Is Power Fist terrible or am I missing something?

[counterintel]

Power fist is probably my favorite melee weapon lore wise, and I think they look sick in game and on tabletop, so I was super pumped to give them a try.

For context, I can crowd surf in melee on substantial just fine (haven't tried ruthless yet), parrying trash swarms and getting dodges/gunstrikes off etc. as other classes or with chainsword/combat knife.

But golly gee willikers, going from a level 20+ vanguard to a level 1 assault with a power fist felt like being chained in the mud.

The power fist mentions something about it having a long range energy wave or some such but, it literally feels like it's just a giant concrete boxing glove. Thr charge up attack appears to just be a forward fist strike?

Does one of the combos specifically blow off a wave attack or do some huge AE and I'm just not seeming to land it or what am I missing? If not, it's pretty slow, doesn't hit particularly hard, and doesnt AE well? Why give this to melee classes, where the assumption would be that their melee weapon selection should be superior to that of ranged classes such as tactical or sniper?

I'm genuinely hoping it's just me.

[VelxraTV]

Its best used for rapid ground slams with assault. Otherwise yeah its terrible in melee.

[L O]

It's fun bit yes pretty bad.

[Shield]

it is uh not the best melee in the game lets say that

[Naus]

It is always meh joice. For bulwark it's better to get energy sword for assault obvious choice is hammer. No reason to chose power fist.

[Munchmatoast]

You can get decent use out of the power fist on assault if you're using a fencing one.

The only time you should attack crowds is with ground pound after using your jetpack.

Every other moment should be spent parrying Majoris for gunstrikes.

The game play is identical with a thunder hammer, if you play this way.

The class won't feel good to play until level 23.

Stick to using your heavy bolt pistol and parrying. Don't waste your flying ground pounds on Majoris enemies.

[Doomvora]

I just spam ground slam for aoe stagger.

Otherwise I'm utilizing the thrust 2/back 2 comboes for extra damage with the perks.

I only use it on bulwark though.

[Vexille]

I might be the only maniac who loves this thing then.
I think it's awesome, I use assault and got it maxxed out.

The final upgrade where its dash attack does 50% more damage lets you haymaker people left and right.

It's kind of rough early, but it's gold fencing tier makes it pretty good. The speed upgrade it get's makes it come together.

[nymneo]

Recently tried it out in PVP, and for some reason it restores like a 1.5 armor per hit out of assaults 2 armor total. Less damage than thunder hammer but you will easily survive any 1v1 just spamming light attacks with it.

I thought it was alright in coop with little aoe explosions on each punch, but that was before i learned how to properly use powersword.

[counterintel]

Seems unfortunate that it is in fact, as it appears to be and is not just me. Thanks for everyone's quick comments and suggestions.

While I appreciate the advice for assault, It's class and playstyle I understand just fine, but I am more focused on the power fist as it's my favorite lore weapon, and I was hoping to use it on both bulwark and assault as primary. I havent really given bulwark a fair go yet, but Assault for me seems like its going fine in general, when not using a fist. I mean, it's awful at low levels and I hate mostly every minute of it, but, it's mostly because I come from a 20+ vanguard.

To incorrectly quote Meatwad of Aquateen hunger force: "I get it. It aint making me happy, but I get it"

[H4NS]

Yes its terrible.

[VelxraTV]

Originally posted by nymneo:

Recently tried it out in PVP, and for some reason it restores like a 1.5 armor per hit out of assaults 2 armor total. Less damage than thunder hammer but you will easily survive any 1v1 just spamming light attacks with it.

You are literally making this up. Their is no armor restore other than recharging and the bulwark banner.

EDIT: reviewed my gameplay videos. The fist does restore 1.5 armor on hit. Either with slam or punch. Hmm didnt notice this while playing.

Good catch, I apologize.

[D'bron]

I would only use it on assault with the fencing variant. Unless you're talking about pvp in that case idk.

[Riqcrow]

in PVE, it requires as many hits to kill basic small enemy as from powersword. but it is slower. and somehow devs decided it is "aoe" weapon. they should fix that it is both slow and cumbersome in defence, but devastating 1v1 weapon, able to punch a hole in enemy tank, and in-game best killing enemy elite warriors fast.

[Vllth]

It bad.

[Skipper]

It's useless and outclassed by literally every single melee in the game.