With the new Electricity revamp surging out soon, I was trying to think of standard might build (Unstoppable, Haymaker, Enrage, etc) but crank up the dial a bit with some of the new/reworked powers, including:
* Sparkstorm (as a toggle)
* Ball Lightning (to apply Ions)
* Lightning Clap (because elemental lunge!)
* Storm Strike (Because Melee Ultimate)
* Electrical Siphon (thematic heal) and/or Electric Shield (thematic block that's now on par with other blocks) and/or Thundering Return (thematic self rez)
I could finally get rid of MSA as an EU and go with Ionic Reverb to keep the juice flowing - I assume I would have to SS (or at least heavily stat) End though. Is a Sparkstorm melee build conceptually sustainable or is Haymaker too energy hungry to be run concurrently alongside this attack? I assume Sparkstorm would would feed both Ionic Reverb and Enrage at the same time, but I'm always wrong about this stuff.
Would a different passive work better for the mixed damage types here? I also think some of the melee electrical powers are still flagged as ranged currently? Thoughts?
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Although the Power Source + End approach could work, keep in mind that its still a ranged dps toggle (Sparkstorm and Ball of Lit can prob outdo the dps loss to Haymaker, though, plus if using Enrage instead you'd prob be splitting ur stats between Str and End anyways- vs. focusing on End).
- Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
EDIT: Sidetrack Thought - would Stormbringer be a viable Passive alternative for a melee DPS toon in general trying to pair with electricity? I'm thinking of Might or Martial Arts spliced into the above electrical rotations (though would probably use the Dex setup you suggested above).
- Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
Now with the changes to electric I find myself once more pondering...
(Unnamed Build) - Freeform
v2.3.0-25
Super Stats
Level 6: Strength (Primary)
Level 10: Endurance (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)
Talents
Level 1: The Rockstar (Str: 10, Con: 10, Rec: 8, End: 10)
Level 6: Boundless Reserves (Con: 5, End: 5)
Level 9: Physical Conditioning (Str: 5, Con: 5)
Level 12: Bodybuilder (Str: 5, End: 5)
Level 15: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 18: Amazing Stamina (Rec: 5, End: 5)
Level 21: Relentless (Str: 5, Rec: 5)
Powers
Level 1: Electric Bolt
Level 1: Sparkstorm (Rank 2, Electric Personality)
Level 6: Power Source
Level 8: Ionic Reverberation
Level 11: Unstoppable (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Ball Lightning (Rank 2, Triplicity)
Level 17: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 2)
Level 20: Demolish (Rank 2, Below the Belt)
Level 23: Haymaker (Rank 2, Rank 2)
Level 26: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 29: Lightning Strike
Level 32: Electric Shield (Rank 2)
Level 35: Electrical Siphon (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 38: Rebirth
Adv. Points: 33/36
Travel Powers
Level 6:
Level 35:
Specializations
Strength: Swole (2/3)
Strength: Physical Peak (3/3)
Strength: Brutality (2/2)
Strength: Juggernaut (3/3)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: Find the Mark (2/3)
Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (3/3)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (2/3)
Mastery: Strength Mastery (1/1)
..gearing for tons of End. If you want a spammable AoE on top of Sparkstorm you could maybe replace Demolish w/ Havoc Stomp or Arc of Ruin w/ adv or something (or go w/o a lunge or w/o elec siphon).
- Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
edit: testing on the PTS w/ ~500 End, energy is very ample using this setup- more than fine for a 2x Haymaker + 1x Sparkstorm toggle + Ball Lit setup. Can prob get away w/ much less End than that, even, though if ur using Brutality and Power Source, its prob best to still focus on End w/ this build. End PSS w/ Outburst could also be potentially good w/ losta End. I still dun really like the Sparkstorm-toggle playstyle w/ melee, but it can def work out like this.
- Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
1) I made a lumbering clockwork/mechanical behemoth that uses a Might/Electricity build similar to what Flow outlined above (STR/END/CON), but with the difference of Enrage for my form and Havoc Stomp replacing Demolish. Sparkstorm and Havoc Stomp, with Ball Lightning getting tossed around, (proc'ing Enrage and Ionic Reverb respectively) help keep the tank full to throw Haymakers.
2) A storm themed monk, similar power structure but uses Martial Arts instead of Might (DEX/END/CON). Heavy hitters are the MA powers without the chi advantages, which are all crushing and still (pardon the pun) have a kick. This one uses Power Source and Ionic Reverb with stacked END and, as Flow points out above, there is beaucoup energy with Sparkstorm and Ball Lightning hitting folks.
In both cases I used Stormbringer in lieu of a Might/Martial Arts passive to mitigate the fact that you're blending melee/ranged of different damage types. Seems to work pretty well and I don't miss the extra energy from Unstoppable knocks, particularly with the second guy. I don't feel like I'm melting guys down by looking at them, but the toons seem to do decent damage of both the single target and the AoE variety.
Edit: Fixed typos/etc.
1) A clockwork/mechanical behemoth that is a Might/Electricity (STR/END/CON) build based on Flow's format above, but with Enrage for the form and Havoc Stomp instead of Demolish. The knocks from Sparkstorm and Havoc, paired with Ball Lightning/Spark arcing off stuff (proc'ing Enrage and Ionic Reverb respectively) seem to keep the tank full enough to get consistent Haymakers out on the hard targets.
2) A storm-themed monk with Martial Arts powers instead of Might (DEX/END/CON) but similar build again. I use the non-Chi version (i.e. all crushing damage) of the heavy hitter MA powers, which pack a good punch. This guy uses Power Source/Ionic Reverb with stacked END and, as Flow discuss above, with Sparkstorm and Ball Lightning running in tandem there is beaucoup energy.
In both cases I used Stormbringer in lieu of the Might/MA Passives, to mitigate the melee/ranged nature of attacks with blended damage types. Seems to work pretty well - I don't miss the extra energy from Unstoppable knocks, particularly on the second guy. Doesn't feel like I melt guys by looking at them, but I have good theme builds that seem to do respectable single target and AoE variety damage. Makes me wish we had more 'damage aura' options in CO (beyond the odd one found here and there in a passive).
But yea, as outlined, there's many melee-based possibilities to take w/ Sparkstorm that can work- mroeso than before. At this point, the net can be cast wide enough that you can just tinker around with w/e melee powers you like on the PTS/PH. I may try a Lume Slash one w/ End PSS just to be weird..
- Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!