Escort Set Suggestions¶
In escort, you need to use all your ability set slots.
Defense¶
Luckily, you only need one defense set. You're not dying during this round, so just adjust between games.
Abilities¶
- Quick firing gun
- Rapid reload firecrackers OR long lasting knives OR strong sprint boost
Your second ability slot should be filled depending on what your teammate is running, what map it is, your opponent's playstyle etc. For example, on a roofy map like Florence, knives might be preferable, whereas on a small, flat map like siena, sprint boost is great for spawn trapping. Generally, at least one player per team should be running firecrackers to deter the opponents from playing full stealth.
Perks¶
- Chase expert
- Wall runner OR resistance OR overall cooldowns
Chase expert is extremely important, since you use its visual indicator to locate players. Adjust the second slot according to your playstyle and map. Roofy maps with varying levels like Forli may necessitate wall runner. On Siena, wall runner is basically a waste.
Streaks¶
- 5 kills +250
- Reset cooldowns
Offense 1¶
This is usually your main set. Use it when you have both abilities up.
Abilities¶
- Slow acting poison
- Long lasting mute
Perks¶
- Overall cooldowns
- Silent hunt
Streaks¶
- 3 silent kills +300
- Reset cooldowns
Offense 2¶
Use this when your second slot is on cooldown, but your first slot is up.
Abilities¶
- Slow acting poison
- Rapid reload disguise
Perks¶
- Wall runner
- Overall cooldowns
Streaks¶
- 3 silent kills +300
- Reset cooldowns
Offense 3¶
Use this when your left slot or both slots are on cooldown.
Abilities¶
Any combination of: * Rapid reload morph * Rapid reload firecrackers * Rapid reload decoy * Rapid reload disguise
Put the higher cooldown ability in your second slot.
Perks¶
- Wall runner
- Overall cooldowns
Streaks¶
- 3 silent kills +300
- Reset cooldowns
Offense 4¶
Use this when there's one VIP left and the checkpoint's racking up too many points.
Abilities¶
- Strong smoke bomb
- Quick firing gun
Make sure to keep this set's gun on the opposite slot from poison in other sets. Remember that you can use smoke bomb during the gun kill animation, so you can easily catch out pursuers like this.
Perks¶
- Wall runner
- Overall cooldowns
Streaks¶
- 3 kills +100
- Reset cooldowns
Never stop innovating¶
Unlike the other modes, every ability is viable in escort. Some are better than others, but it can make sense to try out different things to catch your opponents off guard and develop your own playstyle. Here are some thoughts on every ability to help you come up with your own style:
Disguise¶
Disguise is useful for stealth and getting hiddens. It doesn't make sense on defense, but can be good on offense in a slow, stealth-focused meta. Its cooldown also adds to its versatility across different metas.
Sprint boost¶
While often considered a meme ability, sprint boost can be very useful in different situations. If you're expecting to do a lot of spawn trapping in a faster meta with less stealth, it can be great on defense. On offense, you can use it to rush kill during your first life (especially useful if you're on offense on the second round) or to escape from a bad spawn trap.
Smoke bomb¶
In other modes, smoke bomb is a staple, but in escort, it's one of the most niche abilities. Since it can't realy be used proactively, smoke bomb is mainly helpful for keeping yourself safe, meaning it's mostly useful when shooting VIPs on offense. On defense, it doesn't make much sense, since it's possible to kill players while in the gun animation.
Hidden gun¶
This is famously escort's main ability. Unless it gets nerfed into the ground, it's not worth removing. Due to its range, it's very useful on both defense and offense, where it's mostly used to clear a second VIP that's tough to kill.
Firecrackers¶
While a staple on defense due as an anti-stealth tool, firecrackers can also be used on offense due to their low cooldown and decent defensive effect. Firecrackers also reset guns due to the lock clearing, which can come in handy.
Morph¶
With the recent buffs to morph, it's a super useful tool on offense for stealth in its normal form, as well as for cooldowns in its rapid reload form. Morph can be used as a distraction, ability bait, or for a free kill if the other team isn't using any anti-stealth abilities.
Throwing knives¶
Another defense staple, knives are mostly useful in a faster meta, especially on maps with lots of time spent on roofs. They serve a similar purpose as gun, but on a lower cooldown. Since they don't guarantee a kill and reveal your rough position, they're fairly useless on offense.
Templar vision¶
While currently disabled, templar vision is a low range, high cooldown alternative to firecrackers, but without the defensive blind effect. It's considered fairly useless due to its range limitations and changing this has proven unpopular. There's no reason to bring it on offense.
Charge¶
Another unpopular ability, charge is mostly useful as a defensive alternative to mute, although it can be useful on maps like Venice to guarantee a kill without the risk of getting roofed. However, that limits the possible points a player can get, so gun is usually prefered, as it's more likely to succeed.
Mute¶
The best defensive ability in the game, mute can be used to get stuns or guarantee a kill at close proximity. This makes it extremely popular on offense, but its high cooldown makes it fairly useless on defense.
Poison¶
Poison is extremely powerful due to its lack of a kill animation and high score. This makes it the most popular ability on offense, used by everyone in every meta (so far). On defense, its high cooldown and long timer until the kill goes through renders it useless.