if you're going for shotgun build, go for Fireangel instead of Army of the Dead. Really, it is far more better, actually this is my favourite build at the moment, since I got bored with Ammochain. Just try it and I promise, you won't be dissapointed. At first, I tried to beat this challenge with MAD, but after many failed attempts I've decided to read Badges Guide and there I've read about MFa. And it worked! Thanks, Game Hunter!
Glad to be of assistance.
My take on MAD vs. MFa is as follows (and it's probably . If you're planning on a YAAM, or you're a player who likes killing at range and out of enemy sight, you take MAD for its armor-piercing shells. If you just want to speed through or simply finish the game, or prefer to come toe-to-toe with your enemies and run across the expanses without too much trouble, you take MFa for its splash negation. They are clearly offensive and defensive counterparts, by merit of their benefits. However, MFa is the safer option, both for Hell and for Cybie, and so I recommend it if you're going for...pretty much all Shotties but the Diamond. This is not to say that MAD is a lot harder, it just requires a more patient approach: in addition, there are more ways to get screwed over. The bonus is that MAD pays off with far higher kill-rates.
Don't hold me to this, but I've found MFa to be the most likely way to win most standard games as well, especially on N!. The splash negation is unbelievably handy, and the only cost is limiting your weapons to shotguns and explosives. Unless you're gung-ho about rapid-fire and/or pistols, you can get a lot done with the rest.
I believe that putting tech mods on shotguns is the best option
Power man. Power. This ain't no rapid fire.
I like tech mods on my doubles. This is a personal preference based on the use of doubles at point-blank, when avoiding retaliation is important. But yeah, every other shotgun (normal, combat, assault, plasma) requires power, as the difference in damage at range is simply amazing. With MFa, there's a big incentive to continue on to Fin -> WK, just to build up your combat shotgun to a potential 10d3. It's just AWESOME.
during this challenge, your only goal is actually to get to level 7, get MFa or MAD and then only run to the stairs. Don't try to clear every level, it's too dangerous, especially on Phobos Hell
MAD makes Hell easier to clear, MFa makes Hell easier to run. Although I've basically gone over this above, so I won't comment more.
if you're corner shooting with combat shotty and failing to hit monsters you see because of the "weird bullet flight path bug", swich your weapon to double shotgun. It will work.
The shotty spreads are awkward. I'm really hoping that they're consistent when it comes to shots around corners with the bullet pathing fix. At a close range, doubles can get around corners where combats cannot. This is also a good way to waste a lot of shells, however, and so it is situational at best (hurting some big bad enough to lure them closer, for instance).
And two most important things, I'll probably never learn:
- YOU DON'T NEED TO KILL EVERY SINGLE MONSTER DURING THE RUN
- THIS IS A TURN BASED GAME - you won't be playing better if you'll be tapping your keyboard at full speed. Stay calm and think!
This is probably the kind of thing I should emphasize in my guide...if it were meant to be all-inclusive. However, as it's supposed to be a guide that just explains the facts of the situation and what to do, and not one that teaches you how to play the game (see UAC Bronze, heh), I've decided to mostly leave out these kinds of lessons. That's the sort of thing for Thomas's guide, and I believe he conveys this rather well.
And yes, AoPu and AoMs N! are both pretty nasty, to the point where I really don't want to do them. Hard to say what's worse, not getting double health NOR double duration but still med-packs, or no double health at all. I think I'd sooner try AoMs N!, if only because the Berserk/Invulnerability feels that important.
UV AoSg is pretty rough, congratulations are in order. Best of luck to you on your angel-completion challenge.