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Help with heavy weapons/Giant build
gavinruneblade
Posts: 3,781 Arc User
So I trimmed a few too many powers off my heavy weapons build. I'm not sure how but I thought only the AoE lunge existed and it's cooldown was so long that I scrapped it. End result is that I pretty much have zero damage. I crit for at best 4,000 and that's rare usually it's closer to 3. Coming off my unleashed who crits for 16k it almost made me swear to never make another Freeform again since I clearly don't know what I'm doing haha.
Anyway, it is a growth build so enrage and mini device are mandatory. Pretty flexible on the rest, here's what I got so far:
http://powerhouse.nullware.com/powerhouse.html?v=5&n=&d=1132WEPA9bd7060G000G103G205G404GC0DGD00GE057O049D05QJ009K05AH05000000003oPy3V753V76
In play I do not have energy problems as I'm running gear with a lot of cost reduction. I run out of energy maybe once or twice an hour and it only takes one swing to get me going again.
But I'm thinking I'd be better off with con or dex over strength as my primary SS also.
I was totally squishy in hybrid so I run in tank form but I'd rather not. Still get knocked around way too much. Was in an aftershock last night and felt like a ping-pong ball. Not sure how to fix that.
My current last two powers were just placeholders (the energy unlock that gives energy when a cooldown finishes since I have four clickie powers I use a lot, and summon attack toys because it's in character).
Anyway, I'm also fairly sure that aftershock on brimstone isn't worth it as the burn damage looks cool but does almost nothing, and same with the explosion on Eruption. I really don't like charge powers but that's pretty much all heavy weapons has. I tried annihilate but the knock was atrocious. things went flaying way out of lunge range and the damage was junk. Arc of ruin I've never managed to hit more than 2 enemies with that's why I went for Brimstone. But the damage difference is enormous and brimstone just doesn't kill things.
So, um, help?
Anyway, it is a growth build so enrage and mini device are mandatory. Pretty flexible on the rest, here's what I got so far:
http://powerhouse.nullware.com/powerhouse.html?v=5&n=&d=1132WEPA9bd7060G000G103G205G404GC0DGD00GE057O049D05QJ009K05AH05000000003oPy3V753V76
In play I do not have energy problems as I'm running gear with a lot of cost reduction. I run out of energy maybe once or twice an hour and it only takes one swing to get me going again.
But I'm thinking I'd be better off with con or dex over strength as my primary SS also.
I was totally squishy in hybrid so I run in tank form but I'd rather not. Still get knocked around way too much. Was in an aftershock last night and felt like a ping-pong ball. Not sure how to fix that.
My current last two powers were just placeholders (the energy unlock that gives energy when a cooldown finishes since I have four clickie powers I use a lot, and summon attack toys because it's in character).
Anyway, I'm also fairly sure that aftershock on brimstone isn't worth it as the burn damage looks cool but does almost nothing, and same with the explosion on Eruption. I really don't like charge powers but that's pretty much all heavy weapons has. I tried annihilate but the knock was atrocious. things went flaying way out of lunge range and the damage was junk. Arc of ruin I've never managed to hit more than 2 enemies with that's why I went for Brimstone. But the damage difference is enormous and brimstone just doesn't kill things.
So, um, help?
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First off dont compare your dmg here to unleashed, you're running a defensive passive, sure you can still get good numbers out of it but you will never go to the level of offensive passive-users.
Secondly, at least for me, a toon on defensive passive that cant hold any aggro is a wasted tank potential, here is a tankier version of your build, i changed as little as possible
http://powerhouse.nullware.com/powerhouse.html?v=5&n=&d=1132WEPA9bd7161G000G10JG209G404GC0CGD01GE0L7O049D04QJ009K05AH05DL007G003oPy3T3B3bhs
I'd let go of Force of Will, it was a long time since i last used it but it was pretty useless, resistances start making a difference when you are about to die already.
I dont really know what Rebirth is doing here, you should tke it only if you forsee yourself dying a lot and with a defensive passive it shouldnt happen all that often.
Double The Best Defence looks nice, twice the offense, but it gets hit with a train named dimishing returns, there is really no point when there are better specs to get.
Added a 2nd active defense, you can cycle between the 2.
Ranking up Energy Shield doesnt buff the laser knight shield, so yeah, out.
Ranking up forms is also pretty pointless, unless you want it for that little more height out of fight.
If you sau you have no energy problems then ok, but to get more out of MSA (the energy after recharge energy unlock) you need some int or rec.
There is probably more but I'm in a hurry, I'll let other people touch stats and the like, good luck to you and your toon.
And if that don't work?
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Then pop something into the air with Rank 3 Annihilate and yell "FORE!"
As for Brimstone, the advantage creates a fire patch and applies Clinging Flames. It's good if you have Thermal Reverb as your energy unlock
If I use melee damage role then I can't use enrage and thus I can't grow and that's the #1 most important part of the character. Which is also why I have cleave and eruption a they build stacks of enrage with the knock.
I was going more for damage than survival, but my unleashed felt super squishy so I wanted to make something that can actually solo serpent lantern. Even on normal with this build the end boss can kill me in 4 hits if I block all 4 of them and heal in-between. So I can't sacrifice too much survival and still meet that core goal. Still, my damage got crippled as I'm far behind even a pure AT Devastator.
How does laser knight impact damage? I don't see anything about that in the power description or on my character buff line.
Ice sheath does look better than Aggressor, i don't need the bonus enrage stack and the strength is way into diminishing returns. Are there any other good active offences or is that like the cookie cutter "best"?
Well I keep haring from Devastators how they do more damage than unleashed's and I have the same passive they do. The goal is not to be a tank, because I hate doing that and I'm not good at it as I have no perception I just run smack into things and kill until I drop or someone tells me to wait for the team to catch up. Seriously if you have me as a tank for the team, we're going to wipe repeatedly.
I don't want to be on defensive. I only picked it up to try and help with knock but it's not helping much.
What's force of will?
I die multiple times on any given map even on normal with a support character helping. Nothing and no one can keep me alive. Back in City of Heroes I had the exact same build and sets as someone who solo'd 6 dev created AV's at once and I still died running missions vs normal enemies. Not to mention, I run a lot of comic series and I want to kick whatever dev thought of the lockout mechanic in the balls. But REbirth will have to do until that mechanic is removed from the game.
I know it does, but I actually can't see anything that is better. Crit severity is not so handy considering how rarely I get crits (far below the indicated % tracked over dozens and dozens of fights) and I took every crit chance mod I could find. Those stacking powers are really gimicky and always wear off before I get a second stack, so I did't see anthing better. EVen on the build you gave I'm not sure what is supposed to be the benefit of most of the specs you chose. Can you help me understand?
The height was the point.
I have thought about putting in one level 5 Rec mod in my utility slot, it's the heroic efficient one with a level 6 luck gem for almost 300 discount already. I currently have con/str slotted but I am over on Str and under on dex so was planning to move things around a bit.
Do you have a variant of your build that is damage focused and runs in hybrid? Also, my experience with molecular self assembly is that it only works out of combat 'cause I can't attack while it's going. Is that just for power armor or true for everyone?
http://powerhouse.nullware.com/powerhouse.html?v=5&n=&d=1134WEFTUPQ6570G000G103G203GC0C9B037G00G70OGE05AI00J5037O04G600GH03GD003bDC3Swk3V8f
You can't? Pretty sure the Devastator AT is in Melee Damage and it uses Enrage. Unless you mean Defiance, but Defiance doesn't seem to have a growth component.
I've found ranged attacks to be very useful when soloing as a melee character. They can be used to pull mobs, hit annoying flyers or in the case of the Serpent Lantern final boss, outrange its attacks. If it won't go out of theme, consider something like Force Blast (Force) or Updraft (Wind)
It says so in the description for the advantage. According to the wiki it's -15% damage.
Ice Sheath is good for big numbers because it buffs crit severity. As for other active offences, IMO they're all good, it just depends on what you're looking for. Lock & Load and Ego Surge with Nimble Mind are good for crit chance. Electric Sheath with Matter-Energy Union can shield you from damage. The rest probably aren't as relevant for your build but still have their uses e.g. Immolation for power-hungry builds with low cost discount and Intensity to supplement low strength or Dex builds, possibly with primary Int. The only really useless one is Imbue - I think it's still bugged and doesn't break out of holds.
As far as knocks go, there are a few sources of knock resist:
Circle of Primal Dominion is probably the single highest source of it and even that's not foolproof. Everything else is kind of unreliable. As a melee character, expect to get knocked, at least occasionally.
Anyway, after taking everything into account, I'd probably go with a build like this:
http://powerhouse.nullware.com/powerhouse.html?v=5&n=&d=1413WABMbPT6370G000G601J10B6403I805GC08GB07GE057O04AH057G00A903QJ00AI002whk3T3B3bDM
Quick rundown of the main points:
I teleport and my attacks burst into flames. I can tweak something. Heck there's a ranged attack in Heavy weapons, just not sure if it's so good, haven't tested it.
Gah totally missed that and it's right there in my face. *blushes*
Thanks.
Ya, relly thinking of adding con as primary over dex for that. The issue isn't "occasionally" it's all the time, sometimes over and over before I stand up". Heck this weekend in aftershock I was tossed from the hallway into a room, into a spawn, from them into another spawn, and from them into a third all before I could stand up from the first. Then I died and all three spawns piled into my team wiping everyone.
This is extreme, but things like it have happened more than just this once. I really am getting sick of it.
Anyway, after taking everything into account, I'd probably go with a build like this:
http://powerhouse.nullware.com/powerhouse.html?v=5&n=&d=1413WABMbPT6370G000G601J10B6403I805GC08GB07GE057O04AH057G00A903QJ00AI002whk3T3B3bDM
Quick rundown of the main points:
- Primary Int will give you balanced stats, easy 40%+ crit chance with Englightened - just use a single Rank 5 Dex mod and a crit chance secondary. Easy 9000+ HP with Expertise too, or at least in the high 8000s.
- Quarry as a Passive gives a good mix of offense and defense too. You should hit 57% dodge chance easily with R3 Quarry, and still get a good boost to damage. A nice side effect with Primary Int is that it adds a decent amount to Ego, which helps with Iron Cyclone's pull and damage.
- Iron Cyclone with Vortex Technique is there to build Enrage and pull things in for your Brimstone to hit. In theory it could address your knock problems too - they can't knock you if you knock them first
- I chose Intensity because it gives Strength for extra knock resist. Feel free to replace with Ego Surge + Nimble Mind.
- Warden/Vindicator Specialization trees with The Best Defense and Aggressive Stance will put your Offense and Defense in a loop that will make their values skyrocket. I think Skewer is considered an AoE so I ditched the single target buff for more Offense. It won't hit as hard as Annihilate, but it builds/maintains Enrage and doesn't knock people into orbit. You can replace it with Annihilate and tweak the specializations accordingly though.
- Rebuke is there because I wanted to put Conviction in, but the only empty slot was the level 6 slot, which doesn't support Conviction
On the plus side, it gives you a ranged attack and a heal at the same time. Of course, it'll be pretty weak since you're not specced for dimensional damage, but it should suffice for pulling or when you absolutely have to go ranged. You can replace it with Decimate if you prefer all out melee.
[/QUOTE]Hmm, I have to think about this. It's very very different. Why Guard, it looks like a very weak block overall.
Thank you again.
Hmmm. How does conviction compare to bountiful chi especially with the dodge from masterful dodge to play with?
And I stil have a concern that the one time I've tried molecular self assembly it stopped me from being able to attack. Is that just a function of powerarmor with it's weird attack slot mechanic?
On nailed to the ground, does it stop my teammates from using knock powers? Because if not then I'd rather spend the points elsewhere, as that's the only way anyone gets out of melee range after I lunge at them. Or wait, will that knock a flyer to the ground?
Here's something I came up with from your advice and first build:
http://powerhouse.nullware.com/powerhouse.html?v=5&n=&d=1312aKP9Abd7160G000G101G203G405GC0D2505GE037O042701QJ00G701AH05DL00G9030Cqp3V753T8j
But I like how both of you are recommending Int. It's making me think of dropping Str as a super stat and just dropping a big STR mod into my gear.
Appreciate the ongoing help.
It's Earth Splitter, but it's 50ft.
Sounds like an aggro management and crowd control issue rather than a problem with the build's survivability. Definitely consider taking Iron Cyclone with Vortex Technique, even if you don't go with any of my other suggestions. It pulls spawns in nicely and if done right, they should be dead before they manage to get a single knock off.
Edit: Guard increases the damage of your next hit. You can get some very nice Skewers off after a Guard
It was one of those patrols of three that walk down a hall. I ran past them by mistake. One shot me and I went flying through the door into the room and landed at the feet of a draysha who roomsweepered me deeper into the room then charged and hit me again deeper still. Then I had three whole spawns on me. All total it took less than 4 seconds, I never stood up once from the point where I got half a charge on brimstone loaded against the three mooks in the hall. Just pow-knock-pow-knock-pow-knock-pow-knock. Didn't even have time to get off my first brimstone.
I can't see that as being aggro management.
Looks like we misunderstood eachother in what kind of build you want, so sorry 'bout that.
Thats where i went wrong with my help for you, i assumed you want that defensive passive, oh well.
Force of Will is the advantage on Defiance that gives you knock and stun resistance as your health goes lower.
Fair enough.
Well they were to make you more tanky, slightly more defense and health/aggro, lowering the enemy's dmg and regaining health after being knocked/held, nevermind them now.
It wasnt "my" build, i just slightly changed yours, but I see you have more variants already.
With a Power Armor build you should go with Overdrive energy unlock, not MSA, also MSA works every time a power comes out of recharge, be it a lenghty active offense/defence or short ones on (for example) Conviction, Eruption or Decimate, it works fine in combat, just needs proper stats and using short recharge powers
Yeah it happens sometimes, a dose of bad luck.
When you see a knock coming, as Defender put it, "BLOCK!" and be more wary when prancing about in enemy lair, missed mobs tend to come back and bite you in the **** later.
I see others have you covered so I'm signing off again!
And if that don't work?
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
I should have used "or" instead of "and". And that definitely sounds like crowd control. It would have worked out differently if you got off a tick or two of Iron Cyclone instead of a half-charged Brimstone. That would interrupt their knock, land them squarely at your feet and then Brimstone would squish them
'Wen considered the nature of time and understood that the universe is, instant by instant, recreated anew. Therefore, he understood, there is in truth no past, only a memory of the past. Blink your eyes, and the world you see next did not exist when you closed them. Therefore, he said, the only appropriate state of the mind is surprise. The only appropriate state of the heart is joy. The sky you see now, you have never seen before. The perfect moment is now. Be glad of it.' Terry Pratchet The Thief Of Time
Is there a minimum amount of time you have to block with Force Sheath before that couple seconds kicks in?
Because if not, it might be almost as good as laser knight without the -damage if I can just tap shift real quick before charging an attack and have some defense during the buildup.