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The Virologist discipline begins to separate itself from the beneficial aspects of its parent discipline, Hacker, and begins focusing more on damage dealing and downgrading with viral attacks. With access to both more damaging viruses as well as attacks aimed at fouling up your opponent’s ability to move or fight, the Virologist is much more suited to being an offensive force on a team rather than a support member.
"You can’t say civilization isn’t
advancing: in every war they kill you in a new way." – Will
Rogers (1879-1935)
Main Abilities:
Strengths:
- Able to downgrade enemy’s abilities.
- More damaging Logic Blast.
- Able to slow a target’s movement and lock them in place.
Weaknesses:
- Need to keep enemies at range.
- Frequently at an extreme disadvantage in Close Combat.
Play Styles:
Solo play:
Soloing as a Virologist can be challenging. Judicious use of your Slow and Code Freeze 1.0 abilities will make most fights much easier, however. Slow down and freeze enemies to keep them from ganging up on you while you focus your ranged attacks and Logic Blast 2.0 ability on one enemy at a time.
Group play:
When behind a Soldier or summoned simulacra, the Virologist is free to use his Logic Blast 2.0 and ranged attacks to soften up the opposition. Strategic use of Slow and Code Freeze 1.0 will allow the rest of your team to focus on quickly wiping out individual enemies. If you do attract unwanted attention, Avoidance will help keep your foes from turning on you. In addition, your teammates will appreciate having UI Lag 1.0 used against their opponents.
Main Abilities:
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Transmit Virus (Hacker)
Much like Execute Program from the Hacker discipline, this ability increases your ability to infect your enemies with hostile viral attacks. |
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Slow (Transmit Virus 4)
This ability allows you to downgrade your enemy’s movement speed. It is especially useful for solo Virologists, as your prime goal should be to kill your opponents before they can get you into Close Combat. |
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Logic Blast 2.0 (Transmit Virus 4)
A more powerful version of the Hacker’s Logic Blast ability, with a higher damage output. |
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Code Freeze 1.0 (Slow, Transmit Virus 5)
This ability stops enemies dead in their tracks, although it does not keep them from shooting ranged weapons at you. Keep in mind that if enemies take any damage while frozen the virus will be disabled and they will resume chasing you, so this is primarily used to keep yourself from being mobbed. |
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UI Lag 1.0 (Logic Blast 2.0, Transmit Virus 5)
This downgrade disrupts your enemies’ response times, making them less effective in combat. Use this on your enemies; it is effective in both Free Fire and Close Combat situations. |
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Emergency Repairs 1.0 (Logic Blast 2.0)
This heal-over-time upgrade restores some health every “tick” for its duration. Use this ability on an ally who is in Close Combat or under fire. While it isn’t as directly effective as a Patcher’s Restore Health, it can counter a portion of the damage taken from attacks. |
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Avoidance (Slow)
A Virologist works better when his enemies are focused on someone else. Avoidance makes the Virologist seem like less of a threat, and thus less of a priority in combat. |
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Virologist (UI Lag 1.0, Code Freeze 1.0)
Learning how to sling viral attacks also gives the Virologist insight into how to tighten up his own viral defenses. This ability grants the Virologist a higher resistance to incoming viral attacks. |
Looking Forward:
The Virologist discipline leads to the Network Hacker discipline, the Selective Phage discipline, and the Pathogenist discipline, which focus your viral attack knowledge into more specialized areas. The Network Hacker discipline focuses on downgrades that cause enemies to operate with less efficiency. The Selective Phage discipline focuses on single target downgrades and some new damaging viral attacks. Lastly, the Pathogenist focuses on area-of-effect downgrades and damaging effects.
Complementary Disciplines:
Solo:
Virologists loaded out with the Code Shaper discipline can use their viral attacks and downgrades from behind summoned simulacra, which attract enemies’ interest and keep them from trying to engage the Virologist. Loading out Virologist with Soldier, (with focus on ranged weapons) gives the Virologist a more combat-heavy presence from their ranged vantage point as they rain bullets and viral attacks down on enemies.
Grouping:
Virologists do best when working from range, so teaming up with a Soldier or a Code Shaper gives the Virologist a better chance to maintain a comfortable distance. Patchers, with their focus on healing programs, will also complement a Virologist in team play.
Minimum Level: 4
Hints and Tips:
Program Launchers add a small boost to your viral transmission chances. Keep one equipped and always be on the look out for more advanced models.
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