Machine Gun Sentry

[Gundug]

I have been trying out the basic Machine Gun Sentry that recently received a cooldown reduction, and finding it to be very useful. I ran a three mission difficulty 7 operation solo, and I was surprised how much the little sentry can get done. It now has a very short cooldown, so it is not at all difficult to have two of them up at the same time. In one case, two sentries simultaneously engaged a Gunship and shot it down.

I found it handy to toss ahead into an area where I knew there would be enemies and let it take care of them, and to leave one behind when I expected enemies to follow me. I played much more aggressive than usual, throwing sentries in the path of patrols that I could have slipped by. I let it wipe them out as I continued to move toward objectives.

Defensively, paired with the HMG Emplacement, it was not difficult to hold any area I needed to. It reduced the number of angles I needed to watch constantly. Most units below heavy are not much of a threat to it, and it tends to draw aggro against everything, leaving me free to engage high priority targets. As long as I knocked out tanks and Hulks, the sentry would be busy clearing out groups of small to medium enemies, including all types of Devastators and Berserkers. The main benefit I found was that it relieved a huge amount of the pressure that scattered swarms of enemies coming from multiple directions at once can cause.

Once you start getting into higher difficulties where the percentage of heavy enemies becomes much higher, I expect it wouldn't last long, or really get much done, but it's a pretty hard worker for lower difficulties. I haven't yet tried this latest version against bugs, and with the amount of heavies that can appear, it might do less well than what I experienced against bots. Friendly fire could be more of a worry with the bugs as well.

[The Slap Man]

You can try pair up the MG sentry with things like AC Turrets and Rocket Turrets. Man, That Turret Trio Shreds Bots when played right. Plus your still flexible with the MG due to short cooldown. Held lots of Bot fronts with that loadout (I Still carry a Recoiless rifle to deal with high priority targets still).

Against Bugs though i still need to experiment more, Chargers are a real issue against turrets, even with my Anti-tank Support weapon.

[Driblex™]

The lower cooldown and more ammo is super helpful. If you have a fast paced mission Iprefer the MG sentry, just because you drop it so often and it takes care of smaller and even medium enemies. Once depleted, you can throw another one.

Gatling is still super good, tho I'd take it only if you have a mission where you're less mobile, like defending the points for "Spreading democracy"

But even before the patch, the older change that it has now lower CD than the Gatling was already a good change

[Brain]

I've been running a build I call "oops, all machine guns". Stalwart, machine gun sentry, gatling sentry and HMG sentry. Paired with a explosive pistol and stun grenades, I can pretty much handle anything thrown at me.

Gatling sentry is actually really good for pulling aggro for if you need to make a run or set up somewhere a bit better. Always try to throw sentries on ground higher or if you guys have a good front you are fighting over, toss one down a few feet in front of where everyone is fighting, now you have 5 divers.