The Bazaar BATTLES WITH BUST #695: Rapid Injection System Deep Dive
Welcome to another action-packed episode of BATTLES WITH BUST! In this 695th installment, BUST takes on the green powerhouse Mak in The Bazaar, focusing on one of the most overtuned and exciting mechanics available this season: the Rapid Injection System. If you’re keen to master poison builds and squeeze the most from Mak’s new expansion, you’re in the right place.
The Power of the Rapid Injection System
This episode is a deep dive into why the Rapid Injection System is not only strong, but a true game-changer for Mak in the current meta. The system’s core effect—poisoning both you and your opponent whenever an adjacent item is used—ties perfectly into the critical mass playstyle of Mak’s weapon builds. Combine this with items like spider maces, barbed claws, and venomous dose, and you have a relentless engine that ramps up both in damage and sustain.
Strategies for the Early Game
BUST kicks off the run prioritizing gold tier skills with a heavy preference for weapon-based Mak builds. The goal is to win early rounds convincingly and reach the ever-elusive 10 wins before late-game titans like Pig and Duelist outscale your toolset. The key is exploiting high-tempo starts: skills like Left-Handed and Right-Handed multiply the effect of every small weapon, making early fights nearly effortless. Leveraging Mak’s obsidian shard—especially with its life steal and rapid cooldown—is another pillar of this approach.
Perfecting the Poison Engine
The main engine revolves around securing Rapid Injection System early—its synergy with self-poison activators is hard to match. When paired with multiple spider maces (preferably enchanted with bonuses like heavy, toxic, or fiery), each activation poisons both players and rapidly stacks up your sustain through skills like Vital Renewal or adrenal converter. Smart positioning, such as placing spider maces adjacent to the injector and using fast activators like the Uzi, ensures your engine fires on all cylinders from the start of every fight.
Expanding and Adapting Your Build
As BUST progresses, he emphasizes adapting to what the shop and RNG offer. Items like magic carpet and letter opener serve well early, but you want to transition into pure poison synergy mid-game. Venomous Dose and barbed claws unlock higher multicasting rates, and every item ties into the self-poison strategy. Supporting items for sustain (like infused bracers or mortar and pestle) round out the build to withstand high poison outputs and aggressive foes.
Scaling Into Late Game: The Challenges
The build’s zenith comes when you can combine rapid activators (Uzi on Venom), triple maces, and consistent poison sources like the Rapid Injection System and test subject alpha. However, scaling remains the main challenge—finding powerful items like staff of the moose (to convert regen into weapon damage) can push your build into contention for the elusive 10-win streak. Failing to find late-game scaling makes it tough to compete against the top-tier, high-scaling decks.
Key Takeaways from BUST
- Start Aggressively: Weapon skills and economic skills let you win early rounds, creating positive momentum and gold flow.
- Adapt to What’s Offered: Don’t get tunnel vision. Take what the shop offers, and pivot to whatever keeps your poison engines running.
- Sustain Wins: Self-poison is only as good as your ability to out-heal it. Cards like Vital Renewal are critical, as is stacking regen and lifesteal where possible.
- Scaling is King: Early wins get you to 7; scaling poison/damage is required for 10. Search for big-ticket items like staff of the moose or runic potions in the late game.
- Build Positioning Matters: Place rapid activators and poison triggers adjacent to maximize engine speed and synergy.
Final Thoughts and BUST’s Insights
BUST’s run through BATTLES WITH BUST #695 is a masterclass in weapon-heavy Mak play and the new breed of poison synergy flooding The Bazaar. The power of Rapid Injection System is its ability to create explosive turns and overwhelming sustain if you build around it correctly. While the late game scales harder than ever, especially versus Pig or top Duelists, a well-piloted injection system build is your ticket to consistent 7+ win runs—and, with the right pickups, has a strong shot at 10!
Don’t forget to check out the full BATTLES WITH BUST #695 episode above for a detailed walkthrough, in-depth item synergies, and BUST’s signature commentary packed with humor and tactical insight. Subscribe to follow along for more Bazaar breakdowns and strategy guides!