Unlocking the Anomaly: The Definitive Trickster Class Guide for Outriders
So, you’re looking to bend time and space, slice and dice your enemies, and generally wreak havoc in the world of Enoch as an Outrider? Then the Trickster is calling your name! But which path is the best for this temporal assassin? The answer, as with most things in Outriders, is delightfully complex.
The “best” Trickster class isn’t a static, one-size-fits-all solution. It depends on your playstyle, your gear, and whether you’re venturing out solo or teaming up with friends. However, based on community consensus and raw effectiveness, the Reaver build emerges as the top contender for endgame power and overall fun. It focuses on a potent blend of weapon damage, anomaly power, and survivability, creating a build that excels in both dishing out massive damage and staying alive in the thick of the fight.
Diving Deep: Reaver vs. Assassin vs. Harbinger
Before we crown the Reaver as undisputed champion, let’s briefly examine the three Trickster subclasses:
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Assassin: The Assassin tree is a classic weapon-focused build. It emphasizes increasing weapon damage, especially at close range and against enemies from behind. It’s straightforward and effective, particularly in the early game. The core idea is to use skills like Hunt the Prey to get behind enemies and then unload with a powerful shotgun or assault rifle.
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Reaver: This build is the anomaly power powerhouse. It enhances anomaly damage, especially when enemies are close. It plays on the Trickster’s ability to get up close and personal, delivering devastating blows with abilities like Time Rift and Cyclone Slice. A good Reaver build makes enemies explode in a symphony of temporal energy.
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Harbinger: The Harbinger is the tankier subclass, focusing on survivability and utility. It provides benefits for skill leech (healing from using skills) and resistance. While it can dish out decent damage, its primary strength lies in keeping the Trickster alive and providing support for the team.
While all three have merit, the Reaver stands out due to its sheer damage potential and its synergy with the Trickster’s mobility. The Reaver build makes use of the Trickster’s ability to close the distance between enemies with skills like Hunt the Prey and Borrowed Time and it uses Time Rift to crowd control groups of enemies to make it easier to wipe them out.
Reaver: A Closer Look at the Champion Build
Let’s break down what makes a Reaver build so effective:
- Key Skills:
- Hunt the Prey: Teleports you behind an enemy, giving you a damage bonus. Essential for positioning and maximizing damage.
- Borrowed Time: Grants a shield and marks enemies, healing you when you kill them. Crucial for survivability.
- Time Rift: Creates a temporal bubble that suspends enemies in the air. Provides crowd control and damage amplification.
- Attributes to Prioritize:
- Anomaly Power: Amplifies the damage of your skills.
- Cooldown Reduction: Allows you to use your skills more frequently.
- Status Power: Increases the duration and effectiveness of status effects.
- Key Mods: These are the mods you should be grinding for.
- Twisted Fate (Weapon): Adds a percentage of Anomaly Power as bonus Firepower. This single mod makes the build so powerful.
- Anomaly Echo (Armor): Using skills increases Anomaly Power
- Captain Hunter (Armor): Increases damage to Elites.
- Playstyle: Aggressive and mobile. Use Hunt the Prey to get behind enemies, Borrowed Time for survivability, and Time Rift to control the battlefield. Unleash your skills and weapon fire in a coordinated burst.
- Why it Works: The Reaver build maximizes the Trickster’s strengths: mobility, burst damage, and close-range dominance. It combines weapon damage with powerful anomaly abilities, creating a hybrid build that’s incredibly versatile.
Gear is Key: The Hunt for Legendaries
No Outriders build is complete without the right gear, and the Reaver is no exception. Here are a few legendary items that will significantly enhance your Reaver build:
- Chronosuit Set: Specifically, the chest piece with the “Time Warp” mod (reduces the cooldown of Time Rift).
- Edge of Time Set: This set provides bonuses to Anomaly Power and cooldown reduction.
- Weapons with Anomaly Damage Mods: Look for weapons with mods that deal extra Anomaly damage or trigger Anomaly effects.
Beyond the Meta: Finding Your Own Path
While the Reaver is widely considered the “best” build, don’t be afraid to experiment. Outriders rewards creativity, and you might discover a unique build that perfectly suits your playstyle. The key is to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each subclass and to tailor your gear and skills accordingly.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is the Trickster good for solo play in Outriders?
Absolutely! The Trickster is an excellent solo class. Its mobility, damage output, and survivability make it well-suited for tackling the challenges of Enoch on your own.
2. What is the easiest class to play in Outriders?
While “easiest” is subjective, the Technomancer is often considered the most straightforward due to its focus on long-range damage and turret deployment.
3. What is the best class for solo endgame in Outriders?
Again, this depends on your playstyle, but the Technomancer and Trickster are both strong contenders for solo endgame content.
4. Why is the Reaver build so popular?
The Reaver build offers a fantastic balance of damage, survivability, and mobility. It’s also incredibly fun to play, with its focus on teleporting around and unleashing devastating anomaly powers.
5. What are the Trickster’s weaknesses?
Tricksters can be vulnerable to crowd control and enemies with high resistance to anomaly damage. They also require good positioning and awareness to maximize their effectiveness.
6. What is the Trickster’s fighting style?
Hit-and-run tactics, utilizing teleportation and temporal abilities to confuse and overwhelm enemies. It is a close-range specialist that needs to be mobile in order to survive.
7. What are the best skills for a Trickster build?
Hunt the Prey, Borrowed Time, and Time Rift are considered essential skills for most Trickster builds. However, other skills like Twisted Rounds and Cyclone Slice can also be effective depending on your playstyle.
8. What attributes should I prioritize for my Trickster?
Anomaly Power, Cooldown Reduction, and Status Power are the most important attributes for a Reaver build. For an Assassin build, focus on Firepower, Close Range Damage, and Cooldown Reduction.
9. What are the best mods for a Trickster build?
Mods that enhance anomaly power, cooldown reduction, and damage output are highly desirable. “Twisted Fate” is essential for Reaver builds as it converts Anomaly Power into Firepower.
10. Is the Assassin subclass viable in the endgame?
Yes, the Assassin subclass can be viable, but it requires careful gear optimization and a strong understanding of enemy weaknesses. It requires a more focus on weapon damage compared to anomaly damage builds.
11. What is skill leech, and why is it important for the Trickster?
Skill leech is the ability to heal yourself by dealing damage with your skills. It’s particularly important for the Harbinger subclass, as it provides a significant source of survivability.
12. How do World Tiers affect my character’s power?
World Tiers increase the difficulty of the game but also provide better loot. While they’re important for progression, they don’t directly impact your character’s stats.
13. What are the best legendary weapons for the Trickster?
Weapons with high damage output and mods that synergize with your build are ideal. Look for weapons with mods that trigger anomaly effects or provide bonuses to specific skills.
14. Should I focus on Firepower or Anomaly Power for my Trickster?
It depends on your build. Assassin builds prioritize Firepower, while Reaver builds prioritize Anomaly Power.
15. Can the Trickster be a good support class?
Yes, the Harbinger subclass can provide valuable support to the team with its survivability and crowd control abilities. A Harbinger build makes use of the shields it can give to teamates, as well as slowing and freezing enemies.
Ultimately, the best Trickster class is the one that you enjoy playing the most. Experiment with different builds, find the gear that suits your style, and unleash your inner temporal assassin! Remember to have fun warping time and space and making your enemies disappear into the void.