Melee MA using Form of the Tiger

jojenmaihem

Time to check the new MA changes using only Crushing damage with charges attacks to build up FotT.

As always appreciate some advices and changes around.


(Unnamed Build) - Freeform
v2.4.2-29

Super Stats
Level 6: Strength (Primary)
Level 10: Dexterity (Secondary)
Level 15: Recovery (Secondary)

Talents
Level 1: The Dragon (Str: 10, Dex: 10, Con: 8, Rec: 10)
Level 6: Impresario (Dex: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 9: Relentless (Str: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 12: Martial Focus (Str: 5, Dex: 5)
Level 15: Accurate (Dex: 5, End: 5)
Level 18: Amazing Stamina (Rec: 5, End: 5)
Level 21: Bodybuilder (Str: 5, End: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Righteous Fists (advantages)
Level 1: Thundering Kicks (Rank 2, Floating Lotus Blossom)
Level 6: Steadfast
Level 8: Elbow Slam (Falling Hammer, Blunt Force)
Level 11: Form of the Tiger (advantages)
Level 14: Rising Knee (Rank 2, Flowing Strikes)
Level 17: Unstoppable (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Open Palm Strike (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Telekinetic Shield (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 29: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 32: Thunderbolt Lunge (Nailed to the Ground)
Level 35: Masterful Dodge (advantages)
Level 38: Rebirth (advantages)
Adv. Points: 34/36

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

Specializations
Strength: Swole (3/3)
Strength: Aggression (2/2)
Strength: Brutality (2/2)
Strength: Overpower (3/3)
Warden: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Warden: Ruthless (2/2)
Warden: Elusive (2/2)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Brawler: The Glory of Battle (1/3)
Brawler: Penetrating Strikes (2/2)
Brawler: Ruthless (2/2)
Brawler: Setup (2/2)
Brawler: Flanking (3/3)
Mastery: Strength Mastery (1/1)

flowcyto

I guess Open Palm Strike is the main attack, though you'll have to contend w/ its KB on trash, and you may still have energy issues w/o Rush.

FotTiger builds can ofc be good for the new Unarmed. I personally like having Rush + R2 Dragon Kick for building FotTiger stacks and getting Rush at anytime, in addition to the AoE and stun. BCF w/ RF adv can also be taken to vacuum in mobs for Dragon Kick followups, and then you can use DU + Elbow Slam's debuffs for single-target (or Open Palm Strike, though its a bit lower dps than an optimized DU or BCF).

An example of such a build:

(Unnamed Build) - Freeform
v2.4.2-29

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

Talents
Level 1: The Master (Str: 8, Dex: 10, Con: 10, Rec: 10)
Level 6: Covert Ops Training (Str: 3, Dex: 3, Con: 3, Int: 3)
Level 9: Acrobat (Dex: 5, Con: 5)
Level 12: Physical Conditioning (Str: 5, Con: 5)
Level 15: Martial Focus (Str: 5, Dex: 5)
Level 18: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 21: Impresario (Dex: 5, Rec: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Righteous Fists (advantages)
Level 1: Elbow Slam (Falling Hammer, Flaming Chicken Wing)
Level 6: Steadfast
Level 8: Form of the Tiger (advantages)
Level 11: Unstoppable (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Dragon Kick (Rank 2, Dragon Rush)
Level 17: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Burning Chi Fist (Rank 2, Righteous Fury)
Level 23: Dragon Uppercut (Rank 2, Rank 3, Ghostly Strikes)
Level 26: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 29: Retaliation (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 32: Masterful Dodge (advantages)
Level 35: Ice Sheath (Rank 2)
Level 38: Aurora (advantages)
Adv. Points: 34/36

Travel Powers
Level 6:
Level 35:

Specializations
Strength: Swole (2/3)
Strength: Physical Peak (3/3)
Strength: Brutality (2/2)
Strength: Juggernaut (2/3)
Strength: Overpower (1/3)
Warden: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Warden: Ruthless (2/2)
Warden: Elusive (2/2)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (3/3)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (2/3)
Mastery: Strength Mastery (1/1)

You can go w/o Dimensional dmg, though its higher dps optimally vs. just Crushing dmg (mainly due to Chi Flame's 50% boost). Also can make a more glass-cannon version w/o Con as an SS and maybe w/ Brawler spec.

jojenmaihem

The only problem now is Elbow Slam... is horrendous right now.

>20ft Lunge
>9.7s recharge
>You can't tap... needed to full charge to use it

I can't even... who is behind this bad design? Going to change Elbow for anything better (100H if Dimensional or t.Kick if go with Crush dmg).

And yes... I'll go with the glass cannon option with Brawler.

How much optimal we are talking right now using Dimensional? They change it too much in MA now?

flowcyto

Well, iirc the spectral/ghostly advs adds ~10% via the Dimensional split, and then the Chi Flame debuff boosts the Dimensional dmg portion by 50% (vs. 18% for Demolish and Crushing)- in addition to the DoT dmg, ofc. You can still do strong dps w/ just Crushing dmg and Demolish, but its not ideal.

100Hands is an okay replacement for Elbow Slam, since it can also apply Chi Flame (it won't proc FotTiger, but neither will TKicks). Imo, Elbow Slam isn't really for the lunge as much as the debuffs- if you want a normal lunge you should prob also throw that in.

jojenmaihem

With everything in mind... this is the best approach to this build.

Martial Arts - Freeform
v2.4.2-29

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

Talents
Level 1: The Master (Str: 8, Dex: 10, Con: 10, Rec: 10)
Level 6: Covert Ops Training (Str: 3, Dex: 3, Con: 3, Int: 3)
Level 9: Acrobat (Dex: 5, Con: 5)
Level 12: Physical Conditioning (Str: 5, Con: 5)
Level 15: Martial Focus (Str: 5, Dex: 5)
Level 18: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 21: Impresario (Dex: 5, Rec: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Righteous Fists (advantages)
Level 1: One Hundred Hands (Rank 2, Rank 3, Ghostly Strikes)
Level 6: Steadfast
Level 8: Form of the Tiger (advantages)
Level 11: Night Warrior (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Dragon Kick (Rank 2, Dragon Rush)
Level 17: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Burning Chi Fist (Rank 2, Righteous Fury)
Level 23: Dragon Uppercut (Rank 2, Rank 3, Ghostly Strikes)
Level 26: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 29: Retaliation (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 32: Masterful Dodge (advantages)
Level 35: Ice Sheath (Rank 2)
Level 38: Aurora (advantages)
Adv. Points: 35/36

Travel Powers
Level 6:
Level 35:

Specializations
Strength: Swole (2/3)
Strength: Physical Peak (3/3)
Strength: Brutality (2/2)
Strength: Juggernaut (2/3)
Strength: Overpower (1/3)
Warden: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Warden: Ruthless (2/2)
Warden: Elusive (2/2)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (3/3)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (2/3)
Mastery: Strength Mastery (1/1)

flowcyto

Subbing 100Hands for Elbow Slam in my build is fine, though you'll want the Demolish adv on 100Hands. NW can work as the passive, though I'd make sure your energy is good w/o Unstoppable's knock energy (prob is, but that's somewhat gear-dependent).