update the guide soon, and add italics XD. If you have more to say, please do!
Mon, 05/28/2012 - 00:05
#1078
Hmm
Should I put this in recruits.... Yes indeedy I shall! More tips are welcome :D
Mon, 05/28/2012 - 02:28
#1079
Nyan nyan nyan nyan....
I'd like to also add that if you're waiting for the right moment, and enemies can't see you and assume you've escaped, you could always wait along side a wall as long as enemies don't run into your pinger. It also allows enemies to cool off a bit so you could attack easier, although it'll take up your shield. Well, that's only if you want to wait, though. And if you find yourself in a disadvantage, there's no need to go along with it all the time, and this has already been said on this thread, such as retreating to send enemies after you. This way, narrow corridors can be fantastic for gunning and DA/GF combos, although it drastically cuts your avenues of escape.
Mon, 05/28/2012 - 04:22
#1080
Thanks
Thanks for the feedback Nubs, I shall try to update it soon!
Mon, 05/28/2012 - 22:48
#1081
UPDATE 4
I cleaned it up.
Tue, 05/29/2012 - 07:13
#1082
SUNSHAAAAAAAAARDS
Nice guide. Here's a free meme.
If you want to make your own, here's the page on memegenerator. Credit for the screenshot goes to Owaoforum.
Tue, 05/29/2012 - 07:42
#1083
No one helped yet?
To make this bold, put [strong] text here [strong]. REPLACE the [] with <>, and you have bold!
@OP: OMG REALLY KEWL GUIDE. I'm tempted to play recon in LD now. D:
Tue, 05/29/2012 - 11:03
#1084
@slayzz
Slayzz:
Optimal recon setup (IMO)
Final flourish (at least medium ASI)
Graviton vortex CTR med at least
hail driver CTR med at least
Nitronome CTR Ned at least
You can face off any person with the flourish by canceling their attacks, freeze them from a distance and lock them in a vortex chain, bomb them to death (Vortex -> Nitro X2 -> vortex again -> nitro X2 -> repeat ; I do not believe the nitro's KB can KB out of the vortex). And yes, Hail driver does freeze anyone. All types of damage too; normal, shadow, piercing, elemental.
I don't really agree with nitrome there.
In order to vortex chain, it either has to shock them, or you have to use a vortex immediately in range of the first vortex. There's no time to slash, let alone use nitrome. You cannot Vortex > [attack] > Vortex and expect the second vortex to catch the other guy.
I see it this way:
Sword works on anything and gives you speed + notable strength.
Driver works on anything and gives you mobility.
Vortex works on anything but guardian, but most useful vs strikers.
Nitrome works on anything but guardian, most useful vs recon and some strikers.
Your "optimal" loadout has a weakness to guardian-based teams. I'd rather have a stagger storm or voltaic tempest instead.
Wed, 05/30/2012 - 08:49
#1085
T2 LD Strikers point of
T2 LD Strikers point of view
If a recon doesnt know how to handle good shield canceling strikers, they arent much good. Use a gun preferably over swords vs these kinds of strikers because you dont want to risk getting close. Strikers that only use the first swing and shield cancel are the ones that can cover the most area with their weapon in a short time. These strikers are the best ones, and they will stay on top of you while slicing down your health rapidly if you lose your cloak.
I disagree with running in circles as a recon while shooting/cloaking. Be unpredictable as possible, going in circles but changing direction once in a few seconds. Noobs will always move in the same direction while cloaked. If you have no intention to attack, do not ping them, for obvious reasons.
Warning if your playstyle is based on deathmarks/pings. If you plan to deathmark a striker capping a point, always expect them swing their snarble/flourish. This is the flaw in surprise deathmark/sealed combo. Your target would be alerted to a recon's presence, and will be prepared too face of a recon, making it hard to land to land a sealed combo after theyre aware of a recon. At least thats how I see it.
I realize that this is based on striker to recon or recon to striker point of view, and thats because Im used to facing conflicts in LD as a striker. Also, this may not apply when fighting noobs, but whats the point of knowing how to fight them?
Anyways, cya in LD!
~Psykoglory
Wed, 05/30/2012 - 09:13
#1086
T2 LD Strikers point of
T2 LD Strikers point of view
If a recon doesnt know how to handle good shield canceling strikers, they arent much good. Use a gun preferably over swords vs these kinds of strikers because you dont want to risk getting close. Strikers that only use the first swing and shield cancel are the ones that can cover the most area with their weapon in a short time. These strikers are the best ones, and they will stay on top of you while slicing down your health rapidly if you lose your cloak.
I disagree with running in circles as a recon while shooting/cloaking. Be unpredictable as possible, going in circles but changing direction once in a few seconds. Noobs will always move in the same direction while cloaked. If you have no intention to attack, do not ping them, for obvious reasons.
Warning if your playstyle is based on deathmarks/pings. If you plan to deathmark a striker capping a point, always expect them swing their snarble/flourish. This is the flaw in surprise deathmark/sealed combo. Your target would be alerted to a recon's presence, and will be prepared too face of a recon, making it hard to land to land a sealed combo after theyre aware of a recon. At least thats how I see it.
I realize that this is based on striker to recon or recon to striker point of view, and thats because Im used to facing conflicts in LD as a striker. Also, this may not apply when fighting noobs, but whats the point of knowing how to fight them?
Anyways, cya in LD!
~Psykoglory
Wed, 05/30/2012 - 09:35
#1087
T2 LD Strikers point of
T2 LD Strikers point of view
If a recon doesnt know how to handle good shield canceling strikers, they arent much good. Use a gun preferably over swords vs these kinds of strikers because you dont want to risk getting close. Strikers that only use the first swing and shield cancel are the ones that can cover the most area with their weapon in a short time. These strikers are the best ones, and they will stay on top of you while slicing down your health rapidly if you lose your cloak.
I disagree with running in circles as a recon while shooting/cloaking. Be unpredictable as possible, going in circles but changing direction once in a few seconds. Noobs will always move in the same direction while cloaked. If you have no intention to attack, do not ping them, for obvious reasons.
Warning if your playstyle is based on deathmarks/pings. If you plan to deathmark a striker capping a point, always expect them swing their snarble/flourish. This is the flaw in surprise deathmark/sealed combo. Your target would be alerted to a recon's presence, and will be prepared too face of a recon, making it hard to land to land a sealed combo after theyre aware of a recon. At least thats how I see it.
I realize that this is based on striker to recon or recon to striker point of view, and thats because Im used to facing conflicts in LD as a striker. Also, this may not apply when fighting noobs, but whats the point of knowing how to fight them?
Anyways, cya in LD!
~Psykoglory
Wed, 05/30/2012 - 12:08
#1088
Triple Post FTF!
FOR THE FAIL!!!!!!
But yes, predictable movement is crappy movement.
maybe you should mention that this applies to t3ld?
Also, I think that deathmarking is too valuable not to use. Whether you double-ping them quickly or collaborate with another recon, it's a good strategy.