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DoTs and DeBuffs, should I use them?
doll1989
Posts: 124 Arc User
I just wanted to ask. One of my heroes has ball lightning with triplicity, electrocute with superconductor and on the next lvl will get orbital cannon. At first I liked those powers, but lately I started to question, is it better to actually use them? Ball lightning has no charge time, but eats lots of energy, so I have to use 1 or 2 eb attacks before continuing with something else. Electrocute has a charge time and sometimes I think I would deal more damage by simply attacking enemys instead of using electrocute for DeBuff first.
My questions are. Should I take orbital cannon instead of ball lightning or with it? Should I even take orbital cannon or not and keep ball lightning or remove it? And should I keep electrocute or remove it, because I don't need it as a hold, I have it only for a DeBuff.
If anyone will want to know what other powers I use, then in short: passive electric form, form concentration, main attacks lightning arc and lightning storm and role ranged DPS.
My questions are. Should I take orbital cannon instead of ball lightning or with it? Should I even take orbital cannon or not and keep ball lightning or remove it? And should I keep electrocute or remove it, because I don't need it as a hold, I have it only for a DeBuff.
If anyone will want to know what other powers I use, then in short: passive electric form, form concentration, main attacks lightning arc and lightning storm and role ranged DPS.
Post edited by doll1989 on
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keep it. Electrocute .. not worth the charge-time i would say. At Level 30+ you should also
maybe look for Utility gear with cost-discount.
Orbital Cannon .. is funny sometimes, but in Solo gaming the activation time is too long,
and it maybe also not really fits that good into an electric build.
So, according to you I need to remove all 3 :rolleyes:
Not that I don't agree with you, not at all. Thing is, I use eb to trigger ionic reverberation. I have ionic infusion on eb, so with 50% chance on every attack I need 1, 2 or 3 attacks to trigger ir and at the same time I will feel up my energy bar. Electrocute I will remove, now I am 100% certain of it. And about orbital cannon, it is there mainly for a theme, so as long as it won't hurt my build, I guess I can have it. Especially now when I have free slot for it. After removing electrocute I don't even have to replace anything more important with it.
Thank you again.
The thing is, that later you want to have a character that doesn't use the EB at all, or at least
nearly never. If you later have cost reduction gear and enough END and REC you can just
fire Ball Lightning and cast Lightning Arc or Storm nearly endless
Ow, that makes sense. It's just I don't have any lvl 40 heroes yeat.
Well, then I guess I need to think about it some time. Thank you again.
Debuffs... I don't really know. They never seem to do much, as far as I can tell. The best debuff I know of is a dead enemy.
SIGNATURE:
Used to be coach on the forums. Still @coach in game.
Don't bother with Orbital Cannon unless it fits your theme. Then again I never liked this power's concept. How is an orbital cannon hitting things in a cave on Monster Island?
Lose Electrocute. The only mobs in CO worth CCing cannot be CC'd without standing on your head build wise and getting very lucky that the people you are with don't proc hold resist on a boss with their lunges, energy builders and other CC that will have no effect. Besides, in the time it takes to use Electrocute you could be killing the mobs with Lightning Arc or Storm.
I been a long time leaving but I'm going to be a long time gone.
Willie Nelson
T.U.F.K.A.S. (the user formerly known as Scarlyng)
Wrong on the CO forums since November, 2008
chest beam, on the other hand, is delicious. If you can squeeze it in, that resistance debuff on a tap is tasty.
Also, lemme point out: I use orbital cannon/gravity drive/the gadget power that insta removes cooldowns on one of my mains. It's a crowd-melter. Pulls em in, bunches em up, then the 2 orbital cannons bouncing back and forth while I pop off chest beams to debuff em against the damage? I imagine a similar idea working off of electric would be outright disgusting. I know I do it as a tank and it's still way more effective than it has any right to be. If you *can* work it into theme, and plan around it as a main attack? Orbital can be pretty awesome. I just need me hacked orbital codes so I can have 3 of em kicking around.
RIP Caine
I'll soon be lvl 40 on that hero, so I have few more things to ask.
I changed my build a little bit, here it is.
PowerHouse (Link to this build)
Name:
Archetype: Freeform
Super Stats:
Level 6: Ego (Primary)
Level 10: Dexterity (Secondary)
Level 15: Intelligence (Secondary)
Talents:
Level 1: Sureshot
Level 6: Shooter
Level 9: Academics
Level 12: Coordinated
Level 15: Wordly
Level 18: Impresario
Level 21: Negotiator
Powers:
Level 1: Electric Bolt
Level 1: Lightning Arc (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Electric Form (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Energy Shield (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Electric Sheath (Matter ? Energy Union)
Level 14: Concentration
Level 17: Support Drones (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Lightning Storm (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Ego Surge (Nimble Mind)
Level 26: Ball Lightning (Triplicity)
Level 29: Ionic Reverberation
Level 32: Field Surge (Power Swell)
Level 35: Orbital Cannon (Rank 2, Anvil of Dawn)
Level 38: Shadow Shroud (Terrifying Visage)
Travel Powers:
Level 6: Electric Arc
Level 35: Phoenix Flight (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Specializations:
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Aggression (2/2)
Ego: Follow Through (3/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (2/3)
Avenger: Ruthless (2/2)
Avenger: Round 'em Up (3/3)
Avenger: Relentless Assault (3/3)
Avenger: Offensive Expertise (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: The Rush of Battle (3/3)
Vindicator: Modified Gear (2/2)
Vindicator: Offensive Expertise (2/2)
Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)
Can someone please point me, if there are any mistakes in this build? I'm fine if you will say that this build is terrible or something like that. Just please explain why and what needs to be changed.
One of you said that DEX/END/REC are good SS's for electricity. Do I really need to change from what I have to it? How big will be difference? It's just I am not sure with what IR scales.
Allso, can someone please tell me what items I should use? How much SS's I need to have? What additional bonuses I need from items? Crit chance, CD reduction, cost discount, all of them or only some of them and how much?
Edit: Ow, and what is the best way to get items/mods now?
And please don't mention rank 3 shield. It just feels wrong to block missiles with a shield that barely covers half of my arm.
And about orbital cannon in caves. I just imagin it melting the roof and striking all the way down to enemys. :biggrin:
Instead Energy Shield i would take Force Shield with Force Sheath advantage. Also it
normally makes no sense to level block powers on R2 or R3.
I have now idea for what Field Surge should be good in that build, also not why you want
Shadow Shroud. I woud instead take an active defense like Masterful Dodge, and maybe
another heal.
EGO / DEX is also very squishy and only INT as Energy Stat will not be enough
for lightning. Ionic Reverb scales with END so i would go DEX / CON / END and put
also quite some point in REC .. or if more squishy go directly DEX / END / REC.
Ah .. and for leveling with that its better to take Form of the Tempest.
With 40 and high crit gear you could make a respec to EGO / CON / END / REC
with Concentration.
For Items .. as much cost discount as possible .. and as much crit chance as possible
Thank you again.
So, basicly build is fine.
I asked to not to mention block. :rolleyes: Just concider it to be the only thing that I won't change in my build no matter what.
Field surge in this build for it's advantage, more damage never is a bad idea. Allso, because thematically she uses power armor, having field surge/unbreakable suits her much better then masterful dodge.
About shadow shroud. That's actually my bad, I wanted to write that I took shadow shroud just because I wanted 3rd active offence but didn't know which one would be better so just took the one that looks the best. If any other active offence will be better, please name it, will take it gladly.
Drones again for theme and because they are easy to use. They heal nicely and I don't need to waste my time to use them. Allso, I don't have to brake block to use them. Once again, any better ideas are welcomed.
So, changing stats will be a good idea? Ok, DEX/END/REC it is then. But about FotT, is it really going to be better then concentration? I haven't noticed any differences in damage bonus but concentration is easier to stack.
The thing is that Concentration scales with INT or EGO and Form of the Tempest with DEX.
So even since FotT only give 50% to ranged it will be better than Conc with no INT or EGO.
http://powerhouse.nullware.com/powerhouse.html?v=4&n=&d=1875VWXaPQNk3R01000120B1405150378059K001B038800170016041A041C057K037N002WLM0CAT3Svt
It has a lot of Energy returns wich makes you capable to keep the 15% multiplicative damage from END Spec, END spec provides a good ammount of HP, each point in END is an extra 4HP. Also I went for Guardian and Vindicator Spec, sinds you don't have any blast attacks you will take much more benefits from those 2 and your defense should be around 60% (70% with locust buff on) and you should be around 40% Dmg from offense. This make up the lost on Concentration sinds your Ego is a bit lower.
Now about the powers, Bionicle Shielding is a nice Burst heal and couple with you heal bots and Eletrical Shield you should be able to keep yourself alive while at the same time dishing payback damage with Electical Vengence and Electrical Device advantages. Unbreakable on the other hand is a very good defensive power when you are attacked by a large ammount of henchmen, couple with the rest in your set it should even be capable to take them down before the duration wears off.
For the rest I added Ball lightning for Ionic reverb and Storm lightning form knockdown.
Resurection Serum is always a good use for Rampage alerts and it fits thematics if you go for a Powered Armor Electrical build.
Ow, ok, thank you. I always forget what scales with what...
@xamikaze01 Thank you, I like that build. I just don't quiet understand why there are both lightning arc and gigabolt, basicly they both do the same thing just in different ways. Or is it there to use gigabolt first and then when it's on cd use lightning arc? Anyways, probably the only thing I would remove from it is resurection serum. I personaly don't see how exactly necromantic/voodoo power can fit power armor theme. Well, if it were resurection nanites, then yes, but not a potion.
Not that I use Gigabolt myself any more, but with SS End and REC, he would be able to use a fully-charged Gigabolt as an alpha strike. If the mobs are tightly enough packed, game over. L Arc is single target only. Personally I use L Storm with Stolen Thunder, which takes a wee bit longer.
As to which rez power... A concept does not have to be tied to a power's name. My sorceress uses attacks from a couple of frameworks. Despite their names, they are all spells to me. If the name still hung you up, you could think of it as a chemical concoction, not a voodoo potion. Given its presence in Gadgeteering, that is likely what the developers were thinking.
I been a long time leaving but I'm going to be a long time gone.
Willie Nelson
T.U.F.K.A.S. (the user formerly known as Scarlyng)
Wrong on the CO forums since November, 2008
PowerHouse (Link to this build)
Name:
Archetype: Freeform
Super Stats:
Level 6: Dexterity (Primary)
Level 10: Endurance (Secondary)
Level 15: Ego (Secondary)
Talents:
Level 1: The Tempest
Level 6: Shooter
Level 9: Accurate
Level 12: Impresario
Level 15: Daredevil
Level 18: Wordly
Level 21: Amazing Stamina
Powers:
Level 1: Electric Bolt
Level 1: Lightning Arc (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Electric Form (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Electric Sheath (Rank 2, Matter ? Energy Union)
Level 11: Ionic Reverberation
Level 14: Ball Lightning (Triplicity)
Level 17: Gigabolt (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Concentration
Level 23: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Unbreakable (Better You Than Me)
Level 29: Ego Surge (Nimble Mind)
Level 32: Electric Shield (Electric Vengeance)
Level 35: Sonic Device (Deafening Dissolution)
Level 38: Rebirth (Rank 2)
Travel Powers:
Level 6: Lightspeed (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Teleportation (Rank 2)
Specializations:
Dexterity: Combat Training (3/3)
Dexterity: Power Swell (2/2)
Dexterity: Evasion (2/2)
Dexterity: Quick Reflexes (3/3)
Avenger: Ruthless (2/2)
Avenger: Anguish (2/2)
Avenger: Round 'em Up (1/3)
Avenger: Surprise Attack (2/2)
Avenger: Relentless Assault (1/3)
Avenger: Offensive Expertise (2/2)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: Find the Mark (2/3)
Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
Mastery: Dexterity Mastery (1/1)
Similar concept, but you're more aoe where I'm more focus and destroy, gigabolt/sonic device aside. Main difference is I use conviction as my personal heal, rather than the bots. Mostly, because the bots can be a threat magnet, and with the kind of dps electric throws out? The less threat you can generate the better. Also, xamikaze? Your build is a bit broken, you won't qualify for gigabolt that early, because you don't have the pre-reqs. 's why it's greyed out.
RIP Caine
Thank you for the build.
Btw, I actually already had ego surge in my build. I asked for 3rd good active offence additionally to electric sheath and ego surge.
You know that active offenses are also only additive damage boosts ? So the +40% would
turn out to be maybe 5% more real damage. So personally i think one is fine mainly as
Holdbreaker, or in case of Electric Sheath you can take the Bubble advantage, but i wouldn't
waste more than one power point for them.
Mmm... I learning more and more from this thread. Thank you once again. So, I gues electric sheath for bubble or ego surge for crit bonus.
Edit: Ok, who read my last post, just forget it. I was very sleepy. I just re-read all comments, so now I know what to choose.
Thank you everyone for replies and advices. This thread can be concidered closed.
Basicaly I put Gigabolt in the build because it is a Wide arc of damage with 100 feet range, it can be used as a burst when opening fights or you can just use Lightning Storm consecutively after a fully charged Gigabolt to make a surprising burst followed by a knockback.
Also Gigabolt has very high energy returns when using it it on multiple targets, when those are affected by Ionic reverberation you can get 50 energy point per target very easely.
Lightning Arc is the most damaging single target move in the set, so it is a must have.
And for Resurection Serum, sinds it is a Science Syringe, I believed this power would still fit the concept. I personnaly use it on my Qularr Bio-Engineer, but if you don't like it, just skip it.