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[BROGOD]

So, today was a day I thought I'd put some serious leg work into The Division. I got to almost level 13 by just trudging through the main story missions bits at a time. I linked up this afternoon with oh daesu and he went through 3 story missions with me and got me up quite a bit of XP, finished on early level 18. After he got off, I was pretty determined to put in some work and try grind out even more. So I went around doing the encounters, and one thing lead to another - finished on level 30. I was then determined to get some gear and gear up, after a couple more hours of just bashing through NPCs, I hit the DZ and came out pretty well geared. I did already get some decent gear from outside of DZ, but DZ topped me up. 

This is my current build. Bear in mind this is only progress from today, I have plans to change it - in fact, I want to be a tanky DPS guy. I'm going to try and get a high DPS Vector 45 ACP. I love them as guns, would be dope to rock one. Shoot away on tips.

 

[DeadSockPuppet]

Good start for a work in progress.  G36 & M60 (?) are serviceable for just getting started at lvl 30.  Also, in a huge fan of 125-150k skill points for my tank & DPS builds so that their skills (usually pulse & overheal or booster shot for me) are somewhat useful.  If you're going to always be playing in a group with support players, you can go lower with electronics and skill points and focus most everything  in firearms and stamina since your group members will have better skills to buff you.

Here's my two cents:

• Get to World Tier (WT) 5 as soon a possible.  It looks like you're on WT 1 or 2 (based on 500k toughness), the sooner you get to WT 5 the sooner you'll be working with true end game gear.
  
• Don't be concerned that all of your mods aren't high end (yellow) yet.  Like with the first point, you want to be in WT 5 to get lvl 34 mods & you should start seeing them as you hit WT 5 & start collecting gear.
  
• Start to try and get multiple pieces of the same gear set (green pieces), so you have at least 2, or go all high end or high end/exotic (hexo or hexotic).  You can mix gear sets and gear sets or gear sets and high ends or exotics, but remember that currently gear set pieces should be used in at least a min of 2 of the same set.  
  
• Remember to check your weapons after you have your build set so that all 3 talents on your primary & secondary (and 2 on sidearm) are unlocked.  If you have one locked (grayed out) talent, use the recalibration table to recalibrate (recal or roll) it to a talent that you can unlock and that's useful for your build. If you have 2 talents that are locked or aren't useful for your build (or 1 locked and 1 not useful) switch to a different weapon as you won't be able to make enough changes to actually make the weapon useful.  
  
• Check the references for builds on this site, as well as the notes/references post for EP 5 of Shade Tech Radio and YouTube videos for other things to consider when assembling a build.  You can also post up questions and/pics for builds and we'll offer some input for you to consider.  
  

These are things that I consider when I'm creating builds for my toons.  While some of the comments are very optional, getting to WT 5 for true end game gear and weapons and having all your weapon talents unlocked are really must do's almost for all players and all builds (DPS, tank, support, etc).  

 

[BROGOD]

I did wonder why my toughness took a massive buff, I was in Tier 1 when I took the other screenshot. Here I am now in Tier 5, with slight adjustments here and there. Need to fill my slots for my backpack but server was restarting so I hopped off.

 

[Oh. daesu]

As @deadsockpocket said, stay in tier 5. It effects vendor stock display as well.

Also, as @deadsockpocket said, mods are very important. Weapon mods depend on what works. So, gold isn't beyter than purple.

So, to expand on what he said,

* Visit the blueprint vendor in the hub. Get any gear mods (but level 34)(firearns/stanima/electronics)

* @GamrInsanity has a vid of weekly vendor. He is good because he is broad. But broad means some of the "good" options are just "good averages". So, ultimately, it's just what's a good for ur build.

* Phoenix Credits: welcome to the grind. The cap is 5000. Aim for the cap and then get complacent. You probably want to spend which is cool. But it is nice to be complacent. Having 1000pxc or 5000 only matters when you have something to buy. And sometimes there's nothing worth buying.

* Credits. Currently, division rains gear. Mostly it rains crap. But you sell crap for credits. Ultimately, you'll have lots of credits. So, don't worry about spending, but get loot to sell. Don't waste loot, even crap loot. Until you have so much to be complacent.

* Mats, (materials): get the crafting daily cache. Or do runs and knock off some pve bosses at the same time. Crafting isn't major in this game. But I find it handy for gear mods (electronics). The crafting cache is the easiest.

* Earning Phoenix credits: I think it's best to do  the daily "challenge" mode mission (at your point). Anything else is extra depending on your time. Incursions, survival, underground all depend in what you enjoy. Grinding isn't a job after all. Legendary missions and heroics give you more pxc but you need to be geared for it.

* Set gear. Since it rains gear, whatever you enjoy gives it to you. So don't sweat it. After patch 1.7 drops with Classified Gear drops will be better so loot might/will be different. So, enjoy the game, The quality gear will change anyhoo.

 

[BROGOD]

Been doing missions I have already done on Legendary which has gotten me a fuck ton of Caches and credits.

 

[genedjr]

Another option is to turn credits into caches - as @Oh. daesu noted - gear just rains down right now.  And caches are also a quick way to get PC.

...gene

 

[Oh. daesu]

Another option is to turn credits into caches - as @Oh. daesu noted - gear just rains down right now.  And caches are also a quick way to get PC.

...gene

Oops, I missed that one. And that is a very good tip.

 

[Oh. daesu]

Been doing missions I have already done on Legendary which has gotten me a fuck ton of Caches and credits.

You are moving along well. :12_slight_smile:

I'm part way thu listening to @DeadSockPuppet and @g1nt3r  Shade Tech Radio podcast Ep 6. They're talking about builds if you're interested.

Also, there some posts on builds and recalibration

 

[BROGOD]

Yeah @DeadSockPuppet seems to know what he's talking about. I want to get a real solid build for a tanky-DPS. I'm just so oblivious to what works in the game currently, though I feel I'm progressively getting the hang of things. The decade plus FPS experience helps, though learning the games ins and outs is another thing.

From what I've seen a lot of the sets drop your numbers down a fair bit, though that might just be the way I've got my shit set up right now. Still trying to find a good Vector.

 

[DeadSockPuppet]

Yeah @DeadSockPuppet seems to know what he's talking about. I want to get a real solid build for a tanky-DPS. I'm just so oblivious to what works in the game currently, though I feel I'm progressively getting the hang of things. The decade plus FPS experience helps, though learning the games ins and outs is another thing.

From what I've seen a lot of the sets drop your numbers down a fair bit, though that might just be the way I've got my shit set up right now. Still trying to find a good Vector.

You can run a Frankenstein build (mix of single gear set pieces, high ends and exotics), but they're usually not as effective as running some of the suggestions I provided above.  

And this is just my opinion, but the Vector is more of a run because you like it and not because it's super effective as an SMG.  I usually run an MP5 (Navy or ST) or an MP7 as my SMG of choice as they're pretty solid for accuracy and damage.  If I'm looking for a lot of rounds, the PP-19 can have well over 100 rounds with an extended mag.  

 

[BROGOD]

You can run a Frankenstein build (mix of single gear set pieces, high ends and exotics), but they're usually not as effective as running some of the suggestions I provided above.  

And this is just my opinion, but the Vector is more of a run because you like it and not because it's super effective as an SMG.  I usually run an MP5 (Navy or ST) or an MP7 as my SMG of choice as they're pretty solid for accuracy and damage.  If I'm looking for a lot of rounds, the PP-19 can have well over 100 rounds with an extended mag.  

Funny you mention that, I was running a PP-19 and it was super good for switching to it close combat and just raining down destruction. Absolutely though, Vector is more of a want than a need for me, though I did / have heard that some of the Vectors can be really good. Not clued in enough to know if that's factual or not, though Vectors in the real world rip shit. Maybe not so much in the game.

I was running an LMG in my second slot, though I'd really like to go back to an SMG again - or even primary if it was good enough. What set would be the most ideal for a pure DPS, with hints of tankyness build. I could do a Frankenstein build, though won't that have a negative effective all across the board? Statistically speaking. 

 

[DeadSockPuppet]

Frankenstein can give you high stats (firearms, stamina, electronics and armor mitigation), but because the pieces often aren't sets there's no multi piece bonuses and that's where you really lose out.  

My best DPS/tank build is a hexo build, but that's something that will take you a bit to get to because it requires 3 exotics (Barrett's Chest, Skulls MC Gloves and Shortbows Kneepads).  I have 3 variations on it that have between about 340-360k DPS, 320-330k toughness and 140-160k skill points.  In one variation I use a 4th exotic (Ferro's Mask - which you have) for missions with a lot of fire in them.  In one of the versions I use the Bullfrog exotic AR and an MP7 and for the other two variations I used a lightweight M4 (LWM4) and an MP7.  I typically run pulse work the extra damage to pulsed enemies mod, overheal and then recovery link, with tactical link mixed in on occasion to increase the DPS.

For some options that are easier to get, you could go with 4pc AlphaBridge (AB) and possibly a reckless chest and savage gloves or a 2pc Lone Star (LS) to offer the bonus ammo since you'll burn thru ammo using a primary and secondary of the same type for AB.

Another option that's not necessarily as damaging but still a good option is 4pc Predator's Mark (PM) with savage gloves and either a reckless chest or specialized backpack.  The 4pc PM will cause enemies to bleed which helps to cause continued damage after you switch targets.  

My last suggestion is a build that I'm currently working on: 3pc PM and 3pc either AB, Striker or Banshee.  I'm still trying to figure out which combo I like best, but I've been leaning towards the AB for the increased healing speed and the bonus weapon damage.

if you go either of the PM routes, I suggest using some combo of AR & SMG for primary and secondary (either order works) as the bonus weapon damage for PM only applies to ARs & SMGs.  To be DPS-tanky: 

• I'd suggest have 3-4 of your gear pieces calibrated for firearms, 1-2 for stamina and 1 in electronics

• go for electronics or firearms mods, possibly firearms with either skill points or health on them  

• try to get around 3900 in electronics, as that should go be you access to many of the weapon talents that aren't mainly skill/support based 

See what the above offers and let us know if you have any more questions.  Good luck and happy grinding.

 

[Oh. daesu]

Actually, back in the beginning, the two goto weapons were the vector and the Midas (mp7). This is a game that can be heavy on the buffs and nerfs. So things change.

 

[BROGOD]

As you can tell I'm trying to find a balance between DPS and toughness, while balancing out the skills too. So far it works pretty well, I did have almost 400k main DPS but switched gear around to buff my toughness and skill power. Still would rather have an SMG in my 2nd slot, though this does the job when I'm picking off at longer ranges, or purposely trying to inflict serious damage.

EDIT: Just got my hands on a pair of Exotic Skulls MC gloves. Boosted my toughness to 327k, my primary dps down to 300k and 145 for skill power. My skill haste is really good right now with that as a new addition.

 

[DeadSockPuppet]

Something to note, the Skulls MC glove benefit only works when you don't have any gear set bonus in place:

• Damage increased by 16% when no gear set bonuses are active.
  

If I remember right, "bonus" refers to either the 2, 3 or 4 piece bonus, so you won't get that bonus damage because you currently have a 2 piece Tactician's Authority bonus from the pieces you have equipped.  That being said, you'll still get the armor and the stats (firearms, stamina, electronics) from them.  

 

[BROGOD]

I'm trying to get a happy medium, so I can melt in DZ/Last Stand and the PvE environments. Buffed my firearms/DPS again, toughness back down to 270k. What's a GOOD toughness value to have?

 

[DeadSockPuppet]

I'm trying to get a happy medium, so I can melt in DZ/Last Stand and the PvE environments. Buffed my firearms/DPS again, toughness back down to 270k. What's a GOOD toughness value to have?

You can go with 270k and you're more of a glass cannon (can cause a lot of damage but you crumble when attacked).  I personally try to keep my toughness between 315-350k, because I'm not the best shot and like to be a little less squishy.  If I'm running a support toon with high skip points, I may go sub-300 as I can usually heal quickly (low cool downs/high healing w/ each skill).  

 

[BROGOD]

You can go with 270k and you're more of a glass cannon (can cause a lot of damage but you crumble when attacked).  I personally try to keep my toughness between 315-350k, because I'm not the best shot and like to be a little less squishy.  If I'm running a support toon with high skip points, I may go sub-300 as I can usually heal quickly (low cool downs/high healing w/ each skill).  

I've noticed when I higher my DPS/firearm values, I can generally melt very, very quickly. I'm a good shot and have pretty accurate mechanical aim, especially since I'm used to tracking enemies. Having Quake and fast paced gun style experience, taking it down a notch to the slower tracking usually is easier for me to excel. Though like you said, I'm the definition of a glass cannon. I can turn the heat up and focal various enemies, though I'm absolutely melted the minute someone locks onto me. 

I'd rather have a fighting chance. Haven't faced any serious issues yet, I'm tactical most of  the time knowing I'm a little squishy, so I tend to be very aggressive and retreat when and if need be. Fairly fast reload times on my skills, nothing insanely fast like when I had my skill haste way up - though still fast enough to have them when I really do need them.

 

[DeadSockPuppet]

Then I'd suggest try to get around 300k and see how that goes.  You can look at using stamina ability mods, ability mods with health on them or by rolling health on any or all of your chest, knee pads, backpack and holster.  Try tinkering with the mods first, as they can be changed without using up your one stat that can be recalibrated on your gear.  

 

[BROGOD]

Then I'd suggest try to get around 300k and see how that goes.  You can look at using stamina ability mods, ability mods with health on them or by rolling health on any or all of your chest, knee pads, backpack and holster.  Try tinkering with the mods first, as they can be changed without using up your one stat that can be recalibrated on your gear.  

Yeah, I'm gonna try bump it to 300k. Appreciate the advice.