With the Thargoid Anomalies getting ever closer, this is a perfect time to discuss optimum AX build strategy! Today I'd like to discuss Guardian Hull Reinforcement Packages.
Lots of people pooh-pooh these modules, because they give less overall hull than the engineered human versions, and they take some power to equip. And that's true, but it's not the end of the story.
Here are two roughly-equivalent builds, one of which uses guardian hull reinforcements, the other which uses engineered human hull reinforcements. vs . The Human variant has 3270; the Guardian variant has 3074 Caustic Hull Integrity. Just as expected, the human one has about 200 more caustic hull integrity.
Wait, Caustic hull integrity? That's just the damage over time from missiles and death clouds, right?
Misconception 1: Caustic Damage
Wrong! In fact, most Thargoid damage is actually Caustic! That includes the Thargoid Main Cannon and the bullets fired by the swarm, as well as the caustic damage over time effects. In fact, the only things that DON'T deal caustic damage is the lightning(which deals relatively insignificant damage to hulls anyway), and Thargon suicide missiles(which primarily concern modules, not hull).
So, for most purposes, we can just use the caustic hull totals. Still, that leaves us a good 200 caustic hull integrity behind the human variant, so what gives?
Misconception 2: Repair Limpets
The thing people forget when they make their build is that Repair Limpets are added to their hull integrity totals by the end of the fight! As long as you don't die before being able to repair, you'll end up with dramatically more than the ship builder calculates. If you use four class-5 repair limpets over the course of a fight, you'll add 1240 integrity to your hull – but that number, too, is multiplied by the caustic resistance! That means that while the human variant will gain 1240, exactly as it seems, the Guardian variant will gain 1446!
Now, let's look at the hull totals again; now, the human variant has 4510, while the Guardian variant has…drumroll, please… 4520! Not only that, it'll repair damage taken substantially faster; in the time it takes the human variant to repair 310, the guardian variant will repair an extra 51 hull!
If you're going to be using more than 4 C5 repair limpets in a fight, you may well be better off carrying Guardian Hull Reinforcements!
Should I be using repair limpets at all?
But what if you're going to be using less than 4 C5 repair limpets? Below 4, surely human hull reinforcements are better, right?
Good question! But at that point, you need to ask yourself, why are you bringing repair limpets at all? Swapping out the repair limpets and cargo hold for more hull reinforcements gives you an extra 1,362 hull; significantly more than the 1240 the repair limpets would provide, with zero effort or waiting!
Interestingly, however, in that case you should STILL use guardian hull reinforcements in the standard slots, as they'll give you slightly more than you would get with human variants. vs
If you think you can make it with less than 4 repair limpets, you may be better off forgetting them entirely!
But wait, there's more!
Misconception 3: Module Integrity
The thing that Everyone forgets is that resistances don't just apply to hull integrity! It also applies to module integrity, and that's something none of the ship builders show at all!
This means that not only does a 4-repair-limpet build have superior hull to a human variant; it also has ~16% better module integrity and effective repair speed! Many a build comes to a premature end when a player forgets to check their MRPs, lose their primary reinforcement package, and lose their canopy. That extra 16% can easily be the difference between survival and death, not to mention economizing AFMU ammo and reducing the need for unwanted synthesis!
But let's not get too excited. There is one potential drawback. Power.
Power and Heat
Power and heat are very real concerns for many builds. Some players simply might not have enough power to equip guardian hull reinforcements. To them, I'd suggest taking a second look at your build. Can you disable your FSD for the fight? Can you turn off your cargo hatch? What about downsizing your AFMU? There are many possibilities!
Heat is another concern. Some players choose to absolutely minimize their heat generation, and heat arises from power. The more you use, the more heat you generate. The two builds I started out with had a 3% difference in idle heat, and it's very possible to push it a few percent lower than even that.
Personally, I would say that this might matter if you're playing with human weapons, which generate little heat to begin with, giving the native venting a chance to work. However, when using guardian weapons – which completely overwhelm the innate thermal venting capability of almost any ship – the difference is somewhere between minor to insignificant. There is also the matter of reduced mass; guardian hull reinforcements are around 30% lighter, gaining a little over an extra m/s of speed, which could easily have a similar effect on survival, counteracting any downsides.
This, more than anything else, will ultimately come down to personal preference. Certainly take it into consideration, but many people often focus too much on one aspect of their build, to the expense of other parts. Moderation is key!
Are Guardian Hull Reinforcements For Me?
Quite possibly, yes! At the very least, they can be a fantastic way to get started, since unlike human variants, which require individual engineering, they can simply be bought and sold freely from a Tech Broker once unlocked! After all, what's one more module blueprint, while already out at the Guardian sites?
I'd say, try them out! They may be better than you think!
