Guide [Issue 32] Vulcan: Tips for Beginners

[hogree 4,179]

 

Tough customer, huh? Vulcan's release this month has received mixed opinions, with many struggling to get to grips with this unique weapon. Have you tried learning and given up? Turret control baffled you? Or are you just interested in learning the tips and tricks of a new weapon with bags of potential? This is the guide for you!

 

We can safely say that Vulcan's release was the "big thing" this month. A new weapon always is guaranteed to raise eyebrows, but Vulcan perhaps more so than others. With an unlimited charge, gyroscope and even a self-damage feature, many are still yet to get to grips with this trickier-than-expected weapon. But seeing a Vulcan wielded by a top player is enough to scare anyone - it sure has potential. So let's see if we gain some tips on how to use this weapon effectively. 

• Learn your "Gyroscope"!

"Gyroscope? Wut?" Many players have come out of testing or practising with Vulcan confused by this auto-turning feature. Let's admit it - it's tough to master. But, let's establish firstly and foremost what it does. This is the most important thing to learn with Vulcan. Here is the gist of it. Gyroscope only takes affect when you begin shooting. When shooting, your turret will automatically stay in the same line even when your tank is turning. Thus, your turret "automatically moves" when you are turning. However, your turret is still able to turn by itself. 

 

Let's quickly dissect that phrase. You see an enemy; you start shooting him with your Vulcan. Now, does that mean you can just drive around turning your hull and you're guarantee to just keep on hitting him? Absolutely NOT. Why, you ask? Surely my "gyroscope" means that even if I turn my tank and my turret automatically turns to face the original direction. You're right. But you forgot to factor in one thing. Enemies move. Yep, no joke Sherlock. The enemies do move, and if you turn your tank all your Vulcan is going to do is be shooting the thin air where your enemy was. So you have to adapt your turret. People somehow have this belief that your Vulcan locks onto enemies when you start hitting them. Wrong. You must be in control of your turret.

• When shooting, Avoid turning your hull

So, the simplest of tips for beginners to begin with. When you start playing Vulcan, drive like your normal self but when you engage in shooting, avoid turning your hull. All it is does is confuse things when you start off. Just focus on your Forward-backward movement and your turret. That's enough to think of without worrying how your turret will move laterally.

 

Practise is the key for Vulcan. You've got to just do the easy stuff first, before attempting doing too many things difficult. As many of us have found out, turning your tank too early in your practise with the weapon will inevitably lead to missed shots and embarrassment, particularly if you are a higher rank. Keep it simple to start with.

• When "gyroscoping", your turret will turn in the opposite direction to your tank

​If you've decided to get off the "baby-food" and try using Vulcan like a pro, test this for yourself. Enter a battle with your Vulcan and then shoot, and press the Right hour. You'll see your turret turning left. Likewise with the Left Arrow. Fact. You may already know this, but it takes a while to settle in your mind. Keep it in your head. 

 

Accompanied by this comes the knowledge that your tank turns faster than your turret. So dont think with this logic - If I turn my turret right while Im turning my hull right, it will stay straight in line with my hull. Because if you think this way, you'll unfortunately be greatly mistaken. Unless you've got a Mammoth, your hull will turn much quicker than your turret, thus disorientating you. 

 

Again, this comes with practise. Join a battle and try out aiming long distance at an object like a house window, whilst turning your tank and your turret. Perfect way to get to grips with the weapon.

• Charge early.

Another quick pointer. Vulcan charges for a second when rotating its barrels before it begins shooting. So, naturally, if you want to get maximum benefit out of your weapon, charge a second before you go into the open. Genius, huh? But be aware that you will want to be careful when you pop out with your Vulcan. Try not to leave yourself exposed whilst your barrels are getting ready to fire. Not wise. Think Railgun pop-out. That's what you've got to use on this weapon too.

• Release space-bar when you can't see an enemy

Duh. But point stands. You don't want to overheat unnecessarily. Shooting indefinitely is not wise with Vulcan. You may think Infinite Ammo is a reason to put a brick on that spacebar, but the aspect of overheating is surely reason enough for you to release shooting when no enemy is in sight. Also, make sure you're careful too, even when you see enemies to be aware of your health. No reason to start overheating when you are sniping and have extremely low health. Suicidal - quite literally.

• Automatically resist the temptation of moving close-range

Don't. Please don't. Let's be straight here. Vulcan is not a weapon to use for flag-carriers. As we've established, it's pretty difficult to shoot clearly while driving - and even if you've mastered this, the purpose of Vulcan is its fantastic Damage per second - from range. Vulcan is also brilliant at precise accuracy from distance. So avoid wasting your turret's wonderful abilities by running into short-range confrontations. You will often win, especially if you're good at close-range accuracy, but it's a waste of a wonderful weapon. Of course, there are unavoidable events, like, when you have to return a flag. Then, it would be sabotage to not to move towards it.

 

But in most circumstances, range is good. However, I would say that if your position is a drought of opponent tanks, and you must move closer-range to be able to find some prey then go for it. There's no purpose staying somewhere for the purpose of being "long-distance" when you have nobody in your eye-line half of the time.

• Don't be afraid of overheating in Team Battles

I'm sure you've heard the phrase "Take one for the team". Vulcaners will be having to hear this phrase a whole lot more, with their self-damage effect. I said earlier that you don't want to hold spacebar when you can't see enemies, and combined with that, even if you see enemies, try and avoid overheating. But, on the flip side, if you've got enemies to aim at, especially in a team battle, then don't be afraid to over-heat. Now, overheating doesn't do too much damage to yourself, even though it can be costly. This overheating business is another reason why Vulcan is normally equipped with the heavier hulls, to ensure health does not drop too quickly.

 

But, if you're in a good position in the enemy base which isn't particularly secure but is annihilating many of the defenders, then don't say to yourself "You know what, I'll stop shooting." Sooner or later, a player will come after you and kill you anyway, so you may as well use the time you've got to keep shooting. Say there's a Freeze Mammoth in defence for example, and his "pet Isida" has died. You should probably just keep shooting him to clear him out of the way, whether or not you will do yourself significant harm at the same time, because waiting will mean the Isida will probably get back to heal. Discernment is the key. It's making sure you're not stupid and throw away all your health but at the same time, using the fantastic damage you have got to benefit your team. 

• Equip some Firebird protection

In the light of this, equipping Firebird protection is smart. After all, if you didn't know, your self-burning effect will be lowered if you defend yourself with Firebird prot. So might be wise to get a paint with a chunky piece of Firebird protection when using Vulcan. Bit like a Thunder using Thunder protection. Not much needed to say here, but do keep in mind that your Firebird protection, unless it's Zeus, won't do a massive amount if you use your Vulcan wisely and avoid too much afterburn. Still,  it's a good use of a paint.

• Double Powers are perfect

Perfect - pushing it, you might say. But Vulcan, in my opinion, like Hammer, is one of the best weapons to use a Double Power with. Why, you say? Firstly, think maths. If you have 24 Chickens and you multiply them by two, you will get 24 extra chickens. If you have 10 Chickens and you multiply them by two, you'll only get 10 extra chickens. Weird analogy, but it's applicable to Vulcan. The high DPS means that with a Double Power, you are basically doubling a high DPS - making a pretty unstoppable force. Secondly, a Double Power does not affect your afterburn. Yep, so you'll only be burning the same amount as you were. Thirdly, Vulcan's long-distance shooting means it is less likely for you to withstand shooting, meaning that Double Armours - and nitros - aren't such a big deal. So, Double Powers are perfect. Basically.

• Play it like a Railgun-Viking

Approaching the end now, and this is almost a sum-up of the type of Gameplay you should use with Vulcan. Railgun-Viking. Especially applicable if you use Vulcan with a medium hull, which in my opinion, is certainly the most effective to use this weapon, unless you plan to use it as a brute-force camper. Railgun-Viking gameplay is something most of us tankers will be familiar with as two of the most popular hulls in the game. A pop-out, stay in cover style player. And Vulcan is really effective at it. Mirror your Railgun-Viking gameplay with it, and you'll be surprised at the effectiveness. Of course, you will have differences as you will be in the open more often, but it's a similar style. Just something to maybe keep in your mind as you try to use Vulcan effectively in your battles.

• Pick a vantage point in the Enemy Base

Finally, a direct point about where Vulcan should be used. My personal preference with Vulcan is either in a camping spot in the Enemy base, or in your base. However, describing gameplay in your own base - after all, it's sit; camp; hold off attackers. In attack, however, it's much more diverse. Running away from dangerous defenders whilst damaging those disgusting defensive Isidas. It's great fun. And that's what Vulcan is. 

 

So in picking your vantage point, bear in mind a few things. Firstly, you must have the freedom of the campers to aim at. It's important to be able to damage those who are really the threats to your attacking players. Secondly, have a go-to route to escape if you are turned on. And thirdly, discern your self-damaging. Leave yourself cover to re-charge if you are on low health. The below picture describes what I feel is a pretty good position to use with Vulcan in Silence. Of course, it depends on what the defenders are, but if they're all short-range this is a great place to fire on them and get some dividends for your efforts. 

 

So, some tips for you as you go out to use that Vulcan. Keep practising and don't fall into the trap of thinking that it's too much effort. When wielded properly, this weapon can be a serious force to be reckoned with. All the best tankers, and keep Vulcaning!

[Mr.I3oSS 557]

That's a good read.

[Raredust 454]

It scares me that I learned so much from an article for beginners...

Edited February 27, 2015 by Raredust

[Cor7y 13,862]

I liked your article but your signature...it gives me the creeps (no offence)

[greyat 2,972]

I liked it. 

When wealded properly, this weapon can be a serious force to be reckoned with. All the best tankers, and keep Vulcaning!

Edited February 27, 2015 by greyat

[Thekillerpenguin 1,731]

I liked it. 

1. You didn't see anything.

2. If you think you saw something, you didn't actually see it.

3. If you continue to think you saw something, we will send agents after you.

4. If you see the agents, you didn't see them.

Edited February 27, 2015 by Thekillerpenguin

[pizzaslad 471]

 

• Play it like a Railgun-Viking

Approaching the end now, and this is almost a sum-up of the type of Gameplay you should use with Vulcan. Railgun-Viking. Especially applicable if you use Vulcan with a medium hull, which in my opinion, is certainly the most effective to use this weapon, unless you plan to use it as a brute-force camper. Railgun-Viking gameplay is something most of us tankers will be familiar with as two of the most popular hulls in the game. A pop-out, stay in cover style player. And Vulcan is really effective at it. Mirror your Railgun-Viking gameplay with it, and you'll be surprised at the effectiveness. Of course, you will have differences as you will be in the open more often, but it's a similar style. Just something to maybe keep in your mind as you try to use Vulcan effectively in your battles.

 

How much HP doesn't Railgun have? And it's weight so I'll know what I'm getting into

[jazz20 1,181]

Interesting to think if Vulcan is going to be one of those skill-needed turrets in order to be effective in battle like Ricochet. That one broken wall on the blue-team Noise platform is super effective for Vulcans when their pointed up towards the red-team's base. With a fire paint like Loam on plus a base isida with you not to mention the occasional drugging here and there, you're practically unstoppable 

[duje225_awesome 7]

If you move your hull while shooting,putting a brick on that C button and turning the hull help! :) >3

[abcd022 388]

Interesting..

[anshi_bringitup 16]

That's really useful

THANKS FOR GUIDING......!!!!!

[lukey0 27,543]

Nice.

[DeathlySignal 6]

1. You didn't see anything.

2. If you think you saw something, you didn't actually see it.

3. If you continue to think you saw something, we will send agents after you.

4. If you see the agents, you didn't see them.

lol

[DeathlySignal 6]

whats weird is that vulcan almost requires the same amount of skill from railgun (maybe even more or vice versa)

[My_Tiger_Psy 4]

I still think Twins is better than Vulcan.  

Anybody disagree?

[altitude96 70]

Interesting article for what I think is one of the most unique weapons in the game.

 

I'll stick with Hornet and Rail for now:)

[My_Tiger_Psy 4]

But extremely solid review.  Good job 

[rothro3 50]

Even though I don't use Vulcan, good job on a well written piece.  :)

[Luigi12457 0]

Good Gun. Once you get can unlock it buy it. It is a very good gun. Just dont be driving and turning at the same time it will turn the opposite direction.

[kostas604 106]

Why not Zeus?

[Dliver 436]

I'm running a m2 Hunter and m2 Vulcan with Sandstone paint. I find this combo is very effective. I'm usually going up against rails, shafts and thunders and I tear them up. The Hunter gives you decent speed and almost as much protection (with a few MU's) as a Viking. With Sandstone paint you become the hunter instead of the hunted. I also find that it is also great for disrupting another teams defense. You either take them out or cause them to withdraw which let's your teammates go on the offense. To be effective you have to do exactly as the article says.... Take advantage of cover, your weapon cycle time and your opponents weapon cycle time. If you do, this gun is great fun and you will consistently end up in the top of any match. Instead of fearing rails and shafts, you will hunt them!

[takethat_thebest 1]

Good guide, helped me a lot.

 

Thanks

[MrCheezyPotato 850]

This is a great guid for people who are just very unskilled with vuncan as they ont know its tatics, or if they are just kinda nooby in general. I started useing Vulcan last week and im already really good with it(i made an alt specifically for Vulcan. Its MrSpeedyPotato), so i think peopl who are good with railgun and at least 1 other non-long rage turret can lear vulcan easily. I tried Vulcan M0 is an Iran CTF with this account at WO5, and i scored at top of leaderboard. Yeah, there were noobs in places, and i had M1 hunter which rocks, but that still shows how awesome Vulcan can be in the right hands. Many peopl say Vulcan is just anoob weapon where you just need to drug and hol the spacebar, but there really is a but of skill needed if you wat to be a good team player with it, not just sit in the way back corner and kill people who come close. You can potentionally do that with any turret though, so i think the only reason why theres such a fuss about Vulcan now is because its already really good but then the drugs and isidas make it way too op. If it was in a drug-free battle with minimal isidas while went around heaing everyone(not just Vulcan), then i think most people would score in the middle or maybe 3/4 of the way up if they wernt really skillled with it, but then again that goes for any other turret too

[MiloStar123 9]

Still not a fan of vulcan. But still, well written,