In Freedom Wars Remastered, each Abductor displays a health bar on its torso, which players can deplete using a variety of combat items and weapons to ultimately defeat it. The game employs various types of damage, each with distinct mechanics. While Light Melee weapons are typically used to sever specific parts of an Abductor's body, Impact Damage plays a crucial role in your overall combat strategy.
Mastering Impact Damage can significantly enhance your ability to quickly take down Abductors. This guide delves into the mechanics of Impact Damage and offers strategies to utilize it effectively in Freedom Wars Remastered.
Impact Damage is primarily associated with Heavy Melee weapons and select Ranged Weapons. You'll notice a percentage value alongside the Impact Damage, but this doesn't directly translate to increased total damage. Instead, Impact Damage inflicts non-elemental damage, amplifying the force of your normal attacks and boosting the Abductor's stagger rate. Once the stagger meter reaches its threshold, the Abductor will stagger and fall, or exhibit unique reactions, providing you with a window to deal substantial damage before it recovers.
The stagger meter is not visible, meaning the Abductor can stagger unexpectedly once the rate hits a certain level. This unpredictability can be both beneficial and challenging. In offline mode, you can prepare and deliver a powerful attack. However, in online play, staggering the Abductor might disrupt your teammates' attacks. Some Abductors, like Ramosa, react differently when staggered, such as moving backwards, which can complicate achieving precise binds or landing solid hits.
To boost Stagger Damage, you'll need to unlock the Weapon Development Facility. This facility allows for the crafting and customization of gear, offering numerous options for weapon enhancements. Use the Manufacture Modules feature to create a module using various resources. To craft the Stagger Damage Up Module, you'll need Glassy Carbon, which is often found as a field resource in several Basic Operations. You can also utilize the Synthesise Modules option to combine multiple modules of the same type to enhance their effectiveness. Once crafted, attach the module to your weapon to increase its Impact Damage, thereby improving your ability to stagger Abductors during combat.
Given that Impact Damage is non-elemental, prioritizing physical damage upgrades over elemental enhancements will maximize your efficiency in staggering enemies. This strategy makes modules like Stagger Damage Up particularly beneficial for players using heavy melee or specific ranged weapons that excel at building stagger.