I am heavy weapons guy, and this is my weapon! (Vanilla Soldier Typhoon build)

With the repeated nerfs to Devastator Mode, I no longer feel the N7 Destroyer is the best option for the Typhoon. So I decided to try it out on a bunch of different classes and I think I've found the combination that I like the most. Adrenaline Rush is the perfect answer to the Typhoon's main problem - will I be able to kill this thing before I run out of ammo? With Adrenaline Rush giving you an instant reload, you no longer have to worry about this, and you get a hefty 70% damage bonus as well. Go from full ammo to no ammo in one never-ending spray of death!

Build

This class is built around the fantastic synergy between the Typhoon's enormous mag size and the duration of Adrenaline Rush. Spec'd right, a full AR cycle is shorter than the time it takes to unload all 180 rounds with the Typhoon. So once it comes off cooldown, hit AR again to instantly refill and keep firing! You should still have rounds to spare every time AR is next available for use, which means you can chain if necessary, resulting in some nasty damage. To get the most bang for your buck, right hand advantage a boss, and don't let go of the trigger until whatever you're shooting at is dead. Wasting rounds isn't a concern when you have 700-odd of them and you never have to physically reload. This is the key - letting the mag run dry means you have to reload and spool up again, which wastes valuable time you could be shooting stuff with. Chaining Adrenaline Rushes means you only have to spool up once, and as long as you keep the trigger down you can get the most out of every other bullet. Activating AR doesn't interrupt anything so you can literally burn through your entire supply of ammo without ever letting go.

So essentially, we turn the Typhoon into a fully fledged machine gun. And that, my friends, is fucking awesome.

Shield Boost is invaluable for negating DoT effects so you'll want to max out Adrenaline Rush. Don't take duration at rank 5 or else your AR cycle will last too long and you won't be able to chain reloads. Frags are spec'd for mook killing power as on their own they're not overly useful against bosses, and you've got the gatling gun for that anyway. As for attachments on the Typhoon, extended mag is a must, and barrel with armour piercing ammo does the most damage.

And just as a final note, this is as much a shits 'n giggles build as it is deadly. Lately I've come to the conclusion that if I want this game to have any sort of longevity, I need to stop worrying about what's the optimal set-up and do something built around pure enjoyment. I bring this to you not because it's the best way to play vanilla soldier, but because it's fun to play. And you can't ask for more than that in a game. Not to say that it's worthless however; I have used the shit out of this class on Gold against every faction (except geth) and it deals with them all just fine. Don't worry, I would never post a build if it wasn't Gold-viable.

Comment/feedback etc. below.