Type97

★★★★★

Type97

Self-buff RoF​

Buffs SMG
Evasion +18%
Rate of Fire +10%

HP	58 → 116x5 (580)
DMG	19 → 54
ACC	6 → 51
EVA	6 → 46
RoF	48 → 72
Armor	-
Clip	-
Crit	20%
Speed	10
Recommended​

	Initial CD: 2s
	CD: 16s
Assault Focus T: Increase self rate of fire by 50% for 15s.

Pros

• Very low initial CD with incredible skill uptime

Cons

• Falls out of meta due to the prevalence of armors and the existence of new high-performing ARs

Analysis

One of the two ARs with the shortest initial skill CD, the other one being her sister, Type95^AR.

Unlike Type95^AR, Type97^AR has a RoF self-buff instead of FP self-buff, bringing her to 108 RoF (only 1 frame away from cap) which aids her role of clearing out enemies quickly with early skill activation. Both Type97^AR and Type95^AR achieve very similar DPS, but against non-armored, having a RoF self-buff allows the former to avoid overkilling as well as better target switching. The opposite is also true however, as armored would diminish her effectiveness whereas her sister still has a better fighting chance. Her tile buff follows a more traditional placement, allowing her to be placed in 1.

While there is nothing wrong with Type97^AR for the current time being, she has a rather bleak future. Traditional self-buffers show their limit due to their lack of unique mechanics, and Type97^AR is among those who is hit the hardest. The AR pool becomes bloated and there is not a whole lot of justification in raising Type97^AR over different ARs like Zas M21^AR, who excels at early wave-clearing with her fast nade, or Gr G11^AR, who has great team synergy alongside massive DPS potential. She is essentially an overpriced ST AR-15^AR, without any future MOD to back her up.

Like her sister, Type97^AR is not bad, but the standard for AR has risen high enough that your cores are better spent elsewhere. She is optional, but is Recommended if you have her special equipment.