Overview: Ever wanted to be a space cowgirl? Mesa is the archetypal gunslinger, able to win any standoff with lethal efficiency. Blueprints are rewarded from the mission unlocked by the Patient Zero quest.

Prime: Mesa prime is currently vaulted, meaning that you’ll need to ask friends and clanmates for relics, try your luck on the trade channel or simply wait for an unvaulting event. Mesa prime boasts improved energy, armour and health.

Special: Gain +15% fire rate with dual pistols, +25% reload speed with single pistols and +50 health if no melee weapon is equipped. Considering how much utility melee weapons have, I wouldn’t take advantage of the last one.

Pros: Extreme damage potential, great durability in ranged fights, can rapidly deal with crowds and boost the firepower of her squad.

Cons: Something of a one trick pony and very vulnerable versus melee attacks.

Powers: Build up damage using Ballistic Battery (1) to charge up a single devastating shot on release – and by adding the Ballistic Bullseye augment, you can add a small amount of status chance.

Shooting Gallery (2) applies a weapon-damage boosting aura to Mesa and one allied player, while also periodically stunning or jamming the weapons of nearby foes. The Muzzle Flash augment also emits a blinding pulse for every 6 kill assists you or an ally make.

Protect yourself with Shatter Shield (3) to reflect projectile damage and make you practically bulletproof – it starts at 80% damager reduction that can improve via power strength to a maximum of 95%. Try the Staggering Shield mod to stagger enemies damaged by the shield! This will not protect you from melee attackers, so keep an eye on your surroundings!

Finally, Peacemaker (4) arms a pair of exalted pistols that deal massive damage at a very rapid rate with auto-aim against anything near the centre of your screen – but disables your movement during this mode. You can partially negate this penalty with the Mesa’s Waltz augment, allowing you to move at a reduced rate while Peacemaker (4) is active. You can equip Mesa’s Waltz in the Exilus slot!

Opinion: Mesa is a simple frame that will perform extremely well when she can cover an objective with Peacemaker (4) – provided you don’t let yourself get ambushed. Coupled with the fact that the Prime version looks incredible, I’d say she’s a reasonable (if simple) option that will perform well in defence and survival missions.