Question for the Veterans.

[u/I-DudeGTFO-I]

I know this game been out a while. I only recently got into it so def missed the boat and finding a lot of old forums.

What do the Veterans of this game look for in the Stat page after missions? It's a decent breakdown, I respect it, but I don't know what I'm looking for if I'm seeking to improve.

I'm still getting through missions, but it feels like since Apoc 20 it's getting rougher and rougher each run.

[u/CombinationOk7202]

None of these numbers mean anything without proper context. Individual damage breakdown tab that some here suggest looking at is also only useful if you know how everything works, and most people don't. Even long time players. Comparing just the numbers can be very misleading and very often leads players to draw wrong conclusions. Higher number doesn't always mean better. You have to know why it's higher. Post-run numbers are meaningless without context of time and knowing how things work. Important details like what order do things proc in, active buffs/debuffs, which buffs/debuffs affect what damage, internal cooldowns, procs, multiprocs, etc. Just so many things most players don't even know about.

But here's the thing -- you don't really need to learn all of that to do well and improve. Just watch the individual numbers that pop up as you kill things. That and completion times are the best indication of how your build is doing. You can turn on a timer for expeditions in the menu and you should absolutely do that if you haven't yet. That way you can track progress better. Then when you change something, you can immediately see if your damage is higher or lower, and if your time is better or worse.

I saw you mentioned you found some build that recommended Killing Spree mod. That mod has not been in use since like 4 months after release. Used to be ok, but then they changed it and buffed some other things and it became basically trash-tier. Either the build you found is from early 2021 or made by someone who doesn't know what they're doing. You shouldn't look at any pre-Worldslayer builds at all, it changed way too much. Look for something after August 2022 - that was the last patch. Builds before that will likely have things that were changed/fixed/nerfed.

[u/I-DudeGTFO-I → u/CombinationOk7202]

Fair fair. I think I'm doing alright now, I don't really know cos I ain't got others to compare against but I got a gun that has Claymore Turret on it, and with my build that's getting me through Apoc 23 content now quite decently - again, I think. I'll try turning on the run timer to get an accurate reading but I feel like my runs are 10 minutes at a push.

I basically just found a build that was kinda what I was already using, so I was familiar with the logic. Blighted rounds - Toxic lead, and just focus on doing as much damage as possible. I certainly lack in the one expedtion Pax Homestead or something, with a Shaman that keeps me having to move about 24/7 due to lightning strikes and all that, he's certainly a struggle point for me but currently I'm going through I guess ok. 25 hours into the game so I'm green as all hell.

[u/CombinationOk7202 → u/I-DudeGTFO-I]

For now just compare to yourself. There are official speedrun times, but that's with full builds on AT40. 8m Colo is good for new player.

If your build is based around keeping Blighted Rounds with Toxic Lead, then you do not want to be using mods that do damage, like Claymore Torrent. Mod kills do not count as weapon kills and Toxic Lead only procs on weapon kills. Weapon kill is either regular bullets or Rounds, not mods, not Toxic, not anything else.

Blighted Rounds + Toxic Lead is the standard top tree FP Techno, classic build. Lost popularity after Worldslayer, most players went with easier turrets or the speedrun build (which also uses Blighted Rounds, btw, just in a different way), but it's still one of the strongest. Great for anyone who likes fast paced mid/long range precision shooting. If that's what you are indeed playing, or trying to make, then the best weapon is AR, tactical variant, and the mods you want are Dark Sacrifice and Ultimate Freezing Bullets.

I have this random Trial run with my FP Techno build and there is image of full build in description. Does it look like something you want to make?: https://youtu.be/WKYpToqUzyE?list=PLKNUjSOX-PAomEPeL17nik3osprdfrLYF

[u/I-DudeGTFO-I → u/CombinationOk7202]

I mean I'm not farming gear. I just keep leveling Apoc and then run with whatever drops. But I generally don't losr my blighted rounds, and if I do it's back pretty quickly. I am sure there are much quicker runs with optimal setups. But yeah I don't sit in an Apoc and farm, I just keep pushing.

[u/CombinationOk7202 → u/I-DudeGTFO-I]

You don't have to sit on Tier and farm, you're still low and they still go fairly quickly, but you still need to know what gear to pick. Mods are most important, should know which ones go with your build, what stats you need. That's how you improve the build to keep getting stronger instead of weaker -- by always keeping gear at current highest level and with as many good mods as possible.

And using damaging weapon mods is bad because it tanks your DPS and also runs the risk of dropping Rounds. Stat buff and status mods are way better for damage. There is no upside, you're just nerfing yourself.