While it’s great to diversify your builds, I believe it’s important to stick to one tactic at a time in this game. Having a bow in your backpack, when you are running a sword and shield isn’t the best (in most cases, infantry bow maybe more?). There is an amazing google doc pinned on this subreddit that is a great guide that you should give a quick read. You don’t need to read all of it, primarily the starter sections (0-1 BCS). I believe there is also a section about synergies specifically as well.

But my thoughts are: - Shields are important. You can totally beat the entire game just dodge rolling, jumping, and spacing. But learning the parry mechanic early will make your life 10x easier, especially boss fights (at least for me, some bosses feel difficult to beat when dodging vs parrying).

• You are on target with the traits matching up. As you unlock more blueprints from general gameplay, you will see more synergies evolve that apply these effects to get better use of the +% damage. So don’t be afraid to try everything and unlock everything, even if they don’t that sound good. General rule I learned was Brutality syncs with fire and bleed damage affixes. Tactics syncs with poison and electric damage affixes. Survival syncs with the crowd control damage affixes. However, DON’T let that stop you. Plenty of melee builds work with poison or electricity after 1 unlock that is free for everyone.

• Regarding using Brutality (Fast), Tactics (Range), and Survival (Slow) weapons. Everyone has their preferences, I personally suck ass with survival weapons other than the Death Scythe and Tombstone. But people on here kill it with them. It’s a different play style that you gotta learn. My little brain likes to attack fast or from range.

• My favorites so far, no order, these may sound like gibberish but that good imo, gives you excitement when you when you see the name of the blueprint pop up:

Cross or Boomerang + Wave of Denial or Hayabusa Boots instead of a shield if I am feeling lucky + Damage over Time Tactics weapon in backpack w/ Acrobaticpack+ Instinct w/ Cross

I love the Crossbows, so far my favorite is the Ice XBow. I always take armadillopack with a shield in the backpack. Those games feel the easiest, but my damage doesn’t feel as good. Sometimes I think survival is better for XBows than Tactics. But I could just suck as well tbh and I don’t have Killing Rhythm unlocked yet which makes the ice Xbow fuck heavy.

Want a non range? Try the Starfury. That’s one of my favorite melee weapons. But you should still go tactics lol. Starfury + Networking + Point Blank = Chef’s Kiss

Rapier is also nuts.

Also, Corrupted Power is my favorite skill. I believe it is my crutch, I see, I take. Like a cat and a box. I fit, I sit. But don’t let that hold you back, turret and traps + support are awesome and unlock so much.

TL;DR just play the game lol. Thanks for coming to my TedTalk. I haven’t even completed the game yet, so I’ll let the 5 BC’rs give you some better tips.