This guide focuses on turning a commando from a standard and traditional tanking character to a more DPS focused character.
This doesn't mean you can't tank, the tanking capabilities are the same. A new use and sequence of skills would still allow you to effectively crowd control.
Attack Commando Guide
A few things to establish first before the guide.
2. Choice of weapons here is personal preference, my personal preference. These weapons also suit these builds more, in my opinion.
3. The skill builds are entirely my opinion. Hopefully other players that are as and much more experience than myself share their inputs on the matter. Enjoy the read.
Let's start with the internal attributes of a Commando to make it a damage dealing one.
Note: Words in RED are links to photos.
Commando Builds
The guide is divided into two sections; AOE and Single-target. Both builds are still attack oriented, but require different skill/gear/combos to be either AOE or Single-target.
Single-target Attack Commando
This build primarily focuses on having high DPS and damage towards one target, more targeted towards bosses. This build has higher burst DPS than any other Commando build. This build also becomes more effective in groups.
Strengths: High DPS/Damage capabilities on Single-targets.
Weaknesses: Lesser AOE capability, lesser solo capability.
AOE Attack Commando
This build focuses on crowd control and AOE damage. This is a good mob killing build, especially since it's an attack-oriented one. This build is maximised when you solo since you can fully appreciate all its AOE, but still very useful in a group. It still has single-target damage capabilities, but just enough to keep aggro on the boss, if needed. An AOE Commando is really best en route to the boss, while leaving Operatives to do the best single-target damage.
Strengths: Best crowd control and AOE damage capabilities. Strong solo-ability.
Weaknesses: Lesser single-target damage capability, lesser burst DPS, very gear reliant to cater to different use.
Stats
Full Strength, no matter what build.
I don't think there's an alternative to this. Hit % is already pretty good even as pure strength. You get most damage as pure strength, as well as better stats. If I find a better combination of str/dex/int to suit this build, I'll update this section. However, at the moment, the best stat build is pure strength.
Please refer to Horsethe's
Commando Skills, Build and Stats Guide for the stat comparisons (Full Str, Full Dex, Full Int and what Str does for a Commando).
Skills
Two skill builds; AOE or Single-target Attack Commando.
Please refer to Horsethe's Commando Skills, Build and Stats Guide for the skill level gains (what each additional point in each skill does).
Single-target Attack Commando:
Single-target Progressive Leveling Skill Build
Single-target Skill Build
Single-target Skill Map:
Force Hammer 6 -Very good skill to spam and grabs aggro as well. Decent damage. Taunts.
Neutron Stomp 1 - Mainly used to crowd control and complete the 'Back Breaker' combo. Taunts and Knockdown.
Graviton Slam 4 (5 if 31) - Other than the decent spam-ability and damage of this skill, it gives a 65% (changes per level) slow and Taunts.
Nebula 6 - This gives damage every 2 seconds for 10 seconds, giving it 5 ticks of damage. Good damage to AOE with and good towards a single target, boss mainly.
Do note, that Nebula ticks can crit and they deal considerably high damage (especially if damage enhancer is on).
Growing Rage 6 - Adds 60% crit. Crit is essential for doing good damage. This skill is tremendously useful is maximised. To maximise it, you need to know the map you're running well. Buff up as a relatively large number of mobs lie ahead and little to no idle time is needed, eg. waiting for a teammate to open a door, opening a key chest, explosives, etc.
Backbreaker 6 - Best damage dealing skill of a Commando. Along with FH for fastest cooldowns, this skill has a very high DPS potential. Also, when used appropriately when a target is 'knocked down', this skill creates a 'Back Breaker' combo. Since combos add more damage, making this skill very useful for dealing more damage. Taunts.
AOE Attack Commando:
AOE Progressive Leveling Skill Build
AOE Skill Build
AOE Skill Map
Force Hammer 1 - Just enough to get the skill for aggro-gaining purposes and a quick attack to any stragglers during mob clearing. Taunts.
Neutron Stomp 4 - Important skill in crowd controlling, especially with this build. I dumped all extra skill points into this skill, hence Lv 4, no special reason why it's kept at 4. Taunts.
Singularity 6 - The second key to the AOE combo, especially on mobs. This skill has good damage and has a lot of effects. Pushback, knockdown, and taunt all in one. Taunts.
Graviton Slam 6 - Very good ranged AOE attack that slows down incoming mobs. Relatively easy skill to use since it AOEs around the target you used it on. Taunts.
Gravity Well 6 - The best skill of an AOE Commando. Works exactly like Beckon in PL, it pulls the enemies towards you.This skill, if used well, is essential in making this AOE build work and fully maximising the skills/gear.
Growing Rage 6 - 60% crit. Attack Commando. Very good if your AOE skills crit, not to mention if you have a Heavy Weapon on. Proper usage and timing of this skill makes solo-ability of this build extremely good.
Backbreaker 1 - The combo-finishing skill for a Commando, so just 1 point to trigger the combo and to gain aggro. Taunts.
Gear
Gear choice complements the skill build rather than fully defining it. Although some gear choices are as effective than others in some builds, it is still up to personal preference.
This section is taken mostly from my personal
Elly's Build/Combos/Gear, need opinions thread.
I choose my gear based on one factor, with or without an engineer. The engineer is assumed to be decent, knows when and how to heal. (Gear) in brackets means I only use it with an engineer.
1. Custom Meganaut Set + 30 Heavy Pistol + 30 Modified Shield + Damage Implant.
I feel this gear setup provides a very good balance between damage and tankiness, leaning more towards damage. The base dodge from the armor set plus the added armor from the shield gives really good survivability even with this build. I like to use this gear setup the most.
2. (Lv. 30 Platinum Armor Set + 30 Heavy Pistol + 30 Modified Shield + Damage Implant.) - Engineer based.
The only difference between this setup and the first setup is the armor. The Meganaut series is focused on dodge while the Platinum series is focused on crit. I only use this with an engineer since their heals are essential to keep pot consumption low to none. Crit, as mentioned earlier, is essential if you want to do good damage, which the platinum armors provide.
3. (Lv. 30 Platinum Armor Set + 30 Rifle + Damage Implant) - Engineer based.
On paper, the rifle gives more base damage and skill damage than heavy pistols. This setup is better towards focusing on higher armored/health opponents, eg a boss. Although this may deal a bit more damage than a heavy pistol setup, I don't usually use this setup. I find the DPS from the pistol much better. However, due to the skill reliance of this build, this setup yields the highest single-target damage overall.
4.Custom Meganaut Set + 30 Heavy Weapon + Dodge Implant- AOE
The Heavy Weapon is what makes an AOE build truly effective. The Custom Set + Dodge implant allows you to be a full tank with a heavy weapon. This gear setup isn't recommended for bosses, especially since a Heavy Weapon's real use is only towards mobs and nothing more. Switch to a Rifle/Heavy Pistol for bosses.
5. (Lv. 30 Platinum Armor Set + 30 Heavy Weapon + Damage Implant) - AOE and Engineer based.
Similar to the other gear setups, this is an Engineer-reliant version of the AOE gear setup.
I heavily favor Heavy Pistol in terms of damage because it allows Commandos to put on a shield. We are still tanks and take damage, so a shield always helps.
The reason why I don't suggest a Heavy Weapon for the non-AOE build is because a Heavy Weapon is only truly effective when it is able to hit multiple targets at once. Alternatively, the use of Heavy Weapons is only good on mobs where you can cluster them, on bosses, use a single-target weapon no matter what build.
Gameplay and Combos
Each build requires a different way of setting up combos and skill usage, especially towards handling the mobs.
Remember, you're still a Commando and still a tank.
Single-target Attack Commando:
Tanking is still very possible even without Gravity Well. This build focuses on that.
There is an easy way to sardine mobs even without the use of Gravity Well and through the use of movement/range alone. These steps show you how (steps are links to photos):
1.You see an incoming area of mobs, they are either melee/ranged mobs in them. In this case, two are ranged and one is melee.
2. Normal attack one until you aggro the linked mobs in that area. Doing this to the nearest target to you makes the melee one run towards you and the second ranged one move towards you to attack within range. Kite a bit if you want to avoid damage.
3. Once you have full aggro, all ranged mobs should be next to each other and the melee mobs following you. Move towards the ranged mobs.
4. Unleash your combo.
Mob combo: (Buff up before using skills) - Nebula - Neutron Stomp - Graviton Slam - Backbreaker.
This combo still effectively AOEs the clumped up mobs and doesn't push them back, allowing you to deal full AOE damage without being a 'scatter' commando.
The use of Force Hammer is good for killing off stragglers while moving towards the next mob. This build and combo is maximised if you are staying in front and ahead of the group, moving on to the next area as soon as possible. Using this clumping method with others attacking won't allow the mobs to fully be clumped up and be attacking different people.
Boss combo: (Buff up before using skills) - Force Hammer - Nebula - Neutron Stomp - Backbreaker - Graviton Slam.
This combo is used towards bosses only because their large health pool allows you to build up this way. This is also used
within melee range of the boss. When using Force Hammer, you are continuously moving towards the boss as well as casting Nebula. By the time you are within melee range, Neutron Stomp to knock the boss down (assuming they are not knock-down resistant) and finish the combo with Backbreaker. Use Graviton Slam afterwards to slow the boss down (again, assuming they are not slow resistant) and kite until you can combo again.
Do note that Nebula has a 30 second cooldown, as compared to the other skills which have 5-8-10 second cooldowns. In order to fully maximise the combos, save Nebula for heavily packed mobs and the boss, it would help if you know the map and the route your group will take and learn to rotate your Nebula accordingly.
AOE Attack Commando:
Now we have Gravity Well in our arsenal, as well as Singularity. These two skills alone make mob clearing and AOE-damage dealing very easy.
1.You see an incoming area of mobs, they are either melee/ranged mobs in them. In this case, two are ranged and one is melee.
2. Normal attack one until you aggro the linked mobs in that area. Doing this to the nearest target to you makes the melee one run towards you and the second ranged one move towards you to attack within range. Kite a bit if you want to avoid damage.
Steps 1 and 2 are identical to any build, mainly because this is how you attract aggro and set them up before unleashing your true build combo. Any build does the first two steps.
3. Now that you have them focused and following you, move towards a wall.
4. Unleash your combo and pin/keep them down.
Mob Combo: (Buff up before using skills) + Gravity Well + Graviton Slam + Neutron Stomp + Singularity
This combo was changed from the previous one mainly to fully maximise the use of Gravity Well and Singularity. The old combo used to contradict these two skills; GW would pull but Singularity would push back out. This combo works a lot better for crowd control and ultimately better damage overall. I strongly recommend this new combo to fully crowd control and to prevent from being a 'Scatter Commando'. This is how it works:
As usual, Gravity Well first to pull the mobs towards you. While they are being pulled, a Graviton Slam is a good skill to add more damage and slow debuff them so they avoid walking away quick after being pulled. By the time they are next to you or pinned to a wall, Neutron Stomp them followed by a quick Singularity.
Remember, step back from the wall after GW to give you space for Singularity's blast to push them against the wall, and not push them away from it. The Stomp knocks them down which gives enough time for the Singularity cast-time to kick-in and push them towards the wall more plus knocking them down again.
All this time, you must ensure your normal attack from your Heavy Weapon is ON. Normal attacks from a Heavy Weapon is key to doing full AOE damage, especially if they've been well setup through your combo.
Also, if this combo is perfected, the mobs are dead even before they can deal damage, assuming you have a group with you or you have a damage enhancer on.
Boss Combo: (Buff up before using skills) + Force Hammer + Neutron Stomp + Backbreaker + ( 2-3 second pause) + Gravity Well + Singularity + Backbreaker.
Remember, during boss fights, you should switch gear to a Heavy Pistol/Rifle and not a Heavy Weapon. A Heavy Weapon is bad in maintaining aggro/doing damage to a single target, so it should be kept to mob fights only.
The skills before the pause allow you to knockdown the boss, get in a combo, and gain aggro. After two-three seconds, or as soon as you can see the boss switch target from you, use Gravity Well + Singularity + Backbreaker again to knockdown, combo, and get aggro. Rinse and repeat.
Conclusion
Overall, I these two builds are quite effective when used properly and knowingly. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, which would need your personal preference to determine which build is suited for you. Both builds are opinionated from me, so there's heaps of room for personal adjustment/suggestions.
The single-target attack build shines with a group and towards boss fights while the AOE attack build shines solo and the non-boss fights.
Changelog:
9/24/2011 - Guide created, photos of skills, gear, combos.
9/25/2011 - Guide division into AOE/Single target. Added photos.
9/28/2011 - Edited the part on Gravity Well - it pulls towards you and not target. Added Horsethe's guide for references.
9/29/2011 - Changed AOE Mob Combo to a better one. Changed the photo of the AOE Skill Map.
10/1/2011 - Added photo links for Single-target Progressive Skill Leveling Build and AOE Progressive Skill Leveling Build.
