Fix/free the Hellbore. Just... something. Good lord

[LinkZeppeloyd]

So first I'll admit this has never been my favorite weapon, and it was (back in the day) hard for me to understand why anyone would use it.

So I just crafter one and used it, due to a certain bug with the Hot Shot blessing. It works.

But JFC, it's just not worth it, I LOVE almost everything about this gun except for the fact that it's made unsuable by it's god awful weapon swap and arming animation. Even with "one motion" (+25% weapon swap speed) I don't think it helps. It's like the animation is separate from the weapon swap calculation.

It reminds me of Hunter Kruber's heavy bow except, instead of drawing it and shooting it you... nope! gotta click a things, delaying its usability to the point where its just pointless.

It's got decent reload speed... how about a compromise? Remove that awful animation, let us use the darn thing. And make its reload longer in exchange.

Any fans of this weapon? I feel like its almost great, yet rendered infuratingly bad by this.

[H4NS]

Infantry lasgun is just better in every way. I'm not a Dark Souls kid so i dont like to torture myself.

[Katou]

Originally posted by LinkZeppeloyd:

Any fans of this weapon? I feel like its almost great, yet rendered infuratingly bad by this.

Yes, I am a fan. I build it with a focus on critical hits. I bless the gun with Surgical IV and Infernus IV with Increased Crit Chance and Damage. I pick up talents such as Opening Salvo, Deadshot, and Shock Trooper. I take Marksman's Focus and Tunnel Vision and the Rending talent.

I don't have to reload as often because with Shock Trooper, l make critical hits so often, that I use very little ammo. Tunnel Vision refills some stamina per kill, and the tending talent helps punch flak armor. You can even do some decent damage to carapace armor if you aim for weak spots.

You're right about it being slow to swap weapons, though. I wouldn't recommend a Weapon Specialist build unless it involves Executioner's Stance, which will allow you to equip it near-instantly. Aside from that, E-stance will also give you some zoom and highlight for the duration that the ability is active, making it easier for you to hit targets behind smoke or gas.

Voice of Command deserves mention because you can use it to protect yourself and allies. With both of the ability modifiers: For the Emperor and Close Quarters Killzone, you can buff both the laser and the bayonet of the Hellbore.

You'll need a melee weapon that can help you cleave through hordes, though. It has great single-target damage, but it's awful against a mob.

[Sea Base]

While I'm not a fan, I have found it rather fun to play with just to change things up. Not sure about why people say its awful against mobs, just spam stab at head height and sweep. It's no dedicated horde clear, but it's just fine for making yourself space to fire off some choice shots between stabs, pick off priority targets to trigger Confirmed Kill.

The melee benefits from melee talents, so skip the key stones all together and just use the Helbore and Frags, build with that intent. No swapping. With being able to trigger Exhilarating Takedown at will, you are very tanky. Add Close Order Drill and Iron Will, you are looking at reliably hitting maximum Toughness damage reduction. Plus, the melee attack triggers Agile Engagement, so you can happily keep that sweet +25% ranged AND melee damage going.

[Hawkshot86]

Side note as well, but lord help the sharpshooter tree of the Vet... I'm working on my last penance (get 2500! kills with 10 stacks of focus) and I really hate sharpshooter vet these days, especially after playing the other 2 trees. Whoever thought mechanics like "stay 8m away from enemies" and "don't move" were good in a HORDE GAME is just wrong and should feel bad.... It's strong, but god is it annoying to play. Especially with how fragile it is in melee.

Good summary of the hellbore as well... It does a ton of damage and is great on paper, but it's in the wrong game.

[DLCI]

Originally posted by Katou:

You'll need a melee weapon that can help you cleave through hordes, though. It has great single-target damage, but it's awful against a mob.

it would seem, then, that it is quite convenient that helbores also happen to have a bugged blessing which gives you nearly infinite cleave on any melee weapon

aka

put T1 hot-shot on it then just forget it exists while you run around doing double the melee damage of a zealot

[Katou]

Originally posted by DLCI:

Originally posted by Katou:

You'll need a melee weapon that can help you cleave through hordes, though. It has great single-target damage, but it's awful against a mob.

it would seem, then, that it is quite convenient that helbores also happen to have a bugged blessing which gives you nearly infinite cleave on any melee weapon

aka

put T1 hot-shot on it then just forget it exists while you run around doing double the melee damage of a zealot

Yeah, I've been using the power sword, but thinking of switching to something else. Didn't know the bug was a thing.

[Ravs]

They need to add scopes to Hellbore officially, but they're probably saving them for long las weapons somewhere down the line.

[Dundo]

I used to run exclusively Helbores on Auric for a period of time. It's insanely consistent against any type of enemy but has fickle timings, swaps are slow and you can't really opt in for anything other than a horde clear melee weapon if you're using a Helbore, that being said MK2 is certainly the best.

I haven't used the hot shot bug yet though, Weight of Fire + Crit perks are usually my go to. Problem with Helbores mostly stems from janky recoil animations imo, the way the barrel rises after shooting is weird, takes getting used to.

[Sea Base]

Originally posted by Dundo:

Problem with Helbores mostly stems from janky recoil animations imo, the way the barrel rises after shooting is weird, takes getting used to.

I will say the sights are garbage, hiding targets left and right with even slight recoil behind the chunky optic rail. A low form factor red dot would be a much loved blessing from the Omnissiah.

[sinephase]

I agree, it's easy enough to aim at a distance with other guns that switch much quicker. Shame, it's a neat gun.

[Urinietszche]

Originally posted by Katou:

Originally posted by LinkZeppeloyd:

Any fans of this weapon? I feel like its almost great, yet rendered infuratingly bad by this.

Yes, I am a fan. I build it with a focus on critical hits. I bless the gun with Surgical IV and Infernus IV with Increased Crit Chance and Damage. I pick up talents such as Opening Salvo, Deadshot, and Stormtrooper. I take Marksman's Focus and Tunnel Vision and the Rending talent.

I don't have to reload as often because with Storm Trooper, l make critical hits so often, that I use very little ammo. Tunnel Vision refills some stamina per kill, and the tending talent helps punch flak armor. You can even do some decent damage to carapace armor if you aim for weak spots.

You're right about it being slow to swap weapons, though. I wouldn't recommend a Weapon Specialist build unless it involves Executioner's Stance, which will allow you to equip it near-instantly. Aside from that, E-stance will also give you some zoom and highlight for the duration that the ability is active, making it easier for you to hit targets behind smoke or gas.

Voice of Command deserves mention because you can use it to protect yourself and allies. With both of the ability modifiers: For the Emperor and Close Quarters Killzone, you can buff both the laser and the bayonet of the Hellbore.

You'll need a melee weapon that can help you cleave through hordes, though. It has great single-target damage, but it's awful against a mob.

Sir, which Mk Helbore do you use?

[Katou]

Originally posted by Urinietszche:

Sir, which Mk Helbore do you use?

The Mk IIIa. I find it has the best balance of damage, charge rate, and it has the bayonet stab that I like.

[Navllyk]

So I've only just started playing the game recently, but the Hellbore seems good enough for the lower difficulties.

What makes it so much worse in the endgame? The high special/elite count? Not enough damage against monstrosities? Needing to use a specific ability to have a good weapon swap speed?

(Also, what stat spread should I be looking for? I found one with 80 on everything but a 60 on Stability, but I'm wondering if 60 ammo would be better or just a 80 on damage and an even spread everywhere else.)

[Katou]

Originally posted by Navllyk:

What makes it so much worse in the endgame? The high special/elite count? Not enough damage against monstrosities? Needing to use a specific ability to have a good weapon swap speed?

Basically, yes. However, you can overcome tougher armor through critical hits, critical weak spot hits, and rending. Infernus helps to stack damage in between charged-up shots. It's not ideal for countering carapace armor or monstrosities, but it does help contribute damage. Just don't use the bayonet against carapace, I should be clear about that.

Originally posted by Navllyk:

(Also, what stat spread should I be looking for? I found one with 80 on everything but a 60 on Stability, but I'm wondering if 60 ammo would be better or just a 80 on damage and an even spread everywhere else.)

If you're using Shock Trooper (I'll edit my previous post) and you're stacking critical hit chance with talents and perks, then yes, ammo can be your dump stat.

[Dundo]

Originally posted by Navllyk:

So I've only just started playing the game recently, but the Hellbore seems good enough for the lower difficulties.

What makes it so much worse in the endgame? The high special/elite count? Not enough damage against monstrosities? Needing to use a specific ability to have a good weapon swap speed?

(Also, what stat spread should I be looking for? I found one with 80 on everything but a 60 on Stability, but I'm wondering if 60 ammo would be better or just a 80 on damage and an even spread everywhere else.)

Handling most likely. Helbores can consistently take out any enemy in game, they'll also deal an absurd amount of damage to monstrosities.