How to Excel at Skyhammer

how to use and understand Skyhammer's airstrikes more effectively

Introduction

Skyhammer one of the two free characters you get upon starting Dirty Bomb. His assault rifles make him a capable fighter, and his airstrikes, when used properly, can turn the tide of a match. It's important to know how to use these airstrikes effectively, in order to have the best results in a match.

What's best for you?

Any good player will tell you that having the best loadout cards will only get you so far. While skill and strategy will set you aside from the pack, you should find a loadout that will suit your play style. In terms of weapons, the M4A1 rifle is optimal for Skyhammer. Low recoil, precise, and decent fire rate, it's easy to see why this weapon is favored with newcomers and vets.



The perks on your cards are the real big thing here. The card I use (seen above), has 2 perks which I consider valuable.

Drilled - 20% reload time reduction. Nothing like being able to dump mags, and load them back insanely fast. Paired with Skyhammer's ability to replinish his own ammo, he can control a choke point alone with ease.

Explodydendron - Good look pronouncing this one, but it's the most valuable for characters like Skyhammer, Nader, Fragger....heck anyone with explosives. Bigger AOEs give you more room for error, especially if you have mobile, or aware opponents attempting to run from your airstrikes.

Be Smart With Your Airstrikes

I cannot push this enough. A smart player, is a good player. Don't just heave your airstrike markers like you are Tom Brady looking for a touchdown. Be smart, and accurate.

The airstrike can only drop payload in an open area. Namely, outdoors. However, if you observe your surroundings, the bombing opportunities are there.



Even in an underground themed map, you can blow out certain windows, giving characters like Skyhammer, Kira and Arty the ability to rain havoc on their foes in choke points.

Suppose your enemies are holding a room? Chuck your airstrike in that room! It will be on a shorter cool down, and act like a grenade.



Or, better yet, drop that bad boy on the bombs you plant. It will either stall a defuse attempt, or kill desperate players trying to win the round.

Should you chuck one at an EV, make sure to aim in front of the vehicle. If the EV passes over the marker before it explodes, it will be treated as a grenade. In this case, you do less damage, and will likely get shot dead by the oncoming tank and it's team.

Save yourself, Slay your foes

I've seen countless players fall victim to airstrikes, when they could've moved some 5 steps in any other direction and live. How can you tell where the bombs will drop? EASY.



When the airstrike "pops" it'll emit a red (enemy) or blue (friendly) dot. There'll be a thin, long line of the corresponding color on the floor. This tells you the direction the payload will be dropping in from.

Use this knowledge to save yourself, and to figure which enemies are going to get baptized by bombs.

[【H i m a i r i】]

This guide made it so I can use AirWrencher better. Thanks guy, next time make one to teach noobs to be a Fletchampion, like me.

[Selenium]

I like that term "Baptized by bombs"

[Mikey]

@A_V Yeah that's what I meant, thanks!

[BippittyBooop]

@Pacmikey Do you mean perpendicular? As in, if Skyhammer is facing east/west, the airstike will go north/south?

[Mikey]

Nice guide, but you might want to add a little note saying the airstrike will always be horizontal to Skyhammer when throwing.

[Vladtaltos]

"The Timic is pretty much always superior to the m4"
The timic does a little more damage for 50% worse recoil, no, not really.

[General]

Thanks :) Decent guide

[puddy tat]

The Timic is pretty much always superior to the m4

[JennaTools]

Nice guide, Im new so this is pretty helpful.