The weapon balancing is still so BS in this game despite a year of balancing. Is anything worth it except for bloodied builds? Can non heavy energy weapons even exist with no AA options?
I pulled a TSE pump action, and despite modding the hell out of it and +50% damage in perks it it's still takes way to many shells to kill things. Even low levels sometimes because the spread can be absolutely wild at times despite 2 ranks of skeet shooter. I thought explosive procs off each round, despite being low base, would be able to add up, but again with the damage numbers I'm seeing makes no sense and seem to be procing maybe 3 at the most. Add in any mob with decent armor and zero penetration perks for shot gun and it turns what use to be a god roll in to quickly degrading heartbreak. Fuck.
I managed to snag an AA auto rifle, which I modded to single fire and highest damage possible. Even then, with all my rifle perks it performs worse than a furious handmade I have that doesn't even have an Anti Armor mag on it and less auto perks. That's before the furious even kicks in. I just don't get it.
It really feels like the only way to get that feeling of being able to comfortably solo that I had near launch with my TS combat rifle is to go bloodied. And considering I have almost full vanguard armor, that's a tough transitionn even if I do get lucky and get bloodied on a damn rifle.