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In parties with Machinists, I've noticed (or, rather, heard) them using Spread Shot when multiple enemies are present and close together. In my own case, when there's more than 3 enemies in a wave I tend to turn to Grenado Shot to get rid of them. It would be interesting if someone could compare the two AoE skills.
Spread Shot is 100 potency for 130 TP and is a wide cone. This is good for larger, more spread out packs.
Grenado is 120 Potency for 160TP and is centered on a target. This is good for adds that are packed together tightly.
Spread Shot is more TP efficient.
Spread Shot: 1000 / 130 TP = 7.69 * 100pot = 769*# of mobs potency per 1000 TP (not counting TP ticks)
Grenado Shot: 1000 / 160 TP = 6.25 * 120pot = 750*# of mobs potency per 1000 TP (not counting TP ticks)
If you plan to be doing more than 6-7 AOE shots, you are better off using Spread Shot. If shorter, use Grenado. The longer you need to AOE, the better Spread Shot becomes as you'll run out of TP far less quickly.
In practice, (optional Blood for Blood + Hawk's Eye) + Hot Shot + Bishop Turret + Gauss Barrel, spamming Grenado Shot on dungeon trash is probably fine assuming everyone else is also AOEing, as the mobs will probably die before you reach TP starvation between TP regen and Invigorate. Spread Shot is probably better for something like Alexander - Floor 2 because the fight is prolonged and you need to spread your TP usage out between Invigorates.
I use Grenado as long as I can hit every mob with it if I expect the mobs to die relatively fast or if I popped all my cooldowns. Spread shot when the cooldowns fall off or if the mobs are going to be alive long due to bad (lolninja) AOE.