Leveling priorities
The native Control Rod uses two close strikes at 2 m and a 4 m finisher trace. Use the rod through the edge of a pack, then place Needle on clear ground for ranged pressure while you kite. Do not start the second pack with all three drones committed.
Needle’s cooldown is 8 seconds. Screen, Sweep and Recall use 12, 10 and 9 seconds. An unavailable drone cannot take a second assignment, and destroyed drones rebuild in six seconds. Start with a Needle cast, add Sweep when the six-metre path is clear, and keep Screen for a position you can hold.
Cooldown and resource timing
Screen reduces incoming damage to the Shepherd by 15% while you stay within 4 m of its origin, for up to three seconds. Place it at the point where you intend to take the next exchange. Recall early to clear an assignment whose targets already moved, or to return drones before you cross the next doorway.
Spend the earned PvE meter on Unified Array when living drones can stay active for the next 12 seconds. During the window, surviving drones take 20% less damage and Needle shots gain a 1.2× multiplier. Save a safe position and start fresh allocations as needed inside that window.
Hardware, firmware and counters
Use four Heliograph pieces for attack and defense, plus two Cryo Warden pieces for more Integrity. Keep the highest-impact Embedded hardware upgrades. Chain Reaction adds fan-blades to Ghostrunner’s Shadowstep, so do not treat it as a native Needle upgrade.
When a guardian turns a directional shield, reposition the Shepherd and set up the next drone on the clear side. Pull mobile enemies through a valid Sweep path instead of committing it through an obstacle. Check the Bag before choosing descent or extraction.