At one time a holiday 2020 release, Outriders has since moved away from the likes of other RPG looter shooters such as Destiny 2: Beyond Light, Godfall, and even the free next gen upgrade for Borderlands 3. The latest trailer for Outriders not only shows off more gameplay elements, but reveals the new launch date of February 2, 2021, which should give it enough breathing room to help the game stand out from the rest of the crowd.
Naturally, the added development time should also help the team to put a bit more polish on the title, fix up the last remaining bugs that may have slipped through at launch, as well as give marketing a bit more time to showcase what makes Outriders unique. Part of that comes from the fact that the game isn't intended to be a live service like most games in this genre. Instead, People Can Fly has prioritized story and gameplay over the promise of microtransactions and in-app purchases.
Another way Outriders can stand out from other games in the genre is through its four unique classes. Each one seems to defy typical class archtypes and appear to be more than capable to adapt and handle many different situations. Players have already been introduced to most of the classes like the fire-focused Pyromancer, punishing Devastator, and the unique long ranger supporter, the Technomancer. However, for those that want to specialize in trickery and high damage, the Trickster class may be the one to pick.
What is it?
As People Can Fly describe it, Tricksters are able to control space and time to assassinate their targets. As such, they've been designed closer to a typical Rogue style class, being able to get up close and personal with targets, deal high amounts of damage, and then get back out. Unlike the Devastator who can take a beating and continue to dish it out, Tricksters want to get in, strike fast, and escape back out to safety.
People Can Fly have also shown this class as being more than just a tank as well. The class comes with a few interrupt abilities, allowing players to control the flow of combat by shutting enemies down for their teammates.
Melee and Healing Ability
For the Trickster, their basic melee attack applies a stun effect on enemies which also slows them down. While sprinting, the attack upgrades into a ground slam, which applies the same effects to a group of nearby enemies.
Unlike other games in this genre, Outriders doesn't have healing potions littered around the ground. Instead, each class had their own unique way to gain back health. For the Trickster, players will want to play more aggressively when in need of more life. Killing enemies at close range will not only restore health, but a percentage of shield as well. Thankfully, a number of abilities lend themselves quite well to getting in and taking out groups of enemies at close range.
Skill Trees
No two Tricksters are the same as players have multiple skill trees to invest in, letting them create their perfect version of the class. While the Trickster is defined as a fast moving, heavy hitting class, players will be able to modify this even further through each tree, impacting how the class ultimately plays and the abilities work slightly. Players are not locked into choosing one tree and can even respec to try out different branches if they so choose.
- Assassination - This path focuses on increasing damage output and health leeching bonuses.
- Master of Space - For those who want to move even faster, this tree is primarily centered on movement while also improving close combat effectiveness.
- Harbinger - While this class is primarily a hit and run specialist, going down this tree will turn them more into a tank. Harbinger provides bonuses to defense and shields.
Abilities
As the studio has done for the other classes, only four of the eight abilities have been revealed so far, leaving a bit more for fans to discover once the game arrives. As a master of space and time, the abilities that have been shown off will have players teleporting around, manipulate enemy speed, and summon clones to assist in battle.
- Temporal Slice - The classes 'bread and butter' ability, this move creates a large energy slash in front of the player temporarily paralyzing and slowing all enemies hit by it. Not only does this make enemies much easier to attack but it combines very well with other abilities that kill enemies clustered together. Naturally, this makes Temporal Slice a very good ability to use when in need of health.
- Borrowed Time - Activating this ability instantly gives the Trickster a percentage of their maximum health as a shield that absorbs damage before the player's health is impacted. Better yet, this ability also creates a Time Clone in the exact spot the power was used. Using the ability again will send the player back to the Time Clone's location, either helping the player get out of danger or setting a trap for enemies who think their safe.
- Slow Trap - Activating the skill creates an energy dome around the player. Any enemy who enters will be immediately slowed while the player and any teammates continue to move normal. This 'Bullet Time' bubble is good for slowing enemies to help revive a teammate without being interrupted or dealing with mobs of fast moving enemies. Better yet, using temporal slice on slowed groups of enemies is a great way to gain some quick health.
- Hunt the Prey - When first activated, the skill highlights any visible enemy. Press it again, the Trickster will teleport right behind the enemy, gain a percentage of shield based on maximum health, and slowing the enemy it is used on. The skill is good for warping across a battlefield, getting out of trouble, picking off solo enemies, or even rushing into the thick of battle for some easy heals.
Teases for the other abilities have been found through various trailers and blog posts. Tricksters can activate a skill called Twisted Rounds which replaces the current weapon's magazines with anomoly-infused bullets. These increase the weapon's fire power by a certain amount and lasts until the gun is reloaded or switched. When the game launches in 2021, players will have plenty of options as they go up against the variety of enemies found on Enoch.
Outriders releases February 2, 2021 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, with a Stadia version in development for later in 2021.
