On April 5th, a major patch for The Division 2 will be released. It brings two nerfs: The sniper rifle Model 700 and the rifle Mk17 will be weaker. Our author Schuhmann says: They nerf exactly the two weapons I play – and somehow I feel caught.
I am currently playing with these two weapons: It’s about the rifle Mk17 – police version. This is a single-shot rifle with relatively high damage, fast rate of fire, and a large magazine of 20 rounds.
With this thing, you can reliably wipe out enemies in close combat and mid-range. It plays excellently and is perfectly suited for wildly firing behind cover.
The sniper rifle Model 700 has an incredibly high single-shot damage, reloads slowly, and has 7 rounds in the magazine.
The rifle has proven to be an ideal sniper and hits hard with headshots – even enemies that you barely graze stagger and take damage.
Why are these weapons being nerfed? Both weapons simply deal too much damage and are part of currently popular builds that are circulating in forums.
The sniper is said to be brutally strong in PvP – but I haven’t played that yet. However, the nerf will still affect me as a PvE player.
Massive wants to weaken the weapons to maintain balance.
This is how I got to the weapons: The Model 700 was a must-have. It was the sniper rifle with the highest damage value, and much more than the actual damage values don’t concern me with a sniper rifle.
Previously, I had experimented with lighter sniper rifles that didn’t convince me. They didn’t feel like a sniper should feel for me: “One shot and heads turn into red clouds.”
However, I only have one Model 700 with item level 412, and I wanted to switch to alternatives later on – but none felt as satisfying as the heavy sniper rifle. I often even forgo playing the special weapon of the sniper because I like the Model 700 so much.
Taking down enemy snipers and turret minions from a distance and in safe cover or picking off foot soldiers at the spawn point makes me happy. Targeting and eliminating weak points feels great in group play.
With the Mk17, I admit, I followed a guide. After reading the article about the million DPS build, I quickly found the Mk17, tried it out, and I enjoyed it. Until then, I had been playing with an LMG, but the Mk17 felt more elegant to me.
I reach for the rifle when my random friends are slacking in the group, and enemies get through to my secluded position.
This is why I feel caught: When I read that The Division 2 will nerf these two weapons in the first patch, I wasn’t angry, but rather a bit proud of myself.
Because I had discovered on my own the “Model 700,” the weapon that everyone sees as too strong and somehow overpowered. I could have figured that out myself, as I have already achieved numerous headshot kills with it.
Apparently, my weapon is still particularly good despite item level 412. Recently, I crafted 5 more Model 700s, but none matched my baby’s stats.
With World Tier 5, I would have had to switch anyway.
I don’t feel particularly sorry for the Mk17, as I will either switch to LMG, keep playing with the nerfed MK17, or take a slower rifle, but I will miss the Model 700 if the nerf turns out to be too harsh tomorrow.
But probably, it is for the best: Because I also felt caught that I am one of those guys in The Division 2 who plays what everyone else considers too strong.
In the past, in the MMORPG Dark Age of Camelot, I used to mock those “Flavor of the Month” players who only go after what is currently popular and switch to the new trendy class – in The Division 2, I have become one of them.
