Discover the Best Ajax Build Guide for The First Descendant and how to create a powerful character with Skills, modules, and weapons.
In The First Descendant, Ajax is the tank-class character, thanks to his survivability and group utility. He is one of the three characters you can choose from to begin the game with. His abilities revolve around keeping enemies at bay and providing cover for your allies. As a result, players will only want to run Ajax if they desire the utility and tank-style role for content. Otherwise, they will suffer from lackluster damage and engagement potential.
Ajax Build Guide for The First Descendant
Ajax gains maximum utility out of providing barriers and crown control stunning. The First Descendant has few options for built-in survivability with few sources of self-healing and barriers. However, Ajax provides two different shields that can be enhanced to reflect damage as well. Also, Ajax has great crown control skills dealing minimal damage but stunning, knocking back, or disrupting enemies’ movement. All of this combines into a well-rounded tank and utility character specifically for those who enjoy this play style.
| Ajax Build Pro | Ajax Build Cons |
|---|---|
| High Survivability | Module Dependent |
| Useful Utility and Crowd Control | Lower Damage Output |
| Barrier | Not the Best at Tanking or DPS |
Features and Mechanics for Ajax Build Guide in The First Descendant
The following list presents all the essential Ajax Build Guide Features and Mechanics for the First Descendant:
- Best Modules: Shield Conversion, Shield Expansion, Tech Specialist
- Best Reactor Stats: Skill Power and Sub Attack Power
- Best Weapon: Python Submachine Gun
- Best Weapon Mods: Weak Point Control, Weapon Point Sight, Lethal Finish
- Best External Component: Max Shields
- Skills
- Orbit Barrier
- Void Walk
- Expulsion
- Hypercube
- Event Horizon (Passive)
- Playstyle: Tank/Crown Control
- How to Unlock: Starter character or research
- Story: “For it was only his body that was freed; his mission to protect his teammates was yet to be over.”
How to Play Ajax in The First Descendant
Ajax is all about providing shields and locking down enemies. You have to play Ajax as a very aggressive tank, getting in the faces of your enemies and keeping them engaged with you so your allies can clear them out. The key to perfecting his kit is to move around the battlefield, providing cover for your allies while keeping aggression on you.
Enhanced Skills: Ajax has two variations of skills: the base version and the enhanced version. You need to build up Void Energy by using your normal kills. Once the Void Energy is full, your skills become enhanced and have additional effects. For example, both of your shield skills gain the ability to reflect damage. This requires some skills to manage your Void Energy, however, once mastered you truly unlock the power of Ajax.
Shields: Ajax’s primary power is his ability to put down shields and barriers around the combat zone. These provide yourself and allies cover while being enhanced, allowing them to reflect damage at the attackers. Ajax has access to two different shields, his basic skill Orbit Barrier is like a traditional shield. It is a rectangular shield wall that blocks any damage from enemies on the other side. Also, his Hypercube shield is a massive dome that allows allies to move in and out of it for safety.
Ajax Crowd Control and Damage
Crown Control: Unlike other characters, Ajax focuses on controlling and restricting enemies’ movements rather than taking them out at once. As content gets harder and enemies have more health, enemies will not die so fast. This allows his usage to be significantly more potent and allows the team to have less damage pressure on them. Ajax can stun and knock back enemies, providing much-needed crown control.
Damage: As a support-based crowd-controlling tank, your damage is not a priority. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t be useful with your weapons and skills damage. Firstly, there are multiple debuffs in the game, and there are various weapons that can be used to apply them. So, prioritize weapons that can increase your team’s effectiveness. Lastly, your skills are not entirely without damage. They aren’t going to clear out entire hordes of enemies but should be used whenever possible to help out your teammates.
How to unlock Ajax in The First Descendant
To unlock Ajax in The First Descendant, choose him as your starting character, purchase him from the store, or research him. Moreover, if you choose another character at the start of the game, you can craft Ajax later on to gain access to the character. Finally, to craft Ajax, you will need:
- Ajax Enhanced Cells
- Silicon x430
- Hellion x303
- Artificial Biometal x303f
- Ajax Enhanced Cell Blueprint
- 200,000 Gold
- Ajax Stabilizer
- Hardener x386
- Ceramic Composite x408
- Compound Carbon Activator x29f
- Ajax Stabilizer Blueprint x1
- 200,000 Gold
- Ajax Spiral Catalyst
- Compound Coating Material x239
- Shape Memory Alloy x462
- Positive Ion Particle x38
- Ajax Spiral Catalyst Blueprint x1
- Ajax Code
Like all other characters, you must speak to Anais in the Albion Mountains area to craft Ajax. She will grant you access to the Research Institute, where you can choose to craft additional descendant characters. There is also an ultimate Ajax character unlock, but it will require additional farming because it is an advanced character.
Ajax Skills
One of the most important aspects of Ajax’s skills is building up his passive Void Energy to enhance your skills. You can do this by simply using your normal skills until your energy is maxed. This provides your skills additional effects and utility while they are in an enhanced state. Ajax is primarily based around his shield usage so picking opportune times to use them is incredibly important. Below are the skills for Ajax’s character:
All characters in The First Descendant have one passive skill and four active skills.
- Orbit Barrier: Creates a shield in front of Ajax. Durability increases proportionally to Ajax’s HP and DEF. If enhanced, reflects damage proportional to DEF to enemies hitting the barrier
- Void Walk: Leaps into the air and lands on the ground to strike nearby enemies, stunning them. If enhanced, Max Shield increases for a certain period of time
- Expulsion: Strikes nearby enemies, knocking them back. If enhanced, the knockback range and Max Shield are increased
- Hypercube: Creates a dome-shaped shield. Durability increases proportionally to Ajax’s HP and DEF. If enhanced, reflects damage proportional to DEF to enemies hitting the barrier
- Event Horizon (Passive): Acquires Void Energy after using skills. When the Void Energy reaches its maximum amount, it enhances skills and grants additional effects.
Orbit Barrier
Orbit Barrier Features for Ajax in The First Descendant:
- Non-Attribute: Dimension
- Description: Creates a Barrier in front. The Barrier’s stats are affected by Ajax’s HP and DEF. When hit by an enemy, the barrier deals Reflection Damage to the DMG received and Ajax’s DEF to the attacking enemy. Using the skill while Void Energy is at maximum increases Reflection Damage even more. After creating the Barrier, you gain Void Energy.
- Cooldown: 15 seconds
- MP Cost: 30
- HP: Caster’s HP 80%
- Effect Range: 1.7m x 2.9m
- DEF: Caster’s DEF 100%
- Duration: 10 Seconds
- Reflection Damage: DEF x 100%
- Enhanced Reflection Damage: DEF x 117%
- Void Energy Gain: Max Void Energy x 35%
How to use Orbit Barrier: Like many shield skills, you want to use it whenever you encounter large groups of enemies or need to provide reliable cover for you and your allies. You can increase the shield’s effectiveness by using it while at full Void Energy. With a low cooldown but a long duration, this skill will have a high uptime so don’t try to save it for the opportune time. Use it as needed and whenever you need cover and safety.
Void Walk
Void Walk Features for Ajax in The First Descendant:
- Non-Attribute: Tech
- Description: Jumps forward then deals damage on landing, inflicting Stun. When using the skill whole Void Energy is at maximum, and also increases own Max Shield. When the skill ends, acquires Void Energy.
- Cooldown: 20 seconds
- MP Cost: 35
- Damage: Skill Power x 560.3%
- Damage Range: 6m radius
- Stun Duration: 3 seconds
- Enhanced Leap Duration: 10 seconds
- Enhanced Leap Shield Increase Amount: Max Shield x 53%
- Void Energy Gain: Max Void Energy x 35%
How to use Void Walk: You should utilize Void Walk as your primary crowd control skills. This will stun enemies and keep them locked down to allow for better survivability. Using this on a group of low-health enemies will keep them together and allow your damage-dealing allies to take them out rapidly. You can utilize this skill as an area of effect damage source or as a defensive stun.
Expulsion
Expulsion Features for Ajax in The First Descendant:
- Non-Attribute: Tech
- Description: Inflicts damage and Knockback on nearby enemies. When Void Energy is at maximum, increases base damage and range. When the skill ends, gains Void Energy.
- Cooldown: 15 seconds
- MP Cost: 30
- Damage: Skill Power x 1,212.9%
- Damage Range: 4m Radius
- Enhanced Damage: Skill Power x 1,322.5%
- Enhanced Range: 6m radius
- Max Expandable Range: 300%
- Void Energy Gain: Max Void Energy x 35%
How to use Expulsion: This skill is the highest damage skill in Ajax’s kit while providing additional utility for knocking enemies back. This can be great for taking our enemies or keeping them off of you and your allies when someone is low. Pair this with a follow-up stun, and you will have a potent crown control combo that can knock back enemies and stun them.
Hypercube
Hypercube Features for Ajax in The First Descendant:
- Non-Attribute: Dimension
- Description: Creates a dome-shaped barrier. The Barrier’s stats are based on Ajax’s HP and DEF. When Void Energy is at maximum, grants Barrier Enhancement to all allies in range, including self. Barrier Enhancement increases Firearm ATK. When the skill ends, acquires Void Energy.
- Cooldown: 35 seconds
- MP Cost: 50
- HP: Caster’s HP 50%
- DEF: Caster’s DEF 100%
- Duration: 10 seconds
- Effect Range: 4m radius
- Enhanced Barrier Firearm ATK Increase: 10%
- Enhanced Barrier Explosive ATK Increase: 20%
- Void Energy Gain: Max Void Energy x 35%
How to use Hypercube: Hypercude is one of the best skills in the kit, which is why it can have such a long cooldown. Be sure to use this when it is enhanced for team damage buffs and utility. This is great for boss damage phases or when dealing with other large health targets. It provides you and your allies some additional survivability and security, and the damage boost is free for simply using it while enhanced.
Event Horizon (Passive)
Event Horizon Features for Ajax in The First Descendant:
- Description: When using skills, you acquire Void Energy. Depending on the amount of Void Energy owned, you gain Singularity per stage. Singularity decreases cooldowns, and the effect is stronger at each stage. When Void Energy is at maximum, enhances the skills and grants additional effects. When using the enhanced skills, Void Energy cannot be acquired. When out of combat for 10 seconds, all Void Energy is consumed.
- Singularity Level 1:
- Void Energy: At least 30%
- Effect: 5% Cooldown Decrease
- Singularity Level 2:
- Void Energy: At least 60%
- Effect: 10% Cooldown Decrease
- Singularity Level 3:
- Void Energy: 100%
- Effect: 20% Cooldown Decrease
How to use Event Horizon: Your goal should be to use your skills and keep up your singularity levels to maximize the benefits of your skills. It’s important to ensure your energy is at its highest, especially before using your Hypercube skills. This ensures your protective dome gives you and your fireteam a free damage boost. Unlike other passives, Event Horizon doesn’t require some length combo or skill management to use effectively. Simply casting your skills will build up your levels, decreasing your cooldowns and increasing your skill’s effectiveness.
Descendant Modules for Ajax Build
Skill Expansion, Increased HP, and Tech Specialist are the best modules (mods) for the Ajax build guide in the First Descendant as they provide additional health, size, and effect of your abilities. For example, Skill Expansion increases the range of your abilities, allowing you to stun enemies in a larger radius and have larger shields. Also, Increased HP not only gives the passive bonus of extra health to reduce our chances of getting one shot but the Hypercube and Obit Barrier shields health scales off your health, increasing how much damage they can block. Lastly, Tech Specialist boosts the power of our Void Walk and Expulsion skills.
In The First Descendant, modules are essential components that enhance and customize your character’s abilities, stats, and overall performance. Modules can be acquired through questing, missions, loot drops, and vendor items. Moreover, you have limited resources to slot mods; some slots may be empty depending on your chosen setup.
Ajax Best Modules for Leveling
Below is a list of the best leveling mods for Ajax Build in the First Descendant:
- Increased DEF – Increases your DEF significantly
- Increased HP – Considerably increases your HP
- Skill Expansion – Improves your Skill Effect Ranges
- Increased Shield – Boosts your Max Shield
- Dual Claw – Increases Module Capacity, and changes your Sub Attack to a dual claw attack.
- Tech Specialist – Boosts the power of Tech Skills
- Flexi Slot – You can put anything you like here, for example, if you’re expecting to deal with a lot of fire damage then you could use something like Fire Resist Maximization.
| Slot | Module | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Skill Module) | Empty | N/A |
| 2 | Increased DEF | Standard |
| 3 | Shield Conversion (MP) | N/A |
| 4 | Increased HP | Standard |
| 5 | Skill Expansion | Standard |
| 6 | Increased Shield | Standard |
| 7 (Sub Module) | Dual Claw | Standard |
| 8 | Empty | N/A |
| 9 | Empty | N/A |
| 10 | Tech Specialist | Standard |
| 11 | Flexi Slot | N/A |
| 12 | Empty | N/A |
Ajax Best Modules
Below is a list of the best mods for Ajax Build in the First Descendant:
- Matrix Recomputation – Modifies Expulsion to cast a buff that helps allies to survive.
- Increased DEF – Increases your DEF significantly
- Shield Conversion (MP) – Increases your Max MP, slightly reduces your Max Shield
- Increased HP – Considerably increases your HP
- Skill Expansion – Improves your Skill Effect Ranges
- Increased Shield – Boosts your Max Shield
- Dual Claw – Increases Module Capacity, and changes your Sub Attack to a dual claw attack.
- Skill Range Mastery – Increases Skill Critical Hit Damage, with a slight increase to Skill Effect Range.
- DEF Accelerant – Improves Skill Duration and DEF
- Tech Specialist – Boosts the power of Tech Skills
- Flexi Slot – Use this for mods specific in survivability on the content you are facing. Especially targeted towards whatever damage type you are going to be taking the most damage from.
| Slot | Module | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Skill Module) | Matrix Recomputation | Transcendent |
| 2 | Increased DEF | Standard |
| 3 | Shield Conversion (MP) | Rare |
| 4 | Increased HP | Standard |
| 5 | Skill Expansion | Standard |
| 6 | Increased Shield | Standard |
| 7 (Sub Module) | Dual Claw | Standard |
| 8 | Skill Range Mastery | Rare |
| 9 | DEF Accelerant | Rare |
| 10 | Tech Specialist | Standard |
| 11 | Flexi Slot | N/A |
| 12 | Empty | N/A |
Best Reactor Stats for Ajax in The First Descendant
The best reactors for an Ajax build give you a boost in Skill Power and Sub Attack Power. Additionally, you want to prioritize reactors that have additional bonuses for Tech and Non-Attribute skill power boost ratios to buff the effectiveness of our skills.
In The First Descendant, reactors are powerful enhancements significantly impacting a character’s abilities, stats, and overall performance. They function as core components that provide substantial boosts and unique effects, enabling players to tailor their characters to specific playstyles and strategies.
Weapons for Ajax Build
The best weapons for the Ajax Build are the Secret Garden Tactical Rifle and the Albion Cavalry Gun Machine Gun. Secret Garden is a tactical rifle so it has a lower rifle rate than other full-auto weapons. However, its Unique perk, Gardener, gives the weapon enhanced stats by simply using our skills. Also, the Albion Cavalry Machine Gun is incredibly potent for stunning enemies and keeping them stunned. We can activate its perk with our Void Walk ability that stuns enemies to easily keep up the unique perk.
The following list presents the best weapon choices for Ajax Build:
- Secret Garden – Tactical Rifle
- Albion Cavalry Gun – Machine Gun
Secret Garden Tactical Rifle
Secret Garden features in the First Descendant:
- Firearm ATK: 23
- Fire Rate: 480
- Reload Speed: 1.6 seconds
- Effective Range: 32 meters
- Gardener: After using a Dimension skill, recover resources. Also, using a Tech skill grants Pest control increasing damage, fire rate, and skill power.
The Secret Garden Tactical Rifle gives back resources and improves the weapon by simply using your skills. This allows a great gun that fits specifically within our build since we use Tech and Dimension skills.
Albion Cavalry Gun Machine Gun
Albion Cavalry Gun features in the First Descendant:
- Firearm ATK: 30
- Fire Rate: 451
- Reload Speed: 2.5 seconds
- Effective Range: 45 meters
- Cavalry: After hitting a stunned enemy, increase Firearm ATK. Hitting a Critical Hit on a stunned enemy inflicts stun.
With the Cavalry unique perk on the Albion Cavalry Gun and our Void Walk skill, we can keep up damage and continually stun enemies. This can be strong by locking down large health enemies that take a little longer to eliminate but avoid them continuing to deal damage.
External Component
Unlike other parts of our build, you cannot enhance External Components. These are random (RNG) based drops only when you are at max level. Therefore, they are the finishing touches on your build. Prioritize the following stats for External Components in the Ajax Build Guide for the First Descendant:
- Max Shields
- Max HP
- HP Recovery
- DEF
Ajax Story in the First Descendant
Ajax was a Descendant who left active duty to fulfill his longtime desire to become a professor at the Albion Military Academy. But on the first day at the job, he regretted his decision. This was because a voice recording was forwarded to him, containing an urgent request for assistance from Aisha, his former comrade-in-arms. The mission that Aisha was deployed to was a reconnaissance-in-force deep into the Void. Ajax himself would have been sent on that mission if he hadn’t retired.
Eventually, Ajax donned the Raley MK.5 Void Energy Battlesuit, an exclusive equipment for Void exploration that was still a work in progress at the time, and set out to find Aisha. Since ten squads of Descendants on active duty couldn’t have stopped him anyway, taking out the equipment and launching into the Void was an easy task.
Ajax Story Continued
But finding Aisha’s squad in the depth of the Void was a difficult mission even for this powerful Descendant. To make matters worse, the suit that should have shielded him from the Void’s environment, malfunctioned, absorbing Void Energy. This caused Ajax, who was barely holding on in continuing the search, to collapse in the end.
When he about to give up on everything, a surprise came. Aisha’s form emerged from the Void storm and enveloped Ajax, while simultaneously triggering the return protocol. In an instant, Ajax dropped down to the center of the Descendant’s zone, and everyone acted as if they saw a ghost. As it turned out, what seemed like a few days spent in the depths of the Void turned out to be ten years gone by in Ingris.
When the situation settled down, Alpha visited Ajax and tore up his casualty list, consoling him. He told Ajax that since he was now free of death and the Void, he has prepared documents for him to return to teaching. But Ajax ripped up the papers Alpha handed him and declared his desire to return to the Descendant Corps. For it was only his body that was freed; his mission to protect his teammates was yet to be over.
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