Scrapper Snipe

Are Scrapper Snipes worth it. In general, and/or for muling? Or should ya just run up and beat the crap outta it?

What the hell is a "Scrapper Snipe?"

Blaster Snipes are long-range, long-animation, interruptable, highish damage primary attacks.

That doesn't sound like ANYTHING scrappers routinely get as a primary.

...which is pretty much WHY we run up and beat the crap outta things!

Yeah...Scrappers don't get snipes. They do get ranged attacks from their Ancillary (Or Patron) pools but that's it.

That being said, a ranged attack or two isn't necessarily a bad idea. They're a nice tool for pulling when you need to or tagging a runner before they get too far away.

Two words: Patron Pool.

Yeah, I was pretty much talking Patron Pools. I was thinking Mu Zapp in particular, but wanted some general strategy discussion from everyone about them. I am looking at building something (hopefully) epic over the next couple weeks along the lines of a Elec/Elec/Mu Scrapper, then maybe add any Incarnate powers with end drain, just to drive the point home lol.

Soul Mastery grants Moonbeam and Mu gives Zap.

To put it in perspective. Scrapper Moonbeam has a cast time of 7.33s for 287.8 damage. Defender Moonbeam has a cast time of 4.33s for 129.7 damage.

Dark Melee's attack chain of Smite -> SL -> Smite ->MG takes 5.94 seconds.... for a total of 506.48 damage (base).

Snipes are generally the worst power pick to ever be able to take... >.>

What might seem an incorrect answer at first glance is in fact a good answer: scrappers don't get snipes.

The OP specifically asked about snipes, though. I'm assuming in the context of IO set muling and if any snipe sets have bonuses worth getting.

I didn't think the he actually wanted to use a snipe. I can't think of why a scrapper ever would.

Fun discussion so far, but I am no less confused.

A focused blast of Mu electrical energy that can travel great distances with high Accuracy. Zapp drains Endurance, and is best fired from a distance as it can be interrupted. Some of the Endurance you drain may transfer back to you.
Damage Extreme Damage (Energy)
Recharge Slow
Minimum Level Archetypeicon scrapper.png 44 (Scrapper)
V archetypeicon stalker.png 44 (Stalker)
Effects Sniper Foe: -Endurance
Enhancements TO Training Accuracy.png Enhance Accuracy
TO Training Interrupt Time.png Reduce Interrupt Time
TO Training Damage.png Enhance Damage
TO Training Endurance Modification.png Enhance Endurance Modification
TO Training Endurance Cost.png Reduce Endurance Cost
TO Training Range.png Enhance Range
TO Training Attack Rate.png Increase Attack Rate
Set Categories IO Ranged Damage.png Ranged Damage
IO Interrupt.png Sniper Attacks
IO Endurance Modification.png Endurance Modification

At first glance it looks like I should void it, at second glance (after this talk) I still think I should avoid it. But I am giving it another look. And i am still gonna call it a Scrapper Snipe.

Scrappers get [Zap] from Mu Mastery and [Moonbeam] from Soul Mastery.

I don't even understand how this can be an issue. They are snipes. They take Sniper IOs, are interuptable, have long range, and take for ever to fire..... Definition of a snipe.

And if the running mob you are trying to snipe rounds a corner, jumps in a hole or hides behind a light pole, you will waste all the time to find out the target is blocked.

They're pretty awful.

While it's hardly universal, there's a lot of distaste for snipes even for the AT/powerset combos where they are primary powers. The damage they deal for their total activation time, and the likelihood that they will be interrupted in combat relegates their typical use to an opening attack. Not everyone likes devoting a power pick and 3-5 slots to a power with such a limited role.

On top of that, the versions given in Patron Pools have much longer total interrupt/activation times than the snipes given to ATs like Blasters or Defenders. They're extend almost to the point of ridiculousness. On Stalkers they once had some favor in PvP since they would crit when Hidden (they might still, I don't track PvP much), but that was about it that I noticed. The Scrapper version doesn't even have that (consistent) benefit.

In short, unless you have a good set bonus you really want, I wouldn't take them.

The above assumes performance is more important than concept. Clearly, if concept gets the override then take what you will.

At this point, I hardly even remember why snipes were designed to begin with. Perhaps the original development team had a very different view of how combat would play out than the fast-past action of today (which would go a long way to explain Devices). In any case, they are pretty much a waste of a power.

@Rorn ---- Blue Baron ---- Guardian

Soloing on my Energy/Energy Blaster I love Snipe. Having said you should know that I suck at Blasting. The other use is on a Dom to stealth charge Dom after a wipe, in a tight spot. The Snipe counts as an attack, charges the Dom, interrupt it w/o firing, repeat. Takes a while, but gets your Dom back up, and if you're Perma can be worth it. So, yeah, nvm lol.

As bad as the snipes are, I find it hard to believe that they nerfed Stalker's version by giving it 3 extra casting time.... T_T

How do you nerf a snipe is beyond me? lol

People say you can do good things with BU + Snipe. Oh my, do you know how many things you can do in 8s?

For stalkers, by the time the snipe fires, no matter what you will be in hide. This sounds cool with a guaranteed crit but again, if they hide behind a light pole, then to bad for you.