Is it just me, or is "healing factor" absolute best for solo underdog runs?

[Tamiore]

I've already done a full "fast runner" solo UD run before trying "healing factor".
Frankly, it was that run that made me think "healing factor would probably be the next thing to try".
But I'm honesty somewhat taken aback by how much better/stronger HF build actually is. At this point I've made it to factory with basically every possible chapter 1 encounter cleared with 0 deaths/reloads (and only 2 disruptor grenades used). Reasons it's so good:
- having 70 base health insures you can simply face-tank for one turn, which allows you to focus on killing an enemy or two right away
- doubled biotech gains allow you to get all implants with all chips right away even without tagging biotech
- 5-8 points of regeneration per turn make tanking and kiting actually viable in long-term
- 1 point of non-conditional stat regeneration makes all kinds of combat simulators 10 times more viable in prolonged fights
- all 7 implants are actually useful and you don't have to choose

Thoughts?

[Wrath of Dagon]

You're trading off your damage for better defense. Probably depends on playstyle.

[nerdcommando.gamestudios]

Nope, it's tier-2.

Tier-1 are;
Dodge This - 8 Con 10 Per 10 Dex
Juggernaut - 10 Str 8 Con 10 Dex

They'll still have 5 implants each but Dodge This does 50-70% more damage (meaning it doesn't need as much regen in the first place) and Juggernaut does ~30% or so more damage and has equal tankiness thanks to DR 1-3.

Biotech also doesn't matter as even a lone wolf can have Faythe/Knurl to deal with it in act 1-3.

Mind you, being tier-2 isn't really bad - it's just 8-10 Con meta with glass cannons being viable (but worse).

[Bill]

Originally posted by nerdcommando.gamestudios:

Nope, it's tier-2.

Tier-1 are;
Dodge This - 8 Con 10 Per 10 Dex
Juggernaut - 10 Str 8 Con 10 Dex

They'll still have 5 implants each but Dodge This does 50-70% more damage (meaning it doesn't need as much regen in the first place) and Juggernaut does ~30% or so more damage and has equal tankiness thanks to DR 1-3.

Biotech also doesn't matter as even a lone wolf can have Faythe/Knurl to deal with it in act 1-3.

Mind you, being tier-2 isn't really bad - it's just 8-10 Con meta with glass cannons being viable (but worse).

What about Mastermind? It not only allows to clear most if not all the fights but complete everything the game throws at you.

[Wrath of Dagon]

Originally posted by nerdcommando.gamestudios:

Nope, it's tier-2.

Tier-1 are;
Dodge This - 8 Con 10 Per 10 Dex
Juggernaut - 10 Str 8 Con 10 Dex

They'll still have 5 implants each but Dodge This does 50-70% more damage (meaning it doesn't need as much regen in the first place) and Juggernaut does ~30% or so more damage and has equal tankiness thanks to DR 1-3.

Biotech also doesn't matter as even a lone wolf can have Faythe/Knurl to deal with it in act 1-3.

Mind you, being tier-2 isn't really bad - it's just 8-10 Con meta with glass cannons being viable (but worse).

CON 8 only gives you 4 implants, unless you mean with a feat.

[Pink Eye]

Healing Factor is my personal favorite. Both for Solo play as well as Duo runs with Faybae. It's very noticeable when I run a different build without it. You've already mentioned the positives, however, I need to emphasis how important it is to refund stat penalty from stim over usage. In Solo play it's not uncommon for fights to drag out and for you to use more than one stim to maintain that edge over the enemy. Thus, it's very easy to stack up severe penalties and to choke from attrition unless you're able to close the encounter fast enough to not suffer from attrition. Healing Factor is significant in this facet of game as it enables you to survive long encounters that drag; yet by itself the effect isn't as potent unless you pair it with Synthetic Heart - very important piece of build that needs to be installed as quickly as you can get it.

Both Healing Factor and Synthetic Heart together make stim penalty a non-issue, which is super nice in general play - it also makes Per penalty from Zen stim obsolete. Regarding the regeneration it's another nice thing as it heightens your capabilities to out-sustain the enemy. I usually pair Healing Factor with Regen Mutation, as well as Synthetic Heart, to get best bank for buck from regen stims.

The best builds, in my opinion, for this game, are those that are able to survive attrition, and out-sustain the enemy; enter your DR heavy Juggies and your Healing Factor builds.

[Wrath of Dagon]

You don't need to survive attrition if you can kill the enemies fast enough. Like I said, depends on your play style.

[nerdcommando.gamestudios]

Originally posted by Bill:

What about Mastermind? It not only allows to clear most if not all the fights but complete everything the game throws at you.

Style over substance. You can only properly do it if you've already cleared the game several times (meaning discovery value isn't really there) and, while it can do everything and combat, it's barely passable at combat. Shotgun Con 12 Dex 10 Int Healing Factor will fight much better than similar Mastermind.

[.//slayer]

Originally posted by Wrath of Dagon:

You don't need to survive attrition if you can kill the enemies fast enough. Like I said, depends on your play style.

In solo play, can you reasonably expect to clear out enemies fast enough? Granted, I haven't attempted a Juggernaut run, but Healing Factor was a blast on my melee solo guy.

[The Matrix has you!]

Originally posted by nerdcommando.gamestudios:

Biotech also doesn't matter as even a lone wolf can have Faythe/Knurl to deal with it in act 1-3.

The only one thing...with Faythe or Knurl its not a solo run:)

[Wrath of Dagon]

Originally posted by .//slayer:

Originally posted by Wrath of Dagon:

You don't need to survive attrition if you can kill the enemies fast enough. Like I said, depends on your play style.

In solo play, can you reasonably expect to clear out enemies fast enough?

Depends what you mean by fast enough. It's fast enough for me.

[jambong]

I think Healing Factor and Mastermind are the best solos. Healing Factor allows for a 4 CHA build to actually do diplomacy by getting their disposition to 0 w/ Squad Leader (atleast, without feeling like you wasted an implant slot). If you are doing pure combat, other options are probably better.

[REhorror]

Implants are crazy good in this game, it's basically a way to legit cheese in stats.
Provided you have the money of course.

Haven't tried a Dodge this run tho.

[nerdcommando.gamestudios]

Originally posted by The Matrix has you!:

The only one thing...with Faythe or Knurl its not a solo run:)

You fight solo, bringing them for biotech only. Lone Wolf doesn't ban companions completely.

[Okamoto]

It's the second best IMO. The best one is Dodge This.

[REhorror]

Originally posted by nerdcommando.gamestudios:

Originally posted by The Matrix has you!:

The only one thing...with Faythe or Knurl its not a solo run:)

You fight solo, bringing them for biotech only. Lone Wolf doesn't ban companions completely.

Wait, you can disable the companions for the fight?
Or do you just ignore their turn during battle?