Do you use override? How often and how useful is it?

[Alezul]

I really wanted to like this feature of the game but it feels like the only time i would need it, i either can't override them because they are apex versions or the battle already started and i can't reliably do it anymore.

It's funny for the first few times to sneak up on a robot, set it to aggressive and then watch them fight but after that it feels pretty pointless to me.

Am i missing something or is the whole overriding mechanic lacking in utility?

[oldeschool]

I used it very often in HZD, but it seems less effective in HFW, I prefer Berserk Blast valor surge to manage machines.

[Alezul]

Funny you should mention the berserk thing. I just recently sold my only bow that has that attack.

It lasts so little and enemies still charge me because i get detected in order to apply the berserk. I think the player has a higher priority or i probably used it wrong.

[TheAspieFox]

Very rarely, personally. Only really to get a new Sunwing/Waterwing as needed, occasionally a Charger/Bristleback.

You totally could theoretically make much more use of it, especially for combat -- as there's an entire skill tree dedicated to it-- but I don't know how viable is actually is, particularly for Ultra Hard playthroughs.

[oldeschool]

Originally posted by Alezul:

Funny you should mention the berserk thing. I just recently sold my only bow that has that attack.

It lasts so little and enemies still charge me because i get detected in order to apply the berserk. I think the player has a higher priority or i probably used it wrong.

I strike and hide with the valor surge, there is an area with a Thunderjaw and a herd of fire Fanghorns, sneak in, activate the valor surge when they are close to each other then start shooting off pieces of the thunderjaw while it's distracted with the fanghorns.

[TH3R4BB!T]

I kind of love it, mostly just let (heavy) machines - when set to aggressive - fight each other, and hope your overridden machine wins so you can gather all the parts. Once I had the whole map uncovered and nearly all the campfires discovered, overriding a mount machine is pointless, because going to a campfire gives you free fast travel. The map is full of campfires that are mostly near the point you need to be, or else there is the flying mount

[Alezul]

Originally posted by TH3 SU!C!D4L R4BB!T:

fight each other, and hope your overridden machine wins so you can gather all the parts.

Wait, by "gather all the parts" you mean you can get the parts that get destroyed on death as well if they are killed by a fellow machine? Because that would be a great reason to use override.

[TH3R4BB!T]

What is 'destroyed after death' is still so, but mostly you get some very rare parts (sags, hearts, etc) without long minutes of fighting yourself. Just relax and watch. If you want the other parts, you need to tear them off with tear arrows instead on your own. Mostly I hide and shot the targeted machine while the overridden machine distracts, most helpful with Slaughterspines, Fireclaws, etc

[Hawky]

I remember using it often in HZD, not much in HFW...

[Hydra_360ci]

Was a lot easier to unlock in Zero Dawn. Now you have to work for it by unlocking not only the Culdron, but also RNG materials, plus have to go back to homebase. Oh... and a skill tree, too. So, yeah.... by the time you get a chance to use them... you're too used to using your Weapons to bother using them.

[Alezul]

Originally posted by Hydra_360ci:

Now you have to work for it by unlocking not only the Culdron, but also RNG materials, plus have to go back to homebase.

Man that's such a slap in the face. You go through all that trouble just to...unlock a job to get materials. Come on.

I'd rather have more but shorter cauldrons, at least it would be different from all the robot fights i have to do in order to upgrade my gear anyway.

Also great point about being used to my weapons. I only starting putting skill points into override tree after i didn't have anything else to do with them.

[TH3R4BB!T]

Meh, it was more fun if it was a Cauldron for each machine, after beating the machine you have unlocked the override for it... although a Apex Slaugtherspine will hurt a lot

[a passerby]

Other than some hunter challenges, I haven't really employed overrides much. They just take too long to complete, and machines are more aggressive on UH and just chase after you anyway.

That said, my acid clawstrider is used as a combat ally instead of a mount and it is insanely strong with all those machine master upgrades.

[oldeschool]

Originally posted by a passerby:

Other than some hunter challenges, I haven't really employed overrides much. They just take too long to complete, and machines are more aggressive on UH and just chase after you anyway.

That said, my acid clawstrider is used as a combat ally instead of a mount and it is insanely strong with all those machine master upgrades.

I was going to skip the cauldrons in my NG+, but this sounds like a sound strategy.

[ProfessorSpanky]

Used it all the time on anything ferocious in Ultra hard - gave me a fighting buddy to help those one shot, low level machines - override scorchers, clawstriders, tremortusks etc, anything big really - set them to aggressive - I don't even fight with them, just sit back and watch. Also use them to clear an area to stealth past while they are fighting/distracting everything else. I found clawstriders best, they will even follow you for repair if you are not too far from them.

[Alezul]

I tried overrides some more and indeed, clawstriders seem like the best choice so far. The fact that they are counted as mounts means you don't lose them after a fight and you can use the call mount button to better control them in a fight (like call them to you for repairs).

That being said, sometimes they kill enemy machines in like 2 hits, other times they struggle against anything and are constantly thrown on the ground. And that's with the full tree skill upgraded.