Spiral Knights - Gunslinger Questions

Gunslinger Questions

7 replies [Last post]

Mon, 06/24/2013 - 02:13

Polished

Hello,

I know there already are many threads about this topic, but none gave me solid enough advice. I have some questions about the loadout that I'm planning to use.
Some background info: I'm new to being a gunslinger but not new to Spiral Knights. Having played a wolver 'clone' as my first character, I wanted to try something less mainstream. I can't say I've been very good at the game, but I was decent enough. 5 star equipment but hadn't tackled a shadow lair yet.

Loadout I was planning on using:
Shadowsun Stetson
Shadowsun Slicker
Swiftstrike Buckler
Nova/Strom Driver
Umbra Driver
Blitz Needle
CIV/Final Flourish/Brandish type
Elite Handgun Focus Module
Elite Handgun Focus Module

This would give me the follow stats if I'm not mistaken:
Damage Bonus: Very High
Charge Time Reduction: Very High
Attack Speed Increase: High

I figured this loadout was quite balanced.

But there were some things that gave me doubt:
Chaos set - It is a great offensive set, but I'm afraid of the status penalties. I can't say I've been that great of a dodger and am not sure if I could handle the negative statusses. Would you say that I will eventually learn to dodge effictively?

Justifier/Nameless
Another variant, it gives better overal protection and trades asi for damage. The only trouble I had here is that with the Swiftstrike Buckler and armour, I would receive an attack speed bonus of Maximum! +1, which does or doesn't stack?

Nova/Storm
I understand both are amazing guns in their own way. But I was wondering which one is the most viable to get. I might get both eventually but prefer to start with one or the other. Which of them makes a better starter weapon or would prove more useful?

Sidearm sword for gunners:
I read about these 3 swords as being a useful asset. The most difficult mobs would be devilites for me, as they have given me alot of trouble when I played as a wolver. But another problem could be a swarm of mobs in arena's. I am leaning towards the CIV because of the neutral damage, meaning it will do decent damage in every situation instead of just a few like the flourish or brandish. Your thoughts on the better sidearm or no sidearm at all?

PS: If a switch in armour will be a better fit for me, I will ofcourse change the trinkets accordingly.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and hopefully reply with useful information.

Mon, 06/24/2013 - 04:19

Bopp

response

Your loadout looks great. Keep in mind that you'll actually have CTR+6 (Maximum!) because of heat level 10 on your weapons.

Chaos is ridiculously powerful. If you fail to dodge because you're laggy (because your computer is slow or your connection to the servers is bad), then Chaos will always be bad for you. If you fail to dodge because you haven't yet mastered the enemies' AIs, then you will get better, and so Chaos might be good for you. Alternatively, if you have some crowns/CE to spend on UVs, then try getting status UVs on some Magic gear, to get a Chaos set with few drawbacks.

Justifier protects against piercing damage, which is probably the smallest threat in the game. Nameless is more useful defensively. You are right that these would put you at ASI+7, which is no better than ASI+6. See the wiki page "Abilities" if you're unclear on that. Anyway, I'd go with Shadowsun. The defense is useful, and you get blanket damage bonuses, which apply to all six monster families, Vanaduke, and enemy knights in PvP.

Nova and Storm are my two favorite guns. I mostly use Nova, because my UV on that is better. But Storm is probably better overall. It does almost as much damage, with a really useful status.

Sidearm swords are a tricky topic. I see no reason to get CIV; Leviathan almost always does more damage. A piercing sword is indeed really helpful against fiends. Although Brandishes are awesomely powerful, I wouldn't recommend them as a sidearm for gunners. Why? If you're a gunner, and you have time to charge a sword, then shouldn't you be using that time to gun? So your sidearm sword is mainly for emergencies, when you're surrounded. And what kind of sword do you want then? Something that can push back a crowd: DA, GF, Sudaruska, or Triglav. So consider them too.

Mon, 06/24/2013 - 09:36

Little-Juances

Don't make full chaos right on. Practice with half chaos/half shadowsun first. Problem solved.

Mon, 06/24/2013 - 11:58

Polished

Thank you for the response

Thanks Bopp, for giving me some clear cut answers!

Armour-wise I might just go for shadowsun then, to be on the safe side ;-).

I totally forgot that heating gives a CTR bonus! I guess that's what happens when you haven't played for a year haha!
I am in a bit of a pinch because of that though. What will be more viable for me, CTR - Maximum! or Damage Bonus - Maximum! ?

The reason why I was thinking of the Cold Iron Vanquisher is because the charge attack doesn't knock away as much. But I have to agree, every charge of a sword is one you could have used for your gun. I would like only 1 sword for the start. One that will be both useful in Arena's and some other maps.
Especially devilities and wolvers. Should I consider getting a calahan for those levels?
If I just consider getting myself out of sticky situation, I think a normal damage sword would be the best option? It would rid me of mobs, while dishing out a little bit of damage in the process..

Also I haven't really been paying much attention to the Biohazard/Polaris/Supernova/Sentenza/Argent peacemaker.
Actually any of the other guns. Which ones are worth it to get, and will prove more useful than the alchemer lines?

Thanks already,

EDIT;
I just crafted a voltech alchemer with CTR - Medium
This changes things...
Maybe going for damage bonus - Maximum! might be better now?

Mon, 06/24/2013 - 12:12

Bopp

response

I'd go for CTR+6 before damage+6, especially with Storm Driver, because CTR helps your damage output and shock output, while the damage bonus helps only your damage output. Fortunately you can easily achieve both.

Is this new gunner knight the same knight as your old sworder? If so, what swords are available to him? You can switch these swords in and out, based on the level you're about to do. If this is a brand-new knight and you don't want to spend a lot on swords, then you probably want Levi, Sudaruska (if you dislike PvP) or Triglav (if you like PvP). Any of those would make a fine sidearm.

Other people can comment on the optimal gunner strategy against fiends. I do not claim that expertise.

Polaris/Supernova is really interesting, in that it's really a crowd-control weapon. When you get good at it, you can use it to herd monsters, to clear a path though a crowd as you run through it, etc. So you'll want to experiment with it eventually. Argent/Sentenza is fun, but if you're good with alchemers then there's not much point to them.

Mon, 06/24/2013 - 13:30

Polished

response

This will be a new gunner just to start fresh.
I never tackled a shadow lair, but I was prepping for one.
I had the usual gear:
Vog cub cap/skolver cap
Skolver Armour
DA
GF
BTB
COA/GOS/BTS
Polaris/Blitz Needle
Shivermist Buster
And various sword-based trinkets.

It's the main reason I wanted to try a gunslinger, trying the not overused path. (no offense to swordmasters, I liked being one alot but I'm trying to renew interest)

I have my experience using a polaris. It's a great gun but not very party friendly and the fact that I will already have a Storm Drives gives it limited uses, I think? Especially if I will get a normal type weapon to clear a path when I feel the need to?

That settles it I think.

Only debating on switching one CTR trinket for a DMG trinket, because of the UV I just received.
Though that would mean my Umbra Driver's CTR would only be Very High, but my Storm Driver would have DMG - Maximum! and CTR - Maximum!
It's the only thing that I'm still wondering about...

Mon, 06/24/2013 - 17:49

Leekcoco

If you're using a Swiftstrike

If you're using a Swiftstrike you need dodging skills anyway. In which case, you could make a choice between full Chaos and a usable shield, or Swifty and Shadowsun. Either way you need to dodge, but I think a shield that works is a better idea. Full Chaos, two ASI trinkets, you get the same boosts but a usable shield.

Callahan works better teamed up with a fast sword so that you can switch quickly and deal good DPS. It's not good for beasts and fiends, you're better off using a Valiance or driver on them.

Mon, 06/24/2013 - 19:07

Senorclean

if this is PvE, i'd recommend

if this is PvE, i'd recommend chaos set w/ 2 alchs cause you can easily do lots fo dmg w/ thsoe 2 alchs if you know how to alch switch well, also use SSB so you get ASI high w/ dmg VH and CTR max, so alch for small enemies (like 1-3), charge for big ones such as trojans in FSC or big groups such as like 6+. if its PvP, chaos w/ 2 alchs. i personally use freeze and shock, hail alch to freeze trojans w/ charge, and shock for big groups of enemies

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Gunslinger Questions