Braced auto gun help

[I'm too old for this]

Hey all! Been playing for a bit now and so far, I seem to do the best with my vet. I’ve adopted the recon lasgun and have climbed into auric missions and done quite well.

However, I’ve been looking to expand into some other builds. I’ve tried a few weapons, and while some seem fine, others are, tbh, a real struggle to make work.

I see a lot of people talk about braced auto guns being amazing. I tried a few different builds over the last couple days, and I just can’t seem to make it work.

I mean, sure, it’s a good gun up close. It can chew through just about anything that isn’t a crusher (which is fine cause I always carry kraks). But since veteran is specifically designed to deal with ranged threats that the rest of the group may struggle with, I find it’s sort of self defeating to take the braced auto gun because it’s spread is so high. Heaven forbid the group walks into a room of 20+ shooters and a patrol of scab gunners, because none of us can get close enough/put out enough accurate ranged damage to deal with it effectively.

I also find bracing it doesn’t really do much. Maybe I’m crazy, but it seems to make accuracy even worse? 😂

It’s prob just a skill issue on my part, but I’d love some advice from anyone who uses it! I’d like to get better and do well, I just feel like I need a few pointers in the right direction. Thanks all!

[CopperBack]

The braced autogun mark with the lowest ammo count has best range accuracy in short controlled burst from hip fire or braced about the same. Will just require more aim and controlled bursts to deal with range. If your using ranged combat ability, it also gives a bit more zoom as well.

[Katou]

Originally posted by I'm too old for this:

I see a lot of people talk about braced auto guns being amazing. I tried a few different builds over the last couple days, and I just can’t seem to make it work.

My guess is that they're taking talents like Onslaught, which adds 16 stacks of 2.5% (40% total) brittleness, and Rending Strikes which gives a flat 10% rending to all weapons. The Focus Target keystone can also help stack on more damage. This means that you can potentially take down Crushers, but it's not ideal, nor efficient on ammo.

I'm also assuming that they're using the Agripinaa Mk VIII.

Originally posted by I'm too old for this:

I mean, sure, it’s a good gun up close. It can chew through just about anything that isn’t a crusher (which is fine cause I always carry kraks). But since veteran is specifically designed to deal with ranged threats that the rest of the group may struggle with, I find it’s sort of self defeating to take the braced auto gun because it’s spread is so high.

I don't find it ideal for that purpose, either. I find it too slow and too inaccurate. I'd rather take something like a Bolter or Bolt Pistol for that. However, as I'm sure you've noticed, combat starts to move closer and closer into melee range as you increase the difficulty of the game. I suspect that's why people rave about it.

Originally posted by I'm too old for this:

Heaven forbid the group walks into a room of 20+ shooters and a patrol of scab gunners, because none of us can get close enough/put out enough accurate ranged damage to deal with it effectively.

For that case, you'd be better off using the Vraks or Graia marks to suppress them. Picking up the two suppression talents below Voice of Command can help suppress them faster. Suppressing them will mean they will duck and run for cover, which means they won't be shooting at you or teammates, giving you an opportunity to advance. This can work on Reapers as well.

Originally posted by I'm too old for this:

I also find bracing it doesn’t really do much. Maybe I’m crazy, but it seems to make accuracy even worse? 😂

For the Agripinaa and Vraks marks, it reduces the speed and intensity of the bloom of its cone of fire. You may not notice it at first, but try it in the Meat Grinder with the appropriate crosshair settings (weapon specific).

The Graia Mk IV is mechanically different from the other two marks. Bracing it will actually increase its rate of fire. Yes, its bloom is initially higher, but the longer you hold down the trigger, the more the cone of fire will narrow.

Originally posted by I'm too old for this:

It’s prob just a skill issue on my part, but I’d love some advice from anyone who uses it! I’d like to get better and do well, I just feel like I need a few pointers in the right direction. Thanks all!

I don't use the Agripinaa, I use the Vraks or Graia, but I can give you some advice, nonetheless:

1. Krak Grenades alone are not enough, you'll probably need a melee weapon with a high penetration rating. I recommend a Chainaxe, Combat Axe, or Shovel.

2. The Agripinaa gives up its suppression rating for "collateral" instead. This means it can knock some enemies back. It can also suppress like the other two marks, but it won't be as efficient at it.

3. You may have to rely on your team more than usual, especially if you focus more on suppression. Pinning enemies behind cover as all well and good, but if doesn't help if no one's advancing on them. So, it helps to communicate in any way you can that, "Here! I'm pinning the gunners down! Look!"

4. I recommend using Voice of Command or Infiltrate with a BAG. Both of them can help keep your toughness at maximum and both will help your team more than Executioner's Stance. I also recommend the Focus Target keystone.

[JDLS]

Generally the braced auto guns work as secondary weapons. They don't really do well as a full primary. Ammo economy isn't good enough and not accurate enough. They work great on zealot, especially charge zealot where your always shooting at close range. But on veteran recon las does its job objectively better.

There is little reason to use braced auto gun on veteran, since if you want to play the super aggressive play style you are much better off using zealot. Also you can make really powerful recon las builds with veteran so the auto guns are basically a direct downgrade. If you want to branch out try plasma gun or stub revolver or maybe bolter.

[Spike]

Originally posted by I'm too old for this:

Hey all! Been playing for a bit now and so far, I seem to do the best with my vet. I’ve adopted the recon lasgun and have climbed into auric missions and done quite well.

However, I’ve been looking to expand into some other builds. I’ve tried a few weapons, and while some seem fine, others are, tbh, a real struggle to make work.

I see a lot of people talk about braced auto guns being amazing. I tried a few different builds over the last couple days, and I just can’t seem to make it work.

I mean, sure, it’s a good gun up close. It can chew through just about anything that isn’t a crusher (which is fine cause I always carry kraks). But since veteran is specifically designed to deal with ranged threats that the rest of the group may struggle with, I find it’s sort of self defeating to take the braced auto gun because it’s spread is so high. Heaven forbid the group walks into a room of 20+ shooters and a patrol of scab gunners, because none of us can get close enough/put out enough accurate ranged damage to deal with it effectively.

I also find bracing it doesn’t really do much. Maybe I’m crazy, but it seems to make accuracy even worse? 😂

It’s prob just a skill issue on my part, but I’d love some advice from anyone who uses it! I’d like to get better and do well, I just feel like I need a few pointers in the right direction. Thanks all!

Ever since the crafting update the Braced Autoguns are just simply outclassed now because of Recon. I would recommend the MK IV but they nerfed it's crit chain for really no reason.

If you want to run Braced of any kind your really need to use ES and at the bare minimum Onslaught.
You need +10% rending and spec in flak and maniac.

MK II braced is the worst "dmg" one, however it has really solid stagger if you prefer to play more supportive.
(Usually smoke builds)

MK VIII (Or VII can't remember)
Is the most accurate however i find it to be over all "meh".
it feels to me the most "middle of the road" among the braced and does ok at everything but excels at nothing imo.

Personally I run MK IV as it has great ammo, dmg, and over all just versatility.
It does require midium to close range.

(All the braced auto guns regardless of Mark are all reliant on close/medium ranged dmg, accuracy, and stability. To which Vet's talents are NOT spec'ed for in regards to dmg so all the braced in terms of viability are really no higher than High B low A tier.

Not to mention they lack Vet's key target priority being Elites/Anti-large/Boss/Minor horde clear.)

[Arani]

Bear in mind there's been some changes to the game over the past 6 months and I haven't used BAG's much in that time. But assuming no big changes, BAG VII (Agripinaa) is overall the best of them. Notably, it has the highest base ammo efficiency in the game (ammo * body dmg per shot).

However, BAGs are very different from most weapons and knowing how to play into their strenghts is important. All BAGs have really bad finesse bonuses (crit/weakspot), which coupled with their accuracy makes them a poor fit for finesse builds. Compare this to recons which have decent finesse bonuses, good finesse talents & blessings, very little recoil and no real stagger. So whatever build you use for recons is very unlikely to be good for a BAG. BAG builds tend to emphasize raw power, spread reduction, ammo and reloads.

Agri's first few hip shots are extremely precise, so you can use it as an off-sniper of sorts if you just fire 1-2 shots with a break. Used to be bracing was never worth it, but a while back they patched something about it so it may have changed.

Overall Agri BAG emphasizes aggressive mobile builds in short-mid range doing mostly body shots. Hip fire means it's ultra fast & mobile with no delays and easy aiming. So your gameplay is mostly fast-paced sliding, sprinting, switching and weaving while firing & meleeing. Short bursts manage recoil and can kill priorities up to mid range, while spraying can stop almost everything in their tracks and lane a dozen specials and ragers (not scab, since they now have carapace chest) per clip.

Note that vets are by no means restricted to long range targets only, the only thing that matters is how effective you are at any range and plenty of strong vet builds play into melee & close-mid ranges. They also have ways to reduce that spread & recoil.

For the BAG, I recommend +flak & maniac, and Deathspitter & Fire Frenzy. For talents preferably Survivalist & Fully Loaded ofc, and skip finese & weakspot talents in favor of dmg & utility. Note that the Executioner's Stance ult massively reduces spread. You'll need some way to deal with armor too so either Krak or Duelling Sword / knife pair well with it.

Edit: I'd be remiss to add that honestly if you prefer something similar to recon, I'd recommend going with Infantry Autogun (Vraks) instead. It's extremely strong, very similar in playstyle, and likes finesse. Just isn't a lasgun ofc.

[Zangi]

Agripinaa
For precision, you'll have to use short burst fire, multiple times. (Or a means of suppression.)

Don't shoot the head: Maulers
Shoot the head: Bulwark and Reaper
Preferably the face: Mutant
Don't shoot: Crushers

For just about everything else, point center mass and just hold the trigger till they stop offending your sensibilities. No need to faff about with lining up headshots, there are other guns for that.

It ain't top meta. But it is fully automatic without the pewpewpew and having to scope. Fully serviceable in auric damnation as long as you have alternative answers for crushers.

[Shoeboogie]

They are one of the highest suppression weapons in the game. I use one in havoc on my zealot if the team isnt meta. You can lock down whole corridors of shooters very easily.

[Runvald]

Many people use this gun wrong.
Use it like you would use the AK in Counterstrike.
Use left click and for maximum accuracy crouch.
For further targets use bursts. I even get far snipers like this.
Right Click makes the spread more horizontal and worse overall.

[Runvald]

Originally posted by Shoeboogie:

They are one of the highest suppression weapons in the game. I use one in havoc on my zealot if the team isnt meta. You can lock down whole corridors of shooters very easily.

A man of culture.
Also this thing got good boss dmg (which I see often lacking a bit in havoc) and enough ammo for it.