Tag Archives: vanguard

Kung Fu Panda – by JayneCobb88

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Build Title: Kung Fu Panda

 

Class: Volus Protector Vanguard

 

Map Difficulty Rating: This build has the potential for Silver gameplay, Gold if you’re good

 

Power Evolutions:
Biotic Charge: Radius (4), Weapon Synergy (5), Barrier (6)
Biotic Orbs: (1), (2), (3)
Shield Boost: Shields (4), Recharge Speed (5), Protection (6)
Volus Training: Damage & Capacity (4), Power Damage (5)
Fitness: Melee Damage (4), Martial Artist (5), Power Synergy (6)

 

Weapons:
Primary: Acoylte with Melee Stunner and Ultralight Materials
Secondary: Light shotgun of your choice with Omni-Blade and Shredder Mods

 

Gear:
The Kung-Fu Panda is built around Batarian Gauntlets.
Despite having both Biotic Charge and Shield Boost the volus needs a higher base shield, equipping a cyclonic modulator is necessary with how much our diminutive hero will be in the mix.

 

Strategy:
This little ball of fury is an amazing mook wrecking ball. Biotic Charge and immediately flow into heavy melee to crush the head of any foot soldier, phantoms and collector captains included. The Panda keeps himself protected during this long wind up falcon punch attack utilizing damage reduction from both the melee animation and the post biotic charge bonus for a total of 75% damage blocked. Pick a new target and charge again to refill shields and keep your melee spree going. Kung-Fu Panda is essentially a stunted, less durable Batarian Brawler with Shield Boost to support teammates. While fighting large enemies capable of sync killing your diminutive ass I recommend Biotic Charging them and backing off as you shoot. Don’t try punching a banshee. And remember you still have your cloak. It’s not a bad plan to light melee cloak and immediately fly across the map to punch a dude while cloaked as it tends to keep you that much safer from weapons fire while charging your heavy melee. Our Panda Hero is a grade A medic too.

 

N00b Rating:
3.5 – This tiny guy is effective and easy but you’re gonna need your teammates to take down the big bosses for you. And something has to be said about the perverse pleasure to be taken in flying about the battlefield as an little bitty ball of fat, judo chopping baddies in the nuts.
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A Volus with 4 (Biotic) Balls – by WadeVox

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Build Title: A Volus with 4 (Biotic) Balls

 

Class: Volus Protector Vanguard

 

Map Difficulty Rating: This build has the potential for Gold gameplay

 

Power Evolutions:
Biotic Charge: (4) Force and Damage, (5) Weapon Synergy, (6) Barrier
Shield Boost: (4) Shields, (5) Recharge Speed, (6) Protection
Biotic Orbs: (4) Damage, (5) Recharge Speed, (6) Orb Count
Volus Training*: (4) Damage and Capacity, (5) Power Damage
Fitness*: (1), (2), (3)

 

*If you need the comfort of additional shields, spec out of Volus Training and max out Fitness; also Shield Boost at rank 5 of Volus Training is ok, but not recommended

 

Weapons:
Anything that keeps power recharge close to 200%. I like the N7 Eagle with piercing and barrel mods; use whatever you want but keep the power recharge as close to 200% as possible.

 

Gear:
Juggernaut Shield, Adaptive War Amp, Commando package, Responder Loadout, Shield Booster, Stronghold Package, Survival Loadout; any of these work, I suggest using something to boost shields since you are frail. For Ammo, weapon and armor use whatever you are most comfortable with and whatever you have to use.

 

Strategy:
First a little about me, then my thoughts about the character, then the powers, then how to play him; I don’t have any friends that play this game any more so most of my builds are constructed around playing as the lone wolf on a team of randoms and surviving without relying on others to detonate my combos or deal damage after I prime something; If you want to play with me sometime my gamertag on XBOX Live is Pecos McCleod.
Ah, the Volus Vanguard; a powerful biotic bowling ball with shield boost to be the perfect teammate. Like all Volus this little guy can’t take cover, isn’t especially dangerous with weapon or power damage but gets the nice mini tactical cloak and biotic balls of fury. The biotic balls give him good recharge speed bonuses and combined with Volus training do some good damage themselves. For his biotic charge I take force and damage at rank 4 (if you want to choose hitting multiple targets that’s alright too), weapon synergy at 5 and barrier at 6. Since he can’t spam powers without affecting his recharge speeds, weapon damage allows him to fill the spaces between charges with lots and lots of bullets. Barrier allows each charge to restore your shields/barrier completely giving you great survivability. I evolved shield boost by taking shields at rank 4, recharge speed at 5 (since I don’t like the long recharge time and I am not a big fan of boosted shield restore rate) and protection at rank 6; when you shield boost to save a teammate you want max shield recharge and some damage protection. Since you will be spamming this to save yourself a lot having the quick recharge time is very necessary. The biotic orbs are evolved for damage at rank 4, recharge speed boost at rank 5 and additional orb at rank 6. These can do quite a nice bit of damage by themselves, but having 4 orbs all giving 15% recharge speed bonus lets you use biotic charge and shield boost very liberally; at your best moment you should be constantly charging and popping shield boost, saving teammates where appropriate and knocking enemies around. For Volus Training I took the power damage and capacity route through rank 5, but if you want a more powerful shield recharge choose shield boost at rank 5 at the expense of biotic damage. I think the damage outweighs 30% more shields recharged, especially when your shield boost is already so powerful (and gets a little help from the power damage tree too). Fitness is just three ranks; between the biotic charge and shield boost you can get away with less health and shields, however random teammates are stupid and having extra health at the expense of Volus training can keep you alive when they all go down on wave 3.
The strategy for the biotic bowling ball is to summon the biotic orbs at the beginning of the map then charge, fire, and shield boost until everything is dead. You can also stay behind teammates who work as a pair, healing shields and charging the stragglers. You are the consummate team player, or devastating lone wolf; your shields and health are small, but biotic charge completely restores barriers (while doing 860 damage and 1397.50 force) and improves your weapon damage too. It takes your favorite weapon and makes it more deadly while the power recharge boost from the biotic orbs lets you use shield boost and biotic charge with impunity since the recharge times are now next to nothing. It is very common to charge an enemy, stagger him, empty your weapon, and then charge again all before he gets a shot off. Since your weapon does extra damage after a successful charge you may not need to charge again allowing you to pop a shield boost to save yourself if surrounded, or find the next target to knock down and kill. The biotic orbs can be launched to do damage against barriers and armor along with detonating biotic primed enemies (which your charge does as well), but these are evolved for power recharge boost and with their slow recharge rate should only be launched as a last resort, or if you are very bored and want to spice up the battle. DO NOT CHARGE INTO GROUPS OF ENEMIES! On gold you will die very quickly. Against high DPS enemies (Geth Pyros) charge only when safe and empty weapon at every moment you aren’t shield boosting or charging; it is more prudent to cloak and escape to a safe distance while emptying your weapon. Against major boss enemies (Primes, Brutes, Banshee’s, Praetorian’s, Atlases) always be shooting and if possible move behind the enemy to biotic charge without the danger of being grab killed (the tactical cloak works wonders for this). If you face an enemy by yourself, use shield boost and keep firing while backing up, being mindful of not backing up into larger groups of enemies. Biotic chargers are always in danger of being grab or sync killed, this is especially true against Phantoms. Be careful, use shield boost a LOT, biotic charge smartly and know when to stick with the group or charge off by yourself and you should easily handle any enemy (except Collectors, I can’t seem to find other teammates who can stay alive versus Collectors).

 

N00b Rating:
4 – While you are very frail, your biotic charge and shield boost make you much more difficult to kill. It is tempting to biotic charge all the time, but when not careful you can easily end up in a situation not even endless shields and biotic charges can get you out of. Volus, in my opinion, aren’t suited for dominating and topping the scoreboard. They are team players and deadly warriors but work best when around stronger characters, or on well played teams.

 

Appearance: 
A16 A16 B16 3:C16 B1 A nice black, white and gray camo with red lights. ANGRY VOLUS!
Alternate design:  B4 A16 B9 1:B9 B1 Red, Yellow, and White; I call him McVolus!
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Fun with Poison Strike! – by GreenFalcon13

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Build Title: Fun with Poison Strike!

 

Class: Turian Cabal Vanguard

 

Map Difficulty Rating: This build has the potential for Silver gameplay, Gold gameplay possible albeit less effective.

 

Power Evolutions:
Poison Strike: (4) Range, (5) Poison Duration, (6) Double Dash
Nightshade Blades: (4) Damage, (5) Poison Duration, (6) Enhanced Blades
Biotic Focus: (4) Damage Taken, (5) Duration, (6) Biotic Shield
Turian Veteran: (4) Damage & Capacity, (5) Power Damage
Venom Gauntlets: (1), (2), (3)

 

Weapons:
Automatic Assault Rifles and/or Pistols. You want to equip only one and have something that shoots fast. Yeah I know SMG’s do work, but unfortunately they don’t have a melee attachment. I like to use a pistols as their lightweight, and you can attach the Power Amplifier and Melee Stunner, onto them. The assault rifle omi-blade is necessary if you are going for a melee/AR build, as it doesn’t have the draw-back on the Shotgun omi-blade which will increase your weapon weight, but a shotgun itself is also viable.
Recommendations for Assault Rifles: M-7 Lancer, M-15 Vindicator, Geth Pulse Rifle, Particle Rifle
Recommendations for Heavy Pistols: M-11 Supressor, N7 Eagle, Acolyte, M-358 Talon

 

Gear:
Incendiary Rounds or Drill Rounds, Strength Enhancers, Adrenaline Modules or Cyclonic Modulators, and Grenade Capacity or Warfighter Package.

 

Strategy:
The first thing I noticed with the Cabal is that essentially Biotic Charge was split in three separate abilities for her. Or maybe I’m over thinking this.
-The teleporting detonating charge part, Poison Strike.
-The stunning damaging part, Nightshade Blades.
-The shield restoring part, Biotic Focus (Only with full leveled upgrade)
This split of the vanguards core ability lead to a very unorthodox play style.

 

The first build is a very basic build built for Poison Strike and those who like it. While a cool name and animation are what we get, I do find it somewhat of a lackluster ability. Poison/Acid does not prime targets, it’s a strict DoT (Damage over Time), although Poison Strike does detonate biotic explosions as well cause biotic damage. I personally like the Poison Strike ability, but it is a hazard when using it directly on enemies on Gold and Platinum. The strike can teleport you through enemies and walls, but only a short distance. Unlike Biotic Charge, it doesn’t have unlimited range and it doesn’t stagger enemies, that’s what Nightshade Blades are for, but we’ll get into that. Base range of Poison Strike is 12 meters, which is a little over (I think 4 meters more than) the dodge range of a Turian (THE ONES THAT DO DODGE!) Range is selected (+40%) in the powers to compensate for Double Dash taking away 40% of the range. Thus we are still left with 12 meters with the added addition of a second dash. This allows us to cover 24 meters, rather than just 17. Not really a big deal or game changer, as taking the other options will just up the DoT on poison strike. Although worth nothing is with incendiary ammo equipped stacked with the poison effects you will get a very nice melting bar of health. Nightshade blades is just like ballistics blades, except poison, stacked with incendiary ammo and a Poison Strike for even further DoT. They also stun, which brings me back to that point on Biotic Charge. Strike and Blade, and dash away!
Unfortunately, you need a high sensitivity or quick thumbs to turn around after your strike, as your back is turned to still living enemies, who on higher difficulties are already looking at you by that time… That’s why you use Biotic Focus before and after the strike. This is an awesome ability, similar to Stim Packs except they don’t consume a grenade. On the down side, it only restores 40% of your barriers, which is less then Biotic Charges based 50%. But is also ups movement speed, which is what we want for this basic class.
The Passives are totally up to the preference of the player here. Fitness rank four doesn’t make an impact on the health, so I went to rank 5 in power damage of Turain Veteran instead. Rank 4 of Turain Veteran, is up to what gun your using.

 

N00b Rating:
3.5 – Shines better on Silver but works on Gold. More of a build for players who are after additional agility over damage output. Fun to play, but harder than my other submission (Poison Strike-less Cabal).
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Poison Strike-less Cabal by GreenFalcon13

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Build Title: Poison Strike-less Cabal

Class: Turian Cabal Vanguard

Map Difficulty Rating: This build has the potential for Gold gameplay, Platinum will require perseverance and a strong team.

Power Evolutions:
Poison Strike: N/A*
Nightshade Blades: (4) Damage, (5) Poison Duration, (6) Enhanced Blades
Biotic Focus: (4) Damage Taken, (5) Melee Damage Bonus, (6) Biotic Shield
Turian Veteran: (4) Damage & Capacity, (5) Power Damage*, (6) Damage & Stability*
Venom Gauntlets: (4) Durability, (5) Martial Artist, (6) Melee Synergy

 

*If you struggle with difference in mobility by not having Poison Strike, trade the last two ranks of Turian Veteran for the first four in Poison Strike (Range).

 

Weapons:
Automatic Assault Rifles or Pistols. You want to equip only one and have something that shoots fast. Yeah I know SMG’s do work, but unfortunately they don’t have a melee attachment. I like to use a pistols as their lightweight, and you can attach the Power Amplifier and Melee Stunner, onto them. The assault rifle omi-blade is necessary if you are going for a melee/AR build, as it doesn’t have the draw-back on the Shotgun omi-blade which will increase your weapon weight, but a shotgun itself is also viable.
Recommendations for Assault Rifles: M-7 Lancer, M-15 Vindicator, Geth Pulse Rifle, Particle Rifle
Recommendations for Heavy Pistols: M-11 Supressor, N7 Eagle, Acolyte, M-358 Talon

 

Gear:
Incendiary Rounds or Drill Rounds, Strength Enhancers, Adrenaline Modules or Cyclonic Modulators, and Grenade Capacity or Warfighter Package.

 

Strategy:
Built more as a weapons platform and melee build. Nightshade blades also reaches about 2700 damage without added equipment. Nightshade Blades can be customized to your preference, you could take (4) Capacity, (5) Reach, and (6) Explosives Blades instead, which up it damages even more. Once a target is under DoT from Nightshade Blades (and/or incendiary ammo) just activate Biotic Focus and go to town, punching the living hell outta your foes. While one’s are getting slapped around the others are having their health melted away. Try to always have Warfighter Package or Grenade Capacity Gear equipped: you want as many Blades on you at all times. Since Poison Strike is not here to get yourself outta a sticky situation, her dodge does allow her to teleport which is plenty enough to race back around a corner. So players are still nimble enough to weaving in and out of crowds and around sync-killing bosses. Adrenaline boosters also help with this.

 

N00b Rating:
2.5 – More of a damage build tailored for higher difficults. Your sturdier and deal more damage at the expense of some mobility. Easier to use than my other submission (Fun with Poison Strike).
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I’m The Juggernaut B**** – By Reanimated Eggs

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Build Title:

I’m The Juggernaut B**** – By Reanimated Eggs

Class:

Krogan Vanguard

Power Evolutions:

Biotic Charge – Radius(4), Melee Synergy(5), Barrier(6)
Carnage – N/A
Barrier – Barrier Strength(4), Shield Recharge(5), Power Recharge(6)
Krogan Battlemaster – Damage & Capacity(4), Power Damage(5), N/A(6)
Rage – Durability(4), Martial Artist(5), Fitness Expert(6)

Weapons:

Any shotgun that will keep you at 200%. I personally use the Eviscerator but i get like 3 kills with a gun in any given gold anyway.Any shotgun that will keep you at 200%. I personally use the Eviscerator but i get like 3 kills with a gun in any given gold anyway.

Gear:

Anything that provides bonuses to Shield Total/Recharge Speed and/or Melee damage (especially melee damage mods on the shotty).

Strategy:

As with most vaguard classes it is vital you do not encounter our signature glitch to ensure this host your own match.

I chose radius in Biotic Charge because it helps with the crowd control as your meleeing guy #1 in the face guys 2 and 3 are still dazed and will be served in a minute. I chose Power Recharge in Barrier because maintaining 200% recharge and constant shield regeneration is key. I left the last skill in Battlemaster open b/c the bonuses they provide are useless to this build and up for personal choice.

The entire point of this build is to CONSTANTLY use Biotic Charge and get kills via melee. At the start of the game hit barrier and never take it off. For any enemy save for the ones with the capability to instakill you are to biotic charge to them for easy travel / melee bonus and keep (heavy) meleeing until the enemy is well tenderized. Always keep biotic charge on cooldown to ensure shields stay up and you will be fine, regardless of how many enemies are in one spot. Now if you encounter a Guardian with a shield BC to expose him and blast away with the shotgun. Now the only thing i haven’t covered are those with instakill capability, there are a few such as the Phantom, Atlas, or Brute where if done correctly can keep you from being skewered or stomped. But if you see a Banshee I personally suggest staying away and taking her down slowly with a shotgun unless she is currently impaling one of your teammates like a doll guarantee-ing she wont (cant) do the same to you.

N00b Rating: (scale 1-5, 1 is easy for everybody!)

Eh, I’ll give ita 3.5, Just make sure BC is constantly used and to be VERY careful next to Instakill units( You may have 1850 Health/Shields but instakills dont care about that) and you will be running through enemies like a Juggernaut.

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