Tech me how to use Incinerator

[drspendlove]

From the wiki, I state:


Short-range single target attack that deals massive bonus fire damage, bonus critical chance, and a moderate penetration bonus.
Generates 15 Heat, making it an expensive attack to use routinely.

This talent seems overly heat-expensive. Hellstorm is less than half the heat, is more accurate, hits a group, hits from far further away, has some of the critical bonus but lacks the penetration and has less bonus fire damage. Oh and Hellstorm starts with a free rank.

Why/when would I ever use this talent?

[sparda4]

This talent is for "high value" targets that are pretty damn beefy armor wise. Same can't be said for their resist so that fire damage on one of the bigger flamers it will pack a punch. The crit also helps a lot to just drop em.
But En1gma will also give his input on the talent.

[ntsheep]

Step 1: Aim at enemy.
Step 2: Pull trigger.
Optional Step 3: If enemy still alive, call a Neptune

[En1gma]

Incinerator requires a dedicated build to be effective. This build may be somewhat niche and I would argue  somewhat suboptimal compared to my standard Hydra build of Hellstorm/Charge/low level Lance.

However. If it is suboptimal, it is only minimally, but it shouldn't be your first string Hydra (see above build for first string). The build necessary to make good use of this talent wants to use the high penetration 3-range incinerator line. Gear should be built toward maximizing heat damage at the cost of everything else. Highest armor/deflection at the cost of mp. 

I call this build the Walking Crematorium. This Hydra lives at the front of the charge, and will set the pace of the entire battleforce. Since it has a lower mp, you'll need to keep Rallying 4 active as much as possible, as well as Pressing need. March this Hydra directly into battle against the game's hardest foes. Debuff with Pinning Shot, Firing orders, Scorch order, then watch the Crematorium open up. Single targets want to be turned to ash by Incinerator, and against crowds, Heat Waves is your other go-to. Keep levels in Napalm charge, but never bring it past level 6 as I think the number of safe squares to place it drops to 4.

Not much can stand against a dedicated Crematorium, as the amount of fire damage it puts out is insurmountable. When backed up by a synergized team, you will find this Hydra to be a valuable addition to your team.

[En1gma]

You'll also want to make this talent your most invested, followed by Hellstorm and Heat Waves in no particular order.