Assault rifles definitely need some attention, they are woefully outclassed by Everything. I think it should work like this... Hand cannons - fastest TTK at short range. Scout Rifles - fastest TTK at long range. Assault rifles - 2nd fastest TTK at short range but still effective at middle range. Pulse Rifles - 2nd fastest at long range but effective at middle range. So - Distance to TTK goes Handcannon > Assault Rifle > Pulse Rifle > Scout rifle. So a cannon should beat a Assault rifle at point blank. But a Assault Rifle can take a Handcannon on at middle distance. The longer distance fights would favour Pulse Rifles and Scout rifles. So the idea would be to create a preferred distance mismatch between you and your victim. Then the exotics could break these rules in interesting ways..