Tactical Hybrid
Michael Jardinero
Build Overview and Focus
This is my first and main character. I try to keep him a little more thematically-aligned with 2409 Starfleet, so in order to be effective while eschewing some of the more "out-there" kit modules, I needed him to deal effective damage through both his kit and weapon. Thankfully, this is fairly easy to do on a Tactical character. Remember that our ground builds are not ruthlessly optimized nor are we heavily involved in the ground meta. There will be plenty of choices called out as thematic-and-fun over optimal DPS choices. The goal here is "good enough to rock Elite" not "set records" but it's good enough for top 100 on Bug Hunt Elite.
Character Info and Thematic Choices
I would wager a decent plurality of the long-term playerbase has a Human male character with the 2409 start. There are many of them; this one is mine.
Thematic Choices
Avoided some of the more fantastical kit modules like Ball Lightning, V'ger Probes, etc. but I still use the Risian Kit
I use a grenade. It's not meta or optimal, but it fits the theme and synergizes with the Risian kit.
Omega Force 3-piece for faster remodulation and stealth active. Plus I think the weapon looks and sounds cool.
Thomson Submachine Gun as secondary weapon. Wrecks Borg
I don't like re-using DPS Kit Modules across characters. There are lots of good kit modules, so if I pigeon-hole myself into the 10 best, I don't get to learn about some of the others.
Meta Analysis
BHE: 2.61K. As of posting, this was within the top 100 of BHE records in SCM.
Budget Analysis
The only tricky and important thing to acquire is the Thomson Submachine Gun if you don't have it already that can be replaced by a TR-116B with some diminishing results. If the cost seems expensive, don't worry. Lower-budget alternatives are provided below
2 Event devices,
2 Summer Event kit modules, 1 Summer Event kit
2 Lockbox kit modules
4 Lockbox ground traits
1 Mudd's Store device
2 non-standard doffs
Change History
December 2023: Adjusted skill tree
July 2023: Posted build
Build Breakdown
Heavy focus on weapon damage and kit damage as well. This guy is fairly tanky and also has some supportive/theme concepts.
Skills
Skill Unlocks
Notes
The meta skill layout would be to skip Endurance in favor of Improved Weapon Penetration. I just think ground on higher difficulties requires a bit more survivability than that and haven't felt the need to change it.
Build
Personal Equipment
Notes
The Omega Force set is not meta, but it has three things going for it:
Faster remodulation
A team-wide CrtH/CrtD passive boost
An active that lets you stealth, which is useful for non-combat objectives on maps like Brotherhood of the Sword.
The Autocarbine does a fantastic job of applying Tenavik's Counsel, which is really good on an Antiproton build.
Plus I think the weapon looks and sounds good. If you're looking for ground meta, you're in the wrong place.
I have no idea what the optimal mods are for ground weapons, so I haven't re-engineered any of it.
Budget Notes:
Replace the Tommy Gun with a TR-116B
Swap the Shard of Possibilities for any other combat pet you like
Kit Modules
Notes:
Motivation could be paired with Mudd's Time Device to lower cooldowns, but since I have Kit Overboosters, Mini Chrono-Capacitor Array, and Tactical Initiative, I don't think it's needed. Cooldowns on everything but the grenade (meh) and the MicroTorp are already on minimum cooldown and the MicroTorp is within 1 second. This is discernible by a horizontal cooldown line rather than a radial cooldown timer and by CDR analysis.
The Corrosive Grenade does boost the Risian kit's weapon damage bonus and does benefit from Bombardier and a doff, but could be replaced by something more meta like Ball Lightning if you were so inclined. Cooldowns would then be a problem, and it doesn't fit the theme.
Trajectory Bending is pretty amazing and should be a high priority for Tac Assault builds. Photonic Overcharge is cheap and very effective.
The meta kit modules are probably picking from this pool:
Universal: Ball Lightning, Ba'ul Obelisk Network, Gravity Containment Unit, Mudd's Time Device, Chain Conduit Capacitor, Kuumarke Drones, V'ger Probes, Agony Field Generator
Tac: Trajectory Bending, Graviton Spike, Motivation, Chroniton Micro-Torpedo Spread, Battle Strategies
Eng: Anchor of Gre'thor, Explosive Drone, Chroniton Mines
Sci: Cold Fusion Flash, Exothermic Induction Field, Andorian Summer
If you want to do that on every character, be my guest.
Set Bonuses
Traits
Personal Traits
Meta-Focused Tweaks:
Probably dropping Soldier for Terran Vision or Dulce Et Decorum Est, maybe fitting in Space Explorer is a Great Gig on an Alien
Budget Tweaks:
Bombardier is the easy one to drop for Rifle Training
Honestly ground traits aren't super expensive on the exchange. Prioritize Upgraded Gear, Ambush Fighter, and Tenavik's Counsel (on an Antiproton weapon build)
Reputation Traits
Active Reputation
Duty Officers
Meta-Focused Tweaks:
You'd probably also want to devote all 6 ground doff slots to ground, but that's not how I roll, and I struggle to see what other doffs would make a significant impact there.
Budget Tweaks:
If low budget, skip the Assault Squad Officers that boosts CrtH/CrtD for Security Officers. The Biochemist could be replaced with the EMH Nurse.
Miscellaneous
Ground Stats
Parse Breakdown
Numbers from record Bug Hunt Elite (BHE).
Antiproton Carbine: 785
Tenavik's Counsel: 526
Chroniton Micro-Torpedo Spread: 519
Graviton Spike: 266
Corrosive Grenade: 153
Piezo-Electric Lattice: 150
Danube Runabout: 92
Photonic Overcharge: 52
Security Escort: 29
Imminent Decay: 12