Bow Ammo Issues.

[OldGodKing]

Most definitely I don't know how to use bows so I'm always running out of ammo and sniper ammo pickups are hard to come by. How do you guys use that limited amount of arrows for over an hour on survivals w/o mutation mods on your bows or having to resort to ammo restores?

 

And as something extra, why is it I don't see people use Thunderbolt on their bows in higher leveled missions? I can't seem to enjoy bows w/o the wonderful AoE explosion. Is there something I'm missing out on?

Edited March 21, 2014 by AxialBlue

[Naftal]

I kill 1-5 targets per shot, rarely missing, so I don't run out of ammo.

 

You don't see people running Thunderbolt because it sucks. It deals 250 damage always that doesn't scale. If you want aoe bow, get good status chance and use gas damage type (not that it's very good choice either).

[MrJxt]

there's sniper ammo mutation with converts other ammo types to sniper ammo. Thunderbolt isnt used in higher level missions because it does a flat amount of blast damage, 250 i believe? A 30% chance to create a 250 blast damage aoe is not worth 9 mod points, especially against high levels.

[OldGodKing]

You don't see people running Thunderbolt because it sucks. It deals 250 damage always that doesn't scale. If you want aoe bow, get good status chance and use gas damage type (not that it's very good choice either).

 

there's sniper ammo mutation with converts other ammo types to sniper ammo. Thunderbolt isnt used in higher level missions because it does a flat amount of blast damage, 250 i believe? A 30% chance to create a 250 blast damage aoe is not worth 9 mod points, especially against high levels.

 

Huh, I never knew that. I guess it's only good for when facing lower level enemies to level up the bows. Man, that sucks... =/

I've actually been using my Arrow mutation mod but I don't seem to see other players use mutations on their builds since they're focusing on maximizing damage. Won't they run out of ammo?

[ChaoticVice777]

Huh, I never knew that. I guess it's only good for when facing lower level enemies to level up the bows. Man, that sucks... =/

I've actually been using my Arrow mutation mod but I don't seem to see other players use mutations on their builds since they're focusing on maximizing damage. Won't they run out of ammo?

 

Well, they can restore their ammo with drops...or one of those ammo-restoring devices that can be crafted with cheap materials.

[Naftal]

I don't seem to see other players use mutations on their builds since they're focusing on maximizing damage. Won't they run out of ammo?

The less ammo you have to use to kill an enemy (or group of enemies) (including misses) the less chance there is running out of ammo.

[OldGodKing]

The less ammo you have to use to kill an enemy (or group of enemies) (including misses) the less chance there is running out of ammo.

 

Yeah but even so, 72 ammo for the Paris Prime for example, will have to run out sooner or later.

Looks like I'll have to make lots of ammo restores. =/

[Angius]

I never ran out of ammo on my Paris Prime. Just loot every container and locker and you're good to go.

 

Well, actually I ran aout of ammo once, when I was trying to kill the Grineer through the wall. I managed to do that, though.

[Naftal]

Yeah but even so, 72 ammo for the Paris Prime for example, will have to run out sooner or later.

Looks like I'll have to make lots of ammo restores. =/

You get more ammo from the enemies. If you can hit your targets well, you won't be running out.

Edited March 21, 2014 by Naftal

[Alighierian]

I occasionally run out of ammo, but if you use your arrows wisely, you can last pretty long with 72 shots

[ByulSahn]

As Naftal pointed out, you just have to take advantage of the bow's innate puncture: use the pathing to your advantage and try to siphon enemies through a single point, or, if you have a loki, put down a decoy and you should get ~2-3 per shot. Doing this should more or less keep your ammo count up.

[(PSN)witch3rDC52]

Yeah but even so, 72 ammo for the Paris Prime for example, will have to run out sooner or later.

Looks like I'll have to make lots of ammo restores. =/

With the punch my bow packs, I haven't run out yet.  I run with the Carrier sentinel and he seems to suck up enough for me running about in survival.  Plus I use my Warframe abilities and secondary/melee.   And I generally carry 5 ammo packs on me but I haven't used any yet for bows.  In fact, when I though on my Arrow mutation, I think I have only ranked it up one.

 

I do try to line up shots, with the charged bow's innate puncture to take out multiple enemies in one shot.

 

Also, never used Thunderbolt.  Haven't read anything good about it.   Rather use the slot for faster charge speed.

[COOKINGPAPA]

Good damage. If you can kill enemies with less shots, you use less. Hence:

Good ammo economy = Good damage per shot.

 

However, if your sniper/bow is at a low level, then there's basically just no helping it. You can carry a more reliable secondary and go on low-level endless (Def, Surv) missions where you can use your bow at first, then switch to your secondary when things get a little though or you run out of ammo. I actually dislike the idea of adding ammo mutations to weapons - you could save more ammo by just using that mod space for something else that gives more damage.

 

And of course, precise aiming and fully charge each shot.

[Methanoid]

A scavenger aura and bow ammo mutator, pretty much the only "natural" ways to improve your ammo issues, beyond that its just economical use of your bow then switch to secondary until your primary tops back up.

 

and as mentioned, if your taking stuff down in 1 hit then you dont have to waste ammo on more shots which improves ammo conservation.

[Noble_Cactus]

Huh, I never knew that. I guess it's only good for when facing lower level enemies to level up the bows. Man, that sucks... =/

I've actually been using my Arrow mutation mod but I don't seem to see other players use mutations on their builds since they're focusing on maximizing damage. Won't they run out of ammo?

Not if you aim for headshots. Every time you play a mission, practice aiming for the head. You have to adjust for range, but generally you want the reticle dot to be slightly left of their face and slightly above where their cheekbone would be. Aiming for the scalp (imagine the arrow skimming the top of the target's head) also works. I wish I could take a picture, but I'm on my phone. I might update my post later.

Anyway, being able to headshot is necessary at high levels. It conserves ammo and quickly eliminates big threats. Also, bring Team Ammo Restores.

Edited March 21, 2014 by Noble_Cactus

[(NSW)Omgwtfl9lbbl]

I use bows on non-Nekros characters for solo survivals to 40+ minutes and unless I have a particularly dry spell with no mobs wanting to drop any ammo, I usually don't have much in the way of ammo issues. Nothing that the occasional ammo restore pack can't clear up.

 

If there is a Nekros (meaning I'm not playing solo or I'm the Nekros), keeping ammo topped off is pretty easy. My Dread is actually my weapon of choice for hour+ long survivals. If I had a high enough mastery rank to build a Paris Prime I'd probably use that instead for T3s, though, since that Puncture bonus to Ferrite is admittedly pretty high.

Edited March 21, 2014 by omgwtflolbbl

[ChaoticVice777]

I actually dislike the idea of adding ammo mutations to weapons - you could save more ammo by just using that mod space for something else that gives more damage.

 

Sounds nice, but that's just one problem: fast fire rate weapons lead to high ammo consumption, even with high damage per second. You have to use Ammo Mutation because eventually, the mod space reserved for Ammo Mutation will not scale to enemy levels (i.e. Ammo Mutation will be more useful since your weapon will only become slightly weaker for much higher sustainability, even when using Ammo Restores).

[LetsGrindItOut]

If you're in a clan go to the grineer lab and research the Team Ammo Restores. BEST. INVESTMENT. EVER. If you're not in a clan I think you can buy the blueprint from the store, but i think the one in the store that's actually affordable doesnt give much ammo. Idk the only one i've used is the clantech one.