Guild Wars 2

What do you guys think of Synaptic Overload in general, and for a Power Rifle build specifically?

I don’t like that it requires launching or knocking back enemies to set it off; as a primarily PvE player, I find that most of the enemies where having Quickness would be great are Champions, with the CC-resistance that comes along with being such.
I have no idea what I’d do instead, of course, but this is pretty much why I don’t like it.

Welp, its a pvp / wvw roaming trait.
BoB → bombspam
Rifle #4 → googles (EG BA) → spam whatever
PBR → spam whatever
TM → spam whatever
a.s.o.

my favorite so far:
rifle #4 → elixir U → nade-spam

If it proc’d on Immobilize, it would be better.

Anymras.5729:

I don’t like that it requires launching or knocking back enemies to set it off; as a primarily PvE player, I find that most of the enemies where having Quickness would be great are Champions, with the CC-resistance that comes along with being such.
I have no idea what I’d do instead, of course, but this is pretty much why I don’t like it.

The target doesn’t need to be affected by the knock-back to trigger the trait.

Imo this trait does not benefit the engineer much. Best use for it I have found so far, is to shorten the time of a SD burst while your opponent is unable to defend. Fast stomping/reviving are also possible.

Quickness in general helps if you have a high damage attack with no cooldown or a channeled attack that requires you to remain stationary (100 Blades). Only Grenade #1 and Bomb #1 fall into this category and Grenades are mutually exclusive with Synaptic overload.
Bombs however require you to be in melee range, so knocking your opponent back might not be the best idea.

Arantheal.7396:

Welp, its a pvp / wvw roaming trait.
…
my favorite so far:
rifle #4 -> elixir U -> nade-spam

This in combination with Synaptic Overload is a very bad choice:

• Quickness does not stack in duration
• Spamming untraited Grenade #1 50% faster gives exactly the same damage output as traited Grenade #1 at normal speed, only the bonus from Grenadeer is permanent. For Grenade #2-5 and Barrage only Grenadeer increases the damage.

I only use in a gimmicky 6/0/2/6/0 Elixer X build. I run knights armor, zerker trinkets, and have energized armor. the build is designed to just be real strong in Elixer X.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fdAQFAUlcTp6qVYx8KkfNyjBFqDK6AMgE85kFwzC-TxRBwAFV+tT9HU6AWcBAsu/ACzPAeAAAA-e

build is for fun. I use it for open world pve kitten, it can solo some of the weaker champs and does lots of damage. only use for elixer X and synaptic ive found tbh.

That trait is great for Throw Elixir B (Stability) -> Rifle 4 -> Net -> Toolbelt Mines
Or FT push → Net → Mines.
Aka what the kitten is this HUNDRED QUICKNESS MINES.

@Mork
Hm… never noticed that quickness does not stack. And having a secure shot to get nades #2 #4 and BA on the target immediately definitively compensates the 33% dps loss…
At least I can’t complain about the stomps it gave me so far…

Eh, screw Synaptic overload, I go back to grenadier and keep the rota going^^

In PvP, with a glass cannon Rifle build, simply pressing Rifle’s #1 Skill Hip Shot with Quickness on is enough burst to send opponents reeling. After 4-5 piercing shots for around 1200-1700 crits, it makes you almost feel like a warrior. This coupled with static discharge and you can easily catch a lot of skilled players off guard.

Knocking back a downed target triggering Synaptic Overload before beginning your stomp can help get the jump on slippery unsuspecting downed professions. Like Thief’s, Mesmers and Elementalists. If they are seasoned players this combo can throw off their timing.

Synaptic Overload is also a Riot with Slick Shoes. However you can get even more cheap laughs by taking Bomb Kit and Slick Shoes in tandem. This coupled with the boon removal of Throw Mines tool belt skill Mine Field can essentially strip more boons than a Necromancer. Keeping stability off everyone within a general proximity, ensuring everything around you gets punished.

But my particular favorite reckless combo is activating Slick Shoes and then activating tool belt skill Super Speed. Then aiming your character at an enemy across the field and then using Rocket Boots through them. Making it almost appear as thogh you plowed through them and giving you the oppertunity to take full advantage of those few seconds of Quickness. Even a Ranger at max range won’t expect you to close that much distance immediately and offensively.

Granted these are a bit of advanced tactics that are pretty fun to use. All in all, Quickness isn’t particularly as useful on the Engineer profession as it is to the other professions.

At any rate, have fun and blow some jokers up for me.

After playing around with it a bit I’m still not sold. With Overcharged Shot, you only get three shots off by the time you get back up. It’s not bad, and there’s not a ton of other choices to fall back on for a Power Rifle build, but it’s not great either.

Tried it out with Throw Mine’s knockback, and you get two to three more shots off when you don’t have to pick yourself up off the ground. It also works okay with Flamethrower’s 3rd skill, but that can knock them out of range, costing you some of the damage boost from Synaptic Overload.

I’ve just started using this trait in a 6/6/0/0/2 build with it, Modified Ammunition, Static Discharge and so bloody many conditions. I can confirm that it does, indeed, activate without needing the enemy to actually get knocked back – but I’m still not super happy with it, to be honest, mostly taking it because I just don’t see a lot of other choices at GM Explosives. I think I’d probably like it better if it also gave Swiftness.