User:Elseweyr/Sandbox/Kasumi Goto/Combat (Mass Effect 2)

Weapon proficiencies

 * Heavy Pistols
 * Submachine Guns

Overview
Kasumi is the second DLC character for Mass Effect 2, a combat and tech specialist. Like Zaeed, she can be acquired at the beginning of the game, increasing her versatility. While she possesses the ability to use Heavy Pistols and Submachine Guns and can learn Overload, her two special abilities really set her apart and make her an extremely versatile addition to Shepard's team.
 * Specialty: Combat, Tech

The Shadow Strike ability is exclusive to Kasumi. Superficially similar to the Infiltrator's Tactical Cloak, Shadow Strike causes Kasumi to cloak and appear behind the target before delivering a sneak attack. She then re-cloaks and returns to her original position. Shadow Strike distinguishes Kasumi; it is extremely powerful (inflicting 300 damage points even at level 1), dealing double damage to any form of protection and incapacitating the target for a short while if it is unprotected or if the damage carries through to the enemy's health. During the brief period after attacking the target when Kasumi is uncloaked, she also draws away enemy fire. Furthermore, Kasumi's shields often regenerate while cloaked, making this a viable escape technique. Provided Kasumi is positioned properly and is not overwhelmed by enemy fire, she can be carefully deployed in order to thin out an enemy squad while Shepard and the other teammate provide fire support or use their Powers. Although Shadow Strike shares many of the same limitations as the Vanguard's Charge (such as being unable to reach "inaccessible" parts of the map), it shines on higher difficulties when used against Heavies or Engineers, who often take cover behind their back-up and lob rockets or Incinerations at you.

Kasumi's loyalty power is Flashbang Grenade, which inflicts minor damage and stuns enemies for a brief period of time. This ability is unusual both for its extremely large blast radius and its ability to hinder enemies protected by shields, barriers, and armor by overheating their weapons. As this is a loyalty power, Flashbang Grenade can be taught to Shepard as well, enabling both party members to severely hamper enemy troopers. As Shepard benefits from faster Power recharge times, a Shepard with Improved Flashbang Grenade can, along with Kasumi, keep an enemy force almost continually incapacitated.