Arc, Solar and Void Elemental Weapon Damage
Arc, Solar and Void Elemental Weapon Damage
Here's what I think the elemental damage thing means.
Basically, you need to match the color of the PvE enemy's glowing shield with your weapon's elemental damage. When you shoot an enemy with a shield, they will glow bluish/purplish/orangish. Supposedly, hitting them with a weapon having the same element will deal double the amount of damage.
Elemental damage refers to Arc, Solar, or Void damage dealt by special weapons, heavy weapons, grenades, and supers.
Arc Super user: Hunter Bladedancer, Titan Striker
Solar Super user: Hunter Gunslinger, Warlock Sunsinger
Void Super user: Titan Defender, Warlock Voidwalker
Blue is for Arc (lightning) damage (i.e. Fallen Captains)
Orange is for Solar (fire) damage (i.e. Hive Wizards)
Purple is for Void damage (i.e. Vex Minotaurs)
Has anyone tested this? Having 3 snipers, 3 shottys, and 3 rockets in your inventory is asking a little much.
It makes a big difference. I keep a level 19 void damage fusion rifle just in my inventory just in case I need it. Unfortunately its the best short range void damage secondary I have. An even bigger difference is when there is an overall damage enhancement for strikes like the weekly challenge. Last week was Solar (fire) damage and I was 2 shotting minotaurs with my purple shotgun.
Yeah - it is best to use the appropriate color damage against the same color shield, unless you have another heroic damage modifier. I'm not 100% certain what the heroic modifier is, but I think it is 2x or 2.5x. You can two shot an Axis minatour and one shot a normal one with an appropriately colored fusion rifle. And any non-phogoth boss seems to go down really quickly if all 3 people shoot a full ammo reserve's worth of correctly colored rockets.
This is what a lot of people seem to not understand.
Yes, the shield colors matter, but when you play a mission with the Arc, Solar or Void damage modifiers, then using the appropriate weapon for the modifier makes an even bigger difference.
Take note however, that it also means those types of damage will also be increased against you.
The Fallen generally use Arc weapons, the Hive use Void and the Geth use Solar. So if you get a mission/strike with the Arc damage modifier and you are fighting Fallen, you'll die very fast from the arc damage- that means equip your arc damage weapons and you'll see the difference.
Again, this is only for higher difficultly settings that include weapon damage modifiers.
I'm trying to keep each type of special and heavy weapon in my inventory. Fusion rifles and Heavy machine guns are really good at stripping sheilds. Snipers and rockets for those one-hit kills.
I typically don't use shotguns in PvE, but I will keep a fusion/sniper/rockets/machine gun of each element for each situation.
Vex Minotaurs and Servitors shoot purple stuff...
So... If you're fighting Fallen, choose Arc weapons?
If you're fighting Hive, choose Solar weapons?
If you're fighting Vex, choose Void weapons?
Unless, there's a heroic weapon type modifier, and if there is, choose that type of weapon no matter the enemy????
By the way, I use a 230 Arc shotgun for the invisi Fallen 4-armed sword swingers. I frequently dont' see them till they're in my face. A good shotgun is the best I've found for dealing with them.
Blue is Arc.
Purple is Void.
Minotauras are often purple shields.
I'm not yet sure if shields and weapons attributes go together.
If there is a heroic damage modifier and you have an appropriate level weapon, use it over anything else.
If they have a red, purple or white shield, use that type weapon if there is no heroic modifier.
Otherwise, for any non-shielded enemy, use the highest damage weapon you have. Race of target is irrelevant.
I think. ;)
EDIT: As for what enemies shoot at you, look up to right corner when you die. It says the weapon and damage type. This is also useful in PVP to see the weapon that just stomped your face in.
Cobal are usually orange shields. Make sure to bring light damage to Mars (helps with the weekly and nightfall this week).