PSA: The wrench is a beast. It's strange that this isn't more well known.

[Ryrin]

Even all these years later I still see quite a few people who have no idea how amazing the wrench can be. Even on Survivor. Stack both Wrench Jockeys, stack both Sportboosts, get the 50% wrench damage increase from researching Bouncers. Those are the main components of a totally OP wrench. And obviously make sure to fully research every enemy. You can compliment it with stuff like Static Discharge, Bloodlust, and Armored Shell. Then you can just circle around splicers and beat them mercilessly until they're dead. Big Daddies are the only thing you cannot reliably wrench, but that's what your guns are for.

Guns suck on splicers compared to the wrench.

[Shifuede]

Don't forget the chance to freeze when wrenching

[Agenta]

Yes, the wrench is a crazy powerful weapon, it was even in the main game. Here it is amplified because of the Survivor Difficulty and the rarity of ammo. But the problem is that it requires a HUGE amount of specialization and tactical risk.

[Ryrin]

Originally posted by SSAgenta1999:

Yes, the wrench is a crazy powerful weapon, it was even in the main game. Here it is amplified because of the Survivor Difficulty and the rarity of ammo. But the problem is that it requires a HUGE amount of specialization and tactical risk.

If anything, it's risky to use anything other than the wrench. I'd take more damage and be in more danger if I tried to use guns on splicers. I wouldn't really say that it's a huge amount of specialization. A total of 4 tonics to complete the core of the build. 3 of which you'll get just from researching enemies like you should be doing anyway. Regardless, the need for specialization is more than made up for by just how overpowered the build is.

[Warc1]

Near the end of my game, my tonic config for wrenching was Sports Boost 1&2, Bloodlust, Wrench Jockey 1&2, Armored Shell 1&2, and Static Discharge 1&2. The 1&2 versions of tonics appear to be additive so there is benefit in having them both loaded at the same time.

With this, and full research, Rosies would go down with just the wrench, although you would need to use a few health kits. Regular bouncers could sometimes be taken down with just the wrench and without using a single heath kit or plasmid. You need to get enough rapid hits in for Bloodlust to restore any health lost in the fight.

With this configuration, Fontain can be taken down in the final battle with only the wrench and no health kits.

[Cooperal]

I think the reason is that the wrench is resource draining (medkit-wise) to use until nearly mid-game after you've dealt with the medical Pavillion.
The good tonics are limited, Big Daddies have a huge resilience to melee, and one-two punches lose their effectiveness as tankier or more range-capable splicers begin to appear at the same time (thugs, pyros, spiders, houdini's). To top it off frozen enemies may cause you to deny yourself of loot.

It's so easy to overlook, because by the time you can really go ham with the wrench, you've already been distracted by a handful of other ways to fit the playstyle you've been taught. And for me I learned the way of the gun through starting on difficulties that were too hard for me first.

[Dr_N-gin]

The wrench becomes a lot of fun when you get bloodlust. Ive spent soooo much time spent hunting those plastered spider splicers in Fort Frolic with no penalty