Auto Bear is fantastic on Normal mode

Borderlands 3 Moze the Gunner
#1

I recently got both a class mod and artifact with a cooldown bonus on them, and decided to run them with Auto Bear, exiting Iron Bear as soon as I summon him to minimize cooldown as much as possible. The result was staggering, Auto Bear with 2 railguns has like 80-90% accuracy even at long range, and his damage output is very high with them (you can switch between fire, shock, and corrosive railguns depending on enemy type, further increasing damage). The cooldown bonuses meanwhile mean that Iron Bear’s cooldown only lasts about 10 seconds after Auto Bear’s 15 second duration is over, and you can make the cooldown almost non-existant by putting a few points into Grizzled. It’s basically like having a 2nd player in your game, he even draws most of the aggro in my experience.

Sadly, I hear that both Iron Bear and Auto Bear scale very poorly into Mayhem Mode, which is a shame for sure. I feel like using Auto Bear as a near permanent turret would be a viable strategy if Gearbox ever decides to fix Iron Bear’s scaling.

2 Likes
#2

The main problem with Iron Bear is that Moze is better without it so it’s a waste of points outside of fun factor to invest in it.

#3

Topped off in the guardian ranks seems to work best. After full use of Ironbear with no class mods or relics to provide cooldown, “topped off” and 10% action skill cooldown from guardian gives me a 14 second cooldown after a fuel drained ejection.

It’s been a game changer waiting until I had those guardian ranks before starting my Moze playthrough. Her mech is available more often than Axton turrets in BL2.

Edit - I must have accidentally stacked some cooldown buffs or something. Went back and played again and it was slower. That 14 seconds was ridiculous though.

#4

It’s still good in Mayhem…you just can’t invest in IB beyond Auto Bear and that one skill in SOR that starts recharging your and your team’s shields instantly with 25% recharge rate increase. And you take Hammerdown Protocol since Auto Bear doesn’t use the fuel mechanic without the legendary class mod that makes auto bear last for the entire fuel bar.

At least that’s what I do on TVHM M3 and it’s viable, IB takes aggro, launches 4-6 nukes and recharges our shields. 10 seconds after the duration, pop IB again. It’s a whole lot like having a super pet that doesn’t follow you around the map. Like having a BL2 turret that does massive AoE damage, has a 10 second cooldown and instantly starts recharging everyone’s shields.

And as a bonus you basically invalidate Zane by doing this lol.

1 Like
#5

It is also godly in TVHM Mayhem.

People are too hung up on piloting Iron Bear; while I want to play Mechwarrior as well, having Auto Bear artillery support all the time = I love it. Especially since Moze can do accomplish things on foot once her skills are filled out

Iron Bear is actually a turret

#6

??? It’s the base of the ability. It’s like saying it’s normal that only 1/3 class ability is useful for other vault hunters.

And I don’t find auto-bear that great, even on normal : it take a ‘long’ casting time, getting inside the mech then exit. You can take lot of dmg while you trying to eject. Auto bear isn’t invulnerable, he can be destroyed before the 15 sec.

It’s a bad turret, a bad pet & a bad vehicle. But I would love to see Iron bear be better in different roles.

3 Likes
#7

It’s actually a godly turret. You can avoid damage easily. I always play with it out. Its fire support makes the game so fun

Think bros, no need to give up free dps

Don’t Dakka Bear and Auto Bear will be around most of the time. Enemies target you. Use it as a turret.

#8

I think most people(like me admittedly) don’t want to be limited to a single play style. I’ve noticed that IB works better as a turret (not great but better) but it’s still disappointing to be unable to use him as advertised. His current setup, if you use him at all, requires a single gameplay loop. Didn’t gearbox say that if two players came into the same game together on the same class, they be able to be totally different from one another?

Edit: also, if the intent was to have him only work as a turret, his setup time is abysmal (1.5 seconds to start, and 3.5 or so to eject).

If they intended that game style, why not allow a tallent that summons him like Deathtrap? That would be pretty cool and more accurately reflect the lore of Moze’s character with IB as sortof a dumb “Protec my master” feel

#9

Sounds like this could be a fun and engaging gameplay loop. Hopefully Gearbox will implement the right balance to make this work.

Glad you like Moze, she is the best!!!

#10

You shouldn’t be gaking damage entering or exiting Iron Bear. At least I never do. There are a few seconds of immunity frames and then you eject behind it.

I disagree though, Auto Bear is a decently fun gameplay loop and can be pretty powerful as is(and would only be better if Gearbox through some QOL balance).

It only take about a second and a half to eject and less than that to enter.

Regardless, you simply can’t say IB is a bad turret because that’s proven to be not true. If you don’t like Iron Bear as a pet though that’s just a matter of opinion.

Still would be nice to have some love to Care Bear though.