Ultimater Blaster, er, Ranged

bluecenturion

There are 2 characters I really want to run in champions. One is an Ice Power character, and the other is the ULTIMATE ranged damage dealer. You know, the guy that alpha strikes the Arch Villain and so never has to work for aliving? Okay, I know it's not that easy, but we can dream.

Anyways, the questin is this. What are some good opinions on the powersets, powers, buffs, etc. that lead to an ultimate damage dealing ranged character. I appreciate any responses.

stergiosman

I would suggest a PA based build,2 choices here
First is a maintain dmg dealer using minigun with advantage,2gun mojo(u can use both at the same time) and Kinetic Manipulation or quarry as a passive.
Second choice is a charge type build with Chest Beam+shoulder launcher combo and targeting computer passive
Both in ranged role ofc...
Of the record,you could also use ice form with Strafing run for super damage in a matter of seconds..
Hope this helps

sirwhackjob

stergiosman wrote: »

First is a maintain dmg dealer using minigun with advantage,2gun mojo(u can use both at the same time)

lol wat? Surely you don't mean you can use both simultanously.

riltmos

sirwhackjob wrote: »

lol wat? Surely you don't mean you can use both simultaneously.

You can, I tested it.

taintedmess

sirwhackjob wrote: »

lol wat? Surely you don't mean you can use both simultanously.

I belive its possible if you triger mini gun then manage to get 2gm started before mini gun animates.

As to the OP original question if your going full on blaster mad I would suggest stacking as much damage buffs as you possible can if your free form its possible to really go to town on damage buffs of course your survival after the mobs notice you will most likely be messured in seconds.

something to consider consider is do you want to be single target or AoE and do you want to deliver your damage via maintain or burst

sagewithbubbles

I generally don't like using 50-ft ranged powers as alpha strikes, given that they put you in enemy aggro range.

If you want to effectively engage groups of enemies at greater than 50-ft range, you have a few options...

Ranged AoE Big Hitters:
-Force Cascade
-Gigabolt
-Typhoon

Ranged AoE maintains:
-Gatling Gun (the munitions one)
-Storm of Arrows

Ranged single-target* snipes:
-Sniper Rifle (*single target except with advantage, advantage kinda sucks)
-Focused Shot (ditto as Sniper Rifle except worse)

Ranged AoEs that aren't especially powerful/have cooldowns:
-Sonic Arrow
-Explosive Arrow
-Rocket (from Munitions)
-Force Detonation


*If it's single-target, you can use Sniper Rifle or Focused Shot (they both have piercing advantages, but even with the pierce, it's less targets than the above mentioned powers. If you're using one of these two, just R3 them)

Pick one of the powers mentioned above that you like the aesthetics of, and we can build from there. Sonic Device and Dark Transfusion work well with ranged alpha-spike builds, as do Active Offenses. They're grouped roughly in descending order of damage/effectiveness/general usefulness, based on my own biased opinions.

Personally, I used to really like a Gigabolt alpha-spike, back when Imbue was an On-Next Hit Power instead of an Active Offense. Hit Electric Sheath (or your AO of choice), Dark Transfusion (with advantage) then charge and fire a Gigabolt. Spam-tap Gigabolt to clean up any survivors.

That only sorta works now, since Imbue no longer guarantees a crit. But for ease of use, Gigabolt's probably the best of the big AoEs I mentioned. Mainly because Ionic Reverb is awesome when paired with a source of Negative Ions (like Gigabolt), and Electric Form gives you a nice bump to energy equilibrium.

Also, Focused Shot kinda sucks.

riltmos

Ricochet throw when combined with night warrior and sonic device w/ advantage is also a pretty powerful alpha strike.

cellarrat33

sagewithbubbles wrote: »

...
Ranged single-target* snipes:
-Sniper Rifle (*single target except with advantage, advantage kinda sucks)
...

I like R3 Sniper Rifle. It sometimes will daze the target letting you get in a second or even third shot.

sagewithbubbles

cellarrat33 wrote: »

I like R3 Sniper Rifle. It sometimes will daze the target letting you get in a second or even third shot.

Yeah, if you're gonna use Sniper Rifle, go with R3. Especially with a bit of Pre or hold-duration enhancing specs, the stun can easily last long enough to get off a second shot.

I just don't like the advantage. It's a damage drop to only hit 3 targets, and only if they are lined up almost right on the primary target.

Better to just R3 and take out the most threatening thing, then AoE down any survivors.

I like Sniper Rifle far more than Focused Shot.