N7 Destroyer Master Level + Typhoon & PPR Discussion

Greetings everyone. This is a (long overdo) updated guide to the N7 Destroyer. The reason I've been hesitant to update this guide was because the nerfs he got were just overkill. I was so disgruntled by them that I just put the Destroyer on the shelf altogether for a while. He was just a shadow of his former self. But some time later, as I was perusing the BSN forums, I came across one thread that made an attempt to eliminate any doubts about the Typhoon/Destroyer. Though I wasn't totally convinced, I though it fair to give the combo another chance.

I did. I have not changed my opinion that the Typhoon and Destroyer nerfs together rendered the build half as effective as before. But to be fair, the Destroyer remains a very good soldier if not necessarily a great one. The problem stems from mobility issues. The Destroyer is comparable to a Krogan. He's slower and has less health, but his weapon capabilities are much greater and he doesn't stagger with Devastator Mode on. The idea was to make this guy a human turret: more or less immobile but capable of putting heavy fire down range.

I propose that this characteristic be build upon and then we can end this balance debate once and for all. The Destroyer/Typhoon needs to be buffed one way or another. Some have suggested increasing the multiplier from 1.5x to 1.75x, which sounds reasonable. Another thing that could improve the "flavor", or the character playstyle, would be to make the Typhoon provide additional damage reduction from cover like it implies in the description (though technically it only says the face shield is to "protect the shooter from headshots"). This would reward players for playing to the supposed strengths of the Typhoon Destroyer: staying behind cover and essentially being a turret gunner. Even though he doesn't stagger and the Typhoon gets recoil and accuracy bonuses while in cover, it's not enough. The Destroyer simply isn't tanky enough to sit in cover and sustain fire when facing multiple enemies. The additional damage reduction in cover would solve this.

As it is now, you're generally better off using a Particle Rifle and soft cover playstyle because a) the PPR is perfectly accurate with no recoil, and b) you're generally less exposed in soft cover, making hard cover unnecessary. I say 'generally' because they each have their own strengths/weaknesses, and so I'm posting two builds for the time being.

Typhoon N7 Destroyer
Devastator Mode: 4-weapon accuracy, 5-rate of fire, 6-damage bonus
Hawk Missile Launcher: N/A
Multi-Frag Grenade: 4-force & damage, 5-force & damage, 6-grenade count
T5-V Battlesuit: 4-weapon damage, 5-headshots, 6-weapon damage
T5-V Internal Systems: 4-durability, 5-shield recharge, 6-fitness expert

PPR N7 Destroyer
Devastator Mode: 4-shield recharge, 5-magazine size, 6-damage bonus
(same)

First, let's cover the weapons and ammo mods because they are paramount to an effective build. The Typhoon has an inherent armor-piercing capability of 25cm, as well as a 50% multiplier against armor, shields, and barriers. One might be misled to think that armor-piercing ammo or mods are redundant, when in fact they are critical to effective 'phooning. Let's put it this way: the Typhoon does relatively low damage per bullet, and armor reduces the damage of each bullet by a set amount. Even with the 50% multiplier, the damage is pitiful against armor.

There are a few ways to set up your Typhoon or PPR, but always take the magazine upgrade. Against Cerberus, try extended barrel with armor piercing rounds. For heavily shielded enemies like Geth, I recommend the high velocity barrel with Disruptor or Phasic rounds (I like to save my Phasic rounds for sniping, though). Finally for Reapers and Collectors, try the high velocity barrel with Warp rounds to strip their barriers. Of course these are not prescriptive, so feel free to mix and match as you see fit.

Depending on which weapon you prefer, you're going to change Devastator Mode around to suit that weapon. If you have a high level PPR, then use that. If you don't, then the Typhoon may work better. If you have neither of these weapons, then the Revenant is the next best thing (spec for accuracy, rate of fire, and the same mods as you would for the other two). The Typhoon benefits greatly from the accuracy bonus, whereas the PPR doesn't. Also, rate of fire is a waste on the PPR because it doesn't make it ramp up faster -- it only wastes more ammo before it ramps up, meaning less superbeam time. When in doubt, you can't go wrong with magazine size.

Marshmallow launcher. They buffed it, so if you like you may opt for them and skip multi-frags. They do have great synergy with sustained fire weapons, but I personally have only used them once or twice. I can't really comment on what's the best way to spec them. But I can comment on the best way to not spec them: don't spec them.

Multi-frag grenades. Damage damage damage. Need I say more? It's great for crowd control, but you probably won't end up using them much, which is why I say that it's fine if you prefer Marshmallow launcher.

For Battlesuit Galactica, go for all weapon damage. I admit it would be interesting to see a caster build with all missiles and power damage but that's for another day. Then Internal Systems for all shields/health to make you as durable as a YMIR mech from ME2 (you wish). Ah, ME2 on insanity. Those were the good ol' days. Atlases are way easier than YMIR mechs, by the way. On insanity they could survive a direct blast from an M-920 CAIN. Atlases on platinum die from a cobra missile. That's weak.

Thanks for reading everyone. Like, subscribe, blah blah blah... and above all, stay classy folks.

- Grun7mas7er

Oh, and just for some perspective, here is a video of the Typhoon Destroyer pre-nerf on Platinum by Sp3c7eR.



And here is a video of the Typhoon Destroyer post-nerf on Gold, by Feneckus.