Home Features Anthem has a fantastic combo system that is well worth learning

Anthem has a fantastic combo system that is well worth learning

2 min read
29

Anthem (5)

Anthem’s combat looks pretty simple, right? Hop into a Javelin, fly to a certain point and fire away at enemies. Well yes, but also no. There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to Anthem’s ability to dish out damage, thanks to the game having a rather deep and robust combo system that it never bothers to teach you about properly.

Every Javelin has an arsenal of tricks up its mechanised sleeves, which when used correctly and in tandem with your other teammates, can help dish out some staggering damage on the more tenacious bullet sponges that inhabit the world around you. So how does it work?

Priming and detonating an enemy

https://twitter.com/BenIrvo/status/1086118155213254656

First up, you’ll need to get an opponent primed and vulnerable to a Combo. To do just that, you’ll need to outfit your Javelin properly. Certain abilities function as Primers, usually having an icon like this next to its name:

Anthem (3)

While other abilities are Detonators:

Anthem (4)

In a nutshell, priming an enemy sets them up for a dazed state, whilst detonating them results in massive damage. Easy peasy, with the Javelin doing the priming being the player that sets up the combo. Every Javelin also has a combo bonus, with their effects listed below:

Combo Bonuses

Anthem (1)

  • Ranger Combo BonusCritical Target Damage: The target affected by your combo receives increased damage
  • Colossus Combo BonusArea of Effect Explosion: Enemies near your primary target also receive damage from your combo
  • Storm Combo BonusArea of Effect Spread: Elemental effects landed on your primary target are passed on to nearby enemies
  • Interceptor Combo BonusAura: Aura passes an elemental effect onto the primary enemy and any enemies that are close to you

What’s important here, is how you build your Javelins. Anthem is built on the idea of having numerous loadouts for numerous encounters, and the right kit for the right Javelin makes all the difference. Here’s a list of what each Javelin has in their respective arsenals, when it comes to Primers and Detonators:

Anthem (2)

Ranger

Primers

  • Inferno Grenade
  • Frost Grenade
  • Venom Darts
  • Shock Mace

Detonator

  • Frag Grenade
  • Seeking Missile
  • Pulse Blast
  • Multi-target Missile Battery

Colossus

Primer

  • Firewall Mortar
  • Shock Coil
  • Flamethrower
  • Venom Splitter

Detonator

  • High Explosive Mortar
  • Lightning Coil
  • Siege Artillery
  • Railgun
  • Heavy Smash
  • Siege Cannon

Storm

Primer

  • Ice Storm
  • Ice Blast
  • Living Flame
  • Frost Shards
  • Shock Bursts
  • Elemental storm

Detonator

  • Elemental Storm
  • Lightning Strike
  • Burning Orb
  • Glacial Spear
  • Fiery Strike

Interceptor

Primer

  • Venom Bomb
  • Cryo Glave
  • Detonating Strike
  • Venom spray

Detonator

  • Spark Dash
  • Tempest Strike
  • Bladed Daggers
  • Assassin’s Blades

Or if you need a more visual guide, reddit user FireDragon04 has you covered:

Anthem-Primer

And there you go! A brief but possibly handy guide to getting the most out of combos. It’s a brilliant system, that Anthem seems to completely forget about. Go figure.

Last Updated: February 20, 2019

29 Comments

  1. Hence, the reason it pays to play this game with friends or acquaintances, rather than randoms.

    Okay: I have been avoiding doing this, but it has now come to a point where I have no choice: Who is willing to join me in some games of Anthem?

    Reply

    • Original Heretic

      February 20, 2019 at 11:06

    • Mark Treloar

      February 20, 2019 at 11:20

      I could be persuaded. I was in a game yesterday where one of my team had an objective item, but wasn’t completing the objective. American voice shouts “Hand in the item you retard”

      Reply

    • Mark Treloar

      February 20, 2019 at 12:02

      Origin: Soulmantle

      Reply

    • Dresden

      February 20, 2019 at 10:59

      Pc is too old to handle that game and it’s R1000 on PS4, so as much as I want to play it, I simply cant 🙁

      Reply

    • Mielies the Magnificent

      February 20, 2019 at 11:27

      Here I am! #Mielies296

      Reply

    • Pariah

      February 20, 2019 at 11:34

      Add me on Origin – PariahG

      Reply

  2. Admiral Chief

    February 20, 2019 at 10:59

    Wow, much innovation, sorta like MASS EFFECT DID ALL THOSE YEARS AGO EH???

    Reply

    • Original Heretic

      February 20, 2019 at 11:06

      Dragon Age also did it…

      Reply

  3. Nikola

    February 20, 2019 at 11:27

    After playing the BETA and people’s reaction who have played the game I have completely lost interest in this which is a shame with all the bad opinions I will rather wait for Division 2 and play that with our CH clan/group

    Reply

    • G8crasha

      February 20, 2019 at 11:27

      The Division, like Destiny 2, is another game I steered clear of, purely because I was never keen to play with randoms.

      Reply

      • Nikola

        February 20, 2019 at 11:40

        Yeah it’s not fun playing with randoms at all those games never are, but I never did we have had our lazygamer/critical hit group team since Destiny 1 we been playing together all through Division and Destiny 2. But we all play on PS4 not sure what you play on.

        Reply

        • G8crasha

          February 20, 2019 at 11:40

          Well, that is where I am somewhat left in the cold. I play primarily on PC. I do have a PS4, but I use that mainly for the exclusive games. I’ve never invested in a console game that was multiplatform – aside from Batman: Arkham Knight – PC version was buggy as hell if you recall.

          Reply

          • Nikola

            February 20, 2019 at 11:40

            Yeah it makes sense that you do that games are usually cheaper on PC and then use the console for Exclusives:) I do remember that was an absolute shit show haha!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Check Also

Manchester United Sues Football Manager Over Use of their Name and Fan Mods

Manchester United, that massive global football brand whose fans are as equally annoying a…