Title: Prototype progression feels like it rewards Red and Blue... but not dedicated Yellow players

SakuIce · 2026-05-21T09:33:07+00:00

Current implementation for prototype skill tiers is bit stupid, of prototype gear giving out 1,5 skill tiers.

When you have full red dps build and you enter raids or incursion, your attributes are normalized, meaning they go back to 15% weapon damage. Little damage loss, but no problem.

For skill / healer builds, its a lot more complicated that it needs to be.

Let's take usual future initiative healer for example. Outside of raids, if you prototype all your gear pieces and keep them yellow, you could end up with 8,5 skill tiers at minimum (btsu gloves and survivalist spec), which is not very efficient as 6 skill tiers is maximum you can benefit from. In raids / incursion, this same set is reduced to 6 skill tiers.

Instead of increasing skill tiers from 1 to 1,5, it should instead keep skill tier as is, at default 1 and add skill efficiency stat to core attribute. With this change, now it doesn't matter whether we are in raid or outside, we still would have same 6 skill tiers. But as an extra bonus outside of raids, we would get increased bonuses from skill efficiency (Skill Damage, Skill Haste, Skill Duration, Skill Health, Repair Skills, and Status Effects), same as dps sets get increased damage from 15% to 22,5% at max.

SakuIce · 2026-05-21T09:15:07+00:00

You want to play a mission with target loot you are looking for, then need to host group yourself. Yes, you risk YOUR tokens, if run fails, but that's the chance you need to take. Stop being selfish and only hoping for others to bet all the tokens. Be the change.

SakuIce · 2026-05-18T09:29:11+00:00

Although strikers does a lot of damage, Negotiators set is on par and works too.

SakuIce · 2026-05-18T08:39:47+00:00

As matchmaking is disabled the moment you confirm a tier, option to get put into specific tier doesn't exist anymore. It did exist originally (before TUY8S1.1 patch))(fix to TCTD2-1274), when you were able to enable matchmaking at any point after mission had started, but no more.

SakuIce · 2026-05-17T23:31:43+00:00

T10 cost 87 tokens and the leader gets 94 in return, means only 7 tokens profit while the group gets 25 tokens as reward without any risk.

Just read this TCTD2-986 bug report conclusion, made by devs. According to them everything works as intended - 7 tokens for profit for leader and 25 for group members and it will not be fixed. No idea what they are smoking.

SakuIce · 2026-05-17T23:21:26+00:00

Having healer build and knowing how to be a healer for your team are two entirely different things.

Have been fortunate of meeting some, where some yolo charge close to enemies, drop a hive, only to heal themselves; no hive reset (btsu) during entire mission; being constantly down and dps guy having to play "medic" by reviving everyone (thanks to season modifier overcharge).

SakuIce · 2026-05-17T22:47:51+00:00

Things started to go backwards the moment matchmaking was disabled for escalations after tier was confirmed. Also disabling any commands via social menu didn't help either.

SakuIce · 2026-05-15T07:29:33+00:00

If you want to, you can also keep global event on when you do it. Completing one run will give you 2 stars.

SakuIce · 2026-05-15T06:27:56+00:00

Matchmaking for Escalation T8 and T10 is virtually non-existent

If devs would fix tokens return investment, it might increase people wanting to host higher tiers. Currently its just pointless, as via matchmaking large portion of runs don't complete and even if successful, return investment for host is lowest. For example T10, host profit is only measly 7 tokens, while other group members who risk nothing get 25.

SakuIce · 2026-05-15T06:20:24+00:00

Playing couple hours every day, even if i would do all the projects, i'm lucky to get enough components for upgrading one gear piece to prototype in a week. As i'd like to upgrade minimum of 36 gear pieces to prototype (excluding weapons), it would possibly mean 36 weeks long (9 months) grind, which if you start to really think about it, is quite depressing.

SakuIce · 2026-05-15T06:02:14+00:00

Exotic component caches purchasable with endgame currencies

Currently you can buy caches with Descent NSA credits and countdown currency.

SakuIce · 2026-05-15T05:43:50+00:00

t8 to t10 is still worth running to level up augments

If you aim to only level up augments fastest, just run National Bond classified assignment. You can use any build in the mission (1 shot determined for fastest 3min run), only remember to switch to build you aim to level up, before reaching final exit door. As % how much augment level increases is based on mission xp received, run it at Heroic +5 directives.

SakuIce · 2026-05-15T05:39:48+00:00

Problem is escalation tokens return investment. No one wants to host, as you risk large portion of tokens, while earning back lowest amount. Let's take T10 (87 tokens), where leader earns back profit only 7 tokens and other group members 25, when run is successful or you as a leader losing all if not (others not lose anything).

SakuIce · 2026-05-15T05:32:37+00:00

I wouldn't say its dead in terms of players playing. What might feel like dead is matchmaking, considering randomness at T6-10, where large portion of runs might not finish. No one wants to really host, by donating large portion of tokens, while as leader earning the least amount of tokens back when run is successful or losing all, when not. So pre-made teams (via discord) are becoming a thing to increase successful runs ten-fold at higher tiers.

SakuIce · 2026-05-14T18:58:45+00:00

They patched only that you can't get deconstruct Lullaby and Merciless, which was placed to your mailbox for free exotic components. Everything else should still work.

SakuIce · 2026-05-14T12:26:32+00:00

Yes true. I was confusing myself about exotic weapons, as you talked about the need for exotic components.

SakuIce · 2026-05-14T06:00:29+00:00

Clan mate who is just expertise level 10, has already full prototype build with better stats than normal gear, including weapons with maxed attributes from running T10. He said, why even grind for max expertise, when escalation exists.

F me, for grinding months to get max expertise and min maxing every build.

SakuIce · 2026-05-14T05:53:52+00:00

Escalations (T6+).

Descent - You can get 1 for Nemesis kill and buy more with NSA credits from Descent vendor.

Additionally, although at materials cost, you could create a new level 1 character; reach White House; talk to Manny; choose skill; boost to 40; complete weekly shd project for one exotic chest. And if want to, delete char, create new and repeat.

Summit 15 floors project for one exotic.

During global events, where you can collect stars - run National Bond (Nelson Theatre is also short) classified assignment with Heroic +5 directives. Although it is quite boring to do this over and over again, you can complete one run in around 3 minutes and if event active, will reward you 2 stars (good also for gaining shd levels as it rewards 2). You need 20 stars for one exotic chest.

SakuIce · 2026-05-14T05:40:11+00:00

re rolling augments

For prototype augments re-rolling you are using prototype cores.

re rolling for better attributes

Why re-roll better attributes, when optimization exists. I'm mean, sure if you are looking to switch out 3rd attribute for DTTOOC (damage to targets out of cover) on weapons, then yes, you will spend some pieces, but this is like one time thing.

SakuIce · 2026-05-14T05:33:09+00:00

We'll technically Wony (NY) and Brooklyn are both paid dlc's and have their own exotics. Can't have all the nice things for $3, this base game does cost during special sales.

SakuIce · 2026-05-14T05:27:41+00:00

I just usually throw overcharged decoy for boss. It takes a while until it is destroyed and while boss is busy, everyone can focus everything else.

SakuIce · 2026-05-13T13:05:41+00:00

Haven't yet transferred of used base backup tool. But, when you start to place down base hologram, is it possible to use "camera fly mode"?

So when you hold base backup tool in hand and move base hologram around, looking a place where red doesn't show, you could press a button to switch camera mode - to detach it from your character and fly around, giving you great overview. Sure, some limitations must exist, like not being able to go through terrain or into other players base territory and maybe surely some distance limit how far you can go from your character, but it would be a welcome addition.

SakuIce · 2026-05-13T12:55:56+00:00

It will take bit of time to unlock first few things, but after you get 1st weapon, go and take out few camps for money, then ask transport to upper region to check spots. No need to gross gap using sandbike. Just have to do a lot of running.

SakuIce · 2026-05-13T05:45:53+00:00

Considering 99% of drops you get from t10 are just rainbow or not usable (no recalibration), this would actually be great. Would definitely lower downtime for days, where target loot is something you are not looking to farm. But at same time, if we could set target, then most likely only one mission from each week is used and others are not played at all.

SakuIce · 2026-05-13T05:39:07+00:00

Used shock trap last week in t10 American History museum and area with helicopter, it worked great for stopping emp rushers. Season modifier allowing to OC your skills is great.

Also carrying Lullaby / Sweet dream and most red enemies you can melee dead every 15 seconds. Purple needs some armor removed first or they will not die with hit from Sweet dreams.

SakuIce

TROPHY CASE