In the world of hero shooters, simply having good aim isn’t enough to conquer. Games like Concord have embraced the hero shooter genre, moving away from the generic characters of the past. Mastering Concord demands not only understanding your chosen Freegunner but also navigating maps, modes, and the game’s intricacies. While jumping into Concord might seem straightforward, there are hidden systems and mechanics that can make a huge difference in your success. Let’s dive into some tips and tricks to help you become the next best Freegunner in the galaxy.
Experiment with Characters
Concord boasts 16 Freegunners, each unique and diverse. Unlike Overwatch, where roles are clearly defined, you’ll need to read about and experiment with characters to understand their place in combat. Give each Freegunner several runs, testing them in various game modes. Remember, some characters excel in objective-based modes while others thrive in deathmatch scenarios.
Don’t Limit Yourself
While it’s tempting to stick with a favorite character, remember that each Freegunner can only be used once per team. This means that if another player picks your chosen character, you’re left with an alternative. Furthermore, having a small pool of characters you’re comfortable with offers valuable strategic benefits, which we’ll explore later.
Mastering Crew Bonuses
Concord features a subtle system related to Crew Bonuses. Each Freegunner possesses one of six Crew Bonuses, offering enhancements like increased range or faster reload times. These bonuses aren’t tied to a single character; playing and dying as a character with a specific bonus allows you to switch to another character with a different bonus upon respawning, stacking the bonuses together. By strategically switching characters, you can acquire all crew bonuses after six swaps. While intentionally dying to stack these bonuses isn’t ideal, in round-based modes, rotating characters can give you a significant edge, especially as your opponents may be unaware of this system.
Respawn vs. No-Respawn Modes
Concord features two distinct game modes: respawn and no-respawn. Respawn modes allow for continuous action, while no-respawn modes like Cargo Run and Clash Point are more tactical and deliberate, resembling Valorant. If you prefer a less cautious, less tactical experience or lack a team, stick to respawn modes. Even if you enjoy no-respawn modes, pay attention to hero lock. These modes limit you to one life per round and allow each Freegunner to be used only once per match. This forced character switching is beneficial for Crew Bonuses but can be challenging if you lack proficiency with multiple characters.
Unlocking Variants
Concord doesn’t offer new Freegunners, but you can acquire variants, indicated by Roman numerals next to their names. While initially all variants are I, you can unlock version II, and potentially III in the future. Variants don’t affect weapons or abilities, but they alter combat traits. For instance, Lennox I’s passive reloads on dodge, while Lennox II boasts increased ammo. Aside from adding variety, variants effectively act as a second character. In modes with hero lock, you can use Lennox I, then switch to Lennox II later, effectively bypassing the restriction. Variants are unlocked through jobs on the Job Board, which rotate on a timer, making their availability unpredictable.
Harnessing the Crew Builder
Even after unlocking variants, they won’t be immediately available in your character selection. This is where the Crew Builder comes into play. The Crew Builder lets you customize your character selection screen, adding characters of your choice to the roster. This seemingly optional feature is vital for accessing variants and is a valuable tool for character rotation. Arranging your best characters at the top of the list eliminates unnecessary scrolling, streamlining your character selection process. The Crew Builder also allows you to add duplicates of the same character for modes with hero lock, ensuring you can stay with your preferred character.
By understanding and utilizing these tips and tricks, you’ll be well on your way to conquering Concord and claiming your place among the galaxy’s elite Freegunners.
