UPDATE: TTK Gunslinger Guide & Nightstalker Guide
Published on: Mar 11, 2015 @ 15:38
This article will focus on some of the best class builds for various playstyles with the Hunter. If you’ve got your own preferred build, be sure to share it with us!
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What is a Class “Build”?
A “build” is the selection of talents you choose from your character. It’s the process of carefully selecting your perks and weapons to suit your playstyle.
You’ll want to play around with different combinations to suit different circumstances, it all depends on how you prefer to play.
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Passives
Tier 1
Path Forgotten +2 Armor, +2 Agility
Path Forbidden +2 Recovery, +2 Agility
Path Unknown +2 Armor, +2 Recovery
Tier 2
Way of the Drifter +2 Armor, +1 Recovery, +2 Agility
Way of the Fearless +5 Armor
Way of the Nomad +4 Recovery, +1 Agility
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Assassin
Subclass: Bladedancer
Playstyle: Methodical
Engagements: Close Quarters
Strengths: Rewards patience
| Grenade Type: | Skip Grenade | Primary Weapon: | Hand Cannon |
| Double Jump: | Blink | Special Weapon: | Patience and Time |
| Arc Blade: | Vanish | Heavy Weapon: | Machine Gun |
| Blink Strike: | Escape Artist | ||
| Path I: | Path Forgotten | Alt Primary: | Pulse Rifle |
| Ability Modifier: | Shadowjack | Alt Special: | Shotgun |
| Path II: | Way of the Drifter | Alt Heavy: | Rocket Launcher |
| Ability Modifier: | Stalker | Ideal Exotic Armor: | Don’t Touch Me |
Designed especially for methodical and patient players, this build gives you an advantage in Crucible: stealthily weave through the map and strike unsuspecting Guardians.
This build heavily revolves around the invisibility effect that Bladedancer’s are known for. It encourages players to deceive their opponents and make it substantially more difficult for them to be engaged by combatants.
This class is more about the use of special weapons, grenades and abilities. Your opponents will find it difficult to react to a charging shotgun user, distant sniper, or grenade disposer. With proper cloaking, you can get the drop on your enemy before they have a chance to fully recognize you’re there.
In raids and other PvE modes, this is an invaluable setup. It makes it impossible for enemies to detect you, making it possible to flank and distract them.
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Deceiver
Subclass: Bladedancer
Playstyle: Agile
Engagements: Close Quarters
Strengths: Opponent confusion
| Grenade Type: | Flux Grenade | Primary Weapon: | MIDA Multi-Tool |
| Double Jump: | Blink | Special Weapon: | Shotgun |
| Arc Blade: | Vanish | Heavy Weapon: | Rocket Launcher |
| Blink Strike: | Escape Artist | ||
| Path I: | Path Forbidden | Alt Primary: | Auto Rifle |
| Ability Modifier: | Quick Draw | Alt Special: | Sniper Rifle |
| Path II: | Way of the Drifter | Alt Heavy: | Machine Gun |
| Ability Modifier: | Stalker | Ideal Exotic Armor: | Radiant Dance Machines |
This build is especially deadly when used by someone with nerves of steel and a steady aim. Its purpose is to dent the opposition’s forces by making distracting and divertive actions that make it difficult for them to retaliate to your team’s assault.
It is a build like this that will break the stalemate of Control battles; getting behind enemy lines and distracting them with swift & brief attacks. Taking advantage of Blink, Cloaking and powerful long-range weapons will make you hard to kill and may panic the opposing team.
There isn’t much of an advantage in PvE with this build, it’s much better suited for PvP.
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Sharp Shooter
Subclass: Gunslinger
Playstyle: Marksman
Engagements: Long-Range
Strengths: Support
| Grenade Type: | Tripmine | Primary Weapon: | MIDA Multi-Tool |
| Double Jump: | Triple Jump | Special Weapon: | Sniper Rifle |
| Golden Gun: | Deadeye | Heavy Weapon: | Rocket Launcher |
| Throwing Knife: | Circle of Life | ||
| Path I: | Path Unknown | Alt Primary: | Pulse Rifle |
| Ability Modifier: | Gunslinger’s Trance | Alt Special: | |
| Path II: | Way of the Fearless | Alt Heavy: | Machine Gun |
| Ability Modifier: | Chain of Woe | Ideal Exotic Armor: | Achlyophage Symbiote |
A build that comes straight from the Hunter’s stereotypical image, this setup is built for long range engagements. Everything is centered around picking off foes from a distance and your focus should be being careful and staying alive.
Grab your best sniper and navigate the outside of the map, always with a watchful eye on high-traffic areas. A high Impact scout rifle works awesome for this build as well, to drop anyone quickly who gets too close for comfort.
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Stalker
Subclass: Gunslinger
Playstyle: Tracking
Engagements: Medium
Strengths: Lone Wolf
| Grenade Type: | Tripmine | Primary Weapon: | Thorn |
| Double Jump: | Triple Jump | Special Weapon: | Shotgun |
| Golden Gun: | Gunfighter | Heavy Weapon: | Machine Gun |
| Throwing Knife: | Incendiary Blade | ||
| Path I: | Path Forgotten | Alt Primary: | Pulse Rifle |
| Ability Modifier: | Gunslinger’s Trance | Alt Special: | Plan C |
| Path II: | Way of the Fearless | Alt Heavy: | |
| Ability Modifier: | Gambler’s Dagger | Ideal Exotic Armor: | Knucklehead Radar |
The Stalker is all about pursuit, hunting down the weak and offering one option: death. This build compliments aggressive players in the Crucible and ideal for quickly assaulting easier missions in PvE.
These perks are all focused on short term, but powerful boosts in combat. After exhausting your abilities or killing your target, a quick relocation and dash for safety is duly necessary to stay alive until your next encounter.
A Tripmine can be great for sealing off escape routes, while igniting knives can make it much more difficult for your opponents to escape.
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Your Builds
Have a favorite build not listed here or in the video? Be sure to share it with us! What abilities do you prefer using, and why?