Aliens: Fireteam Elite Guide | Gunner Class Build for Extreme and Insane Difficulty

A guide on how to dominate using the Gunner class in Aliens: Fireteam Elite.

Game Guide by Groot on Aug 11, 2025

The Gunner class serves as the team's sustained damage dealer and crowd control specialist in Extreme and Insane difficulties. Your role centers around maintaining consistent firepower through Overclock while providing tactical support through grenades and suppression.

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This guide covers the perk selections, build variations, and tactical approaches you need to master Gunner's capabilities in the harshest combat scenarios.

Core Perks

Quickload Interlink increases your teammate's damage output, too. Thermal Venting provides 25% higher rate of fire during Overclock. Focus Fire gives 10% more damage. Suppressing Fire slows your target by 25%.

Targets Acquired is the only recharge speed perk you need. Mobility synergizes with Targets Acquired for more frequent cooldown reduction.

Disorienting Blast knocks down targets. Mini-Grenades knock down targets 3 times more frequently. Down & Out increases burst damage to targets after you knock them down.

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Optional Perks

For maximum shotgun burst damage for killing high-threat targets after knocking them down with a grenade or activating Overclock, use Tech CQW Training for 15% accuracy and reload, and Gunner CQW Mastery for 15% accuracy and rate of fire.

You could also use two 20% recharge speed perks for the grenade.

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Gameplay Tips

Keep the stacks on your Stay On Target passive ability to the max as much as possible for more recharge speed. When there are more than 3 enemies nearby, when you reload, throw a grenade first, then reload.

When Drones or elites show up, wait till they get closer before using grenades and activating Overclock. Make sure they are in range for your shotgun to do optimal burst damage.

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Mutants getting too close for comfort warrants a grenade. Use a grenade to save grappled teammates. Use Overclock when your teammate is about to get overwhelmed by multiple Mutants.

Memorize when elite targets spawn in each map and make sure your Overclock is ready when they appear. Use a grenade to probe the blind spots where Crawlers could be hiding. Hold a grenade in your hand when you peek into those spots.

Also, check our other Aliens: Fireteam Elite guides below: