Do and do nots of MP

Just a couple of things I picked up that might be helpful to others (the 3 of you still playing this game on 2o2p):

Praetorians (space crabs):

If it can be helped, don't fire off any powers on them when they are floating or they will bubble up. When they have their bubble up they take no dmg from powers and around 50% less weapons dmg. Once they plant themselves on the ground they will not bubble up. It is best to hit them with powers at that point.

Their laser will penetrate most (if not all) soft cover. Use hardcover and you will not receive any dmg from their laser attacks.

Scions:

Blow up the sac on their back (only one) and they take massive dmg. Their pulse attack will not penetrate light cover so abuse right hand advantage.

Banshees:

There are two modes for a banshee. The teleporting banshee can sync kill. We will call that mode 1. Mode 2 is when they are standing still and doing one of 3 things. 1) they are throwing warp balls, 2) they have their hand up and are blocking all power dmg or 3) they do their aoe scream. In this mode, mode 2, they will not sync kill. If you are a melee speced character you can walk up to them and melee away without the fear of being sync killed. They telegraph their intention to go back into sync kill/teleporting mode from mode 2 by a scream (different than the aoe scream). They can be put into mode 2 only by doing a specific amount of dmg.

When they have their hand up don't use powers as it is waste. They will block all powers at that point. Wait until they throw warp ball or do their aoe scream.

Phantoms:

Targeting with a power will make them put up their bubble. At that point they will take no power dmg. They will not bubble up when they have taken a certain amount of dmg. If using a grenade class, use your grenades without actively targeting them (they are not highlighted). They will not bubble up and will take full grenade dmg. Two powers are insta casts and the phantoms will not be able to bubble up, DC and reave. Also they will not bubble up if a proxy mine is put in their path or they are not highlighted.

If using a vanguard, spec so that the biotic charge does 1000+ of force as that is the threshold to stagger a phantom.

Atlases:

Shoot in the top of the pilot window with any weapon, with piercing (whether ammo or mod), will do extra dmg. The exhaust port in the back will give a headshot dmg bonus if shot at.

General stuff:

All sync kill capable units, except for the banshees, will sync kill after an initial melee attack. If an atlas does a melee attack and you are still in front of it the next thing it will do is pick you up and kill you.

Unsure of where that banshee is? Get on a slope or stairs. As long as any sync kill unit is below or above you they will not be able to sync kill. They will just perform a melee attack.

The more you know ...