How do I make the Subata useful

[Shadow Wizard Fluffy Gang]

I've been trying some different combos and a couple different overclocks I have to make it useful...but so far no matter what I do, the Subata usually performs ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.

What are some builds or overclocks you use to make the Driller's first secondary useful?

[Sokaku]

Most people swear by the Automatic Fire OC, personally I find the gun really shines with Explosive Reload. This drops the default clip size to 6, but this is actually a really good number as for things like spitters you only need to ping each with 1-2 rounds, then reload to watch them all fall out of the sky. For bigger bugs you can just unload into them and the auto-reload does a nice meaty chunk of damage at the end. Set up for accuracy, this gives the driller a very potent mid-long range weapon, as well as great burst damage close up.

I run Subata with my flamer build. With Cryo I cannot pass up the EPC /w Heavy Hitter and Plasma Burn to 1-2 tap frozen enemies, and get a bonus thermal shock on the 3rd tap for big nasties.

[Deadweight]

I usually run tranq subata, reminds me of when subata was busted way back before alt weapons were added

Just gotta remember that no matter what you do, it might always be weaker than you want. It's a driller secondary, they're nothing special because driller has such powerful primaries.

[ShugoTheRipper]

Learn to aim.

[Clail]

Paired with the flamethrower I like the + damage on burning targets and hollow rounds for weakspot bonus.

It's very serviceable for taking out stray grunts, mactera, and hitting weakspots on tankier bugs after getting them burning.

[King Fossil]

Explosive reload for killing acid/web spitters at range is okay.
It's okay with flamer since volatile bullets is good, assuming you like using flamer. If you want to use another primary then it kinda sucks. The devs really need to do something about that.

Originally posted by Deadweight:

Just gotta remember that no matter what you do, it might always be weaker than you want. It's a driller secondary, they're nothing special because driller has such powerful primaries.

Being weaker than primaries isn't an issue. Being weaker than the other secondary is a big issue. If you use flamer it's fine. If you use cryo it's trash aside from explosive reload spitter sniper. If you use bio then you need plasma to ignite puddles so it's trash.
It should be good with all three primaries, but it's not. They need to fix it. I want to be able to use it with cryo and not feel like an idiot.

[Zeddy]

Gonna need that explosive reload. Tranq rounds gives it some pretty strong support utility.

[SeeingeyeDug]

Not a fan of explosive reload. The magazine size is so tiny so you're spending 2 out of every 3 seconds reloading...and the total ammo is cut in half. Though, I dislike the "reloading for damage" mechanic in general, except zuks which I found acceptable.

I personally run Oversized Magazine with Mag size mod for 27 rounds. I rarely have to reload with it to pop a bunch of damage into some on-fire enemies before I switch back to Crispr and let Born Ready have an always-ready 27 rounds for me. For example, running sticky flames, you can coat the ground and seamlessly switch to subata and take out tougher targets as they come through burning.

I don't run any other OC with my Crispr/Subata build. I've tried them all, and I don't enjoy the tiny default magazine of this gun, especially the OC's that greatly reduce that magazine. This OC makes it feel way better with 27 rounds per reload.

[Dwarfurious]

Explosive reload is just great, very ammo effective way to pop distant foes or kill high value targets with burst. I feel like im the only one who runs a max ammo/clip subata with my cryo though; just gives me enough ammo in a clip to nuke a frozen praetorian or clear a lot of grunts.

[MistrFrostee]

I'm a fan of Explosive Reload 31311 for the flamer as priority target removal. Being able to 1 tap web spitters and 2-3 tap acid spitters is really nice, the explosion ignores soft armor and the extra damage on burning can shred bigger targets. You can reload cancel at the start of the animation and it will still trigger the explosion, which really helps in tight situations. Don't take it with cryo, though, as the damage isn't multiplied by freeze.

For cryo, I take Oversized Magazine 31322, for better long range capability and because not every lone Mactera Spawn deserves my cryo cannon ammo. Automatic Fire 21(2/3)12 is good if you're in need of more close range burst. That said EPC provides some stiff competition for freeze builds.

As for sludge pump, I don't use sludge pump lol

[【🐲】Kobayashi Tohru ★]

Git gud

[Heron]

Automatic Fire to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome and shatter frozen targets. You can single tap to clear ceiling web spitters, but it takes time.

[Fryskar]

Originally posted by Dwarfurious:

Explosive reload is just great, very ammo effective way to pop distant foes or kill high value targets with burst. I feel like im the only one who runs a max ammo/clip subata with my cryo though; just gives me enough ammo in a clip to nuke a frozen praetorian or clear a lot of grunts.

It shouldn't profit from frozen, so it should fall short on praets, for most haz combos.
Top dmg beeing 8x17x3 + 8x42= 744.
Haz 3 4p/ haz 4 3p should be the "normal" limit with 825 hp/ 900 hp.

[King Fossil]

Originally posted by Dwarfurious:

I feel like im the only one who runs a max ammo/clip subata with my cryo though; just gives me enough ammo in a clip to nuke a frozen praetorian or clear a lot of grunts.

Heavy hitter plasma is better at that. Less ammo/magsize, but it does 40 damage per shot, so that more than makes up for it. Being able to one shot frozen grunts is crazy.
Also if you go cryo/plasma then you effectively have a stronger version of born ready, without needing to spend a perk slot on it. Pretty cool.

[Lunacy]

As long as it has 15 damage to 1shot swarmers I like it however, especially since you can also bring both ammo upgrades on it.
I like to do ricochet on crits or explosive reload.

[SCamp]

Tier 1 spread is usually enough for the weapon. Tier 3 spread/recoil for additional comfort if you're going for the Automatic Fire OC.
Tier 4 damage is if you need to kill swarmers or take advantage of Cryo. However, you're probably killing swarmers with AoE.

21322 with Oversized Magazine OC for Born Ready swapping. (This is my go-to build in general.)
113X2 for more precision work.

11222 for Automatic Fire OC for better feeling SMG. (I had no chill when starting out and used 11312/11212 variants trying to max DPS every living thing.)
3XX22 ... for Cryo against praetorians. You can cleanly get 2 clips off while a prae is frozen if you swap immediately, so it's generally better at popping praes than max clip.

Currently I'm enjoying 213X2 Tranquilizer Rounds. It works really well at stopping random ♥♥♥♥ (mactera) from firing projectiles at you and keeps things in place, which makes it really comfy. Also stunning Guards will open them up to be shot in the face, so that's also a very comfy bonus. (This makes mactera in general a breeze, especially if you are playing Elite Threat.)