Vanguard Plasmatech Basics Guide

Regenerates health and recharges your energy cells while channeling. Not usable in combat.

Regain health out of battle.

Fires a series of hammering shots that deal weapon damage to the target.

Fires a series of hammering shots that deal weapon damage to the target.

Strikes the target with the butt of the rifle, dealing kinetic damage.

Strikes the target with the butt of the rifle, dealing kinetic damage.

Increases Endurance by 5%.

Increases Endurance by 5%.

Ranged weapon attacks have a 30% chance to deal additional elemental damage over 6 seconds. This effect cannot occur more than once per second.

Ranged weapon attacks have a 30% chance to deal additional elemental damage over 6 seconds. This effect cannot occur more than once per second.

Increases the damage of Plasmatize by 20%.

Increases the damage of Plasmatize by 20%.

Fires an ion pulse at the target, dealing elemental damage.

Fires an ion pulse at the target, dealing elemental damage.

Fires a very powerful round at the target, dealing weapon damage. Only usable against incapacitated targets and targets suffering from periodic damage.

Fires a very powerful round at the target, dealing weapon damage. Only usable against incapacitated targets and targets suffering from periodic damage.

Blasts everything in a 10-meter cone with ionized energy, dealing elemental damage to up to 8 targets.

Blasts everything in a 10-meter cone with ionized energy, dealing elemental damage to up to 8 targets.

Emits an explosive surge, dealing elemental damage to up to 8 enemies within 5 meters.

Emits an explosive surge, dealing elemental damage to up to 8 enemies within 5 meters.

Purges incapacitating and movement-impairing effects.

If you are stunned and can’t move, you can use this ability to unstun yourself.

Interrupts the target's current action and prevents that ability from being used for the next 4 seconds.

Every class has an interrupt ability that allows them to interrupt an enemy while they are casting. Enemy castbars that fill up from left to right are called casts and can be interrupted and the ability will be stopped, but castbars that go from right to left deal damage the entire time they are channeling. Using your interrupt in combat is very useful as it can prevent the enemy from damaging you, or sometimes even prevent them from stunning you or knocking you back!

Your next ability depletes no energy cells, and you recharge 50 energy cells over 3 seconds after using it.

Your next ability depletes no energy cells, and you recharge 50 energy cells over 3 seconds after using it.

Strikes the target with an overcharged rifle butt, dealing kinetic damage and releasing a powerful discharge that deals elemental damage. Replaces Stockstrike.

Strikes the target with an overcharged rifle butt, dealing kinetic damage and releasing a powerful discharge that deals elemental damage. Replaces Stockstrike.

Applies a stack of Durasteel armor to you, increasing your armor by 40% and your damage done by 2% for 10 seconds. Whenever you take damage, an additional stack of Durasteel Armor is applied, up to 5 times. This lasts up to 30 seconds.

Applies a stack of Durasteel armor to you, increasing your armor by 40% and your damage done by 2% for 10 seconds. Whenever you take damage, an additional stack of Durasteel Armor is applied, up to 5 times. This lasts up to 30 seconds.

Reduces the cooldown of Ion Wave by 3 seconds and causes Shockstrike to root its target for 2 seconds.

Reduces the cooldown of Ion Wave by 3 seconds and causes Shockstrike to root its target for 2 seconds.

Shockstrike, Ion Pulse, and Explosive Surge trigger Plasma Cell on all affected targets. Reduces the cooldown of Ion Wave by 3 seconds and causes Shockstrike to root its target for 2 seconds.

Shockstrike, Ion Pulse, and Explosive Surge trigger Plasma Cell on all affected targets. Reduces the cooldown of Ion Wave by 3 seconds and causes Shockstrike to root its target for 2 seconds.

Increases damage reduction by 25% for 15 seconds.

Increases damage reduction by 25% for 15 seconds.

Calls down artillery strikes while unleashing plasma blasts that deal kinetic damage and elemental damage to up to 8 enemies in the targeted area while depleting 30 energy cells over the duration of the channel. Standard and weak targets are knocked down by the blasts. Can be used while moving.

Calls down artillery strikes while unleashing plasma blasts that deal kinetic damage and elemental damage to up to 8 enemies in the targeted area while depleting 30 energy cells over the duration of the channel. Standard and weak targets are knocked down by the blasts. Can be used while moving.

Shocks the target at long range, taunting it to attack. Player targets deal 30% less damage when attacking anyone other than you. Effect lasts 6 seconds.

Shocks the target at long range, taunting it to attack. Player targets deal 30% less damage when attacking anyone other than you. Effect lasts 6 seconds.

Shockstrike builds a stack of Suppresive Heat increasing the damage of your Plasma Cell by 25% per stack. Lasts for 15 seconds. This effect can stack up to 4 times.

Shockstrike builds a stack of Suppresive Heat increasing the damage of your Plasma Cell by 25% per stack. Lasts for 15 seconds. This effect can stack up to 4 times.

General Suggestion: Shockstrike is your big melee hit ability, and Plasma Cell is a passive damage source thats working in the background all the time as you fight. Suppressive heat will be free extra damage without having to change the way you play Plasmatech at all!

Shockstrike leaves a shock charge on the target causing your next Plasma Flare or Ion Pulse to set off the charge dealing 30% more damage. This effect can only occur once every 30 seconds.

Shockstrike leaves a shock charge on the target causing your next Plasma Flare or Ion Pulse to set off the charge dealing 30% more damage. This effect can only occur once every 30 seconds.

Shockstrike deals damage to up to 4 enemies within 5 meters of the primary target.

Shockstrike deals damage to up to 4 enemies within 5 meters of the primary target.

Solo Many-Enemy Suggestion: This is a pretty good amount of cleave damage for attacking big groups of trash.

Increases the damage dealt by Plasma Cell by 10% and increases its chance to be triggered by 5%.

Increases the damage dealt by Plasma Cell by 10% and increases its chance to be triggered by 5%.

Reduces the damage taken from all periodic effects by 30%. Increases the damage dealt by Plasma Cell by 10% and increases its chance to be triggered by 5%.

Reduces the damage taken from all periodic effects by 30%. Increases the damage dealt by Plasma Cell by 10% and increases its chance to be triggered by 5%.

Fires a harpoon line that pulls the target to your location and generates a high amount of threat. Targets are immobilized for 3 seconds. Cannot be used on targets in cover.

Pull an enemy to you. Doesn't work on stronger enemies.

Increases the duration of Reactive Shield by 3 seconds. In addition, suffering direct damage from area attacks regenerates 2 energy cells and heals you for 2.5% of your total health. This effect cannot occur more than once every 3 seconds.

Increases the duration of Reactive Shield by 3 seconds. In addition, suffering direct damage from area attacks regenerates 2 energy cells and heals you for 2.5% of your total health. This effect cannot occur more than once every 3 seconds.

Harpoon cable is engulfed in fire and places Blazing Harpoon on the target. This deals elemental damage and slows the target over 6 seconds.

Harpoon cable is engulfed in fire and places Blazing Harpoon on the target. This deals elemental damage and slows the target over 6 seconds.

Storm a distant target, dealing kinetic damage, interrupting the target's current action and immobilizing the target for 2 seconds. Cannot be used against targets in cover. Using Storm grants Battering Blitz, resetting the cooldown of Storm and increasing movement speed by 30% for 6 seconds. While Battering Blitz is active, Storm may be used once within 10 meters of the target and deals 50% additional damage but does not cause an additional interrupt, immobilize or charge. This effect cannot occur more than once every 15 seconds.

Jump to a faraway enemy.

General Suggestion: Taking Storm and adding a leap to your vanguard makes you 100% more mobile and this one can be re-cast right away for additional damage! This also has an added benefit of not being a passive that relies on Harpoon - which would generate high threat.

Harpoon gets 2 charges and finishes the cooldown of Stockstrike.

Harpoon gets 2 charges and finishes the cooldown of Stockstrike.

Fires a sonic round, immediately reducing threat towards all current enemies by a moderate amount. Player targets deal 30% less damage for 6 seconds when attacking anyone other than you.

Your detaunt ability will cause enemies to lose interest in your character, at least for a short time. This is most useful if you're getting attacked during group fights when your tank is supposed to be taking the damage, or when your companion is set to tank.

Activating this ability makes you Fired Up for up to 60 seconds, which triggers an Adrenaline Rush when your health is reduced to 35% or less. Once triggered, Adrenaline Rush rapidly heals you up to 35% of your max health for 8 seconds but will not exceed 35% of your max health. Does not go on cooldown until Fired Up is triggered.

Activating this ability makes you Fired Up for up to 60 seconds, which triggers an Adrenaline Rush when your health is reduced to 35% or less. Once triggered, Adrenaline Rush rapidly heals you up to 35% of your max health for 8 seconds but will not exceed 35% of your max health. Does not go on cooldown until Fired Up is triggered.

Launches an incendiary projectile, setting the target ablaze for elemental damage and an additional elemental damage over 15 seconds.

Launches an incendiary projectile, setting the target ablaze for elemental damage and an additional elemental damage over 15 seconds.

Increases the critical hit chance of elemental attacks by 3% and regenerates 2 energy cells every 1.5 seconds.

Increases the critical hit chance of elemental attacks by 3% and regenerates 2 energy cells every 1.5 seconds.

Increases elemental and internal damage reduction by 5% and reduces the cooldown on Sonic Round by 10 seconds. Increases the critical hit chance of elemental attacks by 3% and regenerates 2 energy cells every 1.5 seconds.

Increases elemental and internal damage reduction by 5% and reduces the cooldown on Sonic Round by 10 seconds. Increases the critical hit chance of elemental attacks by 3% and regenerates 2 energy cells every 1.5 seconds.

Incendiary Round deals damage to up to 4 targets and applies a detonator to each target it hits. When the targets are hit by Ion Wave each detonator explodes dealing damage to each target.

Incendiary Round deals damage to up to 4 targets and applies a detonator to each target it hits. When the targets are hit by Ion Wave each detonator explodes dealing damage to each target.

Solo Many-Enemy Suggestion: Ion Wave should already be trying to spread incendiary round - this added dps will make your AoE on large groups much better without much extra thinking.

When you deal damage with Incendiary Round, your next High Impact Bolt applies Burning Bolt, dealing elemental damage over 12 seconds. This effect can occur once every 10 seconds.

When you deal damage with Incendiary Round, your next High Impact Bolt applies Burning Bolt, dealing elemental damage over 12 seconds. This effect can occur once every 10 seconds.

General Suggestion: Plasmatech is a damage over time-based damage discipline. A talent that gives you an additional damage over time effect is invaluable as it is what you specialize in already. Remember to press your glowing high impact bolt after every Incendiary round for 12 seconds of burn damage!

Fires a missile that explodes on contact, igniting the target for elemental damage. In addition, Armor Piercing Round will apply Assailable to targets it damages. Assailable targets take 7% more elemental and internal damage. Replaces Incendiary Round.

Fires a missile that explodes on contact, igniting the target for elemental damage. In addition, Armor Piercing Round will apply Assailable to targets it damages. Assailable targets take 7% more elemental and internal damage. Replaces Incendiary Round.

Increases ranged and tech critical hit chance by 25% for 15 seconds.

Increases ranged and tech critical hit chance by 25% for 15 seconds.

High Impact Bolt ignores 60% of the target's armor and Stockstrike or Shockstrike deals 10% more damage.

High Impact Bolt ignores 60% of the target's armor and Stockstrike or Shockstrike deals 10% more damage.

Increases the critical bonus damage of Ion Wave, Shockstrike, Plasmatize, and Plasma Flare by 15%.

Increases the critical bonus damage of Ion Wave, Shockstrike, Plasmatize, and Plasma Flare by 15%.

Activating Shockstrike makes your next High Impact Bolt an automatic critical hit. Increases the critical bonus damage of Ion Wave, Shockstrike, Plasmatize, and Plasma Flare by 10%.

Activating Shockstrike makes your next High Impact Bolt an automatic critical hit. Increases the critical bonus damage of Ion Wave, Shockstrike, Plasmatize, and Plasma Flare by 10%.

When activating Reactive Shield you gain 25% movement speed and immunity from incapacitating effects for 6 seconds. In addition when taking damage from direct attacks your cooldown on Neural Surge is reduced by 2 seconds. This can occur once every 3 seconds.

When activating Reactive Shield you gain 25% movement speed and immunity from incapacitating effects for 6 seconds. In addition when taking damage from direct attacks your cooldown on Neural Surge is reduced by 2 seconds. This can occur once every 3 seconds.

When activating Adrenaline Rush you gain Reactive Plating. This allows your next Durasteel Armor to gain an additional stack and return damage to attackers or your next Sonic Round will heal allies and grant you 10% damage reduction.

When activating Adrenaline Rush you gain Reactive Plating. This allows your next Durasteel Armor to gain an additional stack and return damage to attackers or your next Sonic Round will heal allies and grant you 10% damage reduction.

General Suggestion: Adding an extra stack to one of your most important buffs and allowing it to reflect damage is very powerful, not to mention the ability to turn your detaunt into a defensive that heals allies! Only Plasmatech vanguards have access to this and it's pretty good!

Fires off a Suppression Droid to scan the area for 15 seconds, revealing stealthed opponents and immobilizing them for 3 seconds. In addition, all enemies inside the field of the Terminator Droid have their accuracy reduced by 20% and are slowed for 30%.

Fires off a Suppression Droid to scan the area for 15 seconds, revealing stealthed opponents and immobilizing them for 3 seconds. In addition, all enemies inside the field of the Terminator Droid have their accuracy reduced by 20% and are slowed for 30%.

Emits an energetic plasma burst, dealing elemental damage to the target.

Emits an energetic plasma burst, dealing elemental damage to the target.

Ion Pulse, Explosive Surge, and Plasma Flare grant Pulse Generator, increasing the damage dealt by your next Ion Wave by 50% and causing it to slow affected targets by 45% for 3 seconds. This effect stacks up to 2 times.

Ion Pulse, Explosive Surge, and Plasma Flare grant Pulse Generator, increasing the damage dealt by your next Ion Wave by 50% and causing it to slow affected targets by 45% for 3 seconds. This effect stacks up to 2 times.

When activated, your Reactive Shield charges with electricity, zapping attackers for elemental damage when they deal direct damage to you. This effect cannot occur more than once each second.

When activated, your Reactive Shield charges with electricity, zapping attackers for elemental damage when they deal direct damage to you. This effect cannot occur more than once each second.

General Suggestion: Choose Electro Shield to do some free damage to your enemy every time you get hit!

You recharge 20 energy cells when stunned, immobilized, knocked down, or otherwise incapacitated. Additionally, when this happens your next tech ability used within 15 seconds deals 10% more damage or healing.

You recharge 20 energy cells when stunned, immobilized, knocked down, or otherwise incapacitated. Additionally, when this happens your next tech ability used within 15 seconds deals 10% more damage or healing.

Reduces the cooldown of Tenacity by 30 seconds and the cooldown of Recharge Cells by 15 seconds.

Reduces the cooldown of Tenacity by 30 seconds and the cooldown of Recharge Cells by 15 seconds.

Deal internal damage to up to 8 enemies within 8 meters, stunning them for 2.5 seconds.

Stun many enemies to keep them out of the fight temporarily.

Deploys a shoulder cannon that gradually loads 4 missiles over time. Once loaded, the shoulder cannon can be triggered again to fire against an enemy target within 20 meters, launching 1 missile that deals kinetic damage. A missile can be launched up to once per 1.5 seconds. Loading and launching the shoulder cannon does not respect the global cooldown and can be done while controlled. Once all missiles have been loaded, depleting all missiles puts the shoulder cannon on cooldown for 1.5 minutes.

Deploys a shoulder cannon that gradually loads 4 missiles over time. Once loaded, the shoulder cannon can be triggered again to fire against an enemy target within 20 meters, launching 1 missile that deals kinetic damage. A missile can be launched up to once per 1.5 seconds. Loading and launching the shoulder cannon does not respect the global cooldown and can be done while controlled. Once all missiles have been loaded, depleting all missiles puts the shoulder cannon on cooldown for 1.5 minutes.

Drenches the target with a blast of plasma, melting them for elemental damage over 30 seconds. Plasmatize also makes the target Susceptible for 45 seconds, increasing the damage the target takes from tech attacks by 5%. When a target affected by Plasmatize dies, Plasmatize spreads to the closest enemy target within 10 meters that is not already affected by your Plasmatize.

Drenches the target with a blast of plasma, melting them for elemental damage over 30 seconds. Plasmatize also makes the target Susceptible for 45 seconds, increasing the damage the target takes from tech attacks by 5%. When a target affected by Plasmatize dies, Plasmatize spreads to the closest enemy target within 10 meters that is not already affected by your Plasmatize.

Increases the damage dealt by Incendiary Round and Armor Piercing Round by 10%. In addition, Ion Wave spreads your periodic Incendiary Round effect to the targets it damages, as long as it damages targets already affected by your Incendiary Round.

Increases the damage dealt by Incendiary Round and Armor Piercing Round by 10%. In addition, Ion Wave spreads your periodic Incendiary Round effect to the targets it damages, as long as it damages targets already affected by your Incendiary Round.

When Into The Fray is triggered, it will also deal elemental damage to the attacker if the attacker is within 10 meters.

When Into The Fray is triggered, it will also deal elemental damage to the attacker if the attacker is within 10 meters.

Reduces the cooldown of Riot Strike by 2 seconds. Additionally, all area effect damage is reduced by 60% for 15 seconds after Sonic Round is activated.

Reduces the cooldown of Riot Strike by 2 seconds. Additionally, all area effect damage is reduced by 60% for 15 seconds after Sonic Round is activated.

General Suggestion: The reduced damage from area attacks makes this very useful for staying alive in any content with area-wide damage (which is almost all). Combined with a reduced interrupt cooldown, and this choice makes any fight with mechanics a little easier to survive! If you feel you don't need the damage reduction, Reflective Armor is a good option for some free damage.

Tactical Surge, Ion Pulse, and Explosive Surge reduce the movement speed of affected targets by 25% for 3 seconds. Additionally, Neural Jolt slows the target by 50% for 6 seconds.

Tactical Surge, Ion Pulse, and Explosive Surge reduce the movement speed of affected targets by 25% for 3 seconds. Additionally, Neural Jolt slows the target by 50% for 6 seconds.

While Adrenaline Rush is active, your damage reduction is increased by 30%. Additionally, the active cooldown of Adrenaline Rush is reduced by 6 seconds when you are attacked. This effect cannot occur more than once per second.

While Adrenaline Rush is active, your damage reduction is increased by 30%. Additionally, the active cooldown of Adrenaline Rush is reduced by 6 seconds when you are attacked. This effect cannot occur more than once per second.

Damaging a target with your Shoulder Cannon missiles heals you for 3% of your total health.

Damaging a target with your Shoulder Cannon missiles heals you for 3% of your total health.

Hurls a cryo grenade that freezes the target, dealing energy damage and stunning it for 4 seconds.

You can use your short stun on weaker enemies to stop them from running around, from casting abilities, to stop them from damaging you, or just to keep them out of the fight in general.

Grants 10 seconds of immunity from all movement-impairing effects, knockdowns and physics and increases movement speed by 75%.

Grants 10 seconds of immunity from all movement-impairing effects, knockdowns and physics and increases movement speed by 75%.

General Suggestion: All three choices here are good, but Hold the Line should be your default to help make vanguard feel a little more mobile. If extra survivability is needed, swap to Guard Cannon, and Cryo Grenade is a great 4 second stun if your enemies aren't immune to such effects.

Plasma Flare makes your next Ion Pulse or Explosive Surge deplete no energy cells. Additionally, Ion Wave will now overwhelm the targets it damages. Overwhelmed targets take 10% more damage from area attacks.

Plasma Flare makes your next Ion Pulse or Explosive Surge deplete no energy cells. Additionally, Ion Wave will now overwhelm the targets it damages. Overwhelmed targets take 10% more damage from area attacks.

Increases the stun durations of Cryo Grenade by 1 second and Neural Surge by 0.5 seconds.

Increases the stun durations of Cryo Grenade by 1 second and Neural Surge by 0.5 seconds.

Allows Adrenaline Rush to be activated while stunned and causes Adrenaline Rush to purge most stun effects when activated. In addition, Efficient Tools increases the range of Harpoon and Shoulder Cannon by 10 meters and eliminates the energy cost of Cryo Grenade and Neural Surge.

Allows Adrenaline Rush to be activated while stunned and causes Adrenaline Rush to purge most stun effects when activated. In addition, Efficient Tools increases the range of Harpoon and Shoulder Cannon by 10 meters and eliminates the energy cost of Cryo Grenade and Neural Surge.

Solo Single-Enemy Suggestion: Choose Efficient Tools to let you use Adrenaline Rush when you are stunned, and make your Shoulder Cannon and Harpoon reach farther!

Solo Many-Enemy Suggestion: Choose Efficient Tools to let you use Adrenaline Rush when you are stunned, and make your Shoulder Cannon and Harpoon reach farther!

Flashpoint Suggestion: Choose Efficient Tools to let you use Adrenaline Rush when you are stunned, and make your Shoulder Cannon and Harpoon reach farther!

Sonic Round protects all friendly targets in its area of impact, excluding you, granting Sonic Rebounder, which reflects the next direct, single-target attack back at the attacker.

Sonic Round protects all friendly targets in its area of impact, excluding you, granting Sonic Rebounder, which reflects the next direct, single-target attack back at the attacker.

Operation Suggestion: Sonic Rebounder is incredibly powerful in group content - when you use your detaunt, everyone nearby except you will get a protective shield that bounces damage back at the enemy! This is a fan-favorite ability for the Vanguard Style! Remember that if you took Reactive Plating at 43, this will also heal allies and reduce your damage taken!

Ion Wave causes the next Plasma Flare to deal 40% more damage. In addition, increases the critical chance of Plasma Flare by 10%.

Ion Wave causes the next Plasma Flare to deal 40% more damage. In addition, increases the critical chance of Plasma Flare by 10%.

Increases the damage dealt by elemental attacks by 10% on targets below 30% max health. Additionally, Plasmatize costs 5 less energy cells. Ion Wave causes the next Plasma Flare to deal 30% more damage. In addition, increases the critical chance of Plasma Flare by 10%.

Increases the damage dealt by elemental attacks by 10% on targets below 30% max health. Additionally, Plasmatize costs 5 less energy cells. Ion Wave causes the next Plasma Flare to deal 30% more damage. In addition, increases the critical chance of Plasma Flare by 10%.