Gunners in the world ofLost Arkfind themselves in the middle of a political conflict that may spark yet another world-spanning war if they don’t get to reassemble the Ark in time. Through their advanced tech and firearms, Gunners are more than capable of assisting the other Classes with their needs in the battlefield. And of their specializations, it’s theMachinistthat is perhaps one of the most sophisticated of them all.
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Touting both a machine gun and a drone, the Machinist can call forth tactical strikes while providing cover, or go the other way around. Aside from their rather multifaceted skillset, the Machinist can at some point fully activate their technological systems to be in complete sync with their armor, allowing them to unleash lasers and other advanced weaponry completely unheard of in the game’s world. However, just how should players ofLost Arkapproach the Machinist if they’re interested in making one?
The Machinist: It’s All About Style
Similar to the core Gunner Class, the Machinist specialization further enhances the tactical capabilities of the Gunner in the field, be it during main quests or evenLost Arkside quests. Instead of being a pure long-ranged DPS, the Machinist becomes a hybrid DPS and Support, being able to dish out mean damage through its Hypersync mechanic while at the same time capable of assisting their group through the Drone, which in itself is a maneuverable extra party member.
Despite these obvious benefits, players do need to remember that similar to the Gunner, the Machinist is much squishier due to their lack of immediate defensive capabilities. As with other Gunner specializations, the Machinist relies heavily on positioning due to the sensitive nature of their abilities. The closest specialization of comparison to the Machinist would be the Artellerist due to a similar “transformation” mode, though the Artillerist has a much slower, heavy-hitting playstyle compared to the fast-paced Machinist.
The Drone, Operator Combo: Live, Tactical Action
Perhaps the most striking part of the Machinist in terms ofLost Arkgameplay has to do with its maneuverableDrone. Thanks to this ally, the Machinist can do what most specializations can’t - attack from two (2) fronts at once. With the Drone and the Machinist having both separate skills and combined “fusion” skills, players can have the Machinist and Drone do separate things, attack from two (2) different angles, and cover multiple points. This may seem confusing at first and may lead toLost Arkbeginner mistakes, but mastering the Drone can transform the Machinist into a stylish yet reliable offensive support.
Core Abilities
Given the nature of the Drone as a separate assistance unit of the Machinist, it makes sense for much of the Drone’s abilities and recommended gameplay has to do with zoning and peeking opponents. In turn, it’s ideal for players to pursueLost Arkcraftingmaterials to build weapons with high base damage. Here are some of the Drone’s and Machinist’s core abilities that let it give the perfect offensive boost to players:
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Awakening Abilities
Similar to other specializations, the Machinist also boasts Awakening abilities that serve as “supers” and try to provide them with intense advantages in combat. When used properly, these Awakenings can rain down hell on enemies and end combat encounters rather quickly, without needing touseLost Arkconsumables. There are two (2) Awakening abilities available to the Machinist:
Hypersync: Think Exoskeleton, Iron Man
As with otherclasses inLost Ark, the Machinist does have a special gimmick associated with their Identity Meter. When filled up, they go intoHypersync, a special “mode” that fuses the Drone with the Machinist and transforms into an exoskeleton. In this form, players essentially become Iron Man, boasting flight and skills that range from missiles to lasers. The Hypersync will have players enjoy extra mobility, attack damage, and a new set of skills - perfect for dealing with new situations. However, Hypersync breaks as soon as the player’s shield breaks.
Once the Machinist goes into Hypersync mode, they get access to new abilities separate from their original abilities. This is because the Drone itself fuses with the player and give them access to a more powerful arsenal. Some core abilities during Hypersync mode include:
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Engravings: Dictate The Flow Of Combat
As with other classes inLost Ark, the Machinist also has their fair share ofEngravings. Not a bit too dissimilar the talent trees ofWorld of Warcraft, a specific Engraving more or less dictates a recommended approach to combat, as well as Perks andLost ArkGemsplayers should acquire. Here are those Engravings and what they imply:
Playstyles: The Machinist Against The World, Other Players
Players interested in making full use of the Machinist’sarsenal inLost Arkgameplaymay first want to consider the kind of playstyle they’re pursuing. Aside from understanding the Stances and knowing which Engravings to focus on, creating a Machinist geared towards PVE or PVP do require some specific approaches:
In PVE: The Position Determines Success
Due to the more tactical-intensive nature of both the Machinist and their Drone, their ideal PVE approach would have a lot to do with tactical maneuvering. Remember, Machinist skills are segregated into normal, Drone, and Fusion skills - all of which players need to use carefully when dealing with both mobs and elites.
Ideally, players would want to maintain a close range to enemies as often as possible, especially since precision aim is important when facing any type of enemy. The Drone/Machinist split works against mobs, whereas Hypersync’s boosted stats work well when fighting elites.
In PVP: The Drone Distracts Enemies
In contrast to a no-holds-barred PVE strategy, the Machinist’s approach to PVP requires a bit more finesse. Due to the nature of only having one target in PVP, the fragile Machinist finds themselves in a precarious position against heavy-hitters. Thankfully, this is where the Drone comes in.
Thanks to the Drone, players are able to use the same multi-targeting strategies that Machinists are known for in exploration. Positioning the Drone and the Machinist in opposing sides of the map can ensure the Drone is stationary while providing covering fire, whereas the Machinist can roam around and dodge the enemy’s deadlier attacks. Dividing the enemy’s attention in this manner can certainly give Machinists the opening they need to unleash deadlier attacks, especially entering Hypersync prior to engagements.
Lost Arkwas released last 2019 and is playable on PC.
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