SnipeFu's Definitive Guide to Energy Blasters V3.0
By
Airhammer,
Posted on: 2004-11-09 13:44 in Player Guides
my most damaging single target alpha strike is BU+Aim the Snipe, Power Burst, and Blast. it's where stealth+SS comes in really handy. That combo can cream just about anything not a boss. I can fire 2 shoys after snipe and the BU+Aim combo.
edit: If you que your attacks before the previous one finishes you can reliably get off 2 attacks after a snipe. I almost always do unless I screw up on my timing.
The Legion of Freedom
MSKnight, your build is a perfect complement in this thread!
Curious--why waste an AIM slot in Snipe? I always use snipe with BU/AIM anyway, so I say why not put in 6 damages?
Also, can you post your thoughts on each of the Energy Epic powers? I'd love to hear what they each do, how effective each is and how you'd slot them and why...
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MSKnight, your build is a perfect complement in this thread!
Curious--why waste an AIM slot in Snipe? I always use snipe with BU/AIM anyway, so I say why not put in 6 damages?
Also, can you post your thoughts on each of the Energy Epic powers? I'd love to hear what they each do, how effective each is and how you'd slot them and why...
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Thanks! I'll address your questions in bullet summary:
-Snipe: why slot with aim? Yes with BU+Aim it's near perfect accuracy, but w/ 4 dmg SOs it's also at the damage cap. So If it's just used as an alpha strike anything more than 4 dmg enh are unnecessary. I only added 2 extra slots as it's generally regarded that snipe 6-slotted for range is necessary for a blaster to take part in a Hammi raid.
Buuut...during some battles (AVs, DE Monsters) I fire off snipe again..and BU & Aim aren't always available. I tend to like using both for an great initial volley (did 750 once on one L50 DE Monster yesterday), then snipe recharges in about half the time that Aim & BU (4 slotted) do, so I fire off an unbuffed snipe shot...for that I like the accuracy. I'll probably try the 6 dmg slotting and alternating method a bit more, but I generally like all my buffs sync'd...I'd rather activate 3 buffs every 30 sec in a battle than be distracted by differing recharge times. I hit for a little less, but I'm more aware of my surroundings and can use power push or thrust to manage the mobs.
I've tested two of the epic power pools, as I didn't want to stay too much from my character concept. It's not really a concept, but it's how I'd like to be hero-wise with powers (energy) and looks (animations).
I tested Force Mastery (in its various iterations) and Munitions pool. Personally I think the holds in the other EPPs are great for En/En as we have none to call our own, but the look wasn't for me.
Munitions: Probably a better synergy (at least prior to testing V2 of FoN coming out w/ no HP drop) with energy...except the animations. You pull out the AR from out of nowhere to activate the powers. I suspend disbelief enough when MsKnight pulls out the Crey Pistol from some 4th dimensional pocket in her cape. Body armor was decent...I didn't test the numbers but my hunch is that it's less resistance (Le/Sm) than Temp Invul, but as a balance as it's auto on and no end usage (whereas TI is a toggle and uses end). The AoE hold wasn't very strong on even con minions, but I think since some I tested on were Nem robots that they had a resistance to that particular type of hold. Slotted decently I'm sure it'd be OK, but wasn't impressed by it. I tired LRM but not the remaining power. LRM is an AoE attack with damage north of Ex. Blast but south of snipe...around Power Blast I'd say..I didn't test for numbers...just c/n get past the animations 
I didn't fully slot it, but it wasn't the "AoE" snipe shot that I'd heard some ppl talking about (either through testing or hyperbole I don't know). It wasn't bad but it was probably on a par with the "meh" of most other EPPs...they fill a hole but aren't as good as the primary/secondary powers.
An extra attack is never bad, esp. ranged, for a blaster. Built in Le/Sm resistance is nice, and a(n assumedly) workable AoE hold sounds nice (but if you attack using an AoE attack you just wasted the AoE hold, as they wake up).
I've posted my findings on the Force Mastery EPP in other threads but I'll type up a seperate on here summarizing them. When FoN V2 comes out I'll test and post my findings/observations. It sounds nice, and I have two builds ready to go with it, but I think I'd still trade mezz resistance to the proposed FoN V2, although it's a very very tough arguement.
Thanks alot Snipe and MsKnight for the feedback, appreciate it much.
As always....
I like your build very much and it is along the lines I was going with Airhammer. I wont ever use Superspeed for my toon as it totally gies against his concept. I am strongly considering the 6 slotted fly.. I know I would be having flight twice but SS doesnt work with a guys names AIR hammer ya know.
I planned to see what the end result is from the Energy power pool and I might have enough left to take tough and weave because i dont plan to take Power Push ( although that may change as well )
Excellent build it shows me I am headed in the right direction.. Heck I will pick up two powers with the free respec when I get rid of Air Superiority and Energy Punch.. Will be getting Power Burst and Bone Smasher..
I also tend to slot for range.. I know thats not very popular but I like it and I figure with buildup and aim every 30 seconds I will be pretty darn near the damage cap anyway...
I tend to fight almost exclusively in the air ( I think I am really good at it too... ) so the range helps me a lot..
yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah
The hard things I can do--- The impossible just take a little bit longer.
If numbers are so much more important than a teammate who is fun to play with, forget about the game altogether and go play with a calculator instead. -Claws and Effect-
Wow--i'd not heard before that Snipe is at the cap with only 4 slotted damage. Is it capped before you use BU+Aim or after? So essentially, if I 5-slot it with Damage and once with Aim, do I even need to use BU+Aim before using snipe?
Very much looking forward to your summary!
I know what you mean about not getting past the animations. I love the idea of some of those attacks, but I don't see Barlow Girl pulling a rocket launcher out of her cape. 
I'll probably go with Force Mastery just because of that. Nonetheless, I want to see your summary first. You and Snipe are the kings of the force...
So MsKnight basically it seems to me that with PFF and TI you dont need to have tough and weave or the Inviso stuff for defense right ???
Plus I would like some advice is boost range really all that good.. I liked adding range into my slots figuring with BU and AIM I was already really near the cap anyway.. but I am level 26 so you will have a much better idea thane me...
The hard things I can do--- The impossible just take a little bit longer.
If numbers are so much more important than a teammate who is fun to play with, forget about the game altogether and go play with a calculator instead. -Claws and Effect-
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Wow--i'd not heard before that Snipe is at the cap with only 4 slotted damage. Is it capped before you use BU+Aim or after? So essentially, if I 5-slot it with Damage and once with Aim, do I even need to use BU+Aim before using snipe?
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JuryDuty, to clarify, BU+Aim + 4 SO damage enhancers = just under the damage cap.
100% - what you start with
add 100% from BU
add 60-62.5% (depends who you ask) for Aim
add 132% (4*33) for four damage SOsso that makes over 390% damage and the cap is 400%. All damage is capped at 400%.
The Legion of Freedom
That's really interesting. So basically, two damage slots are "wasted" during BU+Aim snipes, but they're very effective during regular shots. I can see why a good balance would be 5 damages and an aim for this one.
I can also see why it pays off to 4-6 slot BU with recharge enhancements! Wow...hadn't realized BU was THAT good.
Ok I read his guide and now I have a respec available to me when I want to use it - now, what I need to know is how should I spec my character at level 30? I have his template for the long haul, but I want to know what all I should get for optimization at my current level.
any advice for an ice manipulation?
This is my first toon so I thought ice would be cool for freezing mob but I start regretting it. Energy manip sounds cool. Anyway since I have Ice manip, I can only keep it so any help? I'm level 15 and I have only ghibslain taken (really useful) thanx
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any advice for an ice manipulation?
This is my first toon so I thought ice would be cool for freezing mob but I start regretting it. Energy manip sounds cool. Anyway since I have Ice manip, I can only keep it so any help? I'm level 15 and I have only ghibslain taken (really useful) thanx
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Ya im looking for advice on ENG/ICE too.
Different from you i dont regret it as i found it an extremely rocking combo. But im unsure about my ice-highlvl-powers.
So any1 with advice on things to consider playing Eng/Ice in higher lvls?
Btw Starfox, why do you regret it? I freeze the melee mobs on spot, knock the ranged-dmg mobs off their feet and do fast, good dmg.....havent seen the downside to this combo yet...what exactly is your problem, what powers did you choose?
my main pb is I'm new at this game, so all the stuff you dont have seems so cool compared to what you have! And people never talk about ice manip so you tend to think that they prolly didnt choose it for good reasons.
2 pb: I dont know what to pick so I only have chilblain (which is great) but I dont want to get stuck with something useless so I haven taken any other ice power.
3 pb. I think blasters do distance damage, and ice manip seems to offer melee powers (like freezing enemies). But do you need them since that if you play your blaster correctly you should be able to never enter melee? In practice it's impossible for me 
So if you could help me that would be great. I spent 1 week on this toon (my first one), just got superspeed and dont want to start over.
energy main:
power bolt
power blast
energy torrent
power burst
sniper blast
Ice sec:
chilblain
pool sets:
Stealth
hasten
superspeed
that's it. I play 50% solo 50% group
Any advice concerning ice? should I take hover? Thanx!!
Times...I hate to give advice on an "optimization" build at any level because it's different for everyone (i.e. not everyone wants to focus on XP...and that has a way of getting old too...from experience).
Tell you what: can you post what you like to do, and what you would like to do? That way I can advise what might help.
BTW for the Ice/Energy or Energy/Ice builds...I have an Ice blaster but not very high. I can't really offer specific advice but in more general terms (which I think is probably better anyway). Ice generally has faster activation/recharge times than Energy, with holds rather than KB, and a slow effect rather than range. To make best use of those combos I'd suggest having stealth and using your travel power to quickly change back and forth in battle between your ice and energy power's ranges. For SS this means zipping back and forth, for Fly/Hover it'd probably mean a good bind (posted under "The best hover/fly bind" or something like that, or 6-slotted hover.
Good luck!
Okay Starfox....as this is an official ENG thread i guess its okay to discuss Eng/Ice. Hope you agree, Snipefu.
First, this is not my main and its only lvl21...so i cannot speak for the highlvl game with this toon yet. But i found it an very good build so far so lets see...btw i solo 75% of the time, 20% i team with a controller-friend, 5% pickupteams.
1)
You are right that there are no guides to this as its an unusual combo. But i see the reason for that in the fact that Eng/Eng is very powerful and most Blaster go for AOE anyways. So the few who dont go AOE and choose a power like ENG usually take ENG as second too. Guys like you, me or Snipefu are rare across the boards....but thats no indication that our choosen combo is weak.
My main is Spine/Inv scrapper....when i started after Beta i was didnt meet a 2nd one on my server a loooong time....and on the forumboards i was a lone ranger too. 2 Updates later i am FOTM and every1 and his grandma talked about Spine/Inv. It changes faster than you can play....so stick to your choice no matter if its popular at the moment or not....that will change anyways.
2)
I have Chillbain and BuildUp so far from 2nd set. Same as you no icemelee attacks. But the fact that i choose only 2 icepowers so far doesnt mean they are weak. Its just that the good ones come at late lvls. Ice Patch looks great, a Slow-cone is perfect for soloing and even holding a target....whoaaaa. Ice will rock....in higher lvls.....up to then i live with ENG and Chillbain.
3)
Not to enter melee is the goal for me...nearly always works. Keypowers are chillbain and powerpush (lvl18). Powerpush is a 100% knockback - a mustbe for us.
Lets say you fight the usual 3 mobs in a mission:
Buildup, Aim, Snipe on Luit - dead or less than 10% Hp. a fast Bolt and hes gone. 2 minions left - one staying and shooting, the other one running at you. A bolt or two on the shooting mob while the other one runs to you. When he reaches you and draws his meleeweapon you activate Powerpush - followed by chillbain. The mob is KB before he can strike and then frozen in place some feet away from you with his sword in hand - hehehe. Another bolt on the ranged mob, then the rest on the frozen melee-mob. Perfect.
If i get surprised by a bunch of Mobs around a corner i use Torrent to make me room......KB on many of them ususally. Cycle through the mobs, never stay on one. powerpush on one, TAB on melee mob, Chillbain him, Tab on next, give him your dmgbolt, Powerpush next again.
You are no Ubar-DMG-Dealer, you are a crowdcontroller. You keep mobs frozen or on their butt - those can not hit you, take advantage of it.
4) On your chosen powers:
Looks good to me. You will need Stamina so choose Fitness as next free pool. Hasten is good, slot it. In lvl22 i advice to have it slotted so you can go for permahasten with SO enhancements. Stealth is great with SuperSpeed.
Slot one or two of your Bolts heavily (6), 1Acc, 5 Dmg. PowerPuah and Chillbain need no extraslots, mubbe 2 but not more for now.
6Slot Snipe by all means. The Snipe as an opening attack is invaluable. Keep Luits/Bosses an their but with Powerpush, its your best defense. So go Powerpush in lvl18.
Btw its perfect to do Powerpush, Chillbain, Powerburst.
You knock them away, freeze on spot and give him your hardhitting attack....nice attack-cycle.
5) Teaming
When teaming with controller friend i wait for him to "control" the mobs first. Those who are not held get my KB and freeze. Then big dmg vs the held Luit/boss. I tend to use snipe vs held mobs as it leaves the other bolts active....i can use all of them fast if something surprising or just bad happens. Snipe hasd not best DPS but its 6slotted....not all my attacks are in lvl21, and i guess its the same with you.
Torrent is the "lets run" attack. Sometimes things go bad. If the controller then tries one last desperate try to hold i ususally give a Torrent in the crowd to get as much aggro as possible...and kb as many as possible. Aside from that i use my normal bolts vs the mobs and powerpush/chillbain those who attack the controller while he spams new holds.
(He knows my freeze and knows how to get out of mob melee range in time).
6) Pickupteams
Hmm, mubbe this is our weakness. ENG/ICE is a set not build for Pickupteams. They will be shouting for you not to KB, not to freeze. They are not used to your strategy or tactics...all they want is a fast dmgdealer....ok its not always like that but fact is normally i dont go too well in a pickupteam. This build is excellent for solo or in team with some friends who know your powers and play with a strategy that takes your strength into account. In pickupteams you have to find your own strategy i fear.
So Nuff blubbering....hope it helped.
KB is not issue if you use hover and knock your enemy down toward the ground. KB also doesnt happen constantly unless you slot for KB.. I rarely get huge knockback...
The hard things I can do--- The impossible just take a little bit longer.
If numbers are so much more important than a teammate who is fun to play with, forget about the game altogether and go play with a calculator instead. -Claws and Effect-
thanx for the deatiled answer powerbernie! tha's very nice.
I'm a bit upset because I have 4 slots on chilbain (I'm new at this game) but it's ok, I have extra range and it's nice.
I guess from your strategy that hover would be rather useless for ice manip. So i'll skip it.
Ok back to playing then 
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KB is not issue if you use hover and knock your enemy down toward the ground. KB also doesnt happen constantly unless you slot for KB.. I rarely get huge knockback...
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Yes that sounds good.
But he has already chosen Stealth and Speed pool. Next needs to be stamina, no way would i choose flight as third pool before Stamina.
yeah I didnt see they had already gone the SS stealth route.. It sounds like every blaster is going that way now..
The hard things I can do--- The impossible just take a little bit longer.
If numbers are so much more important than a teammate who is fun to play with, forget about the game altogether and go play with a calculator instead. -Claws and Effect-
Unfortunately I can't comment on the ice secondary. But all blaster secondaries are melee focused. When you get to the higher levels and learn your hero better and better going in and out of melee becomes easier and more deadly. It just requires some time and experience in the game.
Yes, this should be the official energy board and so discussing different secondaries is welcome.
Hopefully someone with a high level Ice secondary will be able to comment on the set.
The Legion of Freedom
Nice guide. Glad to see some of the numbers revealed. the
4s Damage for Snipe was nice to know. One thing I did was
take the Leadership pool. Yea, not an "Optimum" build, but
for some extra Damage and Defense, it seems to be working
well for my Eng/Eng Hero ATM. Just a thought....
I just posted my build in another thread, but I thought I'd post here as I'd love to hear SnipeFu and MSKnight's comments--and anyone else too!
I'm lvl 36 right now, but here's what I plan for my build to look like once I hit lvl 41. I haven't decided on my Epic pool yet. I'm still waiting for the numbers to come in. I've left 4 slots open for the Epic pool, just in case I want all four slots from a pool.
If I don't take all four, I'll add Boost range, Explosive Blast and/or Bone Smasher.
Click here to see my build.
P.S. This isn't necessarily the order I'd recommend taking these. This is my build after a respec, so the order wasn't as important to me.
Hey Starfox I'm in the same boat as you. I'm an energy/ice blaster and could not find a guide. I did however in doing a search for chilling embrace. I found some information on ice manipulation, and what I have found is that the only powers worth having are the following.
Chilblain
Build Up
Ice Patch
Shiver
Which basically said to me was that the ice secondary sucks, but the plus side to that. Is that it allows you to focus on your primary and pool powers. Which for me is a good thing because my energy/ice blaster is a concept character. So it works for me. 
BlueWolf/Freedom Server
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N O V A the end all and be all of the Energy set.
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At L36 I'm not sure I'm still considered a noob, but this surely must be a noob question so please bear with me. I took Nova at 32 and still seem to have a basic misunderstanding on how it works with Conserve Energy+Aim+BU. My strike is executed in this order: CE+BU+Aim then Nova, however each time Nova goes off it still drains my Endurance completely and flips off all my toggles. Can someone please let me know what Im doing wrong?
Thanks.
my most damaging single target alpha strike is BU+Aim the Snipe, Power Burst, and Blast. it's where stealth+SS comes in really handy. That combo can cream just about anything not a boss.
The Legion of Freedom