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Need Archery Build Advice
bkmk2007
Posts: 7 Arc User
Hey everyone,
So I'm back to Champions after a loooong hiatus. Needless to say, I'm rather flumoxed by the rule changes and not sure I understand them completely. I'd like to get back into the game with a new build, and was hoping folks who are more familiar with the new rules would be able to offer advice on what I have so far. I'm wanting an Archery build that can competently PvE on its own most of the time. I'm going for the feel of the traditional superhero archer seen in modern comics (Green Arrow, Hawkeye), so I'd like the powers to be as thematically appropriate as possible for that. I've made my own attempt at a build taking into account advice I've culled from the boards so far on things like character balance and specializations, but I really would like some extra eyes to take a look.
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: The Soldier
Level 6: Ascetic
Level 9: Acrobat
Level 12: Healthy Mind
Level 15: Shooter
Level 18: Academics
Level 21: Coordinated
Powers:
Level 1: Strafe (Aversion)
Level 1: Straight Shot (Rank 2, Split the Arrow)
Level 6: Sonic Arrow (Deadly Dissonance, Nailed to the Ground)
Level 8: Torrent of Arrows (Rank 2, Relentless Recurve)
Level 11: Lightning Reflexes (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Concentration
Level 17: Explosive Arrow (Rank 2, Where's the Kaboom?)
Level 20: Bountiful Chi Resurgence (Rank 2, Resurgent Reiki)
Level 23: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 26: Masterful Dodge (Unfettered Strikes)
Level 29: Evasive Maneuvers (Sleight of Mind)
Level 32: Quarry (Fair Game)
Level 35: Storm of Arrows
Level 38: Gas Arrow (Noxious Fumes)
Travel Powers:
Level 6: Swinging (Flippin')
Level 35: Acrobatics
Specializations:
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Follow Through (3/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (2/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: The Rush of Battle (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (1/3)
Vindicator: Offensive Expertise (1/2)
Avenger: Ruthless (2/2)
Avenger: Round 'em Up (3/3)
Avenger: Surprise Attack (2/2)
Avenger: Relentless Assault (3/3)
Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)
So I'm back to Champions after a loooong hiatus. Needless to say, I'm rather flumoxed by the rule changes and not sure I understand them completely. I'd like to get back into the game with a new build, and was hoping folks who are more familiar with the new rules would be able to offer advice on what I have so far. I'm wanting an Archery build that can competently PvE on its own most of the time. I'm going for the feel of the traditional superhero archer seen in modern comics (Green Arrow, Hawkeye), so I'd like the powers to be as thematically appropriate as possible for that. I've made my own attempt at a build taking into account advice I've culled from the boards so far on things like character balance and specializations, but I really would like some extra eyes to take a look.
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: The Soldier
Level 6: Ascetic
Level 9: Acrobat
Level 12: Healthy Mind
Level 15: Shooter
Level 18: Academics
Level 21: Coordinated
Powers:
Level 1: Strafe (Aversion)
Level 1: Straight Shot (Rank 2, Split the Arrow)
Level 6: Sonic Arrow (Deadly Dissonance, Nailed to the Ground)
Level 8: Torrent of Arrows (Rank 2, Relentless Recurve)
Level 11: Lightning Reflexes (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Concentration
Level 17: Explosive Arrow (Rank 2, Where's the Kaboom?)
Level 20: Bountiful Chi Resurgence (Rank 2, Resurgent Reiki)
Level 23: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 26: Masterful Dodge (Unfettered Strikes)
Level 29: Evasive Maneuvers (Sleight of Mind)
Level 32: Quarry (Fair Game)
Level 35: Storm of Arrows
Level 38: Gas Arrow (Noxious Fumes)
Travel Powers:
Level 6: Swinging (Flippin')
Level 35: Acrobatics
Specializations:
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Follow Through (3/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (2/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: The Rush of Battle (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (1/3)
Vindicator: Offensive Expertise (1/2)
Avenger: Ruthless (2/2)
Avenger: Round 'em Up (3/3)
Avenger: Surprise Attack (2/2)
Avenger: Relentless Assault (3/3)
Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)
Post edited by bkmk2007 on
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Comments
Name:
Archetype: Freeform
Super Stats:
Level 6: Dexterity (Primary)
Level 10: Intelligence (Secondary)
Level 15: Ego (Secondary)
Talents:
Level 1: The Soldier
Level 6: Agile
Level 9: Brilliant
Level 12: Indomitable
Level 15: Coordinated
Level 18: Shooter
Level 21: Academics
Powers:
Level 1: Strafe (Aversion)
Level 1: Straight Shot (Split the Arrow)
Level 6: Sonic Arrow (Deadly Dissonance, Nailed to the Ground)
Level 8: Torrent of Arrows (Relentless Recurve)
Level 11: Quarry (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Concentration
Level 17: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Bountiful Chi Resurgence (Resurgent Reiki)
Level 23: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 26: Masterful Dodge
Level 29: Evasive Maneuvers (Rank 2, Sleight of Mind)
Level 32: Ice Sheath (Rank 2)
Level 35: Storm of Arrows (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 38: Gas Arrow (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Travel Powers:
Level 6: Swinging (Flippin')
Level 35: Acrobatics
Specializations:
Dexterity: Combat Training (2/3)
Dexterity: Gear Utilization (3/3)
Dexterity: Deadly Aim (3/3)
Dexterity: Expose Weakness (2/2)
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: Initiative (2/2)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (3/3)
Mastery: Dexterity Mastery (1/1)
My build directory (work in progress)
Guide list
Freeform Builds
In loving memory of AngelofCaine.
Here's my general guide on Archery. You'll find some good builds in here that I say are reliable and thematic, not to toot my own horn.
Right now, with your build, I have a few concerns:
1. Dual passives can be done right, but having Quarry and LR being your two passives is a little iffy. Quarry already offers awesome dodge/avoid and has so many perks to it in general. Drop Lightning Reflexes unless you REALLY want to be a tank. R3 Quarry.
2. R3 Straight Shot for the best spiking capability. Split the Arrow's debuff isn't all that great in my experience.
3. Drop a rank on Explosive Arrow since you're only going to be tapping it. If it crits, you'll still get a critical, high-damage explosion.
4. Drop a rank on BCR. Keep RR. The dodge-healing isn't affected by ranks.
5. Put R2 on Evasive Maneuvers, keep Sleight of Mind. The + 20% dodge boost is amazing.
6. Kinda iffy on Unfettered Strikes. It isn't all that helpful.
7. Drop Gas Arrow for R3 Conviction.
8. R2 and Advantage for Storm of Arrows. It's so worth it!
9. Pick up Ego Surge with the advantage, even if you don't have Constitution. The crit chance buff is always nice. Even better if you decide to grab Secondary Con.
Gas Arrow is only good if you're specced for Control, i.e. your spec trees can debuff foes that you stun.
However, I was wondering about Conviction and (especially) Ego Surge. Those seem rather strongly out of theme, at least by description. Are they something where in game it works and you can feasibly ignore what the game description is? Or are they something so powerful/useful you really must have it if you have any intention of soloing PvE?
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I'm sure Ego Surge is a good power, but given how out of theme it is, is it a _necessary_ power?
What if you recolor it and call it something else in your mind? I use Fire Flight colored blue on an Ice themed character, and it makes a pretty cool "Blizzard Flight". A color change can make a world of difference.
I'm still fairly new. If I screwed up again, let me know.
PowerHouse (Link to this build)
Name: Pack Hunter
Archetype: Freeform
Super Stats:
Level 6: Dexterity (Primary)
Level 10: Intelligence (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)
Talents:
Level 1: The Glacier
Level 6: Field Ops Training
Level 9: Command Training
Level 12: Sniper Training
Level 15: Martial Training
Level 18: Survival Training
Level 21: Daredevil
Powers:
Level 1: Strafe (Aversion)
Level 1: Straight Shot (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Quarry (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Torrent of Arrows (Rank 2, Relentless Recurve)
Level 11: Evasive Maneuvers (Rank 2, Sleight of Mind)
Level 14: Command Animals (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 17: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 20: Ritual of Primal Summoning (Rank 2, Unbound Ritual)
Level 23: Concentration
Level 26: Arctic Beast (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 29: Storm of Arrows (Rank 2, Achilles' Heel)
Level 32: Conviction
Level 35: Unbreakable
Level 38: Intensity
Travel Powers:
Level 6: Athletics (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Teleportation
Specializations:
Dexterity: Combat Training (3/3)
Dexterity: Gear Utilization (2/3)
Dexterity: Evasion (1/2)
Dexterity: Deadly Aim (3/3)
Dexterity: Quick Reflexes (1/3)
Commander: Evasive Action (2/2)
Commander: Create An Opening (2/2)
Commander: Multitasker (3/3)
Commander: Savage (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: The Rush of Battle (3/3)
Vindicator: Modified Gear (2/2)
Mastery: Commander Mastery (1/1)
The lack of self healing is due mostly to the fact that with Evasive Manuvers and Sleight of Mind the aggro stays pretty much on your pets, plus I like the archer shooting from behind a pack of vicious wolves. So, if you are ever feeling in a more mystical mood, this would be an appropriate build.
Got asked after a few games what my build was....so I thought I should post my build....and this topic is about Arrow usage.
PowerHouse (Link to this build)
Name:
Archetype: Freeform
Super Stats:
Level 6: Intelligence (Primary)
Level 10: Dexterity (Secondary)
Level 15: Recovery (Secondary)
Talents:
Level 1: The Hero
Level 6: Jack of All Trades
Level 9: Field Ops Training
Level 12: Survival Training
Level 15: Command Training
Level 18: Covert Ops Training
Level 21: Martial Training
Powers:
Level 1: Strafe (Aversion)
Level 1: Sonic Arrow
Level 6: Storm of Arrows (Rank 2, Achilles' Heel)
Level 8: Gauntlet Chainsaw (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Night Warrior (Rank 2, Rank 3, Silent Running)
Level 14: Concentration (Rank 2)
Level 17: Focused Shot (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Parry (The Elusive Monk)
Level 23: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Lock N Load
Level 29: Evasive Maneuvers (Sleight of Mind)
Level 32: Overdrive
Level 35: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 38: Strafing Run
Travel Powers:
Level 6: Acrobatics (Rank 2, Rank 3, Versatility)
Level 35: Ninja Leaves
Specializations:
Intelligence: Enlightened (3/3)
Intelligence: Tactician (2/2)
Intelligence: Detect Vulnerability (3/3)
Intelligence: Expertise (2/2)
Sentry: Twist Fate (2/2)
Sentry: Sentry Aura (3/3)
Sentry: Fortify (2/2)
Sentry: Stalling Tactics (1/3)
Sentry: Reinforce (2/2)
Avenger: Can't Touch This (1/3)
Avenger: Anguish (1/2)
Avenger: Round 'em Up (3/3)
Avenger: Surprise Attack (2/2)
Avenger: Relentless Assault (3/3)
Mastery: Intelligence Mastery (1/1)
As you can see I play like an assassin. Sometimes range isn't going to cut the mustard...so I pull out the chain saw. I use Conviction a lot but sometimes have to use resurgence as well...because sometimes the agro doesn't clear fast enough so I get nailed bad....and health sometimes just wont heal back fast enough.
Before anyone asks...you need a lot of energy to keep the chainsaw and storm arrows going...those will be the two main skills aside from the assassin strike power that will get the most usage I find. Backups are the sonic arrow for stunning that pesky enemy and with the specializations they will be stunned for a while....and the focused arrow...which lets you do very long range attacks...for that needed pull you need.
Power without Perception is Spiritually useless and therefore of no true value.
=^_^=
Or... any arrow, really. :P
Your advantage setup also kinda bugs me... you didn't R3 Strafing Run? Concentration has a rank in it? You have Parry despite being mostly ranged? You're using Overdrive instead of a less End/Rec dependent energy unlock like Molecular Self Assembly? That scales on Int and gives you energy when you hit a cooldown! And a lot of it too!
PowerHouse (Link to this build)
Name:
Archetype: Freeform
Super Stats:
Level 6: Intelligence (Primary)
Level 10: Dexterity (Secondary)
Level 15: Ego (Secondary)
Talents:
Level 1: The Marksman
Level 6: Healthy Mind
Level 9: Academics
Level 12: Shooter
Level 15: Acrobat
Level 18: Ascetic
Level 21: Coordinated
Powers:
Level 1: Strafe
Level 1: Straight Shot (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Sonic Arrow (Deadly Dissonance, Nailed to the Ground)
Level 8: Gauntlet Chainsaw (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Night Warrior (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Concentration
Level 17: Storm of Arrows (Rank 2, Achilles' Heel)
Level 20: Evasive Maneuvers (Rank 2, Sleight of Mind)
Level 23: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Lock N Load
Level 29: Masterful Dodge
Level 32: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 35: Bountiful Chi Resurgence (Resurgent Reiki)
Level 38: Strafing Run (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Travel Powers:
Level 6: Acrobatics (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Ninja Leaves
Specializations:
Intelligence: Enlightened (3/3)
Intelligence: Tactician (2/2)
Intelligence: Detect Vulnerability (3/3)
Intelligence: Expertise (2/2)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Locus (2/2)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
Avenger: Ruthless (2/2)
Avenger: Round 'em Up (3/3)
Avenger: Surprise Attack (2/2)
Avenger: Relentless Assault (3/3)
Mastery: Intelligence Mastery (1/1)
With this build you'll be able to smoothly go from cooldown to cooldown to keep up your ranged assault, only going in for the Chainsaw kill if you REALLY want to (honestly, I'd consider dropping it). Masterful Dodge is near-godmode for 12 seconds, especially when paired with BCR + RR. Conviction spamming will also give you free energy with Molecular Self Assembly instead of Overdrive, which barely worked with your chosen SSes to begin with.
Straight Shot will ultimately do more damage than Focused Shot AND will charge faster.
Play your cards right and you won't even need Resurgence anymore, and you'll be a nice, survivable archer with a chainsaw and a Strafing Run.
Ok saw your build....its interesting.....it follows something I tried a while back...hated it for a number of reasons...as I found I was activating non-attack powers constantly and was not hitting....and still died a lot.
It took me a bit to realize why....I totally forgot at the time about how this game has a depreciating value on some things...meaning once you reach a certain value you are at the maximum the game will pretty much allow.
The problem is because masterful dodge does nothing but give you more dodge truly...once you get to 49% that masterful dodge will add a whopping 5% to you...if you are already at 70% it adds nada.
Also the evasive maneuvers you are going for again realizing that you will constantly trying spam it....that's 3 seconds of your attack time for that extra 20% dodge....at a 50% dodge already you get 1% from it....at 70% already it adds nothing .
The other problem I had was with bountiful chi....its a damage heal over time...thus it isn't a big amount....but the way the concept of making it come back faster you literally are forcing your self to constantly activate it....this means you will end up interrupting every other power or maintain you want to do to use it. Also it cannot be used while held or confused or on the ground or in many circumstances...thus for me I realized my death was due to the fact I could not use a heal when I needed to....and lowers your damage a lot when its used...not sure why the developers penalized players the amount they did but its way too much.
Thus the two powers I use are not confined by those rules....and I am not being forced to constantly spam non-attack powers....as one recharges for me in 3 seconds...the other in 20.
Its funny I built that dodge type heal character like your build at a time I thought....hey I could take lightning reflexes and form of the master which builds up based on dodge and use storms eye parana to really get some major healing recharge....and it did work at low levels....then I went against tougher stuff and found I wasnt keeping up at all, thus I went to the build I have now.
Now you altered the build but i think you are not realizing that not only is there an attack not listed on the build (the assassin strike) but also not understanding how all this goes together.
As an assassin you are invisible most of the time....your first strike is always going to be a devastating hit....
Mostly a player will use the assassin strike....or an area of effect...best is the storm of arrows to make it so they wont move or maybe a focused shot.
The focused arrow is different then a sniper shot....the sniper shot does more damage....but the arrow has no trace back and a longer range then your straight shot you had selected, also seams to be able to not need the line of sight the sniper rifle needs...it also stacks very well and does piercing damage which means ignores some resistance.
I am sure you can pull groups with a straight shot at 100 feet....but can you pull just one target or kill one target beyond that?.... nope...not with straight shot.
I took focused so I could do just that....and to also kill things from an extreme distance.
Which is also my reason for intelligence being important...you need to have a long enough detection range to utilize the abilities you have....with out much intelligence you actually will lose targeting at far away targets....with your straight shot you are at your maximum normal target range......but if you want o hit things farther....you just wont be able to do I very well.
Too give an example of how important this is.....the bombs as an example you need to destroy for the mega D spawning in millennium city....have a curious negative to site range on them....normally a player will have to be close to hit them(notice if you click on them and back up you will lose the target reticle because your range has increased)....I don't need to be close to hit these things....I shoot they get destroyed I don't even mess with any of the other enemies....they get blown all over...and wont even mess with me.(the bomb!! it blew up on its own!!!)
The parry power this was something you where mystified on....why would I choose this over say energy shield with the advantage for example....well parry constantly adds to the dodge and dodge damage mitigation you have(yada yada)....but it also gives you the ability to counter an attack back at the enemy of a percentage of the damage they give you(based on your dex lol)....thus if its a big hit....no matter where you are you will do a kick maneuver(that's the animation) and hit the enemy back for a big amount of damage....yes this includes the whopping attacks from grond for example.(he hits you for 5000 damage you counter with a kick at range for 2500 tell me that isn't funny)
Yes I didn't put rank 3 in to strafing run....for me I use it for the fire and knocking around it does over an area....while in a state of being flung around they cant attack and thus are open to a rain of arrows or for anything I want to do....besides the 24 second recharge for it...doesn't make it a usable power to use a lot....thus using the advantage points somewhere else became more effective....and it was my last power choice...I chose something I didn't really need but looked like fun....also fit more with my assassin theme then say a giant beam of energy from the sky or throwing a giant gravity engine into an area
I see you put in straight shot....you know I tried to like that power...but realized I couldn't stay at long distances....I needed something to balance off with my close assassin strike....thus I chose the chain saw...which does more damage faster then single shot by 1000%.
And I see you put in deadly dissonance for the area of effect on the sonic....which sounds neat...but remember that's a build up attack you actually will do more damage with storm of arrows then with it.....the stun effect from it is lowered if you put deadly dissonance in it....thus for me I use it for the single target ability....but its not my primary ability I use unless the enemy is being lame and blocking a lot or trying to fly as it will get them out of the air fairly fast.
My build is built around maintains that you can freely move with.....and with the concept I am going to kill my opponents fast....I am not going to be running around just shooting unless I have to.
Yours looks like its built with range in mind with constantly activating a heal over time and a dodge power to remain dodging....your game play will be constantly running around...with many times where you will get held or stunned.
Now one issue with your dodge technique from your build....I actually know you have not played this build solo against anything super strong yet.....the reason I know this is due to a game bug......a game bug I will describe here....its been in the game for a while...I don't think its an easy fix or else it wouldn't still be there.
Here is the bug: if you run into a super strong opponent solo....and you do damage to it.....as usual you will probably give your self some distance to it.....this makes the enemy come after you.
Now your build was designed to use evasive maneuvers to up dodge(thus why you increased its rank).....you also have it with sleight of mind.....curiously this game has a bug that if you do that (ie use sleight of mind) the enemy forgets about you...goes back to their position....and heals up to maximum health again.(thus another reason I don't put ranks into evasive...as I use to get rid of agro....I don't use it to up my dodge)
Technically if I where you and this is too anyone else reading this too.....I might look to see if you are already at a very high dodge and rethink how you spent some of those ranks as you are probably not getting much bonus at all.
Also I would redo the build order on the powers....only because if you get on an alert you wont have any form of healing ability.
Mine is mostly the order I got the powers, I did some redoing at levels 15 to 20...but after getting shadow warrior because I switched from lighting reflexes....I have not done any changes at all.
My specializations and talent choices where made to get the most character points....as I realized I could specialize with certain abilities....but I could more easily do specializations with equipment and have a better game play with high ability scores across the board.
Plus again...at a certain value it just doesn't do much if you have statistics of 350 or so.
Power without Perception is Spiritually useless and therefore of no true value.
=^_^=