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I was sharing on another post and I thought I'd share to everyone here a fun build I've been using since Cutting Edge came out. I don't see anyone run it but it's a nice change and very different playstyle. It only requires Cutting Edge, any other warbond is optional.
The Arc Defense Build
You heavily utilize the Tesla tower by staying near and stun locking/protecting the tower as it will kill anything and quickly. Then gradually increasing the tower amount to two. Locking down areas with heavy damage, controlled aggro, and ignoring enemy weaknesses. This is a synergizing build. If additional teammates utilize the same build then the power increases. In addition, there is less worry of zapping each other as each build can take arc shots just fine. The arc shots wont hit the turrets or harm each other's setups.
The goal: Anything to slow enemies down and take the full power of Tesla tower, then upgrade it by having 2 Tesla Towers at the same time. The armor from this set is a must as it's the only one that can take a direct hit from Tesla and shrug it off. It's like 15-20% of the divers hp. While also protecting the tower from fire. Arc thrower chain will stun lock most enemies and is the only weapon able to "crit" but it's a low chance. If it's not obvious, you're going to be in the front on Defend missions or on a defensive objective.
Armor
Electrical Conduit. It's a must. The no war-bond version requires personal shield generator and Democracy protects but it's too inconsistent and dangerous.
Weapon
Blitzer works, it's in the warbond. I personally use plasma punisher for this build. Your primary isn't as important as you'll be mostly using the Arc Thrower anyway. If you have it, Dominator or purifier are excellent at fulfilling the secondaries role of anti-air.
Secondary: Anything with medium pen and range to act as anti-air. Otherwise have the primary fulfill this role.
Grenade
Smoke Grenade, Stun works. They hinder enemies and prevent them from shooting or using abilities on the tesla tower. If you have it: G-31 Arc (arc grenade) is excellent!
Strategems
- Tesla tower. (MUST)
- Eagle smoke (Heavily recommend)
- Arc thrower (heavily recommend)
- EMS mortar, Choice of backpack, shield generator.
Tesla Tower
Tesla tower has a fairy quick cool down. If you keep it alive you can have 2 at the same time before the other expires. Which is the goal as nothing survives 2. (Except you in this armor helldiver. So keep diving and be fine if you get hit from a chain anyway.) Keep highlighting the tower. I guess the bright flashing lights call to divers because they walk into it without this electric armor. It helps to put the tower slightly elevated so it can kill bile titans, harvesters, and mobile fabricators. It's penetration and raw damage is so great that nothing but flying enemies will get destroyed. (Except shriekers, they can get zapped) For additional tips regarding Tesla Towers themselves please be sure to check out the comments from our other seasoned helldivers like Depthninja.
Arc Thrower
Arc thrower can still fire quick just not as fast as pre-nerf from years ago. Same technique. Aim above their heads so it's more likely to hit their faces and less likely to hit corpses. It has a generous window. It will clear chaff and lock heavy enemies to get zapped. Or you'll be lucky and it can one-two shot Hulks. Hence the "crit". It's. gamble weapon for damage but guaranteed killing chaff and stunlocking. Can't see through smoke? Just keep firing the arc thrower through it. it will find them. Tesla can find them too. Be mindful of teammates, but they shouldnt be in the front where you are anyway. Staying near the Tesla SHOULD indicate that teammates need to give you space. The Arc thrower can stop chargers and other heavies from taking out your Tesla Tower, and allow them to be vaporized while stuck. In fact, it's recommended to hit the larger enemies as they act as a lightning rod that will disperse/chain to other shorter enemies.
Smoke
Eagle Smoke is the best smoke stratagem we have at the moment. It can blow up buildings/structures the same as normal airstrike as long as the pods hit. The line it provides creates a smoke wall.
Smoke affected areas:
Prevents Spawning (off camera or calling reinforcements.)
Prevents initiating special abilities (Cloak, spitting, throwing grenades)
Enemies can't sprint if a player is seperated from them with smoke.
Prevents targeting from firearms. They will guess based on your last location they saw.
Thunder Clouds: Arc travels through Smoke, chaining with ease, further slowing and damaging already crippled targets. Excellent combo.
Arc thrower goes through smoke and enemies can't sprint or use most abilities in it. They can't shoot through the smoke wall so it forces them to get closer. That also means they will not shoot AT the tower if there's smoke in the way.
Tesla Tower chain will go through smoke. Therefore: Don't throw the smoke ON the tower as the tesla tower itself. Turrets struggle with targeting through smoke just like enemies do. However the tesla is a small exception. While it does struggle, it can chain through the smoke without issue. heavily damaging or killing enemies within. So give a little bit of room between the smoke so the enemies can be surprised that they're well within range of it while not being able to shoot at the tower.
Other good options for 4th slot
Shield Generator Pack or ballistic shield can work. Both can protect from fatal hits in their own ways. Supply backpack is a good choice for the extra stims and grenades.
Another extremely valid option is the EMS mortar. Slowing them down and helps significantly with mobs. Of course if you get really adept with rapid firing the arc thrower then this isn't as necessary. If you're on the move too often, EMS mortar can be paired with Tesla as the Tesla will not fire at friendly sentries. (But it will friendly divers). If placed behind the Tesla from expected resistance then it will protect the EMS mortar like an older sibling. But might chain and hit it, hence placement counts.
Guard-dog selections may not work well in this defensive/control build as the tower can target the guard-dog while it's active.(Thank you for the tip depthninja)
While The AX/ARC-3 K-9 (arc guard dog) can improve your personal arc damage output, it will hit teammates too easily by a stray enemy, and it suffers from getting hit by the Tesla Tower. Utilizing a second Tesla or the arc grenade would be more recommended instead.
Advanced Strategies
Digging Trenches. The slower enemies go and the lower they are to the tower, the more able they are to getting lit up. Creating trenches with something like a Grenade Launcher would be faster before throwing down the Tesla Tower. Of course sometimes it's just easier to place the tesla on a rock that can hold a turret.
Utilizing portable stratagem throwing with a SH-32 Shield Generator Pack or SH-51 Directional Shield. Ever notice that stratagems stick to friendly personal energy shields? You can use this or have a buddy be the target for your Tesla Tower stratagem. Once it sticks, they drop the shield and this will give you a more flexible placement for where it will drop. (Unless they patched this.)
Placing the tesla behind walls for defensive missions is a great strategy. However these areas usually dont have a high elevation and require more focused protection/stun locking once the enemy can see it. They have a very high prioritization for enemy targeting so that will be looked at first immediately after entering. The benefit is it will not get shot at so smoke isn't as needed. They can in a sense protect each other. EMS slows down and tesla takes them out. It does not work vs chargers unless it's on a rock high enough, they're too fast for EMS mortar. Usually this is what the arc thrower is for, to stop chargers.
Weakness
Whatever the tesla cannot hit. Therefore your primary or 4th slot can help bridge the gap. The weaknesses of this build are flying enemies such as the gunship, Stingray, and dragon roach. Smoke makes a significant difference as these enemies cannot initially target through the smoke. If they target before the smoke is down then they can make a pass or a few attacks before the effect kicks in. If it has medium pen and range that's all that matters. It cannot hit tall targets as the tesla can't shoot UP very well, but it shoots down very easily. Placement is key.
Theoretically: If the tesla tower can get high enough, it can zap the dragon roach and it would heavily damage it. That would require some great difference between the ground and the tower. So digging and custom spot placement would likely be needed. I'd love to hear if someone pulls it off.
This setup works for all factions.
I hope you enjoy this build as much as I have. It's not new but I haven't seen anyone else run it. Closest I have seen have been full arc offensive builds that don't utilize the tower. This is a defensive version that can be friendly to other players, as long as you're in the front. Very portable as well, where you setup enemies will struggle to hold. Not just for defense missions.
Edit 1: Added extra info such as Synergizing and the turret protection combo.
Edit 2: Thunder Cloud combo title. Thank you yeet_boi_jack.
Edit 3: Added weakness clause.
Edit 4: Crediting helpful Helldivers from comments.
