Wind Melee Build

jaazaniah1

I know Wind needs a rework, but I am running out of power sets to build around. I'm wondering if this might work at least reasonably as a DPS build. I'm also curious about trying Red or End as PSS though stacking Dex (nothing extra for Str). Super Charged seems like it might be interesting. PoP is a stand in for Torrent. I'm also curious about using Brawler Mastery instead (PoP would then become a Lunge). Is that mastery decent?

Shadow Wind - Freeform (Any / Multiple)
v3.42:34

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

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

Powers
Level 1: Wind Lash
Level 1: Stormbringer (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Hurricane (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Wind Barrier (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Wind Reverberation
Level 14: Frag Grenade (Cuts and Scrapes)
Level 17: Form of the Tempest
Level 20: Pillar of Poz
Level 23: Typhoon (Rank 2, Rank 3, Cold Front)
Level 26: Dragon Uppercut (Rank 2, Rank 3, Ghostly Strikes)
Level 29: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 32: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Imbue
Level 38: Whirlpool (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Adv. Points: 36/36

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

Specializations
Recovery: Gear Utilization (3/3)
Recovery: Staying Power (2/2)
Recovery: Super Charged (3/3)
Recovery: Well Rounded (2/2)
Brawler: The Glory of Battle (1/3)
Brawler: Penetrating Strikes (2/2)
Brawler: Ruthless (2/2)
Brawler: Finishing Blow (2/3)
Brawler: Flanking (3/3)
Warden: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Warden: Ruthless (2/2)
Warden: Upper Hand (3/3)
Warden: The Best Defense (2/3)
Mastery: Recovery Mastery (1/1)

Devices

Another possibility

Shadow Wind 2 - Freeform (Any / Multiple)
v3.42:34

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

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

Powers
Level 1: Wind Lash
Level 1: Stormbringer (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Hurricane (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Wind Barrier (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Wind Reverberation
Level 14: Frag Grenade (Cuts and Scrapes)
Level 17: Form of the Tempest
Level 20: Thunderbolt Lunge
Level 23: Typhoon (Rank 2, Rank 3, Cold Front)
Level 26: Dragon Uppercut (Rank 2, Rank 3, Ghostly Strikes)
Level 29: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 32: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Imbue
Level 38: Whirlpool (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Adv. Points: 36/36

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

Specializations
Endurance: Readiness (3/3)
Endurance: Gear Utilization (3/3)
Endurance: Outburst (3/3)
Endurance: Power Overwhelming (1/3)
Brawler: The Glory of Battle (1/3)
Brawler: Penetrating Strikes (2/2)
Brawler: Ruthless (2/2)
Brawler: Finishing Blow (2/3)
Brawler: Flanking (3/3)
Warden: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Warden: Ruthless (2/2)
Warden: Upper Hand (3/3)
Warden: The Best Defense (2/3)
Mastery: Brawler Mastery (1/1)

Devices

flowcyto

You will likely have energy issues using DU heavily w/o something like Rush or Power Conversion. I get why you included Frag nade in terms of efficiency.. it just seems a bit weird for the concept (also, Upper Hand won't work w/ the AP debuff). Maybe use TKicks w/ Demolish instead? It still gives you a Crushing debuff, works w/ UH, and seems to be more thematic here.

I'm still not really sure about Rec or End PSS w/ energy-heavy attacks like Typhoon and DU here, and also w/o Power Conversion or Dark Transfusion. I get that trying other stuff is nice, but if you can't keep energy at_above 90% then either PSS is much less compelling. Here's an edit of it, but you can still try Rec or End PSS if you really want:

Shadow Wind - Freeform (Any / Multiple)
v3.42:34

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

Talents
Level 1: The Chiller (Dex: 10, Con: 10, Rec: 8, End: 10)
Level 6: Accurate (Dex: 5, End: 5)
Level 9: Impresario (Dex: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 12: Amazing Stamina (Rec: 5, End: 5)
Level 15: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 18: Acrobat (Dex: 5, Con: 5)
Level 21: Boundless Reserves (Con: 5, End: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Wind Lash
Level 1: Thundering Kicks (Rank 2, Demolishing Strikes)
Level 6: Stormbringer (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Form of the Tempest
Level 11: Hurricane (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Wind Reverberation
Level 17: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Dragon Uppercut (Rank 2, Dragon Rush)
Level 23: Lightning Strike
Level 26: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 29: Typhoon (Rank 2, Rank 3, Cold Front)
Level 32: Wind Barrier (Rank 2)
Level 35: Lock N Load
Level 38: Whirlpool (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Adv. Points: 36/36

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

Specializations
Dexterity: Combat Training (3/3)
Dexterity: Gear Utilization (2/3)
Dexterity: Deadly Aim (3/3)
Dexterity: Expose Weakness (2/2)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (3/3)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (2/3)
Warden: Slaughter (3/3)
Warden: Ruthless (2/2)
Warden: Upper Hand (2/3)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Mastery: Dexterity Mastery (1/1)

Last I checked, Whirlpool can't proc Wind Reverb (since the pull-in isn't classed as a (reverse) Repel), but it's still a fine ult nonetheless. You can play the build as ranged or melee, though ofc the latter is preferred for single-target dps.

jaazaniah1

So, yep. energy was a bit of an issue with my early concepts, so I went to the Dex PSS type of build. I went with End and Rec as SSS. so a little glass cannon, but still 7k HP.
Dex 606
End 157
Rec 126
I hit Hurricane to get Wind Reverb going, then 3x TK both for demolish and to get a burst of energy from FotT. That sets up a good flow of energy that allows me to charge Torrent (hopefully w. Oasis and Clinging Flames advs), then Whirlpool then 5x DU before needing to do TK again.

Typhoon (before or after Whirpool) is for opening shots, then Hurricane for survivors.

I need to play around with Steadfast to see if that is better for the EU.

Shadow Wind 2 - Freeform (Any / Multiple)
v3.42:34

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

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

Powers
Level 1: Wind Lash
Level 1: Stormbringer (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Hurricane (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Wind Barrier (Rank 2)
Level 11: Wind Reverberation
Level 14: Imbue
Level 17: Form of the Tempest
Level 20: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Typhoon (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 29: Dragon Uppercut (Rank 2, Rank 3, Ghostly Strikes)
Level 32: Pillar of Poz (Rank 2, Accelerated Metabolism) = Torrent
Level 35: Thundering Kicks (Demolishing Strikes)
Level 38: Whirlpool (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Adv. Points: 36/36

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

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

Devices

flowcyto

Steadfast could be better if you're just playing around the melee/MA stuff, but ofc it's going to be worse when trying to use or weave in the Wind powers. I suppose it somewhat comes down to your gameplay prefs and rotations, and the current setup sounds a bit convoluted, but if it works for you then that's fine too.

jaazaniah1

What I'm trying to accomplish is to set up spurts of higher single target dps via DU and Whirlpool running simultaneously (along with a little Clinging Flames), alternating with periods of decent DPS using just DU. I was pleased to get something working that didn't require Rush with DU This is about mid-level rotation complexity for me. Some of my debuffing builds have 5-6 powers/devices that I interweave. Hurricane is just fun to use and I like having a double alpha strike of Typhoon and Whirpool.

I've been hoping that having energy from 2 sources (the EU using End and Rec and Form using Dex) would provide more sustained energy for this power matrix than just relying on the RNG of relying on crits. Still a work in progress.