Gold and Platinum Solo Chronicles - Telemetry Data Analysis

Maps

I happy to have done at least one solo on every map and against every faction. As you can see, I greatly preferred Sandstorm as a map and Kett as an enemy. We've come a long way since people thought Kett was the toughest faction out of the three! Since sync-kills were for the most part removed, I found the Kett to be the most fair. With Outlaws, I hate being grabbed by Adhis, being sniped from across the map by Sharpshooters, and getting stunned by Berserkers. With Remnant, it's the Observers and exploding Breachers that annoy me. Sandstorm has good chokepoints and escape routes. The Hack and Upload objectives are tough, but they are more do-able compared with those on Nimbus, Vertigo, and Paradox.

Sandstorm
Good objective locations. Multiple levels at which to block enemy line of sight and get elevation resets (i.e. enemies to have to jump up or down to your location, allowing you time to run away and reset). Two camping locations where enemies rush you from one direction.

Zero
The original solo map. Long alley in back of map forces enemies to (most of the time) approach you from one direction (which out for the back building entrance). Objective locations decent (except for raised platform and some of the interior rooms). No real good elevation resets. Have to run the gauntlet through the building or through the two alleyways to kite enemies.

Magma
Another decent map for soloing. If you get all the enemies converging on your position, you can start kiting them by circling the map. Hack and Upload location in the open area can be a pain. Devices and Retrieval generally good unless you get the objective in the open area.

Derelict
I used to dislike this map because it’s so dark, but it’s actually not that bad for soloing. Relatively easy to kite enemies. Basement level generally clear and safe to run to when the action gets hot (watch out for respawning enemies there). Hack and Upload locations can be tough, as there are multiple entry points for the enemies to rush or target you, even when in cover.

Paradox
Two things I need to avoid on this map. Hack or Upload in those two placements next to the LZ and a console crash. The latter usually happens against the Kett when the Fiend tries to swipe at me. The roof area should be used more often by PUGs and teams to avoid enemies and to reset one’s location. And there’s the Cave of Doom which is well-known to Platinum farmers.

Vertigo
I only did one solo on this map, and it was hard. Near the end of the match, I figured out a decent strategy of circling the perimeter of the map, using the two raised walls as cover as I fled to the other side. Objectives, especially Hack and Upload can be difficult on this map, especially if the circles are in the open area. If you don’t have crowd control and DPS, you are in deep trouble.

Icebreaker
Not one of my favorite maps, for both regular MP matches and soloing. I should like it because it’s large with lots of apparent places to hide. The only problem is that enemies have 100% accuracy and can snipe you from across the map. It’s a fine map for snipers because they can cloak and reposition themselves. If you’re a squishy character and need to run from one end of the map to the other without getting shot at (I’m talking to you, Observer), good luck.

Aqua
Like with Paradox, I consider a mission successful on this map if the Xbox does not crash. I still remember the 11 wave Gold APEX mission. The wave with the double Fiends consistently crashed my Xbox whenever it swiped either me or a teammate. This map is pretty, but it’s way too big for soloing. Yes, a number of initial Platinum solos were done on this map, but most of the attempts I’ve seen today are being done on Sandstorm now (especially with non-cloak characters). Hacks and Uploads are difficult on this map, but so are Retrieval and Devices. You run the risk of running out of time if you are forced to kite enemies away from the objective or if you have to run back and forth from end of the map to the other.

I think the roof area is not well-known or used by MP players. I’d like to see if there’s some strategies that can be employed on the rooftop instead of the LZ or back of the map hill.

Nimbus
Pretty map, but I don’t like it for solos. One would think that the multiple levels gives it a Sandstorm feel, but no. There’s much more open space to the levels. An enemy at the top level can target you with great accuracy if you’re running away to the ammo crate in the basement. And forget about the mission if you get a Hack or Upload circle at the top level next to the ramp. Four places for the enemy to approach and target you. It’s hard enough for four-man teams to defend that location, let alone a single player. Even as the Huntress, I struggled with Hacks and Uploads.

Weapons and Equipment

Weapon breakdown was as follows:

16 - Rozerad Siphon
5 - Kishock Harpoon Gun Siphon (3) Concussive (1) Base (1)
4 - Dhan Siphon (3) Concussive (1)
5 - Hurricane Siphon (1) Concussive (2) Bulwark (1) Base (1)
4 - Piranha Siphon
4 - Sandstorm Siphon (1) Concussive (3)
4 - Equalizer Siphon
3 - P.A.W. Concussive (1) Base (2)
2 - Scattershot Siphon
2 - Shorty
2 - Sovoa Siphon
2 - Sweeper Siphon
2 - Ushior Siphon (1) Base (1)
2 - Valkyrie Siphon (1) Concussive (1)
2 - Venom Siphon (2)
1 - Black Widow
1 - Disciple Siphon
1 - Hornet Siphon
1 - Inferno Siphon
1 - Isharay Siphon
1 - N7 Crusader
1 - Revenant Siphon
1 - Shadow Siphon
1 - Silhesh Siphon
1 - Soned Bulwark
1 - Talon Siphon
1 - Valiant

Of the weapons, the Rozerad was my most-used and clear favorite. I finally got the Hurricane Siphon after completing my last Gold Solo, so we'll see how it stacks up with the Rozerad. The weapons I'm most waiting for are the P.A.W. Siphon, Shorty Siphon, and Soned Siphon. The Isharay was worst weapon to have brought with me, but I was role-playing with the Angara Exemplar. In the right hands, the Kishock and Piranha was extremely powerful. When buffed up with boosters and equipment, the Sandstorm becomes a good gun that rewards good aiming; I personally like it better than the Inferno because its large magazine is more forgiving when you miss. The Venom is a fun gun once you master its handling. Finally, the Sovoa is good for locking down crowds of enemies with its AOE damage.

Obviously, Siphon weapons were very useful during these solos to regain health. In terms of equipment, I sported the Multicapacitor the most, but it's not a pre-requisite as I think it is for Platinum solos.

Human Male Adept Gold Solo (Combo-Tastic) against Outlaws on Zero

Soloing is easier now with Siphon weapons post Patch 1.09, but they are still by no means fait accompli. A bad objective, objective location or a wrong turn can ruin your day in an instant. This week’s Gold APEX mission is on Firebase Zero against Outlaws with the Combotastic modifier. Objectives were set with Assassination on Wave 3 (not Boss) and Hack in Wave 6.

Had several failed attempts, usually as a result of getting downed too many times in the early waves from Sharpshooters or Saboteurs dropping my shields and Raiders riddling me with their Avengers. By the time the Wave 6 Hack came along, I had nothing left. On my successful run, I made it all the way to the Wave 6 Hack with all my consumables left. I was feeling pretty confident that the Hack would go smoothly, but Andromeda has other plans for me.



Gameplay notes and built link: bit.ly/2BynOlA

With Hacks against Outlaws, the first order of business is taking out the two Berserkers and Hydra. They won’t respawn after killing them. With all my Cobras, Singularity, and bigger combo detonations, this would be easy, right?

The Berserker twins came from opposite entrances. A Sharpshooter near extraction kept taking down my shields, and I had grenades landing by my feet from Raiders and Anarchists. I also messed up several times by throwing my Singularity ball right next to me instead of at the edge of the Hack circle. Fortune pitied me in the end, and I was able to make it out of the Hack, but not before using every gel, rocket, and all but one of my First Aid Kits.

Now could I extract? With a group, it’s easy to split up enemies so there’s an escape route to extraction from the back of the map. When soloing enemies might be everywhere, inside the buildings, down the two alleyways, and camping at extraction (three Sharpshooters were doing just that). It’s definitely not as easy as Firebase Sandstorm, but somehow I got it done.

Human Male Sentinel Gold Solo on Firebase Magna against Outlaws (Retrieval / Hack)

One would think that the Human Male Sentinel is a tanky character because of his damage resistance from Tech Armor and shield replenishment from Energy Drain. Yet I had the hardest time completing a Gold Solo against Outlaws on Firebase Magma. Even when I had “easy” objectives like Retrieval, I found myself getting downed over and over. I must have run this mission over a dozen times and re-specced the Sentinel a half dozen times. Switched from Electric Barricade to one point to Regeneration and back. Experimented with one point in Throw to three points to Radius to maxed out Swift Detonation. Also tried out a max accuracy and stability build focusing on weapon damage too. Ultimately, I settled for a hybrid 46655 build featuring Electric Barricade, Radius Throw and max Energy Drain. My other Gold Solo with the Human Female Sentinel didn’t fully evolve Barricade so I wanted to feature the Electric Barricade in this one.



Gameplay notes and build link: bit.ly/2yOSRv1

When every enemy is targeting you, that 65 DR feels like nothing and those measly 265 shields are gone in a flash. Without invulnerability frames, dropping a Barricade often meant me dying right when I was setting it on the ground. Running away and need to cast Energy Drain to get my shields back? Sorry, the casting animation took too long or Energy Drain missed the target(s). The Sentinel doesn’t get any DR while evading, unlike say the Adept or Kineticist, and the shield restore from Rank 5A Extended Drain is not as effective as Shield Boost on the Salarian Operator or Human Guardian.

If I was lucky to have enough gels and ops packs by Wave 6, I would be trolled by RNG and get a hack with the circle in the worst possible spot (the upper or lower courtyards). Enemies shooting at me from every direction would end that mission quickly.

For extra survivability, I even threw on the Shield Enhancer gear and a Cyclonic Mod IV. This gave me 425 shields. Still low, but more in line with the other characters that I have soloed with. I still dropped a lot during the match, but I would like to think that it helped me shrug off that one or two Raider blasts which ordinarily would have taken me down.

I find Gold solos to be more enjoyable than Platinum solos. That said, I'm finishing up the remaining common characters before I tackle more Platinum solos. Already did it with the Juggernaut and the Scrapper. If you want to watch some Platinum solos, go to Pota Pota's YouTube channel. He's been doing it with all non-cloak characters on the PC. To see the Salarian Architect extracting on Platinum, see his video below:

Human Female Soldier against Kett on Firebase Magma

Hold the Line and Aerial Evasion make the Human Female Soldier so much more survivable than my Human Male Sentinel in this Gold Solo on Firebase Magma against the Kett.



Gameplay notes and build link: bit.ly/2BrjrNr[/b]

Maxed out Turbocharge and Concussive Shot and used the Grenade Capacity gear to provide more Frag Grenades. The Valkyrie synergizes well with the Human Soldier and Turbocharge. Still waiting for the P.A.W. Siphon to drop, so brought the P.A.W. Concussive instead. Double Retrieval made for a quick run. Extraction was a little more difficult than normal, but I still got my free drinks from Kandros.

Human Male Vanguard against Outlaws on Firebase Sandstorm

For this Gold Solo with the Human Male Vanguard, I wanted to see how a power-centric glass cannon build would work. My previous Vanguard run featured a Prime-Guard with Seismic Nova and Lifting Shockwave and just one point in APEX Training. This build maxed out both Nova and Shockwave and had just one point in Barrier.



Gameplay notes and build link: bit.ly/2jmAMji

With the Commando Package and a Biotic Amp IV, a maxed out Nova followed by a Shockwave theoretically would do 5376 damage (or 5761 damage if I Charged first), which is enough to take out an Agent, Anarchist, or shield-less Saboteur in one power cycle. One point in Barrier meant there was much less room for error if Charge was on cooldown or I was out of cover.

Retrieval and Devices objectives on Firebase Sandstorm made for a less stressful run than the Wave 6 Hack that I had with the Human Female Vanguard.

Nice..this happend to me 6-7 mothnst ago..haing too much fun

The Crushing Grip Kineticist Gold Solo Kett

Looking for an alternate build with your Kineticist that neutralizes enemies and heals you over time? Introducing the Crushing Grip Kineticist in this Gold Solo on Firebase Sandstorm against the Kett. Objectives were Boss and Devices:



Gameplay notes and build link: goo.gl/35iM6G

This match didn’t go exactly as I had planned. When speccing out the character, the builder applied biotic amp bonuses to Pull’s Crushing Grip and Anti-Shields. It made it seem like lifting a Gold enemy would dispatch it within the 13.3 second duration Pull. Unfortunately, Crushing Grip and Anti-Shields don’t benefit from biotic amps and bonuses. So 13.3 seconds at 60 damage per second equates into 798.

Still, this build has some utility. If you damage a redbar enemy to just a sliver of health, you can use Pull to finish it off within the 13.3 seconds. Whenever it dies, you’ll get a 15% bonus to your shields from Barrier 6A (Active Barrier). And, since the enemy has a biotic effect on it, you’ll have an extra 40% shields from Barrier 5A (Biotic Link). This makes a Kineticist in Ascension Mode into a kind of mini-tank. And, that’s one (or more) less enemy that’s targeting you on the map.

Knowing now that biotic bonuses don’t benefit Pull’s evolutions, I would have sacrificed some duration for Radius Pull. This would have allowed me to pull up to two enemies at a time and be less precise in my aiming; for instance, I ended up pulling the same enemy multiple times while trying to target another one.

This build also works best against the Kett, since there are so many redbar enemies. It has less utility against the Outlaws and is worst against Remnant, since those flying Breachers and Observers have some degree of Pull immunity.

The Chronicles of Riddick Vanelsa...

Updated the table with Platinum solos for the remaining characters. I have finished Gold and Platinum solos with every character in Mass Effect Andromeda!