Darth Hater Forums

Attack weaving?

  • #1 xMerikhx

    Since I play a Hunter in WoW, I was wondering if since there is no autoattack in SWTOR, is it worth it to weave our hammershot in between our skills kinda like auto-shot weaving in WoW?

  • #2 Raeth

    I have no hands-on experience, but I'm pretty sure Hammer Shot uses no Ammo, so you're probably going to need to use it once in a while if other abilities are on cooldown or whatever. I'm sure rotations will change as you gain abilities/talents etc though.

  • #3 Malice

    I remember hearing in an interview about there being a basic attack that you activate to use.  It uses no powers or ammo and is just a basic shot or swing.  Bioware wants combat to look pretty.

  • #4 Stenmark

    Quote from Merikh
    Since I play a Hunter in WoW i was wondering since there is no autoattack in swtor is it worth it to weave our hammershot in between our skills kinda like auto-shot weaving in WoW

    Hammer Shot triggers 1.5 sec GCD (global cooldown), so it can not be used like WoW Hunter auto shot "weaving".

  • #5 xMerikhx

    Okay, so its better to just blow all cool downs, and then hammer shot if other skills are on cool down

  • #6 Kraxis

    Quote from Merikh
    ok so its better to just blow all cds and then hammer shot if other skills are on cd

    Unknown, but for burst, most certainly. Though there has been some evidence speaking of uneven resource generation, with less regen at lower levels, indicating that draining to empty might not be best.

    Charming... yes? http://imgur.com/r6WrI

  • #7 Eqostri

    Kraxis is right, your regen is gimped the lower you get.  

    Generally you'll want to go to a high level of ammo expenditure when something is almost dead (so you won't hurt for regen time) or if you have your reload cooldowns up.  A sustainable dps in the absence of each of these will require either a specific set of cheaper-than-usual talents (the Gunnery Tree has 5 such talents) or liberal use of hammer shot to maintain your regen level.

     

  • #8 Xzenorath

    Reached level 21 on my Commando this weekend and you'll be using Hammer Shot quite a bit. It does a fairly decent amount of damage, so you have to look at it as if it was Steady Shot. It doesn't actually GIVE you ammo like Steady shot, but while you use it, you regen ammo since you're not spending it.

    I found myself usually opening up with 2x Grav Rounds, Charged Bolts, High Impact Bolt, Full Auto, and then I'd Hammer Shot until I was back to 3 arrows for regen (looks like >>>), then I would just keep gravity vortex refreshed, use High Impact Bolt every CD, Full Auto every CD, and Hammer Shot spammage until I would have enough ammo to spare a charged bolt without going down to >>. That's obviously on harder mobs where rotation actually matters.

    On weak trash I would just unload everything and reload after the pull.

    If my Recharge Cells is ready, I would usually do some extra damage with Charge Bolts spammage until I was down to almost no ammo and pop recharge and return to my usual rotation. Basically just keeping Gravity Vortex up on the target, using HIB and Full Auto every CD as long as the ammo allowed it, and if I had extra I would use Charged Bolt, otherwise it's Hammer Shot spammage.

    I don't have level 50 experience with all the talents and abilities, so it's possible it may play a bit different at high level.

    I also have no idea how the other AC plays, so dismiss the above playstyle if you went down the Vanguard path.

  • #9 elithrar

    Quote from Xzenorath »

    I also have no idea how the other AC plays, so dismiss the above playstyle if you went down the Vanguard path.

    Similar approach. You'll always want to weave in Hammer Shot to keep your regen rate at a reasonable level in PvE, otherwise it's easy to go OOA (out of ammo?) and be stuck there for a while.

  • #10 Eqostri

    Half the greatness of the Gunnery tree is in ammo regen...all your "shots" are cheaper, your recharge skills are more effective, and crits = 1 ammo regen.

    You'll have a lot more longevity in a level 50 rotation than you do in a level 20 rotation.

    Once you're 31 into the talent tree your rotation will look something like this:

    Grav > Grav > Grav > High Impact > Demo Round > Full Auto > Hammer Shot > Grav > Grav > Hammer Shot > Charged Bolts > Hammer Shot > Grav > High Impact > Demo Round > Full Auto

    To explain the above...you're keeping up 5 stacks of Grav Round (even if it stacks twice each on the mob, more stacks on you gives you benefits) , blowing HIB and FA whenever they're up, and filling in with CB and Hammer Shot depending on Ammo.  Realize that Grav and CB might RESET the cooldown on Full Auto, so you'd weave that in.

    MOST fights you're going to have to be moving in reality...so even if you're not fully grav'd up, blowing HIB and Demo Round (which are instants) are good...then downshift to Hammer shot until you can plant and Grav up again.

    I'm surprised there hasn't been a Gunnery Guide put out yet...I've written one for my guild, if someone doesn't post soon I'll publish for all.  <3

  • #11 jpeake2

    From what I experienced over the weekend, when I was lower on ammo, nearly out, it regenerated at a slower rate. so in my opinion, its best to not blow all your specials right away. I mostly used hammershot with occasionally throwing in an exploding shot, or a sticky grenade. other skills were used based on situations that called for them.

    Last edited by DHKuuga on 12/2/2011 10:48:25 AM
  • #12 Axaeron

    Quote from jpeake2 »

    From what I experienced over the weekend, when I was lower on ammo, nearly out, it regenerated at a slower rate. so in my opinion, its best to not blow all your specials right away. I mostly used hammershot with occasionally throwing in an exploding shot, or a sticky grenade. other skills were used based on situations that called for them.

    Agreed.  On any mob that doesn't die quickly, you want to do your best to maintain yourself in the highest ammo regen state without letting your ammo actually get to a full 12.  Every second you have a full ammo bar is wasted ammo that could have been used on a non-Hammer Shot ability.

  • #13 Ockin

    For vanguards in particular there seems to be a pretty set rotation of Ion Shot, Special, HS,Special,HS,Special, refresh Ion shot. I may be mis remembering the name of Ion Shot but the ability that reduces a enemies damage. Using HS to allow your ammo to regen is a big part of the resource management for this class. The exceptions that I saw for Vanguard anyway were at the start of a trash pull when you are using Frost Gren and Sticky Gren to CC, on instances of heavy aoe being neccessary and the last 10 to 15% of a fight when everyone is trying to burn. Threat seems to require more attention in the (forgive the terminology) execute phase of encounters in this game.

  • #14 Jaelar

    Yeah for my Vanguard same thing.  HS between every special to keep ammo up in the top tier of regen.  You have some slack to hit OS buttons, but if you miss too many HS, you will be out of ammo in a hurry.  

    One of the really good things this game does is that it puts enough tough opponents in front of you that you actually do get some work on your real rotations even when soloing.

  • To post a comment, please login or register a new account.