The Shredstorm Cannon is becoming one of my favorite fictional weapons.

[Mr JC Denton in Da Fresh]

Even tha name is pretty badass; SHRED-STORM, because it literally shreds the enemy's armor. The way it just clears the hell out of everything in a cone is just beautiful, Gatekeepers are not so scary once they get caught in the blast as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3dEW5S-8Yw

[Yian Yan]

"They spotted us" I SHOULD HOPE SO. God Shredstorm is hilarious good fun.

[I Am Delivert]

LOL @ "They spotted us" after she set off a nuke on them.

[step 0]

It's amazing. Just destroys anything in your path

[Mike]

why do the plasma blaster and flamethrower suck so much? especially when compared to the beast that is shredstorm cannon and the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ seeking-missile that is the blaster bomb

[Mr. Nice]

Originally posted by kkkkk:

It's amazing. Just destroys anything in your path

To be fair it's the car explosions which turn it into a pod wipe. At least the hellfire gives the burning status effect and forces a panic check, it's just far too easily blocked by cover. The plasma blaster though? It's just complete rubbish. Inferior in almost every stat to the shred storm: line not cone, lower base damage, doesn't shred armour. It's one advantage? It penetrates 4 armour. Whoop de doo. I keep the base rocket launcher rather then fit this rubbish these days.

[Mr JC Denton in Da Fresh]

Originally posted by Mike:

why do the plasma blaster and flamethrower suck so much? especially when compared to the beast that is shredstorm cannon and the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ seeking-missile that is the blaster bomb

Yeah, there are some players complaining that the shredstorm cannon makes the other heavy weapons look bad or that it is too overpowered.

[Hathur]

I find the blaster launcher the most practical overall. Can be deployed from halfway across a map, on any location and does a solid amount of damage to a huge area. Very useful on destroy relay missions too, can wipe out the relay almost right from the start - just bring 2 launchers you can usually fire them at the relay on turn 2.

Shredstorm is impressive.. in udeal situations. But I find that either

a) I have to waste movement positioning for maximum impact
b) waste movement avoiding friendly fire
c) waste movement destroying my own cover, which it loves to do

In the dozens of missions I tried to use it, the majority of the time it wasn't worth the cost of exposing my soldiers to less favourable positioning just to fire the weapon... blaster launcher on the other hand I could use virtually from anywhere at anytime. A bit less damage, less shredding... but 99% reliable .. and very safe deployment. Deploying shredstorm comes at too much cost much of the time.

The only time I can see it being useful is by putting a shotgun ranger in WAR suit and giving them shredstorm.. basically a one off super shotgun. Though I prefer my rangers in wraith or warden armor so I don't really do that either.

[Spartan]

Yeah Shredstorm Cannon and Blaster Launcher are the best.

[Mr. Nice]

If your only bringing all long one heavy weapon I agree, take a plasma launcher for the greater flexibility you outlined. Mix and match between the two of you have more though. I wouldn't waste a launcher, let alone two, on a relay unless it was the last turn and only feasible option.

[Fornax The Lazy]

Nah Blaster bettah.

[Hathur]

Originally posted by Mr. Nice:

If your only bringing all long one heavy weapon I agree, take a plasma launcher for the greater flexibility you outlined. Mix and match between the two of you have more though. I wouldn't waste a launcher, let alone two, on a relay unless it was the last turn and only feasible option.

the nice thing about using the launcher on a relay is you can destroy the objective almost instantly. This means the timer no longer matters and you can then just sit back safely and cautiously pick off the enemies to finish the mission... basically turtle in like you could in the original xcom (which is what made it so easy compared to xcom2). Instantly eliminates the need to make risky advances, can mop the mission up nice and slow.