Pilots Discussion

[Alpro]

The Advanced Edition brings many new traits, share your fun, weird, terrible and/or dream combinations of pilots, traits and mechs.

Silica in the Bombling mech has been mentioned several times now, he's certainly best-in-slot for that since you can move bombs around without having to move the mech in the first place.

I've had Morgan with the Conservative trait (and Opener, if i recall) and a Titanite Blade. 3 cleaves of 5 damage per mission certainly felt awesome!

I've had Camila with the Skilled trait, i'd like to see that paired with Thick Skin, that might be one of the best non-niche combo. Think about it, immunity to smoke, webs, fire and acid, put her in the Aegis mech and she's pretty much unstoppable.

Does anyone know what happens when Harold or Kazaa have the Technician trait? Also this should be an interesting trait for Kai.

Adam's ability is weird, i guess Isaac is an ideal partner for him.

I've had Abe with the Opener and Masochist traits in the Thruster mech. Boost on first turn causes him to lose 1 health, triggering Masochist for the rest of the mission, most of the time, while the rest of the self-damage is prevented by his armor.

[ptirodaktill]

Harold is my favorite so far. Free 4 tiles push saved my grid countless times. Extra utility for lackluster mech is always welcome.

[Alpro]

I just finished a run with Kai in the Exchange mech. Useless until you have the damage upgrade and godly with the Void Shocker, easiest run i've ever had.

[Synavix]

Originally posted by Alpro:

I just finished a run with Kai in the Exchange mech. Useless until you have the damage upgrade and godly with the Void Shocker, easiest run i've ever had.

Thats my favorite strategy too, although I'll usually put Kai into the Pierce tank until I unlock the damage upgrade. The extra damage helps with the early game.

Depending on your strategy Technician CAN be super strong on Kai to keep her at full HP, but it depends on what you're using her for, because the heal comes so early in the turn order. You can boosted swap, then bump an enemy into her for damage, then she'll heal before she swaps again the next turn. But if you use her to block a spawn she won't be healed/boosted when it's your turn again.

[Alpro]

Yeah i gave her the Pierce mech seat at first too, there was no point in having her in the Exchange mech before the damage upgrade. I also tried her in the Bombling mech, it seems the boost is for the mech, not the walking bombs. This is what i expected but i had to try it to confirm.

Yes, spawn-blocking is what i had in mind if she has the Technician trait. Are you saying her boost comes before the heal and the heal happens before you move or attack? It sounds like it, the game probably checks traits in the order they appear...

[Synavix]

Originally posted by Alpro:

Yes, spawn-blocking is what i had in mind if she has the Technician trait. Are you saying her boost comes before the heal and the heal happens before you move or attack? It sounds like it, the game probably checks traits in the order they appear...

The problem is when you receive the heal from Technician. It actually happens during the enemy turn order. I think it's after fire damage but before enemies attack. So if you block a Vek spawn you'll still be damaged 1 HP at the start of your next turn (meaning no boost), and won't get healed until you hit end turn. Normal boost will last until you use it, but Kai's passive boost will be lost immediately upon taking damage, so you can't "save" it either. Still, it can be a pretty good skill if you use it to offset bump damage or fire (since the fire will tick, then immediately be healed and removed). I'm not sure if it comes before or after other environmental effects, but could theoretically be used to cancel out things like acid or ice too.

My current Pilot that I've been using is Kai with Technician and +1 reactor, so it's definitely good, but not always overpowered like the Silica combo or some of the pilots with Conservative.

[Alpro]

I just unlocked Rosie Rivets, she's currently in the Slide mech and with the Technician trait. I figured this mech would be a good choice since you often move next to your allies to pull them out of trouble or shield them. The trait also fits the theme :)

[Coffee Break Hero]

S: every turn buffs
1. Mafan - consistent buff. can block a single attack every turn.
2. Kai miller - some weapons are balanced around many small hits. +1 to them breaks the balance. just try refractor beam for ultimate win. most units can easily not take damage and enjoy this permabuff

A:
1. Morgan
2. Ariadne


A-:
3. Adam. basically an upgraded Bethany.
4. Abe Isamu (for the right units)
5. (as an acquired pilot later) Silica
6. (as an acquired pilot later) Archimedes


B.
1. Bethany
2. Chen Rong (for the right units)
3. Camila - if you use her to bait webs.
4. Henry
5. (as an acquired pilot later) Prospero
6. Harold
7. Kazaaakpleth

Nice to have:
Rosie
Lily
Gana

Sell:
Ralph
Isaac

[peddroelm]

7. Kazaaakpleth B tier ?

[Depili]

I find Mafan mostly useless, as you can't take more than one instance of damage per turn. Camila is one of the strongest ones, as movement is life. Morgan is also usually way better than Kai as you can block shots, deal push damage or block emergin vek without the mech becoming next to useless with gimped movement.

Of the new pilots Morgan with opener and adrenaline has so far been my favorite instance.

[Hipnox]

I ran Kai on the Cataclysim Drill mech and it pretty much carried the entire run. Being able to do 2 damage from the starting island (and easily upgradeable to 3 with just 1 core) pretty much guaranteed cracked tiles every turn.

Other than that, Kai is pretty awesome on artillery mechs.

[Alpro]

I'm falling in love with Rosie a bit more every day. Her ability doesn't heal, it repairs. It removes burning, acid, ice and mites...

[Synavix]

Originally posted by peddroelm:

7. Kazaaakpleth B tier ?

That one stood out to me, too. I don't even like using Kaz but he's very good and I think a lot of people would rate him very highly.

Originally posted by Depili:

I find Mafan mostly useless, as you can't take more than one instance of damage per turn. Camila is one of the strongest ones, as movement is life. Morgan is also usually way better than Kai as you can block shots, deal push damage or block emergin vek without the mech becoming next to useless with gimped movement.

Mafan is very strong and was my go-to pilot before the update. Being shielded also negates a lot of statuses. He's not good on every team, but situationally he's easily top tier and pretty much makes the ice mechs a no-brainer ez-mode.

I agree completely about Camila. She was my first favorite and quite strong if used right.

Kai can take push damage and still heal it up before the next round, but you're right she's weak if your strategy is to block spawns. But not all squads even WANT to block spawns until the last turn regularly because they can mess up the flow, so you always have other choices.

Originally posted by Hipnox:

I ran Kai on the Cataclysim Drill mech and it pretty much carried the entire run. Being able to do 2 damage from the starting island (and easily upgradeable to 3 with just 1 core) pretty much guaranteed cracked tiles every turn.

Other than that, Kai is pretty awesome on artillery mechs.

Agreed. I think Kai is just one of the strongest overall anyway, but I think her specialty is definitely any mech/weapon that has an on-kill effect, because the permanent boost right from the start makes that MUCH easier, since a lot of those start at only 1 damage otherwise.

[letir]

Kai with strong AOE weapon is devastating beyond any measure. Lighting or Beam with her is sight to behold.

[Coffee Break Hero]

cammie used to be A when webs were more common. now with more enemy diversity she's less useful

Kai is amazing on any unit that has multiple hit locations.
If you see "refractor beam" and have kai you basically won the game

Edit: I kinda miss when zoltan was my go to for every run before AE because I love FTL :)
I want a secret Lanius pilot!!!
also slug and crystal

[Synavix]

Originally posted by Coffee Break Hero:

cammie used to be A when webs were more common. now with more enemy diversity she's less useful

That's a good point.