Flamethrower
Ehhhh… the 2 is very useful (when it doesnt mysteriously get obstructed by nothing at all). The 1 is decent but nothing to write home about single-target wise, due to being an AoE effect. The 3 is superbly useful against most enemies. The 4 does its job. And the 5 is decent enough.
In terms of pure dps, I’m satisfied with the weapon taken on its own merits. When you directly compare its damage output to those of several other classes in terms of raw dps, you’ll find it very lackluster.
For a random anecdote, was doing 1800 with a full channel of the Flamethrower’s 1 ability. Friend was doing 3000 with a channel of his Warrior’s Rifle 3 ability. The latter is, however, a single target ability.
All in all, the Engineer class suffers from its lack of a solid direct-damage weapon/kit. This is evident in the overall performance of the Flamethrower, IMO.
I currently use the flamethower as “main” weapon for my engi, using the rifle as secondary weapon. I run a boon heavy build.
I use 30 firearm and 30 alchemy (the last 10 is either explosion for burn on crit or tool for speed on kit swap). With 30 alchemy alone, juggernaut last enought to stack up to 8, it’s 280 power/condition. I also use the trait that give vigor when you get swiftness, with speedy kits, i get swiftness AND vigor for 7 sec whenever i equip the flamethower. I run elixir H and B (and we get a free B with 5 alchemy) for MORE boons that last a long time.
Swapping often is the key, it allow you to keep vigor, swiftness and most of your stack of mights. Plenty of combo can be done, like rifle net the guy in the firewall, double pushback… Sadly the flamethower got a few targeting issue, 3+2 combo always fail, but the rifle knockback work with flamethower 2…