User:Screennameless/Nightcrawler

Note that this build is nearly identical to Lilith build: Surprise Death but is used with different strategies.

I named it for the X-men character because the build uses guerrilla tactics similar to Nightcrawler's.

Background Info
I tailored this build entirely to my preferences, so to understand how to play it, you need to know a little about me. Ever since I started gaming, I have always valued speed and stealth over power. Kiting is my only strategy. This build was designed to kite enemies all over a battlefield, and I wouldn't dream of using it with any Shield other than the Cracked Sash (although this is ultimately up to you).

I originally played this build in 2-player co-op with my dad, who was a very bizarre Mordecai. He didn't go for a build at all and arbitrarily assigned points to whatever he felt like at the moment, which made me the more effective player very quickly. But I'm getting ahead of myself: you'll hear more about that in strategy. Anyway, the build is perfectly effective in single player as well.

Upgrade Order
I always fill the Controller half first, then the Assassin one.

Equipment
Grenade Mod: Bouncing Bettie, with Tranfusion as a backup in case of emergencies.

Guns: I'm fond of a good Atlas rifle and a deadly accurate (preferably corrosive) shotgun; I also keep a revolver and an SMG for backup.

Class Mod: I personally prefer Defender. My second choice is PlagueBearer for the skill bonuses.

Shield: Cracked Sash (yes, I know you're double-taking).

Basic Strategy
As I mentioned before, I played this build with my dad, a sucky Mordecai. Because he was prone to being knocked out, I took on the role of "tank" - sort of. My main role was rushing and kiting. For any given battle, I would:


 * 1) Sprint (normally) into a group of enemies.
 * 2) Activate Phasewalk to daze them and give my dad easy targets.
 * 3) Phase-sprint to a different group of enemies and/or wait in the middle of the original group for the full extent of Phasewalk's duration. (This is to allow full recharge of any shields/health that were lost.)
 * 4) Deactivate by meleeing the baddest/healthiest mofo near me.
 * 5) And sprint back to cover while shotgunning everyone in my way.

That's basically the sum total of strategy right there: outrun your enemies. The build is designed to enter and exit combat quickly, but the latter is the keyword: exit. You are constantly in and out of battle. Never remain in it after deactivating; sprint away.

Details: Cracked Sash
You'll notice that there's a lot of shield bonuses and damage resistance applied with this build, especially with the recommended Defender COM, but the Cracked Sash is still low capacity. Its recharge rate is your secret weapon. Any time my shields were down, I used two strategies:


 * 1) Fight normally until at half-health, then activate Phasewalk. Within a few seconds of activation, Cracked Sash regenerates to full along with health.
 * 2) If Phasewalk is unavailable, simply bolt to/duck into cover. Presto - full shields. Chances are good that Phasewalk will be available a few seconds after as well.

Details: Finesse
I liked to joke that I used Phasewalk with finesse (a statement that prompted excessive eye-rolling from my dad). However, there are great ways to rush/kite into battle with this build and its short Phasewalk cooldown. Most are the sort of details that come with repetition of the basic strategy, but there is one neat trick.

It is important to remember that you cannot jump in Phasewalk. However, you can deal massive damage to enemies by jumping over them and activating Phasewalk while airborne. My favorite variation on step one of basic strategy is to sprint to a barrier and activate Phasewalk while leaping over it, killing/dazing/significantly damaging the enemies below me.

Details: Bosses
Don't be afraid to Phase Blast a boss, even in single-player (and especially in co-op). A dazed boss is significantly easier to fight and kite than a regular one. One of the easiest ways to kill Nine-Toes is to shoot him until he summons Pinky and Digit, activate when they get too close, deactivate on top of Nine-Toes, and shoot him in the face a couple of times. Although you won't be able to daze any of them by doing this on Playthrough 1, it still effectively cancels out Pinky and Digit for the boss fight since they can't hit you during Phasewalk. After that, just kite his pets around normally.

Krom is another boss who is easily defeated with Phasewalk. Simply sprint normally up to his area, shotgunning anything that gets in your way and Phasewalking whenever necessary. Hide behind some cover just below his platform, then sprint up to him and activate and deactivate Phasewalk on top of his turret. You'll have to do this maybe twice.

I also used this against the Roid Rage Psycho, although the main idea was to slow him down so I could more easily sprint circles around him. Whenever he got too close, I activated on top of him, deactivated (still on top of him) after allowing my health/shields to regenerate, then sprinted away as usual.

Certain bosses should only be Phase Blasted in emergencies. I only used it on Bone Head if I was certain he was close to death/I was close to death. The same goes for Sledge. Obviously it's irrelevant to enemies like Mothrakk, the Rakk Hive, the Destroyer, and Mad Mel unless you're using it to get the hell out of dodge/allow shields and health to recharge.

Anyway, that's about it. Enjoy (or don't) my build. Screennameless (Talk) 07:39, January 18, 2010 (UTC)