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How to play Shockwave
Booster_Blue
Posts: 580
I'm having a really hard time playing shockwave. He doesn't seem to do much damage so is there a way to play around that? I've been building up to S3 and then unleashing it.
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His greatest stength is teaming him in brain gain or with galvatron. He is more of a support bot, however if you are able to stick some extra shock charges from projectiles you can max the shock charge to 9 on special 3. In arenas I do this and pretty much wipe out opponents.
Better try other bots.
Shockwave is best used to counter range heavy bots. As such, this makes him a pretty situational bot to use as there are much better tech bots to throw against melee heavy bots.
Versus range heavy bots, like BOFAD said, it's all about blocking and building charges. Rhinox is actually a really good pair with Shockwave for this very reason as normally Shockwave maxes at 3 charges from blocking(more at higher *? I only have a 2* to toy around with). However with Rhinox(who happens to be really good versus melee) synergy Shockwave builds free charges, 1 per star so a 3* gives 3 charges, every 25 seconds and these stack with the 3 from blocking range. This is why Shockwave is a bit pillowfisted. Half his dps comes from applying shock to enemy bot through Heavy, SP1 and SP3. Build those charges and throw a Heavy, SP1 or SP3. Whichever you can before charges evaporate.
http://transformers-forged-to-fight.wikia.com/wiki/Shockwave
I feel like Shockwave is a developing character. As we get more Decepticons, he's starting to get more non tech synergies. If Megatron comes this December, I'm almost positive he'll have one with him as well. Hopefully something special but it may be a general armor boost. At higher levels Shockwave is better too because his rank is connected to his shock damage ratio. Rhinox is the best synergy at 3 stars and Soundwave seems like a great synergy for passive energy at 4 stars. Having these two on the team with a 4 star Shockwave actually covers for the lack of verity. Shockwave helps his tech ally destroy demolitions with their synergy to him make him strong enough to face whatever your team doesn't cover. Bring a warrior to insure that uncovered class isn't scout.
As for gameplay, be very picky of who you throw him against. Some bots are range addicted and others go for melee. All Demos with the slight question of Mixmaster are great match ups. Mirage is really OP but Shockwave is one with a small advantage. Just only use your S3 for specials because Mirage makes all energy special attacks practically harmless. It's the shock charges you want to get him with. Arcee is ranged but also has an agility buff so you can decided on there. In order to use Shockwave's charges, try to get a melee combo and hope the enemy blocks it. They have a significantly lower likelihood of dodging heavy attacks in mid block. I've tried rapid firing heavies and that doesn't work. The enemy goes into evasion overdrive when you have charges ready. Only once my charges are gone do I get a hit.
Alongside a small attack increase, I feel like Shockwave could use a buff to projectile speed and an energy debuff like power burn or power lock. That way, he could better use any charges he gets and manipulate energy as tech bots are suppose to do. I hope a bot balance update will some soon, but I get the feeling Kabam is going to let Shockwave hang for a while longer if not forever.
I still use Shockwave since he's my favorite character. He's one of my 2 rank 3 4 stars and he does rather well, but it's the kind of "done well" that can be done with pretty much every other bot. If the same traits and stats were given on a different tech bot, I'd neglect them without second thought. Just because the character is awesome is he worth dedicating to right now.
Jeez pillows? They’re atom bombs compared to what shockwave has! #justiceforshockwave
Think of Tech class as being "technique" class
Each bot requires you to use different tactics to lay damage on your opponent. The only one that does somewhat decent melee damage without buffs (like mirage) is Rhinox.
Ratchet is a ranged fighter.
Mirage is the ultimate utility bot
Soundwave is heavy spam
Shockwave is a counterattack bot. Block to gain charges, then lay waste with a heavy and watch the shock melt your opponent.
When you see his undo trigger, go full assault without worry until the timer stops, because any damage you take will be erased.
Not every bot is intended to land all crits like scouts and have high brawler attack ratings.
If they all played the same this game would be boring. Despite what players think, all bots have a use... Even Mixmaster. You just have to be willing to learn a different play style.
This is exactly my point.. Why are you blocking when undo triggers?!?!
There is zero reason to block with shockwave while undo is active unless you are near death or facing a special that will kill you and you aren't confident you can avoid it.
I recently ranked him to rank 3 4* and he's been a disappointment..
because the timer is relatively short, so if I have to block towards the end of it, I would rather take the block damage than reverse maybe a couple of hits of a full combo
along with mixmustard and hot dog
He can hold on with just ratchet. Block ranged to charge shocks then use a special 2 (it will stun due to synergy) then quickly use a heavy to apply lots of powerful shock stacks
Trying running Starscream/Ramjet/Megatron(or Soundwave)/Shockwave/Galvatron in Spotlight and try Shockwave (heavies, ranged and sp3's).
Plenty of better options for tech class. Bottom tier of all bots for sure.
I run shockwave/galvatron and in raids I run shockwave/galv/cw mega - it's a super nice combo.
shockwave and ratchet is super nice too.
Exactly my point. He's (?) not as effective in arena.
Not that great for arena either.