For strategems I just unlocked the 350KG high explosive orbital barrage for the purpose of blowing up outposts but it seems very inprecise. The shells scatter over a wide area and often don't hit what i was aiming for, instead vaporising a teammate standing 20 metres away from the beacon. I can't unlock the 500KG bomb drop yet so what other strikes are good for outposts? Ones that will take a few fabricators and bugholes with them.
In my (limited) experience, the 120/380 Orbitals are mostly a "blow your team up" button unless you've a) spent enough time to figure out how large their coverage radii are, and b) have a well-coordinated team who also knows where the "get blown up" zone is and to stay well clear.
If you don't have the 500KG Eagle bomb, the regular Eagle Airstrike works just as well. The area is a little smaller, but you get 2 uses before it needs to be rearmed - it's been my go-to for popping bot outposts while I'm away from the rest of the team. One thing to be aware of with the Eagle strikes is if the targeting is parallel or perpendicular, relative to your position when you throw the beacon. The Cluster Bomb and Airstrike are perpendicular, so it might be worth it to warn your team when you toss those in a pitched gunfight, and if you see one of your own team hurl one near you you'll need to know which way to run and not get flattened.
The Grenade Launcher and Autocannon can also be used to take out bug holes easily, if you have them. They can also blow up fabricators, but you have to aim
just so for the explosion to get into the vents properly. I've done it with the AC, but it took about half of a mag in the process.
I've really taken to using SMG primarys for fighting bugs. The ability to shoot backwards as you run is very useful, you can alternate between sprinting away and turning to fire when your stamina depletes, which will keep them off your ass long enough for it to recharge. The starting SMG fires too fast for my liking, burns through ammo really quickly. I find the 2nd SMG to be much better (it's called the defender or something like that, unlocked on war bonds page 3). It has a slower rate of fire but is pretty accurate even at mid range when crouched.
The Breaker shotgun is
stupid powerful right now. 12 round mag, fairly tight spread, and is useful at longer ranges than tickling distance. Personally, I'm having a hard time using other guns because they just feel lacking in comparison.
Scythe is fun, but I don't feel like it's strong enough to be worth bringing for now. Democracy save us if they ever put the Trident back in from the first game - a damned
laser shotgun responsible for a significant amount of accidental teamkills.
The basic Liberator does alright, and you can use it for longer-range engagements if you set its scope to 75m and either flip to burst/semi or are just careful on the trigger. The Liberator Penetrator doesn't seem like it does a much better job in spite of having medium armor pen. Hell, if I feel like I need a rapid fire gun, I'll just take the Stalwart stratagem - I prefer the mobility and running reload over the base machine gun.
I'm really starting to come around to using the E/MG-101 HMG Emplacement when fighting the bots. Just have to find a decent hill/towards a choke point and it really tears up everything short of a titan/tank. The sheer glee from your characters after firing it for a bit is also great.
Hearing Yuri Lowenthal
lose his shit is oddly satisfying, regardless of game. He really sells the "barely-hinged psychopath" tone.