Single Shot AMPd Masher Build

By: Katchenz
Up-to-Date as of version 1.0.3.5B

Build in action: Build Showcase - Single Shot AMPed Masher Build - CC35

Overview: This build is designed to use amp shields or Dusa’s Visage to its fullest via shield regen with 2/1 mage armor and a beefy masher pistol.

Pros: Basically infinite ammo, High single target damage, Great survivability via shield regen
Cons: Some of the gear can be hard to find, Not the greatest against large groups, Requires good aim

Survivability - 7/10: Really good survivability via shield regen. - Points for not being able to healthgate well

Mobbing - 7/10: Good against most mobs and Play the Angles adds to that, but can be weak against shield mobs or hard to crit mobs

Bossing 8/10: If you can consistently hit them in the face, bosses die very fast

Skill Tree

Action Skill: Barrage is taken to all us to proc all enchants and apply Wrath of Nature easily

Skill Explanation:

  • Windrunner and Just Warming Up not taken as fire rate makes weapon shoot before shield regens making you have to wait and time shots to get every amp
  • Eagle Eye, Bullseye, Headhunter taken for maximum gun-ness
  • Mage Armor taken to regen shield between shots
  • Font of Mana and Kindred Heart taken because there was nothing else to spend points on
  • Called Shot and Quiver of Holding are relatively useless as you only shoot once before reloading

Alternate Skills:

  • Could use Spell Sniper instead of Font of Mana, not many other alternate skill choices

Guns:

  • X5 Masher Crossbolt pistol with a 1 round mag is the most important and our primary source of damage
  • X1 Crossbolt Pistol with 1 round mag is good for longer range shots
  • X1 Sniper Rifles can do decent damage
  • The Carrouser can charm mobs and also deal decent damage

Melee Weapon: 

  • Frying Pan has nice damage mitigation on bullets for better survivability
  • Goblin Pickaxe also works great for the movement speed and action skill cooldown
  • Any other melee weapon with the enchants you need

Wards:

  • Triple Amp Aegis ward is my ideal shield for this build as it matches the exact shield regen 2/1 mage armor gives
  • Dusa’s Visage is a great and significantly easier to far alternative. It also does frost damage which adds elemental scaling. Downside is that it takes 25% shield so it only shoots an amp shot every 2 shots making the damage more inconsistent. Sadly it can’t be enchanted still, which is annoying

Spells:

  • Buffmeister with zap/pew is great for damage synergy with the masher pistol
  • Damage sigils and defense sigils are both great options
  • Any other spell you want really. We’re spellshot so we get decent spell damage

Amulet: For amulet stats, All Damage and Reload Speed will both work well. Frost elemental damage if using Dusa’s, Dark if using Corrupted Platemail. Spellshot class power for the extra magic bullets scaling

  • Harbinger pairs great with what the build stands for and gives us extra survivability
  • The Barbaload, while bugged synergizes with the build well
  • If you have no elemental damage on shot, Universal Soldier can be good just for the extra gun damage

Rings: Stat wise you want gun damage as a main and pistol crit/pistol reload speed as secondaries

  • Finger Ward rings are the best when you are actually firing amp shots as your shields are full
  • Sharksbane give you much gun damage
  • Anything with the proper stats

Armor: For armor skills Clawbringer/Spellshot combo with 1 point in mage armor is pretty much mandatory for this. There are alternate ways to play the build that use barrage/harbinger alternation to achieve the same effect. Go for 3/3 magic bullets if you’d like to play it that way. Works better with Dusa’s in this circumstance

Stat wise you want gun damage, all damage and gun critical. You do not want fire rate

  • Corrupted Platemail gives you some dark magic scaling and extra survivability in terms of health leech
  • Deathless Mantle gives you a ton of shields and brings you down to 1 health. Can cause survivability issues due to purple damage
  • Cape of Tides would work well with Dusa’s Visage style of the build

Enchants:

  • Gun - Spore Fuse(Using barrage causes gun damage to explode for 25% poison) on weapon
  • Ward - Barrage charge on reload enchant
  • 40% gun damage on action skill start
  • 20% all damage on action skill start

Gameplay Loop: Basic gameplay loop is to fire your gun at a bad guy and have your shield regen to full via mage armor and shoot again. I found that your fire rate can out pace your shield regen so timing will be required to shoot amp shots every shot. Use barrage to apply Wrath of Nature and regen shields if using Harbinger. Use spell to augment damage or fire a pretty projectile

Chaos Chamber Tips:

  • This build is very good for most objectives aside from melee damage kills. Dragon Lord statue goes down decently fast as you can focus damage into it all other just require careful playing. Standing in the circle can be annoying with certain mob spawns, but entirely possible
  • For altars, you want gun damage, crit damage and elemental damage if you have added elemental scaling. Reload speed works as well. Avoid fire rate like the plague
  • Curses:
  • Elemental Overload is manageable if you don’t deal with elemental. I still hate it
  • Frozen Vengeance is annoying but manageable. I try not to take it unless I have to though. I hate this curse with a passion
  • Rogue Lite can be very bad with certain mob spawn (Stupid Naga mages and elite Cyclops), but for the most part you shouldn’t die
  • Critical Connoisseur is generally not the best to take. Won’t make you fail a run though
  • Don’t take Toothless
  • Trust in Magic will half your life and double your shield. Can be good, especially if you’re using Deathless
  • Nullify should be pretty manageable
  • Bulwark Buddies are annoying, but fairly easy to kill

  • Mob wise, I’ve found the worse ones to be Naga Mages that destroy you from across the map, Cyclops because of how aggressive they can be and crabs because they are crabs.