SevereCalamity

Nice build infini. Only slightly different than mine, but better is almost every way. Three long recharge powers take 2 or 3 seconds longer to recharge, but the extra regen and HP makes up for it. Thanks for that, I think I'll steal some of it for my own

I just tossed a build together that focuses on defense soft cap, recharge, and end recovery with a bit of +HP and regen too. Also has 48% extra accuracy so soul drain has a 94.7% chance to hit +4s. It has perma hasten, and is 1 second away from perma soul drain. One target is all that is needed to be hit capped against +4s with your attack chain. Dark Consumption is also on a 45 second cooldown and will refill an entire bar of end with two targets. It should be able to keep the smite, mg, smite, dl rotation up as well. Endurance shouldn't be a problem, so you're free to go rebirth for an extra heal. All of this assumes you have the third tier spiritual slot with 45% recharge, half bypassing ED.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.942
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Dark Melee
Secondary Power Set: Super Reflexes
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Blaze Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Smite -- T'Death-Acc/Dmg(A), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx(3), T'Death-Dmg/Rchg(3), T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(5), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), T'Death-Dam%(7)
Level 1: Focused Fighting -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(7), RedFtn-Def(13), RedFtn-EndRdx(15)
Level 2: Focused Senses -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(15), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(17), RedFtn-Def(17), RedFtn-EndRdx(31)
Level 4: Shadow Maul -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(19), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(19), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(21), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(21), Oblit-%Dam(43)
Level 6: Agile -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(43)
Level 8: Siphon Life -- C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(9), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(9), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(11), Nictus-Heal(11), Nictus-Acc/Heal(13)
Level 10: Practiced Brawler -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 12: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(31)
Level 14: Super Speed -- Run-I(A)
Level 16: Dodge -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(46)
Level 18: Dark Consumption -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(23), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(23), P'Shift-Acc/Rchg(25), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(25), P'Shift-End%(34)
Level 20: Quickness -- Run-I(A)
Level 22: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 24: Boxing -- Acc-I(A)
Level 26: Soul Drain -- Erad-Dmg(A), Erad-Acc/Rchg(27), Erad-Dmg/Rchg(27), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(29), Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(29), Erad-%Dam(37)
Level 28: Lucky -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(46)
Level 30: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), ImpArm-ResDam(31), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(43), EndRdx-I(50)
Level 32: Midnight Grasp -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(33), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(33), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(34), T'Death-Dam%(34)
Level 35: Evasion -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(36), RedFtn-Def(36), RedFtn-EndRdx(36), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(37)
Level 38: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(39), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(39), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(39)
Level 41: Char -- BasGaze-Acc/Hold(A), BasGaze-Acc/Rchg(42), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(42), BasGaze-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(42)
Level 44: Fire Blast -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(45), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(45), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(45), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(46), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(50)
Level 47: Fire Ball -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(48), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(48), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(48), Posi-Dam%(50)
Level 49: [Empty]
Level 50: Spiritual Total Core Revamp
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Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Critical Hit
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(40)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(37), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(40), P'Shift-End%(40)

Probably the same people who are saying you shouldn't build your SS/Fire/Mu for recharge.

Yeah, the problem you're having is that you're including KO blow when you shouldn't be.

Can dm/fire really keep up with the damage of claws or ss? I know soul drain is a good buff, but rage seems much better and claws and ss have much better aoe damage. On my ss/fire I can keep up a chain of fire ball, foot stomp, burn, haymaker forever. Not to mention the recharge proc in foot stomp means that my damage buffs are up more often. Does the rage crash really hurt ss enough to where footstomp doesn't more than make up for it?

I understand that dm might add more survivabilty, but that isn't a factor when you get so many insps that you sit at defense cap the entire time not to mention all the greens and blues. I ran 5 or 6 +4x8 fire cyborg runs last night and didn't even use healing flames once.

Really excited for the new content. Looks great.

The recharge alone is very nice. Stuns and heals is just super home-made, creamy icing on the cake.

I think willpower is a great casual set. To keep it simple, it does realy well with just SOs, shields needs a lot of sets in order to obtain it's "best set" status. Willpower also can do really well with sets, but it doesn't have the damage bonus of against all odds or the extra AoE attack that is shield charge.

I don't know much about BS, but I think you should shoot to get defense capped (45% to all positions) without shadowmeld and then just skip it. Anything over 45% is redundant, unless you're trying to compensate for defense debuff. I think I would rather try to fit conserve power/physical perfection in over shadowmeld, I've heard BS sucks the old end bar.

True grit is not something you want to skip. +HP goes well with defense because the more HP you have, the more health you regen per second. So all that time you're dodging attacks, you'll be regenerating more health because of your higher HP. It will also help you to avoid being killed instantly if you get a bit unlucky.

Don't skip active defense either, it's your mez protection. The worst thing you can do in this game is stand there and do nothing while a big scary dude (or lots of big scary dudes) beat on you.

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Here, I just put this together. Not sure how good it is, like I said don't know much about BS. I'm not sure how much recharge you need for a great headsplitter-disembowel-hack chain, but you can just fill it the gaps with parry.

This build will get you capped defenses without having to use parry, and some decent global recharge. This is definitely a build you want to respec into when you have access to level 50 enhancements, it will really suck for leveling. Even then you could probably pick powers and slots in a better order than I did.

I took Whirling Sword in mine to help clear the big spawns faster, though you can switch it out for slice if you like that better; it uses the same enhancements.

No purples, though there are a few expensive procs and the obliteration sets can get up there.



Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.803
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Broad Sword
Secondary Power Set: Shield Defense
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Body Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Hack -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(3), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(3), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(5), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(5), Mako-Dam%(7)
Level 1: Deflection -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(7), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg(9), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(9), RedFtn-Def(37), RedFtn-EndRdx(40)
Level 2: Battle Agility -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(11), RedFtn-EndRdx(11), RedFtn-Def(13), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg(34), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(42)
Level 4: True Grit -- Heal-I(A), Heal-I(19), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(19), Mrcl-Rcvry+(50)
Level 6: Build Up -- GSFC-ToHit(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(13), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(15), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx(15), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(17), GSFC-Build%(17)
Level 8: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 10: Active Defense -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 12: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Jump-I(A)
Level 16: Against All Odds -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 18: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A)
Level 20: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(21), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(21), P'Shift-Acc/Rchg(23), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(23), P'Shift-End%(25)
Level 22: Boxing -- RzDz-Acc/Rchg(A), RzDz-EndRdx/Stun(31), RzDz-Immob%(42), RzDz-Acc/EndRdx(45), RzDz-Stun/Rng(46), RzDz-Acc/Stun/Rchg(50)
Level 24: Tough -- RctvArm-ResDam(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(25), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(31), RctvArm-EndRdx(45), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(46)
Level 26: Disembowel -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(27), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(27), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(29), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(29), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(31)
Level 28: Parry -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(48), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(48), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(48), LkGmblr-Rchg+(50)
Level 30: Weave -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(42), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(43), RedFtn-Def(43), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg(43), RedFtn-EndRdx(45)
Level 32: Head Splitter -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(33), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(33), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34), Oblit-%Dam(34)
Level 35: Shield Charge -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(36), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(36), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(37), Oblit-%Dam(37)
Level 38: Whirling Sword -- Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(39), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(39), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(39), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(40), Sciroc-Dam%(40)
Level 41: Conserve Power -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 44: Physical Perfection -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-End%(46)
Level 47: Phalanx Fighting -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 49: Grant Cover -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
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Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Critical Hit
Level 4: Ninja Run

Right, I understand the end drain from elec. The problem is that you have to survive long enough for the drain to take effect. Generally if I can't keep mobs slept/knocked down, I'll be dead long before they're out of end. Maybe I'm just doing it wrong.

Also it's not just the bosses, the lts have some high mez resistance too. If it was just the bosses, I wouldn't be complaining.

I've noticed a lot of the mobs in Praetoria resist holds, sleeps, knockdowns, immobolize... pretty much all of the control powers. It seems domination makes little difference too. This has made my elec dom very sad, and I've died against a few 2 min, 1 ltn spawns because they resist everything I throw at them, and then knock me around until I die. Don't even get me started on some of the bosses, even downgraded to ltns they are quite resilient to mez. I think this is going to turn off a lot of new players who wish to try out control sets, the mobs are pretty difficult for a newbie zone. Making the mobs so resistant to mez, and with doms (and controllers) having such low HP, is not a good combination for leveling in Praetoria as either of the sets.

So I don't know if elec is just really week prior to the confuse at 26, if I just suck at elec control, or if Praetoria is just ridiculous. Regardless, my elec/earth dom is shelved for a while because it's too damn frustrating to play. Between the destroyers and seers, I think I've died more times on this character than all of my other characters combined, ever.

I'm sure a good place to ask would be in the scrapper or brute forum. I'm sure damage procs work the same with chain induction as the confuse proc would work in the chain confuse in elec control. I actually have a makos bite in my elec scrapper and I've never noticed the damage proc on a chain, but I've honestly never watched for it either.

MA has higher burst damage and a better AoE.

KM has better damage over time from what I've read from posts here.

Grats Dechs, I think you deserve it. You post some great stuff here.

I made an ma/fa as my first praetorian to check out the changes for both. So far I'm loving the new cobra strike. Verdict will have to wait on the other changes, not even level 10 yet

Well fsc is still really good, burn can only hit 5 targets. So while burn does more damage over all to 5 targets, fsc does still does a lot of damage if there are 10 guys around you. That aside, I do really like the changes to burn.

I think with your cone and AoE from broadsword, along with blazing aura and burn, you should be good on AoE. Not to mention how good fiery embrace is now making your other attacks hit quite a bit harder. I'm also assuming the app/pp attacks will cause redraw, which I personally hate on my weapon characters.

If it was my FA character I would grab shadow meld or maybe even hibernate as opposed to more damage. Your set is designed to be squishier and more damaging than other sets, so I would focus on trying to close that up. You could hit hibernate when things get hairy, or pop shadow meld before you jump into each spawn to give you 15 seconds to thin the herd a bit. I plan on having 15% defense to all 3 positions on my MA/FA scrapper I just made, so when I hit shadow meld I will be at the softcap for the duration.

Grabbing those two powers will involve you having to go villain side and doing the patron arc. I understand what you mean about fun. To a lot of us here on the forums, having fun is pushing the envelope, IOing out the set, and seeing what you can do with it. FA is in a weird place right now, I'm not sure if it is on par with the other scrapper sets. That is a different story though, and I still like the set anyways for concept, damage and some utility. If I want tank mage mode, I generally jump on my Elec/Shield scrapper and pound away.

Not all armor sets can softcap. I can see it being pretty damn hard to get /FA softcapped all the time. With access to the patron pools now, shadow meld is a good way to get softcapped, but it ony lasts 15 seconds and it will be a bit before it's up again. I call that good enough to take an alpha strike of a spawn, but I won't know until I see it in action. I generally find softcapped toons much more survivable than those without, assuming no defense debuffs on you / accuracy buffs on the enemies.

The difference with CoH is that the teams aren't set up so black and white like in WoW. You won't always have a Tank, Healer, 3 DPS for the easy instances, and 2 tanks, 2 or 3 healers, and 5 or 6 DPS for the raids. Sometimes you will have no heals, sometimes you will have no tanks, and sometimes you won't have either. Being softcapped on a scrapper pretty much makes you independent, at that point you can conquer some of the hardest content in the game by yourself if you know what you're doing and you're patient. On a team it just gets easier.

When you're the rogue in WoW, you don't have to be concerned about the boss nailing you, except for maybe some AoEs, because the tank soaks up all the damage. In CoH, even when there is a tank, there is lots of AoE damage going around, and no warnings to line of sight. Also there is no way to know how much aggro you have on a target, my scrappers pull threat off of AVs all the time. A well timed taunt will generally pull them off again, but you never know what you're going to get on pugs. I like to be self sufficient.

You by no means have to be soft capped to be a good farmer, or to have fun, or for anything. Some people just like the extra security and to perform at levels beyond the average player.

Ahh well that's disappointing, although it makes sense. Someone must have been wrong or I must have misread about the double stacking. Thanks for the heads up as usual.

Also, to anyone who knows, how do the KM animations look with Shields?

Those are some all around good things to know BrandX, thanks for the tips. I actually went MA/FA for my new /FA toon. I'm still going to make a KM/WP scrapper sometime soon here, and I'll probably take this knowledge of KM with me. I've never taken a epic pool or, obviously, a patron pool on my scrapper. Do those powers, like dark blast, crit for scrappers?