Mass Effect 2: Soldier Combat Skill Usage Guide (by Homebound)
Oct 22, 2016 1:51:11 GMT
Element Zero likes this
Post by RedCaesar97 on Oct 22, 2016 1:51:11 GMT
ATTENTION: This guide was originally posted by Homebound on the old BioWare Social Network (BSN) forums. I am copying it here so it does not disappear when the old BSN forums shut down.
Before we get started, I want you to know that there is a risk that some of my techniques maybe antiquated. Some other guides may disagree with what I have. And some of my advice may be bad. Proceed at your own risk.
That being said, this guide is an amalgam of all the things I've learned from other guides and provides ways on how to use your soldier combat skills wisely, effectively, and smartly.
Wait--What?
First and foremost:
The Build:
4 - Hardened Adrenaline Rush
0 - Concussive Shot
4 - Squad Disruptor Ammo
4 - Squad Incendiary Ammo
4 - Squad Cryo Ammo
4 - Commando
1 - Geth Shield Boost/Barrier/Fortification
Level-up Guide:
On the first few levels, put at least 1 point into everything, putting down the necessary points so you can get Cryo. After thats done, get Commando and Hardened Adrenaline Rush as soon as possible. Once you have Commando and Hardened Adrenaline Rush, feel free to maximize whatever ammo type you want first to Squad. For Normal, I'd consider maxing out cryo first. On Veteran I suggest maxing out Incendiary. On Hardcore and higher, Disruptor.
Why this Build?:
Hardened Adrenaline Rush:
Adrenaline Rush slows time down, it doesn't effect fire-rate. You may think Heightened Adrenaline Rush's extra 40% damage is good, but that doesn't mean anything when you can only get off 2 shots from your Revenant Machine Gun. So unless you happen to be a Soldier that primarily uses Snipers, Hardened Adrenaline Rush is the way to go.
Why Squad Ammos?:
As you can see, ALL ammo-types have been listed as Squad-based. As it should. Why opt for doing a little bit more damage by yourself, when you can have 2 extra guns that hurts as much as you do on any given day?
Commando:
Walls are there for a reason. And just about anything you can hide behind in Mass Effect 2 is bullet-proof. Use this to your advantage. There's no reason, at leastGOOD reason, as to why someone would pick Shock Trooper.
Loyalty Skill (Barrier/Geth Shield Boost/Fortification -Rank 1):
This is your panic button. When the shields are down, the medi-gel's run dry and you're about to go down for the count, this skill will save your life. It doesn't matter as to which one you should get. At this point, you don't have any skillpoints left to use. Although Fortification doesn't recieve any upgrade bonuses since it's a combat skill. Something to consider.
Your shield skill can also help you manage your medigel better during long boss-fights in the higher difficulties. Specifically the bosses during the Shadow Broker DLC.
Another thing about shield skill usage is, you can also activate it while out of danger when you are about to have a hard fight.
Synergy:
This portion of the guide will suggest ways to use your Soldier Combat skills wisely, effectively, and smartly.
Hardened Adrenaline Rush:
-Run away:
Yup. Besides the damage bonus, Hardened Adrenaline Rush also reduces damage done to your health by 50%. So if you are running away and some 4-eyed freak of nature is forcing diplomatic talks between your races with a slug to your back, use this skill to dodge some bullets and get behind cover. With guns blazing. Remember to always shoot back as you duck for cover to use that lovely damage bonus. Or you could use the Loyalty skill. Depends on how reckless you want to be.
-Rambo a bi--I mean, Batarian:
Besides the 50% damage reduction to health, you also do 100% more damage with this skill. Now what do you get when you add these 2 things together? Thats right! RAMBO!
Use this skill to duck out of cover while enemies are STILL shooting at you and shoot at them back. This tactic is a bit of a gamble with its pros and cons. Pro: the guys shooting at you are out of cover, Con: the guys shooting at you are shooting at you.
Try this out with your Loyalty skill.
-FREEZE! I'm a SpecTre.
Slap Cryo-Ammo on your Pistol, hit hardend Adrenaline Rush, then pop a single bullet on each un-shielded enemy. If you did it right, you should now have room full of ice sculptures.
Loyalty Skill (Barrier/Geth shield boost/Fortification Rank 1):
-Instashield regen:
This is your panic button. When you're shields are down and your taking shots, use it to automatically save yourself.
-Nothing can hurt me!:
With this skill, you can mimic the Vanguard during close-quarters fight with the shotgun. When an enemy is close, hopefully you already had your shield skill on so you can activate Hardened Adrenaline Rush, but if not, activate the shield now. Then, simply run up to the enemy in question, shoot them in the face with the Shotgun, melee attack then, shotgun again, then melee etc until they die. Its surprisingly effective!
-omnomnom on your medi-gel:
Running low on medi-gel and are starting so see veins at the corner of your screen? Try substituting that medi-gel with your shield skill.
Squad Ammo and YOU:
-Pistol:
Pistol and Incendiary ammo does WONDERS against armor. It will strip it down really fast. Also by default you should keep Cryo ammo on this weapon. So while you strip away defences from enemies, you can quickly switch to this gun and freeze everybody in the room.
Incendiary and Cryo are the only ammo types you should ever need to use on this weapon.
Cryo+1 shot from a pistol WILL stop a charging Krogan.
Cryo is also good for making popsicles.
-Shotgun:
Cryo, incendiary and disruptor works well with this weapon. You can use it for anything. If the enemy is close enough that is. Works well in small, confined areas.
The Shotgun takes over the Assault Rifle's job at close-range.
Cryo and Shotgun does WONDERS against Husk. A frozen husk dies automatically.
-Assault Rifle:
The Assault rifle is, as someone else put it, "A glorified SMG".
The Assault rifle is the weapon that you will use the most when it comes to
stripping your enemy's defences. You should constantly be switching
between Incendiary and Disruptor ammo with this weapon.
-Sniper Rifle:
I personally use the Sniper rifle to strip targets that are too far away for my Revenant Machine gun. Although depending on the mission, if my assault rifle is using Disruptor, then I use Incendiary with the sniper rifle and vice-versa so I can use Hardened adrenaline Rush instead of waiting for my ammo to cooldown.
Weapon juggling:
First and foremost, you should NEVER juggle weapons in Real Life. Unless if you are a clown. Or possibly a circus performer...Anyways...
There will be missions where you will encounter two or even three different types of enemies in a room. At that point, it gets foggy as to which ammo type you should use. For example, Loki Mechs and Eclipse/Blood Pack in the room. Now you have an enemy that has Armor and an enemy that has Shields that your Assault Rifle needs to strip.
At this point, I just go crazy with my Machine Gun. There's no shame in not knowing what to do. But for whatever ammo type you have on your Assault Rifle, at least point it towards the enemy that it will likely do the most damage to.
Ending Comments:
Well, thats my Guide. Hopefully I've taught you something new today. And if I haven't, feel free to teach me a lesson or two with a strongly worded post down below.
Before we get started, I want you to know that there is a risk that some of my techniques maybe antiquated. Some other guides may disagree with what I have. And some of my advice may be bad. Proceed at your own risk.
That being said, this guide is an amalgam of all the things I've learned from other guides and provides ways on how to use your soldier combat skills wisely, effectively, and smartly.
Wait--What?
First and foremost:
The Build:
4 - Hardened Adrenaline Rush
0 - Concussive Shot
4 - Squad Disruptor Ammo
4 - Squad Incendiary Ammo
4 - Squad Cryo Ammo
4 - Commando
1 - Geth Shield Boost/Barrier/Fortification
Level-up Guide:
On the first few levels, put at least 1 point into everything, putting down the necessary points so you can get Cryo. After thats done, get Commando and Hardened Adrenaline Rush as soon as possible. Once you have Commando and Hardened Adrenaline Rush, feel free to maximize whatever ammo type you want first to Squad. For Normal, I'd consider maxing out cryo first. On Veteran I suggest maxing out Incendiary. On Hardcore and higher, Disruptor.
Why this Build?:
Hardened Adrenaline Rush:
Adrenaline Rush slows time down, it doesn't effect fire-rate. You may think Heightened Adrenaline Rush's extra 40% damage is good, but that doesn't mean anything when you can only get off 2 shots from your Revenant Machine Gun. So unless you happen to be a Soldier that primarily uses Snipers, Hardened Adrenaline Rush is the way to go.
Why Squad Ammos?:
As you can see, ALL ammo-types have been listed as Squad-based. As it should. Why opt for doing a little bit more damage by yourself, when you can have 2 extra guns that hurts as much as you do on any given day?
Commando:
Walls are there for a reason. And just about anything you can hide behind in Mass Effect 2 is bullet-proof. Use this to your advantage. There's no reason, at least
Loyalty Skill (Barrier/Geth Shield Boost/Fortification -Rank 1):
This is your panic button. When the shields are down, the medi-gel's run dry and you're about to go down for the count, this skill will save your life. It doesn't matter as to which one you should get. At this point, you don't have any skillpoints left to use. Although Fortification doesn't recieve any upgrade bonuses since it's a combat skill. Something to consider.
Your shield skill can also help you manage your medigel better during long boss-fights in the higher difficulties. Specifically the bosses during the Shadow Broker DLC.
Another thing about shield skill usage is, you can also activate it while out of danger when you are about to have a hard fight.
Synergy:
This portion of the guide will suggest ways to use your Soldier Combat skills wisely, effectively, and smartly.
Hardened Adrenaline Rush:
-Run away:
Yup. Besides the damage bonus, Hardened Adrenaline Rush also reduces damage done to your health by 50%. So if you are running away and some 4-eyed freak of nature is forcing diplomatic talks between your races with a slug to your back, use this skill to dodge some bullets and get behind cover. With guns blazing. Remember to always shoot back as you duck for cover to use that lovely damage bonus. Or you could use the Loyalty skill. Depends on how reckless you want to be.
-Rambo a bi--I mean, Batarian:
Besides the 50% damage reduction to health, you also do 100% more damage with this skill. Now what do you get when you add these 2 things together? Thats right! RAMBO!
Use this skill to duck out of cover while enemies are STILL shooting at you and shoot at them back. This tactic is a bit of a gamble with its pros and cons. Pro: the guys shooting at you are out of cover, Con: the guys shooting at you are shooting at you.
Try this out with your Loyalty skill.
-FREEZE! I'm a SpecTre.
Slap Cryo-Ammo on your Pistol, hit hardend Adrenaline Rush, then pop a single bullet on each un-shielded enemy. If you did it right, you should now have room full of ice sculptures.
Loyalty Skill (Barrier/Geth shield boost/Fortification Rank 1):
-Instashield regen:
This is your panic button. When you're shields are down and your taking shots, use it to automatically save yourself.
-Nothing can hurt me!:
With this skill, you can mimic the Vanguard during close-quarters fight with the shotgun. When an enemy is close, hopefully you already had your shield skill on so you can activate Hardened Adrenaline Rush, but if not, activate the shield now. Then, simply run up to the enemy in question, shoot them in the face with the Shotgun, melee attack then, shotgun again, then melee etc until they die. Its surprisingly effective!
-omnomnom on your medi-gel:
Running low on medi-gel and are starting so see veins at the corner of your screen? Try substituting that medi-gel with your shield skill.
Squad Ammo and YOU:
-Pistol:
Pistol and Incendiary ammo does WONDERS against armor. It will strip it down really fast. Also by default you should keep Cryo ammo on this weapon. So while you strip away defences from enemies, you can quickly switch to this gun and freeze everybody in the room.
Incendiary and Cryo are the only ammo types you should ever need to use on this weapon.
Cryo+1 shot from a pistol WILL stop a charging Krogan.
Cryo is also good for making popsicles.
-Shotgun:
Cryo, incendiary and disruptor works well with this weapon. You can use it for anything. If the enemy is close enough that is. Works well in small, confined areas.
The Shotgun takes over the Assault Rifle's job at close-range.
Cryo and Shotgun does WONDERS against Husk. A frozen husk dies automatically.
-Assault Rifle:
The Assault rifle is, as someone else put it, "A glorified SMG".
The Assault rifle is the weapon that you will use the most when it comes to
stripping your enemy's defences. You should constantly be switching
between Incendiary and Disruptor ammo with this weapon.
-Sniper Rifle:
I personally use the Sniper rifle to strip targets that are too far away for my Revenant Machine gun. Although depending on the mission, if my assault rifle is using Disruptor, then I use Incendiary with the sniper rifle and vice-versa so I can use Hardened adrenaline Rush instead of waiting for my ammo to cooldown.
Weapon juggling:
First and foremost, you should NEVER juggle weapons in Real Life. Unless if you are a clown. Or possibly a circus performer...Anyways...
There will be missions where you will encounter two or even three different types of enemies in a room. At that point, it gets foggy as to which ammo type you should use. For example, Loki Mechs and Eclipse/Blood Pack in the room. Now you have an enemy that has Armor and an enemy that has Shields that your Assault Rifle needs to strip.
At this point, I just go crazy with my Machine Gun. There's no shame in not knowing what to do. But for whatever ammo type you have on your Assault Rifle, at least point it towards the enemy that it will likely do the most damage to.
Ending Comments:
Well, thats my Guide. Hopefully I've taught you something new today. And if I haven't, feel free to teach me a lesson or two with a strongly worded post down below.