Theorylytics

Mallet

Used by Octavia

Ability1
Energy25

Mallet

Rhythmically beats damage into nearby enemies and draws their fire. Damage inflicted on the Mallet increases its lethality.

Introduced in Update 20.0 (2017-03-24)

Ability stats

Strength
  • See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
Duration
  • See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
Range
  • See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
Misc
  • Rhythmically beats damage into nearby enemies and draws their fire.

Info

  • Mallet is Octavia’s ability 1.
  • Rhythmically beats damage into nearby enemies and draws their fire.
  • Use it with the rest of the kit — especially Resonator, Metronome — instead of casting it in isolation.
  • Ability Strength, Duration, Range, and Efficiency each matter differently; check Mod Scaling below before dumping all four.

Augment

9

Partitioned Mallet

Mallet Augment: Create an additional Mallet with 20% reduced range.

Octavia
Open augment →
Partitioned Mallet

Mallet Augment: Create an additional Mallet with 20% reduced range.

Max rank drain ~9; see rank table on the augment page.

Open full augment page →

Cast Changes

  1. Modifies Mallet with: Mallet Augment: Create an additional Mallet with 20% reduced range.
  2. Rank up the augment to unlock the full effect values.
  3. Costs a mod slot (and capacity) — only equip it when the change matters for your loop.

Worth the Slot?

  1. Worth it when the augment’s change is central to how you play Octavia.
  2. Skip it if the base Mallet already does what you need and you’d rather keep the slot for survivability or strength.

Tips & Tricks

  • Read the battlefield first — cast Mallet when it actually solves the room, not on cooldown habit.
  • Pair Mallet with movement and energy economy so you’re not stranded after a big spend.
  • On Steel Path, confirm whether Mallet still carries without strip, Viral, or a squad buff.
  • If you never press 1, it’s the first Helminth candidate on Octavia.

Ability dossier · Mallet

Verified 2026-07-22

Synergies

  • MalletResonator

    Use Mallet to set up Resonator, or follow Resonator with Mallet while enemies are vulnerable.

  • MalletMetronome

    Use Mallet to set up Metronome, or follow Metronome with Mallet while enemies are vulnerable.

  • MalletAmp

    Use Mallet to set up Amp, or follow Amp with Mallet while enemies are vulnerable.

Mod Scaling

Strength

Improves Mallet’s damage or effect potency where Strength is listed on the ability.

Duration

Duration is low priority on Mallet unless an augment or lingering effect needs it.

Range

Increases Mallet’s reach, radius, or targeting distance.

Efficiency

Mallet costs energy each cast — Efficiency (or strong regen) keeps the loop comfortable on long missions.

Priority

Stack the stats that actually move this ability’s needle, then Efficiency for uptime.

Mission Use Cases

MissionHow to Use It
Steel Path Survival / Defense / DisruptionTest whether Mallet still clears or enables clear when enemies are dense and overlevelled.
Mobile Defense / ExcavationUse Mallet to control or delete the swarm on the objective, then reposition.
Exterminate / Capture Speed RunsCast Mallet only when it saves time — skip it on empty tiles.
Spy / Rescue / Quiet RoutesIf Mallet is loud or forces combat, save it for after the vault; if it’s stealth-friendly, use it to stay safe.

Comparisons

  • VS

    Vs similar tools on other frames — Mallet is tuned for Octavia’s loop — don’t judge it as a standalone subsume without the rest of the kit.

Other Octavia abilities