How good is the Challenger ?

[Buurt]

I used Challenger first and got on a planet where mostly range enemys are and it feels like challenger is kinda bad, before I get in melee range or anything like that I mostly end up dead already, will it get better later ?

[rollin340]

The second life it gives you is useful for when you start out, but it has quite useless skills for gun-play. Melee is... not the best at the start of the game. Or even at the end really.

It works out for me, but I have all of the items that are required to make it kind of viable. And that's the problem with a few builds; they need a specific set of equipment.

You're honestly better off going with Hunter; it's simple, good, and available from the start.

[Kappa]

Outside might be a little unrewarding, but within a dungeon and during boss fights you'll be able to stay within 10/20 m reach to get your bonuses with weapons.

If you want to go melee range to always melee strike, the game is not designed for this approach, though you can indeed push towards that direction ( there are several videos/tutorials for melee builds, for any difficulty).

[Ottomic]

It's good. Second skill is kinda mid and good luck triggering the third one on a boss, but I felt like it kept up ok during the game. Stomp can be super convenient on areas where you're being swarmed or even staggering certain enemies. Plus, the revive doesn't depend on your dog being alive and it's instant so it was very handy when fighting Annihilation in Nightmare because doggo has a snowball chance in hell to stay alive there.

[Leoscar]

I find that the most valuable thing on challenger is the second ability giving you stacks of bulwark and speed. The self revive is neat of course, but unnecessary if you're playing a tank.

[SB'67/nWo]

Originally posted by Buurt:

I used Challenger first and got on a planet where mostly range enemys are and it feels like challenger is kinda bad, before I get in melee range or anything like that I mostly end up dead already, will it get better later ?

Hunter/Challenger (HUTCH) is the meta combo for ranged DPS. Level it up to its 3rd ability, you won't be disappointed

[Eudicots]

I played challenger first and I ended up just buying a different starting weapon.

[LeanDrinkinMattressMack]

Melee was a total after thought in this game, grind for some other classes and play those. I also started out on challenger and I haven't touched it since getting other classes unlocked.

[Ottomic]

Challenger is not a melee dedicated class. It doesn't even have a single skill or trait that is melee specific (except Juggernaut, which does benefit melee although it also benefits
close-up ranged combat as well).

Challenger rewards getting up close, yes, but as long as you are 10m away from an enemy you'll get full effect whether it's melee or ranged.

[ЯeÐ ĄnimaŁ ШaЯ]

People make ♥♥♥♥ up and claim that the challenger is a melee class just because one skill is close range and the other is melee. Challenger can be played as a normal gunshooter just like any other class. Challenger is one of the best classes, specifically for hardcore mode you do not want to depend on a dog to MAYBE rezz you or go in without a 2nd life.

And melee actually works pretty good if you have a good build and some traits, may not be good in the beginning but if you have all the rings and traits maxed it works in areas where there are not a lot of flyers, it just gets boring because you use shield battery or whatever that mutator is that gives you shield on melee hits. You basically just span basics attack or you spam strong attack of you have a weapon/build around that.

[Atma]

Shieldbreaker is kinda bad when Steadfast exists...

[MrLuckless]

Originally posted by ЯeÐ ĄnimaŁ ШaЯ:

People make ♥♥♥♥ up and claim that the challenger is a melee class just because one skill is close range and the other is melee. Challenger can be played as a normal gunshooter just like any other class. Challenger is one of the best classes, specifically for hardcore mode you do not want to depend on a dog to MAYBE rezz you or go in without a 2nd life.

And melee actually works pretty good if you have a good build and some traits, may not be good in the beginning but if you have all the rings and traits maxed it works in areas where there are not a lot of flyers, it just gets boring because you use shield battery or whatever that mutator is that gives you shield on melee hits. You basically just span basics attack or you spam string attack of you have a weapon/build around that.

A lot of bosses and enemies in the game do fly, so weapons like the Hero Sword or Worlds Edge become particularly useful for melee builds to give them some reach. Paradoxically, the best melee weapons in the game are the ones that give you a ranged attack.

[Atma]

Originally posted by MrLuckless:

Paradoxically, the best melee weapons in the game are the ones that give you a ranged attack.

I will agree w/ this.

Best melee weapons in the game seem to be Krell Axe, Huntress' Spear, Spectral Blade, Atom Splitter, Hero's Sword, World's Edge, Red Doe Staff, etc. All have a means of ranged attacking.

Definitely not saying other melee weapons aren't good, especially if you build around them (Feral Judgment w/ Vampire Blade mutator on a bleed build is fun as heck), but for ease of use a melee weapon they can't run from is always gonna be best.

[MrLuckless]

Originally posted by Atma:

Originally posted by MrLuckless:

Paradoxically, the best melee weapons in the game are the ones that give you a ranged attack.

I will agree w/ this.

Best melee weapons in the game seem to be Krell Axe, Huntress' Spear, Spectral Blade, Atom Splitter, Hero's Sword, World's Edge, Red Doe Staff, etc. All have a means of ranged attacking.

Definitely not saying other melee weapons aren't good, especially if you build around them (Feral Judgment w/ Vampire Blade mutator on a bleed build is fun as heck), but for ease of use a melee weapon they can't run from is always gonna be best.

I think the reasoning is because all those weapons essentially have a built in mod to them, whereas something basic like the Scrap Greatsword is just a sword. If melee weapons could also have mods on top of a mutator, you'd probably get more use out of them. Maybe melee weapon specific mods to boot. Just some extra stuff to make builds around and collect. Lord knows there's enough rings and amulets as it is.

[Atma]

I would absolutely love melee-focused mods that you can switch out.