Blaster Guide

(Oct 23, 2023): This guide is now totally out of date. I will no longer be updating this since there are better, more up-to-date guides available. Please consult the Blaster Discord for the most up-to-date information: Join Blaster Academy!

Important: Blaster's high-APM gameplay can be rough on the hands, so good playing habits are important if you wish to avoid pain or potential long-term injury. Before reading the rest of this guide, be sure to look at the FAQ tab above for some tips on how to make Blaster gameplay a comfortable experience (under Q: "Is Blaster painful to play?").

Blaster has a reputation for being a difficult class to play, but I prefer to describe them as being difficult to learn. The learning curve is rough, but with enough practice their high-APM combos can become so easy you can pull them off without thinking about it.

The purpose of this guide is to help you reach that point.

Here you will find information explaining the mechanics behind Blaster’s skills, their combos, how to do them and common mistakes that players make while learning the class. The focus here is on helping new players with the fundamentals of Blaster gameplay. If you’re a player who has been struggling with the combos or just someone who might be interested in playing a Blaster, this is for you. This guide won’t turn you into a pro overnight, but if it can help you understand the basics enough to make you comfortable with the class, then this guide will have served its purpose.

The body of this guide will focus on combos and how to use them, but there is additional information within the tabs above. Don’t forget to look through them!



I highly recommend focusing on one section at a time. Do not, for example, try to learn Hammer Smash cancels while you are still struggling with No-Reload. Learning this class can be overwhelming, so focus on getting comfortable with one thing before moving on to the next.

That doesn't necessarily mean you should follow the exact order as listed in the Table of Contents. You can jump from learning one random thing to another, just make sure you're focusing on one thing at a time.

Table of Contents
1. Blaster Basics I
1.1 - Charge Skills and Animation Canceling​ 1.2 - Magnum Punch+Double Blast (No-Reload)​ 1.3 - Shotgun Punch (SGP)​
2. Blaster Basics II
2.1 - Performing Other Actions Mid-Combo​ 2.2 - Bunker Buster Explosion​ 2.3 - Hammer Smash​
3. Blaster Basics - Completion
3.1 - Mobbing as a Blaster​ 3.2 - Bossing: The Optimal Rotation​
4. Further Techniques
4.1 - Quick Reload​ 4.2 - Movement Control with Bobbing and Weaving​ 4.3 - Guarding with Charge Skills​ 4.4 - Aerial Canceling​
5. Afterword & Credits
Build
1st-4th job & Hyper Skill Point Allocation, V Matrix, Inner ability & Link Skills​
Skill Info
Information on Beginner, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, Hyper, and 5th Job Skills​
FAQ
Class Summary, Pros/Cons, Frequently Asked Questions​

1. Blaster Basics I

1.1 - Charge Skills and Animation Canceling



Like any combo class, Blaster relies on animation cancels to maximize their damage. However, their animation cancels are done a bit differently. Rather than use one attack after another like a traditional combo class, Blaster relies on charge skills to cancel the animation of their attacks. Their gameplay revolves around two of these skills - Bobbing and Weaving.

From this point on in the guide, only Bobbing will be mentioned for convenience’s sake, but both skills are functionally identical, so anything that is said about Bobbing can apply to Weaving as well. There are some parts in this guide where I will refer to Bobbing or Weaving specifically, so for clarity this icon will be used to indicate when both are applicable:

​

This icon means "use one or the other", not “hold them both at the same time”, so please don’t do that. You only need to charge one, but you'll frequently be switching between them, so make sure you have enough keybind space for both skills!

When Bobbing is held down, it begins charging, and after a short amount of time it enters a fully charged state. When a fully charged Bobbing is released during another skill, it cancels that skill’s animation and immediately sends your character moving forward. That forward motion can then be canceled by pressing jump, stopping your character in its tracks and allowing you to take another action instantly.

While not exactly straightforward, Blaster's combos follow a common pattern, and can be simplified into:

begin charging Bobbing -> attack -> release Bobbing -> jump -> repeat​

There are some rules behind this that will be explained throughout the guide, but the most important things to note:

• There’s a limit on how fast skills can be canceled.
  • Animation cancels won’t work if Bobbing is released at the exact same time a skill is used. Even if Bobbing is fully charged beforehand, there’s a very small window after every skill where its animation can’t be canceled, so if your Bobbing cancels aren’t working it is very likely you're releasing too fast.
• Shotgun Punch works a little differently, since it is the only skill that can be canceled without a fully charged Bobbing. Everything else requires Bobbing to be fully charged in order to cancel their animations.
• You don’t need to wait until Bobbing has fully charged to attack. Bobbing will charge during a skill’s animation and it charges fast enough that it’s safe to attack right after your finger lands on Bobbing.

1.2 - Magnum Punch + Double Blast (No-Reload)



No-Reload is the first combo you are introduced to in 2nd job. This combo involves powering both Magnum Punch and Double Blast with Revolving Cannon, then using a charged Bobbing to cancel Double Blast’s animation and reload the ammo lost from using Revolving Cannon. When done correctly, you can continuously attack without delay and use Revolving Cannon without ever running out of ammo, hence its name “No-Reload”.

The combo in its entirety looks like this:

(hold Bobbing -> Magnum Punch + Revolving Cannon -> Double Blast + Revolving Cannon -> release Bobbing -> jump -> repeat)​

Spoiler: GIF

No-Reload seems overwhelming with the amount of skills that need to be used in such a short window of time, but thankfully the game simplifies the process somewhat and gives you the choice between two different (easier) ways of doing this combo, so No-Reload is more manageable than it appears.

Method 1: Using In-Game Macros

In-game macros can be used to automate Revolving Cannon so that it fires off after every Magnum Punch and Double Blast. To perform No-Reload this way, you need two macros:



Macro 1: Magnum Punch -> Revolving Cannon

Macro 2: Double Blast -> Revolving Cannon

(hold Bobbing -> Macro 1 -> Macro 2 -> release Bobbing -> jump -> repeat)​

1. Hold on to Bobbing.
2. Use Macro 1 and then Macro 2 (not at the same time, but one after the other).
3. Release Bobbing after using Macro 2. This will cancel Double Blast's animation.
4. Cancel Bobbing's animation by pressing Jump.
5. Immediately repeat from #1.

This is a good pace to start out with:


Assuming you've learned Advanced Charge Mastery in 4th job, you should also notice yourself constantly losing and gaining exactly 2 charges of ammo - this is a sign you're performing the combo correctly. If you're not 4th job yet and have only learned Charge Mastery, then a perfectly executed "No-Reload" (should really call it Half-Reload at this point) should result in 1 ammo being reloaded per cancel.



If you haven't advanced to 4th job, you will need to slow down since you haven't yet learned the passives that allow you to combo faster. This video by KMS Blaster is a very good example of what comboing looks like at 2nd job. Don't be discouraged if you can't get it right away. If you're struggling, read on and I'll explain some of the common mistakes you might be making.

Method 2: Using Magnum Punch+Double Blast with one key

To prevent button bloat from becoming a serious issue for this class, Nexon merged some of Blaster’s skills into one key. Attacking with Magnum Punch on its own (without macros) will allow you to follow up with Double Blast using the very same button. This is how No-Reload is executed without Revolving Cannon macros:

(hold Bobbing -> [Magnum Punch + Revolving Cannon] x 2 -> release Bobbing -> jump -> repeat)​

1. Hold on to Bobbing.
2. Tap Magnum Punch and Revolving Cannon simultaneously, then quickly tap both keys again (tapping a second time will release Double Blast+Revolving Cannon)
3. Release Bobbing to cancel Double Blast’s animation.
4. Jump to cancel Bobbing’s animation.
5. Immediately repeat from #1.



It’s important to note that if you’re using a keyboard that can’t handle more than two simultaneous keypresses, you will need to place Magnum Punch and Revolving Cannon on modifier keys (Ctrl, Shift or Alt). The Magnum Punch -> Double Blast combo may not be responsive if you have under 10 stacks of Combo Training, so if Magnum Punch isn’t transitioning to Double Blast properly, you have the choice of continuously mashing Magnum Punch+Revolving Cannon until Double Blast comes out, or switching to Method 1 instead.

Otherwise, there is no difference between the two methods above - both of them use the same number of buttons. In the end, whether you’re using Revolving Cannon macros or Magnum Punch as a standalone key, No-Reload should look exactly the same. Choose whichever one plays most comfortably for you. Though if you’re not using macros, I would recommend having a Double Blast+Revolving Cannon macro on your keyboard anyway since there are some situations where you’ll want to use Double Blast on its own.

FAQ and Common Mistakes
Q: Do I need to charge both Bobbing and Weaving at the same time while doing No-Reload?
A: No, you only need to charge one at a time. Chances are you’ve seen videos that tell you to charge both Bobbing and Weaving at the same time. Do not do this. You will be making things harder on yourself for no reason. Originally it was thought that charging both Bobbing and Weaving allowed you to animation-cancel with one while the other was charging and therefore perform the combo faster, but one alone charges fast enough that there is no benefit in doing this. It is possible to perform the combo at full speed without using both and you will often want to reserve the second charge for Hammer Smash anyway, so charging Bobbing and Weaving at the same time will be more of a hindrance to you than anything. Instead, it is better to charge one, but also switch between them depending on whether the situation requires forward or backward movement. This is especially helpful if your jump cancels are imperfect and are causing you to move a lot with No-Reload – you can alternate between Bobbing and Weaving to stabilize your character’s position. But again, do not charge Bobbing and Weaving at the same time.
Q: This combo isn’t working. What do I do?
A: There are many reasons why No-Reload might not be working, but generally it is because the combo is being done too fast, in the wrong order, or both. New players often get the idea that Blaster requires crazy high APM, so what happens is they try to perform the entire No-Reload combo in less than one fifth of a second (Blaster is high APM, but not that high). There’s a limit on how fast Blaster can combo; some inputs will not register if you do everything too fast and animation cancels will not work if you release Bobbing at the exact same time you use a skill. Other times, players will perform the combo in the wrong order and not realize. If you’re having trouble, slow down, repeat the steps in your head and make sure each attack is going off before moving on to the next step in the combo.
Q: Why aren’t my jump cancels working?
A: Failed jump cancels are a sign that you're inadvertently hitting jump before releasing Bobbing. This can easily happen without you noticing, so try not to hit jump too fast. If you're having trouble, a good tip is to wait until the Bobbing key has gone all the way up on your keyboard before hitting jump. Keep in mind jump cancels will not work if Bobbing sends you towards the edge of a platform or a wall - something to watch out for when you’re comboing on the very small platforms in Horntail.
Q: Why is Muzzle Flash being triggered?
A: Muzzle Flash is triggered when you begin charging Weaving again before jump canceling. Always charge your skills after a jump cancel.
Q: Why isn't Bobbing canceling Double Blast?
A: If Bobbing isn’t canceling the animation of Double Blast, it is because you are releasing Bobbing too fast. The cancel will not work if you release Bobbing at the exact same time you use Double Blast. Reacting to visual cues in Double Blast’s animation is a good way to determine when to release Bobbing. When you see this vertical line, let go of the key. (This line is present from the beginning of the animation, but it takes around a quarter of a second to react to visual stimuli, making it a good indicator of when to release)
Q: Why is it that sometimes my combo doesn’t work even when I’m doing everything right?
A: Your Combo Training stacks affect how fast you’re allowed to combo. Some of your inputs may not register if you’re comboing at your usual (fast) pace without 10 stacks of Combo Training. If this is happening to you, try to slow down until your Combo Training stacks are maxed.
Q: Why doesn’t Double Blast work when I hit the key?
A: This is a sign you’re hitting Double Blast too soon after Magnum Punch. Make sure to slow down if you have below 10 stacks of Combo Training.
Q: Why doesn’t Magnum Punch work?
A: Magnum Punch may not go off if you use it at the exact same time you begin charging Bobbing. Always use your attacks slightly after you begin charging Bobbing, not at the same time. In general, many of the problems you’ll encounter with No-Reload can be resolved by taking it slowly. Focus on consistency rather than speed.
Q: How quickly should I be doing No-Reload?
A: Blaster’s No-Reload speed is measured in terms of the amount of hits they can do in 9.5 seconds. The faster you cancel Double Blast and Bobbing, the more hits you put out. Ideally you want to combo at a speed that allows you to get 17 hits of Magnum Punch+Double Blast (plus one use of Hammer Smash and Bunker Buster) off in 9.5 sec. A new player will likely only be able to manage 14 or 15 hits in 9.5 sec, which is around 82-88% of No-Reload's damage potential. Blaster still performs solidly even when their combos aren’t done perfectly, so don’t stress yourself over trying to be 100% perfect. It’s better to focus on learning how to do the combo consistently without errors rather than doing it quickly. Speed is important, but you’ll naturally get faster the more you play, so don't overexert yourself trying to combo at a pace you’re not comfortable with.

1.3 - Shotgun Punch (SGP)

Spoiler: GIF

Shotgun Punch is the second primary combo you learn in 4th job. Between the two Blaster combos, this one is easier to learn, but it is also the hardest to perfect due to the immense speed required to maximize its potential. Shotgun Punch is unique in that it doesn’t require a fully charged Bobbing to cancel its animation, so performing the combo is as simple as:

Method 1

(Shotgun Punch -> Bobbing -> jump -> repeat)​

This pace is good to start with:


This is the normal way of doing it, however, because of Bobbing's nature as a charge skill, it doesn’t actually register until you let go of the key, so the full combo ends up looking like:

It is all too easy to mess up the combo by hitting jump before Bobbing has had a chance to go off. If you find yourself doing this, you’ll need to re-order the combo like so:

Method 2

(press Bobbing -> Shotgun Punch -> release Bobbing -> jump -> repeat)​

Note that you’re not holding Bobbing for a full charge here; you need to transition through each step as fast as possible. By pressing Bobbing at the beginning you remove the downtime between Shotgun Punch and Bobbing, reducing the potential for error. Think of it like you’re doing No-Reload, except you’re not fully charging Bobbing and you’re only using one attack.

There should be no difference in performance between the two methods, so choose whichever one works best for you.

There is another method not mentioned here known as Jumping Shotgun Punch. This involves jumping continuously while using & canceling Shotgun Punch in air, and this supposedly allows you to do more damage since you don't need to jump-cancel when performing animation cancels in air. Some say this is the superior way of doing the Shotgun Punch combo, however I find these claims to be very questionable, and I'll temporarily be leaving it out of the guide until I can get my hands on data comparing Shotgun Punch with and without jumps, and how much of a damage increase jumping is (if at all).

FAQ and Common Mistakes
Q: How do I stop myself from jumping while using Shotgun Punch?
A: Shotgun Punch requires you to be quick in order to pull off the combo effectively, but you are more likely to jump by accident the faster you go. This has no effect on your damage since the combo functions normally in air, but the unintentional movement can easily get you killed while bossing so it’s important to stay in control of your character at all times. To prevent accidental jumps from happening, hold the Up and Down arrow keys while performing the combo. This will keep your character planted on the ground, but be mindful you will also jump down if you do this while standing on a floating platform. Other than that, slowing down slightly will decrease the likelihood of unintentional jumping.
Q: Why don’t my jump cancels work?
A: If your jumps fail to cancel Bobbing, that’s a sign you’re hitting jump before releasing Bobbing. As explained above, Bobbing only goes off when you let go of the key and not when you press it. Rather than following Method 1, perform Method 2 instead, and you should have an easier time landing your jump cancels.
Q: How fast do I need to go when using Shotgun Punch?
A: Shotgun Punch is only limited by how quickly you can press the keys, so the obvious answer would be to go as fast as you can manage. However, Shotgun Punch has many varying levels of speed so it can be hard to tell whether or not you’re going fast enough. This video by KMS Blaster shows the combo in different beats per minute and is a good way to measure how quickly (or slowly) you’re going. Ideally you want to aim for that sweet spot where you can combo fast, but not so fast that it will strain your hands. Once again, speed is important, but don’t force yourself to go quickly - let speed develop naturally through practice.

2. Blaster Basics II

2.1 - Performing Other Actions Mid-Combo

Often you will need to break out of your combos to jump, move around, or use your other skills.

Blasters can weave other actions into their combos but are only able to do so after jump-canceling Bobbing. This is important to remember, because simply using a skill at a random point mid-combo won’t work; you’ll need to plan ahead and wait until the next jump-cancel to make your move. Any action performed after a jump-cancel is done instantly, so you can seamlessly transition from one move into another when needed. Here are some examples:

Spoiler: Turning around

(Shotgun Punch -> Bobbing -> jump -> turn around)​

Spoiler: Using an i-frame

(hold Bobbing -> Magnum Punch -> Double Blast -> release Bobbing -> jump -> Revolving Blast)​

Spoiler: Up-jumping

(hold Bobbing -> Magnum Punch -> Double Blast -> release Bobbing -> jump -> Detonate)​

Spoiler: Jumping down

(Shotgun Punch -> Bobbing -> jump -> down+jump)​

2.2 - Bunker Buster Explosion



Bunker Buster Explosion is Blaster’s most powerful attack before 5th job, becoming even more powerful with each bar in your Dynamo Gauge. Each use of Revolving Cannon adds 1 bar, capping at a maximum of 6. You’ll want to use Bunker Buster Explosion as soon as you max your Dynamo Gauge. Bunker Buster Explosion can be used after any jump-cancel, like so:

(after a jump-cancel: hold Bobbing -> Bunker Buster Explosion -> release Bobbing -> jump)​

Spoiler: GIF

In bossing situations Bunker Buster Explosion should be used the instant you max your Dynamo Gauge; the sooner it’s used, the sooner you can refill your Dynamo Gauge resulting in more Bunker Buster uses overall. While mobbing, you generally want to save it for when it will hit as many mobs as possible - ideally when they’re spread throughout multiple platforms.

Bunker Buster Explosion moves you forward during its animation. In some situations (usually bossing) this can cause inconvenience or even accidental death, so you can cancel the unnecessary movement in two ways:

Weaving with Bunker Buster Explosion

By using Weaving to cancel Bunker Buster’s animation, you can negate its forward movement and move back to where you started. Release Weaving after Bunker Buster Explosion, then delay your jump-cancel to move backward.

(after a jump-cancel: hold Weaving -> Bunker Buster Explosion -> release Weaving -> jump)​

Spoiler: GIF

Alternatively, you can charge & release Weaving on the attack used before Bunker Buster Explosion to send you backwards, then use Bunker Buster’s forward motion to return to your original position.

Jumping Bunker Buster Explosion

In situations where any movement can get you killed, you have the option of releasing Bunker Buster Explosion mid-air, preventing its forward movement entirely. After jump-canceling, jump again and release Bunker Buster Explosion.

(after a jump-cancel: jump -> hold Bobbing -> Bunker Buster Explosion -> land -> release Bobbing)​

Spoiler: GIF

2.3 - Hammer Smash



Hammer Smash is a charge skill that makes enemies receive 10% more final damage from your attacks. Every now and then you’ll want to use it to keep up its debuff on bosses. Hammer Smash can cancel skill animations the same way Bobbing can, but the animation from Hammer Smash can only be canceled with Bobbing and not a jump. You’ll need to charge the two skills together, release Hammer Smash to cancel an attack’s animation, then release Bobbing to cancel Hammer Smash’s animation.

(after a jump-cancel: hold Hammer Smash + Bobbing -> attack -> release Hammer Smash -> release Bobbing -> jump)​

Hammer Smash + Bunker Buster Explosion

Hammer Smash is generally used in combination with Bunker Buster Explosion - this guarantees 100% uptime on the debuff. After coming out of a jump-cancel:

1. Hold Hammer Smash and Bobbing at the same time.
2. Use Bunker Buster Explosion.
3. Release Hammer Smash slightly after to cancel Bunker Buster Explosion.
4. Release Bobbing slightly after to cancel Hammer Smash.
5. Jump to cancel Bobbing's animation.

Spoiler: Show Keypresses

(after a jump-cancel: hold Hammer Smash + Bobbing -> Bunker Buster Explosion -> release Hammer Smash -> release Bobbing -> jump)​

Spoiler: GIF

Hammer Smash + Double Blast

You can also weave Hammer Smash into your No-Reload combo and occasionally use it to Double Blast’s animation. After coming out of a jump-cancel:

1. Hold Hammer Smash and Bobbing at the same time.
2. Use Magnum Punch, and then Double Blast.
3. Release Hammer Smash slightly after to cancel Double Blast.
4. Release Bobbing slightly after to cancel Hammer Smash.
5. Jump to cancel Bobbing's animation.

Spoiler: Show Keypresses

(after a jump-cancel: hold Hammer Smash + Bobbing -> Magnum Punch -> Double Blast -> release Hammer Smash -> release Bobbing -> jump)​

Spoiler: GIF

By doing this you can maintain 100% uptime on the shockwave, though you’ll need to charge Hammer Smash again every time the shockwave expires/a boss walks out of it.

Uncharged Hammer Smash

It’s important to note the shockwave left behind by a fully charged Hammer Smash is affected by ping. At high levels of latency there is a noticeable delay between the release of a fully charged Hammer Smash and the shockwave appearing - you can't take action during this time, so for players experiencing constant lag, charging Hammer Smash may not be a viable option.

Above 300ms ping you may find it easier to use an uncharged Hammer Smash instead. You lose its animation canceling properties plus the additional damage from the shockwave, but you can still maintain 100% uptime on its debuff. An uncharged Hammer Smash is treated the same way as any other Blaster skill; begin charging Bobbing beforehand, use Hammer Smash, then release Bobbing.

(after a jump-cancel: hold Bobbing -> Hammer Smash -> release Bobbing -> jump -> hold Bobbing -> Bunker Buster Explosion -> release Bobbing -> jump)​

Spoiler: GIF

Here, Hammer Smash is used before Bunker Buster Explosion rather than after. The debuff loses some uptime since it’s not being constantly refreshed by the shockwave. The extra explosions from Bunker Buster Explosion also come out a bit later due to lag. Because of this, using an uncharged Hammer Smash after Bunker Buster Explosion will result in the debuff falling off right as Bunker Buster’s explosions come out, so it’s better to use Hammer Smash before Bunker Buster to ensure the explosions properly benefit from the extra damage.

FAQ and Common Mistakes
Q: Why doesn’t Hammer Smash cancel animations when I release the key?
A: Hammer Smash follows the same rules as Bobbing when it comes to animation cancels; canceling too early may result in the cancel not working at all. It is very easy to release the key early by accident and not realize, especially if you're new to using Hammer Smash. Double check and make sure you have a firm hold on the key when practicing your animation cancels.
Q: Why doesn’t Bobbing cancel Hammer Smash?
A: Same answer as above - you may be releasing Bobbing too early. This can also happen by accident when you release your finger from Hammer Smash, so once again make sure you have a firm hold on the keys.
Q: When should I begin charging Hammer Smash?
A: Hammer Smash charges just as fast as Bobbing - you can charge it right before using an attack and it’ll charge fast enough that you’ll be able to cancel the animation on time.

3. Blaster Basics - Completion



By now you’ve familiarized yourself with Blaster’s combos and how they work, which leaves the question, “which one should I be using for bossing/training, No-Reload or Shotgun Punch?”

The answer is both.

Each combo brings different strengths so ideally you want to switch between them depending on the situation.

3.1 - Mobbing as a Blaster

No-Reload and Shotgun Punch are extremely close in terms of performance. You could get away with using your favorite combo to mob while ignoring the other if you really wanted (for beginners, I recommend doing this), but you will get more of an advantage by knowing both combos and when to use them.

Shotgun Punch has longer horizontal reach, but No-Reload gives you access to Bunker Buster Explosion. When training on mobs that can't be killed in one hit, you can get the best of both combos by using No-Reload to fill your Dynamo Gauge for Bunker Buster Explosion, then using Shotgun Punch while your Dynamo Gauge is overheated.

When you're strong enough to one-hit with both Shotgun Punch and Double Blast, the skill you use will be determined by the kind of hitbox you need. Shotgun Punch is best used in situations that require horizontal range, while Double Blast's vertical range allows it to hit platforms that Shotgun Punch can't reach (you may even decide to ignore Magnum Punch entirely so that Double Blast can be used at flash jump's peak, giving it increased vertical range).

To be an effective mobber, you'll need to be able to use both skills while flash jumping through the air. This is done by charging Bobbing after flash jump, attacking in air, then releasing Bobbing once you land. Blaster can be very mobile, so don't waste the class' potential by keeping your feet planted on the ground the whole time!

Here is an example with Double Blast:

(Double Jump -> hold Bobbing -> Double Blast -> release Bobbing -> jump 3x [jump cancel -> jump -> Double Jump] -> repeat)​

Spoiler: GIF (warning: large)

3.2 - Bossing: The Optimal Rotation

According to this video by KMS Blaster, the optimal bossing rotation combines both No-Reload and Shotgun Punch. The combo you use depends on the state of your Dynamo Gauge:

When your Dynamo Gauge is not full, use No-Reload until it is filled. When your Dynamo Gauge is full, use Bunker Buster Explosion+Hammer Smash. While your Dynamo Gauge is overheated, use Shotgun Punch until it is ready to be filled again.

In theory, using both No-Reload and Shotgun Punch allows you to do more damage than you would with one combo alone, but this is under the assumption both combos are executed near-perfectly. The gain from doing this is very minimal - if you’re slow with Shotgun Punch, then using it during overheat will result in a damage loss over just using No-Reload on its own.

Both No-Reload and Shotgun Punch come close in damage so you’re more likely to find more consistent results performing the combo you’re most comfortable with. That’s not to say you should ignore the other entirely; some situations favor certain combos over others. No-Reload gives frequent access to Advanced Charge Mastery which is helpful for tanking super knockbacks while Shotgun Punch provides superior horizontal range allowing you to stay out of potential danger while attacking.

As a general rule, use the combo you’re most comfortable with, but also practice the one you’re weakest at since being good at both will be better for you in the long run.

4. Further Techniques

4.1 - Quick Reload



Occasionally you will lose ammo from flying around with Detonate, especially while training. To quickly restore lost ammo, you can substitute No-Reload with one Shotgun Punch and then cancel its animation with a fully charged Bobbing. Since Shotgun Punch doesn't cost ammo, you will regain 2 charges by doing this.

The best way to perform a Quick Reload would be to charge Bobbing mid-air (usually after a Double Jump/Detonate), use Shotgun Punch to mob when you are close the ground then release Bobbing upon landing to reload. This way you can keep your ammo topped up without having to interrupt your usual movement/attack patterns.

Spoiler: GIF

4.2 - Movement Control with Bobbing and Weaving



One of Blaster's unique traits is that their mobility is built into their combos, allowing you to attack and dodge in one fluid motion.

By delaying your jump-cancels, you can use Bobbing and Weaving to move a short distance and dodge attacks on the fly. What's more is that Blasters have the unique ability to control precisely how far they want to move - the longer you delay your jump-cancels, the further you will dash.

Spoiler: GIF

This is one of the most important skills you’ll need to learn as a Blaster, and it takes a ton of practice to pull off perfectly. The timing is extremely strict; delaying your jump-cancel for too long will result in Bobbing or Weaving’s end-animation to come out and lock you in place, while jump-canceling too soon can get you killed because you didn't move far enough.

The only way you can develop this skill is through constant practice. By practicing you get a better sense of when to land your jump-cancels and the timing will eventually become second nature to you. A good place to practice dodging is on Easy Cygnus and her purple geysers (requirement: lvl 140). With unlimited entries and no cooldown, you can practice for as long as you need to. There are a few different things you can also do to help control your movement:

Backstep Detonate

If you fall short of your destination or jump-cancel Weaving earlier than intended, you can use Detonate right away to move yourself further back.

Spoiler: GIF

Retreating Shotgun Punch

Shotgun Punch uses Bobbing and Weaving more frequently than No-Reload, allowing you to slide more often. Both Shotgun Punch and Weaving work well together - you can quickly move away from the boss while using Shotgun Punch’s long horizontal hitbox to keep the boss within range.

Spoiler: GIF

This helps while mobbing too - you can cancel Shotgun Punch with Weaving to move yourself closer to a pack of mobs behind you.

Advancing Bunker Buster Explosion

Remember earlier how I mentioned different ways to cancel Bunker Buster Explosion's forced movement? Well, here I’ll flip that around. You can use the movement to your advantage and combine it with Bobbing to send yourself forward and out of harm’s way.

Spoiler: GIF

4.3 - Guarding with Charge Skills



By timing their charge skills, Blasters are able to tank incoming attacks, most notably one-hit KOs and super knockbacks. This is done by releasing a charge skill right before an attack lands on you.

After releasing a fully charged skill, you will gain super stance and any attack that hits you during the animation of that charge skill (note: the animation of the skill itself, not the charging) will be reduced by 35%. The enhanced guard window lasts as long as the skill’s animation, but it is cut off the instant its animation is canceled (e.g. you lose Bobbing’s guard window the moment you press jump). Also note there are some OHKOs that cannot be tanked, such as Magnus meteors or Lotus lasers.

To proc an enhanced guard, you'll need to delay releasing or canceling a charge skill to ensure its animation lasts long enough for you to get hit. A successful guard is indicated by an orange hexagon surrounding your character, so you don't want to cancel until you see that visual pop up.

Bobbing/Weaving

Guarding with Bobbing works the same way as described in 4.2 - Movement Control with Bobbing and Weaving. To land a guard, combo with No-Reload but don’t jump-cancel Bobbing right away - instead, wait for the enemy’s attack to land during Bobbing’s animation then hit jump after you see the orange hexagon pop up.

(hold Bobbing -> Magnum Punch -> Double Blast -> Release Bobbing -> guard -> jump)​

Spoiler: GIF

It’s important pay close attention to the boss’ attack animation and have an idea of the exact frame the damage goes out. You don’t want to set up your guard too early, slide all the way across with Bobbing and get hit right as the guard window wears off.

Hammer Smash

Guarding with Hammer Smash is fairly straightforward - hold the charge while attacking, then release right before the enemy’s attack goes out. Ideally you want to release Hammer Smash while Bobbing is already charging so you can cancel its animation afterwards. Hammer Smash works best in situations where you need to stay still or guard an attack mid-air.

Spoiler: GIF

Hyper Magnum Punch

Advanced Charge Mastery’s bonus applies while charging Hyper Magnum Punch, so you can use its wind-up animation to guard attacks. Keep in mind, however, that you’ll need to hold Bobbing before charging Hyper Magnum Punch since its wind-up animation can only be canceled with a charge skill. Not doing this will result in the actual Hyper Magnum Punch coming out, forcing the skill on cooldown.

Hyper Magnum Punch has a longer guard window than Bobbing and Hammer Smash, making it effective against attacks where you're unsure exactly when the damage will go out.

(hold Bobbing -> hold Hyper Magnum Punch -> Advanced Charge Mastery -> Release Bobbing -> jump)​

Spoiler: GIF

This isn’t something you should rely upon too much since you won’t be able to guard while the skill is on cooldown. Above all else, Hyper Magnum Punch should be used when its i-frame is needed.

Bunker Buster Explosion - Guard

See: Hyper Passives - Using Bunker Buster Explosion - Guard in the "Build" tab for more information.

4.4 - Aerial Canceling



Bobbing's dash isn’t usable in air, but the skill retains all its animation canceling properties, so you can use it to cancel skills while airborne.

Aerial Cancel - Double Blast

When using an aerial Double Blast, you can cancel its delay with a charged Bobbing mid-air and immediately follow it up with Detonate to keep you on the move. This makes you more efficient at training; you can, for example, use an Aerial Cancel to kill mobs and move to the platform above you in one go, rather than waiting until you hit the ground to cancel Double Blast's animation.

(hold Bobbing + jump -> Double Blast -> release Bobbing -> Detonate)​

Spoiler: GIF

Bobbing should be pressed at the same time you jump to give it enough time to fully charge. Each step needs to be performed quickly; Detonate becomes less powerful as you begin falling, so you should aim to use Detonate the instant you release Bobbing.

FAQ and Common Mistakes
Q: Why doesn’t Bobbing cancel Double Blast when I release it mid-air?
A: This is a sign Bobbing isn’t charging fast enough - this usually happens if you begin charging right before using Double Blast. Begin charging Bobbing before/at the same time you jump off the ground to give it enough time to fully charge. It's also possible that you're releasing too early.

Aerial Cancel - Shotgun Punch

Aerial Cancels with Shotgun Punch work the same way as Double Blast, except it doesn’t require a fully charged Bobbing to cancel its animation, so you can press Bobbing right after Shotgun Punch to cancel it instantly.

(jump -> Shotgun Punch -> Bobbing -> Detonate)​

Spoiler: GIF

5. Afterword & Credits

And that just about covers it. This isn’t the end of the guide, though. Look through the extra tabs above if you haven’t already - plenty more information including stuff on skills and habits that should be avoided when playing Blaster (very important!)

If you have any questions, I hang around the Reddit and Official MapleStory servers, so ping me any time @Josh#4411 (keep in mind the capital J, messages won't work if it's lowercase) and I’ll get back to you when I can.

Current status: Mostly inactive on Discord, inactive on MapleStory

Credits

- Big thanks to the creators of the videos used in this guide:

• KMS Blaster
  • 메이플스토리 블래스터 아주아주 빠르게 키우기 2편(KMS Blaster speed&speedy leveling.version 2)
  • 초급부터 고급까지 쇼크웨이브캔슬 연습을 도와주는 영상 (Feat. 드럼솔로)
  • 블래스터 매그팡 vs 쇼크캔슬 데미지 비교. (허수아비 2분딜)
  • 250블래스터가 알려주는 블래스터 핵심캔슬 키캠영상
• @maplestorydpm
  • Blaster No Reload Combo Attack Speed 1

- Big thanks to MapleWiki & PirateIzzy for extracting the icons and skill info.

- Big thanks to Zelkova and everyone who worked on Dexless to make it possible.

- And a big shoutout to my friends I love you all

Spoiler

And a big thank you too for making it all the way to the end <3

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