All 4 Playable Classes in Outriders

(An Overview)

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Outriders will have 4 playable classes when the game launches: Technomancer, Pyromancer, Trickster, and Devastator. Each class will have a set of their own unique abilities (powers) that can be mix-and-matched to create various loadouts/builds. From the 8 abilities that each class will have on launch, players will have to choose 3 to be equipped and available for use.

All powers in Outriders can be hot-swapped when they are not in cooldown. You can even change them while in combat but careful to not end up dead while doing so. Powers in Outriders are designed to have a relatively short cooldown so that players can use them to get the most out of combat.

You will be able to freely re-spec your Class Points allocation so there’s no need for fear of making mistakes. There are elements of each class’ fundamentals in all skill tree branches. The 3 skill trees of each class are intertwined and you can cross-link them to get that ‘weird build’ that just hits the spot and adopts your preferred playstyle. This encourages players to test various skill tree nodes and experiment to their heart’s content. Each skill tree contains both major & minor passive nodes. With the free respecs, the ability to cross-link between skill trees, and the vast number of possible builds the fun from testing new builds is guaranteed.

Some of the equipment that you can find in Outriders also comes with various special perks and mods that allows us to further synergise via “build-around-me” items.

Showcase Video footage:

Technomancer:

Technomancers can infuse powers into weaponry at their will. They can exploit technology to the fullest in brutal ways. Technomaners are highly flexible in terms of build diversity & are most suitable for players who pay close attention to their surroundings & the flow of combat.

Status effects, Boss Skill interrupts, and party heals are some of many tools that Technomancer can utilize as a support role. Their summoning skill & diverse choice of weaponry (with a heavy focus on Sniper Rifles) can be utilized when taking a DPS role. This class is perfect for solo players and is somewhat alike to Fl4k from Borderlands 3.

The main focus of Technomancers are minions & indirect sources of DPS. The class has the following 3 skill trees:

• Demolisher for Jack of all Trades kind of setup
• Tech Shaman for a focus on Indirect Damage & Healing
• Pestilence for a focus on Decay & Damage

They can freeze enemies in melee range. They can heal themselves based on the damage they have dealt as well as get a passive dmg boost to long range weapons and Anomaly Powers.

Just like the other classes, Technomancers have a total of 8 powers that they unlock as they level up. Here are 5 of those abilities:

• Tool of Destruction – This power has alternate modes. You can swap between a Rocket Launcher & a Minigun modes. The launcher can interrupt enemy skills which can be amazing in Boss fights. While the minigun is you typical automatic fire pew-pew-pew BFG.
• Fixing Wave – This power is for the awesome healers out there. It restores health to the Technomancer, their constructs, and allies – regardless of distance.
• Pain Launcher – This is one of the various Technomancer constructs. It creates a autonomous turret that shoots a salvo of carpet bombing missiles at enemies. It also can interrupt enemy skills; however the deployment animation delays the fire.
• Blighted Turret – This is another autonomous turret that can also inflict the DoT ‘Toxic’ status effect on enemies. It’s like a ‘flamethrower’ that shoots acid instead of flames. It can be good for flanking and hit-and-run tactics or to keep enemies busy.
• Cold Snap – Is a large AoE skill that freezes enemies. It’s perfect to prime a group of clustered enemies for a DPS followup. It’s also a great defensive skill to crowd control melee enemies.
  There are 3 more powers that the devs have not revealed as well.

A combo example that the devs demonstrated is: Cold Snap + Blighted Turret + Tool of Destruction for minigun pew pew. I personally would have used Pain Launcher instead of the minigun.

Pyromancer:

Pyromancers manipulate explosive Volcanic Energy and devastating walls of flames. This class is suitable for those who love to group up enemies and then bathe them in a shower of devastating AoE destruction. Pyromancers fight at mid-range and don’t have movement abilities to allow them getting in and out of combat quickly.

The main focus of Pyromancers is thermal & fire-based AoE damage & damage over time. The class has the following 3 skill trees:

• Ash Breaker for a focus on damage against ‘marked’ enemies
• Fire Storm for a focus on Skill Damage & Anomaly Power
• Tempest for a focus on Max Health & damage reduction (a tankier role)

As the other classes, this class heals as they do damage & aggressive play is encouraged. Pyromancers restore HP when an enemy dies while ‘marked’ by their skills. Any Pyromancer damage-dealing skill will ‘mark’ an enemy for a set duration. Inflicting ‘Burning’ will briefly stun enemies as well as interrupt them.

Just like the other classes, Pyromancers have a total of 8 powers that they unlock as they level up. Here are 4 of those abilities:

• Thermal Bomb – Sets enemies ablaze & deals additional damage over time. If an enemy dies during the skill’s effect, they will rise up and explode mid-air, dealing damage to other nearby enemies. You don’t need to be the one doing the kill blow for this to trigger as well spo a teammate can finish off marked enemies and trigger the explosions too.
• Ash Blast – Applies the status effect of ‘Ash’ to enemies in a large radius. Ash immobilizes enemies & prevents them from taking any actions. It’s perfect to Crowd Control groups of enemies and prime them for a follow-up nuke from another power. Good to use both offensively & defensively.
• Heatwave – Is one of the earliest powers to unlock. Utilizes the class’ mid-range to send forth a wave of flames in a straight line that does AoE dmg & burns enemies. Excellent skill to ‘mark’ foes & set yourself up for a big healing burst.
• Overheat – Deals a small amount of dmg to enemies in a large radius BUT does EXTRA damage to enemies that are already burning. The perfect ‘follow-up’ skill after setting a group of enemies ablaze. Another amazing skill to ‘mark’ foes & set yourself up for a big healing burst.
  There are 4 more powers that the devs have not revealed as well.

A combo example that the devs demonstrated is: Heatwave + Ash Blast + Thermal Bomb. And I might add in an Overheat for good measure as well.

Trickster:

Tricksters are the assassin class. They manipulate the fabric of time & space to take out enemies by surprise. This class is for those who love to get in and out quickly, while leaving devastation in their wake. Tricksters are all about Movement, Damage, & Destruction. Certain more ‘tanky’ builds are also possible due to how specific skills & passives can be customized. The class has a melee attack that stuns & slows enemies & an upgraded melee AoE attack (while sprinting).

The main focus of Tricksters are space & time powers & effects such as the class’ melee attack. The class has the following 3 skill trees:

• Master of Space for a focus on close range combat and provides bonuses with Shotguns & SMGs when using movement based skills
• Harbinger for a focus on being the a bit more Tanky and provides dmg reduction and shield bonuses
• Assassin for a focus on skill damage outputs, such as bonuses when using movement and damage skills, as well as an additional Anomaly Power

As the other classes, this class heals through aggressive play. Tricksters heal & gain Shields when an enemy dies nearby in close-range. At first glance it is similar to Davastators but there are differences: Tricksters Heal and get Shield for each close range kill, while Davastators only heal themselves and have a higher base Armor & HP.

Just like the other classes, Tricksters have a total of 8 powers that they unlock as they level up. Here are 4 of those abilities:

• Temporal Slice – Is the very first power Tricksters unlock. The class’ bread & butter. Any enemy hit will get paralyzed & slowed. Especially effective on large groups of enemies & in combo with skills that cluster enemies together.
• Borrowed Time – Using this skill you will instantly gain a percentage of your maximum HP as a shield that absorbs damage before your health is affected. It also creates a time clone of yourself where the power was used. You can re-use the skill to teleport back to the clone’s location.
• Slow Trap – Creates a dome on the ground around you that slows enemies & projectiles, while you & you allies move at normal speed inside of it. Useful for offensive & defensive situations as well as while resurrecting downed teammates.
• Hunt the Prey – Highlights any visible enemy. Re-activating the skill teleports you directly behind a highlighted enemy while slowing the enemy & giving you a percentage of your max health as shield. Can be used to warp around the field offensively or as an escape mechanic.

There are 4 more powers that the devs have not revealed as well.

A combo example that the devs demonstrated is: Borrowed Time + Hunt the Prey + Temporal Slice.

Devastator:

Devastators are a ground-shaking, earthquaking class. They shatter the earth around them via a brute force powered by the planet itself. This class is suitable for those who who love to be close & personal, dead center in-between your foes. They can be either played as a tank or take a more damage-dealing role. They have a number of interrupts that can be extremely useful to shut down Bosses.

The main focus of Devastators are gravitational & earth-based powers & effects such as bleeding & hp reduction. The class has the following 3 skill trees:

• Vanquisher for a focus on close range combat and provides bonuses to shotguns & assault rifles
• Warden for a focus on being the Ultimate Tank with massive bonuses to HP, Armor, and Resistances
• Seismic Shifter for a focus on mid-range combat, Anomaly Damage & Damage over Time

As the other classes, this class heals through aggressive play. Devastators restore HP when an enemy dies around them in close-range. At first glance it is similar to Tricksters but there are differences: Tricksters heal & get Shield for each close range kill, while Devastators heal themselves and have a higher base Armor & HP. For those who want to focus on a more tanky role there are ways to stack passive bonuses for Armor and HP as well as ones that allow to steal armor from enemies slain in close range. Devastators can have the most HP & Armor when fully specced into survivability.

Just like the other classes, Devastators have a total of 8 powers that they unlock as they level up. Here are 4 of those abilities:

• Gravity Leap – jump into the air and hover for a few seconds, re-activating the ability while targeting an enemy will highlight them in yellow then slam down on your target’s location dealing AoE damage to any nearby foe. A very good ‘engage’ mechanic to start a fight with or an escape mechanic to move around the battlefield towards a pesky sniper or another annoying ranged foe. It is also an interrupt skill which makes it great during Boss fights.
• Reflect Bullets – activates a shield directly in front of you. While the shield is up, any bullets fired at you are caught in it, preventing all damage. a great skill for allies to hide behind and use as cover. As the name suggests, It also has an offensive aspect and sends out all bullets caught back at your enemies when the shield ends.
• Impale – a damage & interrupt skill that is very effective vs Bosses. It can also be effective vs a large group of enemies (when you get the right gear to increase the number of targets Impale hits). If the damage dealt by Impale is lethal, the enemies will get speared by a stone spike. This will grant your squad HP regen and Armor buffs for 9 seconds. It also has seven possible modifiers that you can apply through gear.
• Endless Mass – releases a spinning obelisk that vacuums all nearby enemies towards it’s center. A vastly versatile skill that can be used in many builds. It’s amazing for wombo-combos with other classes’ or with your own powers.

There are 4 more powers that the devs have not revealed as well.

A combo example that the devs demonstrated is: Endless Mass + Gravity Leap + Reflect Bullets.

 

If you’re not sure if this game is your cup of tea, remember that there will be a FREE DEMO Test on the 25th of February 2021. More info here: https://square-enix-games.com/en_US/home2/outriders-demo-available-25-february

You can use the following Epic Games Store Creator Code/Tag on checkout (for some games) to get a discount while generating revenue for me: STRUCKTLF

Here’s an EGS Referral link for Outriders: https://store.epicgames.com/strucktlf/outriders