MikeFL Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 Hey all, I have level 20 Vanguard that I want to take to level cap. Right now I'm Shield Spec with Dorne as my companion. I'm sure I could always switch to Jorgan for damage but I like Dorne's character. My question is, would it be more beneficial to swap from Shield to one of the damage ACs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellenbec Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 All three specs are perfectly fine to level with. Play which one you feel the most comfortable with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derzelaz Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 If you're not planning to do a lot of flashpoints, change to one of the dps specs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuiwe Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 I'll let Tac say it, but imo the tank disc. Tac will know better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sereadrian Posted May 18, 2015 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Go tank, use shield and ion gas cylinder and the rest dps gear. I just leveled one a week ago and it went like a charm, u dont kill mob packs as fast as a dps spec, but it doesn't take too long to burn through packs ( see what I did there ) and you basically dont waste any time healing after fights. Also you have a nice gap closer, enabling a fast paced gameplay that compensates for the lower dps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cotlu-Hunlon Posted May 18, 2015 Share Posted May 18, 2015 I would say Plasmatech, as someone currently levelling a VG at a similar level to you. The auto-proc for plasma cell on Explosive Surge & the +25% damage talent make clearing trash packs very very fast. Tactics doesn't seem to really get going till a bit later. Levelling as a tank + healer as you are now sure works well, but it's a little ..... how do I put this into words..... dry? risk-averse? sterile? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TACeMossie Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 I would say Plasmatech, as someone currently levelling a VG at a similar level to you. The auto-proc for plasma cell on Explosive Surge & the +25% damage talent make clearing trash packs very very fast. Tactics doesn't seem to really get going till a bit later. Levelling as a tank + healer as you are now sure works well, but it's a little ..... how do I put this into words..... dry? risk-averse? sterile? This guy's got it. I've leveled 3 VGs / PTs as of now, 1 in Shield Specialist, one in Pyrotech (pre-3.0) and one in Plasmatech. Of the 3: Shield Specialist is extremely tough. I literally soloed all planetary content bar world bosses as I leveled, including heroic missions. Of course, with 12x xp you probably couldn't be bothered with that, but I digress. Pre-3.0 Pyrotech (AKA Tactics/AP) was fairly decent. It was painful until I got Prototype Particle Accelerator (Tactical Accelerator, level 32) though. However, post 3.0 you don't automatically apply a bleed for the resource regen, so if its anything like Revanite Commanders, ammo will have to be carefully managed to avoid a monumental screwup. Plasmatech was amazing for leveling as well. The extreme amount of AoE meant trash packs fell apart, and no bosses had enough health for resources to be a problem. Overall, i'd say: 12x XP, DPS Gear Plasmatech > Shield Specialist > Tactics Normal XP, Role appropriate gear, and augmenting leveling with FPs Shield Specialist > Plasmatech > Tactics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuiwe Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 And I'd say: DPS: Tactics-sticky grenade + Mortar volley = dead enemies. If strong present use a Tac pulse(or 2). For an elite use normal rotation. Fairly easy. I'd still choose a tank disc. Storm/jet charge is really that good + tankyness, ofc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nefczi Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 (edited) Just finished leveling Bounty Hunter, tried/switched between specs often but personally I found tank spec in tank "stance" with full DPS gear(beside offhand shield) to work the best. It was a breeze. Your single target damage is weker than in DPS specs but you have very good AOE damage which is more importand since fight groups 99% of the time. You have great survivalability and no energy management problems. But whatever you choose, you will be fine. Edited May 19, 2015 by Nefczi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeFL Posted May 20, 2015 Author Share Posted May 20, 2015 Thanks for all the replies everyone. I just hit level 40 on my Vanguard and I want to move on from Shield Specialist. Its extremely sturdy, and in 99% of fights I don't even watch my health, I just assume its full and when the fight ends, it still is. Even against bosses its no trouble. The only times I've died so far are when I get really cocky or I accidentally pull 3 silvers or a couple golds at once and my companion gets killed. That being said, I've become very bored with the gameplay. Its just not as fun as it used to be (I really miss the full auto ability and the ability where you channel a stream of lightning). Sure it has great survivability but as a few posters have said, it feels pretty bland. Reading through some of your comments, it seems that Plasmatech is the preferred DPS discipline. Is Tactics any good? I have heard that Tactics is the burst spec where most/all abilities are instant and it has high mobility, whereas Plasmatech is more AoE+DoTs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TACeMossie Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 Thanks for all the replies everyone. I just hit level 40 on my Vanguard and I want to move on from Shield Specialist. Its extremely sturdy, and in 99% of fights I don't even watch my health, I just assume its full and when the fight ends, it still is. Even against bosses its no trouble. The only times I've died so far are when I get really cocky or I accidentally pull 3 silvers or a couple golds at once and my companion gets killed. That being said, I've become very bored with the gameplay. Its just not as fun as it used to be (I really miss the full auto ability and the ability where you channel a stream of lightning). Sure it has great survivability but as a few posters have said, it feels pretty bland. Reading through some of your comments, it seems that Plasmatech is the preferred DPS discipline. Is Tactics any good? I have heard that Tactics is the burst spec where most/all abilities are instant and it has high mobility, whereas Plasmatech is more AoE+DoTs. Tactics is your PvP spec, as well as being the better spec for ops. However, it Doesn't really get any burst until level 41, and doesn't get enough burst to outclass Plasmatech's burst until level 56/57, which is why I prefer Plasmatech for leveling - Its incredible AoE capabilities start early, and just keep coming. That and the target switching on Tactics is the worst. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuiwe Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Tactics is your PvP spec, as well as being the better spec for ops. However, it Doesn't really get any burst until level 41, and doesn't get enough burst to outclass Plasmatech's burst until level 56/57, which is why I prefer Plasmatech for leveling - Its incredible AoE capabilities start early, and just keep coming. That and the target switching on Tactics is the worst. Yeah, but in order to spam e.surge you give up on the s.grenade + m.volley combo. A very powerful combo during levelling made even more powerful due to Tactics buffing their dmg. + you'll have overall better performance as Tactics. I'd say, try both. One at each planet and see how they feel to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeFL Posted May 21, 2015 Author Share Posted May 21, 2015 Thanks for the help everyone. I'm trying out Plasmatech right now (level 42 now). I have a few new abilities: Shockstrike, Fire Pulse, Incendiary Round and Pulse Cannon. Where should these fit into the rotation/priority system? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokupo Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Thanks for the help everyone. I'm trying out Plasmatech right now (level 42 now). I have a few new abilities: Shockstrike, Fire Pulse, Incendiary Round and Pulse Cannon. Where should these fit into the rotation/priority system? Try this, from Dulfy.net: 1. Plasmatize (when you get it) 2. Incendiary Round (Incendiary Missile) 3. Shock Strike (Flaming Fist) - makes HIB a Crit 4. Pulse Cannon (Flame Thrower) - Spreads Incendiary Round DoT to all targets hit 5. High Impact Bolt (Rail Shot) 6. Ion Pulse (Flame Burst) - Swap Explosive Surge (Flame Sweep) for AoE fights. 7. Fire Pulse (Immolate) 8. Hammer Shot (Rapid Shots) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talasin Posted December 11, 2016 Share Posted December 11, 2016 Since hammer shot isn't priority anymore what is the best rotation for a Vanguard dps or tank? lvl 30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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