Based crystal nucleation build

by avg_nerd on 14/03/2025

Salutes 2

Cryo Cannon

Cryo Cannon icon
x0.33 Pressure Drop Rate
-0.4 sec Chargeup Time
+1 Cold per Particle
+75 Tank Size
+5m Cold Stream Reach
-1 sec Repressurization Delay
x1.75 Pressure Gain Rate
+1.6 Flow Rate
+3 Damage per Particle
+1 Cold per Particle
+150 Tank Size
When a particle from Cryo Cannon damages a Frozen enemy and brings its health below 100 "true" hp, it has a (1 - hp/100) probability to deal the remaining hp as Kinetic Damage.
Cool down enemies within 4m of you at a rate of 60 Cold/sec. This stacks with the direct stream and Ice Path's cold sources as well.
Crystal Nucleation

Colette Wave Cooker

Colette Wave Cooker icon
+2 Damage
+100 Magazine Size
x3 Shot Width
-20% Heat Generation
+2 Rate of Fire
+50% Cooling Rate, -0.5 Overheat Duration
Enemies damaged will have their movespeed slowed by 50% for 1 second
Whenever the CWC damages a Burning or Frozen enemy, it inflicts 50% of its damage as Heat or 75% as Cold (respectively) to all enemies within a 2.5m radius (including the Burning/Frozen enemy itself). This causes the primary target to have an extended Burning or Frozen duration, while also causing nearby enemies to start to Ignite or Freeze.
Press Reload to toggle Wide Lens Add-On off/on. When activated, x1.25 Shot Width in exchange for +110% Heat Generation.
Press Reload to toggle Power Supply Overdrive off/on. When activated, +2.5 Rate of Fire in exchange for x0.1 Shot Width and +40% Heat Generation
x1.3 Damage vs enemies afflicted by Neurotoxin, Corrosion, or Sludge Puddles. Additionally, a 10% chance per ammo to spread Neurotoxin from the primary target to nearby enemies.
Enemies killed by the Wave Cooker have a 50% chance to explode, dealing 100 Explosive Area Damage in a 2.5m radius.
Every time the Wave Cooker damages a Burning or Frozen enemy, it has a 25% chance to trigger Exothermic Reactor. Exothermic Reactor sets the enemy's temperature back to zero, applies Temperature Shock to them (dealing 200 Disintegrate-element damage), and causes the enemy to deal 50 Temperature "damage" in a 2m radius -- Heat if they were Burning, or Cold if they were Frozen.
Mega Power Supply

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

Primary

I have built the primary to maximise cold. Building for higher damage and duration should also work, but I like to make use of Driller's synergy with Vampire. I don't believe T5A works when enemies are frozen by the crystals (please tell me if I'm wrong) so T5B is selected instead.

Secondary

When you lay down a trail of crystals, any hoard of bugs will freeze, and shooting into the middle with the CWC will cause a glorious chain explosion of bug guts. I have also used the EPC with great success - it's entirely your preference.

Equipment

Drills are my go to build for Vampire synergy. Remaining equipment are my preference - use your own here.

I don't believe I need to explain my choice in Axes, but Neurotoxin could likely work well too. Just freeze and throw Neurotoxin and bugs have no choice but to die.

Active: Iron Will, Dash Passive: Vampire, Resupplier, Sweet Tooth