Bounty Hunter: Powertech Advanced Prototype DPS CompendiumThe Powertech advanced class uses a single blaster for DPS but in their offhand they utilize either a shield generator or a power generator. For the purposes of Advanced Prototype (DPS) build, the best bet is to equip the power generator for the stat boost.
Introduction
Bounty Hunter Gas CylindersGas cylinders are abilities that are activated to allow specific bonuses to your Bounty Hunter depending on which cylinder is active. Also note that only one gas cylinder can be active at any given time.
High Energy Gas Cylinder: Although there are a few different gas cylinder options for the Bounty Hunter, to get the best DPS results for Advanced Prototype this cylinder should be the one you have active to maximize your damage output.
Heat Building MechanicThe Bounty Hunter class is built around the mechanic of building heat. When the Bounty Hunter uses the majority of their abilities a certain amount of heat is generated. Some abilities cost a certain amount of heat to be used and if the Bounty Hunter has already built up an abundant amount of heat they will not be able to use certain abilities until their heat levels have been mitigated.
Great Abilities That Build Heat
Rocket Punch: A great ability that you get at a low level. The heat cost is manageable for a good damage output. There are also talents that we will discuss later that will make this ability even more effective. Cooldown is 9 seconds.
Rail Shot: Although this ability can only be used against enemies who are incapacitated or are suffering from damage over time it is a great follow up attack and deals a fair amount of damage. 15 second cooldown rate.
Death From Above: An excellent attack I like to use a lot of the time at the beginning of combat. This ability deals a lot of damage over time and also knocks down standard and weak enemies and often times kills trash mobs. Cooldown is 60 seconds.
Explosive Dart: I like to use this ability after Death From Above. Shoot this into the middle of the crowd and you can damage up to three additional enemies. Also knocks back/down standard and weak enemies.
Flame Thrower: A cone attack that does a heavy amount of damage over time to anyone in the cone. Cooldown is 18 seconds.
Flame Burst: A great follow up attack to Flame Thrower for an added burst of damage. As an added bonus there is no cooldown time on this ability.
Heat Venting Abilities
Now that you've built your heat but want to keep on fighting, here are some of the ways we can vent it.
Vent Heat: A Bounty Hunter's primary ability to disperse the heat that has been built up. Vents 50 heat over a 3 second period of time. Cooldown is 120 seconds.
Recharge and Reload: While this ability is not useable in combat, it is good to make a habit of using it in between your bouts so you can save your vent heat for when you need it. No cooldown.
Thermal Sensor Override: An excellent ability to use when you want to use an ability with a heavy heat cost but don't have/don't want to generate the heat from it. Cooldown is 120 seconds.
Also note that there are some talents that we will discuss later in this article that will also assist with heat ventilation.
Other Abilities
Flame Sweep: An AoE attack that inflicts damage on up to 5 enemies in a five metre cone. There is also no cooldown on this ability making it that much more effective.
Shoulder Slam: An attack that deals very effective damage and does not generate any heat at all. There is a 45 second cooldown on this attack.
Retractable Blade: This attack is only available by speccing into the Advanced Prototype tree. It generates quite a bit of damage on the initial strike and also puts a DoT on the enemy for additional damage. There is no cooldown on retractable blade. Retractable Blade costs 1 talent point and is available at level 20.
Hunter's Boon: A buff you get right at the start. Grants 5% endurance for 60 mins for you and all party members. 6 second cooldown.
This guide is designed for maximum damage output in the Advanced Prototype spec while slightly dipping into the Shield Tech and Pyrotech trees. These are all the talents that I will be using in my build:
Advanced Prototype Tree
Tier 1 (Advanced Prototype)
Prototype Burn Enhancers - Increases critical hit chance of all fire effects by 6%.
Puncture - Rail Shot ignores 60% of the targets armor. This makes a great follow up attack even more effective.
Tier 2 (Advanced Prototype)
Prototype Cylinders - Since we will be utilizing the High Energy Gas Cylinder, this talent will increase internal and elemental damage by 3%.
Hot Iron - Incrases the damage of both the Flame Burst and Retractable Blade abilities by 6%.
Advanced Tools - The cooldown for Grapple is reduced by 5 seconds and the cooldown for Flame Thrower is reduced by 3 seconds.
Tier 3 (Advanced Prototype)
Pneumatic Boots - While our High Energy Gas Cylinder is active, our movement is increased by 15%.
Retractable Blade - An ability that does 595-706 damage immediately and then continues to damage the enemy with a bleed effect for 784 internal damage that lasts for 15 seconds.
Prototype Cylinder Ventilation - With both talent points invested we will vent 8 heat every 6 seconds if High Energy Gas Cylinder is active.
Tier 4 (Advanced Prototype)
Flame Barrage - During a 15 second duration, Flame Burst has a 30% chance and Immolate has a 50% chance to make the next Rocket Punch free.
Serrated Blades - Increases the damage on Retractable Blade's bleed effect by 15%.
Tier 5 (Advanced Prototype)
Prototype Flame Thrower - Flame Burst and Flame Sweep have a 100% chance to grant this talent which increases the damage of your next Flame Thrower attack by 10%. This attack stacks up to 5 times.
Hydraulic Overrides - This talent is an ability that when activated grants 8 seconds of immunity from any movement impairment effects including knockbacks and physics. This also grants a 30% movement speed increase.
Charged Gauntlets - Both Rocket Punch and Retractable Blade have a 25% chance to make your next Rail Shot crit automatically.
Kolto Vents - Whenever you vent heat you regen 7% of your health over a 10 second period.
Tier 6 (Advanced Prototype)
Stabilized Armor - You take 20% less damaged when you are stunned.
Prototype Weapon Systems - Rocket Punch, Flame Burst and Immolate have an increased critical strike damage bonus of 30%.
Tier 7 (Advanced Prototype)
Immolate - Deals 982-1149 elemental damage. Costs 8 heat.
Shield Tech Tree
Tier 1 (Shield Tech)
Intimidation - Increases the damage of all fire effects by 6%.
Rail Loaders - Increases the damage done by rail shot by 6%.
Tier 2 (Shield Tech)
Steely Resolve - Increases aim by 9%.
Pyrotech Tree
Tier 1 (Pyrotech)
Iron Fist - Gives Rocket Punch 8% increased damage.
Rotation
Beginning of Fight:
Death From Above --> Explosive Dart --> Flame Thrower --> Rail Shot
After this you will have to prioritize your moves according to cooldown. I generally like to follow Flame Thrower up with a Flame Burst.
Rail Shot is also amazingly effective after Retractable Blade because you have 15seconds to utilize your Rail Shot.
Other moves to throw into your rotation:
1.) Retractable Blade
2.) Rocket Punch
3.) Shoulder Slam
4.) Immolate
Depending on your play style you can sprinkle in other abilities and buffs as well.
Thanks to my friend Kowalski from Empire Bail Bonds... - Seph