In The Division, the exotic LMG Big Alejandro has been in the game since update 1.8. Is it worth it?
On the public test servers for update 1.8, Big Alejandro made a big impression: It was a new LMG that blazed through enemies with an extremely high rate of fire and solid impact. Massive reacted and nerfed the gun before it hit the live servers. Is Big Alejandro still recommendable?
Big Alejandro – What the Exotic can do
You obtain Big Alejandro randomly from all sources that can drop Exotics, such as exotic containers or in the Underground. So, you need luck – there is no specific location or quest to guarantee getting the LMG.
Big Alejandro is an exotic LMG. It has the highest rate of fire of all weapons in The Division at 1000 RPM, but it also has the lowest damage per bullet of all other LMGs. However, since the rate of fire is almost twice that of the other LMGs, Big Alejandro has enormous damage potential per magazine.
Here are the stats of Big Alejandro:
- The magazine holds 55 rounds
- The reload time is a hefty 5.5 seconds.
- Big Alejandro can only shoot fully automatic.
The gun has two random talents as well as the exotic talent:
- Cover Shooter: Each bullet fired from cover increases weapon damage by 0.5% up to a maximum of 50%. The bonus lasts for 10 seconds. A kill with this weapon from cover resets the duration of the effect. The bonus damage expires once you reload, switch weapons, or leave combat.
To benefit from the talent, you need cover where you can stay for a while. First, extend the magazine significantly over 100 rounds, then kill enemies to keep the talent bonus active, dealing enormous damage.
Is Big Alejandro worth it in PvE and PvP?
Big Alejandro is no longer as overpowering as it was on the PTS, but it is still worth bringing this weapon into battle.
The initial recoil is quite massive, so you will miss some shots at greater distances. However, the weapon becomes easy to control when you are in continuous fire. Unfortunately, there’s no underbarrel mod available to increase stability.
Due to the “Cover Shooter” talent, the weapon benefits from staying in cover for longer periods. Therefore, Big Alejandro really unfolds its full potential in PvE, where you can barricade yourself and continuously shoot at the approaching enemy masses. This makes Big Alejandro a recommendable weapon in PvE.
In PvP, however, the fights usually occur without cover and at close range. Here too, Big Alejandro can shine as you can pump enemies full of bullets at close range. The damage output is enormous due to the high rate of fire. The exotic talent rarely comes into play in PvP, which is why you might prefer other weapons here.
For a build centered around Big Alejandro, you should focus on an extended magazine and stability. Use the secret set pieces from Lone Wolf, Destroyer, or Predator’s Mark, increase LMG damage on the gloves, and make sure to boost the damage output of the LMG.
All in all: Yes, Big Alejandro is a strong weapon that you can have a lot of fun with, especially in PvE. However, there are more effective alternatives. The MG5 (in PvP) and the Mk249 (in PvE) are strong LMG alternatives, and nothing beats the M4 assault rifle in update 1.8.
Do you already own Big Alejandro? What do you think of the LMG?
