LOL at my epiphany that I've been using Zane's clones all wrong

Borderlands 3 Zane the Operative
#1

So I’ve been playing all the characters together and, for some reason, as soon as I hopped onto Zane I’ve basically been using his clone as a turret sort of like Axton. I would throw out my Zane clone and then hide behind cover to give myself a few breather moments. Sometimes I run out of ammo so would kill bosses (The Ball) by hiding in a safe spot and just letting my Zane clone kill him. It took forever but it works. If the Zane clone is behind a wall what I would do is go out into the open then run back and hope some guys follow me straight to my clone so he can murder them.

I’m not sure why but I just always thought you could only swap with your clone once an Action Skill cycle AND I thought it was ONLY used for activating his kill skills or shield regen. For some reason I just never really practiced using him?

So I’m eating dinner and decide to watch a random Zane video on YouTube that was in my recommendations. OMG! Total mindF. The guy cleared out a whole town area by running with his Zane and warping him over and over til the finish line. He popped him at the start and him & his clone killed the mini-boss at the end together and he had a few seconds before his action skill ran out. I was blown away that I just never thought to swap places with my clone to make him stay with me through a level. And now I’m a bit embarrassed as I’ve gotten 25-ish levels with him already!

So, I was just curious if you guys have any other random tips about the clone you guys could share? Maybe either how skills work together with him or maybe certain things or places where you can spawn him to make him OP. I’ve tried staying on top of really high buildings and hoping he kills everybody below but I guess he gets confused and just stands there getting shot and then dies. So that hardly works.

#2

Do you have a link to the vid? Should be in your Youtube history, thanks.

#3

I’d be keen to see that link too if you don’t mind sharing it?

As far as clone placement goes, I’ve been trying a few different strategies with it so far:

  • Forwards/Backwards. Leap-frogging forwards from cover to cover. That way you can always switch back and choose a new path forwards if need be. Think of it like a live action ‘redo’ button. Eg. If you run into heavy/unexpected resistance, or spot a way up to a good tactical vantage point you missed the first time, bounce back and do it differently!

  • Horizontal/Flanking. Placing the clone on either side to confuse and/or flank shielded enemies, or enemy groups. Bouncing between the two sides once the enemy focus changes leaves them exposed for crits one way or the other.

  • Vertical Levels. Leaving a clone up high before jumping down, to bounce back up if things get hairy. You can take advantage of the nova skill for groups of enemies on a different level this way too, bouncing back up to safety while detonating the nova.

I think a good rule of thumb is to try and put a bit of distance between you and your clone as often as possible; either laterally, vertically, or forwards/backwards. That way the switches are more dramatic, getting you in or out of danger as required.

Hope that helps!

#4

The vertical thing is also good for a quick double slam combo, also violent momentum will factor in falling speed (It’s about the same as a run and jump unless you come from waaay up, but still nice)

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