How does Sneaky work precisely?

[chacolil]

A bit of a noob to this franchise, so how does sneaky work? I read that it has a passive that gives me 200% dmg increase if I do a sneak attack, which would be great for either my bombarder or my sniper, but I dont see the buff when Im attacking with them when its their turn in combat.
So does that mean that this only works in instances where I initiate combat with my team beforehand?
For example, if I reach a place, and the npcs start talking to me, and the conversation goes south and combat stars, do I get the buff from sneaky if I havent attacked with those characters yet, or do I immediately lose that buff once any type of combat beings?

[BigRockWall]

Originally posted by chacolil:

A bit of a noob to this franchise, so how does sneaky work? I read that it has a passive that gives me 200% dmg increase if I do a sneak attack, which would be great for either my bombarder or my sniper, but I dont see the buff when Im attacking with them when its their turn in combat.
So does that mean that this only works in instances where I initiate combat with my team beforehand?
For example, if I reach a place, and the npcs start talking to me, and the conversation goes south and combat stars, do I get the buff from sneaky if I havent attacked with those characters yet, or do I immediately lose that buff once any type of combat beings?

Sneak attack = shot taken to open combat. That is the only sneak attack per fight. No sneak attack possible if the ai busts you, or some scripted fights where the fight is initiated following dialogue

Ambush, on the other hand, sets your character to overwatch where they will shoot enemies that move into their range during the enemy turn

[chacolil]

Originally posted by BigRockWall:

Originally posted by chacolil:

A bit of a noob to this franchise, so how does sneaky work? I read that it has a passive that gives me 200% dmg increase if I do a sneak attack, which would be great for either my bombarder or my sniper, but I dont see the buff when Im attacking with them when its their turn in combat.
So does that mean that this only works in instances where I initiate combat with my team beforehand?
For example, if I reach a place, and the npcs start talking to me, and the conversation goes south and combat stars, do I get the buff from sneaky if I havent attacked with those characters yet, or do I immediately lose that buff once any type of combat beings?

Sneak attack = shot taken to open combat. That is the only sneak attack per fight. No sneak attack possible if the ai busts you, or some scripted fights where the fight is initiated following dialogue

Ambush, on the other hand, sets your character to overwatch where they will shoot enemies that move into their range during the enemy turn

Thank you. a bit of bummer, since it means that some important fights wont benefit from the perk, but that gives me a better idea on how to compose my team :)
thanks again

[BigRockWall]

Its obviously useful on a sniper, but for the fights you can use it, seems like overkill.

Whats kinda fun tho is giving sneaky ♥♥♥♥ to a melee/RPG character. RPG sneak attack is amusing, or it can allow melee to start the fight in position to keep swinging

[chacolil]

Originally posted by BigRockWall:

Its obviously useful on a sniper, but for the fights you can use it, seems like overkill.

Whats kinda fun tho is giving sneaky ♥♥♥♥ to a melee/RPG character. RPG sneak attack is amusing, or it can allow melee to start the fight in position to keep swinging

Thanks for this suggestion!! I actually hadnt though of that! I think its actually a better use than to my sniper, because I could start setting up my melee before hand and not waste time on positioning him later on! Thanks for the tip man :)

[Ommamar]

One build I am working on that seems to be effective is a melee with sneaky stuff and explosives. I can usually throw a grenade to hit multiple targets getting the sneak attack multiplier on all of them. Then he is in good position to go in to melee so far the best result was in the Garden as they are initially grouped up together, plus I had a character to use the machine that sends out the solar ray attack. I think maybe one other ranger got a shot of before the fight was over.