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Mass Effect 3 Build: Cryo Sentinel

Tags: #character build  #Mass Effect 3  #Cryo Sentinel  #Mass Effect Build  #Sentinel  #Cryo Explosion  #Biotic Explosion  #Vazgen ME Build 
  • Member
    January 6, 2017

    Cryo Sentinel

    Face the ultimate crowd control potential of the Sentinel class! With Cryo and Biotic explosions covering the battlefield, the enemies will be either frozen, staggered or thrown to the abyss when facing this character! Debuff bonuses from both signature powers make even the hardest boss battles a breeze while the reliance on squadmates for setting up the explosions does not allow the character to pass the thin line for becoming overpowered.

    Gameplay

    The Cryo Sentinel focuses on debuffing and controlling her enemies through the use of both cryo and biotic explosions. The synergy with Javik's extremely quick Slam power allows to execute both types of explosions on the fly and with Garrus providing fire and ammo support, each encounter results in fireworks of ice and biotics with enemies tossed around, getting staggered or frozen and with unstappable advance of an N7 operative in the midst of all that chaos.

    Full vanilla playthrough starting from level 1 (+ Eden Prime)

    The Build

    Cryo Sentinels are among the most prized units of the Alliance not only due to their combat style being largely team-oriented but also to the unparalleled crowd control abilities they bring to the battlefield. Nothing can stand in a way of an elite squad with a Cryo Sentinel in the midst of it. Such squad always has several options to approach each situation. Freezing enemies and tossing them around is just a tip of an iceberg (pun intended)! 

    Warp: Detonate, Expose, Pierce

    Cryo Sentinel's control of Warp allows them to both prime and detonate targets for all types of power combos. Not only that but the residual debuff of the power synergizes perfectly with the bonuses from Armor-Piercing Ammo and Cryo Blast, allowing her to annihilate armored enemies.

    Cryo Blast: Radius, Cryo Explosion, Frozen Vulnerability

    The main crowd control tool of Cryo Sentinel. Allows to immobilize/prime multiple targets for Cryo Explosions and when combined with Javik's Slam can decimate entire groups of enemies leaving them helpless to the fire barrage from the squad.

    Offensive Mastery: Influence & Duration, Squad Bonus, Force & Damage

    The focus here is on duration, to improve the time enemies stay frozen from the Cryo Blast. Squad bonus in rank 5 gives an extra boost to Javik's Slam and Dark Channel as well as Garrus's Armor-Piercing Ammo which is distributed for the entire squad.

    Fitness: Durability, Barrier Recharge, Fitness Expert

    Cryo Sentinels need to stay mobile and support the team as much as possible which leaves them open for a good amount of time. Focus is on durability here in order to allow short runs to heal squadmates, switch position and get close to the enemies without losing shields.

    Squadmates

    I have used primarily Javik and Garrus are used as primary squadmates. Javik's Slam is an ideal detonator for Cryo Blast since the time target spends suspended in the air is enough for the enemy to completely freeze and get primed for Cryo Explosion. Dark Channel is useful for setting up boss enemies for biotic explosions and leaves residual DoT as well. Garrus's Concussive Shot is also a good Cryo Blast detonator when used after the target has been frozen. His main role, however, is to provide squad AP ammo which provides extra armor weakening effect. With debuffs from Warp and Cryo Blast, no armored target stands a chance!


    Javik

    Dark Channel: Damage, Recharge Speed, Damage

    Slam: Radius, Detonate, Recharge Speed

    Vengeful Ancient: Durability, Power Damage, Squad Bonus (power damage)

    Garrus

    Concussive Shot: Force & Damage, Recharge Speed, Shredder

    Armor-Piercing Ammo: Squad Bonus, Headshots, Pierce

    Turian Rebel: Weapon Damage, Power Damage, Sniper Rifles

     

    Roleplay

    Cara Shepard - a street fighter from Earth was taken under the wing of the Alliance but the roughness of the streets made her stand out amongst other recruits. Through her dedication and willingness to assist members of her squad, she quickly climbed the ranks and soon was sent out to her first mission - investigate the colony on Akuze that dropped out of contact. The tragedy there left a scar on Cara's personality and made more a much more closed person. She focused on service even further, sacrificing the friendship and relationships she had for emotional security. Little did she know that in the end, those relationships will be the ones that will give her will to fight the most terrible foe the humanity has ever faced...

     

    Equipment

     

    The only weapon used is the Eviscerator shotgun. When fully upgraded it allows for 200% bonus cooldown reduction, has a great damage and due to the way the game treats shotgun fire, each slug applies a debuff effect from the ammo to the enemy making shotguns especially deadly against armored targets. It is also fairly accurate, capable of dealing decent damage in close and medium ranges.

    Armor

    Helmet: None (for looks only)

    Chest: Armax Arsenal

    Shoulders: Hahne-Kedar

    Arms: Hahne-Kedar

    Legs: Armax Arsenal

    Together this armor set increases Shepard's weapon damage and ammo capacity by 20% each which gives a boost to Eviscerator shotgun allowing it to more effectively handle tough boss-type enemies.


    Closing Remarks

    I highly recommend giving this build a try! You'll be pleasantly surprised at how the game plays with this character, I know I was!

  • Member
    January 6, 2017

    Dangggg! I may give this one a whirl myself! I'm a roleplay nut and I'm really digging the vibe there, especially the rededication to service aspect. One quick note is that I think in that same section have a tiny typo there-- "The tragedy there left a scar on Cara's personality and mademore a much more closed person."  

    Overally nicely done! :D Glad to see you back in the saddle and posting awesome ME content in the run up to Andromeda. The wait must be torturous for you. xD

  • Member
    January 6, 2017

    Edana said:

    Dangggg! I may give this one a whirl myself! I'm a roleplay nut and I'm really digging the vibe there, especially the rededication to service aspect. One quick note is that I think in that same section have a tiny typo there-- "The tragedy there left a scar on Cara's personality and mademore a much more closed person."  

    Overally nicely done! :D Glad to see you back in the saddle and posting awesome ME content in the run up to Andromeda. The wait must be torturous for you. xD

    Thanks Edana! Fixed!

    And yes, March 21 can't come soon enough :D They do release tiny bits of info every now and then, slowly feeding me extra information XD

    I'm building my new monster gaming PC now in preparation for the game ;) 

     

  • Member
    January 6, 2017

    Vazgen said:

    I'm building my new monster gaming PC now in preparation for the game ;) 

    Heheheeeee... awesome. I hope we get to see lots of awesome super high res shots and maybe some video play from you then embedded in your upcomg builds then? ohpleaseohpleaseohplease...

     

  • Member
    January 6, 2017

    Edana said:

    Heheheeeee... awesome. I hope we get to see lots of awesome super high res shots and maybe some video play from you then embedded in your upcomg builds then? ohpleaseohpleaseohplease...

    Don't expect it soon, I will be deep in the game for quite some time ;) The builds should come later, when I'm mostly satisfied with the single player experience (and that will take a LOOOONG time, I hope) :D

    Speaking of Mass Effect, ME2 is currently free on Origin. A perfect time to grab an excellent game!

     

  • Member
    January 6, 2017

    Vazgen said:

    Don't expect it soon, I will be deep in the game for quite some time ;) The builds should come later, when I'm mostly satisfied with the single player experience (and that will take a LOOOONG time, I hope) :D

    Speaking of Mass Effect, ME2 is currently free on Origin. A perfect time to grab an excellent game!

    Haha that's fair. I guess after March 21st we won't see you for a bit then, huh? ;) 

    And thats awesome! You might drop that comment on the group wall so that folks know. :) I think that sends an email notification.

     

  • Member
    January 6, 2017

    Woo!! Mass Effect!

  • Member
    January 6, 2017
    A little bit after, most likely, its a busy time at work and I want for it to get some reviews (usually there is also a patch coming out soon after release). Then I'll take PTO and put the PC to good use :))) I'm a patient person :))))
  • Member
    January 6, 2017

    i never got into this game, but the previews of andromeda have def peaked my interest. some pretty amazing graphics they've got humming over there. nice work with the video too!

  • Member
    January 6, 2017
    Thanks! I definitely recommend it. The trilogy is one of the highlights of gaming in my opinion. Its my favorite game series surpassing even TES and Fallout :)