Kripp's Gunslinger Aggro Vanessa Build

Early game Weapon builds need one two things; fast and efficient scaling, or front-loaded Damage. Many builds have both, but at the very least you need one.

Core Synergies

• Sharkclaws + fast Weapons is the classic opener, but you can also get by using Switchblade, Handaxe, and/or Honing Steel.
• • Narwhal, Flying Fish, and Marlon are great additions that can capitalize on Deadly Waters.
  • Following this line can also open up easy pivot opportunities into a Tortuga build.
• Langxian can become a powerful carry under the right circumstances, creating huge momentum during the run.
• • It's best utilized when found on Day 1, especially before the first PvE round.
  • Assuming you can snowball a few wins, it becomes a great finisher alongside a full Weapon board.
  • Zoarcid is a reliable way to ensure it goes off in time.
• Powder Horn and Ramrod enable Ammo items early on, but do come at the cost of valuable board space.
• • However, if you happen to find an early Silver-tier Ammo Weapon, that would help justify their inclusion.
  • Feel free to mix and match Small Ammo items into other Weapon boards, or pick them up ahead of time for the mid game.
• Pet Rock provides board-wide Crit for non-Friend setups. While not particularly exciting early, can become a valuable addition later on.
• • It's a worthy choice for the level 4 Bronze upgrade (if you have nothing better).

Tips & Tricks

• Always buy every 2g Weapon you can afford. This unlocks massive Damage potential later on via Iron Sharpens Iron.
• If you've acquired enough Weapons on Day 1, consider opting for the Pip at level 2. Reroll aggressively for Damage skills.
• Jungle Ruins is a good way to a free Small Silver-tier Weapon (if no better options are available).
• Ambergris is the ideal Economy item of choice, but you can also utilize Fishing Rod, Fishing Net, or Shovel.
• Star Chart unlocks the 4 Gold + 1 XP Docks event. Always pick this up when it's available early on (ideally at Bronze).

Common Filler Items

• Bayonet
• Bilge Worm
• Bolas
• Concealed Dagger
• Grapeshot
• Grenade
• Piranha
• Revolver
• Shoe Blade
• Shuriken

Core Synergies

• Scimitar of the Deep is a powerful payoff for any Weapon setup that can solve Damage and Crit.
• • Don't be deceived by its bottom text. Haste support isn't necessary at all.
  • Cyber-Sai and/or Kusarigama pairs well alongside it during the early to mid game, but later on you'll want to lean towards skills for Damage.
  • Iron Sharpens Iron, Steelstorm, and Loaded Fury are all excellent.
  • Pet Rock and Korxena Crest are solid reliable sources of Crit.
  • Nesting Doll can be stashed away in case you find Loaded Fury. It's also a fast item that can Crit and trigger Scimitar of the Deep.
• Figurehead can replace Sharkclaws, offering front-loaded Damage instead of the slow scaling.
• • Lockbox is another great choice if you can scale its Value beyond Figurehead.
  • Orange Julian offers huge scaling potential, but usually requires a way to speed it up.
• Bladed Hoverboard has combo potential alongside Multicast items like Shuriken and Dive Weights.
• • Damage scaling (or high base Damage) is a must if playing this type of setup.
• Cannonball is a great pickup for wide Ammo boards.

Tips & Tricks

• Keep an eye out for Ammo skills like Gunner, as this can unlock powerful setups in the late game (without need for Reload).
• Try to get a level advantage via The Docks event. Astrolabe is another way to unlock it if Star Chart is unavailable.
• • Wanted Poster is a great pickup for more XP if you can spare the Stash space.
• If you're falling behind on tempo and are lacking good items, consider pivoting to another build entirely.

Note: Vanessa Weapon builds can take many forms, but are often made up of many similar components. You can absolutely go the distance using unconventional setups, but at the end of the day it's all about Damage scaling and efficiency. Feel free to experiment with what you're given!

Core Synergies

• Scimitar of the Deep has the highest late game potential alongside fast Ammo items.
• • Holsters enables the fastest startup times, allowing you to quickly Crit and stack huge amounts of Poison within seconds.
  • Throwing Knives is the premium choice, but stacking additional Ammo is a must.
• Pistol Sword can be a strong win condition (with or without Scimitar of the Deep), but requires a lot of base Damage in order to be effective.
• Orange Julian setups have a high ceiling if you can accelerate them reliably.
• • Rowboat (Diamond only) is a great way to do so.
• Figurehead (or Lockbox) boards can tempo you to victory, but will definitely fall off hard towards the later days of a run.

Tips & Tricks

• Skills are everything during the mid to late game. This is where the build's true power unlocks.
• • Priority Skill Vendors: Ammo, Weapon, Crit, Vanessa.
• Keep an eye out for off-Hero items. You can create a wide variety of crazy setups outside of Vanessa's item pool.