Let's Discuss Shaft!

[Benefactor 6,888]

People keep thinking shaft sucks so bad. Just because its not op anymore doesn mean its useless. With enough practice, you learn how to aim quickly due to the fact that you have to hide your laser pointer a few pixels away so you dont scare off enemies. In CTF, they are superb for area denial tactics. A competent shaft can lockdown an area and force enemies into a predictable pathway for fellow teammates to exploit. An MLG shaft can quickscope when under fire and kill puny hulls that use their fancy footwork. If you have medium hull, you can move around more and be unpredictable. As a shaft user, i can still get tons of kills!

In CTF down a long narrow corridor, it can also act as a savior/guiding light for the flag-bearer.

[JagdTigers 214]

 

It's good, but a bit focused on Shaft protection, whereas Prodigi has protection against all common long-range turrets.

I believe those are the kind of enemies you will face the most as Shaft.

 

Plus; you can max out Jade's Shaft protection, but that's only 5% more than the stock statistic.

If you MU Prodigi's Shaft protection, you gain 14% compared to the stock statistic.

 

Prodigi in general is more worth upgrading aswell, because of the more balanced protection stats... but that's my opinion.

 

• Protection from Firebird: (5% → 10%)
• Protection from Railgun: (46% → 50%)
• Protection from Thunder: (22% → 43%)
• Protection from Shaft: (15% → 29%)

On the other hand though... :P

Hammer and Smoky are a real pain in the (...) as Shaft, when they have you in range.

It's nice that Jade offers protection from those turrets.

 

So it depends a bit on your gamestyle too.

Prodigi's protection against Firebird and to some extent against Rail is kinda useless while Jade offers very good protection against Shaft, Smoke, Thunder and Hammer, all of these can be lethal turrets against a shafter, also fulling muing jade will give both smoky and shaft at 50% off.

 

Protection from Smoky: (25% → 50%)

Protection from Thunder: (12% → 23%)

Protection from Shaft: (45% → 50%)

Protection from Hammer: (15% → 23%)

I still wanna discuss if there is any other paint which can be better than jade when shaft is you main?

[NewbieCake 3,067]

It annoys me when I have full health then a Shaft just slices half of it out like cake.

 

EDIT: Played on Test Server, used Shaft M3, it was hilarious to see those Hornets heal themselves up and you 1-shot them during the process.

Edited February 6, 2016 by NewbieCake

[r_spike330 0]

You have to be able to quickscope, know where your opponents are, it is especially useful in stadium, you can see almost everything and if you use hornet you can get the crap out of there

[hajkgor 0]

oh man its really funny if there are shafts in new year you cant capture a flag :D

[FogOfWar_XXX 793]

This is me musing and just dwelling on thoughts.

 

So yesterday I was playing and there was a very pesky Rico/Viking.  For whatever reason, it was generally "one-shotable" with full charge (I'm terrible in identifying M1 and M2 differences, so maybe an M1).  It was roaming around the map and causing general mayhem and destruction, harassment, spawn camping, and base trolling.  Effective enough too.  It would also respawn on dying and hang out in their base for a little bit before coming out (maybe it liked the change of pace, do a little defense, do a little offense, do a little, dance, get down to night . . . sorry, never mind, wrong train of thought).  It turned out to be problematic enough that I decided it needed to be shut down regularly.  so it became my mission, find it, scope it, kill it.  Which I did, quite successfully for a little while.

 

This didn't go unnoticed by said unit, and they decided they weren't pleased with my singling them out and decided to bring the heat back to me.  They could actually play, turn their turret, all that, but drugs were usually involved, at least one.  Sheilds were the big one once they started stalking me.  So to get the point, I had shot them, and escaped back into an alley.  They came around another building and started laying into me just as I was scoping.  I was getting hit over and over, and any Shaft knows Ricos are so stupidly frustrating it's enough to make you want to shoot someone IRL.  They bounce is ALWAYS just enough to lift you, scoped, out of the line of sight of to fire upon reaching the bounce apex, and the timing of the physics always means by the time you drop back down, if you're not PERFECT with your timing, the next hit bounces you again.  Well, I did it.  Medium range, being tossed like a salad at a vegan diner, and I got it, next hit would have done me in, full charge, drop and boom.  I get hit with with the plasma ball as I come out of scope, FPS going mad (show much happening, enemy going into destruction animation, plasma ball changing the visibility, me zooming out) to the point that is was like a scene out of movie, slow-mo, enemy going up, plasma ball traveling into me, the final thump, nearly dead, and there is the hulk of the opponent Viking charred before my eyes.  I almost cried it was so beautiful.

 

Now, for what's important, not bragging.  Ricos pose a special issue with the bounce.  Learn to drop your barrel a little when scoped and getting hit by them, when the bounce apex is reached, you might still be in line with their hull, or the travel time down will include more of them within your cross hairs, giving you that extra precious half sec to see it and fire.  Practice this.  Ricos are not used to Shafts scoping them up close and killing them, might even try to practice this myself to bait them in and then do it.

[JagdTigers 214]

This is me musing and just dwelling on thoughts.

 

So yesterday I was playing and there was a very pesky Rico/Viking.  For whatever reason, it was generally "one-shotable" with full charge (I'm terrible in identifying M1 and M2 differences, so maybe an M1).  It was roaming around the map and causing general mayhem and destruction, harassment, spawn camping, and base trolling.  Effective enough too.  It would also respawn on dying and hang out in their base for a little bit before coming out (maybe it liked the change of pace, do a little defense, do a little offense, do a little, dance, get down to night . . . sorry, never mind, wrong train of thought).  It turned out to be problematic enough that I decided it needed to be shut down regularly.  so it became my mission, find it, scope it, kill it.  Which I did, quite successfully for a little while.

 

This didn't go unnoticed by said unit, and they decided they weren't pleased with my singling them out and decided to bring the heat back to me.  They could actually play, turn their turret, all that, but drugs were usually involved, at least one.  Sheilds were the big one once they started stalking me.  So to get the point, I had shot them, and escaped back into an alley.  They came around another building and started laying into me just as I was scoping.  I was getting hit over and over, and any Shaft knows Ricos are so stupidly frustrating it's enough to make you want to shoot someone IRL.  They bounce is ALWAYS just enough to lift you, scoped, out of the line of sight of to fire upon reaching the bounce apex, and the timing of the physics always means by the time you drop back down, if you're not PERFECT with your timing, the next hit bounces you again.  Well, I did it.  Medium range, being tossed like a salad at a vegan diner, and I got it, next hit would have done me in, full charge, drop and boom.  I get hit with with the plasma ball as I come out of scope, FPS going mad (show much happening, enemy going into destruction animation, plasma ball changing the visibility, me zooming out) to the point that is was like a scene out of movie, slow-mo, enemy going up, plasma ball traveling into me, the final thump, nearly dead, and there is the hulk of the opponent Viking charred before my eyes.  I almost cried it was so beautiful.

 

Now, for what's important, not bragging.  Ricos pose a special issue with the bounce.  Learn to drop your barrel a little when scoped and getting hit by them, when the bounce apex is reached, you might still be in line with their hull, or the travel time down will include more of them within your cross hairs, giving you that extra precious half sec to see it and fire.  Practice this.  Ricos are not used to Shafts scoping them up close and killing them, might even try to practice this myself to bait them in and then do it.

I have done it a couple of times, it can be done but very hard to do, maybe you will have a better chance with a viking because of it's wide area and extra stability that it provides.

 

Of all the hulls minus the wasp, hornet is the least stable when it comes to shafting while getting hit, you should I think focus on the speed aspect more than sniping as it doesn't give you enough stability to pull it off most of the time, if you move around alot at medium to closer range it becomes immensely difficult for the rico user to land those balls every single time beside a player who is not a noob would know to move out of the way of shaft's snipe mode and not be a sitting duck while shooting, remember shaft's horizontal and vertical rotational speed is only 23 degrees (23 horizontal, 11 vertical) at M2 and it is relatively easy to avoid it at close range.

 

I would like to point out that many people underestimate wasp's capabilities, it might have low health and easy to get yourself upside down upon but aside from that it gives immense speed and immense control of your hull while moving (a literal 90 degree zig zag turn) while having a small size making it hard for people to hit you, it can be a great counter to shafts sniping or rico's balls, I remember one time while I was shafting I saw a bp player right at my crosshair, My shot was only at about 25% charged and I had decided to wait a little bit more before I hit him because I won't be able to one shot him and that's what cost me, he literally moved at 90 degrees to the right and his small stature made it sure that he was out of the picture in less than a second and I missed my shot, wasp can be lethal if the player knows how to use the hull effectively and I think that is the reason why many shafters prefer wasp over a hornet, they want that extra speed and immense control while turning.

 

I would like your opinions of which paint would be the best used while Shaft being your main turret, as of yet I think Jade is the one, what are your opinions on it?

 

I think decent defense of the following turrets would really help you as a shafter, what do you think?

 

Shaft

Smoky

Rico

Thunder

 

BTW I really really wish they remove the laser, it's an insult to Shaft but even though the turret is dying and not many people are using it at higher levels still they are not going to remove it. :(

Edited February 11, 2016 by JagdTigers

[FogOfWar_XXX 793]

I have done it a couple of times, it can be done but very hard to do, maybe you will have a better chance with a viking because of it's wide area and extra stability that it provides.

 

Of all the hulls minus the wasp, hornet is the least stable when it comes to shafting while getting hit, you should I think focus on the speed aspect more than sniping as it doesn't give you enough stability to pull it off most of the time, if you move around alot at medium to closer range it becomes immensely difficult for the rico user to land those balls every single time beside a player who is not a noob would know to move out of the way of shaft's snipe mode and not be a sitting duck while shooting, remember shaft's horizontal and vertical rotational speed is only 23 degrees (23 horizontal, 11 vertical) at M2 and it is relatively easy to avoid it at close range.

 

I would like to point out that many people underestimate wasp's capabilities, it might have low health and easy to get yourself upside down upon but aside from that it gives immense speed and immense control of your hull while moving (a literal 90 degree zig zag turn) while having a small size making it hard for people to hit you, it can be a great counter to shafts sniping or rico's balls, I remember one time while I was shafting I saw a bp player right at my crosshair, My shot was only at about 25% charged and I had decided to wait a little bit more before I hit him because I won't be able to one shot him and that's what cost me, he literally moved at 90 degrees to the right and his small stature made it sure that he was out of the picture in less than a second and I missed my shot, wasp can be lethal if the player knows how to use the hull effectively and I think that is the reason why many shafters prefer wasp over a hornet, they want that extra speed and immense control while turning.

 

I would like your opinions of which paint would be the best used while Shaft being your main turret, as of yet I think Jade is the one, what are your opinions on it?

 

I think decent defense of the following turrets would really help you as a shafter, what do you think?

 

Shaft

Smoky

Rico

Thunder

 

BTW I really really wish they remove the laser, it's an insult to Shaft but even though the turret is dying and not many people are using it at higher levels still they are not going to remove it. :(

Well, I read the nit above already about paint.  I, for one, DO NOT USE paint, but it's funny this came up, because the other day I was toying with perhaps considering one.  Prodigi was my final pick for PROTECTION.  I think paints and armors should be separated, paint being for camo, armor for protection.  That said, Prodigi is a digital matrix camo job and it offers great protection against rail, and in my experience, opposition does generally seek out Shafts with other Shafts, they send a pair of rails to do long distance tag team sniping on Shafts.  The other big enemy is Firebird at close range, so a touch of protection for it.  Otherwise, yes, Thunders and Smokys are the other concerns.  I find myself getting attacked by Ricos and rails far more than much else though, and Ricos are annoying, but can be dealt with, Rails, well, they are the jack of all trades and in pairs are the worst opponent you can face in Tanki in terms defending one's self. 

 

So there you have it, my thoughts on paint based upon PROTECTION, and NOT usefulness in camo, like the article piece I contributed to some time back.

[bossman161 276]

Hey guys what hull should I get for Shaft? If you could only choose one and only one of these two, which would you choose? 

Viking M2 or Titan M2?

[hatealien 138]

Viking, definetely, it's better because it is a lower, giving you less notority in combat and is faster, allowing you to change from sniping spot to sniping spot quicker than titan

[JagdTigers 214]

Well, I read the nit above already about paint.  I, for one, DO NOT USE paint, but it's funny this came up, because the other day I was toying with perhaps considering one.  Prodigi was my final pick for PROTECTION.  I think paints and armors should be separated, paint being for camo, armor for protection.  That said, Prodigi is a digital matrix camo job and it offers great protection against rail, and in my experience, opposition does generally seek out Shafts with other Shafts, they send a pair of rails to do long distance tag team sniping on Shafts.  The other big enemy is Firebird at close range, so a touch of protection for it.  Otherwise, yes, Thunders and Smokys are the other concerns.  I find myself getting attacked by Ricos and rails far more than much else though, and Ricos are annoying, but can be dealt with, Rails, well, they are the jack of all trades and in pairs are the worst opponent you can face in Tanki in terms defending one's self. 

 

So there you have it, my thoughts on paint based upon PROTECTION, and NOT usefulness in camo, like the article piece I contributed to some time back.

But what about Jade, rail is not that big of a threat and can be dealt with and firebird? you are dead anyway why prolong the agony and even if you survive you would most likely be at the last leg of health and wasting time to actually survive rather than concentrating on the battle.

 

Jade has good protection against the turrets that can actually make a difference.

 

Jade's protection:

Protection from Smoky: (25% → 50%)

Protection from Thunder: (12% → 23%)

Protection from Shaft: (45% → 50%)

Protection from Hammer: (15% → 23%)

[FogOfWar_XXX 793]

But what about Jade, rail is not that big of a threat and can be dealt with and firebird? you are dead anyway why prolong the agony and even if you survive you would most likely be at the last leg of health and wasting time to actually survive rather than concentrating on the battle.

 

Jade has good protection against the turrets that can actually make a difference.

 

Jade's protection:

Protection from Smoky: (25% → 50%)

Protection from Thunder: (12% → 23%)

Protection from Shaft: (45% → 50%)

Protection from Hammer: (15% → 23%)

I simply don't encounter enough Smoky's to justify protection of it over rails.  Shafts, again, one on one, the slug fest, those last about 2 minutes in a game.  It's a law of diminishing returns.  No hangs around and plays snipe/counter-sniper for 15 minutes.  That said, YES, I WILL AGREE that the surprise shot from a clever and crafty Shaft would be completely negated by this paint and that, in and of itself COULD be useful against very organized teams that have Shafts that take up position and counter interceptors at key locations as the flag runner returns on a pre-planned route.  This paint would throw off the security they had of knowing a Shaft shot is not coming from a given direction.  That said, timing to the flag runner might still permit a second shot from the enemy Shaft, so it's a toss up.

 

Hammer, well, YES, when they do come around, they are excessively annoying, and this would go a long way to keeping them from handing you your rear immediately, maybe giving you time to sword fight with them or relocated.

 

Again, game play and style has a lot to do with it.  Tenacious Shafts are dealt with by me by switching positions and flanking them more often than not.  Back and forth exchanges are simply a waste of time to me.

 

As for Rails not being an issue, they are when you play in a Hornet.  I'm not a heavy armor, Viking + guy.  I have A HULL and A TURRET (okay, I have a Thunder too, but that was just for mission completion in in DMs and TDMs, otherwise I never use it).  Hornet and Shaft, that's me.  Two rails hunting me makes life miserable, especially if they are on a team and communicating, popping out in succession, one after the other.  Two direct hits from them are usually enough to kill me.  Drugged rails are especially a nuisance, as they can one shot me often.

 

But like I said, play style, and Jade is better choice for heavy armor hulls probably.

 

Do make note too, I STILL CARE A LOT about camo pattern, and Jade fails in this category.

[JagdTigers 214]

I simply don't encounter enough Smoky's to justify protection of it over rails.  Shafts, again, one on one, the slug fest, those last about 2 minutes in a game.  It's a law of diminishing returns.  No hangs around and plays snipe/counter-sniper for 15 minutes.  That said, YES, I WILL AGREE that the surprise shot from a clever and crafty Shaft would be completely negated by this paint and that, in and of itself COULD be useful against very organized teams that have Shafts that take up position and counter interceptors at key locations as the flag runner returns on a pre-planned route.  This paint would throw off the security they had of knowing a Shaft shot is not coming from a given direction.  That said, timing to the flag runner might still permit a second shot from the enemy Shaft, so it's a toss up.

 

Hammer, well, YES, when they do come around, they are excessively annoying, and this would go a long way to keeping them from handing you your rear immediately, maybe giving you time to sword fight with them or relocated.

 

Again, game play and style has a lot to do with it.  Tenacious Shafts are dealt with by me by switching positions and flanking them more often than not.  Back and forth exchanges are simply a waste of time to me.

 

As for Rails not being an issue, they are when you play in a Hornet.  I'm not a heavy armor, Viking + guy.  I have A HULL and A TURRET (okay, I have a Thunder too, but that was just for mission completion in in DMs and TDMs, otherwise I never use it).  Hornet and Shaft, that's me.  Two rails hunting me makes life miserable, especially if they are on a team and communicating, popping out in succession, one after the other.  Two direct hits from them are usually enough to kill me.  Drugged rails are especially a nuisance, as they can one shot me often.

 

But like I said, play style, and Jade is better choice for heavy armor hulls probably.

 

Do make note too, I STILL CARE A LOT about camo pattern, and Jade fails in this category.

What is camo pattern? Smoky is a lethal turret that I think would be alot used at later levels, railgun on the other hand is useful only because of XP, at higher levels people don't use it that often besides it needs 3 hits to kill a hunter and maybe 4 with a viking, prodigi also have firebird which is a waste while there is no waste with Jade, Hammer protection means it will take 3 magazines to kill a hornet and 4 magazines at hunter+ levels, all protections that are offered with Jade can make a difference.

Edited February 12, 2016 by JagdTigers

[FogOfWar_XXX 793]

What is camo pattern?

Camouflage.

[Benefactor 6,888]

What is camo pattern? Smoky is a lethal turret that I think would be alot used at later levels, railgun on the other hand is useful only because of XP, at higher levels people don't use it that often besides it needs 3 hits to kill a hunter and maybe 4 with a viking, prodigi also have firebird which is a waste while there is no waste with Jade, Hammer protection means it will take 3 magazines to kill a hornet and 4 magazines at hunter+ levels, all protections that are offered can make a difference.

[JagdTigers 214]

Camouflage.

How can that make a difference? and doesn't Jade have it too?

 

[Benefactor 6,888]

How can that make a difference? and doesn't Jade have it too?

 

A lot of protection paints have a camouflage pattern.  

[FogOfWar_XXX 793]

 

A lot of protection paints have a camouflage pattern.  

 

That paint might be good for Desert, Iran, etc, but I like to hide in trees, I'd need greens, greys, and tans.

[Rohit_1997 456]

Clay and picasso

[hypercars7 0]

shaft is a lot of fun but can sometimes be bad especially at close range

don't like charge feature or reload but I would take m3 shaft over m3 firebird any day

[hypercars7 0]

u are wrong they are really good they can 1 shot flag taker

they can just murder team

[assolik 134]

I love shaft and it work lovely with Titan.

:D

Edited February 13, 2016 by assolik

[bossman161 276]

Did that before to 1 or 2 low ranked players who were at full health. I look forward to doing more of those once my Shaft becomes an M4

I occasionally get double kills while shooting fully charged at groups of tanks.

[bossman161 276]

Guys, are any of you still facing the auto rotating turret glitch? It's getting annoying now> :(

YES, and it get's me killed time to time.

[LEON_THE_BEST_EVER 4]

A JUNKY GUN THAT USES NO SKILL .

I never play monte carlo, beacause of the insane   number of drugging shaft -_- :( I HATE SHAFTS!