Centurion_A

Fallen Kyrie

She can fly, so she can simply avoid all melee. Further, with shiver, no one is getting near her. If they do: ice patch. THIS blaster will be a true King (Queen) of Battle. An unappeased death goddess of fire and ice.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.401
http://www.cohplanner.com/

[u]Click this DataLink to open the build![u]

The Fallen: Level 50 Technology Blaster
Primary Power Set: Fire Blast
Secondary Power Set: Ice Manipulation
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Ancillary Pool: Flame Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Fire Blast <ul type="square">[*] (A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage[*] (3) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance[*] (3) Thunderstrike - Damage/Recharge[*] (5) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge[*] (5) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance[*] (7) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge[/list]Level 1: Chilblain <ul type="square">[*] (A) Accuracy IO[/list]Level 2: Fire Ball <ul type="square">[*] (A) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage[*] (7) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance[*] (9) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge[*] (9) Positron's Blast - Damage/Range[*] (11) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance[/list]Level 4: Ice Sword <ul type="square">[*] (A) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage[*] (31) Mako's Bite - Damage/Endurance[*] (31) Mako's Bite - Damage/Recharge[*] (31) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge[*] (33) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge[*] (33) Mako's Bite - Chance of Damage(Lethal)[/list]Level 6: Hover <ul type="square">[*] (A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range[*] (11) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range/Endurance[*] (13) Blessing of the Zephyr - Knockback Reduction (4 points)[/list]Level 8: Fire Breath <ul type="square">[*] (A) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage[*] (13) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance[*] (15) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge[*] (15) Positron's Blast - Damage/Range[*] (17) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance[/list]Level 10: Swift <ul type="square">[*] (A) Flight Speed IO[/list]Level 12: Aim <ul type="square">[*] (A) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff[*] (17) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge[*] (19) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge/Endurance[*] (19) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Recharge/Endurance[*] (21) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Endurance[*] (21) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up[/list]Level 14: Fly <ul type="square">[*] (A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range[*] (23) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range/Endurance[/list]Level 16: Build Up <ul type="square">[*] (A) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Recharge[*] (48) Adjusted Targeting - Recharge[/list]Level 18: Health <ul type="square">[*] (A) Numina's Convalescence - +Regeneration/+Recovery[*] (43) Numina's Convalescence - Heal[*] (45) Miracle - +Recovery[*] (46) Miracle - Heal[*] (46) Regenerative Tissue - +Regeneration[*] (46) Miracle - Heal/Recharge[/list]Level 20: Stamina <ul type="square">[*] (A) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod[*] (23) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Recharge[*] (25) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Accuracy[/list]Level 22: Ice Patch <ul type="square">[*] (A) Recharge Reduction IO[/list]Level 24: Blaze <ul type="square">[*] (A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance[*] (25) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage[*] (27) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance[*] (27) Thunderstrike - Damage/Recharge[*] (29) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge[*] (29) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge[/list]Level 26: Boxing <ul type="square">[*] (A) Accuracy IO[/list]Level 28: Shiver <ul type="square">[*] (A) Tempered Readiness - Accuracy/Slow[*] (48) Tempered Readiness - Accuracy/Endurance[/list]Level 30: Tough <ul type="square">[*] (A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%[*] (36) Reactive Armor - Resistance[*] (36) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Endurance[*] (37) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Recharge[/list]Level 32: Inferno <ul type="square">[*] (A) Eradication - Damage[*] (33) Eradication - Accuracy/Recharge[*] (34) Eradication - Damage/Recharge[*] (34) Eradication - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge[*] (34) Eradication - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge[*] (36) Eradication - Chance for Energy Damage[/list]Level 35: Freezing Touch <ul type="square">[*] (A) Lockdown - Accuracy/Hold[*] (37) Lockdown - Accuracy/Recharge[*] (37) Lockdown - Recharge/Hold[*] (40) Lockdown - Endurance/Recharge/Hold[*] (40) Lockdown - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge/Hold[*] (40) Lockdown - Chance for +2 Mag Hold[/list]Level 38: Weave <ul type="square">[*] (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense[*] (39) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance[*] (39) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Recharge[*] (39) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed[/list]Level 41: Char <ul type="square">[*] (A) Lockdown - Accuracy/Hold[*] (42) Lockdown - Accuracy/Recharge[*] (42) Lockdown - Recharge/Hold[*] (42) Lockdown - Endurance/Recharge/Hold[*] (43) Lockdown - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge/Hold[*] (43) Lockdown - Chance for +2 Mag Hold[/list]Level 44: Fire Shield <ul type="square">[*] (A) Reactive Armor - Resistance[*] (45) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Endurance[*] (45) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Recharge[/list]Level 47: Combat Jumping <ul type="square">[*] (A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range[*] (48) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range/Endurance[/list]Level 49: Rain of Fire <ul type="square">[*] (A) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage[*] (50) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance[*] (50) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge[*] (50) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance[/list]------------
Level 1: Brawl <ul type="square">[*] (A) Empty[/list]Level 1: Sprint <ul type="square">[*] (A) Empty[/list]Level 2: Rest <ul type="square">[*] (A) Empty[/list]Level 1: Defiance



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III. Sample Builds

HK-Alpha

The key is to KEEP MOVING. Don’t let them get into melee. Move Move Move. If a boss is charging you, beanbag+total focus will settle him.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.401
http://www.cohplanner.com/

[u]Click this DataLink to open the build![u]

HK Alpha II: Level 50 Technology Blaster
Primary Power Set: Assault Rifle
Secondary Power Set: Energy Manipulation
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Force Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Slug <ul type="square">[*] (A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage[*] (3) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance[*] (3) Thunderstrike - Damage/Recharge[*] (5) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge[*] (5) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance[*] (7) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge[/list]Level 1: Power Thrust <ul type="square">[*] (A) Explosive Strike - Damage/Knockback[*] (43) Explosive Strike - Accuracy/Knockback[*] (43) Explosive Strike - Chance for Smashing Damage[/list]Level 2: Buckshot <ul type="square">[*] (A) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage[*] (7) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance[*] (9) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge[*] (9) Positron's Blast - Damage/Range[*] (11) Positron's Blast - Chance of Damage(Energy)[/list]Level 4: Build Up <ul type="square">[*] (A) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff[*] (11) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge[*] (13) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge/Endurance[*] (13) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Recharge/Endurance[*] (15) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Endurance[*] (15) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up[/list]Level 6: Hurdle <ul type="square">[*] (A) Jumping IO[/list]Level 8: Combat Jumping <ul type="square">[*] (A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range[*] (17) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range/Endurance[*] (17) Blessing of the Zephyr - Knockback Reduction (4 points)[*] (46) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed[/list]Level 10: Hasten <ul type="square">[*] (A) Recharge Reduction IO[*] (43) Recharge Reduction IO[*] (46) Recharge Reduction IO[/list]Level 12: Sniper Rifle <ul type="square">[*] (A) Executioner's Contract - Accuracy/Damage[*] (29) Executioner's Contract - Damage/Endurance[*] (34) Executioner's Contract - Damage/Interrupt[*] (36) Executioner's Contract - Damage/Range[*] (37) Executioner's Contract - Damage/Recharge[*] (45) Executioner's Contract - Disorient Bonus[/list]Level 14: Super Speed <ul type="square">[*] (A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range[*] (36) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range/Endurance[*] (36) Blessing of the Zephyr - Knockback Reduction (4 points)[/list]Level 16: Health <ul type="square">[*] (A) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Endurance[*] (27) Numina's Convalescence - Endurance/Recharge[*] (27) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Recharge[*] (42) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Endurance/Recharge[*] (42) Numina's Convalescence - Heal[*] (46) Numina's Convalescence - +Regeneration/+Recovery[/list]Level 18: Flamethrower <ul type="square">[*] (A) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage[*] (19) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance[*] (19) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge[*] (21) Positron's Blast - Damage/Range[*] (21) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance[/list]Level 20: Stamina <ul type="square">[*] (A) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod[*] (23) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Recharge[*] (23) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Accuracy/Recharge[*] (25) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Endurance[*] (37) Efficacy Adaptor - Accuracy/Recharge[*] (40) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Accuracy[/list]Level 22: Conserve Power <ul type="square">[*] (A) Recharge Reduction IO[/list]Level 24: Super Jump <ul type="square">[*] (A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range[*] (25) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range/Endurance[/list]Level 26: Beanbag <ul type="square">[*] (A) Stupefy - Accuracy/Recharge[*] (29) Stupefy - Endurance/Stun[*] (34) Stupefy - Accuracy/Endurance[*] (37) Stupefy - Stun/Range[*] (42) Stupefy - Accuracy/Stun/Recharge[*] (50) Stupefy - Chance of Knockback[/list]Level 28: Boxing <ul type="square">[*] (A) Accuracy IO[/list]Level 30: Tough <ul type="square">[*] (A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%[*] (31) Reactive Armor - Resistance[*] (31) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Endurance[*] (31) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Recharge[/list]Level 32: Full Auto <ul type="square">[*] (A) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage[*] (33) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance[*] (33) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge[*] (33) Positron's Blast - Damage/Range[*] (34) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance[/list]Level 35: Boost Range <ul type="square">[*] (A) Recharge Reduction IO[/list]Level 38: Weave <ul type="square">[*] (A) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance[*] (39) Red Fortune - Defense/Recharge[*] (39) Red Fortune - Endurance/Recharge[*] (39) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge[*] (40) Red Fortune - Defense[*] (40) Red Fortune - Endurance[/list]Level 41: Personal Force Field <ul type="square">[*] (A) Endurance Reduction IO[/list]Level 44: Temp Invulnerability <ul type="square">[*] (A) Reactive Armor - Resistance[*] (45) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Endurance[*] (45) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Recharge[/list]Level 47: Total Focus <ul type="square">[*] (A) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage[*] (48) Mako's Bite - Damage/Endurance[*] (48) Mako's Bite - Damage/Recharge[*] (48) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge[*] (50) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge[*] (50) Mako's Bite - Chance of Damage(Lethal)[/list]Level 49: Force of Nature <ul type="square">[*] (A) Recharge Reduction IO[/list]------------
Level 1: Brawl <ul type="square">[*] (A) Empty[/list]Level 1: Sprint <ul type="square">[*] (A) Celerity - +Stealth[/list]Level 2: Rest <ul type="square">[*] (A) Empty[/list]Level 1: Defiance



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I. Introduction

Greetings. I am the Legendary Crafty HK-Alpha, Champion of the Nightwatchers and swift, sneaky, silent, deadly cyborg extraordinaire. I am going to explain how to build the Ultimate Blaster using IO sets and proper slotting. This build is meant at designing an AOE blaster. If you want to fight in melee or do max single target damage, you picked the wrong AT. Go play a blaster. Yes, there are guides on the general COH forums that you should look at. However, I think they miss the most important goal of any blaster: attaining the Ranged Defense Softcap.

Back before IO sets, blasters tended to die all the time. Playing a an AR blaster back then was tough and you had to be very careful about aggroing groups with your AOE. Things are different now, though.

On any team I join I am able to death AOE Cone death and destruction as fast as my global recharge will let me (which, by the way, is FAST) and I am able to do so with virtual impunity. I can solo entire mobs of +3s. Their alpha strike simply misses. There is no beta strike.

Hell, there have been teams where I have acted as a quasi-tank. I lead off with build-up. flamethrower and full auto, the baddies all shoot at me and then they die. Almost any blaster can achieve this... except for Ice Blasters... because they are not AOE death machines.

This is general guide, although I will provide 2 blaster builds at the end (AR/Energy and Fire/Ice).

II. Building a God of War

1. Be a cyborg. If you can't manage that, I guess you will still do ok. But you won't look nearly as good. And you'll be a meat bag. Which is disgusting

2. AOE Sets. To destroy [censored] EVERYONE you need the right power primary. Remember you also want to stay out of melee. This is NOT about being a “blapper”. Blappers are idiots who want to play scrappers but selected blaster by mistake. This rules out Energy (which is fine because the over top knockback in this set is obnoxious) and Electricity. You also want AOE, so that rules out Ice.

All of the rest of the sets can work. I recommend Fire for pure destruction or Assault Rifle if you want to look [censored] bad [censored] (also, full auto recharges fast and is available a lot... every battle, in fact with the right build).

3. Secondaries. Always consider the synergy between your Primary and Secondary and pick your secondary powers accordingly. Energy is awesome for Assault Rifle because of boost range. Boost range with cone attacks HUGELY increases the area you can blast. Really, for a true ranged blaster, Energy is not the best choice (too many melee attacks), but for AR it makes a ton of sense. As you can see below, HK-Alpha’s build takes conserve power, boost range, Total Focus (to use with bean bag in order to chain stun bosses), and build-up ( of course). And that is all.

The BEST secondary for a true King of Battle is ICE. No question. It provides unbelievably awesome damage mitigation in the form of Ice Patch and Shiver. Also, it has build up. With a soft capped ranged defense, you can drop an ice patch, lead off with shiver and then blast away. No villain will EVER get within melee range of you due to the slows. FURTHERMORE, because their recharge rate is dropped through the floor, your defense will easily protect you from the few shots that are taken.

4. Power Pool.
(a) First off, you want TWO travel power pools. I know that sounds ridiculous, but you want to be able to slot as many Zephyr sets as possible. Each set gives you 3% ranged defense with only 2 enhancement slots. Which is amazing. You’ll notice that both of the blaster builds fit 3 such sets. ALWAYS take combat jumping. It is a cheap boost to defense (low on endurance).

(b) Fighting: YES. You need Weave. And tough. You *might* be able to figure out how to drop this for Manuevers. Maybe. If you do so, you will gain 2 extra power slots. Which is pretty great. Just keep in mind that you’ll be losing some defense that you’ll have to make up elsewhere…. Can you find the enhancement slots to make up the missing ranged defense?

(c) Fitness: YES. You need blue to bring the pain. Also, you want to slot health up big time. With high ranged defense you can often naturally regen damage in battle since people tend to miss you.

(d) Medicine? I have never figured out a way to make this fit. Would be nice…. But unnecessary.

(e) Anything else? NO.

5. Epic Pool. Look for synergy with your other powers. Blasters need to find one combo that allows them to stun/hold a boss. HK-Alpha did this with beanbag and total focus freeing him to take Force as his epic (which is an awesome epic… personal force field, temp invul, and GOD MODE). The Fallen, my fire blaster, took the fire epic to allow her to stack Char with Freezing Touch.


4. The Ranged Soft Cap. What is it? COH has a limit on how much defense you can have. All enemies ALWAYS have a minimum 5% chance to hit you. An even con minion has a 50% chance to hit you. So the best defense you can have is 45%. How do we do this?

(a) Download Mid’s Hero Designer. It is free. It allows you to build a hero using IO sets and will track ALL stats.

(b) Now, go look at the various IO sets for the powers you want. Your goal is to find sets with ranged defense bonuses. Generally they come in increments of 3%. Here are the sets to watch for:

-Ranged damage: Thunderstrike
-To-hit buff: Gaussian’s Fire control (YOU MUST Get THIS ONE AND 6-SLOT IT. Bonus to ALL defense and great bonuses to damage, recovery and hit points). Put it in Build-Up.
-Sniper: Executioner’s Contract
-Universal Travel: Blessing of the Zephyr
-Stun: Stupefy
-Defense: Red Fortune
-Melee: Mako’s Bite
-Hold: Lockdown
-Health: Numina’s
-Knockback: Explosive Strike
-Resistance: Reactive Armor
-Slow: Tempered Readiness

(c) Now go slot accordingly. Your goal is 45% ranged defense. Sometimes you are going to 6-slot powers that you wouldn’t normally 6-slot. Like Beanbag. Do it anyway. That being said you should still ensure that your primary attack chain is built for death. Remember that you don’t need (or want) EVERY power in your primary.Build-up+ Flamethrower + Full Auto + Buck Shot is THE END of most groups. Same thing with Aim+Build-up + Fire Breath + Fire Ball.

5. Global Recharge. To be a true King of Battle, you need your death dealing weapons available as much as possible. That means you want to get your global recharge as high as possible. Look for sets which boost that. HK-Alpha is a death machine due to his high recharge.

6. At What Level Should I Start Buying IO Sets? LEVEL 32! Waiting until 50 is idiotic. The game is over at that point. Don’t you want to experience the joy of leveling up as a God of Destruction? I do.

7. Purple Sets? Waste of money. I guess if you get to 50, go ahead. But by then, how cares? You’ll be playing a new alt anyway.