Chainsaw

[Surkov]

After taking a look through previous threads about the chainsaw I noted there's plenty of talk about it's stats, but nothing really on when to use it.
Since hitting level 6 Berserker Ive become used to keeping and carrying the chainsaw through an entire match but, I'm still struggling to determine when is the best time to use it.
Generally I will carry a machete, axe, and chainsaw, Using the machete to lop off the heads of specimens up to stalker, switching to the axe when dealing with bloats and above, and occasionally using the chainsaw to hold a defensive position with my team. The trouble is that I am quite frequently torn to bits when using the chainsaw, I have no idea what it's ideal use is but am quite fond of the idea of an "automatic knife" and am unwilling to part with it.
So how many people use the chainsaw? When do you use it? And why?

 

[Bill Nye The Science Spy]

i see some people that use the chainsaw using the katana also for scrakes and also an MP7 for some healing. I really cant help you in when to use it though because im a horrible zerker

 

[potemkinhr]

The chainsaw is a little tricky weapon to use, you don't get the speed bonus with which you can't kite nicely, with it working you sometimes don't hear zeds from behind, when continuously using primary fire part of your field of view is blocked.
I find myself selling it after wave 1 and just buying a katana. You have mobility, precision and attack speed with it.

 

[poosh]

Chainsaw can be used in some maps, when zerker acts like a "cork in bottleneck". But it requires constant present of medic behind and works up to fleshies (excluding).

 

[Surkov]

Chainsaw can be used in some maps, when zerker acts like a "cork in bottleneck". But it requires constant present of medic behind and works up to fleshies (excluding).

Well damn, that's far more situational than I expected. Is there any time you can use it effectively without absolutely needing a medic

 

[potemkinhr]

Well, it's great after wave 1 so you can buy the Katana AND the Axe
If I use it, I use it around corners so the zeds don't charge, and it tears their heads off as they walk around the corner.
It would see much greater use if it had an Area of effect attack that could decap multiple zeds around you with secondary fire.
As it is now it's just heavy and reduces your mobility.

 

[Baron]

Well damn, that's far more situational than I expected. Is there any time you can use it effectively without absolutely needing a medic

Let me start by saying that I never play Berserker. I got it to level 2, so I understand the basics, but all this is pure conjecture.

I think it's meant to be a game-changer. Katana/Axe/LAR gets samey after awhile. Without the Zerker speed bonus, the game requires a more finely-tuned sense of your surroundings, and better timing for the slower swing. It's actually quite alright for dealing with Scrakes; at higher Berserker levels, you can even stun them, and that's when a lot of Berserkers are going to want a change of pace.

Also, it's the iron-clad kill-the Patty-every-time guarantee.

 

[Surkov]

Let me start by saying that I never play Berserker. I got it to level 2, so I understand the basics, but all this is pure conjecture.

I think it's meant to be a game-changer. Katana/Axe/LAR gets samey after awhile. Without the Zerker speed bonus, the game requires a more finely-tuned sense of your surroundings, and better timing for the slower swing. It's actually quite alright for dealing with Scrakes; at higher Berserker levels, you can even stun them, and that's when a lot of Berserkers are going to want a change of pace.

Also, it's the iron-clad kill-the Patty-every-time guarantee.

Well it certainly is different from a katana. From what Ive seen and done with it I would say its a killing machine that makes you rely more upon teammates. I suppose it's possible that It has gotten me killed so much due to bad communication/teamwork. I typically default to my axe when something like a scrake is coming straight at me but, perhaps the chainsaw is preferred if the scrake is headed for another teammate? But then if the scrake charges you would want an axe. It might be desirable when being covered by teammates as mobility would be less of an issue.

 

[Euclix]

If you want to actually be useful with that loadout, ditch the machete. The machete is the only weapon in the game you can buy at the trader that is actually not very good. Every other weapon has its use, but the machete kinda stinks.

You're really better off ditching the machete for the slight speed bonus. Anyways, anytime you would use the machete, use the chainsaw. Use the chainsaw for killing weak zeds and use the axe for killing strong zeds. Don't just sit in one spot waiting for the zeds to come at you with the chainsaw out, you will die unless there you have one or two dedicated medics, and even then, it's not full proof.

If you are camping, pick a line that you will stop zeds from breaking (during reload times for example) and kill anything before it crosses the line. Its okay to run out and get that pesky husk if it is safe and there's not sharpshooter. Use the buffer zone of your teammates bullets to your advantage and run back and forth between behind your teammates and to the line, but try not to get in the way.

That's how I play that load out. The machete is not needed as the chainsaw can do anything it can do more effectively in my opinion. You're better off with pipes or the slight speed bonus.

 

[Surkov]

If you want to actually be useful with that loadout, ditch the machete. The machete is the only weapon in the game you can buy at the trader that is actually not very good. Every other weapon has its use, but the machete kinda stinks.

You're really better off ditching the machete for the slight speed bonus. Anyways, anytime you would use the machete, use the chainsaw. Use the chainsaw for killing weak zeds and use the axe for killing strong zeds. Don't just sit in one spot waiting for the zeds to come at you with the chainsaw out, you will die unless there you have one or two dedicated medics, and even then, it's not full proof.

If you are camping, pick a line that you will stop zeds from breaking (during reload times for example) and kill anything before it crosses the line. Its okay to run out and get that pesky husk if it is safe and there's not sharpshooter. Use the buffer zone of your teammates bullets to your advantage and run back and forth between behind your teammates and to the line, but try not to get in the way.

That's how I play that load out. The machete is not needed as the chainsaw can do anything it can do more effectively in my opinion. You're better off with pipes or the slight speed bonus.

Thanks for the input but, the machete does still give me the benefit of speed over the chainsaw and firing speed over the axe so that's not exactly true.

 

[Nanostrike]

If you want to actually be useful with that loadout, ditch the machete. The machete is the only weapon in the game you can buy at the trader that is actually not very good. Every other weapon has its use, but the machete kinda stinks.

Inb4 Rabid Machete-fans rush to defend it

Thanks for the input but, the machete does still give me the benefit of speed over the chainsaw and firing speed over the axe so that's not exactly true.

...too late. IMO, Machete is a garbage weapon, but people constantly defend it with a bizarre passion. You're better off with the freaking 9mm than the Machete most of the time. If you can use it and have success with it, great. But I hate it and find it utterly useless.



Anyways...I shy away from the Chainsaw because...it's slow, loud, and tends to make you overconfident. It's not a bad weapon. I just don't like it. IN THEORY, it combines the Katana's primary and the Axe's secondary. Unforunately, IMO, it's not stylish like the Katana and doesn't feel as powerful as the Axe. Not to mention that by Wave 10, that noise REALLY starts to grate on the ears.

 

[Surkov]

You're better off with the freaking 9mm than the Machete most of the time. If you can use it and have success with it, great. But I hate it and find it utterly useless.

9mm = 35 dmg
machete = 70 dmg
level 6 berserker with machete = 140 dmg
Berserkers who don't use the katana can make good use of the machete imo although it no doubt could use a bit of a buff. To be fair though it does kinda suck having to hit the head each time for smaller specimens but, it is still an upgrade from the knife.

 

[Baron]

Besides, what else are you going to do with the spare slot? Yes, the weapon sucks comparatively, but if the increase in damage from the knife helps you, why not? If it doesn't, use the knife.

And don't tell me you ditch it for increased speed. The 1-block difference is barely noticeable.

 

[Euclix]

Besides, what else are you going to do with the spare slot? Yes, the weapon sucks comparatively, but if the increase in damage from the knife helps you, why not? If it doesn't, use the knife.

And don't tell me you ditch it for increased speed. The 1-block difference is barely noticeable.

My point is that the machete is so useless, that the barely noticeable increase in speed is worth it. I've tried the load out machete/axe/chainsaw, and when I have I have never actually needed to use the machete. When I need a fast firing rate I use the chainsaw, when I need to move quickly I use the axe.

And even though that speed increase is barely noticeable, it could make a difference when kiting a fleshpound. Because sometimes you just barely escape his fists.

Whether you want to waste your time with the machete or not doesn't take way from some of the tactics I described for the load out. I firmly believe just sitting in the front is bad idea unless you have some dedicated medics, and even then, I wouldn't do it.

When a few gorefasts get by and close in on a team mate, chew them up with the saw. And when a scrake gets too close for comfort stun him with the axe. But don't just sit in one spot and hope the medics can heal you fast enough.

 

[Heyman]

Last night, I went and played Bedlam on Suicidal after I FINALLY got Zerker leveled to 5 from solo games.

We holed up over at coward's corridor with 2 Sharpies, 3 Support Specialists, and me.

My loadout was a bit different than the norm: Chainsaw, Dual HCs, and a Machete.
At about wave 6, one of the Supports told me that I was useless because I didn't have the godly Katana/LAR/Axe combo and I told him to stuff it, since I was holding my own weight, and that Supports killed Scrakes much better than an axe ever would.

Anyways, I set up on the short hallway with the same support guy, and had my dualies out. I would pick off crawlers or single trash mobs with the HCs while I hugged the wall and let the Support and Sharpies do most of the killing. Whenever a Scrake/Fleshpound/Horde raged or got too close in I would throw myself in front of the Support Specialist and cut away with the chainsaw until there were no more zeds between me and the door.

It got really hectic sometimes, since I was low on health a lot during the FP waves, but wave 10 passed and we were all still alive.

Then everybody switched to zerker and chainsawed patty to death.
I checked my score and I was at top of the list.

 

[Nanostrike]

My point is that the machete is so useless, that the barely noticeable increase in speed is worth it.

That's the way I feel. Also,

9mm = 35 dmg
machete = 70 dmg
level 6 berserker with machete = 140 dmg

Berserkers should have the Katana or Chainsaw, both of which are far better than the Machete anyway, and everyone else can usually squeeze off 2 9mm headshots at a safe distance before you can even close in and score a hit with the stupid Machete.

Useless knife is useless.

The ONLY time I see it being useful is if you're a non-zerker perk with a super-heavy weapon (Demoman with the LAW, for example) would would be stuck with nothing but the Super-Heavy weapon and the 9mm otherwise.

 

[Euclix]

That's the way I feel. Also,



Berserkers should have the Katana or Chainsaw, both of which are far better than the Machete anyway, and everyone else can usually squeeze off 2 9mm headshots at a safe distance before you can even close in and score a hit with the stupid Machete.

Useless knife is useless.

The ONLY time I see it being useful is if you're a non-zerker perk with a super-heavy weapon (Demoman with the LAW, for example) would would be stuck with nothing but the Super-Heavy weapon and the 9mm otherwise.

Well, I do think the machete has one use for the berserker and that is for a berserker who is less than level five (doesn't spawn with the chainsaw) in early waves. And who is using the machete as a katana replacement until he can get the katana. Because at low levels, the katana and chainsaw are expensive.

Especially since they nerfed the knife; this can be useful. Machete/axe/LAR for the early waves as a low level berserker is not bad. But once you hit level five, you spawn with the chainsaw and the katana is so cheap that there no longer exists any good reason to use the machete imo.

 

[sverek]

I carry katana - axe - LAR.

Katana to deal with all species up to scrake

Axe for stunning scrakes and hit-and-run fps

LAR for annoying husks and crawlers

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Chainsaw would work great if you hold narrow corridor with medic behind you. Otherwise, in open area... I guess Katana will do any job better.

 

[Lucidius134]

For a second I thought this thread was about zerker weapons. And then I read OP.

I only use it for patty, but I don't play zerker that often.

 

[Nanostrike]

I carry katana - axe - LAR.

Katana to deal with all species up to scrake

Axe for stunning scrakes and hit-and-run fps

LAR for annoying husks and crawlers

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Chainsaw would work great if you hold narrow corridor with medic behind you. Otherwise, in open area... I guess Katana will do any job better.

Katana/Axe/LAR is pretty much the stardard Zerker loadout right now. I've yet to find anything that works better, really.