U.S.S. Caliburn

I have temporal listed here as I did queue into and set the DPS record with this. However, I really should have had strategist rather than temporal secondary.

Notes

Jayiie's Skill tree has been optimized to be used on as many build types as possible. As such there are some questions that naturally arise when talking about it. I will try to capture these discussions as succinctly as possible here.

Tactical ultimate and Exotic Builds

The tactical ultimate does basically nothing for the majority of the damage on this build. However this is a skill tree that is still designed to run things like the Inquiry and Verity, so I do still have this. A more optimized tree would look something s. The core skill selections are still there. There is an overlap on looking at torp skills when getting to the 25 Tac ult unlocks.

Hull Restoration vs Hull Capacity

This is very simple, while also not. Given the choice between a Improved Hull Capacity (+25.5%) and Hull restoration (+25%) against Advanced Hull capacity (+30%), I personally prefer to take the former, splitting the point difference. Since my character is an engineer, this 25% Hull restoration actually has some very useful applications through Miraculous repairs.

As well by taking some extra points into engineering, this has allowed me to take the 10th Engineering Unlock skill which adds +10 Hull Capacity, which is comparable to the +15 taken from the last point of Hull restoration. Due to how the skill works this is a +3.3% Max Hull vs 4.95% Max Hull buff respectively.

EPG vs Control Amplification, DrainX and CtrlX

This time around I've opted to put more points into CtrlX and EPG while taking Control Amplification, and instead dropping points from DrainX. If this wasn't on an engineering captain I wouldn't consider this a loss. However both Nadion Inversion and Intrusive Energy Redirection both scale with DrainX and are innate captain abilities, thus wanting for the skill.

Aux Power

Optimizing to hit 130 Aux power has been challenging. To do this I required Defensive Subsystem turning for the +4.8 Power to Aux. Combining this with the passive on most science ships as well as the Neutronic Eddies has allowed 130 to be hit passively. This has then allowed me to drop EPS Manifold Efficiency freeing up a 10th starship trait. On other builds this has the effect of allowing more aux power for more damage / better scaling on various powers.

Shield Regeneration

This is still a tank first skill tree. Shield regeneration is statically anomaly and adds a huge amount to shield regen in just the first point (more Information on shields can be found here). As such, I have taken the single point. with the most recent tree revision I've opted to spec out of DrainX and Drain Infection for that last point in EPG. Should you want to not take shield regeneration I would suggest the next DrainX point.

Starship Weapons

Notes

The Wide Arc Phase cannons are great but easily replaceable with generic Dual heavy cannons or wide angle cannons. Dealers choice. Nothing else here is exceptionally hard to get being mostly reputation weapons. The agony cannons are basically just the normal quad cannons but instead of a system offline, it applies a very minor dot with a disable.

As stated, the Iconian Core can be beneficial in reducing weapon offline effects from Override Subsystem Safeties. However, since this ship doesn't have any innate weapon power cost reduction I've gone for the Fleet spire warp core for the -10% Weapon power cost and +66% EPS to help counter weapon drain on average rather than suppress one power downside which is easily cleared with some engineering captain powers.

Meta-Focused Tweaks:

Console wise there's not much improvement here. 

Budget Tweaks:

As always, there's a large portion of replacement consoles available. Only one of the non-tactical consoles I've listed are relatively expensive, but theres always slide grades depending on what you're after. Take a look here for the energy basics guide.

Notes

I've seen some variations here changing the EPtW2 down to 1, ditching the hazard emitters to pick up Reinforcements Squadron 1 . However I didn't see much luck and having Hazard Emitters will grant you the full bonuses from Strategist

Meta-Focused Tweaks:

There isn't much to change here in terms of utility. If playing on a captain trait always try to slot A Good Day to Die (not confusing at all there's a starship trait, mission, and personal trait with the same name).

Budget Tweaks:

For budget players who want to save some EC, there's a few standard traits that could be used:

• EPS Manifold Efficiency - Engineering Captain innate trait - this provides +10 all subsystem power for 30s when using EPtX or batteries. A useful filler.

• Point Blank Shot - Episode Reward from House Pegh - scaling damage based on distance to target from 2km to 6km.

• Operative - Innate Trait - +1% CrtH +2% CrtD, this isn't spectacular but if you lack any offensive traits you can use it.

• Bulkhead Technician - Innate trait - this provides +10% Maximum Hull capacity and can be used as a stand in for durability consoles

• Living Hull - Episode Reward from "Surface Tension" - +15% hull regen in combat

• Redacted Armor Plating - Episode Reward from “The Renegade's Regret” - +30 all DRR when hit from behind or sides

• Regenerative Control Synergy - Episode Reward from “Of Signs and Portents” - Grants +45% hull regen when using a control power for 10 seconds

Meta-Focused Tweaks:

With the 2022 Meta Event campaign I picked up Universal Designs. Pairing this trait with the Immolating Phaser Lance should maintain the full 5 stacks on UD, granting +10% CrtH and +50% CrtD. This is a really well working combo. However if you have to pick only one, if any at all, take the Immolating Phaser Lance. Because you can now pick the console up with the Mudds Pilot bundle, I suspect more people are going to have access to the Lance than UD.

In mid-2023, the Legendary Avenger was released, and I only picked this up in Dec of 2023. This added Ship of the Line to the list of traits, making itself meta basically instantly. This means that only one real meta trait remains up for grabs on this in the form of Ruin of Our Enemies, which with the current carrier rage means I might be getting this....eventually...maybe....

Budget Tweaks:

Offensive Traits:

• Improved Critical Systems - Temporal Agent Recruit Reward, grants CrtX on use of EptX abilities.

• Unconventional Tactics - Strategist Specialization, grants damage on using 

• Predictive Algorithms - Intelligence Specialization Rewards, very minor Accuracy boost when using weapon enhancement abilities.

• Dimensional Modulation - Inherent to the ship, I would recommend against using this since it has such a strict trigger requirement.

• Getting into C-store accessible traits:

  • Promise of Ferocity - Alliance Pilot escorts, +4% bonus weapon damage when using a tactical or pilot bridge officer power (max 5 stacks, one stack every 4s)

  • Strike from Shadows - Pilot Escorts, Adds a passive -60% threat generation, +5% CrtH, and +5% Cat2, with a very very minor placate

Budget Tweaks:

• Most of these are really easy to get off the exchange. Sub in whatever you want.

• Agent Nerul unfortunately has no equivalents. As such and durability driven duty officer would be best to put here. Dal R'el is a close equivalent, but this is a chance at an effect rather than guaranteed like Nerul.

• Surgical Strikes 3 builds require Cmdr intel seating. This means it already limits this to a certain type of ship. While you can do fun things like the Scryer, that itself is its own type of build and doesn't fit inside the niceties of the Hydra. Given the particulars of the Hydra however, there are no other ships like it, the closest being the Saturn with its ens pilot seat which is more closely aligned to the Scryer than it is the Hydra. At best you can do is something like the Kelvin Timeline Intel Battlecruiser or the Vengeance where they have Cmdr Intel seats and thus can use SS3.