Nightstalker Shotgun Ninja is WAY too Fun! (thanks Durandal) (Destiny)
So a few threads ago I posted some Iron Banner gameplay vids asking for pointers, and Durandal (who is also the only reply so far) suggested I may want to switch to a Vanish in Smoke Nightstalker build in order to sneak up on people more effectively. I tried this last night and holy god is it ever fun.
Of note: You will never have enough shotgun ammo, ever. I had to switch from The Chaperone to Invective just because I simply did not have enough ammo. This is why you see Invective so often in Trials. Not because it's a great gun, but because it generates its own ammo and you're less likely to run out. (Actually, the way I play is to start with Invective, but if I ever get to max reserve shotgun ammo, the next time I die I switch to Chaperone).
Also, Graviton Forfeit is not the exotic you want for this build.
What you want is Sealed Ahamkara Grips, for several reasons: First, double melee charge for significantly more frequent invis smoke. Absolutely critical. Second, faster melee attack speed (I lament the lack of this in my Gunslinger build... it's a critical perk for pvp imo). With the perk, you can melee at basically the exact same time you fire your shotgun (and since invective is so bad at killing things in one shot, you'll be in good shape with the follow up melee attack). Lastly, it further increases the recharge rate of your smoke. I'd say the chance to refill primary weapon ammo is good, but it doesn't make a lick of difference with this build. I suppose the dream would be to use a shotgun that isn't invective but that you somehow don't have to worry about ammo for, and then to combo monte carlo with the grips for a good feedback loop.
I'll try to get some vids tonight now that I'm more used to it, but I was tearing up the boards yesterday (minus the two games where I got dropped in mid-round) without really knowing what I was doing.
Obviously you have to run Vanish in Smoke, but beyond that it's really up to you. I prefer Keen Scout to Shadestep because of the faster sprint and target tracking.
Anyway, it was great to be off radar and be able to completely take others by surprise. Can't wait to try this out in Trials.
I prefer Keen Scout as well (I like tracking targets behind cover, I know when they are going to pop out).
With my nightstalker, I actually run a max discipline, max strength, no intellect build with the Sealed Ahamkara Grasps. With a grenade every 25 seconds and smoke every 29 seconds (plus an extra charge, so there's always one cooking), I virtually never run out of things to throw at people.
Nightstalker Shotgun Ninja is WAY too Fun! (thanks Durandal)
I'm glad it's working out for you. I used something similar in normal crucible with a stealth bladedancer build, universal remote and a sidearm, and had a blast but obviously you can't do that in IB yet. Nightstalker gear is about the best you can pull it off when level matters. It works best when you don't have a team, since the rest of your side will be disorganized and generally provide cover/lures for your ambushes.
Managing other players awareness of you is a major advantage of the Hunter Class.
Nightstalker Shotgun Ninja is WAY too Fun! (thanks Durandal)
It works best when you don't have a team, since the rest of your side will be disorganized and generally provide cover/lures for your ambushes.
You've obviously never played with my friends. Disorganized is our fortè!
Managing other players awareness of you is a major advantage of the Hunter Class.
It certainly can be. As a mostly gunslinger hunter, I've never really thought about "can they see me on the radar" before. At least, not in the way that I am now. Now it's "okay, they see me here... (go invisible)... now I'm running to flank them as they face where I just was..."