...some of you might say.
But please take a few minutes and let me explain why the Arc Pistol is my favourite pistol and can actually compete with one of the best weapons in this game, the Black Widow - in theory and in practice.
The video (below) will show both Gold and Platinum gameplay. While it's amazing on Platinum, it will trivialize Gold in capable hands.
TL;DR
Unlike the Black Widow the Arc Pistol won't benefit from RoF or Sniper Rifle damage bonuses - I just want to show how the Arc Pistol can compare to (and even top) the BW in terms of raw base damage and how versatile and amazing it is. So like capn233 said - the Black Widow is the better choice on weapon classes (Infiltrators, TSol, QMS etc.).
The video
Here it is: TEXTBOOK ChainOverload Massacre
And the headshot ending feat. Garrus Vakarian.
Mechanics
I've tried to convince people I play with why and how I use the Arc pistol - and I've found that I haven't been precise enough and probably misunderstood. I'm gonna try this again using corlist's test results from 8 months ago:
Arc pistol charging mechanics
All tests done on bronze (time scaling will apply to higher difficulties) with a macro that holds down the mouse button with a precision of 1 millisecond.
3 shots at 3x damage
1s+
2 shots at 3x damage
0.68s - 0.99s
1 shot at 3x damage
0.4s - 0.67s
1 shot at 1x damage
0s - 0.39s
The base projectile damage is 96.5 - an uncharged shot would therefore do 96.5 base damage.
Charging it for at least 0.4s (about 0.37 on Plat) will fire one projectile with triple damage - 289.5 base damage.
Charging it for at least 0.68s will fire two projectiles with triple damage each - 579 base damage.
Charging it for at least 1s will fire three projectiles with triple damage each - 868.5 base damage.
This means charging it for 1s results in 9x the damage of an uncharged shot.
868.5 damage per shot sounds especially great when you compare it to the Black Widow's 923.8,
a difference of about 6% base damage - that's incredibly close.
Same with sustained DPS (with Reload Cancel): 619.6 vs. 632.7 - that's even closer, practically nothing!
But the best thing is: The Arc Pistol has such amazing ammo capacity, with a Magazine Upgrade V mod, you'll get 32 shots - that's almost 11 seconds of shooting without reloading (fully charged shots).
Tested on Platinum:
With the TSent build I posted and proper use of Warp and Overload you can one-clip an Atlas (double and triple hit areas), a Banshee (headshots) and a Praetorian (headshots, no bubble) - a Prime (headshots) still had one bar of armour left, a Possessed Praetorian (headshots, no bubble) will be dead after 1.5 clips.
This means, in practice sustained DPS doesn't apply, Single Clip DPS does - which is a whopping
884.6 DPS!
Oh, another great thing: Firing a double/triple shot lets the Arc Pistol to break shieldgate just like a Shotgun or the Talon would.
So, insane DPS, amazing ammo capacity, lightweight, great accuracy not only on short, but also mid- and long range, breaks shieldgate - this gun is a strong contender for one of the strongest weapons in the game.
The Talon would probably still win because of its multiplier vs. Shields/Barriers and because it's easier to use - but in capable hands the Arc Pistol will destroy.
Turian Sentinel
Not only do I love the TSent in general - he's actually a great choice for this weapon.
Supreme Turian passives with delicious weapon and headshot damage, Overload to strip shields/barriers and Warp for boss unit debuff - which is why I don't use a secondary. He doesn't need more than that, he doesn't believe in secondaries.
Here's the build.
I'm using AP Ammo IV, he also doesn't believe in Incendiary cheese - headshots for raw damage.
I chose Neural Shock on Overload and Rank 5 on TA to maximize Overload's damage because of Phantoms, especially on host. Since I'm running Cyclonics on Platinum, 4 points in Fitness are good enough. Adrenaline Mod on Gold.
How I use it
- Headshot everything whenever possible, take advantage of double/triple hits on Phantoms, Ravagers, bosses - which is what AP Ammo is good for.
- I always run with the Arc Pistol already charged - this allows me to release shots quickly, like when I'm being staggered (Hunters, Phantoms etc.). Also means I can OHK almost all mooks even without Overload when I can land a headshot
- Unshielded infantry:
Kill'em all (Example 1, Example 2). If it's a group an Overload might help. To prevent the target from dropping to the floor (Neural Shock) I release the shot immediately after using Overload (Example). - Shielded infantry:
Fully charged headshot or Overload and a charged double shot (charge for at least 0.68s). I've found that I'm most effective with the Overload-double-shot-combo. Charging it for the full second would do more damage, but in most cases the mook is either dead anyway or I am (Example) - Armoured targets (Brutes, Ravagers, Dragoons, Scions):
Start with a Warp and then attack the weak spots. Great thing about charge weapons: DPS doesn't drop while casting powers because a charged shot can be released while using it (Example). AP Ammo and Warp debuff will make easy work of armour. Dragoons can be overloaded for stagger effect (when they're not in their lolSmashAnimation) - Boss units:
Start off with a Warp (and release the charged shot), follow up with more shots until CD is over, Overload (damage buff from Warp) until shields/barriers are down, then alternate between Warp and fully charged shots. Always go for weak spots, double/triple hit areas. - When in trouble TECH ARMOR
References
First of all I wanna thank the amazing people I play with and especially those I relied on when recording the gameplay for this video. Namely:
d_nought, Kalas747, krjn09, Leland Gaunt, M1A2 AbramsTank, ManBearPig654, MasterReefa, Mobius Y, only1biggs, rcolol, RELIX28, TheMightyG00sh, VoidNexus 000, Zyzimorph.
Just realizing, almost all of them Spectres. Surprisingly great people
Then of course corlist for his great work: Arc Pistol charging mechanics
HardcoreSalmon's Arc Pistol video: Arc Pistol Montage (This Gun is Amazing)
Other characters I use it on: Human Engineer, Asari Adept, Quarian Female Engineer, Geth Engineer, GI.
Please feel free to ask questions if there are any.
This is my favourite weapon.
Hope you like it.
Modifié par Max Dmian, 03 décembre 2013 - 02:49 .
Retour en haut
the Arc Pistol
(edit: it's actually in the video 
)
