Atlas - Possibly the Most Under-Rated Frame?

[World]

Hello fellow Tenno,

I thought I might as well start this discussion up about my boi, Atlas. From all the time I've spent playing him, I learned one main thing - Before his prime barely anyone played him or gave him a chance. It got me thinking as to why this was the case.

If there was a checklist of things that generally made a frame strong, Atlas (For the most part) ticks all boxes. Amazing AoE crowd control with the use of petrify, phenomenal tanking potential with armour stacking and health return using his passive, and arguably one of the highest single/group damage abilities in the game given that he can utilize a stat-stick for his landslide (which has impressive damage scaling)... I would mention his rumblers and tectonics ability, but honestly their kinda a meme. Although its always fun to block off doorways and have them YEETing rocks about - their have no real scaling and tend not to be used as much.

I want to know from the community, why you think hes not played as much as other frames. And if anyone else is confused as to why most people consider him MR fodder. Thanks for listening to my Ted talk.

EDIT: I got my answer - The general consensus is a coin toss between 2 different factors:
1. People simply dont enjoy his play style - Very valid reason, the variety of frames in this game allows players to adopt an each to their own play style so that's a fairly good response. And understandably, maximizing his kit is high maintenance (Partially plays into reason 2) which is a turn off for some in terms of play-ability.
2. As mention by a few, his kit is outdated for an earlier meta of Warframe. Agreeably, Atlas' 2 and 4 have no real practical use in game. Although his 4 can sometimes be a fun gimmick - it has no real impact nor is it something that can be optimized for (Cause lets be honest, the augment is a tragic filler). And as mentioned mostly in the threads second page, tectonics has poor damage/doesn't cover enough space to be an efficient path blocker on most maps. Additionally, energy cost issues with his 3 are present making it a struggle to build up his passive - a passive of which, although is strong, is too short lived to have major sustainability unless you're paying attention constantly. Sure there have been a few responses where you can tell the player has picked him up and tossed him away without trying out his maximum potential, but ill forgive y'all 😉

Hopefully, DE can find the time to work through some of these issues but as mentioned in my original post - Atlas is one of the least played frames so the chances of a rework are about as likely as me finding a flying pig. Its good to see the opinions of other on this topic as I love my Atlas (And will continue to play him forever and ever). Hope to see those who read this post in Kuva Survival where you'll see me playing yours truly, -Atlas- 

P.s DE, please fix his 2 or delete it lol.

Edited October 27, 2019 by -Atlas-
Forum Post Summary

[(PSN)LoisGordils]

2 minutes ago, -Atlas- said:

I would mention his rumblers and tectonics ability, but honestly their kinda a meme

Exactly why I, and several others, agree that he needs a rework.

[Leqesai]

Atlas falls into a niche category of frames that are really quite good but may not be the most optimal choice. He has great tanking potential but inaros is better, great cc but nova is better, great damage but wukong is better etc.

Not saying the specific examples are the only examples but I believe people pass him up because they feel another frame does what they want better. 

 

Traditionally he is also very ugly. The prime fixed this though. Much like hydroid prime.

[World]

1 minute ago, (PS4)LoisGordils said:

Exactly why I, and several others, agree that he needs a rework.

Fully agree - Although I hope they dont alter his 1 like they did with old Mesa

[Leqesai]

2 minutes ago, (PS4)LoisGordils said:

Exactly why I, and several others, agree that he needs a rework.

I disagree. Atlas could certainly be improved but so could all other frames. For what he is he is fine.

[World]

1 minute ago, Leqesai said:

Atlas falls into a niche category of frames that are really quite good but may not be the most optimal choice. He has great tanking potential but inaros is better, great cc but nova is better, great damage but wukong is better etc.

True in a way, although hes not a specialist - hes not recognized as a 'jack-of-all-trades' like other similar frames are (Khora and Nidus for example)

[Pizzarugi]

Atlas is fine, the problem is the players are expecting him to compete with overpowered frames for a game that doesn't even need them. He can't out-tank Inaros or Nidus or high-strength Revenant, but the game's not hard enough for those immortal frames to need to exist. Atlas can't out-CC Nova or Nyx or Limbo, but the game's not hard enough for those high CC frames to need to exist.

From a balance perspective where the hardest mission content is running sorties and kuva floods, Atlas is fine. The reason he's underrated is because several frames are OP, do everything he does but better, and need to be nerfed.

Edited October 12, 2019 by Pizzarugi

[Reifnir]

6 minutes ago, -Atlas- said:

Amazing AoE crowd control

Compared to the likes of Radial Blind, Avalanche, Rhino Stomp, Vitrify and even Inaros' pocket sand, his is an extremely narrow-targeted one, unfortunately. Unless you're camping in a sewer pipe, narrow angle frontal CC is anything but amazing. 

9 minutes ago, -Atlas- said:

phenomenal tanking potential with armour stacking and health return using his passive

He's worse than Inaros in passive survivability and MUCH worse than Nidus, Nezha, Ironclad Rhino, Splinter Storm Gara and a multitude of others if we bring abilities into play, especially seeing how much of a pain in the arse it is to set up and maintain. In the grand scheme of things he's just a very, very average tank-ish frame and the only thing he REALLY has going for him is a passive Primed Sure Footed, which saves you a mod slot if you're not playing Nezha, Rhino or Revenant. 

14 minutes ago, -Atlas- said:

and arguably one of the highest single/group damage abilities in the game given that he can utilize a stat-stick for his landslide (which has impressive damage scaling)...

Too bad that damage abilities that have no room-clearing potential (think Maim, Saryn's Spores, Peacemakers, etc) are, for a lack of better word, worthless in the current meta. If you have time to Landslide it, you have time to land a melee hit on it, and with a right melee it will affect MORE targets, will not consume energy and WILL work against ability-immune enemies that are becoming more and more plentiful. 

 

So at the end of the day, we have a somewhat tanky frame with passive knockdown immunity, a cool-to-use but energy-consuming and inefficient damage ability, a barely functional CC and two abilities that might as well not exist for all they're worth. He's crying "Rework!" almost louder than Vauban, I'd say. 

[GreyEnneract]

7 minutes ago, Pizzarugi said:

the hardest mission content is running sorties and kuva floods

This will always be a meme.
Glad that I can still see people post this.
Thanks.

[NightmareT12]

12 minutes ago, Pizzarugi said:

Atlas is fine, the problem is the players are expecting him to compete with overpowered frames for a game that doesn't even need them. He can't out-tank Inaros or Nidus or high-strength Revenant, but the game's not hard enough for those immortal frames to need to exist. Atlas can't out-CC Nova or Nyx or Limbo, but the game's not hard enough for those high CC frames to need to exist.

From a balance perspective where the hardest mission content is running sorties and kuva floods, Atlas is fine. The reason he's underrated is because several frames are OP and need to be nerfed.

I'm fairly certain that Atlas can tank pretty well with 3k armor and Adaptation thrown in.

The issues he has mainly are:

• Landslide requires a stat stick
• Tectonics, outside of the niche uses the augment provides, doesn't really fit in a game like Warframe (this game doesn't even have built in cover mechanics, what is a single wall going to do?)
• And Rumblers AI being pretty lackluster, even though they seem to tank good enough and aren't completely useless.

He definitely tanks well enough thanks to his passive + 1 invulnerability (yes, he's no Inaros, and neither doesn't need to be), and the knockdown resistance part is crazy good, especially throwing stuff like Archweapons into the mix.

At the end of the day, Atlas doesn't really need a full on rework, mainly a QoL pass. Pretty much the same Chroma needs, a touch up on 2 of his abilities.

Edited October 11, 2019 by NightmareT12

[Pizzarugi]

5 minutes ago, GreyEnneract said:

This will always be a meme.
Glad that I can still see people post this.
Thanks.

I said mission, as in standard missions you find anywhere in the star chart which is the majority of what you'll be doing in the game. Nobody would use Atlas in activities that have a more strict meta like eidolons.

I should also clarify that sorties and kuva floods aren't necessarily hard missions either, at least not in the current state of game balance. With how gross you can make some weapons and frames right now, they're just as much a joke as anything else.

Edited October 11, 2019 by Pizzarugi

[Leqesai]

1 minute ago, NightmareT12 said:

I'm fairly certain that Atlas can tank pretty well with 3k armor and Adaptation thrown in.

The issues he has mainly are:

• Landslide requires a stat stick
• Tectonics, outside of the niche uses the augment provides, doesn't really fit in a game lik Warframe
• And Rumblers AI being pretty lackluster, even though they seem to tank good enough and aren't completely useless.

He definitely tanks well enough thanks to his passive, and the knockdown resistance part is crazy good, especially throwing stuff like Archweapons into the mix.

At the end of the day, Atlas doesn't really need a full on rework, mainly a QoL pass. Pretty much the same Chroma needs, a touch up on 2 of his abilities.

It isn't really that atlas can't tank well. He can. It is that people dont play him because they believe other frames do it better.

[NightmareT12]

Just now, Leqesai said:

It isn't really that atlas can't tank well. He can. It is that people dont play him because they believe other frames do it better.

I literally said he can though 🤔

Edited October 11, 2019 by NightmareT12

[GreyEnneract]

2 minutes ago, Pizzarugi said:

I said mission, as in standard missions you find anywhere in the star chart which is the majority of what you'll be doing in the game. Nobody would use Atlas in activities that have a more strict meta like eidolons.

I, too, am not referring to Eidolons.
This really did make my day though, thanks again brother.

[Pizzarugi]

Just now, GreyEnneract said:

I, too, am not referring to Eidolons.
This really did make my day though, thanks again brother.

I made a clarification edit on that response just as you posted, but I'll mention it here.

I should also clarify that sorties and kuva floods aren't necessarily hard missions either, at least not in the current state of game balance. With how gross you can make some weapons and frames right now, they're just as much a joke as anything else. Back in the day, they were actually tough to do.

[(XBOX)GearsMatrix301]

Remove the megathread tag, you’re not DE.

[Leqesai]

36 minutes ago, NightmareT12 said:

I literally said he can though 🤔

I wasn't saying you didn't. I was following your start and expanding on a different issue related to the original point.

Edited October 11, 2019 by Leqesai

[NightmareT12]

Just now, Leqesai said:

I wasn't saying you didn't. I was following your start and expandkng on a different issue related to the original point.

Sorry, my bad for the misunderstanding 😅

[(PSN)Apoleon_amarr]

The ratings from other people do not matter, he will always be the number 1 scanner in my heart, my pokecodex is almost complete thanks to him

[BansheePrime]

Banshee says hi.

[Duality52]

1 hour ago, Reifnir said:

He's crying "Rework!" almost louder than Vauban

There's Chroma from last year before his Prime, and DE assumed he was "fine" with his monotonic and half-functional kit.

[LSG501]

Honestly - the reason why I didn't play atlas much is exactly the same as the reason I won't be using atlas prime much once.  There are better options out there.

His 1st ability needs to be 'improved' to be closer to archwing so it doesn't need 'pinpoint' accuracy on what you're going to hit.  Also, unless I build around this ability I can literally kill just as quick with my melee (not just an atlas problem)

His wall (2nd) could be pretty useful IF it was actually wide enough to fill a gap, it needs to be wider

3rd ability is ok but realistically I don't find myself using it because in most cases it's quicker to just melee an enemy, I'm sure it can be useful for things like he rock armor passive but I don't even find myself building that up much.

Rumblers, wouldn't be too bad if their AI was improved and we got some sort of control over where they go or stay.

He also 'feels' slower to play which doesn't really work well in warframe. 

 

Essentially if I'm on a mission where Atlas might be 'suited' I'd just take khora because imo khora just does everything atlas does, just better. 

[George_PPS]

Atlas has ugly design and that’s the only reason I don’t use him. Now we have Atlas Prime and this changed everything. I am starting to use him more. 

[Klokwerkaos]

4 hours ago, -Atlas- said:

Hello fellow Tenno,

I thought I might as well start this discussion up about my boi, Atlas. From all the time I've spent playing him, I learned one main thing - Before his prime barely anyone played him or gave him a chance. It got me thinking as to why this was the case.

If there was a checklist of things that generally made a frame strong, Atlas (For the most part) ticks all boxes. Amazing AoE crowd control with the use of petrify, phenomenal tanking potential with armour stacking and health return using his passive, and arguably one of the highest single/group damage abilities in the game given that he can utilize a stat-stick for his landslide (which has impressive damage scaling)... I would mention his rumblers and tectonics ability, but honestly their kinda a meme. Although its always fun to block off doorways and have them YEETing rocks about - their have no real scaling and tend not to be used as much.

I want to know from the community, why you think hes not played as much as other frames. And if anyone else is confused as to why most people consider him MR fodder. Thanks for listening to my Ted talk.

education time:

He's not played as much as other frames because while he is viable for all content, so are all other frames, and frankly, everything he does is done by someone else better, and most often, many someones; even his substantial prime buffs don't really move the needle on him.

you know what's better than aoe cc?  instant death room nuke (wise man once say, the best form of cc is death).  you know what's better than phenomenal tanking?  being functionally immortal.  you know what's better than high damage to a cone in front of you?  an instant death room nuke (key point:  additional damage is irrelevant after you 1 shot, this is not a point that is arguable, it does nothing, at that point you want range).   you know what else can one shot level 165 enemies?  my dethcube prime.  woo hoo.  and even then I don't use it because smeeta is more functionally useful and one shotting a dude is kinda irrellavent.

Ultimately, he's viable, yes, and a good option for low tier mid game players that don't already have something better (like wu kong who is also a great choice if you don't have something better)... but at endgame when you have all the stuff min/maxed to hell and back, atlas is always towards the bottom of the list and will only come out of the closet as a joke, because that's all he is.

The only good reason to select this frame is because you just enjoy him, either aesthetically (and lets face it most people find base atlas to be ugly), or because you enjoy the playstyle for whatever reason.  All data points to the fact that he is profoundly mediocre.

I will add this:  endgame players value efficiency... why is this?  because only efficient people have the 5000+ of hours needed in to be at endgame with a wide variety of load outs that can trivialize all content in the game to the point of falling asleep while doing it, and anyone that is there just for casual sake, doesn't have 10K+ hours needed to be at that level casually; I would likely bet that fewer than 100 people have over 10K hours in, and most of them aren't likely to be casual (in mission, not steam).

Edited October 12, 2019 by Klokwerkaos

[Xepthrichros]

15 hours ago, Pizzarugi said:

Atlas is fine, the problem is the players are expecting him to compete with overpowered frames for a game that doesn't even need them. He can't out-tank Inaros or Nidus or high-strength Revenant, but the game's not hard enough for those immortal frames to need to exist. Atlas can't out-CC Nova or Nyx or Limbo, but the game's not hard enough for those high CC frames to need to exist.

From a balance perspective where the hardest mission content is running sorties and kuva floods, Atlas is fine. The reason he's underrated is because several frames are OP, do everything he does but better, and need to be nerfed.

And we interrupt your Atlas thread with the typical "nerf all the things" rant.