Prototype FTL Class battle rig: Utilizes bleeding edge technology to ensure combat advantage
FTL is an unusual Rig, with some very powerful movement focused abilities. Used well, they can provide a decisive edge in objective modes where mobility is critical, and can also be used effectively as escape tools in combat.
Payloads
Eraser
Experimental energy based handgun that blasts victims into a cloud of mist.
A very lethal anti-personnel weapon, the Eraser does what it says, vaporizing enemies in a single shot.
If you are accurate and quick on the trigger, you can devastate your opponents with near instant elimination—but you need to be accurate, or other offensive payloads that are easier to use may perform better for you.
The Eraser is decent against scorestreaks, but not one of the stronger anti-streak payloads. Use it in a pinch, but save it for softer enemy players the rest of the time.
FTL Jump
A localized FTL burst that moves you a short distance forward.
FTL Jump lets you perform a short range, instant teleport that moves you forward in the direction you are aiming.
You can use this to zip forward on the ground, or teleport slightly forward into the air. Combined with jumping, sliding, and thrust jumping, you can make yourself a very difficult target to hit.
This is especially useful in objective modes where fast movement from place to place is mandatory. An FTL Jump isn’t of much use in most normal combat situations, but it can easily save your life if you’re trying to move between cover in the open to reach (or return) an objective.
Phase Shift
Displaces you into another dimension, helping you avoid damage. Other phased players can engage you.
Phase Shift fades you out of the match, only leaving you vulnerable to other FTL players with a charged Phase Shift.
Otherwise, you can use Phase Shift to vanish completely, saving your life in combat and allowing you to reposition yourself and re-engage, or escape with ease.
This is a very powerful payload in one on one combat. It’s extremely difficult to predict where a phase shifted player will emerge, so it gives you a decisive edge if you choose to vanish and stay to finish an enemy.
Phase Shift is also powerful for ambushing the enemy team near an objective. Use informational streaks, equipment, or teammates to pinpoint the bulk of the enemy team, get close, shift, and emerge behind them.
Traits
Supercharge
Kills drop payload cooldown packs for your team.
Supercharge is a great team support trait. Every time you kill an enemy, they drop a pack that acts as a cooldown bonus to their payload ability.
Supercharge also works well if multiple players on your team are using it, as granting everyone the chance to use their payload an extra time or two in a match can be a game changer.
Perception
Your HUD pulses yellow when enemies out of your view are targeting you.
Perception is an informational perk that warns you when you are being targeted by an enemy in ADS looking in your direction.
The alert is useful, but it has a few issues. Notably, if you’re being targeted by an enemy on your flank or rear, that usually means you’re about to be dead.
The other is the constant yellow flashing can make you a bit twitchy…
If you’re fast, you can use the warning from Perception to quickly slide into cover or thrust jump and throw off their aim.
Perception can also act as a warning that there are enemies nearby that you haven’t spotted, and if you position yourself very carefully, you can use it to guard your back by only exposing a bit of your body to a flanking route that you can’t watch yourself.
Perception is countered by enemies running the Cold Blooded perk, so if you die to shots from behind a few times with no warning, assume one or more players on the enemy team are running it.
FTL Slide
Gain increased sliding distance and the ability to ADS while sliding uses less boost meter .
FTL Slide is a defensive and mobility perk that is the sliding equivalent to Synaptic’s Propulsion trait.
If you enjoy sliding everywhere, FTL Slide is quite useful. The reduction in boost meter usage is very significant, as is the length of the slide.
FTL Slide’s ability to ADS while you are sliding is handy, though not critical. Generally, if you’re sliding, you’re sliding into someone at short range to hipfire a shotgun or SMG in their face, or sliding defensively into cover.
Sliding in the open where you can ADS at medium range is definitely doable, but it is not the safest maneuver. Sliding can throw off an enemy’s aim, but it works best if you are sliding perpendicular to their sights, rather than directly at them.