B.L.I.N.D. and FireCrest set impressions for PvE.

[RimBlock]

So I have been running the Underground for a bit and finally got my 2nd Agent up to level 30 so I could also run with him as well.  Having got a total of 27 stashes between the two agents, I had enough for full B.L.I.N.D. and FireCrest gear sets so decided to try them out.  These are my observations.

Note: The gearsets are not optimised but are also not terrible with the pieces I used.  This is mainly from solo play.  Team play can be used to complement much better I would imagine.

B.L.I.N.D.

Set Bonuses;

• 20 bonus critical pulse damage
  
• 100% blind / deaf resistance
  
• Killing an AI flashbangs that location. 
  

This one I had high hopes for, especially running solo, to stop big mobs rushing.  I was disappointed.  My use case was to have Underground rushers (when you first enter an area and set them off) get blinded and pause so you could whittle them down with each kill stunning the rest again until they are all gone and then the remaining lone wandering AI (ie. snipers) can be dealt with.

Observations;

• Blind did not work on free roam with rioters at all.  The flashbang would go off but the rioters would not be affected.  Didn't see any rioters in other areas but would presume the same issue persists.
  
• Blind worked quite well with LMB, blinding them when it went off and causing them to pause (free roam and underground).
  
• The flashbang has a cool down so you cannot effectively chain them in to a continual stun (major issue for me).
  
• The flashbangs going off was pretty cool when you killed the AI.
  

I didn't encounter other AI types when playing with this suit equipped but could go back and test if needed.

FireCrest.

Bonuses given;

• Gives 3 more incendiary ammo
  
• 100% reload speed
  
• Killing a burning AI give incendiary ammo for 10 seconds. 
  

So my use case for this one was the same as I would imagine others would be.... fire, fire everywhere.  Unfortunately, again, not quite as practical as I would have hoped.  

• I find myself commonly forgetting to activate fire bullets.
  
• There are only 6 incendiary bullets you can carry with new stocks requiring a trip to BoO or searching bags scattered around and being lucky.
  
• I have emptied a 220k dps 54 round G36 mag close range in to a Cleaner grenadiers grenade bag, on two separate occasions) in challenge mode and it would not go off.
  
• Once you are out of incendiaries you have to be quite inventive with setting bad guys on fire in order to prop the 4 piece bonus (the item above sorta excludes that option). 
  
• Killing (as in landing the killing shot) can be tricky in a team.
  
• Blowing up fire traps props this 10 sec fire bullet timer  :10_wink: .
  

These are only my experiences for very limited testing but given the choice, I wouldn't bother with either of them.

I am keen to try reclaimer (only have found 3 holsters so far), AlphaBridge (have two pieces) and DeadEye (also have two pieces) but have to do quite a bit more grinding for those.

 

[ESGN]

Reclaimer is extremely bugged (especially in the dz).  You can pop all of the specials and even give specials to other people/groups.  Being rogue or non rogue doesn't seem to matter.  At times, like if you get fire and explosives from another group.  You will keep the special ammo despite the timer going out.

I'm going to try out the Alpha bridge set sometime soon.  I currently have 4 pieces, but sadly, one of them is gloves with no attribute lol.  From what ive been told about blind.  It coincides with what you experienced.  As fas as firecrest,  the three piece bonus is really good (pvp/pve).  I don't know anyone with deadeye set but I imagine it would be good for a sniper build when paired with hunter's faith.

 

[g1nt3r]

Nice post RimBlock. I've been recently trying to collect Firecrest to check it out. I have a knack for shooting the explosive packs the NPCs carry so I thought I'd give it a try. I also love using my incendiary ammo. Hopefully I have a better experience with it.

As for Alphabridge ESGN, I would definitely be interested in that one assuming I can find the rest of the set.

 

[Cpl vinny]

Reclaimer is extremely bugged (especially in the dz).  You can pop all of the specials and even give specials to other people/groups.  Being rogue or non rogue doesn't seem to matter.  At times, like if you get fire and explosives from another group.  You will keep the special ammo despite the timer going out.

I'm going to try out the Alpha bridge set sometime soon.  I currently have 4 pieces, but sadly, one of them is gloves with no attribute lol.  From what ive been told about blind.  It coincides with what you experienced.  As fas as firecrest,  the three piece bonus is really good (pvp/pve).  I don't know anyone with deadeye set but I imagine it would be good for a sniper build when paired with hunter's faith.

Oh wow....The reclaimer set is so OP loll compare to alphabridge! They should fix the reclaimer set bonus 4 really...you know like a timer (like the nomad maybe not that long or something in this nature) I think the people in the DZ right now should be pissed in PVP if you face a reclaimer guy in a group of 4!! Special ammo infinity crushing your butt off to Jupiter!!! lollll

 

[ESGN]

Oh wow....The reclaimer set is so OP loll compare to alphabridge! They should fix the reclaimer set bonus 4 really...you know like a timer (like the nomad maybe not that long or something in this nature) I think the people in the DZ right now should be pissed in PVP if you face a reclaimer guy in a group of 4!! Special ammo infinity crushing your butt off to Jupiter!!! lollll

Ive only got the inf special ammo when it was another group that popped the reclaimer special.  Never when it was my group.

 

[Cpl vinny]

I understand but the guy who has that set with you, only has to wait for the timer to rundown for the special ammo to hit it again without consuming from is inventory no? So that means you will always have special ammo with you as long as you have you gear on or in the group.

I understand the issue about if you are in another group and still kicks in and it should be fix but remains that this set is broken in terms of use of special ammo...you nevr have to find them or go to BoO.

 

[RimBlock]

I came across a youtube video review of the FireCrest and someone was pairing it with a flame turret which seemed like a good idea but in Challenging mode, even in his video, the fire effect from the turret did not stay long enough for him to get the kill most of the time.  Even with 4 piece prop'd, he still had issues getting enough hits to light the target on fire (they do not light with the first bullet) due to AI movement, items blocking line of sight etc.  This was in the Underground and I think just reinforces my experience.  In the DZ where it can be more open, it may provide more value but not so much in the Underground.

The consensus, as @ESGN mentioned above, seems to be that the 3 piece bonus is great but the 4 piece is not so good.

Thanks for the info on the other sets everyone.  Various E3 reporting YouTubers were saying that Reclaimer seemed quite overpowered but with a local effect regardless of team membership it sounds just flat out broken.  I think we can expect some heavy adjustments there. 

 

[Im Manhunt]

In my opinion, firecrest and the B.L.I.N.D. set are absolutely useless as a 4 piece. B.L.I.N.D. is only viable for a 2 piece build with 4 of another set such as a dps set considering you will be pulsing for damage. I would personally use 4 alpha bridge and 2 sentries call for a good build. Video will be up on my channel tomorrow! 

 

[RimBlock]

I have actually moved back to my GS 214 / 240 Sentries Call 5 piece and am finding it much better running heroic Falcon Lost (to get better SC gear).  Lost 100K health but the damage upped quite a bit and with a SASG shotgun and SC Mark, the shotgunners are not so much of an issue with an ok team.

I did get a reasonable SC 268 Backpack from FLH but 7k Skill power (taking to 32K) and loose 30K toughness (Down to 312k)  :12_slight_smile: .

 

[ESGN]

I found similar runnin the 3 firecrest/2fm build.  I figured the dps was inflated by around 70-100k, but it seems to be around 120k.  I do miss the reload speed, but I hit about 20k higher on crit hs (I still run my crit bonus smg).  Toughness is also 15k higher and electronics is slightly higher with my striker build.