Seraphael

Decent to good blaster survivability is only possible through IOs. As others no doubt have mentioned, max out ranged defense and hover blast your way. Laughing manically as your enemies melt away without being able to touch you.

The build below is a cheapened version of my main. His survivability frankly exceeds that of some tankers. Open with Shiver, Rain of Fire, Breath of Fire and Fireball and you will put some serious hurt on huge spawns.



Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1,401
http://www.cohplanner.com/

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Level 50 Magic Blaster
Primary Power Set: Fire Blast
Secondary Power Set: Ice Manipulation
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Electrical Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Flares -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(3), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(3), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(5), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(5), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(7)
Level 1: Chilblain -- Acc-I(A)
Level 2: Fire Blast -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(7), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(9), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(9), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(11), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11)
Level 4: Fire Ball -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(13), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(13), Posi-Dmg/Rng(15), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(15), RechRdx-I(17)
Level 6: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 8: Fire Breath -- HO:Centri(A), HO:Centri(17), Det'tn-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(19), Det'tn-Dmg/EndRdx/Rng(19), RechRdx-I(29)
Level 10: Hover -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(21), LkGmblr-Rchg+(23)
Level 12: Aim -- GSFC-ToHit(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(23), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(25), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx(25), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(27), GSFC-Build%(27)
Level 14: Health -- Heal-I(A)
Level 16: Build Up -- AdjTgt-ToHit(A), AdjTgt-Rchg(21), AdjTgt-ToHit/Rchg(29), AdjTgt-ToHit/EndRdx/Rchg(31), AdjTgt-EndRdx/Rchg(31)
Level 18: Blaze -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(31), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(33), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(33), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(34)
Level 20: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), P'Shift-EndMod(34), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(37), P'Shift-End%(40)
Level 22: Combat Jumping -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-ResKB(37), LkGmblr-Rchg+(40)
Level 24: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(36), RechRdx-I(39)
Level 26: Super Speed -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(36)
Level 28: Shiver -- TmpRdns-Acc/Slow(A)
Level 30: Blazing Bolt -- Mantic-Acc/Dmg(A), Mantic-Dmg/EndRdx(34), Mantic-Acc/ActRdx/Rng(37), Mantic-Dmg/ActRdx/Rchg(39), Mantic-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39)
Level 32: Rain of Fire -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(36), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(42), Posi-Dmg/Rng(42), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(43), RechRdx-I(43)
Level 35: Freezing Touch -- Lock-Acc/Hold(A), Lock-Acc/Rchg(43), Lock-Rchg/Hold(45), Lock-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(45), Lock-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(45), Lock-%Hold(46)
Level 38: Fly -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(40)
Level 41: Super Jump -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(42)
Level 44: Shocking Bolt -- Lock-Acc/Hold(A), Lock-Acc/Rchg(46), Lock-Rchg/Hold(46), Lock-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(48), Lock-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(48), Lock-%Hold(48)
Level 47: Charged Armor -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/EndRdx(A), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(50), HO:Ribo(50)
Level 49: Surge of Power -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Defiance



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I love knockbacks as much as the next guy. More actually. Knockbacks was what attracted me to CoH originally. But to be brutally honest with you, energy just doesn't pack enough punch to destroy much of anything in a single alpha strike. And if a great portion of a spawn is knocked all over the place, even severely wounded - chances are you will detract from the damage potential of a team rather than adding to it (especially if you have a RoA archer onboard).

Knocking spawns into walls is not always feasible. Also, it requires you to constantly reposition yourself before attacking, thus lowering your own damage potential. Unreliable knockbacks can be managed though. If you pick up Hover and make sure you angle your attacks slanting downwards, KB can actually be turned into something beneficial in a team situation as the spawn is generally knocked down or just a little distance back. Furthermore, hover blasting in its present form, especially if coupled with strong ranged defense from IO sets, will increase blaster survivability significantly.