Favorite and least favorite agents?


Recommended Posts

Just though I'd make a thread for people to share their favorite and least favorite agents, and why. I'll start:

 

Favorite: On-file Nika. Not only is she amazingly useful when everything goes to hell and you need to clear a path and make a beeline for the exit, but if you give her the extremely useful "T.A.G. Pistol", she can walk into a room, tag multiple enemies at once, and walk right back through the door before they turn around.

 

Least Favorite: On-file Banks. Her augment is rendered pointless by her own stats. Once you can pickpocket guards, you'd only specifically need Banks' augment in like 10% of cases where security cards are needed. Decker's also fairly lame in terms of augments, but at least he comes with an extremely useful cloaking rig, while Banks only comes with a custom paralyzer that isn't as useful.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't think it's fair to order the agents after how good they are. They are all different and have different uses.

Sure some may be more difficult to use, and of course there's nothing wrong with having your preference but no agent is strictly good or strictly bad.

Also some agents may not be very useful on their own but amazing for a specific setup, and some agents are great for campaign while others are better for endless. I actually think it's possible to learn to like every agent for what they are.

 

There are agents that are used less often, I am aware of that and I think it's sad, but it's unnecessary to start this whole thing again with some agents being overpowered and some being underpowered. That has been going on long enough.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree with Cyberboy2000's assessment, but I still have to admit that I get a sense of dark glee when using Draco to level up his own stats at the expense of guards and a clean-up fee.

 

How I feel using certain agents may or may not relate to their effectiveness at mitigating the difficulty of the task at hand.  Can we change the direction of the question from "Which agent is the most useful?" to "Which agent do you enjoy playing with?"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've found Draco very entertaining to play with in combination with Archive Decker. Sometimes you can also find a Hand Cannon in the nanofab on the first mission and reload it twice because a guard had a Charge Pack to steal. I didn't think I'd ever have a 1000 credit cleanup fee.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For campaign I like playing with Archive Banks and Dr Xu. Econ chip + no pwr cost on safes + level 2 anarchy means you can really max out income over the first couple of days. Plow the additional creds straight into hacking. Everyone loves a shock trap and starting with a neural dart can make all the difference on an expert+ run.

 

Endless runs I prefer starting agents with more unique augments, like both Nika's, both Sharp's and file Xu again. File Xu and archive Sharp's max movement penalties become more of an issue late endless though. Xu and Internationale's starting augments lose value later on too.

 

Really, you can make anyone useful with enough time and the augment drill. My two most important agents in my best endless+ runs were Decker and Shalem, both with anatomy analysis and 3 piercing scanners.

 

All-round, Internationale and Xu are probably the strongest, although I got kind of bored of Internationale a while back and am starting to tire of Xu. It's to the game credit that all agents really do feel different when you play with them, in different modes, pairs and 3-4 man teams.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Either in campaign or endless, archive Banks is the way to go. Every mission I upgrade her hacking skill along with speed; and if there's another character with a better hacking skill, I transfer the item to them and upgrade their hacking skill instead. I've found a succesful combination with Derek (archive M0nst3r), his teleportation skills are a must if you have portable servers when wrapping things up at the end of the mission (you only have to go for them and teleport Derek to the exit). It's also useful for marking consoles (doing errants and when the cooldown of the Econ chip is 0, teleport to console)

Dr. Xu would also be nice since Stim 4 exists now, I'd love to see those magnetic reinforments go down in a single turn with him.

Archive Nika is also nice for them cooldowns. I can see archive Sharp more useful now with the DLC endless.

 

The least favorite would be Decker and Shalem, I even configured the serverdefs so they no longer spawn. No regrets.

 

Well, what are your thoughts?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been trying out the newer agents and found myself liking the archive Derek and Prism.  I'm still a bit skeptical on Prism because she has no augment capability at all (seems a tad severe).  However, after giving Derek's Transport Beacon to another agent I love sending him deep into a difficult situation and then popping him back to safety.

 

EDIT NOTE:  Just used this strategy after forgetting to grab the power cell for Incognita on day 8 (easy to forget objectives when there is a list of them now).  All my agents were in the elevator ready to go (with Sankaku drones and guards outside the door) but was reminded I couldn't leave yet.  Loaded up Derek with all the cloaks and stims and sent him off.  He made it there in one turn and we zapped him back into the teleport.  Phew!

 

Briefly played with Draco and Olivia but haven't really found their play style compatible with my own.  I think I would really like archive Sharp but I don't think I can try him out during my current run (as I don't think he appears in Detention Centers).

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've always loved Xu and his Subdermal Tool augment.  The ability to knock open safes without triggering daemons (which is pretty common late game Endless mode) is invaluable.  My biggest gripe is that it only takes away 2 firewalls and often found myself waisting AP sitting by a safe dropping it down.  However, now with Stim IV, that's no longer an issue because Xu can spam this as many times as he wants during one turn.  

 

Just mentioned this in another post but recently had Xu open 4 safes, a power generator, and knock a Shop Cat console down to one firewall (all in one turn) thanks to the Stim IV.  This was day 11 Endless, so most of these firewalls were level 5+

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I gave chance to Draco and hell, he is good. Despite lacking specialization he is best early game all-around agent with gruesome feature. Definitely one of my favorite agents along with Nika and Prism.

 

My least favorite are Monster and Central due disappointing augments, their arcived versions are more interesting, though Olivia still kinda bland.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

recently had Xu open 4 safes, a power generator, and knock a Shop Cat console down to one firewall (all in one turn) thanks to the Stim IV.  This was day 11 Endless, so most of these firewalls were level 5+

 

A Stim IV amped Xu is amazing. A room full of safes with +18 firewalls each and a redundant power relay in the next room? Not a problem! Xu can polish them all off in one turn!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Favourite agent is definitely the new Derek. The teleporter is straight up amazing, and you can do so much with it. Archive Prism is really great too, and Archive Banks is just too good for what she does - you max out hacking early and you end up with far too many credits.

 

Olivia's also neat conceptually, and she makes a great pairing with Derek, as she can pump a guard full of tranqs and smack him around for power while he runs off and nabs the goods. I dunno if she's really that effective (although Derek + cry baby is hilariously effective) but it's still fun.

 

standard Prism / Internationale / Banks all have pretty much invaluable augments. But they're not super exciting outside of that. They're pretty great to find in Detention Centers, though.

Least favourites are Decker and Shalem. Neither has really anything interesting to offer and they're kind of generic.

 

 

I've always loved Xu and his Subdermal Tool augment.  The ability to knock open safes without triggering daemons (which is pretty common late game Endless mode) is invaluable.  My biggest gripe is that it only takes away 2 firewalls and often found myself waisting AP sitting by a safe dropping it down.  However, now with Stim IV, that's no longer an issue because Xu can spam this as many times as he wants during one turn.  

 

Just mentioned this in another post but recently had Xu open 4 safes, a power generator, and knock a Shop Cat console down to one firewall (all in one turn) thanks to the Stim IV.  This was day 11 Endless, so most of these firewalls were level 5+

 

You can do that with all EMP packs. It's a pretty neat trick, and even the safeguards aren't that bad because once they start showing up, you can use your EMP packs as impromptu hacking tools. Ofc, you can also hack the safeguards down with buster chips and then EMP them when they're low, if you still want to dodge daemons.

 

EMP packs in general are probably the best tool you can get in this game. You can use them to even disable heart monitors and prevent alert levels from KOs (on Expert+). There's nothing quite like an EMP-pack enabled flurry gun massacre.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You can do that with all EMP packs. It's a pretty neat trick, and even the safeguards aren't that bad because once they start showing up, you can use your EMP packs as impromptu hacking tools. Ofc, you can also hack the safeguards down with buster chips and then EMP them when they're low, if you still want to dodge daemons.

 

EMP packs in general are probably the best tool you can get in this game. You can use them to even disable heart monitors and prevent alert levels from KOs (on Expert+). There's nothing quite like an EMP-pack enabled flurry gun massacre.

 

There are times where EMP packs can do that, however, in the situation I mentioned I wouldn't have been able to do that unless I was carrying 4-5 of them (which I don't generally do).  In my opinion, carrying one Stim IV is much better use of inventory space then 4-5 slots taken up by EMPs to do the same job.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Favourite agent is definitely the new Derek. The teleporter is straight up amazing, and you can do so much with it. Archive Prism is really great too, and Archive Banks is just too good for what she does - you max out hacking early and you end up with far too many credits.

 

Olivia's also neat conceptually, and she makes a great pairing with Derek, as she can pump a guard full of tranqs and smack him around for power while he runs off and nabs the goods. I dunno if she's really that effective (although Derek + cry baby is hilariously effective) but it's still fun.

 

standard Prism / Internationale / Banks all have pretty much invaluable augments. But they're not super exciting outside of that. They're pretty great to find in Detention Centers, though.

Least favourites are Decker and Shalem. Neither has really anything interesting to offer and they're kind of generic.

 

I do agree very much with your assessment on Derek.  It's great to set him up as a powerhouse that can venture deep into enemy territory without the fear of being able to get him back out.  I don't use his teleporter as much as I should but those times where I need it, definitely comes in handy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Favorite is Banks, has a way to keep a guard down, starts with a disruptor and lvl 2 anarchy. Great for stealth runs and allows you more options while navigating missions or doing security dispatch missions with ease. Least fav is probably Rush or Monst3r. I sell off most stims I come across so stim 1 kinda sucks and her augment makes trouble for her on sankaku missions or if you dont know what is around the next corner. Monst3rs gun is his only redeeming feature (outside of archive banks runs).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been trying out the newer agents and found myself liking the archive Derek and Prism.  I'm still a bit skeptical on Prism because she has no augment capability at all (seems a tad severe).

 

She doesn't have any *initial* augment slots, but you can still install slots at an augment grafter.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Of the new agents I'm really liking Derek so far. The teleport is amazing!

 

Need a distraction just sprint him into a dead end, drawing all the guards with him, and teleport him out.

 

Have some safes far away from the exit and the alarm level is already high? No problem send Derek even if you f*** up you can still get him out.

 

Just be mindful of the 4 PWR cost and remember to pick the beacon up and you're good.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm having a tough time telling which character is my favorite, both from a practical perspective, and a fun/mess around perspective. For practicality I'm torn between Nika and Internationale, and messing around might go to Archive Prism.

 

I know who is my LEAST favorite character though, and its on file Shalem.

 

I don't get him. First of all, his augment is generic as all hell. +1 armor piercing. Fricking ANYBODY can get a piercing scanner. You get a piercing scanner, you get a sniper rifle, and you're basically Shalem. Very unique, I know. It would be OK, if his sniper rifle fired sleep darts, but no, it had to be "lethal damage". Which means extra alarm level. Great. Not to mention, his Disruptor is pathetic, having a five turn cooldown, and nothing to make up for it.

 

So clearly, Shalem's main advantage is his high armor piercing. Hes able to pierce through level 2 armor straight from the start. A good perk, unless you consider... That literally no guard wears any armor early game. And by the time armor becomes a problem, your agents are equipped for it. By the time Shalem becomes useful, all your other agents will reach his capabilities with augments and gear.

 

Have you ever came across an armored guard and thought "Flummery! If I just had Shalem, I could shoot this guy!" ?

 

No? You just took him down with your Neural Disrupter III?

 

There.

 

(He looks cool though, ill give him that.)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm having a tough time telling which character is my favorite, both from a practical perspective, and a fun/mess around perspective. For practicality I'm torn between Nika and Internationale, and messing around might go to Archive Prism.

I know who is my LEAST favorite character though, and its on file Shalem.

I don't get him. First of all, his augment is generic as all hell. +1 armor piercing. Fricking ANYBODY can get a piercing scanner. You get a piercing scanner, you get a sniper rifle, and you're basically Shalem. Very unique, I know. It would be OK, if his sniper rifle fired sleep darts, but no, it had to be "lethal damage". Which means extra alarm level. Great. Not to mention, his Disruptor is pathetic, having a five turn cooldown, and nothing to make up for it.

So clearly, Shalem's main advantage is his high armor piercing. Hes able to pierce through level 2 armor straight from the start. A good perk, unless you consider... That literally no guard wears any armor early game. And by the time armor becomes a problem, your agents are equipped for it. By the time Shalem becomes useful, all your other agents will reach his capabilities with augments and gear.

Have you ever came across an armored guard and thought "Flummery! If I just had Shalem, I could shoot this guy!" ?

No? You just took him down with your Neural Disrupter III?

There.

(He looks cool though, ill give him that.)

My opinion of Shalem in a nutshell.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would have to say that my favorite is Internationale.  Being able to detect devices through walls is pretty invaluable to my playstyle, so she's always one of the starting agents.Seeing and then hacking cameras before I get to a room is great.  In later levels I can do this with Oracle, but even then it's a random camera, and not necessarily one that will let me see a room before I get to a door.

 

My least favorite is probably also Shalem.  Killing with him is not rewarding enough.  I've come to really enjoy Draco, though, and his ability saves enough credits on skill increases that it's an acceptable trade-off for the alarm levels jumping from killing guards.  I suppose Shalem and an Anatomy Analysis cybergear unit wouldn't be as bad, but I'll take Draco over Shalem if I want a killer running around.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Based on a combination of aesthetic and my playstyle, Archived Decker is my favorite agent hands-down. If only you could RELOAD THE GORRAM REVOLVER!!! Doing that would make him MUCH more appealing. Tied for second are Archived Banks (allows you to 'make Bank' early game with her Econ chip if you spec her for hacking) and Dr. Xu (his OP augment makes him the ultimate Blade Runner).

 

I dislike Internationale, Shalem 11 and Prism. Starting with Internationale just makes the game boring imho, as Internationale x Dr. Xu basically means GG for Sankaku. Shalem's augment (as established previously) is generic and Prism doesn't fit my playstyle.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My favorite is Archive Internationale, believe it or not.
It helps to have a bunch of power that late, for hacking/weapons. Mostly with weapons. Currently trying an archive Internationale and normal Nika endless to see how that works out. Got a flurry gun early, with charge+fusion, started with brimstone, I have Lockpick 2, and i'm sitting on a bunch of buster chips. Looking to get more PWR weapons, which have been unfortunately sparce this time though so far. Never there when I want them, but around when I don't need them, tsk tsk.

My least favorite is Olivia, since it feels kinda in-game surreal to have her around. Same goes for Derek, really... I mean, Central is the one narrating everything, but having a time-displaced counterpart in the same universe seems a little too universe-breaking for my particular taste.

That being said, I see no problem with agents being equipped however they want. The archive loadouts are cool all around, really. I would rather the "archive" Central and Monst3r be post-story versions, or at least share the same portrait and model. Or have the option to?
Actually, i'd totally use a mod for that, if one ever shows up. *hint hint*

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Please be aware that the content of this thread may be outdated and no longer applicable.