[w/ Guide] Sludging 120

by ML-Z on 25/03/2025

Salutes 2

Corrosive Sludge Pump

Corrosive Sludge Pump icon
x2 Magazine Size
+40% Projectile Velocity
x1.25 Sludge Puddle width, x1.1 Sludge Puddle height
+24 Charged Shot Area Damage
+4 Charged Shot Fragments
+8 Regular Shot Area Damage
x1.5 Corrosive DoT duration, x1.5 Sludge Puddle duration
+40 Max Ammo
-1 Ammo per Charged Shot
x0.4 Charge Time
Increases Corrosive DoT's Slow from 35% to 51.25%, and increases the Sludge Puddle's Slow from 45% to 72.5%
Increases the Corrosive DoT's average DPS by +8.8, and increases Sludge Puddle's average DPS by +4
Disperser Compound

Subata 120

Subata 120 icon
x0 Base Spread
+4 Magazine Size
+48 Max Ammo
+3 Direct Damage
-33% Spread per Shot, x0.5 Recoil
Changes the Subata to fire in bursts of 2 bullets at 20 RoF during the burst. If both bullets hit an enemy, the second bullet gets +350% Armor Breaking. Additionally, -0.25 Mass and -4 Rate of Fire.
-0.6 Reload Time
+75% Weakpoint Bonus
+3 Direct Damage
+48 Max Ammo
+50% Direct Damage dealt to Burning enemies. Bonus damage is Fire element and adds the same amount of Heat, extending the Burn duration.
+1 Blowthrough
Shooting an enemy that is afflicted with Corrosion, Sludge Puddle, or Neurotoxin will apply 2 Status Effects. The first one lasts 5 seconds, and each bullet that hits will increase the DPS by +3.2, up to a maximum of 30 stacks (96 DPS). After its duration expires, you must apply a new instance and start stacking it again. The second Status Effect lasts 4.5 seconds, and its duration can be refreshed. If an enemy dies while the second one is active, then they will explode and damage nearby enemies proportional to the number of active stacks of the first effect. The explosion does (60 + 20*stacks) Typeless Damage, and the radius is (0.5 + SqRt[stacks]) meters.
Explosive Reload

Reinforced Power Drills

Reinforced Power Drills icon

Satchel Charge

Satchel Charge icon

Heavy Drill Suit

Heavy Drill Suit icon

Pickaxe

Pickaxe icon
Impact Axe
Impact Axe icon

Loadout Guide

Preface:

Short(er) Version:

Weapon Upgrades Overclock
Corrosive Sludge Pump 3-2-2-1-X Disperser Compound
Subata 120 X-1-2-3-3 Explosive Reload
Alternative Secondary Upgrades Overclock
Colette Wave Cooker 1-2-1-1-1 Mega Power Supply
Weapons Notes
Corrosive Sludge Pump Upgrades are set puddle and area damage. Use the charge shot as much as possible to thin out swarms. It takes a bit of practice to hit far away targets.
Subata 120 Upgrades for ammo and accuracy. Use this weapon to attack distant and/or tough enemies.
Alternative Secondary Notes
Colette Wave Cooker The weapon I use in Glacial Strata and Dense Biozone to deal with Naedocytes and Spitters. Upgrades set to damage and chance to poison enemies that are sludged.
Tool Upgrades Notes
Reinforced Power Drills X-1-1-1 Nothing out of the ordinary here. This build doesn't require you to use the drills to attack.
Satchel Charge (C4) X-X-X Pick whatever you need. Satchel Charges are often used by me to quickly get rid of a group of enemies or heavily wound dangerous targets.
Throwable Impact Axe Having another source of high single target damage is never bad for Drillers.
Heavy Drill Suit 1-X-1-3 Breathing Room is always a safe choice.

Detailed Explanation:

Corrosive Sludge Pump

  • This is the weapon that is used to clear the swarms of Grunts of all kinds. A single well placed charged shot can kill a lot of them. Be creative with the charge shots. Aim at walls or ceilings if necessary.
  • The charged shot can goo even a tight group of Macteras too.
  • The corrosive goo will melt the armor of most enemies. A single shot will peel the armor of adult Q’ronar Shellbacks and strip Grunt Guards off them too

Subata 120

  • Upgrades are set for ammo, accuracy and 2-burst fire rate. All to help quickly set explosive on enemies from any range and kill them. Tier 5, Neuro-Corrosive Catalyst adds one more damage over time against sludged enemies, further increasing its single target killing capability.
  • This is my main weapon of choice to deal with distant enemies and tougher ones that can tank the Sludge Pump's shots. Explosive Reload is very effective against Spitters, Macteras, Spreaders and Menaces which are usually the bane of Drillers.
  • Explosive Reload shares a lot of similar points with Embedded Detonators: they WON'T WORK IF YOU HIT HEAVY ARMOR, you must cause damage by hitting non-heavy armor part of enemies (i.e: the mouth or butt of Praetorians). Keep in mind that the detonators damage ARE NOT AFFECTED BY WEAKPOINTS and they DON'T DEAL EXTRA DAMAGE TO FROZEN ENEMIES.

Colette Wave Cooker

  • The CWC is an alternative choice for this build to use in Dense Biozone and Glacial Strata where Naedocyte Shockers often show up and most weapons struggle to kill large groups of them quickly.
  • With Contagion Transmitter (Tier 5) you can add more damage over time on enemies affected by sludge if you can’t kill them right now.

Throwables

  • Impact Axe is my choice for this build since it's always good to have an extra source of high single target damage since Driller tend to struggle with that. NOTE: Remember that this throwable triggers Vampire perk. Use them if you missed that power attack and need a sliver of health back so you won’t go down again.