Bow vs. Plasma Caster: Scout Tactics

#1

Predator mains (who prefer and play Scout!) I have a few questions for you:

When is the right time to utilize the Bow vs. the Plasma Caster?

At its base level it seems like you use the Plasma Caster when you’re OK giving away your position, have the time (and scenery to mask charging your shot), or when the FT is grouped heavily at an OBJ or BLDG.

For the Bow, is there a preferred range? Is it worth charging all the way up to max power, or is an uncharged shot still fairly effective?

Somewhat related, but does the “Down Range” Perk affect the Plasma Caster? I would think it could go either way - it’s not a weapon you ‘bring’, so I could see how the passive wouldn’t apply… but it’s also a weapon lol.

#2

I’ll usually pull bow out when I’m in stealth and and see the fire team… firing off quick shots and leaping all around them to confuse them… plasma caster I usually only use when I’m on top of a building as i can rain down some AoE damage and make them scatter… I play on PS4 and even with controller I have pretty decent aim if I’m strafing left/right I can avoid bullets and usually down 1-2 FT members… then hop away and use plasma caster for AoE again. Really utilize your leap though especially with scout because energy comes back so quick it’s almost infinite while you leap around.

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#3

Thanks! Any idea on the ‘Down Range’ and Plasma Caster issue?

#4

Bow is best used out in the open shrubbery (because it’s harder to trace) to get some good damage and can be used in camps if you play stealthy and move alot (no audio decoys required I find it useless). Bow does much better for damage and rewards good aim so it’s better overall imo, to the point that I use it on every class lol. Only quick shot if the ft is in a tight spot fighting A.I as it creates more pressure than anything the plasma caster can do.

The plasma caster is best for building campers or quick peaks when they have alot of cover (or hard to reach spots out of the killzone). Down range isnt as noticeable on the bow compared to the plasma caster due to it’s mainly 2 shot nature.

And as a bonus only melee when they are separated or alone as you can only usually take 2 good ft members if they have low-average dps. I prefer the combi stick because it benefits from down range and can be used to relieve pressure if being jumped in melee combat (when thrown at the player applying the most pressure).

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#5

I appreciate the tips. I think part of my initial problem is that I am still stuck in the ‘Zerker’ meta and was entering meelee to sacrifice 1/2 my health for a Pre-Reinforcement Kill.

So far it seems like each class has a basic win condition

Scout: Chip Damage --> One Person Dead --> Killing others as they attempt to revive with AOE and Headshots

Zerker: --> Whittle down with Plasma Caster until you are fighting AI, enter the fight and Snare Net 1 or 2 Hunters before All-in’ing

Hunter: --> Harass into one or two kill trades. Also offers the possibilities of both classes with less inherent strength of the individual class.

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#6

I’m not a real fan of the plasma caster. It leaves you too exposed and I like to conserve my energy with cloaking. I do use the handheld as backup, utilizing the splash damage as they heal their downed teammate from the bow.

#7

ah but true blooded hunters use it with bravery and ferocity :)

#8

Well, for those who care, I just played against a group of 4 on the PC… I didn’t die, but I didn’t kill any either lol. I was being spotted 24/7. Perks were Down Range, Longer Leap and More Energy. I downed one but they were able to respond just insanely quickly to anything I did after my first arrow… And trees were a no - no lol.

#9

I use the bow for my tree/roof maneuvers most of the time.

I stalk and find a good place to sit still, let invisibility activate. They I’ll snipe. I’ll down a guy and try to finish him off bow only but if someone is going for a revive I use the caster, and finish it then or hurt them both.

With the bow and invisibility, they have a hard time finding you if you time your shots when they’re not looking in your direction.

The caster, I normally fire charged shots so it packs the punch I need.

Perks I run observant, ditherled lense and swap between cooling syncs and modified reserves (I can’t decide which helps me more.)

Observant is for when things get dicey and I want quicker tracking on the team members trying to slip out of my sight, the lense perk seems to help a ton because while invisible they dont seen to pin point me till I shoot, and I charge my shots often.

Cooling syncs help just a tad when I often over heat and modified reserves help because I flip cloak on and off so much while moving and through thermal so much that it recovers fairly quickly it seems.

I try not use damage perks because I feel like when the nerfs and buffs come out I’ll be extra handicapped so Im going for utility more so.

#10

How do you know where they will go? I was watching other videos and the Predator literally went straight to the Fireteam… it usually takes me a minute to find them.

#11

Typically, not always though, the fire team will almost always spawn opposite of you. Even then you can B line to middle of map and isolate or hear gun fire. Also maps aren’t very complex. Theres usually only 3 “big” bases and like 2-3 “small” landmarks. They’re even set up like a 3 point triangle (I see what you did there illfonic)

When you catch onto location, what I do is approach slowly. Jump branches or leap. Even go from ground then leap onto a tree.

Unless.there’s a super hardcore dedicated spotter, you can run around quickly. Keep a decent distance then just hold still for a few seconds.

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#12

Thanks for the heads up! Will try it a bit more. My games generally go much better the earlier the start I have on them… which I guess is just common sense lol.

#13

trees are a massive no no, specially to pc players. its like shooting fish in a bucket. also alot of the time tree movement is very linear so its an easy lead on your crosshair and continue creating that predator as a cheese grater.

#14

also all movement in trees showers effects like branches waving, leaves falling and birds flying.
For a good FT that’s like putting a giant target on your head.

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#15

If you get a chance to, try aiming and charging the Plasma Caster behind a solid object then stepping out to unleash a full blast. It takes some time to get used to, but it hits like a truck and is worth the health trade as it usually downs someone.

#16

I have, but I never feel like I get the bang for my buck. The shot is slow moving, and i’ve gone against plasma spammers. Several minutes of splash damage work is gone with a syringe.

#17

True, that is the one major negative. I think the game in general just needs slowed down. The FT can have 24 100% health kits. Theoretically they can also get 18 more if 3 die and are brought back, but that’s pretty unlikely. That is in addition to the health throughout the map.