50 ways to keep Krieg alive in UVHM

Borderlands 2 Krieg the Psycho
#1

So, I’ll be editing this over time.

This is a elaboration of this thread as it pertains to Krieg.

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!

  1. Krieg puts the FPS idea on it’s head. Just because it would work on any other character, doesn’t mean it would work on Krieg.
  2. Release the Beast is as valuable for it’s health boost/damage reduction as it is for it’s Melee ability. You also have about 3 seconds of invulnerability which you can use to your advantage.
  3. Move while you Melee! Many enemies without AoE will have no way to counter your alacrity.
  4. Dropping Slag grenades is a good way to keep everyone slagged, but also a bad way to keep your damage reduction relevant.
  5. If you’re playing in Co-Op Redeem the Soul is practically a necessity.
  6. Bloodsplosion can wipe out an entire battlefield in moments. Krieg is stronger the more flesh there is available.
  7. If you didn’t invest in the Mania tree, you can still use Buzz Axe Rampage to kill a smaller enemy and gain a quick jump in life, as well as a method to gain a bit of movement speed.
  8. Rough Rider is a Krieg staple.
  9. If you’re using an explosive build Krieg, you will need to invest in a level of synergy.
  10. Thrill of the Kill may ruin RTB cycles. Careful not to kill a smaller enemy on the verge of using it.
  11. While Trance may look promising, you’ll find yourself wishing you’d restart a Rampage before you find yourself wishing it would last a little longer.
  12. Light the Fuse can be helpful in running towards your better positioned allies and remains usable in UVHM, upon reaching OP levels it is a poor alternative to other methods in FFYL.
  13. Elemental Empathy’s life steal makes gun play realistic at end game. It synergizes perfectly with Burn Baby Burn, Fuel the Fire, Elemental Elation, Fire Fiend, Delusional Damage, and Raving Retribution. More DoT, more healing.
  14. Numbed Nerves 50% damage reduction can be active in and out of Rampage so it has better utility than Taste of Blood.
  15. Pay attention to your surroundings if you specced into Bloodsplosion. Items like trash piles and barrels take damage, so switching to a Rubi/Grog Nozzle after killing an enemy can be a lifesaver, especially for builds specced into Hellborn.
  16. Do not underestimate the strenght of the Buzz Axe Throwing mechanic. It can provide Stun-Lock, allows you to keep your distance and wait out your RtB cycle with some level of efficacy. It also fully heals you if you kill an enemy!
The Community Krieg Guide - All you ever wanted to know
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#2

Fuel the Rampage can be a good fail-safe if you mis-time RtB. However, be careful when playing with others if you have this skill.

Flame Flare will often kill you after a battle if you put too many points into it. 1 or 2 points is enough; 6 if using a Legendary Torch.

If you’re being suicidal in combat, you’re doing it right. Krieg is designed to take lots of damage to become more powerful. Don’t be scared to take a rocket to the face to get into RtB range. Same with Suicide Psychos.

Throwing your Buzzaxe can stun enemies. Use this if you’re in danger or against a shielded Nomad.

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#3

Roid shields and Silence the Voices are a bad idea. Use one or the other.
DO NOT USE ROID SHIELDS IN THE OP LEVELS WITH STV! Use a RR & BoA instead.
Don’t mash the melee button if you have StV specced. While it’s always 12% per swing, mashing the button can cause self-hitting chains of three or more, quickly putting you into FFYL.
Buzz ax bombardier and 5/5 strip the flesh go great together, like peanut butter and chocolate.
As above, a Rough Rider pairs well with a blood of the ancients.
No matter the level, a legendary sickle is always a good choice for a melee focused Krieg.
Learn how to use your kill skills. If you process Fuel the Blood, switch to throwing your ax until either it or your rampage ends.
Learn what process Blood Bath. Note the damage will transfer to any weapon, so you don’t need an explosive weapon to kick it off.
Few of Krieg’s skills are worthwhile if they’re not maxed out @ 5/5 or higher via a COM. The exceptions are Thrill of the Kill, Blood Twitch, Flame Flare, and Fuel the Fire.
Don’t bother with Light the Fuse because it scales poorly. It might work with an explosive relic, but don’t expect it to get you up regularly when you go down; use a rocket launcher instead.
Don’t get hung up on using a Law or a Rapier for melee damage if you also use your action skill because Krieg puts his weapon away when he rampages.
The Love Thumper novas can hurt your friends.
Redeem the Soul is always useful, not just in a team.
Krieg has no shield recharge skills, so don’t expect the Bee to be very useful on him.
If you’re going with Hellborn, always match elements and take Delusional Damage.

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#4

I get up almost every time I go down. The only time I don’t is when I’m surrounded by Badass enemies and no chumps. And with the scaling, I saw somwhere on the old forums that LtF’s damage gets multiplied by 6 in UVHM.

I’m not saying it’s a good idea to get it, I’m just saying it’s not as bad as you say it is. However, I’m not sure how useful it is in the OP levels, because I only play at level 72 OP0.

Also, if you’re playing with others, LtF can let you run toward your teammates behind cover and they can revive you there. So LtF does have some use.

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#5

I’m fairly sure he is aiming that more at the higher OP levels.

I have only gotten to OP4 bur I can really tell the drop off and from what I’ve read at the higher OP levels it’s useless.

At 72 OP0 it still works great IMO

#6

Just as an FYI gentlemen. I can create notations saying that it’s value decreases at OP1 and above, but viable to a certain degree in others.

These kind of topics are best with open debate, I feel.

#7

TURN ON THE BARBECUEEEEEEE
Could be that dmg reduction when on fire skill counts?

#8

I play exclusively at OP 8 and I haven’t touched LtF since it stopped working for me, so the scaling in UVHM may be better than TVHM. I’d have to go back and check it to be sure, but I wouldn’t try it in the OP levels.

#9

Poka did tests on this and at 72 it was bad but could work, at op8 it could barely kill a varkid if it was slagged.

#10

I thought I remembered someone testing it. Thanks Derch. As I said in my skills guide - if it works for you, go with it. Otherwise skip it.

#11

@Gulfwulf @Derch I have noticed that it is much more powerful with high Bloodlust stacks. At low stacks, I can only kill psychos and midgets, but at high stacks, I can kill goliaths and nomads with no issues. Unfortunately, I’m not sure what skill is causing that.

#12

Really? That is interesting. Maybe some one has an idea as to why that is happening.

Also; I feel as though simply providing this information is worthwhile. I’ll think of a way to make it concise.

#13

So much of Hellborn just works towards survival but two key skills in particular:

  • Elemental Empathy’s life steal makes gun play realistic at end game. It synergizes perfectly with Burn Baby Burn, Fuel the Fire, Elemental Elation, Fire Fiend, Delusional Damage, and Raving Retribution. More DoT, more healing.
  • Numbed Nerves 50% damage reduction can be active in and out of Rampage so it has better utility than Taste of Blood.
#14

Pay attention to your surroundings if you specced into Bloodsplosion. Items like trash piles and barrels take damage, so switching to a Rubi/Grog Nozzle after killing an enemy can be a lifesaver, especially for builds specced into Hellborn.

I find it interesting that you didn’t mention the Flame of the Firehawk. Its synergy with Krieg is also quite good, and is useful both offensively and defensively. Though can be a major nuisance to have to look at the constant novas.

For Bloodlust/Hellborn builds, Tediore Plasma Casters are extraordinarily versatile guns. They can both situationally and consistently proc Blood Bath with splash damage and reloads, respectively. The massive magazine size boosts in both trees can make for devastating reloads, which can set up Bloodsplosion chains or save you from Fight For Your Life in a pinch. Both bullet impact and splash damage can trigger DoTs, setting the rest of Krieg’s skills up. Their low reload time works with Krieg’s potential fire rate and mag size boosts, allowing you to stack DoTs at a machine gun-like pace. There are better weapons for specific situations, but a Tediore Plasma Caster is a great all-purpose weapon that can easily carry you through UVHM.

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Hellborn Krieg questions
#15

I’ve added this to the community guide. Thanks for doing these, Giu.

#16

This topic should be pinned here. Since Krieg shares its first letter name with Kamikaze (and both names has a relation with war), will be useful for K newbies and not so newbies.

Keep up the great work Giuv.

#17

Do not underestimate the strenght of the Buzz Axe Throwing mechanic !

  • You’ll still get healed by killing an ennemy this way.
  • You can stunlock big ennemies (especially with Buzz Axe Bombardier) to get closer of a direct in-your-face smack or to find cover.
    – Help you keep you distance against the more powerful ennemies that would down you in close quarter (Constructors, bosses…) while still doing great damage
  • Do not hesitate to take a little break when in Release the Beast if you see that you are low on health with little time left. Better to hide in a corner for two seconds and reactivate it to get full health than running into the fray and getting downed
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#18

My pleasure bro, thanks for putting them up on the Community Guide.

I feel like I’m always learning something new about this game. I’ve played Krieg long enough where I have a firm grasp on it. That being said, I’ve been seeing the Missus play Maya for ages and I still learned a ton of things in that thread.

Thanks for the compliment bro.

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#19

Hey mate. I found that top point to be really good. I do have a few questions though.

Your second and third paragraph are good, but have a level of elaboration that may be difficult to incorporate into the memory of some one who is looking up “tips”.

Could you reword them? I would do so myself, but I feel as though you were trying to get to a specific point on both counts.

#20

Yeah, they can easily be made more brief:

  • Flame of the Firehawk is one of Hellborn Krieg’s best shields.

  • Tediore Plasma Casters are one of the best general weapons for gun builds.

I should have used these points first, then used my giant paragraphs to support my points, lol. And yes, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve accidentally lived thanks to swapping to a Moxxi weapon once an enemy has died. Blood Twitch makes it so easy, haha.