Argenta for the totally blind - in the beginning she looks weak but later...

[mudakonn]

Just wanted to say that while trying this totally blind with Forgeworld Sniper i basically found that only MC could do decent damage and I benched Argenta asap thinking that burst weapon build is just weak - Argenta missed a lot, had to get close and was first to be killed (since she went first always)

After reading a lot I realized she is crazy strong just needed some love and attention, so started with Hive Commissar Officer and never look back (I only look back when I shoot her with pistol for that Commissar extra turn to not hit her)

[Daliena]

Argenta does start kinda weak. Her starting bolter is super meh (replace ASAP with one of the options from Rykad Minoris to get started), her skills are a bit lowish, and so forth.

But once she gets rolling with an Arch-Militant build with a heavy bolter, she'll mulch the Emperor's enemies like few others can. My personal (and probably humble compared to some here) record is one shot of a burst hitting for 180 damage, and she can brrrt out 16 of them in the first burst of a turn - and take another burst or two afterwards with 8 rounds each. Not a whole lot can live through that.

[CiZerin]

Before she gets stats and needed talents I gave her lasgun sniper rifle and with my MC full support noble officer she melts half of encounter in round 1.

[Balekai]

Publicado originalmente por Daliena:

Argenta does start kinda weak. Her starting bolter is super meh (replace ASAP with one of the options from Rykad Minoris to get started), her skills are a bit lowish, and so forth.

But once she gets rolling with an Arch-Militant build with a heavy bolter, she'll mulch the Emperor's enemies like few others can. My personal (and probably humble compared to some here) record is one shot of a burst hitting for 180 damage, and she can brrrt out 16 of them in the first burst of a turn - and take another burst or two afterwards with 8 rounds each. Not a whole lot can live through that.

Argenta still carries the team for the most part of Act 1 too with enough officer buffing from when you get her etc. Especially when you start to slap Take Aim! on her and Focus! stacks.

Her starting Bolter is sort of weak because of the extra recoil and thus spread. The Modified Bolter you speak of has the same stats save for 25 recoil compared to Unfading Valour's 40 recoil.

However, Unfading is still useful early and should be a secondary weapon when you need that recoil spread to hit more enemies that are fanned out horizontally. It all comes down to what red lined trajectories you favour at any given moment. I was always switching in between Bolters to check. :) ;)

Argenta has been considered the most murderkilly murder hobo companion since Alpha. :p

Edit: Basically what everyone does with her since then:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moBw1CvEZZo&t=702s

[Daliena]

Publicado originalmente por Balekai:

Publicado originalmente por Daliena:

Argenta does start kinda weak. Her starting bolter is super meh (replace ASAP with one of the options from Rykad Minoris to get started), her skills are a bit lowish, and so forth.

But once she gets rolling with an Arch-Militant build with a heavy bolter, she'll mulch the Emperor's enemies like few others can. My personal (and probably humble compared to some here) record is one shot of a burst hitting for 180 damage, and she can brrrt out 16 of them in the first burst of a turn - and take another burst or two afterwards with 8 rounds each. Not a whole lot can live through that.

Argenta still carries the team for the most part of Act 1 too with enough officer buffing from when you get her etc. Especially when you start to slap Take Aim! on her and Focus! stacks.

Her starting Bolter is sort of weak because of the extra recoil and thus spread. The Modified Bolter you speak of has the same stats save for 25 recoil compared to Unfading Valour's 40 recoil.

However, Unfading is still useful early and should be a secondary weapon when you need that recoil spread to hit more enemies that are fanned out horizontally. It all comes down to what red lined trajectories you favour at any given moment. I was always switching in between Bolters to check. :) ;)

Argenta has been considered the most murderkilly murder hobo companion since Alpha. :p

Unfading Valour also has reduced damage, IIRC, which doesn't do it any favors. That's why I suggest replacing it as quickly as possible from Rykad Minoris.

Until then, as CiZerin said, I also very much suppport giving her the Longlas from Eurac V, and letting her slap down any priority targets. And frankly, I'd suggest letting her keep it even after - sometimes you just want an enemy sniper that's a mile away to get gone *cough Aurora fight*

[Mack]

Argenta is simple.
* Swap her scuffed starting bolter to a regular bolter.
* Swap that regular bolter to the special bolter that does extra damage to daemons
* Swap that to a heavy bolter.

Spec to use:
* Concentrated fire
* Rapid fire
* Confident approach
* Revel In Slaughter
* Devastating Attack

Talents:
* Rack & Ruin
* Unpredictable
* Unfaltering Fire
* Muzzle Velocity
* Bolt Weapon Expert
* Heavy Weapon Proficiency
* Breaking Point
* Heavy Gunner
* Overpower
* Know no Heresy

The amount of stacking bonuses you get with a heavy bolter in that list is insane.

Equipment you want to look out for includes:
* Blessed Bolter Case (makes her ultimate disgustingly powerful, shooting at least 8 auto hitting heavy bolter shots you can clear the board of low health enemies or put a huge amount of damage into a single enemy)
* Long Range Aim Lens (range attack distance increase)
* Commissar Hat (improves critical hit chance)
* Tactical Backpack (adds 1 more shot to the heavy bolter, it's a reputation item)

For the gloves & boots, you want to use these to reduce her recoil. The first item you'll likely get are Recoil Gloves, which drop the 40 Heavy Bolter recoil down to 20.

Later you'll get Recoil Warboots, which drop it down to 25, but this means you can use a different set of gloves, which you will want to do once you get the Gloves of Rapid Desolution, which increase the rate of fire of the Heavy Bolter by 1. The recoil is slightly higher but you get an extra shot.

With these you will be heavy hitting with 10 attacks on the burst attack, and if you do the rapid-fire you can shoot 20 shots. It's insane.

And there are even better items later like the Gunslinger Helmet which adds damage based on ROF, Compensator Gloves which combine recoil removal with a ROF increase.

[Balekai]

Publicado originalmente por Daliena:

Publicado originalmente por Balekai:

Argenta still carries the team for the most part of Act 1 too with enough officer buffing from when you get her etc. Especially when you start to slap Take Aim! on her and Focus! stacks.

Her starting Bolter is sort of weak because of the extra recoil and thus spread. The Modified Bolter you speak of has the same stats save for 25 recoil compared to Unfading Valour's 40 recoil.

However, Unfading is still useful early and should be a secondary weapon when you need that recoil spread to hit more enemies that are fanned out horizontally. It all comes down to what red lined trajectories you favour at any given moment. I was always switching in between Bolters to check. :) ;)

Argenta has been considered the most murderkilly murder hobo companion since Alpha. :p

Unfading Valour also has reduced damage, IIRC, which doesn't do it any favors. That's why I suggest replacing it as quickly as possible from Rykad Minoris.

Until then, as CiZerin said, I also very much suppport giving her the Longlas from Eurac V, and letting her slap down any priority targets. And frankly, I'd suggest letting her keep it even after - sometimes you just want an enemy sniper that's a mile away to get gone *cough Aurora fight*

Reduced damage, but more rate of fire (4 instead of 3 for normal bolter). That means 4 shots instead of 3 shots.

Modified Bolter 25 Recoil 4 shots: 7-12 x 4 = 28-48 damage
Unfading Valour 40 Recoil 4 shots: 6-10 x 4 = 24-40 damage
Normal Bolter 25 recoil 3 shots: 9-14 x 3 = 27-42 damage

Now take an imagined talent that adds flat damage to the weapons of 2.

Modified Bolter 25 Recoil 4 shots: 9-14 x 4 = 36-56 damage
Unfading Valour 40 Recoil 4 shots: 8-12 x 4 = 32-48 damage
Normal Bolter 25 recoil 3 shots: 11-16 x 3 = 33-48 damage

See how the Normal bolter starts to fall behind? This isn't counting all the % increase rate of fire and the damage scaling of 4 shots compared to 3 shots due to this. 100% increase rate of fire would be 8 shots for a 4 shot bolter. Only 6 shots for a 3 shot bolter.

In chapter 1 you should be using Modified Bolter followed by Unfading for its spread alternatives due to recoil. Normal Bolter is much worse than the above two when fully buffed.

Always go for the bolter with the most Rate of Fire even it's its a bit weaker, because it will improve rate of fire talent bonuses or bonuses to self based off weapon rate of fire. It also is great to have more shots when you debuff an enemy or apply a condition her hit that stack.

Edit: Also if you miss a shot with normal bolter in the above instances you lose 1/3 of Argenta's possible damage. If you miss 1 shot with Modified/Unfading, it's only 1/4 possible damage.

Edit: Longlas is better on Idira for added range when she can't hit with Psyker power. Even with 30 BS she will always hit even on unfair. Or on Pascal until he gets Plasma.

[mudakonn]

And isnt rapid fire bugged? It says cooldown 1 turn but it is available every turn.

What about that Mezoa Bolter Pistol You can buy in Act 1? It seems better at close range but has only 4 or 6 magazine

[Balekai]

Publicado originalmente por mudakonn:

And isnt rapid fire bugged? It says cooldown 1 turn but it is available every turn.

What about that Mezoa Bolter Pistol You can buy in Act 1? It seems better at close range but has only 4 or 6 magazine

I don't get the cooldown thing either. Everything with that 1 cooldown and I mean everything works every turn. Most abilities have it if not all.

Let me check the Mezoa I hoard all my special weapons lol. I checked it actually last night but can't remember why I switched it back out for Unfading as secondary.

*Beepboopbleep*

Yeah it's a good choice and better than Unfading Valour imo overall as a secondary weapon, in close range. Secondary weapon only and close ranged only, because of that 4 ammo tops (it runs out every shot because of 4 rate of fire), and it has only an effective range of 6 rather than 12. You don't want to reload all the time that much and 99% of the time i'm still using Modified. The range is an issue especially the way I play on Unfair. Everything is about starting combat with maximum range in between you and targets so melee and non snipers have to close a gauntlet for fire.

So I keep Unfading on in chap 1 because it still has great range and the recoil allows for some more crazy trajectories like shooting at 90 degree angles. There's also not much point to a one handed bolter on Argenta because your going to be taking dash for free escape/repositioning and firing.

[Aluja]

Publicado originalmente por mudakonn:

And isnt rapid fire bugged? It says cooldown 1 turn but it is available every turn.

What about that Mezoa Bolter Pistol You can buy in Act 1? It seems better at close range but has only 4 or 6 magazine

Yeah almost every buff has a 1 turn CD, meaning you can only use it once a turn.

[Myth Alric]

I basically use the OP long lasgun on her for the entire first act and just one shot snipe people all day, while occasionally using burst fire with her bolter for big groups. I don't build her as a sniper, and I plan from the start to go heavy into burst firing people down, but having that longlas really smooths out her start. She will basically never miss with it and it does a ton of damage.

[Balekai]

Publicado originalmente por Myth Alric:

I basically use the OP long lasgun on her for the entire first act and just one shot snipe people all day, while occasionally using burst fire with her bolter for big groups. I don't build her as a sniper, and I plan from the start to go heavy into burst firing people down, but having that longlas really smooths out her start. She will basically never miss with it and it does a ton of damage.

The only issue again there is that she doesn't need to be the one to use it. There's squad opportunity cost there. :)

Like I said, I don't think on unfair Chapter 1, Idira ever missed a shot with 30 BS Longlas and usually 1 shotted (but not always which may be the difference). :p

You can have Argenta bursting down things while Idira snipes/CCs and Pascal dons Arc rifle, Plasma Pistol or another sniper (or vice versa with him using Longlas. Until proper Plasma Gun hidden on Starport bridge but thats only for the final boss).

Argenta Bolter with Rapid Fire + Focus! stacking + Take Aim etc etc. is going to scale up damage a lot more than when using Longlas imo.

[mudakonn]

Publicado originalmente por Myth Alric:

I basically use the OP long lasgun on her for the entire first act and just one shot snipe people all day, while occasionally using burst fire with her bolter for big groups. I don't build her as a sniper, and I plan from the start to go heavy into burst firing people down, but having that longlas really smooths out her start. She will basically never miss with it and it does a ton of damage.

I slapped LongLas on Robot - Argenta can "Eradicated" small peanuts with bolter single shots in her power turns. It is really funny with Owlcat games that if You start blind You are in a world of hurt and if You prepare You will be OP.

But i guess this is actually their secret sauce - huge number of skills, talents and abilities.

[zpc]

As a SoB Argenta needs a flamer asap - doesn't matter if pistole, flamer or heavy flamer (the latter rocks because of range). That weapon type will pretty much settle things in chapter 1. As soon as a heavy stubber or heavy bolter is available, she has to get one and keep the flamer. (there is a toxic + flames flamer later which just rocks, no heavy version though)

Controlled shot is needed to avoid collateral damage. Other important feats were already listed by Mack:

Publicado originalmente por Mack:

Argenta is simple.
* Swap her scuffed starting bolter to a regular bolter.
* Swap that regular bolter to the special bolter that does extra damage to daemons
* Swap that to a heavy bolter.

Spec to use:
* Concentrated fire
* Rapid fire
* Confident approach
* Revel In Slaughter
* Devastating Attack

Talents:
* Rack & Ruin
* Unpredictable
* Unfaltering Fire
* Muzzle Velocity
* Bolt Weapon Expert
* Heavy Weapon Proficiency
* Breaking Point
* Heavy Gunner
* Overpower
* Know no Heresy

The amount of stacking bonuses you get with a heavy bolter in that list is insane.

Equipment you want to look out for includes:
* Blessed Bolter Case (makes her ultimate disgustingly powerful, shooting at least 8 auto hitting heavy bolter shots you can clear the board of low health enemies or put a huge amount of damage into a single enemy)
* Long Range Aim Lens (range attack distance increase)
* Commissar Hat (improves critical hit chance)
* Tactical Backpack (adds 1 more shot to the heavy bolter, it's a reputation item)

For the gloves & boots, you want to use these to reduce her recoil. The first item you'll likely get are Recoil Gloves, which drop the 40 Heavy Bolter recoil down to 20.

Later you'll get Recoil Warboots, which drop it down to 25, but this means you can use a different set of gloves, which you will want to do once you get the Gloves of Rapid Desolution, which increase the rate of fire of the Heavy Bolter by 1. The recoil is slightly higher but you get an extra shot.

With these you will be heavy hitting with 10 attacks on the burst attack, and if you do the rapid-fire you can shoot 20 shots. It's insane.

And there are even better items later like the Gunslinger Helmet which adds damage based on ROF, Compensator Gloves which combine recoil removal with a ROF increase.

Basically she will shred both single targets and groups of targets. One can cheese the game with officers (just makes the killing faster due to the extra rounds) - or just copy her build for the MC and Ulfar. I even made Idira into a heavy weapon sniper (secondary weapon set is a beefy rifle). With 4 chars spitting lead, there is not much which can survive. The secondary effects like toxic, flames, bleeding (Iridia later gets a heretic heavy bolter which applies random conditions on enemies) or knocking down enemies is just priceless.

It's really a shame there is no panic mechanic - after round two most of the enemies would just run for their lives

[Myth Alric]

Anything over 95% chance to hit is converted to critical chance, so while it is useful to give the longlas to other characters who suck to keep them up with everyone else, it also isn't wasted to give it to Argenta. She can get a lot of stuff that boosts critical chance too, plus party buffs.

Anyway, it isn't a long term thing, but I find it useful in act 1.

[Foolwolf]

During play test, she went from eh, should I keep her to - everyone keep her clear so she can wipe the map of enemies in peace! ;)