In Abyssus, there are many factors to consider when preparing a loadout before starting a new expedition. Your playstyle influences your choice of weapons and fire modes, but regardless of your preferences, you’ll begin your first run with the Engine Rifle.
If you’re new to Abyssus, here’s a breakdown of some of the best build options for each weapon, focusing on the optimal setup for the Engine Rifle.
How Does the Engine Rifle Work?
The Engine Rifle is a fast-firing weapon that operates like a machine gun. It boasts a high rate of fire, with both primary and secondary fire modes that modify the firing speed in exchange for damage output.
- Primary Ammo: 40 rounds
- Secondary Fire: lasts 4 seconds, with a 5-second cooldown
This weapon excels at delivering a wide spread of damage across long distances. Its damage output is average, depending on which fire modes you use. Generally, increasing fire rate reduces damage per shot, but it allows you to land more hits quickly.
Best Build For The Engine Rifle
While experimenting to find what work best for you is encouraged, leveraging the Rifle’s high fire rate is recommended. There’s value in weapons that deal more damage per shot but fire more slowly.
Primary and Secondary Fire Options
The Engine Rifle is effective for hitting groups of enemies thanks to its broad spread. Here’s what works well:
- Primary Fire – Gatling: As you fire, your rate of fire increases the longer you hold the trigger, eventually dealing higher damage in a short burst. Recoil and reload times can be reduced with upgrades later in the game, so prioritizing these can be beneficial.
- Secondary Fire – Split Shot: Creates a wide spread for secondary attacks, excellent for groups. Pairing this with Charms and Aspects can further improve its effectiveness.
To unlock these, you need to:
- Kill 15 enemies without reloading for the Gatling fire.
- Kill 30 enemies with explosions while firing the Split Shot.
Other fire modes that focus on higher damage tend to reduce overall bullet output, so if you prefer fewer but stronger shots, guns like the Brine Revolver or Shotgun might be better suited.
Best Ability
Using the Frag Grenade is highly recommended with the Engine Rifle. It aids in maximizing damage and provides excellent crowd control during group fights. Keep in mind, unlocking additional abilities involves specific achievements—check your Logbook for details.
Best Aspects
Since each run can vary, you might not always get to choose your Aspects. However, if possible, consider these three:
- Barrier: Your primary fire charges a barrier as you shoot—useful for defense, especially if you have Gatling equipped since it charges quickly.
- Lightning: Focus on upgrading Chain Lightning; with a broad spread, it can hit multiple targets efficiently.
- Spirits: Summons spirits to attack enemies after your Grenade, adding extra damage and combos.
Best Charms
Though Charms are randomly granted, if you find these, it’s advisable to pick them:
- Marksman – Boosts your damage with each consecutive hit, ideal given the spread of the Engine Rifle.
- Piercing Rounds – Bullets pierce enemies, significantly enhancing crowd control capabilities.
Experimentation and dealing with the random nature of Charms can lead to powerful combinations, but these options generally enhance the Rifle’s effectiveness.
