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my archery build seeking feedback
xkagearashix
Posts: 397 Arc User
hey all, i've been wanting to make an archery build for a while now. I played the game a few years back and remembered I was a bit squishy. I don't know how this build will work but I put the powers that I wanted in here. I know I have 2 active defenses, but unless it got bad since last time i played, i loved resurgence at R2, and as it scales with CON, which I made as one of my secondaries... with my specialties (still trying to get a full grasp of what works with what) I expect to be able to get a lot of crits, thus my energy unlock is lock n load. I'm going for super dodgy, thus my acrobatics, quarry, masterful dodge, and evasive maneuvers. So made sense to use BCR (which I love) with RR. There were so many good powers and abilities to choose from, i spent hours building and rebuilding until i was satisfied with what i have now. But, still want feedback on how I did.
so, without further ado, here's my Archery
PowerHouse (Link to this build)
Name:
Archetype: Freeform
Super Stats:
Level 6: Ego (Primary)
Level 10: Dexterity (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)
Talents:
Level 1: The Marksman
Level 6: Academics
Level 9: Daredevil
Level 12: Quick Recovery
Level 15: Boundless Reserves
Level 18: Accurate
Level 21: Healthy Mind
Powers:
Level 1: Strafe (Aversion)
Level 1: Quarry (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Sonic Arrow (Rank 2, Deadly Dissonance)
Level 8: Storm of Arrows (Rank 2, Achilles' Heel)
Level 11: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 14: Bountiful Chi Resurgence (Resurgent Reiki)
Level 17: Concentration
Level 20: Masterful Dodge
Level 23: Lock N Load (Rank 2)
Level 26: Resurgence (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 29: Explosive Arrow (Rank 2, Where's the Kaboom?)
Level 32: Gas Arrow (Rank 2, Noxious Fumes)
Level 35: Evasive Maneuvers (Sleight of Mind)
Level 38: Implosion Engine (Inverse Polarization Field)
Travel Powers:
Level 6: Distortion Acrobatics (Rank 2)
Level 35: Retractable Wings (Rank 2)
Specializations:
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Follow Through (3/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (2/3)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: Find the Mark (2/3)
Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
Overseer: Ruthless (2/2)
Overseer: Overseer Aura (3/3)
Overseer: Conservation (2/2)
Overseer: Enhanced Gear (3/3)
Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)
so, without further ado, here's my Archery
PowerHouse (Link to this build)
Name:
Archetype: Freeform
Super Stats:
Level 6: Ego (Primary)
Level 10: Dexterity (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)
Talents:
Level 1: The Marksman
Level 6: Academics
Level 9: Daredevil
Level 12: Quick Recovery
Level 15: Boundless Reserves
Level 18: Accurate
Level 21: Healthy Mind
Powers:
Level 1: Strafe (Aversion)
Level 1: Quarry (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Sonic Arrow (Rank 2, Deadly Dissonance)
Level 8: Storm of Arrows (Rank 2, Achilles' Heel)
Level 11: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 14: Bountiful Chi Resurgence (Resurgent Reiki)
Level 17: Concentration
Level 20: Masterful Dodge
Level 23: Lock N Load (Rank 2)
Level 26: Resurgence (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 29: Explosive Arrow (Rank 2, Where's the Kaboom?)
Level 32: Gas Arrow (Rank 2, Noxious Fumes)
Level 35: Evasive Maneuvers (Sleight of Mind)
Level 38: Implosion Engine (Inverse Polarization Field)
Travel Powers:
Level 6: Distortion Acrobatics (Rank 2)
Level 35: Retractable Wings (Rank 2)
Specializations:
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Follow Through (3/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (2/3)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: Find the Mark (2/3)
Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
Overseer: Ruthless (2/2)
Overseer: Overseer Aura (3/3)
Overseer: Conservation (2/2)
Overseer: Enhanced Gear (3/3)
Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)
Post edited by xkagearashix on
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Comments
This is the build I'm using for Archery.
PowerHouse (Link to this build)
Name: Archery DPS
Archetype: Freeform
Super Stats:
Level 6: Ego (Primary)
Level 10: Intelligence (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)
Talents:
Level 1: The Disciple
Level 6: Coordinated
Level 9: Acrobat
Level 12: Shooter
Level 15: Impresario
Level 18: Healthy Mind
Level 21: Ascetic
Powers:
Level 1: Strafe
Level 1: Straight Shot (Rank 2, Split the Arrow)
Level 6: Quarry (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Storm of Arrows (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Concentration
Level 14: Bountiful Chi Resurgence (Resurgent Reiki)
Level 17: Hunter's Instinct
Level 20: Masterful Dodge
Level 23: Snap Shot (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Evasive Maneuvers (Sleight of Mind)
Level 29: Ego Surge (Nimble Mind)
Level 32: Explosive Arrow (Rank 2, Where's the Kaboom?)
Level 35: Toxic Nanites (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 38: Circle of Ebon Wrath (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Travel Powers:
Level 6: Acrobatics (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Ninja Vanish
Specializations:
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (1/3)
Ego: Aggression (2/2)
Ego: Follow Through (3/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (2/3)
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: Modified Gear (2/2)
Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)
Snap Shot has the highest DPS of all Archery abilities. Tap Straight Shot for the resistance debuff, spam Snap Shot. I didn't take Aversion because I don't use my energy builder that much with the stupid energy gain from high EGO + Concentration + Hunter's Instinct.
You really only need one or two AoE attacks (you have 5 and no single target), I opted for just taking Storm of Arrows and Explosive Arrow because of my theme.
You also don't need a lot of DEX, I talented for it but didn't SS it. You'll get enough crit chance from gear that anything over 100 DEX will be pushing into diminishing returns.
Ego Surge is a better Active Offense than Lock N' Load, especially if you're taking SS CON since Nimble Mind scales with CON. It also gives you more EGO, your PSS. Lock N' Load is good, but Ego Surge is better. Circle of Ebon Wrath is probably overkill with the way Freeform characters hit diminishing returns on bonus damage, so that's replaceable. Good place to fit Resurgence (I might once I test at 40).
I opted for Toxic Nanites > Gas Arrow, again for thematic reasons. It's only slightly lower dps, but your target can't walk out of Nanites. You could also add Gas Pellets, which are very OP should all of them hit the target.
Edit:
You could go with DEX PSS, INT/CON secondary and get bonus EGO from Audacity. This would make Hunter's Instinct and Concentration weaker though, but you'd have higher crit chance and severity (only slightly though at 40) from DEX spec and Mastery.
My 40s: Munitions, Electricity, TK Blades, Gadgeteering DPS
Other toons: Fire, Heavy Weapons Tank, Dual Blades, Fightning Claws, AoRP Support, Bestial Supernatural, Archery,
TK Ranged, Infernal Tank, Ice DPS, Laser Sword, Heavy Weapons DPS
ok, let's see... I originally took INT as a SSS, but changed it in favor of CON. DEX is very important for the concept, as this particular toon is built to be very dodgy. Thus Quarry, BCR w/ RR, MD, & Evasive Maneuvers. CON was made a SSS due to a couple reasons. !) I just returned from a few years off of game, but remembered in the past my old archer was very squishy, thus CON gave more HP. 2) I love resurgency as my self heal, and it scales off of CON. And EGO was my single minded choice for my PSS, I didn't like any other option on skill trees, plus the ranged attack bonus it gives fit well.
I built the build before making the character, and as such my movement powers has changed from acrobatics & ninja vanish to retractable wings & distortion acrobatics.
i wasn't aware of the benefit of straight shot. I can easily replace sonic arrow with it.
yeah, i didn't realize i stated lock n load as an energy builder, when i knew that it was an active offense... lol But, I looked over every single active offense and read them through several times, and Lock N Load was the winner, besides it fits thematically over hunter's instict... yes I know what it offers, and the fact that it's in the archery tree, the 3 AOs I was really looking long and hard at were hunter's instinct, lock n load, and ego surge. but in the end, lock n load was the winner there.
you said if i can fit it it, 2 active defenses is always a good idea.... i really didn't understand this comment, as in my build I do have 2 active defenses in MD and Resurgency...
you put in CoEW, but in no way shape or form will that fit my theme... the character has no super powers or magical abilities. She's all tech based.
Toxic nanites I guess could fit, never used it, so i don't know what the animation looks like, but as its in gadgeteering it should fit in with my theme and would be a good substitute for gas arrow.
I could be missing something, but i just really wasn't that impressed with straight shot
Hmm... Not sure what's going on here; now you correctly identified LnL as an Active Offense, but have Hunter's Instinct pegged as one too, when it is actually an Energy Unlock. That aside, in your original build you took an Energyy Unlock that doesn't scale with any of your SS's, and won't proc as often as Hunter's Instinct in that particular build. As far as AO's, I really can't see how LnL is better than Ego Surge, when both add damage, Ego Surge adds a huge Crit chance that scales off of a SS, and also adds a huge boost to your PSS. Unless you just don't like the graphic on Ego Surge, there is no way LnL is a better choice.
Just two more cents to think about. I like kelborn's build, especially the spec choices. If you switched out the powers you can't/don't want to take, like the Circle and Straight Shot, you could easily put back some powers you might've had for theme rather than effectiveness (Implosion Engine, etc.) without altering the main point of the build.
I wasn't aware that DEX doesn't help with Dodge anymore, but, being as you said, that it helps with crit chance. But I thought with my specs it's sort of built for crit sev & chnc..
yeah, when i wrote my comments, I had just woke up and didn't realize I pegged HI as an AO... lol
my energy unlock is MSA which triggers when a power comes off of cool down, I didn't think it relied on an SS
as far as why i'm against EGO Surge... as I stated, it's a mentalist power, and as such does not fit the theme of my character, as she has no super powers (including mentalist), and no magic... As far as explaining the resurgency since its in the supernatural set... She's an alien and her race has a naturally high regenerative ability. I love resurgency for both it's healing ability and that it's another active defense
When I said "if you can fit two Active Defenses" I was refering to general building. Some sets like Fire require far too many debuff powers to fit in 2 ADs and 2 AOs.
Since the crafting and gear change with On Alert!, you can get a very high amount of Crit Chance and Dodge/Avoidance from gear alone (and Cost Discount/Cooldown Reduction). DEX, STR, and EGO all give you crit and crit severity in their Specializations. DEX can give you Dodge/Avoidace in it's spec, while the others don't, but you often don't need to spec for it if you have Quarry or Way of the Warrior/Night Warrior. EGO also does not give crit severity at base value anymore, you can only get severity from your specializations. Taking PSS DEX will push you into diminishing returns on crit very quickly. Looking at my two level 40s in my sig, my Electricity toon with PSS DEX only has 6% more crit chance than my Muni toon who gets no DEX from gear (sitting at 93 from talents, SS bonus, and EGO Mastery). Even if I took CON instead of DEX and just used talents to get DEX, she'd still be very close in crit chance.
Toxic Nanites just causes a green glow on the target, like other poison abilities.
Ego Surge gives: +42/50/60% damage, +66/80/96 EGO. The Nimble Mind advantage gives 6% crit chance +0.1% per point of CON (or 1% per 10 CON, 10% per 100 CON). It causes your character to glow, which since yours is tech based can be explained as "overloading" her armor.
Lock N' Load gives: +42/50/60% damage, +25/30/36% reduced energy costs, +6.7/8/9.6% crit chance. LnL is by no means a bad choice, just Ego Surge ends up being better. If you take INT as a SS (which you should to scale Audacity and MSA), the cost discount is wasted. And the crit chance is inferior.
My 40s: Munitions, Electricity, TK Blades, Gadgeteering DPS
Other toons: Fire, Heavy Weapons Tank, Dual Blades, Fightning Claws, AoRP Support, Bestial Supernatural, Archery,
TK Ranged, Infernal Tank, Ice DPS, Laser Sword, Heavy Weapons DPS
1) being that I originally intended yo be dodgy, thus why I went with my old routine of Quarry, BCR, MD & EM? what suggestions would you all have to replace all of that?
On toxic nanites, you said the animation just has a green glow? so there?s no activation animation? Just causing the enemies to glow green? How effective is gas pellets? And if I use them any adv?
Way of the warrior from what I read on the co wiki is useless for my build as it?s claim to fame is all about melee attacks, and no ranged benefits. As far as Night Warrior? the wiki has absolutely no information on it, thus I don?t know how good or bad, what the pros and cons are?
So what I?m going to do for my SS?s is Ego/INT/CON
With that said, do u think MSA would still be a good choice, or stick with EGO Surge?
Once I get some answers on these, I?ll start to rebuild her
Toxic Nanites has a brief and pretty understated activation animation... a few expanding rings that come out from your character's forehead (really similar to Imbue, if you've seen that one). It's always kinda seemed off to me, not really fitting the power, but it's very short and not too flashy. I think it could definitely be explained in non-mystical/metahuman terms for your concept, but that's just me.
Gas Pellets are... weird. One of the must unpredictable powers in the game. It lays out a little grid of smoke bomb looking pellets that lay there for several seconds. If your enemies walk over them, they take damage. If they don't, they don't. So sometimes you'll toss a handful out there and they don't do anything for you. Sometimes (especially if fighting an enemy with a big target area, like Black Talon) they'll "step on" multiple pellets and the damage will be godly. It's VERY hit or miss... either game-breakingly powerful or totally useless. Judgment call for you on how much you want to gamble on it.
If you take them, you can take an advantage that basically doubles the number of pellets you throw out there. Pretty useful if you're intending it to be a carpet-bombing kinda power, and since there's no real way of aiming the power anyway... might as well cast a wide net.
Yeah, you don't want to bother with WotW. Night Warrior gives a smaller damage bonus, but allows you to use Stealth, and allows your attacks to ignore some of your opponents' damage resistance. It's a pretty fun passive if you build around it, but I think for the kind of set-up you're looking for, you're still best off going with Quarry.
EGO/INT/CON would be a pretty good idea (IMO). They meet basic needs (damage, Energy management, survivability), and those three are the scaling stats for several powers you're taking/can take (EGO for Hunter's Instinct & Concentration, CON for Ego Surge's advantage, INT for Quarry, etc.). Running Quarry with EGO and INT superstatted is great, since you're essentially getting a free, huge boost to two of your superstats at all times.
I would trade MSA for Hunter's Instinct, for your Energy unlock. I think you'll get more utility out of that, since you'll be proccing it more frequently and it scales off of your PSS.
Looking forward to seeing what the final build looks like; good luck.
i changed talents, reordered powers, and switched out powers... my older build had something like 5 AoEs, now i only have 2. Also, my older build not counting energy builder had 1 single target, and now i have 3, for a total of not counting energy builder 5 actual attacks...
PowerHouse (Link to this build)
Name:
Archetype: Freeform
Super Stats:
Level 6: Ego (Primary)
Level 10: Constitution (Secondary)
Level 15: Intelligence (Secondary)
Talents:
Level 1: The Invincible
Level 6: Paramilitary Training
Level 9: Field Ops Training
Level 12: Wordly
Level 15: Amazing Stamina
Level 18: Boundless Reserves
Level 21: Investigator
Powers:
Level 1: Strafe (Aversion)
Level 1: Quarry (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Straight Shot (Split the Arrow)
Level 8: Snap Shot (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Hunter's Instinct
Level 14: Concentration
Level 17: Bountiful Chi Resurgence (Resurgent Reiki)
Level 20: Storm of Arrows (Achilles' Heel)
Level 23: Ego Surge (Rank 2, Nimble Mind)
Level 26: Resurgence (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 29: Masterful Dodge
Level 32: Focused Shot (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Evasive Maneuvers (Sleight of Mind)
Level 38: Explosive Arrow (Rank 2, Where's the Kaboom?)
Travel Powers:
Level 6: Retractable Wings (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Teleportation
Specializations:
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Follow Through (2/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (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: Modified Gear (2/2)
Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)
You're still confusing your Active Offenses and Energy Unlocks.
I assume you meant MSA vs Hunter's Instinct. Both are good. MSA gives you Energy every 3 seconds for 6 seconds whenever a power comes off cooldown, consecutive powers coming off cooldown extend the duration. It scales with INT. Hunter's Instinct gives you a burst of Energy whenever you crit with an Archery ability, can occur once every three seconds. Scales on EGO.
Unless you have several low-cooldown abilities, Hunter's Instinct will be better than MSA. Like Torrent of Arrows + Conviction, and using them all the time. Melee characters often take it to function with their chosen Lunge ability. Your single target abilities don't have a cooldown, which is why I prefer Hunter's Instinct.
Unless your toon is at 40, don't take Aversion on Strafe yet. With the stupid Energy gain from Hunter's Instinct and Concentration, you really won't ever need your Energy Builder. Don't waste 2 Adv. points if you don't have to. Take it as your last advantage at 40 and see if you actually use it, then decide if you want to keep or get rid of it.
My 40s: Munitions, Electricity, TK Blades, Gadgeteering DPS
Other toons: Fire, Heavy Weapons Tank, Dual Blades, Fightning Claws, AoRP Support, Bestial Supernatural, Archery,
TK Ranged, Infernal Tank, Ice DPS, Laser Sword, Heavy Weapons DPS