Greetings fellow Engineers!
I have seen a few different eng builds utilizing the flamethrower and have come up with my own version: The Flamegineer. Attached is an image of my build and skill layout.
Traits
Explosives – 10 points.
Evasive Powder Keg – This trait encourages you to dodge. Take advantage of it as often as possible.
Incendiery Powder – Free burn damage! I am unsure if its duration is extended by Napalm Specialist.
Firearms – 30 points.
Sharpshooter – Free bleed.
Precise Sights – This means that you have a 50% chance to increase how much damage you do whenever you land a critical hit. Sounds good to me!
Target the Weak – +10% crit chance if your enemy is below 50% health. Choose your targets wisely!
Napalm Specialist – Not sure if this stacks additively with the 30% longer condition duration from the trait line stat boost. Either way, it’ll keep your opponents’ memory fresh of the pain you just brought.
Target the Maimed – Coupled with Sharpshooter, this is a nice damage boost.
Juggernaut – Essential to surviving as a Flamegineer.
Inventions – 20 points
Low Health Response System – Some free health. Nothing major but every little bit helps.
Cloaking Device – Incredible trait. Remember that using any attack will bring you out of invisibility.
Automated Medical Response – When PvP combat is so short, chances are you won’t get to use another Elixir H via its natural cooldown.
Power Shoes – Both useful for getting away from your opponent(s) or chasing one down as you bbq his/her backside.
Alchemy – 10 points
Hidden Flask – Free Elixir B!
Self-Regulating Defenses – Elixir S will save you from death and gives you a great chance to get away.
Skills
As you can see from the attached image, I use a pistol and shield for sPvP.
I will explain how I use these in the ‘How to’ section.
Elixir H – This skill has saved me more often than I can count. Although it only heals you for about 1/5th of your health, you will be able to use it twice due to the trait Automated Medical Response.
Elixir B – This elixir gives a noticeable dps bonus in addition to a speed burst. In a group situation, tossing Elixir B is a must.
Elixir S – This is useful when you find yourself in a 1 v 2 situation and need to get away or in a group situation where you are being focus-fired. In a group, tossing Elixir S is quite excellent when it grants invisibility to your crew.
Flamethrower – Wouldn’t be a Flamegineer without it, would you? In addition, Incendiery Ammo is a huge DPS boost when firing your pistol.
Supply Crate – This is essentially a party in a box. Given the 3 minute cooldown, I only use this in a group situation when I am not being focus-fired.
How to play the Flamegineer
Opener Activate Elixir B, Incendiary Ammo and open with Poison Dart Volley. Follow this up with Static Shot and switch to the Flamethrower. If your opponent gets too close right away, hit him/her with an Air Blast followed by a Flame Blast. Unfortunately Flame Blast is quite glitchy but when it does strike, it deals a truckload of damage.
After this initial attack, you will regularly swap between your pistol/shield and flamethrower to maintain the condition damage of your poison dart volley and utilize your shield’s defensive skills. If your Air Blast is down and you need to give yourself some space, switch Pistol/Shield and use Magnetic Inversion. This affects multiple targets and can free you of multiple melee assaulters. Do not be afraid to charge a caster and use Magnetic Inversion to interrupt their cast! You can use Smoke Vent while wielding the Flamethrower if you are feared, it’ll protect you long enough to stay in the fight.
At 75% HP, use Elixir H and proceed with dealing damage since Hidden Flask just gave you a free Elixir B. At 25% HP you will automatically drink an Elixir S, allowing you an opportunity to escape your attacker(s) while downing another Elixir H thanks to Automated Medical Response.
Combat – I am with my team 90% of every sPvP match. Running solo either ends up with being jumped by several enemies or a tough 1 v 1 encounter. Depending on your skill and comfort with the Engineer class, you will be able to handle most 1 v 1’s using this spec.
The 1 Flamethrower attack hits multiple targets. In a group situation, lay down a line of Napalm and mash your 1 key repeatedly. Use your shield to toss enemies about and daze them, it’ll help your team maintain positive control over the fight.
I hope you found this guide useful.
~Spitwyld
