Aim and Build Up: Alternate or Smash

[Uncle Shags]

Which do you prefer? 

 

I tend to smash them both at once for moar damage.  But I recently changed my slottng a bit and last night I noticed they were recharging at different rates so I tried the alternate technique.  

 

Now I'm wondering how other people do it. 

[tidge]

I typically delay one of those for a late-build choice... but when I have both I tend to alternate. I don't pay that much attention to the damage cap on my Blasters, FWIW. I pay attention to ToHit bonuses, but those usually go past the point of diminishing returns (or cap, IIRC) if I use both simultaneously. 

[Maelwys]

Alternate, with a Gaussian Proc in Aim.
 

[Glacier Peak]

I use Aim and Build Up (Gaussians Proc) on my Corruptor, then laugh once Scourge activates and I start out damaging my Blaster friends muhahaha

[Arbegla]

On blasters that have both available, I'll alternate them, using Build up for the alpha strike and Aim to finish off mobs. Unless I'm facing serious -tohit debuffs, then I'll save them to overcome being floored on tohit.

[Uun]

I tend to hit them both because I'm not consistent about which one I slot the Gaussian's proc in.

[LightMaster]

I am one that hits both to go for a super burst of damage, especially if my Tier 9s and Judgement are up, and to give a severe dent on EBs and AVs.

 

Now if I use a /Kin Corr, then Aim + Falcrum Suift to give my teammates and myself near or at damage cap. And yeah, your Blaster buddies don’t need to alternate or smash when this happens, saving them precious seconds to kill foes.

[Linea]

Usually both with a guassian proc for max damage nukes.

 

[Frozen Burn]

On 12/4/2025 at 12:41 PM, LightMaster said:

I am one that hits both to go for a super burst of damage, especially if my Tier 9s and Judgement are up, and to give a severe dent on EBs and AVs.

 

FYI... Judgements are unbuffable - they ignore all boosts - so, it's a waste to use BU or Aim with them. 

[Arbegla]

On 12/6/2025 at 11:29 PM, Frozen Burn said:

 

FYI... Judgements are unbuffable - they ignore all boosts - so, it's a waste to use BU or Aim with them. 

IIRC, Judegements are buffed by your alpha slot though, so if you have a Musculature alpha slot, you do slightly more damage with your judgement power.  They don't recharge faster however, even with a +recharge alpha slot. I could be mistaken and misremembering though, its been a minute since I've looked at how Judgements and Alpha slots interact.

[Ukase]

Leveling up, I take both, and 2 slot them. 
But I find once I hit 50, I seldom need to use them because I'm already at the damage cap; particularly during labyrinth or Hami. So, they're kind of a wasted power. 
Gaussians would fare better in Tactics, no? My understanding it has a chance to fire every time someone pops in the buff area. 
Even so, I just slap cytos in Tactics. 

But leveling up, definitely take them. I slot the adjusted targeting Recharge and ToHit in both. 

As for alternating or mashing both, I alternate. 

Edited December 9 by Ukase

[Frozen Burn]

13 hours ago, Arbegla said:

IIRC, Judegements are buffed by your alpha slot though, so if you have a Musculature alpha slot, you do slightly more damage with your judgement power.  They don't recharge faster however, even with a +recharge alpha slot. I could be mistaken and misremembering though, its been a minute since I've looked at how Judgements and Alpha slots interact.

 

Alphas basically "add an enhancement" to your slotted powers.  You cannot slot judgement, so Alphas (like Musculature) would not affect it.  Additionally, City of Data states that all judgment powers:  "Ignores enhancements and other boosts."  There are wiser people than me out there, but this tells me no, not even your Alpha will buff your judgement.  

[Chance Jackson]

18 hours ago, Frozen Burn said:

 

Alphas basically "add an enhancement" to your slotted powers.  You cannot slot judgement, so Alphas (like Musculature) would not affect it.  Additionally, City of Data states that all judgment powers:  "Ignores enhancements and other boosts."  There are wiser people than me out there, but this tells me no, not even your Alpha will buff your judgement.  

I do believe since Live that Judgment & maybe other incarnate powers are boosted by alpha aspects other than recharge I can't say that has not changed in Homecoming tho.

[Frozen Burn]

3 hours ago, Chance Jackson said:

I do believe since Live that Judgment & maybe other incarnate powers are boosted by alpha aspects other than recharge I can't say that has not changed in Homecoming tho.

 

Could be.  How Alphas affect judgments and other things like that is beyond me.  But I do know that even back in live and now, judgements were/are not boostable by outside powers like Build Up or Aim, or other such things. 

[Uun]

15 hours ago, Chance Jackson said:

I do believe since Live that Judgment & maybe other incarnate powers are boosted by alpha aspects other than recharge I can't say that has not changed in Homecoming tho.

Nope

 

[Borias]

I tend to rotate them on most blasters, using the first aim with build up proc to do a nuke and then firing off the second one 10-15 seconds later with a regular attack chain.

 

I do have a marine/water defender that uses both before unloading geyser. That’s more about the lengthy debuff setup it takes to optimize the damage.