So, I’ll be editing this over time.
This is a elaboration of this thread as it pertains to Maya.
I was thinking we should create a 50 pointer list of the best tips as to staying alive in UVHM (if we can’t get to 50, we’ll go up to whichever number we work our way up to).
Unlike the general list, this list can be centralized around the design of the character, and therefore can speak on specific builds as well as a moderate degree of item loyalty.
- Please add a tip and a suggestion as to where it should be in retrospect to all the other tips.
-This list will be numbered in order of importance, so if there is no consensus on the position of the tip, it shall be placed on the tail end. - Avoid tips that are too alike to previous tips.
- Avoid tips that would allow for no personal influence on a build
- Tips as to important items to own are welcome.
- Tips as to common mistakes to avoid are welcome.
Lets begin!
- Don’t be afraid to dramatically change your build for Maya in Co-Op mode versus Solo.
- Phaselock can be a defensive tool as much as offensive. (i.e. lock a Psycho and run for cover).
- Always take res if you’re playing in a ream. Also, one point in restoration is enough.
- Maya is one of the few characters who doesn’t need to master two trees in order to be very effective.
- Converge is a game changer, both defensively and offensively.
- Maya is a goddess of Slag, but this may be rendered useless in FFYL. Keeping a slag gun on you may help getting a second wind.
- Don’t aim a slag ball at an enemy, instead, aim it slight above their heads if they’re in a group. The further the ball travels, the more chances it has to slag enemies.
- If you’re going for an SMG build, don’t be overly loyal to that tool. Tactical superiority may be more important than practical superiority.
- You are the soul of the team, perhaps more than any character. Keeping an eye on them, is keeping an eye on you.
- If you use a Pimpernel, learn where the sweet spots are on a phaselocked target.
- Subsequence is a bad idea in areas with a lot of surveyors. The time the ball spends chasing a surveyor is time not either in cooldown or lock down on a target.
- The slag ball can destroy gas tanks, barrels, rockets, and slag piles.
- While Blight Phoenix looks cool, it will set off barrels if you get too close.
- Match your COM to your skills and playstyle. While the CAT is great for SMGs, the Legendary Siren can be even better due to its cooldown bonus.
- Don’t even think about using a bee or an amp shield unless you have at least 5/5 in Ward. Also, don’t expect the Bee to protect you at all. It’s there to increase your damage, not decrease incoming damage.
- Try to stay on the perimeter of a fight so you can adjust your tactics as necessary: you can quickly raise a downed teammate, prioritize your targets, or hide if your Bee is down.
- Immolate adds more than fire damage while in FFYL, so take it to at least 5/5.
- Ranked skills were fixed as of the Oct 29th Patch. Cloud kill can be game changing.
- Maya’s self healing (Life Tap, Sweet Release) is only as good as your firepower allows it to be.
- Know what your party expects from you. Before they run in guns blazing expecting you to heal.
- Subsequence doesn’t instantly Phaselock the next target. It travels through the air and continues to user the timer as it seeks one out. In some circumstances, it may not be a worthwhile investment.
- Thoughtlock doesn’t remove any of the usual Phaselock effects.
- 6 Million ways to slag, choose one, and by that I mean more than one. Always have a back up.
- Aspects that heighten shield capacity, without altering shield regeneration, may be counter intuitive to a Bee-Hawk Maya.
- Over-abusing health-gating while Beehawking may lead to some really long nights.
- When Lifetap is active, a poor shot, (i.e. shotgun graze) may be superior to an aimed shot for the sake of survival, as it may be enough to trigger a healthgate.
- The more partners you have, the more you’ll be expected to change your play style. Maya is the ultimate support character, and they’ll expect that of you (especially if you’re the only Maya).
- In situations where you’ll certain to be cornered and surrounded (i.e. OP7 Assassins in Digistruct), Thougthlock may provide you with a critically needed ally.
- Maya can obliterate a badass enemy from a quarter mile away, but be horribly troubled by an unseen melee opponent. Remember to prioritize targets according to Maya’s specific weaknesses.
- If it can be Phaselocked it can be Thoughtlocked.
- If you’re running a build that depends on Thoughtlock, remember that certain enemies (such as Surveyors) will go so far as healing you. Inversely, they won’t stand still if you’re trying to shoot them out of the air.
- Chain Reaction can turn tight spaces in to meat grinders. Choose where to fight your opponents on the map when using this skill.
- A few skills on Maya’s Cataclysm tree scale poorly (such as Cloudkill), this doesn’t diminish the value of Cataclysm as a whole, since even early skills like Foresight actually synergize quite well with certain weapons.
- If you find yourself constantly running to different positions to use cover wisely, investing in “Fleet” may be more of a game changer than you think, especially before reaching end game.
- Maya has many skills that can heal her at a distance without the need for Moxxi weapons. Learn not to be overly reliant on them.
- Nurse Maya may read like a “Team only” build, but it has been used to great effect in single player as well.
- 5/5 on restoration isn’t absolutely necessary (consider opportunity costs), do tests with your team to see how fast you can get them back on their feet.
- Remember, restoration doesn’t only allow you to heal. It also raises your Health, this can be critical in OP8, but must be considered when using Health-gating strategies.
- Maya’s ability to fight at a distance doesn’t mean you should stay in a single spot for long. Enemies can converge on you, and the battlefield is ever changing.
- If you’re dependent on a certain kind of Ammo (especially for Cat Builds), a Blood of the Ancients Relic can be critical, and they are not particularly difficult to come by.
- Enemies with reflective capabilities can be a headache for Maya (such as PWR Loaders), remember to Phaselock them in order to nullify this. If they cannot be Phaselocked, timing and positioning will be critical, saving them for last may be necessary.
- Phaselock is a commodity. When the enemy is pressing you greatly, it may be best to reserve it for Res only circumstances in teamplay.
- Inversely, when you have the initiative, don’t be afraid to be generous with Phaselock as it may work well with other character’s abilities (i.e. Bloodsplosion, Anarchy).
- If timed perfectly, enemies can remain in a relative Stunlock between instances of Phaselock, and singularity grenades. Especially if your build has an impressive cool down rate.
- Maya can be quite the ammo consumer, items that replenish ammo, or are ammo efficient should be kept in the inventory.
- When using 1 player mode, don’t forget that going to your inventory pauses the game momentarily. This will allow you to go from full incendiary builds, to full corrosive builds, allowing for maximum output and a variety of specialized weapons.
- The above can further be used when attempting to run from one beset upon position to a safer one. Switch that Bee over for a Sham (or another defensive shield), and find a better position.
- Phaselock may make the enemy critical point difficult to find. Starting off with a shield stripping shot, followed by a Phaselock, may make a big difference.
- Powerful enemy (i.e. Constructors) can’t be Phaselocked? If you invested in Ruin, Phaselock can be read as “Instant Slag Tool” making it just as critical as a Phaselock, (especially if the enemy reflects).
- Many of the above tips are specific to a certain Maya build (or team play). To make implementing them easier, select the ones that apply to you and make a separate list.