Why Disruptor on Shotgun?

An interesting topic. Personally I've never thought about it, never used Phasic rounds on a shotgun either. For me it's not necessary. I'm at that point that I don't need such techniques to do good in a random match. But I may have something useful for your theory.

Here's a gold game, on Apry's host. I wouldn't call it that bad. It was difficult, for sure 5 HS by the end of wave 1, 10 by the end of wave 3 and 20 on wave 9. HSol/Claymore with AP IV and Shotgun Rail Amp III.


I always use AP ammo on Claymore. It's just clicks with my playstyle. It shines especially against Collectors and their big heads Whether it's platinum or gold. But you may notice here and there, that I would've one shot Centurions or Nemesis with Phasic ammo. But that brings me to my point:

- It mostly depends on which type of character you use and how you build them. With AR HSol you don't need Phasic, as you have 2 shots plus grenades or CS to soften the enemies. The same story with many other characters. Phasic ammo is not that important when you have good debuff/stagger powers at your disposal. Like would you use phasic rounds on a Claymore/GI? I wouldn't personally. On the other hand - Turian Saboteur could benefit from it.
- Difficulty matters. For example on platinum I often use disruptor ammo on shotguns because it helps with taking down shields quickly (Atlases, Primes), and its stagger ability often stops Goons, Hunters and such. On Wraith especially. Cabal/Wraith with Disruptor IV is very good. Nightshade blades for softening and bam - headhsot. Or if you miss initial one, you always have second one.
- If you play on bad hosts, and you're a headshot maniac, why don't you try to use sniper riffles? I mean, if someone is good, then SR is more obvious choice for phasic rounds and pellet spread isn't a problem then. But if someone has trouble to get his 20 hs with SR off host, it's not that obvious he would do better with a shotgun.

In the end I think it's an interesting idea. I will give it a try, but I don't think I will use it more often after that. After 1100+ hours invested in this game, I have a certain playstyle and I have my ways of dealing with bad hosts, doing headshots etc. etc. To sum it up - Disruptor on shotguns - hell yes. Phasic - meeh, it's not that necessary

Using Phasic with AV to mitigate priming I don't want.... Generally I end up in Biotic lobbies when I roll this kit.

Disruptor as a primer makes things juicy for different reasons, and as Sonashii mentioned, is a strong player in Platinum.

I am really focused on Gold in this theory. OHK on Platinum with a shotgun doesn't happen as easily, everything has higher health and shields and you need a dead-on shot to OHK.

Its definitely a valid option. I'll sometimes use Phasic (on a shotgun) with biotic kits, especially vs Cerberus or Geth, so that I'm not messing with my combos. Throwing Phasics on the Claymoar or Raider and watching shields/barriers just vanish in the blink of an eye is a pretty excellent sight. And at least as far as soloing Plat is concerned, I'm pretty well convinced that Disruptor on the Venom GI is generally better/faster vs. Cerberus than Incendiary (lots of shields, and TBs work against all protections instead of just health and armor for FEs). With the DAI, its a tossup between Disruptor and Incendiary, either works about as well as the other. Though overall I still use Incendiary, AP, and Warp ammo more frequently on shotguns, plenty of situations where Phasic or Disruptor are completely viable or even preferable.  

You wouldn't happen to have results on you? I'm currently doing some statistics studying for and exam and it would be useful to put it to practical use

If you can get me, say... ten results for Incendiary Venom and ten for Disruptor Venom GI runs, that should be enough to do some basic tests.

In fact i've done much more than 10/10 runs with incend/disruptor,but i don't have screens or videos for every run,only fastest one,but average time with incendiary was faster than average with disruptor.

I would argue that for someone of your skill level, the anti-armour damage of Incendiary would be better, but someone of lower skill will be able to play more aggressively with Disruptor Ammo due to the overall improved CC.

disagree, and I'd say its the other way around: on pretty much any other character Incendiary is faster, but not on Venom GI

I'll admit I was thinking the same, but then started to wonder about practice versus theory. I don't want to appear to take sides on the specifics of the GI/Venom Disruptor versus Incendiary debate, primarily because I've never played him with either, as I've never paired him with the Venom.    In fact I'm reasonably confident I've only ever used Incendiary and Warp ammo with the Venom. 

As for the debate, The Doc's skill and experience is irrefutable and in my mind Incendiary makes the most sense, but I've also been in the same games as q with a Venom and have had nothing to kill. The man knows his Venom. He once invited me to do some Venom challenges along with our other friend UpperReality. I'm really sad we never got round to it but I would honestly have had nothing to kill. 

My own perception (based, I remind you, on diddly-squat) is that putting Disruptor ammo on the Venom seems a little like a belt and braces approach to stagger. I mean, the Venom staggers already, right? As does Proxy Mine. SO the stagger benefit from Disruptor ammo is redundant. But then I'm drawn to q's argument about TBs being significant, along with the all-important spawn location. I used to be into stats myself a long time ago but I've forgotten all the theory. Still, I'm totally feckin baked and I'm willing to believe that it could ultimately be shown that Incendiary ammo is better in 9 out of 10 (or even 99 out of 100) games, or for 1 in every 100 players, perhaps, but in the 10th (or 100th) Disruptor ammo is even faster.  So I'm with mordokai and want somebody to GIVE ME SOME STATS DAMMIT! FOR SCIENCE!!!

That said, I'll wake up in the morning and be slightly embarrassed that I posted this, as by then I won't care quite so passionately, and will revert to type and load up my Claymore + AP rounds and go kill me some Reapers. One at a time. 

GI is enough powerful and he can take down every shield fast with incendiary ammo.On plat you have much armor vs cerb on the later waves.Every other character,with some exceptions of course can't take down the shield that fast with incendiary for obvious reasons.I am faster with incendiary,but have to admit that the difference is not big.Probably 10-20 sec.2 runs can't be same unfortunatelly.Spawns,objectives..etc

In fact i use only disruptor ammo on some shotguns for solos.I mean on weapon-based characters like GI or Turian soldier.Claymore,wraith,crusader work great with disruptor.

Once upon a time, I did not respect Disruptor Ammo OR Tech Bursts. Now, I often find myself naturally reaching for the Disruptor Ammo or Tech Burst character, I like my CC.

Pfhhh ... Epeen post.

I demand a Thunderdome, your GI / Venom vs me missile glitching. On Bronze