Maril March Trill Build

I know there are some Maril March threads around, but I wanted to focus specifically on the Trill variant. The one I have has all default parts with no tuning slots from a code giveaway. I'm requesting build and cartridge advice while having the intention of making my Maril a hopper. I'm also wondering if it's possible for a setup that mixes mid and long range combat ability.

I heard trill's internal is a meh trade off compared to the original.

And if you're a hopper, you're not really going to be using it anyway much (because if you're a zook hopper you'll hafta be real close up, and as a missile hopper, well, it's not far enough to justify spamming the internal), so I don't understand why it really matters if it was Trill or not lol.

I had an old Maril build on cosmicalc that I wiped a long time ago. Basically it was a dual wielding 2-way missile launcher hopper, with short boost, quick land, blast guard, all cap carts..and whatever you would like there (be it a beam guard, moving burst, or nothing at all).

I imagine tuned box missiles (for speed) or some other shop based missile/middle bazooka from Sheriff Gara/Handy bazooka with misside AMs can also work. I never tested the build btw, I just wanted to build something that used some missiles I got outta some gara that I can't remember.

I've been told most hoppers try to aim for 30 WLK and at least 15 TGH to prevent being stunned. Suggest you aim for the tunes that way. Dual rifle bits or slayer WB can be used, or the regular one can be used to save cost.

Don't Misside AMs unless there's an alpha hopper build that I haven't caught wind of. They'll just mount on your cost like crazy.

Mid-range weapons, I suggest Middle Bazooka or Blast Bazooka for Rt options, and the regular Bazooka for UC (Arcantus) options. Tune for force or speed?

Longe-range, I'm not sure if Ballistic Launcher is a good option. There's still Box Missiles to settle yourself with.

Parts-wise, I suggest switching your LGs out for Ace Braver for the size and stats, or Laz for the extra BS slot.

Anyway, this should be on the Guides. Asking to move~

If you have toybox missiles to use, those have been recently buffed and are probably some of the best mainweapon missiles in the game, personally I think they're better than box missiles and only beaten by ballistic launcher in terms of homing. Of course DG with 4 internals has the best homing, but that's a sub.

You sir, have given me another idea for an ART.... Except now I have to find a suitable core to mount those AMs on.. I completely forgot about getting those...

Misside AMS were kinda a meh suggestion IMO, they would be great if it wasn't for the 60 ammo bit.

I second Toybox AMs, they're really awesome. I've been meaning to get a pair of em myself..

Trill and regular are barely any different, no reason to build them differently.

I recommend ace braver lg, misside bs, and build arm ams. Lazflamme LG with a second misside BS also works. You can find all of these (sans Laz LG) in 2~3 slot variants from drops in any game mode, or from friendship rewards. Good weapons to use are box missiles, volcano grenade, and ballistic launcher. A shield (buckler) may be preferred as well. For carts, take all the capacity carts for sure. Boost Run, Short Boost, Quick Land, Blast Guard, and internals are other carts of interest.

Statwise, 33 wlk and as much tec as possible (40 can be reachable with a bit of luck) should be your goal.

Would Sniper Sight and Broad Radar be good choices for carts or do they work best with a specific role/setup? I'm thinking Broad Radar so enemies have less chances of a sneak attack while Sniper Sight to utilize max range without being noticed.

Sniper sight is pretty useless for a hopper because once a fat bazooka/missile comes at them, they're gonna wanna know where it comes from since you probably stunned em. And you'll be close by.

Broad radar is useful for anyone, no matter what role/setup. However with its fat 50 cost, it means a lot of options go bai bai for tuning/weaponry.

Honestly there really is no "role" to be filled with these carts as apart from mobility carts, as they're just auxillary things meant to help you and your team out.

Stealth system is only on my burner harassment shadow hunter, for good reason. It doesn't run too much risk if it's just running around and burning bots, plus setting bots on fire means they can't orient themselves to hit me. I usually have to suicide to change bots after ceramic burner's pitiful ammo runs out though.

What are some good weapons when dealing with opponents up close? I know Bazooka weapons can work, but I'm just looking for other possible options to use/experiment with. For hopper cartridge builds, is Boost Run a necessity or something that can help out?

On M-art, bazookas and volcano grenades are probably your best bets. Burners work, but they seem like a wasted weapon slot to me most of the time, and Eight Vulcans are better suited to high-speed lands.

Boost Run is pretty much irrelevant as far as hopping is concerned. Whether or not you're going to hop doesn't matter, boost run is a personal preference sort of thing. For Maril though, I say get it. She has the stats to run fast, and you can prolong your boost run time by using soundballs just before your boost gauge hits empty.

Suguri wrote:

On M-art, bazookas and volcano grenades are probably your best bets. Burners work, but they seem like a wasted weapon slot to me most of the time, and Eight Vulcans are better suited to high-speed lands.

Boost Run is pretty much irrelevant as far as hopping is concerned. Whether or not you're going to hop doesn't matter, boost run is a personal preference sort of thing. For Maril though, I say get it. She has the stats to run fast, and you can prolong your boost run time by using soundballs just before your boost gauge hits empty.

Oh yeah, she continues to move forward at whatever speed she was at when starts her sound ball combo. Time to moonwalk.

What are the best TEC, WLK, and TGH tunes for Maril while avoiding stat reductions if possible?

NeWIZ wrote:

What are the best TEC, WLK, and TGH tunes for Maril while avoiding stat reductions if possible?

Straight up normal + 1 stat tunes are the best tunes possible for any bot when avoiding stat reduction and going overboard in cost.
If you don't have a lot of tune slots and need a tune that gives +3 boosts then do a straight up 30 cost great tune.
If you do have the tune slots and don't want to amp up cost and don't want a measily +1 stat, the best tune possible is High Alpha tunes in general.

NeWIZ wrote:

What are the best TEC, WLK, and TGH tunes for Maril while avoiding stat reductions if possible?

When tuning, you want the tunes with stat reductions. They have a higher success rate and cost less, and it doesn't matter if you're lowering a stat you don't use in the first place. For Maril...

High Tech Alpha

High Run Alpha

High Tough if you're going to tune tgh at all.

Don't let fly drop below 1. Don't let str drop below 1 either if you plan on using a wonder bit, but if you don't it can zero out.

Until I can get some of the better Bazookas for my Maril to use, would Snailbot AM be a decent 'zooka alternative? What are some recommended tunes for Snailbot's bazooka arm? I'm also requesting any advice on getting better skilled at using the Volcano Grenade and recommended tunes for it.

Snailbot AMs are terrible, and if you can afford a snailbot you can afford a steel rider anyway.

For Volcano Grenade, tune x2 Great Force Beta + x1 Great Rapid Alpha. Learn the arc, you need to aim much further upward than you do with other weapons.

One of the better bazookas available from in-game sources not needing Rt would be King Megaton AM2s. 30 force and has about the same other stats as a handy zook. Has plenty of ammo and usually comes slotted if you score from Epoch.

knyx wrote:

One of the better bazookas available from in-game sources not needing Rt would be King Megaton AM2s. 30 force and has about the same other stats as a handy zook. Has plenty of ammo and usually comes slotted if you score from Epoch.

A large portion of its damage is blast too, meaning it rapes airs.

Only problem: OH GOD THAT INT

I bought a Steel Rider and now understand why Snailbot AMs are outclassed (it came with a regular Bazooka). From what I can understand, King Megaton AM2 also outclasses Snailbot AM. Is the robot using King Megaton AM2 found in the shop? Does the King Megaton AM2 drop from regular arena matches as well (not Epoch)?

King Megaton AM2 is epoch-only. Personally I prefer regular bazookas, but meh.

If you're going to make an alpha ama/maril hopper with those, then they would be optimal since you won't need to consider int. Anything else you have to play smart.

Also, is Big Montaiz AM2 epoch only as well?

knyx wrote:

If you're going to make an alpha ama/maril hopper with those, then they would be optimal since you won't need to consider int. Anything else you have to play smart.

Also, is Big Montaiz AM2 epoch only as well?

Not quite, because you're going to have a massive cooldown between alpha strikes using two of those, and the arms can't hold additional weapons. Better off with misside arms holding bazookas.

And yes.

I'd like some opinion on the Little and Regular Grenade. Even though the Volcano Grenade is recommended, I feel it's just a bit slow in both firing rate and projectile speed (without tuning). Would one of the other grenade alternatives be good for training/building up grenade usage skill? I'm getting used to Maril's internal, but is it a good idea to use a Build Arm BS as a backup weapon (even though it has less range than the internal weapon)?

Little grenade feels...too meh for its cost to me. Same for grenade; what makes volcano grenade great IIRC was the fact it caused burning; so that it was much easier for you to escape your target's wrath.

Build Arm BS was the cheap go to sub weap alternative for Lily Rain, but personally I felt it wasn't worth the cost. You already have sound balls; shouldn't the ammo be enough?

Seconded on the Steel AM/King Megaton AM2 though, I've heard good things about both. Although yeah, INT on the AM2 is horribad.