Why would a stalker use a snipe?

[DarknessEternal]

Mathematically, it doesn’t seem worth the cost of not adding a stack of assassination.  Am I misunderstanding what people are doing with snipes?

[Redlynne]

Because sometimes standing right next to your $Target puts you inside the blue/red/pink ZONE OF DEATH™ that you don't want to be standing in ...?

[Omega-202]

58 minutes ago, DarknessEternal said:

Mathematically, it doesn’t seem worth the cost of not adding a stack of assassination.  Am I misunderstanding what people are doing with snipes?

Fast snipes have really good DPA with a not too long animation (comparable to non crit AS) and can be used at range or in melee.  Generally, Moonbeam/Zapp increase DPS of an attack chain even if they're not building stacks.  Also having ranged damage options, especially one so strong, can really help in certain fights (AVs and monsters with big splash hits, the Battle Maiden fight in Apex TF, etc.)

[Hopeling]

On 10/7/2019 at 7:10 AM, DarknessEternal said:

Mathematically, it doesn’t seem worth the cost of not adding a stack of assassination.

It may not be for the specific attack chain comparison you're looking at. But it would be surprising if NO attack chain can be improved from the addition of an attack with 80 DPA before slotting, the loss of Focus notwithstanding. What math are you looking at that says otherwise?

 

Also, a snipe is an opportunity to slot another category of sets, potentially including a purple damage proc.

[JetMalakai]

So you can say that when they sent you on a snipe hunt, you caught one.

[Couthless]

Not only does the Snipe bring good damage on its own, but the 40ish percent chance of a Build Up it brings (Via Decimation) increases your DPS by far more than 1/6 of a crit does.

Besides, a high-end attack chain requires two extremely high damage attacks outside of Assassin's Strike. Without using a Snipe as one of those high damage attacks, that just isn't possible.

Edited October 9, 2019 by Couthless

[Erydanus]

Now that snipes can be fast-cast, suppose something's running away from you? BAM! snipe them as they flee.

[MTeague]

Because Zer0 has a sniping tree and melee trees.

 

"Striking from nowhere / Killing with accuracy / This is who I am."

[ninja surprise]

Because sometimes Energy blasters or /Stormies blow your target away and running takes End.

[drbuzzard]

Also in addition to the fast snipe mode being damned good by itself for any attack chain, the ability to kill off an annoying enemy at range (I'm looking at you Cimeroran Surgeons) is quite nice.

[Rapunzel]

F-ing runners.

 

I joke that my stalker wears nice heels and doesn't like to walk. Lightning Rod between mobs, snipe to finish off runners so I don't have to chase them down. I love my snipe. 

[KC4800]

Because sometimes you want to show up a blaster team mate. 

[Frosticus]

hidden fast snipe w/procs is an extreme damage attack.

 

I have 5 procs (4 damage procs) in my moonboom. misspelling intentional.

 

fast snipe, for many sets, is the 2nd highest damage/dpa attack they have.

 

[Sir Myshkin]

1 hour ago, Frosticus said:

moonboom

heh, Nice. Submitting formal request for name change of Moonbeam Moonboom.

[Hyperstrike]

My DB/WP has both Moonbeam and Soul Storm.
Sure, they're not the most Stalker-Centric powers.
But they're FULL OF HAMI-Os and they're just awesomesauce with a side of awesomesauce with an ADDITIONAL side of Awesomesauce!

Hammering GW with a Soul Storm?

I just light up like a christmas tree on endorphins!