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Mindful Reinforcement vs Protection Field

kaeajakaeaja Posts: 165 Arc User
edited January 2015 in Power Discussion
Both of these moves are relatively okay Shield moves, but as is the case with both, it doesnt take much for an enemy or a group of enemies to break the shield, so I would like to know what you all think is better

Mindful Reinforcement has the potential to heal if it remains up long enough to restore health even if it does, chances are it will have lost so much of its protection that it wont heal you for much, then there is Protection Field which will restore energy.

Either way, which is the better ability, and should EITHER one be ranked up?
Post edited by kaeaja on

Comments

  • jennymachxjennymachx Posts: 3,000 Arc User
    edited January 2015
    Even if Mindful Reinforcement doesn't stay up long enough to give you that heal return, getting the Revitalizing Boost advantage allows it to give you a significant boost of energy once the shield breaks. That energy boost is insurance for you to use your heal power or active defense if you're being seriously damaged, or just helps with energy returns in general. It's useful even if you're using a durable tank sort of build that draws a lot of aggro. There's also the fact that Mindful Reinforcement is self-targetable.

    Protection Field does give consistent energy returns upon taking damage and you don't need to invest in a special advantage for that nor wait for the shield to break to get energy compared to Mindful Reinforcement, but it's target-other only.

    Both powers have their pros and cons. Personally I'm more in favor of Mindful Reinforcement.
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  • roughbearmattachroughbearmattach Posts: 4,784 Arc User
    edited January 2015
    Note: Active defenses don't use energy

    Note: Both powers are self-targetable

    Note: Neither power is very good unless you invest in some form of Bonus Healing.

    Shields scale with Bonus Healing percent, whether from

    * Role (with super stats)
    * Items
    * Presence stat

    If all of these are low, then neither shield will be very effective.
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  • jennymachxjennymachx Posts: 3,000 Arc User
    edited January 2015
    You're right, Protection Field does self-target. I remember it being target-other only from way back, eh...
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  • crypticbuxomcrypticbuxom Posts: 4,619 Arc User
    edited January 2015
    Never get the advantage for these. Ranking it up as high as you can afford is the way to go. If you prefer getting random energy boosts get the force one. If you prefer the healing get Telepathic one. If you are a healer get both. Energy isn't a problem in the Support role especially if your friendly targets are getting hit by lots of small damage while bubbled. And if someone needs to back off Mindful Reinforcement is a good temp hp and heal for when it wears off.

    Its all a play style preference.
  • kaeajakaeaja Posts: 165 Arc User
    edited January 2015
    Perhaps I should clarify on something.

    See I am a Celestial character who uses a mix of Celestial and primarily Ego powers with the minor exception of Energy Storm/Unleashed Tempest as an Ultimate move, and Circle of Arcane Power for when I am able to stay stationary and give myself massive energy replenishment.

    Generally my powers are Force Shield (Block Power) at rank 3 with its Advantage, then Seraphim (slotted Passive Rank 3) Radiance, Celestial Conduit (Rank 3), Vengeance, Compassion, Energy Storm/Unleashed Tempest (Rank 3), Ego Sprites (Rank 2 or 3), Mental Storm, Mental Leech, Ascension, Circle of Arcane Power (Usually at Rank 3). This is how my powers are right now, but I am uncertain of what I should grab now. Im trying to decide if I should grab Mindful Reinforcement or Protection Field, then again Mind Break is a heck of a power since it becomes stronger the more stacks of the debuffs you get from Mental Storm and Mental Leech that you have on your target (Shadow of Doubt has a debuff that makes this move stronger to).

    Considering the powers I use, what would you all suggest now? If I have Circle of Arcane Power is it even necessary to have a shield power like Protection Field? I mean...Protection Field is something I can cast on myself and be mobile.

    Also I dont know what C&P means.

    Edit: Is it ever a good idea to rank up Energy Builder attacks?
  • crypticbuxomcrypticbuxom Posts: 4,619 Arc User
    edited January 2015
    If you have no energy problems and you must choose only one of these powers, go for Mindful Reinforcement.

    And don't ever rank up your EB for any optimized build.
  • kaeajakaeaja Posts: 165 Arc User
    edited January 2015
    crypticbuxom wrote: »
    If you have no energy problems and you must choose only one of these powers, go for Mindful Reinforcement.

    And don't ever rank up your EB for any optimized build.


    Alright, then how bout this, Radiance or Eldritch Bolts?
  • aiqaaiqa Posts: 2,620 Arc User
    edited January 2015
    crypticbuxom wrote: »
    If you have no energy problems and you must choose only one of these powers, go for Mindful Reinforcement.

    Do you have any reasons for that?
    I'm not a big fan of shields (due to the 50 feet range), but if I'd take one I would go for Protection Field. Protection Field is a bit cheaper and a bit stronger, but most importantly it lasts more than twice as long. The heal on Mindful Reinforcement as hardly ever useful since most people tend to heal up while they are shielded in stead of waiting for the shield to run out.
  • theravenforcetheravenforce Posts: 7,124 Arc User
    edited January 2015
    If you have the option of taking one or the other, go for Protection Field.

    Generally it has a higher shield number than Mindful Reinforcement and has a longer duration (provided it isn't one shotted).

    I'd only really use MR if the option was presented alongside Protection Field. But if not, I'd personally go with Protection Field, it has higher shield value, has a longer potential duration and with the advantage (if you really wanted it), you are able to expire one effect on a target, which is always nice.

    Shields can be useful or they can be unnecessary, most shield users have compassion to back up their shields and/or take both. I've seen an example of a player who doesn't use Compassion but has fantastic shields, I myself use Protection Field in Hybrid Role but I don't have Compassion or PRE and my shields are 70-80 points away from 2k.

    Personally I prefer Protection Field. But if you can stacking them is a good option too.

    NOTE: Shields like MR and Protection Field do not benefit from your resistances (from Defense) or Masterful Dodge. But they do benefit from things like IDF and Unbreakable. (I believe the not benefitting from MD is a bug...)

    As for Radiance vs Eldritch Bolts...

    Radiance has the innate ability to heal yourself and allies. Since you use Compassion, I'd go for Radiance for low level heals which proc Compassion (last time I checked it did).

    Eldritch Bolts are pretty but beyond doing magical damage, you have to take an advantage for them to have a tertiary ability (stunning targets in addition to generating energy and dealing damage).

    Whereas Radiance, heals (Self and Others), damages and generates energy, without the need for advantages.
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  • stergiosmanstergiosman Posts: 717 Arc User
    edited January 2015
    roughbearmattach wrote: »
    Note: Active defenses don't use energy

    Note: Both powers are self-targetable

    Note: Neither power is very good unless you invest in some form of Bonus Healing.

    Shields scale with Bonus Healing percent, whether from

    * Role (with super stats)
    * Items
    * Presence stat

    If all of these are low, then neither shield will be very effective.

    Pretty sure neither of those bubbles is affected by the +healing mods/secondary gears. Pre and support role do work though.
  • crypticbuxomcrypticbuxom Posts: 4,619 Arc User
    edited January 2015
    aiqa wrote: »
    Do you have any reasons for that?
    I'm not a big fan of shields (due to the 50 feet range), but if I'd take one I would go for Protection Field. Protection Field is a bit cheaper and a bit stronger, but most importantly it lasts more than twice as long. The heal on Mindful Reinforcement as hardly ever useful since most people tend to heal up while they are shielded in stead of waiting for the shield to run out.

    In the cases where a healer is effective and useful, people who heal fast enough to not need the heal aren't the people you should be bubbling.

    2 reasons. Healing is more important than energy for a healer because of role. And in the instances that you actually need a healer with those powers, the bubble won't last even Mindful Reinforcement's duration. When the bubble does last its at least another heal add.

    However, if you're a healer and you plan on getting a bubble, just get both anyways.
  • flowcytoflowcyto Posts: 12,830 Arc User
    edited January 2015
    stergiosman wrote: »
    Pretty sure neither of those bubbles is affected by the +healing mods/secondary gears. Pre and support role do work though.
    Protection Field and Mindful Reinforcement both are affected by bonus heal modifiers, as most normal healing spells are (being shields, they cannot crit, however- and neither thus can the heal from MF's remnant).

    Now, the shielding ADs (Field Surge and Unbreakable) do *not* scale w/ Pres, bonus heal, or role.. so maybe that's where the confusion is coming from.
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  • roughbearmattachroughbearmattach Posts: 4,784 Arc User
    edited January 2015
    I agree, PF and MR both benefit from whatever your total heal bonus is, whatever the source.
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