Help using the Xeno Scanner please

[Scoob]

Hey all,

I've been delving into Anti-Xeno combat this evening. Had a few weird glitches - solved by going into Solo mode for now - but generally doing well.

I enter an AX Conflict Zone and proceed to take out the various Scouts, which goes well, then one of the larger ships shows up. I attack it for ages, but it never seems to take damage. I assume this is because I have no Xeno Scanner and cannot target the hearts, so off I go to get one fitted.

Returning to AX combat with the Xeno Scanner Fitted (and assigned to a fire group) I notice that it reveals the type and Hull Percentage of the scouts I'm facing. Great, very useful knowing how close to death they are. Next one of the larger Thargoids comes in as normal, I target it, and minimal data is shown, saying I need to scan it. I assume Scanning will reveal the Hearts / allow the sub-system targetting I need to efficiently kill the thing.

However, the Xeno Scanner is HOPELESS! First I need to get within 500 metres, Ok, I can do that, but I'm expose to danger doing so and my turrets are not firing as I switch weapon groups. Secondly, the scan is soooo bloooodddyy slooooow, I never got it above 20% before the (very nimble for a large ship) Thargoid had broken my lock. After a LOT of attempts - and chunks out of my hull - I could not scan above 20% before the Thargoid went out of the limited scanning cone and the scan reset.

I've seen numerous videos of people fighting the larger Thargoid ships, but every time they're able to target the hearts yet I never see them use the Xeno Scanner. Sure, I've not watched every video out there, so perhaps some show it, but I'm evidently missing something here.

The build I'm playing with uses AX MC Turrets - no Gauss, I've not unlocked them - and it has the potential to kill the larger Thargoids, but if I cannot reveal the hearts I'm stuck.

The thing is, I did manage a single assisted Kill (NPC's assisting, not players) vs. a Hydra without the ability to target the hearts, so I assume one of the NPC's somehow managed to - they appeared to be using Plasmas to attack it, and some were using (I assume) AX missiles. However, generally in combat with the scanner, I see the hull drop to 99% before going up again when I just keep shooting it as I was before, the scanner is simply too slow and short-ranged to scan these ships once in combat.

Note: reading up on this people talk about just going up to them and scanning, but they appear to be talking about the old hyperdiction type encounters, where they're largely passive - not engaged in combat.

Any advice? I must be missing something, but the scanner does appear to be a bit rubbish!

Scoob.

 

[gorankar]

The scanner is rubbish, it should work at 1000-1500 meters, if I had my way, but it is what it is. Use a fighter, or NPC's to draw it's attention while you get close enough to scan. They tend to ignore you for whichever ship is doing the most damage to them at the moment. Don't fire on them and use that behavior to get your scan in. Damage it until the a heart exposes itself and then concentrate fire on that heart. Then make some distance since they tend to go into either a shield cycle or pop a shutdown pulse soon after a heart is popped.

AX MC turrets are not enough for the average player to take on an interceptor above a cyclops solo. They heal nearly as fast as you can damage them and you will most likely run out of ammo, or hull, b4 you kill it. With NPC help it is still iffy. NPC's can't really be counted on.

I use quad gauss and an efficient beam with thermal vent on a drop ship, and sometimes use triple C3 shard, one C2 gauss, and one C2 efficient beam with thermal vent on a Krait 2 when hunting with a pack. Others use shards, or sometimes plasma chargers alongside shard or gauss, but turreted AX, even 4 X class 3 on a T10, is definitely increasing the time, skill level, and luck required to solo an interceptor, especially the stronger variants. Not saying it can't be done, but you are seriously making it harder on yourself trying to use just AX MC turrets. Also, if you are using a large, it can be hard to get close and stay close enough to get your scan done while in a CZ. Interceptors are fast.

I am not a member but, the commanders over at https://www.antixenoinitiative.com/ know the way. All of your goid killing questions can be answered by them.

 

[CMDR DragonHorn]

If you don't have Gauss, it will take you forever to take out even lowest variant, just don't fight Interceptors. And Scanner is useful when you do staged combat (like in NHSS, where they are usually not hostile) and you're new. It's really not necessary when you know phases. When Interceptor shield is off, you shoot at it to expose heart, it glows bright red so you can easily spot it and need to destroy it.

Just watch some youtube kill video, will understand how it works pretty quick.

 

[Bigmaec]

You have to stick very close in AX CZ to scan, I mostly ram and boost if I even scan at all. The scanner is crap for AX CZ.
You can target the exerted hearts with Gauss with relative ease even unscanned.
It also works with AX turrets in forward fire mode, but that's a chore and only works against Cyclops.

 

[Bob McBobblehead]

The range of the xeno scanner should to extended, it's a bit crap that you have to hug a goid to get a scan.

 

[CMDR Yates]

Hey all,

I've been delving into Anti-Xeno combat this evening. Had a few weird glitches - solved by going into Solo mode for now - but generally doing well.

I enter an AX Conflict Zone and proceed to take out the various Scouts, which goes well, then one of the larger ships shows up. I attack it for ages, but it never seems to take damage. I assume this is because I have no Xeno Scanner and cannot target the hearts, so off I go to get one fitted.

Returning to AX combat with the Xeno Scanner Fitted (and assigned to a fire group) I notice that it reveals the type and Hull Percentage of the scouts I'm facing. Great, very useful knowing how close to death they are. Next one of the larger Thargoids comes in as normal, I target it, and minimal data is shown, saying I need to scan it. I assume Scanning will reveal the Hearts / allow the sub-system targetting I need to efficiently kill the thing.

However, the Xeno Scanner is HOPELESS! First I need to get within 500 metres, Ok, I can do that, but I'm expose to danger doing so and my turrets are not firing as I switch weapon groups. Secondly, the scan is soooo bloooodddyy slooooow, I never got it above 20% before the (very nimble for a large ship) Thargoid had broken my lock. After a LOT of attempts - and chunks out of my hull - I could not scan above 20% before the Thargoid went out of the limited scanning cone and the scan reset.

I've seen numerous videos of people fighting the larger Thargoid ships, but every time they're able to target the hearts yet I never see them use the Xeno Scanner. Sure, I've not watched every video out there, so perhaps some show it, but I'm evidently missing something here.

The build I'm playing with uses AX MC Turrets - no Gauss, I've not unlocked them - and it has the potential to kill the larger Thargoids, but if I cannot reveal the hearts I'm stuck.

The thing is, I did manage a single assisted Kill (NPC's assisting, not players) vs. a Hydra without the ability to target the hearts, so I assume one of the NPC's somehow managed to - they appeared to be using Plasmas to attack it, and some were using (I assume) AX missiles. However, generally in combat with the scanner, I see the hull drop to 99% before going up again when I just keep shooting it as I was before, the scanner is simply too slow and short-ranged to scan these ships once in combat.

Note: reading up on this people talk about just going up to them and scanning, but they appear to be talking about the old hyperdiction type encounters, where they're largely passive - not engaged in combat.

Any advice? I must be missing something, but the scanner does appear to be a bit rubbish!

Scoob.

You can kill the hearts without scanning. When a heart is exerted and in a condition where it can be damaged, it will light up like Christmas. The hitbox isn't too unforgiving. As long as you hit the "leaf" the heart is on, you'll tend to do damage to it.

It's easiest with Gauss cannons though.

 

[Scoob]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I've managed to expose the hearts a number of times - I've seen my target start glowing red - but the AX MC Turrets seem to just keep shooting at the centre of the ship, hence why I assumed scanning was needed so I could sub-target them. I did take down a Hydra with NPC help, so someone's shots were hitting those hearts, maybe mine through luck, maybe the NPC's who seemed to be using some sort of plasma weapon, as well as MC's.

Do Gauss's have some additional targetting ability then to allow the hearts to be targetted without a scan having been completed? That'll explain the videos I've seen of players fully able to target hearts without scanning.

Shame the Xeno Scanner is utter junk, they should just make it fully automatic and reveal hearts the same as it reveals the hull and name of Scouts. It's a really daft design choice when doing the scan takes more skill than doing the actual kill! I've been fairly successful surviving these guys until I'm literally out of ammo in a relatively slow Anaconda. My inability to target the hearts - for my Turrets to lock-on - is the entirety of the problem.

I'd like to make my current build work, just for the challenge. I was well aware I was taking the "wrong" ship and loadout to the fight, but that was part of the fun. It's a shame there's this artificial block preventing AX Turrets from shooting at the hearts directly. If only the scanner was fit for purpose.

I guess I could do the (oh so dull) steps to unlock Gauss, but I really didn't want to, going META was not what I wanted.

Scoob.

 

[t-lo]

Unfortunately, AX cannons do badly with sub-targets. Gauss are much more reliable but are fixed so don't auto-target at all; you'll need skills to fly your ship accordingly.

 

[t-lo]

In general, interceptor combat is about as tough as it gets in the game; better have a look at introductory tutorials. CMDR Kate has been doing an awesome job here:

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hiy_-2JqpA

 

[alexzk]

4 guardian shards of size 3 (Anaconda/T10) with 30% recharge 1shot smallest big ship. Literally. 4 seconds to kill.

 

[Bigmaec]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I've managed to expose the hearts a number of times - I've seen my target start glowing red - but the AX MC Turrets seem to just keep shooting at the centre of the ship, hence why I assumed scanning was needed so I could sub-target them. I did take down a Hydra with NPC help, so someone's shots were hitting those hearts, maybe mine through luck, maybe the NPC's who seemed to be using some sort of plasma weapon, as well as MC's.

Do Gauss's have some additional targetting ability then to allow the hearts to be targetted without a scan having been completed? That'll explain the videos I've seen of players fully able to target hearts without scanning.

Shame the Xeno Scanner is utter junk, they should just make it fully automatic and reveal hearts the same as it reveals the hull and name of Scouts. It's a really daft design choice when doing the scan takes more skill than doing the actual kill! I've been fairly successful surviving these guys until I'm literally out of ammo in a relatively slow Anaconda. My inability to target the hearts - for my Turrets to lock-on - is the entirety of the problem.

I'd like to make my current build work, just for the challenge. I was well aware I was taking the "wrong" ship and loadout to the fight, but that was part of the fun. It's a shame there's this artificial block preventing AX Turrets from shooting at the hearts directly. If only the scanner was fit for purpose.

I guess I could do the (oh so dull) steps to unlock Gauss, but I really didn't want to, going META was not what I wanted.

Scoob.

With gauss you use eyeball mkI to aim for the hearts.
The exerted one is always the red glowing petal, not easy to see on Hydras though.

 

[photomankc]

It's been a while but as I recall the interceptors in AZ CZs are Basalisk or at least can be. If so you can't insta-gib them with shards. Shards are great to have in a wing but solo not so much.

So OP, there's some bad news. They way you want to do it is not really going to work. You'll be fine murdering the scouts but the Interceptors are going to be a significant issue and probably not at all fun. For one thing a Basalisk is FAST, and you can't just get behind it to scan. Their wake slows your ship, even my Clipper can't hold onto it in that wake. have to crab fly and stay inside 500M to scan. In a CZ though if the NPCs are around then I usually don't bother. They keep the swarm and the goid agro'd on them between attacks anyway. In 1 on 1 signal sources I am the 'scan guy'. My Clipper has the speed to cruise faster than most of the interceptors so I can usually boost orbit while they chase a team mate and get the scan. REally though, the scan is nice-to-have but not necessary.

The other issue is the AX multi-turrets are not really effective against the interceptor as you have learned here. They self heal very quickly until the heart is out, so you have to be able to get the heart exerted and knock it down quickly. Multiple gauss will do that nicely. But using that effectively means building an AX combat ship. If you want in on it solo then I'm afraid there really isn't much other way. Now, In a wing a sub-optimal ship can help with just about all of them, at least working it's shields down quicker and helping to exert the heart faster. Solo, you use gauss or you go home.

The Anaconda however is a slow, slow, slow boat to fight in. I've seen them pop numerous times even in a full wing because if the goid goes for them after a heart is clipped, they can't get out of range.

 

[photomankc]

not easy to see on Hydras though.

I would strongly recommend new guy just get out of dodge when the angry green and yellow death flower arrives.

 

[Donaldi]

Do Gauss's have some additional targetting ability then to allow the hearts to be targetted without a scan having been completed? That'll explain the videos I've seen of players fully able to target hearts without scanning.

No. (I currently practice shooting scouts with them in Delphi, as these have the same size as hearts alledgedly). And it sucks (or I do, but I prefer blaming the gauss. As a benefit, after three (mis-)firings the caustic damage is burned off).

If someone sees subtargets without having to scan, then they most likely belong to a wing where someone else did the scanning.
Usual tactic, three combatants distract the tulip and one cold ship creeps at it from behind and scans all its little secrets, for all to see.

 

[t-lo]

4 guardian shards of size 3 (Anaconda/T10) with 30% recharge 1shot smallest big ship. Literally. 4 seconds to kill.

That's been "fixed" / nerfed when the bounty bump happened iirc.

 

[Bigmaec]

I would strongly recommend new guy just get out of dodge when the Angry green and yellow death flower arrives.

Sure, usually if I don't have the backing of two wings of quad-rail Cutters I tend to run away screaming and arms flailing as soon as the Hydra enters.
But OP allegedly killed one, so no new guy.

 

[thistle]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I've managed to expose the hearts a number of times - I've seen my target start glowing red - but the AX MC Turrets seem to just keep shooting at the centre of the ship, hence why I assumed scanning was needed so I could sub-target them. I did take down a Hydra with NPC help, so someone's shots were hitting those hearts, maybe mine through luck, maybe the NPC's who seemed to be using some sort of plasma weapon, as well as MC's.

Do Gauss's have some additional targetting ability then to allow the hearts to be targetted without a scan having been completed? That'll explain the videos I've seen of players fully able to target hearts without scanning.

Shame the Xeno Scanner is utter junk, they should just make it fully automatic and reveal hearts the same as it reveals the hull and name of Scouts. It's a really daft design choice when doing the scan takes more skill than doing the actual kill! I've been fairly successful surviving these guys until I'm literally out of ammo in a relatively slow Anaconda. My inability to target the hearts - for my Turrets to lock-on - is the entirety of the problem.

I'd like to make my current build work, just for the challenge. I was well aware I was taking the "wrong" ship and loadout to the fight, but that was part of the fun. It's a shame there's this artificial block preventing AX Turrets from shooting at the hearts directly. If only the scanner was fit for purpose.

I guess I could do the (oh so dull) steps to unlock Gauss, but I really didn't want to, going META was not what I wanted.

Scoob.

It really is designed as an end game pve FA-off fixed weapon skill game.

And that's a good thing, for those who want to learn those skills. Where else can they really be used in the game.

It's worth it btw.

 

[photomankc]

Sure, usually if I don't have the backing of two wings of quad-rail Cutters I tend to run away screaming and arms flailing as soon as the Hydra enters.
But OP allegedly killed one, so no new guy.

Hmmmmm. I see that now. I'll just say that it must have been exceptionally good NPC help. I've been in wings of 4 pretty experienced goid shooters and spent more time than I would typically like locked into a Hydra fight. Repairing, syth-ing, flacking. Impressive if he killed one with a Conda AX turret boat.

 

[thistle]

Watch some

Source: https://www.twitch.tv/brother_sabathius

 

[CMDR Yates]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I've managed to expose the hearts a number of times - I've seen my target start glowing red - but the AX MC Turrets seem to just keep shooting at the centre of the ship, hence why I assumed scanning was needed so I could sub-target them. I did take down a Hydra with NPC help, so someone's shots were hitting those hearts, maybe mine through luck, maybe the NPC's who seemed to be using some sort of plasma weapon, as well as MC's.

Do Gauss's have some additional targetting ability then to allow the hearts to be targetted without a scan having been completed? That'll explain the videos I've seen of players fully able to target hearts without scanning.

Shame the Xeno Scanner is utter junk, they should just make it fully automatic and reveal hearts the same as it reveals the hull and name of Scouts. It's a really daft design choice when doing the scan takes more skill than doing the actual kill! I've been fairly successful surviving these guys until I'm literally out of ammo in a relatively slow Anaconda. My inability to target the hearts - for my Turrets to lock-on - is the entirety of the problem.

I'd like to make my current build work, just for the challenge. I was well aware I was taking the "wrong" ship and loadout to the fight, but that was part of the fun. It's a shame there's this artificial block preventing AX Turrets from shooting at the hearts directly. If only the scanner was fit for purpose.

I guess I could do the (oh so dull) steps to unlock Gauss, but I really didn't want to, going META was not what I wanted.

Scoob.

Are the MCs you're using gimballed?

Untarget the Interceptor and then you can manually aim at the glowing, damaged heart.

As for Gauss. They're a fixed-targetting weapon. You have to aim them manually. This, combined with their very slow rate of fire, means there's a bit of a learning curve trying to hit reliably with them. But a single hit does a lot of damage, and the blasts travel at the speed of light, so there's no target-leading or anything involved, which more than makes up for it.