Best Stealth Deflector?

vorwoda

Has anyone found a better deflector for augmenting your Stealth than the Tal Shiar Tachyon Deflector Array?

I'm trying to optimize a torpedo T5-U Fleet T'Varo build for maximum Stealth. I'm currently using the Tal Shiar Deflector Array - upgraded to Mk XIV Very Rare it gives +10 to Stealth Values and +26.7 to Starship Stealth.

According to the sto.gamepedia.com page for that Deflector:

Mark XI Stats: +10 to Stealth Values +21.7 Starship Flow Capacitors +21.7 Starship Stealth +21.7 Starship Particle Generator

This deflector is very useful for players that like using cloaks but cannot afford the more advanced Romulan Reputation deflectors (italics are mine)

On that basis, I bought the Reman Advanced Prototype Deflector Dish from the Romulan Reputation, which adds +30 to Stealth Values and nothing to Starship Stealth. The Romulan Prototype Deflector Dish had even worse Stealth mods than the Reman version.

Would the better Stealth Values of the Reman deflector's rating compensate for losing the Tal Shiar's Starship Stealth rating? No. Not even close. In system space, the mouseover information on Stealth from my cloaking device is significantly WORSE with the Reman Deflector than with even the original, non-upgraded Tal Shiar one, all other factors being the same.

From what I can determine, the "Stealth Values" mods on these things are either broken, or actually refer to a negative modifier to Threat, since getting more in-depth information on them brings a reference to something called AggroStealth, with no further explanation (possibly NPC-related only?).

So, is there a better deflector for Stealth than the Tal Shiar one? Because the recommended Romulan Reputation ones certainly aren't (I wish they were). I also wish I hadn't blown the Dil and Rep Marks on them, but my sacrifice was for research.

warmaker001b

Well, first of all, stacking of Stealth isn't that big a deal, TBH.

TLDR; Stealth Skill is irrelevant in STO. If you want more info, proceed...

For PVE, you don't need build dedication into stealth. NPCs are dumb and they don't try to look for cloaked ships nor do Sensor Scans and such. Unless you're flying cloaked in low Aux Power and literally right next to the enemy at fast speeds, you are completely safe from detection. You can be literally fly cloaked next to an enemy NPC science vessel type of ship and they won't detect you.

For PVP, it's not that big a deal either. Because the ones that CAN find you, purpose-built Science Vessels with Stealth Detection in mind, WILL find you no matter what. I used to run stealth detection Veranus and Vo'Quv's, and I could detect a cloaked ship out to 13km. Feds can do even better. Science Vessels are very strong in detection due to having a bonus for it with Aux Power. Carriers have the same benefit, at least with the Cmdr SCI ones that I have used. For PVP, if you are moving around in Full Impulse, that kills your Aux Power and thus the stealth of your ship.

There are also the old school PVP "Snooper," non-science vessel builds that the ships like the T'Varo, B'Rel used to do. They'll slot a deflector with +Stealth Detection ratings, run high Aux Power, stay in cloaks, and looked for cloaked players who thought they were safe. Romulan and Jem'Hadar deflectors have that capability, not sure if anything else since then have the same. I figure the Faeht would be even deadlier due to being a "T'Varo+1" kind of ship with Intel access.

But all this talk though on the PVP aspect is kind of pointless. Because it has died a lot since Delta Rising came out in October 2014.

Also, since you specified using a T'Varo, I'm figuring you intend to fire torpedoes with the Enhanced Battle Cloak up? More Stealth isn't going to help that window you expose yourself when you fire torps.

Stealth, Stealth Detection is all PVP oriented. The mechanics I do believe has remained largely unchanged but there's probably been additions to this whole thing. There was an excellent thread about Stealth & Stealth Detection here and here from way back in 2013.

vorwoda

Thanks for the reply! Perhaps I should have clarified a bit more.

What I'm trying to do is to find the absolute maximum Stealth that a ship (a T'Varo in particular, but any EBC-equipped ship in general) can get. At this point it is more for theoretical reasons, rather than practical ones. basically, the same spirit of mathematical research you guys invested in on the other end (Stealth Detection) in those threads from so long ago.

In point of fact, I have to thank you (and your co-researchers) again, because it was seeing those threads when I was setting up my main's T'Varo in late 2013 - early 2014 that first got me interested in the subject of just how far Stealth could be pushed.

What I have so far:
Captain:
Romulan Tac
9 in Starship Stealth (99).
9 in Starship Warp Core Potential (99)
6 in Starship Auxiliary Performance (84)

Ship:
Fleet T'Varo T5-U

BOFFs:
I Reman Subterfuge/Superior Infiltrator BOFF (+200)
Others irrelevant to Aux Power/Cloaking strength - since Subterfuge doesn't stack.

DOFFs:
Purple Technican for Bonus Aux Power while cloaked.
Others irrelevant to Aux Power/Cloaking strength.

Deflector:
Tal Shiar Tachyon Deflector Array (upgraded to MK XIV Very Rare) (+26.7)

Core:
Overcharged Singularity Core Mk XI Very Rare [ACap] [Res] [SingC] [SSR]

Sci Consoles:
Hull Repairing Weapon Signature Nullifier - Tomagraphic Imager (Stealth) Ultra Rare (upgraded to MK XIV) (+35.6)
Shield Repairing Weapon Signature Nullifier (Stealth) Ultra Rare (still at MK XII currently) Not yet upgraded (+31.9)
Stealth Module Mk XIII Very Rare (upgraded as experiment, will abandon for another WSN (Stealth) later). (+31.9)
Stealth Module Mk XII Very Rare (will abandon for another WSN (Stealth) later). (+30)

This is all I have found that will improve Stealth.

Currently, my Starship Stealth rating (under ship stats) shows as 455. Mouse over my Cloak button on my Power Tray in system space shows +5332.5 Stealth at Aux 125.

Admittedly, I could respec for additional points in Starship Aux Performance, but I think I've hit the max there anyway, since I run at full power to AUX constantly (as a Torp/Mine boat, I don't really need power for much else except the Cloak).

Admittedly, I can further upgrade the consoles (and replace the regular Stealth Module ones). At MK XIV Ultra Rare all across the board, I would gain another 13 points of Starship Stealth, bringing the total from 455 Starship Stealth to 468.

And admittedly, I could improve the rarity of the Deflector to UR or Epic...

IF there isn't a better Deflector for Stealth, which brings me back to my original question.

warmaker001b

+Stealth Deflectors are exceedingly rare. Tal Shiar, Romulan, Reman, Honor Guard / Adapted MACO Deflectors.

There is also the regular Tachyon Deflectors which can get the Stealth mod, [stl]. On the exchange you can only find [stl]x2 at best. No x3 from the quick search I did. It comes out to about 17-18 skill, depending on mark and rarity of the deflector.

Probably falls short of the Tal Shiar Deflector though even with [stl]x3.

vorwoda

Thanks for the help, Warmaker, I really appreciate it!

Looking again at the table you linked to, it looks like a theoretical Stl x3 deflector would slightly outperform the Tal Shiar. If you can find or craft one. The Stl mod at Mk XIV shows as +10, so Stl x3 should be +30. Which beats my Very Rare Tal Shiar MK XIV at 26.7. At least, in theory.

The KHG and Adapted Maco deflectors only give the same 8.8 base as an ordinary Deflectors +Stl Mod, so no real advantage there.

And the Reman and Romulan deflectors give NO bonus to Stealth, only to something called Stealth Values, which is either bugged, or only affects Aggro. Looking at them and selecting Info shows as subtitle to StealthValues: AggroStealth. Either way, they don't affect cloaking efficiency.

So I have to conclude that the Tal Shiar Tachyon Deflector Array really is the best deflector for cloaking.

There doesn't seem to be any Singularity Core (or anything else that I can find) that increases Maximum Aux Power for warbirds (wish there was an Obelisk Singularity Core, but there isn't), so I guess that's it.

Thanks again for the help! For Science!

tom61sto

vorwoda wrote: »

There doesn't seem to be any Singularity Core (or anything else that I can find) that increases Maximum Aux Power for warbirds (wish there was an Obelisk Singularity Core, but there isn't), so I guess that's it.

Two passive consoles can: The Lobi store's Hatchery Master Controller that increases the max power in all subsystems by 2, letting you hit 127 Aux. The D'Khellra Warbird's console Molecular Cohesion Nullifier gives +5 Maximum power for 130 Aux, though that can only be mounted on D'Deridex variant ships.

There's also two active consoles that give +10 to max subsystem power to a mix of systems: Enhanced Induction Coils from the B'Rotlh Bird-of-Prey (gives max Weapon, Engine, Aux), and Enhanced Plasma Manifold from the Oberth Class Light Science Vessel or from the cross-faction lockbox pack (Shield, Engine, Aux). These don't share cooldowns with batteries or each other.

Plus, there's Override Subsystem Safeties - Intel BOff ability, though you'd be up a creek without a paddle if it proc'd Aux offline while cloaked.

vorwoda

Thanks, Tom, that's a lot of valuable information! I'll check those items out.