Free to Play Tips: An Introduction to Commander Masteries

On August 16, Commander Masteries was introduced and if you’re familiar with talent trees in other games, the concept of masteries will be easy for you to wrap your head around. You gain a mastery point at every level starting from level 18 and you may choose to invest this point in offensive and/or defensive power ups that apply to all bots, whether they on your base defense or in your strike group in missions or raids.

Currently, there are 24 masteries to choose from, with an additional 17 yet to be release (Kabam will unveil these at a later date). Masteries in blue require a Tier 1 Mastery Core to unlock (you may purchase this for 75 Energon in store) and masteries highlighted in orange require a Tier 2 Mastery Core to unlock (these costs 350 Energon in store).

Offensive Mastery Map

OFFENSIVE MASTERIES

• Damage: Increases the Attack Rating of all Bots by +5 to 20, plus +1% of their Base Attack.
• Sequencer: Increases Special Damage by +3% to 9% for Special Attacks activated after a Combo.
• Courage: Grants a +5.5% to 17.5% Attack Buff while below 50% Health. This amount is doubled while below 10% Health.
• Sniper: Basic Ranged Damage is increased by +8% to 16% based on the distance from the opponent.
• Gunslinger: Grants an Attack Buff that adds +6% to 16% Attack Rating to your next attack after successfully sidestepping a ranged attack.
• Counterpunch: Grants an Attack Buff that adds +8% to 18% Attack Rating to your next attack after successfully sidestepping a melee attack.
• Pierce Armor: Critical Hits ignore 2% to 14% of enemies’ Armor.
• Critical Rate: Increases the chance to score a Critical Hit by +0.9% to 4.5%.
• Critical Damage: Increases the damage dealt by Critical Hits by +6% to 15%.
• Star Seeker: The Attack Rating of your Bots increase exponentially based on their current Combo Meter count, up to a maximum of +24% to 80% after 100 hits.
• Unfazed: When an enemy Evades, your Bots have a 16% to 50% chance to become Unstoppable for 1.0 second(s) and add +20% to 40% Attack Rating to their next hit. While your Bots are Unstoppable, their Combo Meter is not reset.

Defensive Mastery Map

DEFENSIVE MASTERIES

• Health: Increases the maximum Health of all Bots by +70 to 280 plus +2% of their Base Health.
• Armor: Increases passive Armor for all Bots in order to endure 1% to 4% more attack damage.
• Full Mettle: Grants a 6%…10% Armor Buff while Health is above 95% to 85%.
• Resist Melee: Increases passive Melee Resistance in order to endure 1% to 5% more Melee Damage.
• Critical Resistance: Enemies deal -0.9% to 4.5% fewer Critical Hits against your Bots.
• Critical Damage Resistance: Enemies deal -6% to 15% less Critical Damage against your Bots.
• Resist Ranged: Increases passive Ranged Resistance in order to endure 1.5% to 8% more Ranged Damage.
• Energy Resistance: Increases passive Energy Resistance in order to endure 2% to 6% more Energy Damage.
• Feeding Frenzy: Your Bots recover Health equal to 1.5% to 4.5% of the damage they inflict against Sharkticon enemies in Alliance Missions and 4% to 10% in Solo Missions. 
• Nano-Repair: With the help of nanotechnology, your Bots automatically recover 80 to 400 Health over 40 to 60 seconds each fight.
• Willpower: Whenever your Bots attack while suffering from Bleed, Burn, Shock, or Acid effects, they recover Health equal to 3% to 9% of the damage they inflict. Does not stack with other Willpower abilities. 
• Enhanced Block: Increase the Block Proficiency of your Bots, reducing the damage they take while Blocking by an additional 5% to 14%. 
• Recalibration: Each time your Bots are Stunned, they reduce the duration of the next Stun they receive by 5% to 55%, up to a maximum reduction of 45% to 55%.
• You may, at any time, reset your mastery points, however we haven’t found the need to yet simply because there’s only a handful that you’d really want to max out.

STRATEGIES

• Max out the “free” nodes first, there is no reason why nodes that do not require a Mastery Core to unlock should be left unfilled. These nodes like Damage, Sequencer, Health, and Armor provide simple buffs that all bots can benefit from.
• Don’t rush into a Tier 2 Mastery, the Tier 2 Mastery Core is doesn’t come cheap and if you’re playing the free-to-play-game, Energon is not something you want to throw away easily. So, adopt the wait and see approach, and once your core team of bots are settled, build a mastery scheme around them.
• Select Masteries that enhance your playstyle. Why get something like Counterpunch when you’re not good at dodging attacks, likewise, why get Sniper when you like close-quarter combat? If you’re the aggressive sort, favour offensive Masteries over Defensive ones, and you can’t go wrong with nodes like Critical Damage or Critical Rate. 

What are your thoughts on Masteries? Let us know what are you strategies and preferences when it comes to picking Masteries in the comments section below!