Why do a lot of Gunzerker builds skip Ready Already?

Borderlands 2 Salvador the Gunzerker
#1

I was trying out Salvador for the first time, and noticed that a lot of point spread suggestions skip this skill. When I was getting help with Maya everyone said the cooldown skills were worth it. Just wondering if there’s something about Sal that makes this useless in some way.

Besides this, is it basically best to go straight up the Rampage tree first?

2 Likes
#2

I’m Ready is normally a skill that you spec until you get to about level 28 or so, at which point Get Some makes it completely redundant.

As soon as you can get about 3 points in Get Some, one generally respecs and bypasses I’m Ready.

To answer your second question, yes, Sal only works with Rampage, so load all your points there until you’ve maxed Get Some.

Edit : Get Some , in case you weren’t aware , works whether you’re GZ-ing or not. So every three seconds whe you shoot a damagable object , your cool down timer is reduced by three seconds. Again this works while in GZ, so when it expires you potentially have already cooled down so you can just hit your action skill again.

8 Likes
#3

Here’s a link to an archive of the old skills guide, which has brief comments: note the synergy between Get Some and Keep it Piping Hot, which negates I’m Ready Already.

http://web.archive.org/web/20150405220018/http://oldforums.gearboxsoftware.com:80/showthread.php?t=361882

I take a different approach while levelling up - I never concentrate on one tree. Sal’s Brawn tree is fine in NVHM and, with a split across all three for relevant skills, is OK in TVHM too. It’s only really in UVHM that Brawn starts to be lacking.

8 Likes
#4

Hey @DeputyChuck, how do you feel about porting that ?
I can help if you want :wink:

6 Likes
#5

Sure, I had this on the backburner for a long time so if you want to help me port it (or port it yourself) knock yourself out :slight_smile:

6 Likes
#6

Tell you what : I’ll do all the copy/paste and formatting and email you the raw text for edits ( and posting ).

3 Likes
#7

I didn’t know that about Get Some…I’ve never used Sal much before, so this is all new to me. Thanks for the tips though.

5 Likes
#8

Feel free to continue using this thread ( or make another ) for more questions. There are a few Sal experts here ( Chuck is #1 but there are plenty of others who know their stuff too. Much of my knowledge is a bit on the theoretical side now as I don’t play him as much any more ).

5 Likes
#9

Just as an update, here is my current TVHM Sal:

http://bl2skills.com/gunzerker.html#110000000005004000000051255001251

I’ve been running since the start of TVHM with one of Savage Beast, Grand Titan, and Unhinged Hoarder COMs as needed, although I just got a level 40 Legendary Berserker COM! Next point will go in Filled to the Brim to claim the COM bonus, then I’ll probably boost I’m Read Already and 5 Shots or 6 to unlock the next tier.

This has worked pretty well for me, provided I can find reasonably on-level gear to use. Fortunately, I just scored some major wins from the loot midgets, and inherited some gear from the next highest character I have. No Moxxi stuff on this one though!

6 Likes
#10

I’ll 2nd that remark! @DeputyChuck is the expert on Gunzerking, hands down. :innocent:

4 Likes
#11

Good Question @BasherSBC. I remember respeccing my Gunzerker at some point based on the (in)famous DeputySal and then went with guts feeling and what I’ve learned. Looking back at it I remembered asking myself the same question. Now I know the answer. But I realized I didn’t have points in get some! :hushed:
Something else to put on the to do list…

2 Likes
#12

agree the @Deputychuck is the best and he did not even need to share gameplay footage to prove it.

4 Likes
#13

Speaking of legendary coms, are there any that come as guaranteed rewards, or do they all have to be farmed?

Also, why do people always say Moxxie guns are best for Salvador? I think I have a Moxxie shotgun right now. Heartbreaker maybe…?

1 Like
#14

@VaultHunter101 That is a different spin on Sal from what I usually see. You seem to be going more for survivability / tankability than anything. That’s actually sort of intriguing. One of the reasons I took this long to try Sal is that I’ve never been the greatest shot. I mean, I’m probably an average shooter, but Sal always struck me as a character where hitting the mark was especially important. Maya was always my toon of choice, because she was more about crowd control, something I know a lot about from RPG games I play (Mostly Bioware stuff, where one class is always about keeping the unruly masses in check).

1 Like
#15

I sucked pretty badly when I first started playing the original Borderlands - it took me a long time to get the hang of moving and aiming at the same time. I still miss quite a bit when both I and the target are moving, but practice makes perfect (as they say).

One thing I’ve learned with all the characters is that keeping moving is one of the best defenses. You’ll notice that a number of the characters have skills that give movement speed buffs, and Sal is no exception. He can really zip his way around a mob once he gets going.

The problem with Sal specifically is that many of his fun Brawn skills lose effectiveness in UVHM, which is where most of the focus tends to be. So it makes sense to me to make the most of them while I can!

4 Likes
#16

I can only imagine how tough Sal must be in UVHM. I’ve tried with Maya, Gaige, and Krieg, and on every one of them I feel like the game becomes more of a pop-and-shoot tactical game. Maya might be a bit of an exception because of how often she can toss the mobs around like rag dolls, but I keep asking myself how I would stay alive long enough to shoot down mobs even while gunzerking. I guess like you say, keep moving, chucking slag grenades, using cover…

2 Likes
#17

Generally, it’s his best source of healing while he’s in the thick of it. When you’re holding a Moxxi gun, all damage you deal heals you. With a lot of Sal builds, he’ll have a damage-gun in one hand and a Moxxi in the other, so he’ll be healing up quickly as long as he keeps hitting things while zerking. A lot of the time that Moxxi gun will be a slag Rubi, or a Grog Nozzle, so you have some slagging ability thrown in there too.

2 Likes
#18

No legendary COMs are rewards in this game. The first available as a world drop ( apparently as low as level 20, but don’t hold your breath ) is the Legendary Berzerker. It’s actually quite a good COM, despite what others may say. There are better blue and purple COMs though.

After level 61, if you have the second DLC ( with Digi Peak ), the second gen COMs can randomly drop from tubbies. The Leg Gunzerker is great ; the Leg Hoarder is good if you’re going bullet-hose.

Otherwise the Monk is probably the most commonly used and is found in chests in Tina Tina’s DLC.

Regarding healing, the others have pretty much said it. A Moxxi in one hand assures healing from all damage sources ( the other gun, grenades, DoTs, even melee ) - the Rubi and Grog are obvious but the Heartbreaker is incredible ( on fleshy enemies ) and the Kitten is pretty good too.

Brawn : people keep saying it sucks in UVHM. I keep saying it doesn’t. I have a character at OP4 that only uses Brawn for healing. It’s not optimal but it’s still a viable and extremely fun and effective play style.

2 Likes
#19

I’ve had a couple of level 20 legendary COMs drop - always a nice surprise when that happens!

3 Likes
#20

About Legendary COM. It’s not guaranteed but if you can have friends helping you with Terra you have a good chance at a level 50 one. I think the chances are better to get the right one if it’s in your game. Not 100% sure about that.

That’s how I got mine for my Commando. Was only 30 at the time so I saved it for later use.
Or was it a lvl 30 COM? Was a long time ago…

2 Likes