test content
Logo
What is the Arc Client?
Install Arc
Healer Build - first time attempting
r0y0
Posts: 50 Arc User
OK, so I've leveled many toons to 40, most are solo/survivable, with a few tanks and pure dps (glass cannons) thrown in. I have never done a support or healing build before, so I thought I'd retcon one of my 40's into it, just to check it out.
I "sort of" did research, but with the horrible forum merger and lack of fresh posts since I've come back to the game (after about a 1-1.5 year hiatus), I seem to be taking a stab in the dark here (or in the light, as the case may be).
So far this is what I have:
Gearing: I have really OLD crap on this guy (he was last played 388 days ago, and that was just poking in, so the gear is from Champions 533 days ago). Needless to say, I don't know what to do for gearing at this point.
Powers: Here I just tried to go the Celestial route, but added in some various powers for a bit of offense (for times when healing may not be needed). I don't know if it is enough to solo level 40 stuff (UNITY / UNITY 2) as I have not left the Powerhouse yet (so I can "fix" anything that needs fixing). I probably need the most help here.
Specializations: I have very limited experience with them in general, and especially for a healer. Any suggestions here (or anywhere) are appreciated. I took a guess at most of them, figuring that I wouldn't be focusing on Offense (should I?).
Thanks for any suggestions and replies!
-r0y
I "sort of" did research, but with the horrible forum merger and lack of fresh posts since I've come back to the game (after about a 1-1.5 year hiatus), I seem to be taking a stab in the dark here (or in the light, as the case may be).
So far this is what I have:
Stats: I like to spread my talents around a bit, picking things that have 3 or more in them first (as opposed to the pure or dual ones). I added CON at the end just for some health. Not sure if this was wise or not.PowerHouse (Link to this build)
Name: Botto
Archetype: Freeform
Super Stats:
Level 6: Dexterity (Primary)
Level 10: Presence (Secondary)
Level 15: Intelligence (Secondary)
Talents: (I added the talent values to the export)
Level 1: The Radiant (Int +10, Ego +10, Pre +10, Rec +8, others +5)
Level 6: Command Training (Int +3, Ego +3, Pre +3, Rec +3)
Level 9: Sniper Training (End +3, Dex +3, Ego +3, Pre +3)
Level 12: Survival Training (Con +3, End +2, Dex +3, Pre +3, Rec +2)
Level 15: Covert Ops Training (Con +3, Str +3, Dex +3, Int +3)
Level 18: Field Ops Training (Con +3, End +2, Int +3, Ego +3, Rec +2)
Level 21: Enduring (Con +8)
Gearless Stats: (I added this to the export)
STR: 13 _____ EGO: 24
DEX: 96_____ PRE: 62
CON: 27_____ REC: 20
INT: 62 _____ END: 17
Powers:
Level 1: Shadow Bolt
Level 1: Rebuke (Rank 2, Admonish)
Level 6: Seraphim (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Illumination (Rank 2, Brilliance)
Level 11: Protection Field (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 17: Thermal Reverberation
Level 20: Ebon Ruin (Rank 2, Rank 3, Nyctophobia)
Level 23: Flashfire (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Compassion
Level 29: Redemption
Level 32: Sigils of Radiant Sanctuary (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Imbue
Level 38: Ascension (Judgment)
Travel Powers:
Level 6: Fire Flight (Rank 2)
Level 35: Acrobatics
Specializations:
Dexterity: Combat Training (2/3)
Dexterity: Gear Utilization (3/3)
Dexterity: Evasion (2/2)
Dexterity: Quick Reflexes (3/3)
Sentinel: Eternal Spring (2/2)
Sentinel: Caregiver (3/3)
Sentinel: Sentinel Aura (3/3)
Sentinel: Rejuvenated (2/3)
Sentry: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Sentry: Precise (3/3)
Sentry: Sentry Aura (3/3)
Sentry: Persevere (1/2)
Mastery: Dexterity Mastery (1/1)
Gearing: I have really OLD crap on this guy (he was last played 388 days ago, and that was just poking in, so the gear is from Champions 533 days ago). Needless to say, I don't know what to do for gearing at this point.
Powers: Here I just tried to go the Celestial route, but added in some various powers for a bit of offense (for times when healing may not be needed). I don't know if it is enough to solo level 40 stuff (UNITY / UNITY 2) as I have not left the Powerhouse yet (so I can "fix" anything that needs fixing). I probably need the most help here.
Specializations: I have very limited experience with them in general, and especially for a healer. Any suggestions here (or anywhere) are appreciated. I took a guess at most of them, figuring that I wouldn't be focusing on Offense (should I?).
Thanks for any suggestions and replies!
-r0y
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Post edited by r0y0 on
0
Comments
Hmm, a few things to consider for improvement that jump out at me right away:
Consolidate the currencies! (Please!)
Does your Champion have a theme song? (share it!)
Got a funny in-game screenshot? (share it!)
Please fix the Overdrive energy unlock! (Should help promote thematic build diversity!)
I suppose the question I need to ask is: does OFFENSE help healing? (especially the Celestial dual-power attacks/heals). I wasn't thinking to be offense much at all, but yeah, if I get bored healing and need to add some DPS to the team, I'll prob. go that route. More things to learn about the Specialization Trees... ;-)
Thank you for all your suggestions and help, I will keep them in mind while I tweak this.
-r0y
I switched the SuperStats, a little talent manipulation, and went with BOTH the guardian and warden trees... apparently they stack! Wow, got a lot of Offense/Defense now!
Hope I am not gimping myself too badly. I'm still in the powerhouse, so I can undo it all if needed.
I figure if I'm not healing with rebuke and celestial conduit (or applying force shields), then I'll be attacking... and that means conduit and/or skarn's bane... both maintains, so Overload was the energy unlock of choice. I have to say, though, that it doesn't seem to fire off as often as it does on my electric build...
As always, critiques and comments are welcome!
-r0y
please, just "x5" (typically when typing) or "agent" (what people seem to call me over Ventrilo voice chat)
There always seems to be more to learn, and even when you think you've learned a lot somebody will show you a new combination or the developers change something and you have to rethink how to work stuff.
Tip: Imbue with cooldown reduction & cost reduction utility gear will stack with INT and INT & REC together make MSA work well. And MSA can be easily triggered by Conviction, Lunges, and/or Imbue! (this is known as "synergy" between powers, they compliment and augment each other)
Tip: You can also have synergy with the powers of other TEAMMATES! Super-effective and fun! The power of auras in teamplay should not be underestimated.
Restricted CON is the result of a bug with the crafting nodes out in the Zones right now I believe. Even if it was fixed just recently the high demand for CON and the dent in the supply is still going to echo for quite awhile.
One of those few "always" things in this game is to avoid the +8 talents.
See this is the crazy thing. Nimble Mind SHOULD be based on INT, not CON. CON is more meant for tanks, increasing HP. For some crazy reason CON made into this super-damage stat primarily because of Nimble Mind and Imbue. It would add a TON of diversity if it scaled with INT, as well as fitting the name better.
You CAN be both a dedicated healer and deal decent damage if you use devices and things like Imbue to your advantage. This is actually the reason they created Imbue in the first place, but it's being mostly used by extreme DPS and min/max PvP builds... And of course it's bugged last time I check to where it doesn't consume the on-next-hit effect when you use a heal, which means you can basically uber-heal forever.
Also keep this in mind, being the jack all trades means you're master of none.
There's nothing "wrong" per se with being a mutt-build mix of everything with no focus, but you'll be horrendously weak and that can be frustrating (also it gives you no grounds to complain about things being too hard in the game). A strong build has a focus power (or two) and seeks to build up that focus with various synergistic powers, talents, stats, specializations, gear, etc. so that you get the most out of it.
When building freeforms, your FIRST question needs to be "What power or two active-use powers am I going to focus on?" An easy set to get started with gaining experience on this with is the telekinesis power set (TK blades, TK lance, etc.) and get familiar with the Ego Leech mechanic. I say that one is easier because it clearly identifies what it works with and doesn't cross-branch into other power sets much at all, kind of staying isolated.
My dedicated healer is extremely powerful at healing, even though she's mostly doing rebuke and protection bubbles. Part of the secret to this is I'm tap-spamming rebuke and protection bubbles and I have several cunning mechanisms to supply tons of energy and cut the cost to use my powers. As a result I can anybody alive from anything in the game except for maybe a few things such as Gravitar's yellow bubble of doom and those level 60 Mega D's.
I say she's dedicated because she's designed to heal, not kill, and she boasts a 100% resurrection with the necessary support powers to cast it even while getting hit (she won't get interrupted unless you knock, paralyze, use an interrupt like Backhand Chop or Power Gauntlet, or outright insta-kill her).
The +Offense stat increases base damage by up to a "soft-cap" (logarithmic) of 40%. (pushing near or past this soft-cap is a waste of points btw) So yes, it does help healing.
You'll want about 300-ish +Offense to get the full benefit, and not neglect your other superstats or other aspects of your build while doing so. This is why "Best Defense" is such a wonderful specialization.
Anytime r0y
Consolidate the currencies! (Please!)
Does your Champion have a theme song? (share it!)
Got a funny in-game screenshot? (share it!)
Please fix the Overdrive energy unlock! (Should help promote thematic build diversity!)
This is Ynnea, she's a celestial hiding amongst humans. She was left behind when most of her kind ascended because she felt she could not forsake the other beings at the hands of her evil twin brother. Her brother is her anti-thesis, cruel and genuinely evil, and he's been winning the "war" against God. In fact in his own twisted mind, he is God and delightfully mocks the faithful, challenging their deities to "save them" as he horrifically tortures them until he has them begging for death at which point he typically forces them to become an undead slave for as long as he feels like it. Where her brother feels life is an imperfection that must be cleansed (which is why he gets along with Mechanon actually), Ynnea values life and seeks to save it whenever possible. Often criticized as naive to the cruelty of the word, Ynnea is very powerful and never loses hope.
She's also has the allegiance of most species of dragons (hence the extra power you can see at the end that's really just for theme & fun purposes), and is on a first name basis with many famous outer-plane denizens, including Therakiel who she knows personally. Therakiel has selfishly used Ynnea's help in the past to gain power, and she is reluctant to strike him down because on some level she empathizes with him (as she too is cast out). The difference is Ynnea seeks to help others selflessly, where as Therakiel is selfish and ambitiously arrogant.
PowerHouse (Link to this build)
Name: Ynnea
Archetype: Freeform
Super Stats:
Level 6: Presence (Primary)
Level 10: Intelligence (Secondary)
Level 15: Recovery (Secondary)
Talents:
Level 1: The Radiant
Level 6: Diplomatic
Level 9: Negotiator
Level 12: Lasting Impression
Level 15: Command Training
Level 18: Sniper Training
Level 21: Survival Training
Powers:
Level 1: Radiance
Level 1: Rebuke (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Imbue (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Seraphim (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Compassion (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Redemption (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 17: Vengeance (Redemption Denied)
Level 20: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Ascension (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 29: Unbreakable
Level 32: Protection Field (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Palliate (Absolve)
Level 38: Fury of the Dragon
Travel Powers:
Level 6: Teleportation
Level 35: Fire Flight
Specializations:
Presence: Repurpose (3/3)
Presence: Selfless Ally (2/2)
Presence: Grandeur (3/3)
Presence: Moment of Glory (2/3)
Sentinel: Eternal Spring (2/2)
Sentinel: Caregiver (3/3)
Sentinel: Sentinel Aura (3/3)
Sentinel: Genesis (2/2)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Make It Count (3/3)
Guardian: Ruthless (1/2)
Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
Mastery: Sentinel Mastery (1/1)
Sentinel Mastery is a little secret of this build that works extremely well in teamplay, Smash Alerts in particular. Take a closer look at it and at the advantage on Vengance to see why. Presence Mastery is crap in comparison. The only downside is that nobody notices why they are regenerating a % of their HP when they attack the main target(s) (which is fine, just get used to being an unsung hero and be happy it). Vengeance also gets less expensive as you fully charge it (up to 3 stacks).
She's not a powerhouse for criticals (except for Imbue of course), but her base healing is shockingly powerful and her energy supply is arguably the best out of all my characters (or at least Kali is on par with her using the Supernatural Power energy unlock). I'm hitting Imbue and Conviction almost all the time with her and her sky-blue bubbles typically cover anybody in range of me in combat.
She's got a interesting mechanism to drop agro/threat, take a look at Palliate's advantage. Also Sentinel Aura works the same effectiveness as Illumination with Brilliance really, but without generating the threat or needing me to waste power points or precious advantage points on it. Tap-spamming rebuke is her typical means of healing (also note that it's a "blast" attack when looking at the specialization choices I made).
When Sentinel Aura was nerfed her build was weakened somewhat from being goddess-like, but it's still extremely strong (enough that you're pretty much guaranteed to win if I'm on the team and you play smart, including letting me resurrect you if you fall. That 100% rez is there for a reason ya know...)
I'm packing some VERY nice gear on her btw, second only to my main character. She's even got a compliment of two different self-rez devices, Heroic Recovery, Nimbus of Force, Archer's Memory, Revenant of Firefight, Gnashers, USSR zombies, Soul Vortex, etc... R9 Sentinel's Brooch Core and a few PRE R7 & R8's, vigilante secondary gear now too.
If you need a healer for your team for a major mission and I'm playing on her, let me know. I'd be happy to put her to use (when I made her, my supergroup was very active).
~edit~
One more tip about Ynnea, Absolve and the Dragon power are the last two things on the list that are added, so I can remove them depending on the mission. If I need to I'll swap out for Rebirth, or even add Radiant Summoning and switch the two points from Absolve to Unbound Ritual. This methodology of building is commonly called "building to remove".
Consolidate the currencies! (Please!)
Does your Champion have a theme song? (share it!)
Got a funny in-game screenshot? (share it!)
Please fix the Overdrive energy unlock! (Should help promote thematic build diversity!)
Something to think about.
Razira's Primus Database Page
Get the Forums Enhancement Extension!
Indeed, probably not wise to do such things as retcons until it comes through and you can assess whether you want the new version.
Or just skip it I guess.
Or try and squeeze as much use out of before the nerf, but I wouldn't suggest it personally.