I've always strived for proficiency with all characters, but this was the one that really stumped me. After trying a couple different builds, I've found one that I'm pretty happy with. Thought I'd share it.
How Not To Suck As A Volus Adept
Note: this build is very host-dependent. Host or have a good host when using.
Volus Adept
Stasis: 4-duration, 5-bonus power, 6-bubble
Biotic Orbs: 4-radius, 5-damage, 6-expose
Shield Boost: 4-radius, 5-recharge speed, 6-protection
Volus Training: 4-damage & capacity, 5-power damage, 6-weapon damage
Fitness: N/A
Weapons: Arc Pistol w/ Heavy Barrel + Power Magnifier: The lightest of my suggested weapons, you can get good damage and a great cooldown. The power magnifier is a bonus.
Graal w/ high-caliber barrel: This shotgun ignores armor and has a 300% headshot multiplier, as well as a 200% damage bonus when fully charged. Quite deadly, especially when combined with Stasis.
Kishock w/ extended barrel: This sniper rifle ignores both armor and shield gate. Also, it has an inherent 300% headshot multiplier. Couple that with the 175% charged shot bonus and it can one-shot any human-sized enemies. Unlike other sniper rifles, it has no hipfire penalty, so run and gun to your heart's content, little Volus. Source: http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/343/index/16386945/1#16386971
Ammo Bonus: Warp Ammo (Reapers/Collectors), Disruptor Ammo (Geth, Cerberus)
Weapon Bonus: Pistol Rail Amp (or appropriate weapon amp/targeting VI)
Armor Bonus: Power Efficiency Module
Gear Bonus: Commando Package (or appropriate weapon amp), Responder Loadout, Armored Compartments
Stasis: Bubble is the important one here - it lets you freeze up to 2 targets at once and freezes subsequent targets that enter the bubble. I take duration so that the bubble stays for longer to trap more enemies. Rank 5 is based on preference.
Biotic Orbs: I go for the debuff branch here because the Volus Adept has very little offensive capability without it. It does decent damage to armor and barriers, triggers biotic explosions, and is capable of debuffing enemies up to 45% (albeit for a brief duration). I recommend radius for more crowd control, greater chance of triggering a teammate's biotic explosion, and for debuffing more enemies.
Shield Boost: You get 1.5 seconds of invulnerability after using this power. Use this to your advantage. Whenever possible, use this before you take a hit. If you get staggered, you'll be shot down before you have a chance to boost. You want to avoid being on cooldown so you can use this to stay alive. But if you're on cooldown, especially for Biotic Orbs, use your tactical cloak (light melee) to drop enemy aggro.
Volus Training: In my estimation, weight capacity > weapon damage > power damage. Shields restored is irrelevant since the Volus has so little shields anyway. So I take 4b, 5a, and 6b.
Fitness: Unless you are soloing and you need every sliver of durability you can get, Fitness is virtually worthless for Volus. Those points are better spent maxing out your powers.
Strategy: Using your many Volus powers to your advantage.
Invulnerability: Use Shield Boost to negate all damage (except sync kills). Similarly, your heavy melee gives you invulnerability frames and regenerates a small portion of your shields. However, heavy melee is not as reliable since (a) you have to hold down the melee button, meaning you could be dead before it takes effect, and (b) the invulnerability has a cooldown function so you gradually lose damage reduction the longer you hold down the button. With enough cooldown bonuses, you can alternate Shield Boost and heavy melee and remain invulnerable (until you are inevitably staggered to death).
Use your tactical cloak periodically, before entering a combat situation. There is no reason not to, and it eliminates enemy aggro directed at you. You want to be either invulnerable or invisible as a Volus. Don't be like those Voluses you find in PUGs.
Unarmored enemies: Simply Stasis and headshot. Stasis-->Biotic Orb for a biotic explosion.
Swarmers- Stasis the little buggers.
Shielded & unshielded troopers- Stasis and headshot, though crowd control is often an issue. Use your Biotic Orbs to stagger and trigger biotic explosions. It's important to be defensive around these enemies since one burst is enough to kill you.
Guardians- Bubble Stasis will freeze them and cause them to drop their shields. Easy pickings.
Phantoms- Stasis, throw an Orb for a biotic explosion, then headshot. On Gold, with enough equipment, Stasis-->headshot is enough.
Armored enemies: Debuff with Biotic Orbs and chip away at their armor. As always, aim for the head. Best to let your teammates handle them when possible.
Dragoons: Debuff thoroughly with Orbs, headshot, use those I-frames. Much easier when teammates are using Biotics or incendiary powers.
Cerberus Turrets: Avoid at all costs.
Brutes, Ravagers, Scions: Relatively easy to handle because they're slow and dumb, but time-consuming. Simply debuff and shoot at weak points.
Bosses: See above, but Primes and Praetorians are some of your worst enemies. Bosses in general will be time-consuming to kill with this non-DPS build, which is ultimately why using the Volus Adept on Platinum is a waste of time.
Also check out ToLazy4Name's Volus Guide for additional Volus goodness.
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