Infector Question

[ExpiredLifetime]

Seeing as I've never used these before and it's about time to level them up, which is generally considered to be the better variant of this weapon? PvE and PvP.

[PseudoCool]

I think it depends on playstyle.

I like the Canker (which applies an infection that spreads instead of little aliens) and the VBI one that's write up says "counter sniper".. both of them work really well for me and put down good damage against most mobs in PvE.

As for PvP.. couldn't tell ya.. I don't PvP.

[Santiak]

There is a slightly older "guide" over at Amber Fae's thread found here

But just for the sake of convenience, here you go:

Oddities about the stat information worth noting:
- DoT is not indicated by the Infection indicators. It stops a good while before the infection "clears".
- All parasites deal ~500 damage when they detonate on an enemy, regardless of variation.
- Individual shots will hit for the damage stated, but every time an infection is applied, a damage burst of ~600 will trigger, and in most cases a parasite will spawn.
- "Bug DMG" actually refers to the DoT applied per infection indicator, up to a maximum of 3x the number shown (3 infections applied)
- All variations will spawn bugs upon enemy death.

Afflictor: "Spawns parasites whenever a target has been hit five times"
This is more or less the same as the standard "Infector" variation. I believe it is bugged (no pun intended), and that it should actually spawn one extra bug per infection indicator (every 5 shots), or 2 bugs per 5 shots. But since it doesn't, it has the exact same stats and behaviour as the normal variation.

Canker: "Does not spawn parasites but infections deal increasing damage over time"
- Does not spawn parasites upon infection.
This has the highest DoT among the variations, but it does not spawn any bugs except upon enemy death.
It shares the shortest range and slowest refire rate of all the variations, along with the Invader. (The difference in refire-rate is countered by it not being burst-fire)

Immunizer:
Has extended range, but other than that, behaves as the standard variation.

Incubator: "Applies a slowing effect to infected targets restricting their movement"
- Does not apply DoT upon infection.
- Spawns 2 parasites per infection.
This relies solely on parasites for damage, and does not apply any DoT. Aside from that, it behaves in much the same way as the base variation.


Infector: "Causes parasitic infection of the target which then burst allowing the release of alien life forms"
The Vanilla version. It applies DoT and spawns parasites upon infection, but has no advantage except having no particular disadvantages.

Invader: "Fully automatic version of the infector allows for quick infection of targets"
This is both fully automatic - as stated - and spawns bugs upon infection. It's DoT is, however, the same as the base variation.

Outbreaker: "Spawns parasites whenever a target has been slain while infected"
- Does not spawn upon infection.
This variation is somewhat like the Canker, in the sense that it does not spawn any parasites when applying one infection mark (every 5 hits). It does, however, have slightly different stats compared to the Canker: It does less damage over time - but more than the other variations, and has a longer range.


So, to sum it all up:
Canker has the highest DoT, but doesn't spawn parasites on infection, and has the shortest range.
Invader has the second highest spawn-rate of parasites, as well as DoT, but shortest range.
Incubator slows enemies, the highest spawn rate of parasites (2 on infection), but has no DoT.
Afflictor is possibly bugged; it spawns 1 parasite on infection like most other variations.
Outbreaker second highest DoT with increased range, but doesn't spawn parasites on infection.
Immunizer has the farthes reach, but nothing else.

DoT:
Canker: 172
Outbreaker: 52
Rest: 34
Incubator: 0

Parasite frequency: (X = Number of active infections)
Incubator: 2 upon infection, X upon death.
Rest: 1 upon infection, X upon death.
Canker: 0 upon infection, X upon death.
Outbreaker: 0 upon infection, X upon death.

Range:
Immunizer: 40
Rest: 35
Canker: 17
Invader: 17

Personally, I prefer the Canker for PvP - as the parasites that usually spawn can take a while to "activate" and find a target, by which time you've most likely been deadified if they were spawned because of applying an infetion, as opposed to the opponent being killed.
As for PvE, I normally go with Invader because of the high overall damage (average DoT, second highest spawn-rate of parasites - which makes it good for dealing with crowds of nasties).

But, it is as with everything else, a matter of preference.
Both the Canker and Invader have the shortest range, so they require you to get closer to the nasties.
Conversely, Immunizer and Incubator would be good for crowd-control, PvP and PvE alike.
And finally Infector - and Afflictor because of the possible bug listed above - are the happy middleground of all.

[Pain]

I prefer the Canker when I use Infectors.

[ExpiredLifetime]

There is a slightly older "guide" over at Amber Fae's thread found here

But just for the sake of convenience, here you go:

Much appreciated, thanks.

[Burt Gummer]

Confirming that the Canker is very effective, due to the fact that it skips the extra step of creating an entity to attack for you.
Damage over Time is much more desirable than damage inflicted by a bug than can be shot, and thereby negated.

[ExpiredLifetime]

Confirming that the Canker is very effective, due to the fact that it skips the extra step of creating an entity to attack for you.
Damage over Time is much more desirable than damage inflicted by a bug than can be shot, and thereby negated.

I'm finding that the Canker has much more consistent damage as well, I'll probably be sticking to that.