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I'm playing a Powertech spec'd bounty hunter which is currently at level 13. My problem lies in the fact that whenever elites enemies close, my guy drops immediately (3 or four hits max). And not elites at the same level either, so far even four levels below me are downing me if they get close. I don't have a lot experience with MMOs, never been interested in WOW. SO basically, what do I need to do to make my bounty hunter a survivable class? I get so very tired of waiting on the med bot to respawn.

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Just to make sure, you do use your companion, right? – svick Dec 21 '11 at 15:31
How many people are you doing the heroic with? As many as the mission recommends? Heroics are not designed to be soloable, not even a few levels above their difficulty. – user16838 Dec 21 '11 at 16:03
I think sarge actually means Strong and Elite enemies, not Heroic missions. And they appear normally in non-heroic areas. – svick Dec 21 '11 at 16:06
@svick yeah i'm using mako as a healer (using the med scan ability). – user4139 Dec 21 '11 at 16:07
The enemies that show up with the gold around them when you target them on the action bar. – user4139 Dec 21 '11 at 16:09
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5 Answers

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I played a Powertech in beta and now play a Vanguard (Trooper equivalent). At your level, this is how I'd recommend taking on an Elite enemy:

  1. Make sure you're at full health and are using your Combustible Gas Cylinder (CGC)
  2. Start at range with Unload
  3. If CGC proc'd and Rail Shot is available, use it while running towards the enemy. Rail shot will always be your highest priority ability, so use it whenever it's available.
  4. Use Explosive Dart
  5. Use Rocket Punch as soon as you're in melee range
  6. Use Rapid Shots when your heat is around 50% to allow it to regenerate.
  7. Use your Electro Dart now to stun the enemy for a few.
  8. Stick to Rail Shot, Explosive Dart, and Rocket Punch while in melee range at this level.

My final tip is to make sure you're always doing something! Don't waste global cooldowns trying to figure out what to do next; get used to your abilities and see what's available and what isn't.

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Power Shot is a Mercenary-only ability. This approach works just fine. The whole point is to keep your heat below 60 and if it breaches that, vent heat. – Corey D Dec 22 '11 at 21:22
I stand corrected on Power Shot. I've removed my incorrect comment. – Sjoerd Dec 23 '11 at 14:55
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Without knowing anything about your character, it's hard to tell what exactly is wrong. But, based on my experience, killing single Elite (gold) enemy should be straight-forward.

I haven't played Bounty Hunter, so here's some of my general guesses of why does that happen to you:

  1. You don't have the correct abilities, or you didn't level them. You should visit your class trainer periodically to purchase new abilities and upgrade old ones.

  2. You don't use the correct abilities. Have a look at all your abilities. Are there some that could help you significantly?

  3. You (or your companion) don't have the correct gear. I don't think this isn't very likely, since mission rewards should give you gear that's good enough.

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+1 Great answer to a poorly worded and/or researched question. – Mufasa Dec 21 '11 at 16:52
All my abilities are leveled all the way up... my gear is the standard heavy armor that requires at least level 13... the level that I am. My abilities are great at mowing though people, but I specialized in the tank side of the class and I have the heavy armor ability. My abilities seemed designed to draw whole groups to me, which I do with regular groups but even one elite gets to me and >4 seconds, waiting on the medical droid. It's my understanding that a tank, you know, is a tank... and can take a beating. – user4139 Dec 21 '11 at 17:18
@mufasa sorry, If I knew enough to ask the question well, I probably wouldn't have had to ask some experts. Feel free to edit it up to your standards. – user4139 Dec 21 '11 at 17:19
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@sarge_smith: Okay: "Your spec, abilities you've tried; level of opponent vs. you; companion usage; more context, or things you've tried." Your equipment. Order of spell usage. Heat levels. – Mufasa Dec 21 '11 at 17:58
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@sarge_smith That area is an heroic-4 area! Each pull will have at least two elite and a strong mob, and are designed to be handled by a full group. No wonder you die fast. My advice: listen to the guards and don't go past the guard post. Instead, hop on a shuttle to Kaas City, and explore the other parts of the planet. – Sjoerd Dec 22 '11 at 11:19
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up vote 1 down vote

I play a bounty hunter as well, but do not recognize the problem you describe.

Some elites have special abilities. If you see a cross being painted on the ground you stand on MOVE OUT. Break off whatever ability you are using, and move away. The elite is throwing a granate (or calling in an air strike), and it will hit the cross very soon, and you don't want to be in that spot anymore when it does.

If you don't, you will die very quickly, as those special abilities hit hard.

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perhaps I need to be dodging more... those attacks don't just follow you? Most of the ones I've seen seem to, but I have been afraid to run around too much for fear of triggering even more guys to kill. – user4139 Dec 21 '11 at 19:04
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no you don't want to run unless it's to either a) get in melee range or b) a ground based attack is being cast (you'll see a marker on the ground near you). b) is what he was referring to – Rodolfo Dec 21 '11 at 22:27
@sjoerd I wanted to say thank you because this answer helped me huge even though corey d's was a little more complete. – user4139 Dec 27 '11 at 18:08
@sarge_smith Thanks! – Sjoerd Dec 28 '11 at 16:21
up vote 1 down vote

From one of OP's comments about Dromund Kaas:

[..] particularry the mandalorians that lie between the spaceport and the imperial capital.

That area is an Heroic-4 area! Each pull will have at least two elite and a strong mob, and are designed to be handled by a full group.

No wonder you die fast.

As a level 20 Bounty Hunter, about to leave the planet, I tried to clear up all my quests by soloing the heroic quests. I gave up on that goal, as even as a level 20 BH, I couldn't solo those groups reliablely.

So: it is not your fault! Those mobs are designed not to be soloable at your level.

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up vote 0 down vote

As a bounty hunter, your 1st companion is Mako, she's a healer. Use her (not the ship's droid).
Elites are hard but doable (though at around 30 in Alderaan they do become harder). I'm not sure if you have stances like Sith Warrior do, a SW has a damage and a defense stance in the beginning, don't know if that's the case with BH but if so, set yourself to tank. With Mako healing, you should be ok.
Also, check if the enemy is using powerful but slow attacks (you see that in the target info, if there's a casting bar going down) and interrupt them.

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yeah... been using her since I got her. No stances that I am aware of. – user4139 Dec 21 '11 at 19:01
another little tip then. Start the fight with Mako (click on her ability to attack). Wait a couple of seconds and then you attack. The idea is that the first round or 2 of the enemy go to the companion (hopefully he'll start with his big attacks), and since you'll get his attention anyway, that's a couple of shots you don't receive. – Rodolfo Dec 21 '11 at 19:18
@Rodolfo That is good advice in many cases, but not in this case. After you draw aggo, Mako will heal herself and not contribute to the dps so nothing will be gained. Secondly, especially on the lower levels her dps is high so it might even be impossible to get aggro. Therefor, in the case of a BH and Mako, it is better to start the fight with a big nuke and tank yourself. – Sjoerd Dec 22 '11 at 10:55

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