I use it regularly. It is not easy, but it is very effective when you are in the grove and using it properly.

Try to limit yourself to 3 bursts unless you are going for the kill. Because if you try for 3 bursts and are just a little slow taking your finger off the trigger, then it will fire 4 bursts, which is fine. However, if you try to fire 4 bursts, and are a bit slow releasing the trigger, it will fire the 5th burst which will overheat your weapon (unless it runs out of ammo first). You want to avoid overheating, unless you are in a 1v1 situation and you are sure that last burst will kill your opponent.


You need to engage one enemy at a time. The best way to take on groups is to use cover. Step out, shoot 3 to 4 bursts (hopefully get a kill if you are accurate) and step back behind cover.

If they follow you behind cover immediately:
Switch to your sidearm to engage the person chasing you and if you don't manage to kill them quickly switch back to your Burst HMG to finish them (it will have cooled off by this point).

If they follow you behind cover after you have had a second to cool:
Try to kill them in 2 or 3 bursts from your HMG, then switch to your sidearm if they are not dead yet.

If they don't follow you behind cover:
Reload and then repeat.

If you overheat, waddle to cover and hope no one noticed the overheat animation. If they feel intimidated by your HMG it will often take them 4 or 5 seconds to get up the nerve to follow you, and by that time your overheat is over. Honestly I am amazed at how often I survive overheating in a fire fight.


This sounds drastic, and it is, but the Burst HMG also does a massive amount of damage. If you make those bursts count you can often kill people in two bursts, especially if you get a head shot. Even a well tanked medium frame suit will usually die to 3 bursts.

The nerf to the HMG heat buildup took it right to the edge, but did not break it. It is still a fine weapon. It is just VERY hard to use ans VERY unforgiving. But when used right, it is still the most deadly automatic weapon in the game.

If I am tired or not on my game, I will switch out to the base model HMG as it is so much more forgiving.

Works great if you have two heavies with bursts working together. He fires three shots, pauses, you fire three shots pause and repeat. Keeps constant fire going while giving you a chance to cool down.
Also works great when using one mixed with a group of other heavies where the burst can keep concentrated fire on an area and the other normal hmgs can pick up everyone else.

I like a challenge, it's why I run minja, and I see the strong sidearm is a must.
Do you run it on a minmatar?

I was thinking about running it in sqaud with my buddy. He runs amarr scout or assault,
And my min with kincats can almost keep up... Having a second heavy would make a huge difference though.

I like this idea.

I run the Burst on the Minmitar, Caldari, and Amarr Sentinels. (I am not skilled into Gallente.)

The play style is different for these suits.

Caldari does not have the stamina for a lot of running around, so is best for defensive use, or assaulting a point if you have uplinks close by.

Minmatar Sentinel with a Burst HMG is like playing a slow moving Shotgun Scout. (Slow only in comparison to a Scout.) When engaging other Sentinels you want to take them from behind or get the head shot. The Burst will give you the Damage advantage, but your suit is soft.

I have two Advanced Minmatar Sentinel fits which use the Burst HMG. One has 1 Kin Cat and a rep. The other has 2 Kin Cats (fitting is tight and had to leave the Grenade slot empty).

Amarr Sentinel has a lot more fitting flexibility. You can brick tank it and work with a Logi; Fit 3 Armour Repai and play like a Caldari; or Fit Kin Cat's and play like a Minmatar.

My Advanced Amarr Sentinel Burst HMG fit has a Rep, Armor Plate, and Kin Cat in the lows and an Energizer in the highs. (The Kin Cat is always Proto, and I think the Rep is too, but the Energizer and possibly the Plate are Advanced due to fitting costs.) This suit hits the sweat spot of all 3 suits for me.

I often run all 3 races of Sentinel in the same match to adapt to changing situations.

Can the amarr with 3 kincats match the min's speed

Pretty close to it, but can't match is regen

Can the amarr with 3 kincats match the min's speed

Now this is a man who knows his heavies, though idk how I feel about the energizer in your high for the amarr. I personally prefer a damage mod as I usually run with a logi and could care less about my shields on the amarr.
I run both minmatar and amarr sentinels at proto btw

-snip-

Holy crap! Someone actually using strategy and tactical gameplay while using a heavy!?

Go back to TF2 Ya commie!

Dust has no place for the likes of you!

Works well 1v1 but never against a group. Personally I don't use it anymore. It was op before I won't argue that, but now it's essentially useless. Maybe on speed tanked min sentinel but that's about it