Combining the tense turn-by-turn gameplay ofXCOMand the irreverence ofFallout,Wasteland 3is a great experience for players who love survival gameplay.Reviews forWasteland 3have been pretty positive, calling it tough, but fair.
The fair part is certainly accurate, since a big part ofWasteland 3is turning the players' squad into a true team of heavy-hitters. This generally involves a lot of combat, which is similar in many respects to theXCOMseries. When not traveling around the map in their armored vehicle, characters will often be crouching behind cover or up close with opponents in narrow spaces. Almost every skill and stat inWasteland 3is important, and certain builds do very well.
RELATED:Wasteland 3’s Co-Op Has Some Major Issues
Starting Options
There are several starting squads to chose from inWasteland 3, each with their own backstory and personalities. But the question ofwhich startingWasteland 3squad is the bestis actually a bit tricky. The Tech Heads are hardest to start with, due to low combat stats and reliance on rare Science gear.
The Young Rangers and Punk Lovers require similar gameplay, focused on getting close-to-mid range for real damage. The best choice might just be the Father & Daughter team. Each has a very specific niche to fill, with one being a close range sneak and the other being a long-range sniper/charismatic talker. They’re a good place to start, but as players build out a rounded team, the starting pick becomes less important.
Healer
The healer build is essential for every team. Charisma is the most important attribute for a healer by far, with speed being the second most important. As for quirks, try Poindexter for even more XP. First Aid is an obvious skill, though it’s a good idea to have a backup character with the skill too (to heal the Healer).Players cannot respec characters inWasteland 3, so be sure to commit to a high Charisma stat early for a good Healer.
Sniper
The Sniper is a great addition to any team. With the longest possible range in the game, a Sniping build focuses on Awareness to hit often, and Intelligence to increase crit damage. Death Wish makes a nice Quirk, letting the Sniper fire more often.
Melee
Melee should not be discounted inWasteland 3. A dedicated melee fighter with high Strength, Coordination, and Speed can quickly get in and start hitting things. These characters can often work in concert withanimals likeWasteland 3’s Major Tomcat, so Animal Whisperer might be a good Skill to slap on there.
Flamethrower/Assault Rifle
These two builds are very similar, but while Assault Rifles tend to have plentiful ammo, Flamethrowers are deceptively powerful. Both use Big Guns as a Skill, but Flamethrowers rely more on Strength. The Flamethrower build is a good pick for Toaster Repair (a useful Skill). With the Pyromaniac Quirk alongside the Toasty perk, players will be ready to roastWasteland 3’s Cyborg Chickensin no time.
Wasteland 3is available for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
