The Daily Fail: Novice Solo-ers Support Thread (Now with less fail!)

Yes, I should watch TTT's Arc Pistol solo. If only I could headshot that well!

Thanks for the advice! Loosing my cool is a major issue for me, especially when I know phantoms are about. It's been over a year since I've tried  plat solo and I'm slightly calmer now, so that's progress.  I seem to be able to stop the Banshees with incendiary arc pistol, which is good, because in the past I was using incendiary hurricane, and it was not working as well. The one time I tried GT on Giant I died miserably in W3, but mostly because I'm not very good with that kit. Most of the "OP" kits (AIU, TGI, GT) are ones I never spent a lot of time playing, so I never learned to handle them well. I usually hit the stimpack just after I'm killed.

Thank you! I applaud your stamina! I expect I will need 100 tries or more. It would be awesome if I could do it before Andromeda comes out.

Yay, other tales of solos! Nice using the TSol, I really love that kit. Dodging is for wimps!

Thanks for the advice and wave breakdown! Will definitely try Giant Reapers with Geth Scanner.

Ha, the more recommendations I get the more kits I realize I don't know how to play! While I've used SI on Platinum in a team match, I've never used a Venom on him, only Kishock. Will add to the list of things to try.

It's nice being able to eat a warp ball if you need to and get full DR if you hop into cover real quick, plus that dodge. As far as the TGI I like the PPR on him, but all his powers interrupt that. I've heard great things about the Crusader on him and if I were to do that I'd probably go something like this or Cyclonic for extra beefiness.

At first I wanted all the shields I could stack on him so I took cyclonics. Cross map pizza delivery was a pain so I switched to adrenalines. Hell, I've even used power efficiency on him. There really isn't a wrong way to go, I think.

I've only done a few platinum solos, but I'll echo Patrick's advice: if you're not enjoying it, don't. If you are, then great, the failures will just make you want to do it more.

My first platinum solo took me about 6-7 months to do, because I obsessed over it and just wasn't good enough to complete it. Took a long break from soloing, and when I came back to it I got it done. I took my absolute best character and went after it, that's what you should do.

Decide on a map/enemy combination that you're comfortable with, learn the wave budgets and get it down to a science. Switching after every attempt just presents new challenges each time that your experience in previous attempts won't be able to account for. You'll get it, don't sweat it!

Yepp, and you also get Goons on Cerberus gold objective waves, though they have a spawn cap. Luckily we don't need to deal with them on any objective wave vs any faction on Platinum, the only other wave in the game that have them are Collectors extraction wave.

A few more notes that I forgot to add yesterday:

Objective waves:

You need to be even more patient than on other waves. You see the timer and you instantly go into overdrive - no, your first job is to take a breath and calmly think about the situation. The most important skill for objective waves is leading the enemies. If you have to operate in one part of the map, go to the other and hold it until most enemies bunch up there, then sprint back and do the stuff in relative peace. If you have hack for example, try to stay for a third or so in, then kite away, then another third and so on. Once again, patience and calm, deliberate action is key. Yes you have timers, but it's a lot more time than you think, so chill.

Target switching on Platinum is severely limited. IIRTC, it's possible only on Collectors 3(which is unnecessary, since it's Brutes) and Derpshit 6 or Reapers 6, but I's rather keep the missile. Most hacks can be glitched, so do that. Pizza is easiest pnce you learn to pizza-run. Devices are a PITA on most maps. Leading the enemy away and positioning yourself in the most protected angle is essential.


Nuking pattern:

Some waves benefit greatly form nuking the first spawn or two (aim for at least 4 enemies with 2 big bosses or 5 with at least one). Since you seem to lean towards Reapers, I'd nuke 5, 7 and 8 and try to have at least 2 missiles for 10 (3 is better) - one for emergencies and one for post objective cleanup.

Some people like to nuke 4 , cause of the Prime and the phantoms, I'd skip it on Giant/White. 5 has 2 Banshees and a higher budget, so taking a chunk out of that budget in the beginning shortens the overall time and requires less mental effort on your part to keep your focus for longer. 7 is somewhat difficult with turrets and a Banshee + phantoms pushing you, so if you can, begin with another nuke. 8 is one of the most difficult Reaper waves, with 1 Atlas, 2 Banshees and the rest Marauders with Phaeston 9000 and phantrolls with palm blasters of doom, so I do my best to catch a big spawn and even two here with a missile. Wave 9 is a cake walk with Geth Scanner and a reasonable way of dealing with phantoms.

Also, Giant is easier for kiting, but White is easier for spawn nuking, so you might wanna take that into consideration.

If you go for Reapers, figure out a way to 1)Stop Banshees fast and 2)kill Banshees fast. Doing damage to their armor bars (so, first, quickly dropping their barrier) tend to do the trick for the first and a powerful weapon is good for the second. Incendiary glitch is also good for Reapers, with all that armor. Once they've stopped, aim for headshots (unless you are using stuff like Venom or Scorpion).

As far as kits go, HSent and TSent are both good, durable kits, put at least 4 ranks into Tech armor for 40% DR and at least 4 in Fitness (you can even go for 6 on the HSent for a 46646 build). HSent has a dodge, which is also to be taken into consideration. I'd once again recommend SI with Talon or a sniper rifle, it has a lot of power with Cloak and Proxy Mine and a lot of survivability with Energy Drain.

Yepp, unfortunately not possible for Cerberus, only Atlases on all 3 waves.