Sonar
Used by Banshee
Sonar
Using acoustic location, Banshee's Sonar power finds and tracks enemies, and exposes critical weak spots to everyone in your squad.
Introduced in Update 7.0 (2013-03-18)
Ability stats
- See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
- See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
- See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
- Using acoustic location, Banshee's Sonar power finds and tracks enemies, and exposes critical weak spots to everyone in your squad.
Info
- Sonar is Banshee’s ability 2.
- Using acoustic location, Banshee's Sonar power finds and tracks enemies, and exposes critical weak spots to everyone in your squad.
- Use it with the rest of the kit — especially Sonic Boom, Silence — instead of casting it in isolation.
- Ability Strength, Duration, Range, and Efficiency each matter differently; check Mod Scaling below before dumping all four.
Augment
Augmented Sonar
Sonar Augment: Affected enemies also become visible through walls for 10s.
BansheeSonar Augment: Affected enemies also become visible through walls for 10s.
Max rank drain ~9; see rank table on the augment page.
Cast Changes
- Modifies Sonar with: Sonar Augment: Affected enemies also become visible through walls for 10s.
- Rank up the augment to unlock the full effect values.
- Costs a mod slot (and capacity) — only equip it when the change matters for your loop.
Worth the Slot?
- Worth it when the augment’s change is central to how you play Banshee.
- Skip it if the base Sonar already does what you need and you’d rather keep the slot for survivability or strength.
Tips & Tricks
- Read the battlefield first — cast Sonar when it actually solves the room, not on cooldown habit.
- Pair Sonar with movement and energy economy so you’re not stranded after a big spend.
- On Steel Path, confirm whether Sonar still carries without strip, Viral, or a squad buff.
- If you never press 2, it’s the first Helminth candidate on Banshee.
Ability dossier · Sonar
Synergies
- SonarSonic Boom
Use Sonar to set up Sonic Boom, or follow Sonic Boom with Sonar while enemies are vulnerable.
- SonarSilence
Use Sonar to set up Silence, or follow Silence with Sonar while enemies are vulnerable.
- SonarSound Quake
Use Sonar to set up Sound Quake, or follow Sound Quake with Sonar while enemies are vulnerable.
Mod Scaling
Strength
- Strength matters if Sonar scales effect power; otherwise dump it for other stats.
Duration
- Duration is low priority on Sonar unless an augment or lingering effect needs it.
Range
- Range is usually dumpable on Sonar unless you feel the hitbox is too tight.
Efficiency
- Sonar 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
| Mission | How to Use It |
|---|---|
| Steel Path Survival / Defense / Disruption | Test whether Sonar still clears or enables clear when enemies are dense and overlevelled. |
| Mobile Defense / Excavation | Use Sonar to control or delete the swarm on the objective, then reposition. |
| Exterminate / Capture Speed Runs | Cast Sonar only when it saves time — skip it on empty tiles. |
| Spy / Rescue / Quiet Routes | If Sonar 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 — Sonar is tuned for Banshee’s loop — don’t judge it as a standalone subsume without the rest of the kit.
Sonic Boom
Silence
Sound Quake