Tell me about Snipes

Snipes should really do more damage or have some beneficial secondary effect (like that of Assassin Strike). Otherwise, like what almost everyone else has mentioned, it's mostly useful for a set mule.

What I hate seeing are mostly newbie players using it to pull. Because of its higher than average damage, it's practically the worst thing for a pull, and will not selectively bring a single enemy but more likely the entire group.

Stealth Strike Execution anyone?

Think of it like an Assassin Strike in a sense. Your target has just been sniped, they're fearful, confused, and pretty pissed. BUT, there's a catch (there always is, right?), the Target has been hit with a slight damage reduction debuff and a mag 3 fear hold (the fear has a chance of affecting the entire mob with a mag 1 fear as well). IF executed while completely stealth or unnoticed by the target, then you will perform a Stealth Strike. No, a stealth strike would not be a critical-like attack, but it would take the enhanced damage of the snipe itself (not affected by BU+Aim), divide the damage in half and then apply it onto thye Snipe's own damage. Yes, enhancements will affect the Stealth Strike, but any outside or self-affecting damage buffs would not apply in the equation.

As for PvP the Blaster in question would have to be completely stealth in order to perform a Stealth Strike (except in PvP the Stealth Strike would not be affected by enhancements, thus causing the damage in question to be derived from the Snipe's base damage and yet still you would have to divide that damage in half).

It's a faulty idea, I know, so I decided to add one more thing to it: stealth suppression. Yes, once the target is fully aware of your presence you will be suppressed from stealth for about 10 seconds max (number in question to be changed based upon undecided factors) thus rendering your character vulnerable in most cases. The fear factor of the Stealth Strike is a little questionable even for me, so I'm open to any suggestions on this.

Just thought I'd give my input on it.

I don't use my Snipes much,but there is at least one conditional use I haven't seen mentioned: Seven second head start for the tank. TGIF (Tanks Go In First) is fine, if the tank actually GOES. If the tank can't get there in a seven second window... I'd rather die of incoming fire than old age.

Y'know, I love how in this game it is perfectly acceptable to take a power that is considered sub-par or entirely useless, if it looks and/or sounds cool enough.

This playerbase rocks.

While some folks might be able to find situational uses for them, I've found that there is always a better overall power choice available.

However, it would be interesting to see a cooridinated AV attack by 8 blasters
simultaniously triggering aim-buildup-snipe.

I wonder if it would one-shot?

You can pull without Snipe just fine. You can add one +range on a long-range power (without any control secondary effect like knockback or stun!!).


Well, Dominator's Snipes are doing some serious damage now. It hits HARD but at the cost of much higher endurance. I don't care if the snipe recharge is 20s since it's not the kind of power you cycle all the time.


I think the dev is testing something. I have a feeling that all snipes are going to be like Dominator's... although imagine Blaster with that kind of Snipe in PvP? lol It's like Total Focus at super LONG range.


But yeah you are right, Snipes are pretty pointless. I used to take Moonbeam because it looks cool but respec it out later. The damage is only ok on Corr (even worse on Defender).

The only two blast sets that I've tried Snipe are Dark Blast and Radiation Blast.

I've long been critical of Dominator snipes, but the I15 overhaul has essentially changed my mind about them. They now do a significant amount of damage and they make excellent finishing moves against targets that have survived your initial control + AoE assault.

That being said, I've not spent a lot of time enhancing recharge on my current Dom, and I can see a point where my heavy hitting single target attacks will recharge quickly enough that I can just cycle those continuously. Ironically, I'll probably go a fair way towards doing that by 5-slotting my snipe with Sting of the Manticore

I don't see much use for a snipe on a defender. On a blaster, they are great though. People often downplay them because they are not uber DPS, but what they are is massive damage you can do before your enemy fires back at you. I find that very useful, especially when solo and the groups I'm fighting is just 3-4 guys. Take one out in a single shot or nearly take him out.

The only defender I have with the snipe is Moonbeam on my Dark/Dark, and that's only because of the extreme range. Moonbeam and Psionic Lance are the longest range snipes, and its base range (175 feet) is longer than most other attacks can get to at the ED cap (160-ish). I use it regularly to hit targets I can't even see, and it makes pulling the 4 AVs on the STF pretty straightforward.

Other than that, I have little use for a snipe on a defender.

I love the snipes on my archery and AR blasters, but as much for the look and feel as the effects. When my archer draws back the bow, the animation during the interrupt time has a little shake in the arms as if she is drawing at the absolute limit of her strength. It just looks so awesome.

My AR blaster is named "Outlaw Sniper" so she needed that power. Even without Aim+Buildup, the boost from Targeting Drone makes the damage acceptable. I LOVE using her on the ITF. The snipe is a one shot kill on Surgeons, so while someone is pulling the generals to the bridge on the third mission, she is stealthed and picking off the healers one by one. Boom, headshot! Boom, headshot! It is such a kick watching a Surgeon go flying back and the other ones nearby turn and try to heal... too late! Boom, headshot!

I love snipes, but I do wish they got a slight buff in the damage/range/int time. I use them during combat on my Arch & AR toons for the heavy hitter (too low lvl for the REAL big hitters).
I don't think CoH has the ability to do a charge up attack. But there is no reason a power with "Extreme" damage should be skippable. Devs please see if you wouldn't mind datamining a little bit to back us up here? Thanks!