VitalAgents inUbisoft’sThe Division 2know how to use their guns, but the Gunner has a more intimate connection with their firearms. Interestingly, players interested in dishing out major damage while maximizing what firearms can offer will enjoy playing the Gunner Specialization. Moreover, inThe Division’s post-apocalyptic setting, it’s the Gunner’s familiarity with specialized weaponry that sets the Division apart from other factions in the game.
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Unfortunately, others who try the Gunner for the first time might feel overwhelmed with its various options. However, the right familiarity with the Gunner’s skill tree can help players set their Operators apart from the rest of their squad. However, how exactly would this work?
First Things First: Sustained Damage
Across all specializations, the Gunner has a penchant for damage resilience and sustained damage output. Thanks to its Minigun, the Gunner has a natural tendency to keep on firing at things until they turn to dust. Unfortunately, some players might think this leaves Gunners quite vulnerable to suppressing fire or to enemy reinforcements. Thankfully, the Gunner’s skill tree has a more straightforward approach when ensuring they have enough firepower to pulverize enemy forces as soon as they arrive. Here are some areas of focus:
M134 Minigun:The Gunner has the M134 Minigun as its treasured Signature Weapon. It’s a rotary gun capable of allowing the Gunner to provide suppressing fire or tanking the frontlines with the right build. Playersneed to be carefulwhen using this, as drawing this to enter the fight won’t allow players to sprint or enter cover.
Building Armor, Stability:Unlike other Specializations, the Gunner prioritizes building armor and stability as part of its offensive approach. As a “tanking” Specialization, the Gunner has Talents that allow it to gain more ammo, defense, and even stability as it launches attacks on opponents.
Multi-Gun Specialty:As per its namesake, the Gunner has extensive training over the use of different weapons. When not using the Minigun, Gunners works best as an all-around DPS across multiple ranges. In turn, aside from a handy sidearm, they also work with the mid-range assault rifle, short-range shotgun, and fast-paced LMG.
Banshee:Agents may obtain the Banshee as a special Drone should they choose the Gunner Specialization. This small gadget can launch a pulse that confuses enemies in its blast radius, and it even penetrates through cover.
Signature Weapon: M134 Minigun
Unlike other Specializations, the Gunner likes to take the front lines and just rain hell on enemies. They do this courtesy of theM134 Minigun, a six-barreled rotary gun. Thanks to its sheer size, the Minigun can easily fit a helicopter. However, the Gunner’s specialized training makes them just as capable of manning this behemoth against enemies.
With an automatic fire mode and around 6,000 rounds-per-minute, the M134 Minigun remains to this day as one of the most reliable - if not the best - single-barreled firearm to date.
It’s Raining Hell
Designed to support the Gunner’s frontline-oriented role, the M134 Minigun remains capable of providing suppressing fire to pressure the enemies into less-favorable situations. In turn, the M134 Minigun enables the Gunner to tank most combat situations while leaving the rest for more specialized damage-dealers. Unfortunately, whipping out the Minigun does remove the Gunner’s capability to sprint and take cover. In turn, Gunners need to have a reliable supporting fire if they want to take the lead to a fight - which can bedifficult to become get used tofor a beginner.
Essentially, the Minigun takes time to fire from the hip, as the rotary barrels still need to spool up in preparation. Players can decrease spooling time when aiming, which can slow down the weapon significantly in return for higher accuracy. Moreover, the Minigun does have a more limited effective range, reaching only 30 meters. Here are other base statistics for consideration:
Rate of Fire: 1000
Fire Mode: Automatic
A Good Offence (Talent)
As the adage goes, sometimes the best offense makes a good defense. Some might think that the frontline nature of the Minigun adds a huge risk to the Gunner, due to exposure. However, theA Good OffenceTalent of the M134 Minigun makes this risk worth the while. Essentially,the Gunner gains 50-percent bonus armor for each Signature Weapon ammo upon drawing the Minigun.This adds a huge defensive leap for Gunners about to tank difficult bosses and multiple enemy squads.
Moreover, while this Talent doesdeal less damage to Named enemies, the Talent compensates by ensuring thatthe Gunner restores 1-percent armor per bullet hit. Witha pro’s skillset, this can make the Minigun a devastating enemy to face.
Signature Weapon Damage (Passive)
Players can further improve the M134 Minigun’s damage courtesy of theSignature Weapon DamageTalent. Thanks to this Talent, the minigun can enjoy as much as(Tier 4) 40-percentincreased damage.
Skill Modifiers: Fatal Distractions
The Gunner’s M134 Minigun works best the more targets it can hit. Meaning, the Gunner essentially becomes a hulking tin can if they can’t hit any enemies. Thankfully, their support Drone can remove this liability with a handy distraction. TheBansheeis a Drone specifically designed to confuse and distract enemies, leaving them wide open for the Gunner’s barrage.
Moreover, the distraction caused by the Banshee essentially gives the party a few seconds to take cover or even make an impressive comeback from sticky situations. This works best withskill combosthat rely on distracting the enemy for a quick flank-and-kill.
Banshee (Item, Drone)
As mentioned, theBansheeserves as the ever-reliable Drone that assists the Gunner in their incursions. Unlike other Specialization Drones, the Banshee doesn’t damage opponents. Rather, the Banshee canunleash a forward pulse arc that confuses enemies in its range.In turn, enemies become stunned and wide open for attacks. Impressively, the pulsepasses through coveras well.
Microwave Amplifier (Mod)
With theMicrowave Amplifier, the Banshee can enjoyan increased duration for its confusion pulse wave.
Directional Transmitter (Mod)
Gunners can further improve from the Banshee’s pulse wave via theDirectional Transmitter, which enhances the Banshee’s area of effect.
General Modifiers: Safety First
Gunners have a more dangerous approach to battle compared to their other Specialization counterparts. After all, their Minigun might have supreme firepower. However, they do trade offensive advantage for lack of cover and sprinting power. In turn, Gunners might be left behind in terms of the defensive front. Thankfully, some Talents focus on ensuring Gunner safety whenever they bring themselves to the front lines.
Vital Protection (Passive)
As the primary defensive component of a squad, the Gunner needs to have the best protection to tank damage from enemies. Thanks to theVital ProtectionMod, the Gunner can enjoy as much asa 20-percent decrease of getting hit by critical hits during Conflict.Essentially, Gunners can use this to have an extra layer of survivability when in the high-intensity situations. This is particularly useful against Elites and Named opponents who often have higher critical hit chances.
Coupler (Passive)
Gunners work best whenever they just aim their weapons at enemies and fire as much as possible - which makes the few seconds of reloading quite a risk for this Specialization. After all, that short room can give enemies time to flank them and eliminate them. Thankfully, theCouplerTalent allows Gunners to reload much faster in the heat of the battle. Essentially, this Talent allows Gunners to(Tier 3) make every third reload 50-percent faster.
Barrage (Talent)
Due to the quick-fire nature of the Minigun, Gunners know that the best way to end a firefight is to eliminate enemies as soon as possible - especiallywhen taking control points. Gunners impart this philosophy to combat with theBarrageTalent, which essentiallyboosts the Gunner’s firing rate by 5-percent in a quick 5-second burst for every kill.Theoretically, landing more kills in a single blow will make Gunners fire much faster.
Emplacement (Talent)
Gunners can easily dominate the battlefield courtesy of their sheer weapon control. After all, the volatile nature of hte Minigun means it can launch a barrage of bullets almost anywhere. Thankfully, theEmplacementTalent improves the Gunner’s battle performance. This Modgives Gunners a 15-percent weapon handling boost when staying motionless for at least one second.Emplacement, when combined with the added armor of Incessant, gives Gunners a healthy balance of practical offense and sustainable defense in battle.
