Yes you heard me correctly. I haven't even completed the 9-4 KoA Mission set, simply cause I prefer the Gauntlet and its fast action compared to the relative bore that Firestorm Citadel offers...
Is there a specific layout, or set of layouts that performs comparably better over the rest in Gauntlet?
(Avoid sword stuff. I'm a gunner/bomber, and I already know that Skolver = Arena 1, Snarb = Arena 2, and Vog = Arena 3)
Btw, I also tend to be a soloist.
Divine Veil + whatever pierce armor you like with a freeze UV (skolver has it even if yu dont liek sword or if you want, you could go to Ice Queen...) would be the cheapest solution, instead of making multiple sets for each room.
But if you solo, you may ignore defense, get max damage, and rush it.
Gunner build~ the armor choice is obvious.
1: Umbra, Umbra, Callahan, Blitz.
2: Magma, Storm, Callahan, Blitz. Sometimes swap Magma for Nova.
3: Umbra, Umbra, Nova, Storm. Swap Umbra for Callahan, or the Storm for Polaris.
The general idea being mobile damage, so lots of shoot swap shoot.
Offense:
1. Dark Retribution, Ash of Agni, Electron Vortex, Dark Briar Barrage
2. Radiant Sun Shards, Ash of Agni, Voltaic Tempest, Dark Briar Barrage
3. Dark Retribution, Voltaic Tempest, Electron Vortex, Nitronome
Defense and trinkets:
1. Mad Bomber Mask, Volcanic Demo Suit, Royal Jelly Shield; 2 Elite Boom Modules
2. Mad Bomber Mask, Bombastic Demo Suit, Dread Skelly Shield; 1 Elite Bomb Focus Module, 1 Elite Boom Module
3. Mad Bomber Mask, Volcanic Demo Suit, Grey Owlite Shield; 2 Elite Boom Modules
I don't have a great response, but since no one else has responded, I'll give it anyway:
I agree that the Gauntlet is fun, because it's a bit challenging. The Gauntlet arena level is basically a "final exam" for all of the earlier mission lessons about the damage types inflicted by the various monster families. As you've already pointed out, the three stages of the Gauntlet arena suggest three different loadouts entirely. Are these rooms tight enough that gunners actually need defensive armor?
First (beasts, slimes, shock): Justifier or bomber armor, piercing shield, shock protection. Piercing and shadow weapons. How about Dark Retribution, Umbra Driver, maybe Dark Briar Barrage or Nitronome?
Second (fiends, undead, freeze): Shadowsun/Deadshot or bomber armor, shadow shield, freeze protection. Piercing and elemental weapons, and crowd control. How about Voltaic Tempest, Polaris, Callahan? Radiant Sun Shards?
Third (gremlins, constructs, fire): Nameless or bomber armor, elemental shield, fire protection. Elemental and shadow weapons. How about Sentenza/Umbra, Dark Retribution, Nitronome, Polaris? Maybe Venom Veiler? The room layout allows kiting, so kite instead of using crowd-control bombs.