PvP. I was juggling between my build and your build, basically. I decided that unload, while it does a lot of damage with those extra talents, requires you to stand in place, and if you're standing in place you should be using tracer missile. Also, that extra 30% damage to rail shot is nice, but only after 5 tracer stacks which you'll rarely get off.

So I've been playing around with hybrid builds for a Merc: http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#300ZMIkrRMzkzZfGMbzh.1 The idea behind this build is to find a way to utilize tracer missile to have amazing single-target DPS, while still being able to dish out large amounts of damage on the run. Here are some main points: 1) Spam tracer missile. The main stat you want for this is alacrity (I know). The idea is that you get two tracer missiles off as quickly as possible, then use incendiary missiles, combustible gas cylinder, rapid shots, and whatever as you move around and position yourself for another barrage. 2) Ultra rail shots. This build is optimized for massive rail shot usage, with three points in prototype particle accelerator even though you're not going to be using power shot. This build probably isn't optimal for pure damage output, and it doesn't have much utility. I think the main benefit is that it allows you to do immense single-target dps and have enough mobility to stay alive to capture objectives.

Oh crap, I didn't even realize missile blast was instant. Makes a lot more sense now. Thanks for your responses!

I'm a Mercenary, and there are a lot of questions I have about the various stats that go into your damage and how they work together. Looking at my items, I've noticed that most of them have these stats: -Base weapon damage (min/max damage) -Aim -Power -Tech Power -Crit rating Looking at my abilities, most of them are broken down into: -Kinetic damage -Weapon damage -Elemental damage My question is, what are the relationships between the various stats and the various types of abilites I have? I can do a couple quick checks by removing inventory slots. Aim, for instance, increases all types of damage, and base weapon damage obviously increases weapon damage. My questions are: - How should I itemize? which should I prioritize, power or aim? In what proportions? - As an arsenal mercenary, is base weapon damage even useful since I'm using tracer missile (kinetic) all the time? I would be very upset if it turned out my weapons did nothing for my damage output -- that just seems flat-out wrong. - Should I be using power shot? - How does armor reduction play into all this? - Which stats influence healing? Also, Missile Blast is one of the most incredibly underwhelming abilities in my arsenal. Is there something I'm missing with this ability, or should I just not level it? Thank you in advance. I have more questions, but I don't know if these are questions everyone's been asking or if there's been some research done on these different things already or if we should hold out until more information becomes available