Crit-Based Ego Blades/Healer

jonesing4 · September 2012

A very interesting post by chuckthestar in this thread got me thinking about that concept--a crit-based Ego Blade healer. I spent a few minutes jacking around at the Powerhouse and came up with this:

PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Name: Blade/Healer concept

Archetype: Freeform

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

Talents:
Level 1: Absolute Zero
Level 6: Impresario
Level 9: Lasting Impression
Level 12: Finesse
Level 15: Showmanship
Level 18: Intimidating
Level 21: Agile

Powers:
Level 1: Ego Blade
Level 1: Ego Weaponry (Rank 2, Siphoning Strikes)
Level 6: Ego Blade Frenzy (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Seraphim (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Form of the Tempest (Gifts of the Storm)
Level 14: Ego Reverberation
Level 17: Ego Surge (Nimble Mind)
Level 20: Ego Blade Annihilation (Rank 2, Mental Acuity)
Level 23: Empathic Healing (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Masterful Dodge
Level 29: Evasive Maneuvers (Sleight of Mind)
Level 32: Force Shield (Rank 2, Force Sheathe)
Level 35: Mindful Reinforcement (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 38: Redemption

Travel Powers:
Level 6: Flight (Rank 2)
Level 35: Teleportation

Specializations:
Dexterity: Combat Training (3/3)
Dexterity: Gear Utilization (2/3)
Dexterity: Evasion (2/2)
Dexterity: Deadly Aim (3/3)
Sentinel: Eternal Spring (2/2)
Sentinel: Caregiver (3/3)
Sentinel: Sentinel Aura (3/3)
Sentinel: Rejuvenated (2/3)
Arbiter: Enforcer (3/3)
Arbiter: Ruthless (2/2)
Arbiter: Preservation (2/2)
Arbiter: Enhanced Gear (3/3)
Mastery: Dexterity Mastery (1/1)

So, questions abound. I'm decently OK with the power choices, assuming I didn't overlook something horribly vital. Feel free to make recommendations/criticisms about the powers themselves, but for the most part I'm fine with that part of the build. I'm mainly seeking advice with...

1) Stat choices. Ugh, what do I do with the SS's here? I feel like I'm being pulled too many different ways on stats. Gotta have DEX, obviously. Would like to have a nice number for PRE, since a big point of the build is being able to heal. Going to be awfully squishy without a good CON score. Several of the powers work off of EGO, and for good damage I'm going to want it to be at least 70. But then you haven't even touched energy management, which I've guessed that REC would be the best way to go (for Ego Reverberation)? Five stats that I feel like are demanding my attention. Which one isn't actually as important?

2) Spec trees. Also an enormous mess. I'm not familiar with healer builds, so I may have picked the worst specs and overlooked the best. A few more specific questions about the spec trees:

a) Is DEX the best pick for PSS, or would EGO or PRE be better? Both help out with crit-based stuff and have alot to recommend them for this build. Advice/opinions?

b) Am I gimping myself by taking trees that don't offer +offense or +defense? I'm used to hitting a 400 offense & 200 defense kind of spread on my toons... I know anything past that is overkill (on offense, at least), but is falling far short of that going to be a big problem?

c) Tying back into my stats quandary, would the combination of Preservation (reduces cost of pretty much every power I'd be using) and Rejuvenation (grants Energy with HoT ticks, so Seraphim would be giving me Energy every 2 seconds) be enough to offset not taking an Energy management SS?

Anyway... here's something, at least. Look at it, point, and laugh. But then see if you can help me out with this thing, too. :biggrin:

s3rju · September 2012

http://co-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?t=148665

you're welcome.

monsterdaddy · September 2012

s3rju wrote: »

http://co-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?t=148665

you're welcome.

LOL, I was gonna link my build but thanks Serju for doing it for me!

jonesing4 · September 2012

monsterdaddy wrote: »

LOL, I was gonna link my build but thanks Serju for doing it for me!

Yeah, I remember seeing that thread when you first put it out (awesome build, by the way!), but I was going for a little bit different build. Namely, I was planning on running in support and focusing more on healing others, not just having a mega-crit self heal. And I was trying to avoid ranged attacks, just for theme, so I wanted only blade attacks.

Nevertheless, there are alot of good ideas in that build and the rest of the thread. Since you've obviously got experience with it, you'd be the ideal person to ask: how's your Energy management? I see you've gone EGO/DEX/CON, but did you gear any towards Energy stats, or were specs/Ego Reverb/cost reduction measurements enough to keep you running without any problem?

Other than that, I'd still like some advice on how my specs are looking for my initial build (geared towards healing/support while still doing some good damage). I guess I could always just run your build and switch in one of the Telepathy heals and Seraphim, but I was going for more of a support focus on this toon.

Anyway, thanks for the help so far!

bradge · September 2012

I am curious. Why did you choose Flight as your first travel power for a melee build?

jonesing4 · September 2012

Heh, honestly it was just theme. It makes things kind of a pain with that huge slowdown between mobs, and it doesn't add any utility since you gotta be in the baddies' faces to hit 'em anyway. I might retcon into something a little easier for leveling and pick up flight or fire flight at lvl. 35.

So short answer, purely thematic.

monsterdaddy · September 2012

jonesing4 wrote: »

Yeah, I remember seeing that thread when you first put it out (awesome build, by the way!), but I was going for a little bit different build. Namely, I was planning on running in support and focusing more on healing others, not just having a mega-crit self heal. And I was trying to avoid ranged attacks, just for theme, so I wanted only blade attacks.

Nevertheless, there are alot of good ideas in that build and the rest of the thread. Since you've obviously got experience with it, you'd be the ideal person to ask: how's your Energy management? I see you've gone EGO/DEX/CON, but did you gear any towards Energy stats, or were specs/Ego Reverb/cost reduction measurements enough to keep you running without any problem?

Other than that, I'd still like some advice on how my specs are looking for my initial build (geared towards healing/support while still doing some good damage). I guess I could always just run your build and switch in one of the Telepathy heals and Seraphim, but I was going for more of a support focus on this toon.

Anyway, thanks for the help so far!

I barely have enough energy to keep the attack going with that build so I would not recommend healing without a Circle of Arcane Power or swapping to Form of the Tempest. I have only one healer and she never needs energy because she never casts anything :biggrin:

See: http://co-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?p=2492911#post2492911

tdits · September 2012

If you replace Con with Rec on Monsterdaddy's build then your energy management becomes perfect, but you are a wee bit squishier. I can see where your going with FotT, I've always wanted to try that advantage out on a heal focused DPSer. 20% of your Syphon heal every attack sounds like a decent HoT for your group.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure if you can get 100% crit chance on Ego Weaponry without the boost from Mental Discipline and you'll be doing less damage with FotT, which means smaller heals from Syphoning Strikes. It might still be viable though, I was tanking alert bosses on mine and I still haven't gotten close to 100% crit yet nor had I gotten all of my specs in.

So, in case this is viable, I've modified my build to spread the syphoning heals around:

PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Name: Ego Blade Healer

Archetype: Freeform

Super Stats:
Level 6: Ego (Primary)
Level 10: Recovery (Secondary)
Level 15: Dexterity (Secondary)

Talents:
Level 1: The Disciple
Level 6: Wordly
Level 9: Shooter
Level 12: Showmanship
Level 15: Lasting Impression
Level 18: Finesse
Level 21: Impresario

Powers:
Level 1: Ego Blade
Level 1: Ego Weaponry (Rank 2, Siphoning Strikes)
Level 6: Ego Blade Dash (Nailed to the Ground)
Level 8: Id Mastery (Rank 2, Rank 3, Id Blades)
Level 11: Parry (The Elusive Monk)
Level 14: Form of the Tempest (Gifts of the Storm)
Level 17: Ego Reverberation
Level 20: Ego Blade Annihilation (Rank 2, Mental Acuity)
Level 23: Telekinetic Eruption (Rank 2, Enhanced Form)
Level 26: Empathic Healing (Rank 2, Empathic Amplification)
Level 29: Ego Surge
Level 32: Ascension
Level 35: Masterful Dodge
Level 38: Redemption (Salvation)

Travel Powers:
Level 6: Acrobatics (Rank 2, Rank 3, Versatility)
Level 35:

Specializations:
Ego: Mental Endurance (1/3)
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Aggression (2/2)
Ego: Follow Through (3/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (2/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (3/3)
Vindicator: Modified Gear (2/2)
Warden: Fortified Gear (2/3)
Warden: Slaughter (3/3)
Warden: Ruthless (2/2)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Mastery: Warden Mastery (1/1)

Due to Id Mastery, Recovery will lower the cost of all of your Ego powers, which covers every single one of your powers with an energy cost. You should have no energy issues whatsoever. There's also an advantage point free for you to get your second TP at R2.

Again, this build is a bit Squishier than Monsterdaddy likes, but he's got a very low tolerance for squishy. If this bothers you though, then you could probably swap Con for Rec. FotT will probably make up the difference.

jonesing4 · September 2012

Interesting looking build, tdits. I'm still very early with this toon (Captain Karelia, my only Finnish superheroine), so I'm not sure if any of my plans are going to work or not. I definitely see where you're going with Id Mastery, I just hate to give up Seraphim since it was a part of the original idea and makes heals so powerful (and I LOVE the visual effect).

I might have to try to incorporate some of the wrinkles you've added, I'm enjoying trying to put this puzzle together.

tdits · September 2012

Well, your syphoning strike heal is based on the extra damage that Ego Weaponry would have done with the crit, so it should be pretty high, and I think you can hit DR on PRE with gear and talents. Assuming Empathic Healing can crit this build should be pretty good.

I just remembered though, doesn't Gifts of the Storm have an 8 second cooldown?

I certainly can't blame you for picking powers that you like to look at though. I tend to do the same thing.

somebob · October 2012

tdits wrote: »

I just remembered though, doesn't Gifts of the Storm have an 8 second cooldown?

AFAIK, yes. Which makes this interesting idea rather difficult to accomplish. That said, at least GotS works now. It didn't for the longest time.

Crit-Based Ego Blades/Healer

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