This is meant to be used with the Vulklok build in my build list, but you can do zany things like stick Artax on Diriga for long-range cold procs or [Deth Machine Rifle] and watch the little balloon Spray n'Pray at enemies across the tile. For Steel Path, the best option is renzorthered's Verglas build. It's absolutely ridiculous, and putting it on [Diriga] makes it absolutely ridiculous from much further away! My [Vulklok] build still does decent damage in steel path, it just doesn't kill things nearly as fast.

Normal [Animal Instinct] is fine, but [Primed Regen] is a serious upgrade over normal [Regen] since it provides extra ressurections, and with [Diriga] being the flimsiest companion, it's certainly worth it.

Diriga's sad armor and shields make Calculated Rediration and Metal Fiber basically pointless. The unique non-attack precepts are also kind-of derp, but [Electro Pulse] is at least a guaranteed stun state. With [Repair Kit] and [Primed Regen], he should manage to stay with you through most of a high level mission, at least longer than most people give sentinels credit for lasting. I use Nidus a lot so I'd rather have [Medi-Ray] over [Shield Charger] or [Guardian], but feel free to swap them around. This build, or really just the blimp itself, goes much better with a frame like [Nidus] or Oberon that can heal it faster; it'll probably still die eventually but you'd be surprised how many enemies can't one-shot it.

According to the wiki, because [Fired Up] is weird, [Vulklok] always gets the maximum buff from it; however you build Vulklok, make sure it has Heat damage or a combined damage type with Heat. If you're just straight-up not using Heat and/or using a different weapon, you can drop [Fired Up].

An alternative for some extra durability is to drop [Fired Up] (get the heat damage out of your Vulklok) and Electro Pulse and Coolant Leak, replace them with Metal Fiber, Synth Deconstruct and Synth Fiber. This will semi-regularly bring [Diriga]'s armor up to 150, which is about 30% damage mitigation, which should give it 1340ish effective HP, which is more than you get with the 138 shields added by a maxxed [Calculated Redirection]. It's only a couple extra hits worth, but the mods replaced are only a little bit of utility anyway. If you favor tanky warframe builds, you may be able to live without Medi-Ray/[Shield Charger] as well, and can replace it with [Accelerated Deflection] so [Diriga] will get the benefits of the shield gate more often. Since it has a whopping 50 shields, the shield gate will also fully reset more often and give [Diriga] the longer invulnerability. If you're playing a frame that can heal your companion easily ([Nidus], [Oberon], [Trinity],) the frequent shield gating may give [Diriga] much longer legs, since the invulnerability will make it easier to keep healed.