Version3.0 made with a few new changes to go with Post ED life as an Empath. Iv seen some empaths questions floating around, so I thought Id re-vamp this one and stick it back out there...
Feel free to PM me with any other questions you might have
I usually dont give give my opinion about things, mostly cause I dont like to bother with doing it. But after lvling my empathy 50 lvls, Iv found I have a few things to say about the matter. Dont get me wrong, there are a lot of nice guides for empaths/* out there, but its always nice to have more than one idea and guide for things right? This will mostly be a guide/build that worked very nice for me, and still does. Another reason is that Iv seen the new emps running around and there builds. They need help!
Im just kinda giving a good brief look into each empath power, what kind of priority they are and slotting ideas (note ideas not MUST have) For a more in depth look at numbers for each power, please check out LadyMages Guide, very nice! Not sure how long this is going to be, once I get going, I can something ramble on, so yeah, just a warning.
Heal Other- This is just a given power you will be getting when you first start your defender. First off I want to say that you will be 6 slotting it. Pre ED, I would of 6'd it with Heals but alas we have no choice in that anymore. Right now Im running it with 4 heals & 2 recharges. Some might go 3 heals & 2 recharges, 1 End reducer, but I still have stamina on my emp so I go for that extra 5% of the 4th slotted heal. Depending on if you get stamina and how much you plan on blasting, will effect how you slot this power.
Healing Aura - Another give power you will get when you first start. Slotting is going to kinda the same as Heal Other. The heal on this isnt as powerful as heal other but its very important when you need to get more then one teammate out of the red zone (or your self) I would suggest 4 heals , 1 end reducer and a recharge for a good amount of lvling. Later on I noticed I could 4 slot it with heals & 2 recharges. Agian this depends on if you get stamina with your build and how much you plan on using your seconday.
Absorb Pain - This power is truly great and a lot of the time over looked power. A lot dont like it because of the heal debuff it leaves on the empath for a small duration. But if you use it right, it can be a great tool to have, especially in the early lvls. There have been many arguments about when to get this power. Only thing I can say to that is to answer this question: Are you going to be a full team empath? Or more of a blaster-type who wants to solo a lot? If yes to the first question, then I would say get this power as soon as you can, and if yes to the last one, then you can wait on this one for a while or maybe not get it at all, just depends on how you are going to play.
Another good thing about this power is that it doesnt need many slots to perform at its peek. 2 slots (3 max if you want) will almost put even a tank back at full health. So I say get this power, and learn how to use it the best way for yourself. I have my way but this is your empath. If anything, this is a great oh shi*t emergency power to have on hand. I wont recomend slotting recharges in it, cause really, you dont want to spam this power in chance you might die...
Rez - I suggest getting this at lvl 6 or 8 when you can. Because whos a healer who cant rez? 1 recharge in this will do for most the game (when/if you do Hami, you can slot it to recharge fast if you want, up to you ) Or if you dont have anything else to slot. Slotting on this one, it 100% however you want it.
Clear Mind - This is yet another great buff (well, every power in this set is great) I would suggest getting this in early 20s (later 20s you get more CoT and DE mishes and your team will be very thank full you have it) The recharge on this is great, only thing I sloted in this was a increase range, cause the farther you can cast a buff away from the fighting the better. A dead empathy is never good. But you can slot it with another recharge if you want, the end cost is very low and I dont think it excepts many other enhancements.
Fortitude- This is another great buff, a sometimes over looked buff. I would get this as soon as you can. Now you can slot this a lot of different ways. To-hitt buffs, defense buffs, and recharges are the most common ones used. I would strongly suggest 6-slotting this, but whatever you slot it with is up to you. I think for the longest time Bottem line, get this power, slot it, use it, and if you dont love it, your team will!! ( I currently have mine 6-slotted with 3 HO's & 3 recharges)
Recovery Aura- The most called after buff ever (RA!! I need it now!!!!) surely sounds familiar to many. Get this as soon as you can, 6 slot it, love it. The only down side is the long recharge & with ED its not really worth it to put 6 rechares in it anymore. So 3 Recharges & 3 EndRecovery is whats in mine...
Regeneration Aura - Some people look over this and dont get it, but I suggest you do get it. (If even just for your first 40 lvls anyway) I mean it increases the base health regen of everyone who gets it by 500%. (Just think about even better a regen scrapper is with this) 2 main enhancements people use for this. Recharges or some people go all the way Heals on it, making the Regen rate of people just sick, but down side, the recharge is pretttty long. If/when you get into your late 40's and start to notice that you really dont need this much anymore, it might be a good idea to respec out of it, in place of another attack power. But this is totally up to you and your playing style. Right now mine is 3 Recharge & 3 Heals...
Adrenerline Boost - Why anyone thinks this power is anything but awesome has something wrong with them. Yes, its only a single target buff with a long recharge. But it increase end recovery by 200%, regen recovery by 500% and decreases power recharge by 50%. Right now agian I have 3 recharges in mine & 3 Heals. You can go 3 EndRecover if you want. Both will help your ally you put it on.
A lot of people dont like using so many slots in this set, leaves them without much to use on there powers, but if your going for the true team healer,(yes I said HEALER, so sue me) its worth it.
Suggested Power Pools for the Full Team Support Empath:
Travel: All i can say on this one is get Fly and slot it however you want. I dont know what I would of done without it, hovering over my team buffing and healing without getting my self killed. Or following around the tank/team with fly overhead, seeing and knowing were everyone is at. Just get fly, and love it... dont ask why!!
Side note: I would suggest getting hover as your before fly power cause in the middle of a battle, switching to hover will save a lot of end thats needed to heal.
- Fitness: I strongly suggest getting this. I know a few empaths who dont have it and make do fine, but an empath can never have enough end. End = heals = life.
*Edit: After just talking to another Empath about Stamina, i feel the need to edit in that an Empath CAN be decent without it. But if your a first time Empath, i would suggest that you get it and keep it until later lvls, if you feel the need to rid of it, by all means.....
- Recall Friend: How else to rez a fallen team mate when they have 5 +4 Tank Swipers standing on top of them?? I shouldnt have to say anymore... the sooner you get this
the better
(got mine at lvl 6 or 8 I think)
Hasten: This is optional, but it frees up slot space on your heals and buffs to put something more important in them. But since ED alot dont get it anymore. I have to agree with some that it might be best to do without this one, since you are going to be putting 2-3 slots of something into your heals that are not HEALS. Plus it will free up a Power Pool.
I still have Hasten 4 slotted on my Empath, to help my RA's to come back faster....
Other pools suggestions: Alot of Empaths somehow fit in Concealment for Grant Invis and/or stealth for themselves. If your not getting Hasten, this would be good to pick up. Just dont think you should get SS if you get stealth. Unless you have fly & SS both & can somehow fit in both.
I just cant stress enough how good it is to have fly!
-Leadership: Another pool that helps the team out, but agian you have to squweeeeeze this in somewhere, but only after getting in your main primary powers....
But those are a few commen power pools you will be wanting and using.
Like I said before, this is just how I did it, and it truly worked/works great for me. Nothing better then keeping your team alive through a seemingly impossible attack and having them say afterwards Cant believe we are all still alive, GJ healer! (Hopefully they use your name thou.. heh
) Of course your standing there, no end, nervous and edgy in your chair, heart beating fast after so many near close calls you just had, but feeling very proud of yourself for keeping everyone alive, (even the crazy blaster!)
I hope this useful to someone out there and if opinions differ, please be kind!!
Enjoy your empath!
