Avoid one shot deaths as a solo apo

[CHL]

Hi everybody
After a few bad experiences in multiplayer because of nasty son of ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ players, I chose to play the multi missions by myself.
It's absolutely fun ! A real blast !!!
But, after losing 10 missions as an apo playing with lightning claws I have a few questions, can you maybe answer them for me?
I can take down a broodlord without issues but I'm getting absolutely BLASTED by these ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ with long ranged combat or by these ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ making a distance psychic attack. (don't know the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ name)
Can you guys help me ? Last time I tried to avoid these ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ I was at full health and was denied the mission because of some telepathic attack that cost me all my health? (I was at 100%) WTF?
Even a broodlord attack will enable me to run if necessary, but the range psychic attacks are deadly, let's not talk about the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ with ranged attacks. I tried running into them, I tried avoiding the attacks, I tried blocking the attacks but they kill me each time.
Any advice for me?
PS : I play on diff 4, No Mercy

[pfmm]

Psykers. Keep a sharp look out for them.

If you are using melee weapons, key hole and lure them to you. Watch out, as they can teleport behind you.

If you've got range, prioritise them and kill them quick.

Lastly, the Brood Lord has the same telepathic attack pyskers do, but it takes a while to power up and is an area attack. So stay mobile, and don't tank.

[CHL]

Hello my friend,

Thanks for your answer ! I do use melee weapons at the time (lightning claws) because well it's quite entertaining and also it makes me able to clear Broodlords easily.

Can you please explain what key hole means? (not a native speaker)

During my last missions I've been killed by psykers mostly. I can clear 3 broodlords but I just can't seem to avoid psychic attacks, and they kill you even at full health.

Also the ranged sons of ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ will make me go red in like 1 second and a half.

Turrets, I can avoid them if I'm clever enough but these damn psykers are a nightmare.

Is it like that in the real W40k game? Can terminators be killed in one shot by a low level unit?

Again, thanks for your output :-) Really appreciated.

[Loki Autism]

If you backtrack a little after encountering a Psyker they will usually try to get closer to where you are, Guns are the best way to deal with them since they have top tier killing abilities in 40K lore.
I think by key hole he means find a safe crevice/door to lure the Psyker to you

[CHL]

Thanks for your advices!! I'll definitely try that. My actual technique (that doesn't work well at all) is to always try to run into them as fast as I can but they usually kill me during that time. I can put my guard up and avoid a bit of damage with the ranged ones, but the psykers will always one shot me.

My mistake was, I think, to treat them as low level units when they are in fact quite powerful.

I think the key hole technique should work quite well. Thanks for the explanation. Between this and the turrets, playing apo with lightning claws is definitely entertaining. I recommend it!

[pfmm]

Gal has it mostly correct, but it also refers to limiting the approach of an enemy into a kill zone of your choosing. Don't just dead end yourself, as a wave of xenos can preceed him and he can lurk up the back and still kill you.

In the same vein, when you do engage them make sure you have an escape route that's both out sight and you can duck into quickly if the attack fails.

And lastly, the perk (I think) Blessed Blood, which gives regen is good for these sorts of runs.

Hope it helps.

[CHL]

Hello pfmm and thanks again for taking the time to answer me. You gave really interesting answers. (Also Gal Vorbak :-) ) I'm trying to modify my way of playing right now.

I still have a lot of troubles to key hole the Psykers, but I'm getting better. Sometimes it's better to charge them, some other times it's also better to retreat and lure them as you stated before.

But I like how the game is designed, hide for too long and you will be assaulted by melee Tyranids. Don't hide and you'll get killed lol. On solo diff 4 the game is absolutely a blast. Of course I win the missions only 10% of the time but each death is for the Lion!!

Lightning claws are really efficient, I play with the 1.5x speed multiplier. (but only 0.7 damage... which is enough to kill Broolords in 5/6 strikes with some strafing).

Blessed Blood is... a blessing indeed! I don't play without it. It's very useful in close quarters, it saved my ass multiples times. Especially since you need 160 sec to heal yourself as an apo with LC.

Thanks again for your input, greatly appreciated. It's neat to be a freaking Terminator and still... if you don't think, you're just fodder. They are clearly like tanks in a bipedal form. Strong and weak at the same times. The devs did a great job.

[Shalashaska]

A useful hint: when psychers teleport, an orange glowing light will appear where they are going to appear. If you can notice that, you will have a clear kill before they have a chance to move.

A question: how do you deal with bioblast enemies? They run at you just to blow themselves up, dealing a considerable pack of damage.

[[NeW]Spiked]

Claws can block bioblast damage entirely, if that's what he's using.

[CHL]

Thanks for the hint! I need to get better at spotting these sort of details.
As [NeW]Spiked stated, I use the claws (guard up, I use it with the right mouse click) to block bioblast enemies, they do wonders. You can't see a thing but it's better than to take all the damage. You can take on 5 or 6 of these freaks with no damage.

[xandros999]

Acid damage reduction is great against bioblast genestealers. Especially when your class doesn't have a fat weapon. The fatter the better, because the size of the weapon you use to block matters against ranged and explosive attacks. That means that apothecaries and librarians are particularly vulnerable against explosions such as bioblast and benefits more from acid protection.

I don't usually get it for other classes.

[CHL]

Hi guys,
Again, thanks your precious input.
I'm getting better at dealing with ranged and missiles launchers but the Psykers are still getting me killed in one shot. Even a Broodlord can't do that lol.
Sometimes I can see them and avoid them, but most of the time when there's one around, it means instant death. Sometimes they appear when there is a broodlord and several turrets to avoid + the usual swarm of melee Tyrannids.
They will make you go red in one shot, with alarms blaring immediately.
Last mission, I lost it was because of one, as usual, didn't see it coming and then blam, death in one shot.
I'm honestly thinking that they are a bit too powerful and the melee Tyrannids are a bit weak. The apo can clear 15 melees and then get blasted in one shot by a Psyker lol. It's a bit sad that the game is not developed anymore because to me there is something wrong with the game balance, especially since I play solo.
But hey, it makes the missions really fun and interesting too.
All the best to all of you fellow Deathwing Players. Hit me up on Steam chat if you wanna play with me, I definitely need a bit of ranged support.

[Shalashaska]

Glad to see you are getting better. Yesterday I was one-shot by a psyker, but I didn't even see him... suddenly I was "dead" with the counter running and I was like "WTF happened?"
It's sad to see that none is working on this game anymore, we can only improve ourselves and deal with enemies like them.

[CHL]

Hey Shalashaska, I see you have the same issues! But as you say we can only improve, and even in death, we meet the Emperor so it's cool I guess xD
No but the problem I think is the solo part, even if the critters stats are downsized, some aspects are still a bit violent. But hey this is a Space Hulk and not a mini golf game so I'm happy that the game can be difficult. It makes victory really counts :-)

[HunterSouls]

Well i noticed when is a Psykers close the armor Ui start blink or cloak, and invisible xenos ur mini radar blink blur!

[Shalashaska]

Originally posted by Hunt3rSouls:

Well i noticed when is a Psykers close the armor Ui start blink or cloak, and invisible xenos ur mini radar blink blur!

Are you sure there is a connection between the armor flickering and the presence of a psyker?
Sometimes I see the armor indicator rebooting even when the mission has just started and it's very unlikely that there are already such dangerous enemies nearby.