Spiral Knights - [FSC] Storm Driver vs Nova Driver

[FSC] Storm Driver vs Nova Driver

6 replies [Last post]

Wed, 01/18/2012 - 01:06

Metagenic

Seeing as the 2* versions of guns are completely fail, I went to swords and bombs when I first started playing Spiral Knights. I'm trying to get into the hang of playing through FSC, and I gave guns another chance when I realized that 4* guns aren't as horrible or lackluster as their 2* versions. My Silversix is okay, but it doesn't feel like a GREAT sidearm. So I'm going towards the Alchemers instead. Apparently the Nova Driver has higher damage, but Storm Driver can inflict shock, which I find highly useful. Which one should I get?

Note: I plan on picking up a Voltaic Tempest, so I'm not sure how useful a Storm Driver would be in FSC.

Wed, 01/18/2012 - 01:24

Fradow

Both are good. I feel that

Both are good. I feel that it's really a matter of preference : the dps is going to be VERY close. If you find shock useful, you should definitely go with Storm Driver.

As guns, they are certainly going to do less damage than swords, but they are still great dps in FSC, and don't annoy teamates.

Shock in FSC is good (if that was one of your question) : zombies tend to group together, so the aoe property of shock will result in high dps. But it's not very good on Vana tho, the dps against him is too low to be significative, it'll break the freeze (if there is a shivermist) and it's not worth trying to specifically shock him.

Wed, 01/18/2012 - 01:46

Nicoya-Kitty

I actually disagree on the

I actually disagree on the shocking vana bit. Yeah, if the party is doing a shiverblitz then it's best to either be shivering, blitzing, or staying out of the way, but the shock interrupts vana's dash attacks quite frequently, which can really save your bacon if you get out of position.

Wed, 01/18/2012 - 06:58

Otaia

I'd recommend Nova since the

I'd recommend Nova since the Voltaic Tempest renders additional shock useless, but have you considered getting a Polaris instead?

Alchemers are very weak. I carry one only because out of preference for the faster bullets and greater accuracy compared to the Polaris. Blitz Needle outdamages Nova (on undead!) unless you land bounce hits. The charge attack is also weaker than Blitz even with the 50% damage bonus, and landing internal bounces is inconsistent.

Wed, 01/18/2012 - 07:41

Fradow

@Otaia no, Polaris is not

@Otaia no, Polaris is not weaker than Alchemers. It reduces its own dps with knockback and it's freaking annoying for teamates. Any gunner worth his salt don't carry it as his main elemental weapon because of that.

Comparing Alchemers to Blitz is a little silly, considering the huge mobility trade-off you make with Blitz. If you do that, you can compare Volcanic Pepperbox to any gun beside other autogun lines and declare they are weak. There is a reason you very rarely see Volcanic Perpperbox, or even Blitz Needle outside of FSC.

Wed, 01/18/2012 - 08:18

Otaia

I use my Blitz Needle as my

I use my Blitz Needle as my main weapon everywhere except Construct or Slime-heavy levels. Other than Polaris in FSC, there is no other gun that lets you kill even remotely as fast as a sword user in normal conditions. The reason you don't see it outside of FSC that often is because there aren't that many gunners and an elemental gun is more appropriate people who carry a single gun. Anyway, if I'm reading correctly, OP wants a single gun for FSC, not to be a gunner. Polaris is unsuitable as a go-to weapon, but if you have a sword as your primary weapon, it's excellent.

Polaris is a lot stronger than any Alchemer when there are multiple mobs to hit with the AoE. The knockback is about as annoying as the knockback on DA or Nitronome. Bad when you use it without regard to the location of your teammates, otherwise not a problem at all.

Wed, 01/18/2012 - 08:18

Fradow

I agree with Blitz Needle

I agree with Blitz Needle doing way more dps than any other gun, but my point is the mobility trade-off is not appealing for most players.

I agree too with Polaris as a side-arm, I didn't read the OP post that well.

But I strongly disagree about Polaris being stronger than Alchemer. You are going to do some good shots, but then, because of the knockback in every direction, you are back to hitting only 1/2 at a time. And in the meantime you screwed up the positionning of mobs for teamates (doesn't apply if you are solo).

Also, I don't categorize DA and nitronome at the same level of annoying. DA (and most swords except calibur charge) have a knockback in one direction, making it possible to herd all the mobs in the same direction. On the other hand, Polaris, nitronome and calibur charge (and some others) have a 360° knockback, scattering mobs all over the place. It's really that type of knockback I hate.

Back on topic, Polaris makes a great side-arm. As long as you don't confuse "side-arm" and "weapon i'll be spamming all the run". For the latter, I advise an Alchemer if you want some mobility or a Blitz Needle for no mobility/huge damage.

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[FSC] Storm Driver vs Nova Driver