Help with an Archery build

cptmillennium

I've been trying to find a DPS build for my archer that can survive in Rampages, but I keep struggling with Quarry's lower dodge and avoidance. I've tried Night Warrior, which trades a bit of damage for slightly better survivability and some other bonuses. I've tried Dex PSS for higher crits, EGO PSS for more Defense, and I've been experimenting with high INT and Quarry to keep Masterful Dodge up as often as possible, but that's still only about half the time.

Here's the INT/Quarry build. Crits are only at 27%/75%, but this gets -53% defense penetration once your Audacity stacks up. Nanobot Swarm doesn't seem to do what it says on the tin, knocking off a lot less from MD's recharge than it claims (some sort of diminishing return from the high cooldown reduction from INT?). I guess the question is, how are you guys faring with Quarry since the changes to Dodge and Avoid? Are you simply layering it with as much Defense as you can?

PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Name: Bronze Bow

Archetype: Freeform

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

Talents:
Level 1: The Marksman
Level 6: Acrobat
Level 9: Coordinated
Level 12: Healthy Mind
Level 15: Covert Ops Training
Level 18: Field Ops Training
Level 21: Survival Training

Powers:
Level 1: Strafe
Level 1: Straight Shot (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Quarry (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Concentration
Level 11: Storm of Arrows (Rank 2, Achilles' Heel)
Level 14: Torrent of Arrows (Rank 2, Relentless Recurve)
Level 17: Evasive Maneuvers (Rank 2, Sleight of Mind)
Level 20: Toxic Nanites (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Sonic Device (Rank 2, Deafening Dissolution)
Level 26: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 29: Bountiful Chi Resurgence (Resurgent Reiki)
Level 32: Masterful Dodge
Level 35: Ice Sheath
Level 38: Nanobot Swarm (Rank 2, Rank 3)

Travel Powers:
Level 6: Athletics (Versatility)
Level 35: Swinging

Specializations:
Intelligence: Enlightened (3/3)
Intelligence: Tactician (2/2)
Intelligence: Revitalize (2/3)
Intelligence: Detect Vulnerability (3/3)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Locus (2/2)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Modified Gear (2/2)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (3/3)
Mastery: Intelligence Mastery (1/1)

flowcyto

I guess the question is, how are you guys faring with Quarry since the changes to Dodge and Avoid? Are you simply layering it with as much Defense as you can?

What's the universal answer to survival?

Maor Health! Stack dat Con.

If its specifically for Gravi, then you can replace Quarry/NW for Earth Form or KM, and that will solve many of ur survival issues. You shouldn't be 'tanking' Frosticus as a dps (at least, not intently), and dps-tanking Kenina is all about watching her casts and knowing when to block (so a good ranked up block power would be nice)- otherwise just have enough self heal cds to keep ur health up (ur build could benefit from Resurgence- rotating between it and MD w/ lotsa CD reduction). Elusive in Warden can also help for Gravi and Kenina.

Ofc, ya can also just sit back at 120ft range and spam Focused Shot. Not exciting or high dmg, but you won't be getting targeted by Frosticus or Gravi then.

I guess the question is, how are you guys faring with Quarry since the changes to Dodge and Avoid? Are you simply layering it with as much Defense as you can?

If I take a dodge-based dps to Gravi, I find that even w/ WotW and BCR + parry/EM + tank cds its not enough dodge to stave off bad RNG as melee, so I'd always supplement it w/ EM or TK's dodge buffs. For ranged its much less demanding. I don't take ranged toons w/ just Quarry to Gravi, though- its not good enough on its own.

cptmillennium

That's an interesting idea. Here's what I've gone with for now:

PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Name: Bronze Bow

Archetype: Freeform

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

Talents:
Level 1: The Marksman
Level 6: Acrobat
Level 9: Coordinated
Level 12: Healthy Mind
Level 15: Covert Ops Training
Level 18: Survival Training
Level 21: Field Ops Training

Powers:
Level 1: Strafe
Level 1: Straight Shot (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Concentration
Level 8: Storm of Arrows (Rank 2, Achilles' Heel)
Level 11: Torrent of Arrows (Rank 2, Relentless Recurve)
Level 14: Evasive Maneuvers (Sleight of Mind)
Level 17: Quarry (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Masterful Dodge
Level 23: Bountiful Chi Resurgence (Resurgent Reiki)
Level 26: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 29: Sonic Device (Rank 2, Deafening Dissolution)
Level 32: Toxic Nanites (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Ice Sheath (Supercooled)
Level 38: Focused Shot (Rank 2, Rank 3)

Travel Powers:
Level 6: Athletics (Versatility)
Level 35: Swinging

Specializations:
Intelligence: Enlightened (3/3)
Intelligence: Tactician (2/2)
Intelligence: Detect Vulnerability (3/3)
Intelligence: Expertise (2/2)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Locus (2/2)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Modified Gear (2/2)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (3/3)
Mastery: Intelligence Mastery (1/1)

I mostly rely on Slight of Mind's threat wipe for survival. I haven't really used Focused Shot yet, but if I start getting targeted in Rampages I like the idea of firing from a distance with my on-next-hit-powered arrows.