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Battleframes Overview

By Reddeyfish

As always with Firefall, there is no one “ultimate” build or battleframe. This is a guide to help you decide which advanced frame you want to play.

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Created by

Reddeyfish
Online

Category: Classes

Languages: English

Posted

15 Jul, 2014 @ 10:13am

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Guide Index

Overview

Firecat

Tigerclaw

Dragonfly

Recluse

Mammoth

Rhino

Arsenal

Electron

Bastion

Nighthawk

Raptor

Comments

Firecat

The Firecat is an assault frame focused on AoE and DoT. The thermal cannon has the largest splash radius of any weapon in game, and its incinerator perk applies a DoT effect to anything it hits. This makes the Firecat the perfect frame to use against groups of enemies. However, the Firecat’s weapon has a lower DPS, so the Firecat isn’t as effective against single targets.

If you choose to play a Firecat, keep in mind that its large AoE makes it very vulnerable to self-splash. Also, the thermal cannon’s shots travel slowly, so you will have to learn to lead your targets. Consider equipping a secondary that is capable at longer ranges.

Tigerclaw

The Tigerclaw is the assault frame for DPS and mobility. The fusion cannon has the largest DPS of any assault weapon, and its abilities and auxiliary tanks perk allows it to remain highly mobile. However, this frame is very fragile, and it’s weapon requires you to be very good at aiming due to the travel time and tiny AoE.

If you choose to play a Tigerclaw, consider equipping perks to make yourself more durable.

Dragonfly

The Dragonfly is THE healing frame of Firefall. The alt-fire of the Bio Rifle allows it to quickly heal allies up to full health, and the self-heal components of its abilities make it very durable. A Dragonfly will always be welcome within a squad, but it still packs a respectable punch when you’re playing alone. However, the Bio Rifle has a very small ammunition supply, so you’ll often run out of ammo.

If you choose to play a Dragonfly, consider crafting Ammo Packs to make up for your limited ammo.

Recluse

The Recluse is another AoE and DoT frame, similar to the Firecat. While it doesn’t have as much AoE as the Firecat, it makes up for it by having better DPS and more survivability. Because of this, the recluse is a very good frame should you choose to go thumping.

If you choose to play a Recluse, keep in mind that its alt-fire’s AoE makes you very vulnerable to self-splash. Since the recluse is a biotech, you can equip healing wave for some limited healing capability.

Mammoth

Hands down, the Mammoth is the most defensive frame. Its massive health and shielding abilities make it difficult to die. Because of this, the mammoth has been a favorite for people who wish to speed through missions. However, the mammoth is also the slowest frame in Firefall.

If you choose to play a Mammoth, try to stay close to your enemies. The Plasma HMG’s damage dropoff and travel time make it most effective at close range.

Rhino

In contrast to the Mammoth, the Rhino is the most offensive frame. The Heavy Laser Machine Gun has the highest DPS of any primary weapon (only second to shotguns), and all of its abilities boost its damage output.

If you choose to play a Rhino, experiment a little with various perk and ability setups to figure out which best suits you. Several of it’s abilities are rather situational and hard to use. Also, don’t forget the importance of weapon charge time. A better charge time will make it easier for you to alternate between primary and alt fire at close range.

Arsenal

As its name implies, the Arsenal is a master of weapons. Its combat shotgun ability has the highest DPS of any weapon (at close range, of course), and in general the frame has a weapon for every situation.

If you choose to play an Arsenal, remember that the LMG’s secondary fire can go through multiple targets. This means that you can shoot through shields. When a chosen drone creates a shield, use this to shoot all of the chosen inside the dome (except the drone) and enter the shield for a defensive boost.

Electron

The electron is an engineer with support capabilities. All of its abilities give buffs to nearby players., and its shock rail allows it to snipe targets from mid-range. This frame is best for those who like to work in groups.

If you choose to play an Electron, remember that you can equip Accord Engineer abilities. Most Electrons replace one of their abilities with the Accord Engineer’s supply station.

Bastion

the Bastion is the master of turrets and point defence. Because of its multi-turret ability, it can boost its firepower with turrets and defend multiple locations at once. This frame is perfect for defending positions, and is very useful when thumping.

If you choose to play a Bastion, seriously consider replacing energy wall with an Accord Engineer ability. If you don’t use sentinel pod, you may want to use the Accord Engineer’s Tesla Rifle to keep your turrets repaired. Also, experiment with the various places that multi-turret can be placed. (i.e. on walls, in trees, on the ceiling, etc)

Nighthawk

The Nighthawk is the closest frame to a traditional FPS sniper. With a headshot, the sniper rifle can one-shot most enemies. However, the Nighthawk is very vulnerable to damage, and the sniper rifle is cumbersome to use at short range.

If you play a Nighthawk, aim for critical points. You can double the amount of damage per shot by doing this.

Raptor

The Raptor is a long-range supportive frame. Unlike the Nighthawk’s sniper rifle, the Raptor’s Charge rifle can alter the amount of damage charged into each shot to avoid massive amounts of overkill on damaged enemies. Since its Powerfield ability allows it to boost the damage output of nearby allies who run through the field, Raptors are capable of supporting allies who are farther away.

If you play a Raptor, you might want to replace teleport beacon with an accord Recon Ability. As with the Nighthawk, aim for critical points.

9 Comments

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GilgaMocha 20 Oct, 2014 @ 7:00am

@Serial Killer for Mayor
Initially, I would have thought this too, but it actually works quite well. If you use the right abilities, and a grenade launcher secondary, you have plenty of aoe for the weak trash. The Nighthawk's C4 ability (don't recall the name of it) does surprising amount of burst damage, then has the aoe dot--it's quite effective. I like to use SIN Beacon to make spotting enemies easier and for the damage buff. I use Decoy to get out of rough situations. The Nighthawk HKM is absurdly powerful if you have a large magazine on your rifle and your SIN Beacon placed well. A major point that was not addressed in this guide is that the Nighthawk's sniper rifle penetrates targets to hit others behind. I've had many double headshot kills, and using this with the HKM can let you devastate swarms of enemies.

All in all, don't let the idea of single target burst give you the wrong impression about this frame. It can handle anything.

THAT Guy 12 Sep, 2014 @ 10:00pm

"dragonfly is the healing frame" dragonfly is a support frame... most frames have some method of sustaining themselves... please quit re-enforcing this... yes they can heal, but isnt what they are condemed to. if your raiding its not the dragonflys fault you died... its your own for being reckless... dragonfly is not a babysitter or pocket healer.. you are there to support where needed

Nezirzat 9 Sep, 2014 @ 2:24am

Is there any real benefit to using nighthawk over ratpor besides 1 shots? I mean more often than not your are going to be facing so many enemies that 1 shots kills don't have much of an effect except on bosses, also execution is strictly worse than power field, it's also not that useful on a slow RoF sniper, what should I replace it with?

Skiptrace 26 Aug, 2014 @ 9:46am

You should have put in there how to get the other battle frames. There are 3 ways.

Method 1: 100 Red Beans = 1 Advanced Frame Cost: 10 USD Time: 2 - 3 minutes
Method 2: Credits, Convert Crystite into Credits, find your desired frame on the marketplace and boom, you have your new Battleframe Cost: 0 USD Time: Long time.
Method 3: Pilot Tokens, you get 10 Pilot tokens when you level a single Battleframe to level 40. Cost: 0 USD Time: LONG time.

Dreco 25 Aug, 2014 @ 4:27pm

good guide, but how do i get another batleframe?? i know theres a way with red beans.. is there other ways to get them???

desmond97 20 Aug, 2014 @ 3:02am

Gtrat guide, thanks for taking the time to make it

LifeisPaytoWin 11 Aug, 2014 @ 4:10pm

hi great guide, very helpfull for frame choosing. but more info on the frame would be nice

Zarelious 24 Jul, 2014 @ 7:05pm

Thanks for the guide very usefull

StupendousScorpio66 15 Jul, 2014 @ 12:33pm

I hope you make it more thorough. Also...first (why do people do that anyway?)

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