Defender fire choice: flare or napalm

Hello everyone, I'm on the brink of upgrading my MK3 Defender to MK4 and thinking ahead to that extra weapon slot when I get my MK5 ship. I'm using double cannons currently (might change but that's for another thread).

I've seen many recommendations for fire weapons with two cannons, both for defender and enforcer. I have enough space to fit a napalm (I have two rare napalms in my inventory and no flares to date) although most things I've read suggest flare. From your experience, which works better?

I've used napalm on a shooter and it works well, however my lack of turret and turning mobility suggest it could be ineffective. I've no experience using flare, although it looks like a good point and go weapon to go with my cannon set up. Thoughts please.

 

As a defender you are going to wind up in close range combat pretty often. Napalm won't help you in that respect. I strongly recommend flare to set the enemy on fire and keep them on fire. You need to kit out your cannons with +%damage to burning enemies.

 

I voted wrong lol
Choose whichever RNGesus gives you, they're both awesome

 

Both work well, because your able to shoot napalm very close to you, you can still use the napalm damage to make burning damage activate. On the other side flare will stick on the enemy more.

 

Plus healing reduction

 

Yes that too