# Ultimate Vex Trouble Build Guide

**Version**: Post-Patch (Includes Buffed Red Tree & Trouble Adjustments)
**Author**: ChatGPT (based on AbbyHour’s detailed build breakdown)
**Playstyle**: Hybrid DPS | Minion Focused | Kinetic Build | High Survivability
**Difficulty**: Intermediate
**Recommended For**: Mobbers, Solo Players, Tanky Hybrid DPS Enthusiasts

## 1. Build Overview

This Vex **Trouble Build** is designed to leverage the recent buffs to Vex’s **Red Tree ("Here Comes Trouble")**, with a heavy focus on **kinetic gun damage**, **lifesteal-based survivability**, and **utility from Trouble** (your minion).

There are **two main variants**:

* **Support Trouble (Recommended)**: Trouble marks enemies, boosts gun damage, and acts as a tank. This is the most stable, boss-viable version.
* **Damage Trouble Variant**: Trouble deals more direct damage via illusions, but suffers in bossing and survivability.

This guide focuses on the **Support Trouble** variant with options for hybridization.


## 2. Skill Trees & Augments

### Red Tree – *Here Comes Trouble* (Core Tree)

* **5/5 Enchantment**: Bonus kinetic damage (multiplicative)
* **3/3 Grave Sustenance**: Kill skill that restores action skill duration
* **3/3 Overprotective**: Kill skill granting Overshield on crit
* **5/5 Vorpal Fiends**: Critical hit damage (doubles in formula)
* **Capstone – Unsealed**: Trouble marks target → you deal +100% gun damage when active

#### Action Skill: Face Familiar

* **Effect**: Teleports Trouble, dealing AoE, becomes "Big Trouble"
* **Synergy**: Respawns Trouble if dead. Benefits from sustain duration with Mortal Terror.

#### Augments

* **Beast Mode**: Makes Trouble immune to damage during command skill
* **Optional**: Vorpal Fang or Hexus Nexus for crit chance (if leaning more into damage)


### Green Tree – *Kinetic Affinity & Lifesteal*

* **5/5 Leeching Attunement**: Lifesteal + reload speed (kinetic attuned)
* **5/5 Grave Implements**: Kill skill, +60% gun damage (up to 120% with stacks)
* **3/3 Grave Power**: Increases max stacks of kill skills
* **2/2 Channeling**: +10% action skill duration
* **5/5 Drink Full**: +Fire rate
* **4/5 Mortal Terror**: 4% chance to proc kill skills on crit


### Blue Tree (Optional – Not Core)

* Optional if pursuing illusions & more active Trouble damage, but not optimal for bossing.

---

### 🎯 Specializations

* **Best Defense**: Damage based on shield fullness
* **Riddle You**: Increases gun damage
* **CQC**: Melee damage → Fire rate bonus (applies via Trouble)
* **One Shot, One Kill**: Stores excess damage into next shot


## 3. Weapons & Gear

### Primary Mobbing Weapon:

* **BOD (COV mag + SMG alt-fire)** – Best-in-slot

  * Try to farm with **COV roll** for synergy with firmware
  * Hard to farm, but worth it

#### Other Strong Mobbing Options:

* **Madlad** (Kinetic) – Fun, but overheats too quickly with COV perk
* **Hot Slugger** – Reliable kinetic option
* **Wombo Combo / Plasma Coil (Shock)** – For shock-attunement procs


### Bossing Weapons:

* **Beam Tossers** – MVP vs. big hitboxes (Vault monsters, Victor, etc.)
* **Taser** – Shock gun for shocking attunement
* **Complex Root (Shock Sniper)** – Viable for sniper users
* **Backup Options**: BOD (still works), Madlad (fire-locked, be careful)


## 4. Elemental Affinities

Understanding elemental damage is **crucial** to maximizing DPS:

| Target Type    | Best Element | Bonus (Multiplicative) |
| -------------- | ------------ | ---------------------- |
| Shields        | Shock        | +75%                   |
| Armor          | Corrosive    | +75%                   |
| Flesh (Health) | Fire         | +75%                   |

> ❗ Using the **wrong element** results in only **50% effectiveness**.

### Kinetic Damage – Why It's Core:

* **Neutral** against all health bars (100%)
* No penalties or bonuses = **Consistent DPS**
* Synergizes with **Enchantment**, **Leeching Attunement**, and **Lifesteal loops**

### Secondary Elements:

* **Radiation** (up to +50% on shields)
* **Cryo** – Neutral-ish, decent utility



## 5. Rep Kits

### Recommended Mods:

| Use Case  | Rep Kit                      | Effect                                        |
| --------- | ---------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| Bossing   | **Order (Amp + Overshield)** | Two charges, instant overshield + amp burst   |
| Mobbing   | **Killspring**               | Heals you with orbs (doesn’t heal Trouble)    |
| Utility   | **Warp Paint**               | Fire rate + Movement speed                    |
| Burst DPS | **Amp + Enrage**             | Great burst at cost of increased damage taken |

> 💡 **Support Drone (Tediore)**: Heals you **and** Trouble – ideal if he keeps dying.


## 6. Enhancement & Firmware

### Enhancement Mod:

* **COV + Duct Tape**: 100% crit chance while overheating
* **Stats to Look For**:

  * Gun Damage
  * Magazine Size (Shotgun/Sniper Mag = works on BOD)
  * Shotgun/SMG Damage

> Bonus: Overheat = guaranteed crits → Procs kill skills (e.g. Grave Implements)


### Firmware:

* **3/3 Heating Up**: Reload speed + overheat shot cap + 25% gun damage
* **2/2 High Caliber**: +10% gun damage + projectile speed (boosts beam tossers)


## 7. Shield & Class Mod

### Shield: Amp Shields

* **Top Choice**: *Watts for Dinner* with Amp + Siphon

  * +25% bonus Shock (own bucket!)
* **Backup Options**:

  * *Sparky Shield*: AoE shock effect
  * *Super Soldier*: Fire rate & utility
  * Look for: Low shield drain %, high amp %, fast recharge


### Class Mod: **Teen Witch**

* **Drops from**: Radics
* **Stats to Look For**:

  * Kinetic Damage
  * Damage Dealt
  * Highest possible points in:

    * **Corporal**: Damage while Overshielded
    * **Conjunction**: Gun damage based on shield fullness

#### Passive Effect:

* At max health → lifesteal applies to shields
* At max shield → lifesteal applies to **overshield**
* **Synergizes perfectly** with lifesteal and amp damage for **infinite uptime**


## 8. Playstyle Guide

1. **Activate Face Familiar**: Trouble becomes "Big Trouble" and marks enemies
2. **Follow Trouble**: He marks targets → You get +100% damage
3. **Pop Rep Kits** (Order or Killspring):

   * **Amp for burst** (but makes you squishier)
   * **Killspring** for sustain
4. **Maintain Shock Attunement**:

   * Swap to shock gun to activate *Shocking Attunement*
   * Then return to kinetic weapon for full damage
5. **Crits = Kill Skills**:

   * Overheat COV weapons or use crit knife to **guarantee crits**
   *


Procs: Lifesteal, Overshield, Grave Implements


## 9. Bossing vs. Mobbing Tips

### Bossing:

* Use **Beam Tossers** or **BOD**
* Maintain uptime on kill skills
* Use **Order Rep Kit** for amp burst
* If Trouble dies: use action skill to respawn

### Mobbing:

* Use **Madlad** or **Hot Slugger**
* Keep critting → Infinite uptime
* Switch between kinetic & shock weapons to refresh attunements


## 10. Build Variants

### 1. **Support Trouble (Recommended)**

* Trouble marks enemies
* You deal amplified damage
* Better for bosses & general play

### 2. **Damage Trouble Variant**

* Trouble becomes main DPS via illusion damage
* Needs points in Blue Tree
* Suffers from:

  * No healing from Killspring
  * Trouble dies faster
  * Doesn’t work well on bosses


## 11. Summary

| Aspect        | Rating |
| ------------- | ------ |
| Bossing       | ★★★★☆  |
| Mobbing       | ★★★★★  |
| Survivability | ★★★★★  |
| Ease of Use   | ★★★☆☆  |
| Scaling       | ★★★★☆  |
| Fun Factor    | ★★★★★  |

> 🔥 With high uptime on lifesteal, powerful kill skill chaining, and one of the most satisfying Trouble-based synergies, this is **Vex's best hybrid build** post-patch.