Freeform Nightstalker Help

habanerosauce

I have my FF Nightstalker toon up to level 23, but she's currently clunky and underperforming. She's an attempt at reimagining my old Claws/Super Reflexes Stalker from That Other Game that some of us used to play. I'm not necessarily looking for the highest numbers(although that'd be awesome), but I do want some advice on synergys, and on how to make her a more effective DPS.

Main Issues:

1. Super Stats. I'm thinking Dex/Str/Rec, but not 100% sure on that. Dex is supposedly necessary for Stealth. Str is there for her claw attacks. I'm choosing Rec over Ego, because not only is she having energy issues, but Richocet Throw & Boomerang Toss are her only ranged powers(apart from maybe Strafing Run later on), and they're not really going to be her bread & butter attacks when it really matters.

2. Form of the Tempest. Would there be another form that would suit her better?

3. I strongly prefer BCR to Conviction on melee toons, despite the 10% damage debuff. My Dual Blades main has to stop attacking altogether for a second in order for Conviction to fire, which drives me crazy. Conversely, BCR seems to seemlessly integrate into my attack flow.

4. Unbreakable. Would Masterful Dodge be a better choice, especially in light of me taking the RR advantage on BCR?

5. Is there another claw power that would synergyze well with this setup? Is there anything else that would synergyze well with Shredded? I'd really like a true AoE that isn't a cone if possible.

Any thoughts? Comments? Jokes at my expense?

Elude Hybrid
v3.11:30

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

Talents
Level 1: The Blade (Str: 10, Dex: 10, Rec: 10, End: 8)
Level 6: Agile (Dex: 8)
Level 9: Mighty (Str: 8)
Level 12: Tireless (Rec: 8)
Level 15: Martial Focus (Str: 5, Dex: 5)
Level 18: Impresario (Dex: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 21:

Powers
Level 1: Boomerang Toss
Level 1: Viper's Fangs (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Night Warrior (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Ricochet Throw (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Smoke Bomb Lunge
Level 14: Form of the Tempest
Level 17: Steadfast
Level 20: Tiger's Bite (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Bountiful Chi Resurgence (Rank 2, Resurgent Reiki)
Level 26: Unbreakable (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 29: Lock N Load (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 32:
Level 35: Parry
Level 38: Strafing Run (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Adv. Points: 32/36

Travel Powers
Level 6: Athletics
Level 35: Swinging

Specializations
Dexterity: Combat Training (3/3)
Dexterity: Brush It Off (2/2)
Dexterity: Deadly Aim (3/3)
Dexterity: Expose Weakness (2/2)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (2/3)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (3/3)
Brawler: The Glory of Battle (3/3)
Brawler: Penetrating Strikes (2/2)
Brawler: Finishing Blow (3/3)
Brawler: Setup (2/2)
Mastery: Vindicator Mastery (1/1)

Devices

flowcyto

BCR/RR is an okay self-heal, despite the 10% final dmg penalty when used, and I'd def pair it w/ Masterful Dodge (which you can leave at rank1) over Unbreakable. Ricochet Throw is great as an opener from stealth here on packs of mobs, and it can be your wider AoE that Fighting Claws kinda lacks atm (I'd prob get its special adv to help w/ AoE). I'd also pick Dragon's Claws here, cause Tiger's Bite is costly when used heavily, and charged DC gives you Rush for energy. Your SS setup can work, though I may try a STR/Dex/Con one (still Dex focused). If energy is good at higher levels, you can also trade Rec SS for Con SS for more maxHP. I'd also prob rank Parry at least once.

FotT is okay if also using stuff like Ricochet Throw or Strafing Run. It can be a bit rng cause its crit-reliant, but adding Rush for extra energy via DC gives you a bit of cushion there. I'd also prob use the Melee dps role for this build.

Here's a tweaking of the build:

https://aesica.net/co/herocreator.htm?v=30&n=Elude&d=11230kbGA9PK0600907200C103CC077505B800EQ05BI00CG00CJ03ER00BD018O01000000002jN73UbT0tBa400000000&e=

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

Talents
Level 1: The Predator (Str: 10, Dex: 10, Con: 8, 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: Boomerang Toss
Level 1: Viper's Fangs (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Night Warrior (Rank 2, Rank 3, Silent Running)
Level 8: Ricochet Throw (Rank 2, Microelectronic Controllers)
Level 11: Form of the Tempest
Level 14: Bountiful Chi Resurgence (Rank 2, Resurgent Reiki)
Level 17: Steadfast
Level 20: Smoke Bomb Lunge
Level 23: Dragon's Claws (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Masterful Dodge
Level 29: Parry (Rank 2)
Level 32: Lock N Load (Rank 2)
Level 35:
Level 38:
Adv. Points: 25/36

Travel Powers
Level 6: Athletics
Level 35: Swinging

Specializations
Strength: Swole (2/3)
Strength: Physical Peak (3/3)
Strength: Brutality (2/2)
Strength: Juggernaut (1/3)
Strength: Overpower (2/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (2/3)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (3/3)
Brawler: The Glory of Battle (3/3)
Brawler: Penetrating Strikes (2/2)
Brawler: Finishing Blow (2/3)
Brawler: Flanking (3/3)
Mastery: Strength Mastery (1/1)

I left some stuff open at the end, cause you have the basics covered here. Main single-target rotation is to put up Shredded w/ VFangs, and then spam charged DC. The AoE and AoE opener can be charged Ricochet Throw (and VFang's cleave when close-up). Gears mostly for Dex, w/ some Con and Rec.

habanerosauce

Thanks for the help! I'm going to stick with Dex/Str/Rec for now, but may change out Rec for Con later on depending on her survivability.

habanerosauce

Just a quick update: I'm actually having fun with this character now!

flowcyto

glad to hear; hope you keep having fun with it!