I just respec'd my Human Engineer to use the Combat Drone but I remember seeing a post in an old thread claiming that rank 5 Shock and rank 6 Chain Lightning were "competing."
I had always assumed that they were upgrades. That is, at rank 4 the short range attack just pesters the enemy and draws aggro, at rank 5 it adds damage and at rank 6 it hits additional targets. Anyone know for sure?
It's rocket drone and shock that interfere with another, not shock and chain lightning. Rocket drone works when the drone is at a minimum distance away from the enemy where as shock works when its closer to the enemy.
Rank 4 - shields and damage (self explanatory) vs. detonate (drone explodes when destroyed causing AoE damage and also detonating tech combos)
Rank 5 - shields and damage (more damage and shields) vs. shock (basically, gives you more AoE stagger)
Rank 6 - rocket (drone moves away from the enemy and fires rockets) vs. chain lightning (kinda like chain overload, hitting multiple targets)
Certain drone attacks will encourage the drone to close with the enemy, and certain drone attacks will only be used from range. I believe its the rockets evo versus shock that are incompatible mechanics wise.
Shock and Chain Lightning compete in the sense that they are separate attacks and they can only do one at a time. I vaguely remember something about attack cooldown, but it has been forever ago. The good news is that at least they operate from similar ranges, which is what the big conflict with Rocket and half the other evolutions are.
Shock and Chain Lightning compete in the sense that they are separate attacks and they can only do one at a time. I vaguely remember something about attack cooldown, but it has been forever ago. The good news is that at least they operate from similar ranges, which is what the big conflict with Rocket and half the other evolutions are.
This is what I mean. Basically, it was suggested that the drone would only ever use Shock or Chain Lightning. In which case, if you have Chain Lightning, would it be better to take Shields and Damage at rank 5?
I doubt it because that one conflicts with Detonate at 4, which is the best evolution. 
It's simple. Spec the drone for close range or long range, but not both. So if you take rocket drone, don't take any of the shock evos...go with the damage ones.
Can Chain Lightning stagger phantoms like Shock? Also, can either stagger dragoons?
Can Chain Lightning stagger phantoms like Shock? Also, can either stagger dragoons?
I have my drone specced for shock and chain lightning. And it does stagger phantoms and goons quite reliably. Although I am not sure if one evo in particular is responsible for that.
Chain Lightning and Shock are different attacks, according to the ME wiki (look under Players Notes/Mechanics). Which means that they are "competing". Chain Lightning does not have the stagger effect of Shock, otherwise wave 8/9 of triple Platinum Phantoms would be complete joke.
Personally, I want the extra stagger effect, even if its only single-target; it should be also mentioned that Chain Lightning doubles somewhat in functionality with Chain Overload (with the latter being the better version).
That is why I spec my Drone for Detonate and Shock and go with a 56645 build.
Shock and explosive drone go together well.
Rocket drone always trys to distance itself from the enemy reducing the effectiveness of the detonate and shock evos.
^Rocket Drone kicks ass on Bronze though.
Shock and explosive drone go together well.
Rocket drone always trys to distance itself from the enemy reducing the effectiveness of the detonate and shock evos.
Yeah, I think I'll take Detonate and Shock and skip rank 6.
^Rocket Drone kicks ass on Bronze though.
QFT
it is clear that "shock" and "chain lightning" do not compete with each other in terms of range (Like the Rockets would do)
However, I am wondering if they compete time-wisely, because both can only come one at a time and every 3 seconds, can't they ???
If so, you could be better off taking damage/shields on evo 5 and chain lightning on 6.
Even though it would mean that the detonation (evo 4) would be slightly more rare.
And: based on what does the drone decide whether to take shock or chain lightning?
Does anyone know the answer to these questions?
Explosive Drone is basically your everyday American view of typical terrorists.
Explosive Drone is basically your everyday American view of typical terrorists.
^ This.
it is clear that "shock" and "chain lightning" do not compete with each other in terms of range (Like the Rockets would do)
However, I am wondering if they compete time-wisely, because both can only come one at a time and every 3 seconds, can't they ???
If so, you could be better off taking damage/shields on evo 5 and chain lightning on 6.
Even though it would mean that the detonation (evo 4) would be slightly more rare.
And: based on what does the drone decide whether to take shock or chain lightning?
Does anyone know the answer to these questions?
I think you're under a misapprehension. The shock evo means the drone shocks an enemy. Taking the chain lightning evo means that the drone shocks an enemy, and the shock can jump to nearby enemies as well.
I think you're under a misapprehension. The shock evo means the drone shocks an enemy. Taking the chain lightning evo means that the drone shocks an enemy, and the shock can jump to nearby enemies as well.
Nope.
Shock is a different attack. Chain Lightning boosts the basic attack of the Combat Drone.
I think you're under a misapprehension. The shock evo means the drone shocks an enemy. Taking the chain lightning evo means that the drone shocks an enemy, and the shock can jump to nearby enemies as well.
If that was true, you could ignore shock on 5 and only take 6: chain lightning
And like Black mage already said, the Wiki says otherwise.
But still the question remains:
if the drone uses EITHER shock or chain lightning every 3 seconds,
they do compete and I would rather take damage on evo 5. Or spec out of evo 6.
But still the question remains:
if the drone uses EITHER shock or chain lightning every 3 seconds,
they do compete and I would rather take damage on evo 5. Or spec out of evo 6.
You could do that but would lose out on Shock, which is very effective at stunning a group of enemies. Combat Drone is more effectively used as a decoy and to stagger enemies than for damage.
Explosive Drone is basically your everyday American view of typical terrorists.
Terrorists can detonate tech explosions for me? Sweet!
As long as it is distracting phantoms & hunters & primes.....I really don't care how it is spec'd...if I even spec into it at all.
it is clear that "shock" and "chain lightning" do not compete with each other in terms of range (Like the Rockets would do)
However, I am wondering if they compete time-wisely, because both can only come one at a time and every 3 seconds, can't they ???
If so, you could be better off taking damage/shields on evo 5 and chain lightning on 6.
Even though it would mean that the detonation (evo 4) would be slightly more rare.
And: based on what does the drone decide whether to take shock or chain lightning?
Does anyone know the answer to these questions?
For the last question I don't know how the drone AI works in deciding between the shock and chain. All I know for sure is that once it uses either of those for example shock first then shock will be put in cooldown and then it will use chain lightning afterwards and vice versa.
Choosing one of the two instead of both results in your drone waiting for it to use shock again if you chose only shock and same happens if you only chose chain lightning.
Combat drone spec wise, depending how much you value crowd control you could go rank 5 shields and damage for a stronger explosion. Unless you're playing wood difficulty the extra shields will hardly be noticeable.
So wait, skipping Drone evo 5a is now a viable option? Thus the correct option?
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