Need help with Unarmed/MA theme

unsungchampion

Hey forums! Wow it's been almost what? Three years since my last post. Anyways I am returning to CO for another go around and noticed a lot has changed. I would like to get a quick run-down on a few changed. I looked over the forum but..well it's not the most organized. If anyone can point me to a few post I be forever grateful. Anyways this is my current live build on my character Iron Lotus. I am really needing a retcon but not sure what routes to take. I say the Cool down nerf and wonder if Intel is really a state I need to have in my Sec slot. Anyways cheers guys and be nice!

Name: Iron Lotus

Archetype: Freeform

Super Stats:
Level 6: Dexterity (Primary)
Level 10: Constitution (Secondary)
Level 15: Intelligence (Secondary)

Talents:
Level 1: One of Mind and Body
Level 6: Agile
Level 9: Enduring
Level 12: Brilliant
Level 15: Coordinated
Level 18: Healthy Mind
Level 21: Acrobat

Powers:
Level 1: Vicious Strikes
Level 1: Thundering Kicks (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Way of the Warrior (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Mighty Leap (Crippling Challenge, Nailed to the Ground)
Level 11: One Hundred Hands (Rank 2, Ghostly Strikes)
Level 14: Form of the Tempest
Level 17: Bountiful Chi Resurgence (Rank 2, Resurgent Reiki)
Level 20: Burning Chi Fist (Rank 2, Fists of Righteous Flame)
Level 23: Dragon Kick (Lashing Dragon Tail)
Level 26: Rising Knee (Flowing Strikes)
Level 29: Masterful Dodge (Unfettered Strikes)
Level 32: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 35: Ego Surge (Nimble Mind)
Level 38: Parry (The Elusive Monk)

Travel Powers:
Level 6: Acrobatics
Level 35: Ninja Vanish

Specializations:
Dexterity: Combat Training (2/3)
Dexterity: Gear Utilization (3/3)
Dexterity: Deadly Aim (3/3)
Dexterity: Expose Weakness (2/2)
Brawler: No Escape (1/3)
Brawler: Penetrating Strikes (2/2)
Brawler: Ruthless (2/2)
Brawler: Finishing Blow (1/3)
Brawler: Setup (2/2)
Brawler: Offensive Expertise (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Initiative (2/2)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (3/3)
Vindicator: Modified Gear (2/2)
Mastery: Dexterity Mastery (1/1)

theravenforce

Just at a glance, aside from well timed blocking, you may have some issue with knocks. In my most recent build, I went STR/CON/DEX and focused my energy gain on the Rush Buff.

I don't have energy issues on that build provided I'm taking damage so it works out pretty well.

The only other thing I'd caution on is a lack of a secondary healing ability. The build seems to focus on dodging and WoTW's dodge buff isnt as good as it used to be, so I'd perhaps grab a secondary heal ability, but it's up to you.

Aside from that the build looks as if it would hit pretty hard.

flowcyto

Looks okay for unarmed MA, though I wouldn't add CripC to a build w/ an offensive passive if its just for PvE. As Raven mentioned, WotW's dodge isn't quite good enough to sub for a defensive passive. If ya do wanna be a group-tank for higher-end content, then I'd take LR instead (w/ the tank or hybrid role), and then ya'd also prob want to use Wardicator over Brawler+Vind for specs for the higher defense, and prob take Raven's STR/Con/Dex suggestion (or try CON/Dex/Int).

Ya also have a few attacks that aren't fully ranked up (Dragon Kick, 100Hands, Rising Knee) and I'm not sure what attacks ya plan on making ur main ones. The build prob has too many attack powers, honestly. I'd get BCR/RR and drop Elusive Monk (so ya dun have a 20% melee final dmg penalty) or get R3 Conviction- dropping one of the accessory attacks to make room for either heal.

raighn

As has already been said, your build actually looks fairly decent already aside from some unnecessary extras (CripC)... the CDR nerf actually wasn't nearly as bad as people like to make it out to be... that said though... I see you've got a dimensional MA setup going on... have you considered adding in a Fear power such as Howl and using Spirit Reverb? You've already got Con stated anyways... Also, a good reason to keep Int, it still provides every bit as much cost reduction as it used to, which is great for keeping those power costs down to manageable levels.​​

unsungchampion

Thank you all so much for the feedback. I really like Raigh's idea about playing off the dimentinal damage with using spirit reverb. The only problem is getting the fear proc. Any ideas that would make sense for a Martial Arts master.

raighn

Howl, Void Shift, & CoEW are the most reliabble Fear procs in my opinion... but out of those Howl is really the least intruisive and possibly the easiest one to work into the concept...

iamrune

Never take Int as a secondary stat anymore, since the nerf to cooldown reduction, Int is only worth taking for it's spec tree, and going all in with a penetration build.

If you contemplate it as a secondary, take Rec or End instead.

purin1

iamrune said:

Never take Int as a secondary stat anymore, since the nerf to cooldown reduction, Int is only worth taking for it's spec tree, and going all in with a penetration build.

If you contemplate it as a secondary, take Rec or End instead.

Don't listen to this. While REC and END aren't useless, INT secondary is still a better option, especially when using MSA.

theravenforce

purin1 said:

Don't listen to this. While REC and END aren't useless, INT secondary is still a better option, especially when using MSA.

^ I agree.

INT is still a great stat both for secondary and primary uses.

raighn

purin1 wrote: »

Don't listen to this. While REC and END aren't useless, INT secondary is still a better option, especially when using MSA.

Yup, Int is 100% still perfectly viable as both a primary & secondary stat. CD reduction was NOT the only thing Int offered, nor was it the main feature of the stat. Int has always and will always provide COST reduction which can go a long ways for energy management. The CDR nerf also was no where near as bad as people like to make it out to be, you can still easily get many CDs down under 6 seconds for MSA (Lunges, Conviction, etc...). Honestly I believe the vast majority of the complaints about the CDR nerf are from people who abused and want to continue to abuse AO/AD cycling.​​

flowcyto

Int's power as a 2ndary SS was diminished a bit w/ the CDR nerf, but def not destroyed. The cost discount aspect is good (up to a point, due to the harsh DR), but its also simply that Int still has some powerful interactions in the game w/ various powers that are quite ubiquitous. If ya still have the likes of MSA, or Conc, or Quarry, etc, then Int is still very much alive as a good option.

unsungchampion

Alright I updates the build. Finally got some G to spend. Here what I got. So far VERY happy with how she plays/duels.

Name: Iron Lotus

Archetype: Freeform

Super Stats:
Level 6: Constitution (Primary)
Level 10: Dexterity (Secondary)
Level 15: Intelligence (Secondary)

Talents:
Level 1: Sureshot
Level 6: Agile
Level 9: Enduring
Level 12: Brilliant
Level 15: Acrobat
Level 18: Coordinated
Level 21: Healthy Mind

Powers:
Level 1: Vicious Strikes
Level 1: Thundering Kicks (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Thunderbolt Lunge (Nailed to the Ground)
Level 8: Way of the Warrior (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: One Hundred Hands (Rank 2, Ghostly Strikes)
Level 14: Dragon Kick (Lashing Dragon Tail)
Level 17: Form of the Tiger
Level 20: Fluidity (Rank 2, Flowing Like the River)
Level 23: Bountiful Chi Resurgence (Rank 2, Resurgent Reiki)
Level 26: Burning Chi Fist (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 29: Rising Knee (Flowing Strikes)
Level 32: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 35: Intensity (Rank 2)
Level 38: Masterful Dodge (Rank 2)

Travel Powers:
Level 6: Athletics (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Fire Flight

Specializations:
Constitution: Tough (3/3)
Constitution: Resilient (2/2)
Constitution: Deflection (3/3)
Constitution: Adrenaline Rush (2/2)
Brawler: The Glory of Battle (1/3)
Brawler: Penetrating Strikes (2/2)
Brawler: Ruthless (2/2)
Brawler: Finishing Blow (3/3)
Brawler: Setup (2/2)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (3/3)
Vindicator: Modified Gear (2/2)
Mastery: Constitution Mastery (1/1)

raighn

Might i suggest swapping Fluidity for Parry w/Elusive Monk & ranking Hundred Hands to R3... Ghostly Strikes is a 1pt advantage so there's really no reason not to take hundred hands to R3... and Fluidity is arguably worse than the default block...​​

jaazaniah1

Well, if it were me and I were just looking at the powers, I'd suggest
Put the adv, points in MD into Dragon Kick (or Conviction; see below).
Swap Intensity for Ego Surge w/ Nimble Mind
You may need another heal. Maybe drop Rising Knee for Conviction?​​