Question on Brain Burst Firing Modes

[GTCv Deimos]

I'm trying to figure something out about the Psyker, specifically between the two different firing modes for his signature "Brain Burst." What I know so far goes something like this:

Primary Fire: Locks onto a single unit, and builds warp power. Brain bursts once enough power is built. Prone to whiffing if someone beats you to the kill.

Alt Fire: Charges warp power, but dynamically switches targets, homing in on the enemy closest to reticle. Must be triggered with primary-fire button. Prone to whiffing if you try to trigger the brain burst too soon

At face value, the two methods of Brain Burst seem to do the same thing, it's just a matter of which option is most likely going to result in a kill, so you don't look like a jack-*** for just standing there, charging warp. Also, it *seems* like the Alt Fire accumulates.... warp... saturation(?) faster, increasing the risk of you blowing yourself up.

Has anyone else identified any other nuances to these two methods of popping heads?

[Scarletwing]

Primary Fire when multiple targets, Alt Fire when no mobs around what you want to kill.
When monstrosity event happens.

[Arani]

The point is that you can pre-charge it.

Say you hear a dog, you can pinpoint where it's coming from. Use alt fire to charge it, and the instant it rushes in bam you get the kill. Or in the case of mutants that take 2 BB's, if you get the first BB off instantly, you will most likely have a chance to primary fire charge and kill it before it ever even reaches you.

It's situational, but it does have its uses.

[GTCv Deimos]

Alrighty. So as far as you can tell, the outcome is the same? I really need to take down some numbers and see what the warp saturation difference is between the two, because it always feels like I have more on alt fire. That *could* just be because sometimes I have to hold it a little longer (that's what she said...), if I need to quickly pick a new target... but I'm still not sure.

[State Line Crosser]

With all the downsides that pre charging already has I have no idea why you can even whiff it.

[GTCv Deimos]

Originally posted by State Line Crosser:

With all the downsides that pre charging already has I have no idea why you can even whiff it.

Yeah, I think that's one thing they're going to need to change. Psyker is already kind of a PITA to work with, because he's the only one who can die just because he didn't "reload" (see: quelling). I trigger the alt fire too soon ALL.THE.FREAKING.TIME, and usually a few times in quick succession. It'd be less of an issue if it wasn't so easy to whiff primary fire, too. I think they should just forgive you for triggering alt fire prematurely, by letting the meter continue to build, rather than going back down to empty.

[2D > 3D WEEB 4 LIFE]

You can right click to charge if you need to quickly kill enemies that are about to appear into your line of sight. The increased cost is usually from having to hold it for a longer duration compared to left clicking which only charges the precise amount before detonating.

[Emilia Tempest]

Other things are:
Main fire can be cast till 97% (at or above 97% casting and then finishing the cast will blow you up) without blowing yourself up. So casting with the main fire at 96% you go to 100% and wont blow up once you finished the cast. BUT if someone steals the kill you can end up yeeting yourself (since the cast will reset), but since you need to finish the cast simply stop casting.

Also, dont ask me why 97% is the magic number where you will suddenly go boom if you finish the cast.


Alt fire has to finish before 100%, so if you finish the cast on 99% you wont blow up. but finish it on 100% and boom you go.
While holding the alt fire you can switch onto your Main Fire button to instantly cast when ready it once there is a target in range.
BUT this does NOT make you do the Main Fire cast, so you still have to deal with the "finish cast on 99% or earlier to not blow up".


The "if done at or before 99% you wont blow up" is true for most things that require peril, you can repeated cast the force-sword special at 99% and press some real good melee damage (it goes to 100%, landing the hit is often enough time to go down to 99% and repeat).

[GTCv Deimos]

Originally posted by Emilia Tempest:

Other things are:
Main fire can be cast till 97% (at or above 97% casting and then finishing the cast will blow you up) without blowing yourself up. So casting with the main fire at 96% you go to 100% and wont blow up once you finished the cast. BUT if someone steals the kill you can end up yeeting yourself (since the cast will reset), but since you need to finish the cast simply stop casting.

Also, dont ask me why 97% is the magic number where you will suddenly go boom if you finish the cast.


Alt fire has to finish before 100%, so if you finish the cast on 99% you wont blow up. but finish it on 100% and boom you go.
While holding the alt fire you can switch onto your Main Fire button to instantly cast when ready it once there is a target in range.
BUT this does NOT make you do the Main Fire cast, so you still have to deal with the "finish cast on 99% or earlier to not blow up".


The "if done at or before 99% you wont blow up" is true for most things that require peril, you can repeated cast the force-sword special at 99% and press some real good melee damage (it goes to 100%, landing the hit is often enough time to go down to 99% and repeat).

Huh. Helpful tip. Thanks! I have noticed that the Warp Saturation % is somewhat forgiving. You only really seem to blow up whenever you try to do something Warp-related AT 100%. It doesn't seem like anything bad happens if your hit 100% as part of the brain burst.