Garent

Hurricane repels enemies, so oppressive gloom and thunderclap won't be effective while you have it on.

I'm pretty sure the only way you could find out that information is by pigg diving, and that's against the EULA, thus why you can't find info on it on the forums.

Ah, that, yeah. I see what you meant now.

Also, corruptors have a scourge-tastic rain of fire.

It wasn't snuck in, but yes, it does have the lower cast time now.

The third build becomes available once you unlock the alpha slot at level 50. I'll make a bigger response to the overall thread in a bit.

EDIT:

The reason why the game becomes much harder for defenders around level 20 is because from levels 1-20 archetypes don't use their usual modifiers. They all start with very similar damage and slowly settle into their normal modifiers by level 20.

As for the teaming bit, you aren't finding much opportunity to shoot stuff because empathy is one of the most active buff/debuff sets. If you want a character that focuses on blasting, you might want to reroll to one of the fire and forget sets like force field or sonic. Traps might actually be the best choice for you, since it just needs to set up its traps at the beginning of a fight then spend the rest of it blasting, and it performs well solo.

Also, corruptor might be the best choice for you. The damage difference isn't gigantic, but corruptors get their shooty powers earlier.

Also also, dual pistols having low damage is a myth. Its damage is above average if you're using fire ammo.

If you DO decide to stick with empathy/pistols, here's a mids build with the ideal slotting for its most important powers. The second accuracy can be taken out if you plan on getting tactics or if you never plan on fighting things more than a level above you.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.952
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Defender
Primary Power Set: Empathy
Secondary Power Set: Dual Pistols
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Healing Aura -- Heal(A), Heal(3), Heal(3), RechRdx(5), RechRdx(5), EndRdx(7)
Level 1: Pistols -- Acc(A), Acc(7), Dmg(9), Dmg(9), Dmg(11), EndRdx(11)
Level 2: Dual Wield -- Acc(A), Acc(13), Dmg(13), Dmg(15), Dmg(15), EndRdx(17)
Level 4: Heal Other -- Heal(A), Heal(17), Heal(19), RechRdx(19), RechRdx(21), EndRdx(21)
Level 6: Empty Clips -- Acc(A), Acc(23), Dmg(23), Dmg(25), Dmg(25), EndRdx(27)
Level 8: Resurrect -- RechRdx(A)
Level 10: Swap Ammo
Level 12: Fortitude -- DefBuff(A), DefBuff(27), DefBuff(29), RechRdx(29), RechRdx(31), RechRdx(31)
Level 14: Hasten -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(31), RechRdx(33)
Level 16: Bullet Rain -- Acc(A), Acc(33), Dmg(33), Dmg(34), Dmg(34), EndRdx(34)
Level 18: Recovery Aura -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(36), RechRdx(36)
Level 20: Suppressive Fire -- Acc(A), Acc(36), Hold(50), Hold(50)
Level 22: Combat Jumping -- DefBuff(A)
Level 24: [Empty]
Level 26: Regeneration Aura -- Heal(A), Heal(37), Heal(37), RechRdx(37), RechRdx(39), RechRdx(39)
Level 28: Executioner's Shot -- Acc(A), Dmg(39), Dmg(40), Dmg(40), RechRdx(40), EndRdx(42)
Level 30: [Empty]
Level 32: Adrenalin Boost -- Heal(A), Heal(42), Heal(42), RechRdx(43), RechRdx(43), RechRdx(43)
Level 35: Piercing Rounds -- Acc(A), Acc(45), Dmg(45), Dmg(45), Dmg(46), EndRdx(46)
Level 38: Hail of Bullets -- Acc(A), Dmg(46), Dmg(48), Dmg(48), EndRdx(48), RechRdx(50)
Level 41: [Empty]
Level 44: [Empty]
Level 47: [Empty]
Level 49: [Empty]
------------
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Vigilance
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 10: Chemical Ammunition
Level 10: Cryo Ammunition
Level 10: Incendiary Ammunition

storm and poison's heals are affected by healing set bonuses.

Personally, I'm way more concerned about what the AT sets will mean for inter-AT balance than for inter-powerset balance.

Sonic siphon is -30% resistance instead of -20 like your blasts, and it lasts 30 seconds while the blasts last 5-10. And it requires no extra slots. You want it. Just keep in mind that it doesn't stack with itself, unlike the blasts.

You also want shout, simply because ranged sets are the best set bonuses you can get, and you can't make a full attack chain out of shriek and scream alone.

Yes, slotting liquefy for tohit debuff is the right choice.

I'm guessing that she doesn't play any more so sending her an e-mail/offline tell isn't an option?

But poison is so awful.

Sonic, ice, and dark.

Dark has always been the one with the most notable synergy with storm summoning due to tenebrous tentacles. It's an area immobilize that doesn't remove knockback, so it's perfect with freezing rain.

You're missing the point. I don't have a problem with sarcasm. I have a problem with all posts being nothing but sarcasm and falsehoods.