Handler Combination Recommendations?

[Tsukasa117]

Like some of you I am soloing as the Handler and have been taking my time and have unlocked my second archetype slot but wanted to ask if anyone has any recommendations of what to pair with it? Secret or non starter class recommendations are cool I don't mind be slightly spoiled by there names and a description on why they pair well with Handler. Thank you all for your time and good hunting.

[Dreams of Fury]

Step 1: Replace handler with any other class.....

Now that my bitterness is out of the way, if you like to shoot lots gunslinger is mint, challenger can work well to make yourself more durable and very close quarters if you want as well, or to be a small army work to unlock summoner as lots of its features synergize with handler as the dog is treated as a summon/minion.

To answer ahead of time before you ask, I HATE handler, that dog has shoved me off edges and elevators more times than I can count and during my time maxing it with it equiped as my primary it revived me a total of twice ever over a good chunk of deaths.....dam thing just walked over and stood there like an idiot while I bled out if I didnt just get booted to the crystal instantly......and to top it off its hitbox is so large I'll end up shooting it while it stands on top of smaller enemys that I'm trying to shoot....

[Shiroe (cortana)]

Originally posted by Dreams of Fury:

Step 1: Replace handler with any other class.....

Now that my bitterness is out of the way, if you like to shoot lots gunslinger is mint, challenger can work well to make yourself more durable and very close quarters if you want as well, or to be a small army work to unlock summoner as lots of its features synergize with handler as the dog is treated as a summon/minion.

To answer ahead of time before you ask, I HATE handler, that dog has shoved me off edges and elevators more times than I can count and during my time maxing it with it equiped as my primary it revived me a total of twice ever over a good chunk of deaths.....dam thing just walked over and stood there like an idiot while I bled out if I didnt just get booted to the crystal instantly......and to top it off its hitbox is so large I'll end up shooting it while it stands on top of smaller enemys that I'm trying to shoot....

what did you do it? abuse it?!

It has always helped in combat, always revived me when i got down unless it was on cooldown..
And it never blocked or pushed me off from things...

[Neyreyan_Youtube]

Originally posted by Tsukasa117:

Like some of you I am soloing as the Handler and have been taking my time and have unlocked my second archetype slot but wanted to ask if anyone has any recommendations of what to pair with it? Secret or non starter class recommendations are cool I don't mind be slightly spoiled by there names and a description on why they pair well with Handler. Thank you all for your time and good hunting.

use egineer instead of handler as soon as you get it and use it as the main class.
The handler is limited in use since most enemies fly, have a lot of hp, ranged attacks and other things

[Misery1ndex]

I've had ZERO issues with the good little doggy. I combined handler with the Engineer, doggy is a good distraction when using the heavy weapon in non turret mode

[Tsukasa117]

Originally posted by Misery1ndex:

I've had ZERO issues with the good little doggy. I combined handler with the Engineer, doggy is a good distraction when using the heavy weapon in non turret mode

Interesting I'll see if I can't find that one, I remember the turret spell from the first one in survivial mode, glad to hear they build a class around them, and I agree with Neyreyan_Youtube about flyers I got Fae side Losom as my first world and man everything has wings I swear XD. Thanks for the recommendations you two.

[Dreams of Fury]

Originally posted by Shiroe (cortana):

Originally posted by Dreams of Fury:

Step 1: Replace handler with any other class.....

Now that my bitterness is out of the way, if you like to shoot lots gunslinger is mint, challenger can work well to make yourself more durable and very close quarters if you want as well, or to be a small army work to unlock summoner as lots of its features synergize with handler as the dog is treated as a summon/minion.

To answer ahead of time before you ask, I HATE handler, that dog has shoved me off edges and elevators more times than I can count and during my time maxing it with it equiped as my primary it revived me a total of twice ever over a good chunk of deaths.....dam thing just walked over and stood there like an idiot while I bled out if I didnt just get booted to the crystal instantly......and to top it off its hitbox is so large I'll end up shooting it while it stands on top of smaller enemys that I'm trying to shoot....

what did you do it? abuse it?!

It has always helped in combat, always revived me when i got down unless it was on cooldown..
And it never blocked or pushed me off from things...

Not a dam clue....watched 2 of my friends regularly get revived and I never did....was annoying....handler isnt my playstyle either so its no major loss on my part, and with my entire friend group playing with it as a primary or secondary I'm better off as something else cause adding a 3rd doggo just seems too much....

[Telerion]

I started with handler too, wasnt impressed at first, but liked it after some time. I combined it with the summoner. The first summens arnt very usefull, but the flyers are great against all enemies as they can shoot at enemy flyers. With the right items (the ones that give bulwark per summon) you get quiet tanky and the free dog ress can save your butt if you mess up.
Its also very funny to see your summons kill all trash mobs.
I also used the mod that lets you summon the bugs that explode (forgot the name), as they count as summons too. Giving you the max Bulwark stacks.
Yes, against bosses both classes arnt the best, but you can still use them. The flyers can attack all bosses and your dog can still heal and ress you, so not the most efficient way to kill bosses, but still usefull. I had fun with this combo.

[Tsukasa117]

Originally posted by Telerion:

I started with handler too, wasnt impressed at first, but liked it after some time. I combined it with the summoner. The first summens arnt very usefull, but the flyers are great against all enemies as they can shoot at enemy flyers. With the right items (the ones that give bulwark per summon) you get quiet tanky and the free dog ress can save your butt if you mess up.
Its also very funny to see your summons kill all trash mobs.
I also used the mod that lets you summon the bugs that explode (forgot the name), as they count as summons too. Giving you the max Bulwark stacks.
Yes, against bosses both classes arnt the best, but you can still use them. The flyers can attack all bosses and your dog can still heal and ress you, so not the most efficient way to kill bosses, but still usefull. I had fun with this combo.

I might try that I've had doggo in tank spec but its hit or miss sometimes so maybe healing is the way to go, thanks.

[Emperor Fooble]

I've loved handler since starting with it and I just cannot play without it.

The dog does sooo much. He revives you (noob trap I know, but I guess I suck + it's great given how all large or boss enemies can close to one hit you with certain attacks), and the dog draws a lot of aggro from trash mobs.

Then he provides passive health regen, and the heal howl is pure perfection for solo players or even useful in a group.

And even though the damage is low, he applies bleed which is situationally incredible, such as against regenerating bosses which are otherwise the devil.

I'm going to try it with summoner, for even more passive health regen and more little friends to draw aggro.

Thus far the biggest downside of handler I have found, is that the dog will just zoom off and start attacking distant enemies which can trigger unwanted waves.

[Telerion]

The aggro dog needs work from the devs as you always out aggro your dog unless you dont attack at all. The healer dog was, at least for me, the most usefull in the end.
It also combined great with summons, as they get healed as well.
The only question is what primary perk you want, both combos hase there pros and cons.
Handler as primery gives you the free ress, but you dont get the dmg buff on minions.
If you dont mind the free ress, the summoner primary is great, it buffs your minions if you shoot them. With a maxed out handler, they dont get much dmg from friendly fire, and your dog can heal them. Both combos work great in my opinion.
Of course its all subjective, try it out and look if you like it. I had alot of fun seeing my summons shred through the enemys, and again, with the right items, they deal alot of dmg.