In this video, I explain for Patch 1.2 how to avoid “false” procs for the Accelerator talent in the Assault Specialist (Pyrotech) tree for the Vanguard (Powertech) class.
Prior to 1.2, to apply a burn effect on a target within 10 meters, it made sense to use Ion Pulse (Flame Burst) instead of Incendiary Round (Incendiary Missile), because Ion Pulse delivered more damage in a shorter timeframe, cost less mana, applied a snare effect, and could trigger the Accelerator talent to make the subsequent High Impact Bolt (Rail Shot) free.
However, in Patch 1.2, an internal 6-sec cooldown was added to the Accelerator talent, so you want to trigger the proc only when your High Impact Bolt (Rail Shot) has been used and is on cooldown. Remember, even if your High Impact Bolt (Rail Shot) is not on cooldown, by using Ion Pulse (Flame Burst) or Stockstrike (Rocket Punch), you can trigger the Accelerator talent.
Therefore, in some cases you may want to open on a target with Incendiary Round (Incendiary Missile) on your target instead of Ion Pulse (Flame Burst).
Effective PVP gameplay of Assault Specialist (Pyrotech) requires getting the most mileage out of your cooldown resets for High Impact Bolt (Rail Shot), so this is a critical concept to get right.
Let me know if you have any questions.
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Great video. I would like to mention that you have a third option to use HiB besides IP and IR : it’s Gut.
Pros :
-2 minutions instead of 3 for IR.
-Can proc Combat Tactics on each tick and initial damage for a 100% crit HiB. If you’re lucky it can proc on initial damage and on the first tick, giving you a crit on 1st HiB and 2nd HiB via IA.
-Obviously you can’t false proc with Gut.
-30% slow on 6s if you took the talent.
Cons :
-It’s a point-blank ability (i’m using it when I’m ambushed by a stealth class)
-It’s not a fire effect hence you won’t get a munition back for your HiB (talent High Friction Bolts).
Curious as to what your build is? Deep AP?
All damage parse tests I’ve done, speccing into Retractable Blade has a pretty significant impact on overall DPS unless you are deep in the AP tree. Even then I still have yet to see AP out do a 7/3/31 Build or even a 8/8/25
I’m currently playing a 0/24/17 with Pulse Generator and 2/3 on Ionic Accelerator. This is a PvP-solo only build for WZ (i’m running full PUgs). Before 1.2, I was playing Oozo 0/23/18. I tried using same spec with Pulse Generator. I’m pretty disappointed since this talent si bugged. Fun spec with great mobility and burst capacity. I tried others PvP specs but I’m quite fond of Hold The Line.
Hey thanks again, but…..I don’t get it! LOL
Can you do an idiots guide for me because I don’t for the life of me understand what you mean, sorry.
Rail Shot requires a burn effect on the target. You can apply this with Ion Pulse (Flame Burst) and Incendiary Round (Incendiary Missile), as well as 15% of the time with rapid shots.
Your Flame Burst and Rocket punch can reset the Rail Shot coodown, but there is a 6 second internal cooldown on this possibility. Taugrim is saying, if you are NOT on this cooldown, and Rail Shot is also NOT on cooldown (ie available if the target is burning), you should not use Flame Burst to apply a burn effect in order to enable Rail Shot, because it will trigger the internal 6 second cd. You would rather apply a burn effect via other means (grapple into acid also works), do Rail Shot, THEN immediately try to proc the rail shot reset with Rocket Punch (60% chance) or Flame Burst (45%) chance in order to maximise the amount of rail shots you get to use.
Hope this helps :)
* sorry, “because it _may_ trigger the internal 6 second cd.”
You can get 2 railshots off in quick succession. If you open with the wrong ability (if railshot is not on cooldown) you will have wasted one of them (the first one :). So it doesnt matter which of the proccing ones you open with (in regards to proccing rs) if rs is on cooldown, in fact using flame burst is preferable then. But if its NOT on cooldown you want to open with the fire dot (incendiary missile).
That’s brilliant.
That is perfect, appreciate the pro-active response and not a “flame” de-buff if you will excuse the pun!
Each of the three white damage ticks of Full Auto has the 16% chance to proc Plasma Cell’s burn effect, as well. Excellent point about the acid pit! :)
Been a while since I played my PT, but can’t you also use a stun to setup your first HIB? Instead of a DoT, I mean.
You can but you risk them “trinketing” out of it and losing the opportunity while you wait on global cooldown to pass so you can High Impact Bolt them.
You should stun when you need the CC, not to open up use of Rail Shot. The stun is too valuable since the cooldown is between 50-60s depending on your spec.
And you don’t want to build 800 Resolve on your target unless you mean to.
I understand, but if you’re advocating IM to setup the initial burst, one should also consider that it’s a pretty obvious visual cue that the heat is being brought. I know the instant I get hit with one, I’m hitting dodge.
OTOH a 4sec stun is a very painful prelude to 3 GCDs of high burst damage.
Obviously there’s the CC cooldown and resolve to consider, too. But either way, it’s dogmatic (inasmuch as it’s false) to say that you MUST apply a DoT prior to the initial RS.
Understood.
My intent is not to say you should always do it one way or the other, but that a player should understand the implications of the mechanics and then use abilities accordingly.
Great video! But….
What abilities should we use until 6 seconds have passed?
Beside using hammer shots for the DoT, I spammed Ion Pulse because because it’s less expensive to use and has elemental damage, and of course, I use stock strike whenever possible.
Some of the other abilities are too expensive to use.
Thanks again.
As long as you have used Rail Shot (High Impact Bolt), it doesn’t matter. Hold off on using Flame Burst (Ion Pulse) or Rocket Punch (Sockstrike) unless Rail Shot (High Impact Bolt) is on CD.
You only waste the proc and trigger the 6sec internal CD of PPA (Ionic Accelerator) if Rail Shot (High Impact Bolt) isn’t on its CD.
I recommend heading to a training dummy, opening Advanced Combat Tracker, and testing rotations until you hit a dps plateau. Give yourself about 120-300seconds per rotation and compare the results.
I know that this knowledge is good for min/max philosophy and all but I’m really not seeing this as being of significant impact. Say you Ion Pulse as an opener while High Impact Bolt isn’t on cooldown and it procs the free H.I.B. So, Ion Pulse procs H.I.B(the 6second internal starts),1.5 sec global cooldown(internal is now at 4.5 seconds), H.I.B.(free btw), 1.5 sec global cooldown(internal is now at 3 seconds). Now you don’t won’t to throw Stock Strike at this point because you will potentially step on the internal so what do you do?
Honestly, I would still hit Ion Pulse and screw the potential lost proc. You get the cheap damage armor ignoring damage, snare, and you are way ahead on Ammo/Heat v/s an Incendiary opener(I think Incendiary is an overall bad use of ammo in just about any situation). So, in the my way of thinking, Ion Pulse, H.I.B(free), Ion Pulse, Hammer Shot or Sticky Grenade or Ion Pulse, Stock Strike, and H.I.B.(given everything procs) is still a superior opening sequence to Incendiary, H.I.B., Stock Strike, H.I.B., and Ion Pulse or Sticky Grenade or Hammer Shot. As I’ve said, Ion Pulse is superior damage, adds snare, cost less ammo on the initial investment, conserves even MORE ammo if you proc an off cooldown H.I.B despite the marginal lack of internal cooldown management. I don’t even think you should use Incendiary at over 10 range, just Hammer Shot till you get close enough to Ion Pulse. I think having to rotate in Hammer Shot or Sticky Grenade as a trade-off for not having to use Incendiary as an opener is a good one.
Wanted to amend the part about the proc and “free High Impact Bolt” because, in net, due to High Friction Bolts and Ionic Accelerator synergy, you actually GAIN 1 ammo. So even better than “free”.
I understand your point about Incendiary being very expensive, because it is. You can always pop Thermal Sensor Override before it. Or if you are at 0 Heat (12 Ammo), you recover the mana pretty quickly.
Note that I didn’t say to always open with Incendiary. It’s still situational. But if you have a full tank of gas or TSO available, it’s better to open with Incendiary IMO than FB if you want to lay down some immediate compact burst in 3 cooldowns (RS -> RP/FB -> RS).
Also, you can use your first two cooldowns (Incendiary -> RS) from range while you close the gap to 10m, during which time you’ll be venting Heat.
Nice explanation. I like opening(after popping all my insta buffs) up with Incendiary, HIB, Assault Plastique or Sticky as I’m closing, Ion Pulse, SS, HIB, Ion Pulse till they die or another HIB when it is clear of the 6 second cool down. I wait till I’m close for a CC and that usually gives me plenty of space between HIB procs. I don’t have ammo issues since I’ve got Rapid Recharge talented. Stuff dies fast now cept for those pesky Shadow tanks with War Hero Gear already on.
What I’m wondering is – What do I do in between? And what do I do once stock strike is back up?
The second question meaning – I can either “stock strike” and proc the free HiB OR I could instead wait for HiB to come off it’s 12s CD and do a double HiB burst again. What is optimal?
I would recommend not using Sockstrike or Ion Pulse unless HiB is on it’s 12sec CD. Having Ionic Accelerator proc when it isn’t on CD can impact your DPS a lot more than you may think.
If HiB is on its 12s CD, use SS or IP all you want. Just don’t waste that proc because triggering the internal 6s CD can effect DPS.
Watch the Powertech forums in the coming days, I will have a detailed writeup and an assortment of Damage parses with graphs showing the drop in dps. It’s not game breaking but still noticeable.
I think given that the proc rate for IP is 45% (up from 30% pre-1.2) and SS is 60% (up from 45% pre-1.2), that you can expect to get an Accelerator proc within 2 uses of those abilities the majority of the time.
So you don’t have to save your SS to the extent that you might have pre-1.2. The Accelerator procs happen much more often.
My current effective rotation (still tweaking for optimal dps)
All abilities are for Powertech since I play one and it’s a fairly standard rotation plus changes depending on the situation/build.
Thermal Sensor Override
Incendiary Missile
Thermal Detonator
Explosive Fuel
Power PVP Relic
Rail Shot
Flame Burst (1.5s)
Rocket Punch (1.5s)
Flame Burst (1.5s)
Depends on situation Ability (1.5s) or Flame Burst (1.5s)
PPA should have Proc’d if not throw in another FB depending on heat level.
Rail Shot
Rinse and Repeat
Still tweaking things and it is really all dependent on what is going on. Heat level’s play an important part in choices.
I always open up with Thermal Sensor Override + Incendiary Missile when I can since IM brings on the heat, pun totally intended.
I’m no expert, but I am top in damage 90% of the matches I have played (yes I keep track and spreadsheet every match) and have a pretty solid 1v1 win to loss ratio.
Hit the training dummies and practice rotations and timings. Also Advanced Combat Tracker is invaluable when it comes to optimizing your DPS.
Hey Taugrim, any input or glaring inaccuracies?
Also Kiting is your friend against Juggernauts/Marauders since even a sub-par one can tear you up. Keep 7m or so if you can (I know it’s hard), but that distance is the difference between you dying or them.
*Off topic*
but i value the opinions here than anywhere else. And we dont have forums on this page?
Should I target a light armored player1 whose being guarded OR player2 that is heavy armor that is the tank and guarding the other player1?
Reason why is that the lower mitigation by the light armored player will create damage for both players faster bc of less mitigation on light armored player.
thanks and sorry for off topic.
Depends on the two classes and the situation. A lot of people I play with will burn down player2 while I mainly focus on player1 which helps to bring both of them down. If you are in a situation where it’s 1v2 that is a different story.
Say you are in the new WZ solo defending a node and a Juggernaut and a Sorcerer come your way. I will open up on the guarded sorc with one rotation which usually provides enough burst to damage both pretty significantly. Then I will switch to the jugg while still watching the sorc for heals, if you see any heals being cast tab target over and quell. I save my carbonize and stun for when I have the jugg low enough where I feel comfortable that I can kill him in that window.
Keep in mind this whole time you should be kiting the jug around a bit while trying to remain in range of the healer for quell and carbonize. Grapple is great for closing that gap if he tries to get away, along with a FB to throw on a little snare every once in awhile.
It’s a tough situation and many people will play it differently, but I feel attacking the guarded player first gives you a nice split of your initial damage on both players. If all else fails, hopefully you survived long enough for backup to arrive and brought them both down significantly.
Interrupt is the key. I see faaaaaaaar too many PT’s on my server who lack the ability to use quell when you need to. If done right you can lock out a healer really easily. Even pre 1.2 I had no problem taking healers down except for when interrupt was bugged on my server for a week or two where it wouldn’t lock out the spell you interrupted.
I am constantly complained to about how “OP” people think PT’s are right now, sometimes even from Juggs or Shadow assassins who pretty much are. We aren’t OP, it’s like any class, if you play it well and effectively you will come across as over powered.
Sorry for the wall of text, hope this provides some insight into an answer.
This is really good information, and consistent with what other veteran players such as exphryl have noted as well.
http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=402914
Thanks for all your insight on this topics moobits!
Love to contribute whenever I can to help out fellow PT/VG. I am not the best, but I do really well in WZ’s and would like to see others do well too.
Using ACT to make a custom audio trigger for when PPA procs is also a good way to optimize your DPS.
You can also use a timer for the Internal CD. Not Necessary, but if you play with two monitors its nice to have a timer bar that you can see and time your abilities so you aren’t on GCD when it procs and you aren’t wasting heat to try and proc PPA when you can’t.
You can also just wait until the RS cd text is at 6s but I have noticed this is not as reliable or accurate.
Many people also don’t realize you can still get a back to back RS when you open up. You can RS, FB/rp and PPA procs which then starts the internal cd so you do have a chance to open up with more burst. I have come across a few PT’s that are misreading the tooltip and think the internal CD is tied to Railshot and goes off every time you RS which is incorrect. It only happens when PPA proc’s, just like how the tooltip explains which is why it is so important not to proc PPA unless RS is on CD. Never use FB or RP unless you use that first RS proc.
Currently testing it out and still working on a pretty long writeup for optimizing your dps rotations as much as possible, but I have some pretty solid numbers. I just hit my dps plateau and I really really like the numbers.
/nod, very good information for our Vanguard / PT friends who may not be as knowledged in regards to how to max their DPS. I’ve posted a “Assault DPS Parse Breakdown” in the vanguard forums a few days ago that people may find useful too. Here’s the link.
http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?p=3956154
Thanks for linking your thread, good info.