Gunner Swarm Clear Tips: Maximize AoE Damage

Combat Summary

• Position for Advantage: Always seek choke points or defensible terrain to funnel Glyphid Swarms and maximize weapon efficiency.
• Leverage Primary AoE Damage: Focus on primary weapons configured for high area-of-effect output to shred densely packed enemies.
• Strategic Shield Use: Deploy your Shield Generator proactively to create safe zones for focused fire or critical revives during overwhelming engagements.

Best Use Case

As a Gunner, your role in the deep dark is often to be the primary wave clearer. Your tools excel at turning a wall of chitin into a fine red mist. This capability is paramount during objective defenses, extraction points, or any situation where the enemy numbers are simply too great for precision fire alone. When tunnels are tight and bugs are pouring in, or when a wave of grunt warriors spreads across an open cavern, that’s your cue to shine. Prioritizing AoE Damage means fewer bugs reach your team, especially on higher difficulties like Hazard 5.

Recommended Loadout

To effectively dismantle Glyphid Swarms, your Weapon Builds should prioritize area damage and crowd control over single-target DPS for your primary. Your secondary can then handle specific threats.

• Primary Weapon (Damage/AoE Focus):

  • “Thunderhead” Heavy Autocannon: Excellent for sustained AoE. Mod for splash damage, fear, and general damage. Overclocks like “Neurotoxin Coating” (for persistent damage over time) or “Big Bertha” (for increased direct damage while maintaining some AoE) are top-tier choices.
  • “Hurricane” Guided Rocket System: Highly versatile. Mod for splash damage, increased projectile velocity, and a larger magazine. “Minelayer System” allows for potent trap setting, while “Jet Fuel Homebrew” boosts damage and impact radius for direct hits.

• Secondary Weapon (Specialist/Burst Focus):

  • BRT7 Burst Fire Gun: Ideal for quickly dispatching Mactera, Acid Spitters, or other airborne/ranged threats that slip through the primary’s AoE.
  • “Bulldog” Heavy Revolver: For heavy single-target burst, especially with “Elephant Rounds” to quickly eliminate Dreads, Oppressors, or other high-HP threats.

• Grenade:

  • Incendiary Grenade: Excellent for area denial, persistent damage, and setting large groups ablaze.
  • Cluster Grenade: For immediate, concentrated burst damage in a tight cluster of enemies.

• Perks:

  • Resupplier: Essential for quickly restocking ammo and health in the thick of a fight.
  • Born Ready: Automatically reloads stowed weapons, keeping your diverse arsenal ready.
  • Iron Will: Your insurance policy for surviving an overwhelming push and getting back into the fight.

Mission Tactics

Effective Mission Tactics for swarm clearing as a Gunner revolve around spatial awareness and weapon management.

1. Choke Point Defense: Always look for natural bottlenecks in the caves. Position yourself to fire down these corridors, allowing your AoE weapons to hit the maximum number of targets. This is your ideal “wet dream” scenario.
2. Kiting and Grouping: If open terrain is unavoidable, use your zip line for mobility, or simply backpedal and strafe to keep enemies grouped. A tightly packed horde is a dead horde.
3. Shield Generator Placement: Don’t just throw your Shield Generator down randomly. Use it preemptively to establish a temporary firing platform, cover a downed teammate, or block a key entry point during a massive push. It’s a defensive tool that creates offensive opportunities.
4. Ammo Conservation: Your primary weapon chews through ammo. Use it efficiently on large groups. Swap to your secondary for isolated threats or when your primary is reloading.

Common Mistakes

• Over-reliance on Direct Damage: Trying to pick off individual grunts with an AoE-focused Autocannon wastes ammo and is inefficient. Save that for your secondary.
• Ignoring Terrain: Standing in the middle of a wide-open cavern exposes you to attacks from all angles and makes it harder to funnel enemies for maximum AoE hits.
• Panic Shield Placement: Using your Shield Generator reactively when already overwhelmed is often too late. Plan its deployment to proactively manage threats.
• Tunnel Vision: While clearing swarms, don’t forget about high-priority targets like Wardens, Menaces, or Spitball Infectors that can quickly ruin your day from range. A quick swap to your secondary can save the team.