Pom-Poms of Death v.2-The EM/SR Stalker Guide

Shadow_Poison · 03-23-2006 09:20 PM

~Introduction~

Welcome to the new and improved Energy Melee & Super Reflexes Stalker Guide. In this guide, I will be giving you opinions on powers, strategy, and being a Stalker in general. I will be posting my build at the end of the guide, but that is just my build, and not the best.

First, I will be giving you a rundown on these two great sets, and their powers.

~Energy Melee~

Energy Melee is one of my favorite sets in all of CoX. I love the Pink Pom-Pom effect, not to mention that it's the strongest Stalker set available. Here is my opinion on EM.

+Barrage+
-Level available: 1
-Brawl Index: 1.8888
-End Cost: 3.536
-Recharge: 2 seconds
-Activation: 1.33 seconds
-Secondary effect: Minor Disorient

Barrage is just not a very good power. The damage is minimal and Energy Punch is just better in every way. Please do not get this power.

+Energy Punch+
-Level available: 1
-Brawl Index: 2.7777
-End Cost: 5.2
-Recharge: 4 seconds
-Activation: .57 seconds
-Secondary effects: Minor Disorient
-Recommended slotting: 2 Damage, 2 Accuracy

Not a bad level one power. Activation time is less than 1 second (!) and 2.777 brawl is not bad. Definitely better than Barrage, and you have to get this or Barrage no matter what. This will be in your attack chain for a LONG time.

+Bone Smasher+
-Level available: 2
-Brawl Index: 4.5556
-End Cost: 8.528
-Recharge: 8 seconds
-Activation: 1.5 seconds
-Secondary effects: Moderate Disorient
-Recommended Slotting: 3 damage, 2 ACC, 1 Recharge

Bone Smasher is amazing. I love this power. At level 2, you can one shot white minions with it in Hide. You will be using this your whole entire career, and is a very important power in your attack chain. Slot this attack ASAP, as it will be your hardest hitting attack until level 26.

+Assassin's Strike+
-Level available: 6
-Brawl Index: 19.4446 while Hidden, 2.7778 while not
-End Cost: 14.352
-Recharge: 15 seconds
-Activation: 4 seconds
-Secondary effects: Toggle dropping
-Recommended Slotting: 2 Damage, 2 ACC, 1 Recharge

I think I don't have to explain this one. Get this at level 6. This attack does so much damage that you'll cringe whenever it hits. (And when you see the animation, hehe) The Potty Dance is going to be your most used power, so learn how to use it well.

+Build Up+
-Level available: 8
-Brawl Index: N/A
-End Cost: 5.2
-Recharge: 90 seconds
-Activation: .73 seconds
-Secondary effects: 10 second 80% damage and 50% ACC boost.
-Recommended slotting: 3 Recharge, and 1 ToHit Buff (If you PvP)

Get used to using Build Up right before an Assassin's Strike. This attack lets you two shot mobs that you never could before, or put a huge dent in ones you can't. Combined with Assassin's Strike, this is bread and butter baby.

+Placate+
-Level available: 12
-Brawl Index: N/A
-End Cost: 2.6
-Recharge: 60 seconds
-Activation: 1.5 seconds
-Secondary effects: Drops your aggro from target
-Recommended slotting: 3 Recharge

This power is very fun to use, and can be very deadly if used correctly. This opens up a lot of attack chains and different strategies. Learn how to use this properly to increase your DPS and effectiveness.

+Stun+
-Level available: 18
-Brawl Index: .6945
-End Cost: 10.192
-Recharge: 20 seconds
-Activation: 1.8 seconds
-Secondary effects: Disorient
-Recommended slotting: 1 ACC

I've seen some good strategies using this power. It's an automatic stun when it hits, but the activation is a long baseball pitch. I could not fit this in my build, nor did I think I needed it. It's really up to you, if you feel you need this.

+Energy Transfer+
-Level available: 26
-Brawl Index: 12.6666 (!!!)
-End Cost: 10.192
-Recharge: 20 seconds
-Activation: 1 second
-Secondary effects: Self damage out of hide, none in.
-Recommended slotting: 3 damage, 1 ACC, 2 Recharge

This is the best move in the game. 12 base Brawl. 12!!! The activation is also very short, at 1 second. This is your hardest hitting attack, obviously behind Assassin's Strike. If you use this attack while Hidden, you will not lose some health like you usually do. I'd rather use that for an attack that criticals though, as the health loss isn't huge. Slot this ASAP.

+Total Focus+
-Level available: 32
-Brawl Index: 9.8889
-End Cost: 18.512
-Recharge: 20 seconds
-Activation: 3.3 seconds
-Secondary effects: Very large disorient.
-Recommended slotting: 3 damage, 1 ACC, 1 Recharge, 1 End Reduc

Two extreme damage powers in a row? Nice. Total Focus is a great power, with tons of damage. The animation is REALLY long though, with you jumping in the air in slow motion, but the disorient makes up for it IMO. Also, watch out for the end cost on this thing, it's pretty large. Get this at 32.

Those are the powers in Energy Melee. It is a great set, and should keep you having fun all the way to 40 or 50 or whatever level you're going

~Super Reflexes~

Super Reflexes is a great set, not only for a Stalker. It gives the most defense of all the sets a Stalker can be right now. It also has a great status protection, a mini-permanent Hasten, and probably the greatest 'god mode' power.

+Hide+
-Level available: 1
-Brawl Index: N/A
-End Cost: .23881 per sec.
-Recharge: 20 seconds
-Activation: .73 seconds
-Secondary effects: Juiced up Invis. Need I say more?
-Recommended slotting: 1 defense

The basis of Stalker existance. This makes you unseen to enemies that do not some sort of perception power. In this mode, you can deal double damage or use an Assassin's Strike. You should have Hide on almost all the time.

+Focused Fighting+
-Level available: 2
-Brawl Index: N/A
-End Cost: .23881 per sec
-Recharge: 4 seconds
-Activation: .67 seconds
-Secondary Effects: 12.5% v. Melee, Resist Confuse
-Recommended slotting: 3 defense, 1 End Redux

One of the big defense toggles. This one is your Melee defense. Get this before level 10 and keep it on all the time. One of your best powers.

+Focused Senses+
-Level available: 4
-Brawl Index: N/A
-End Cost: .23881 per sec.
-Recharge: 4 seconds
-Activation: 2.03 seconds
-Secondary effects: 12.5% defense vs. Ranged, +Perception
-Recommended slotting: See Focused Fighting.

+Agile+
-Level available: 10
-Brawl Index: N/A
-End Cost: N/A, Passive
-Recharge: N/A, Passive
-Activation: *looks around* Do I have to say it again?!
-Secondary Effects: 5% defense vs. Ranged. Scaling resistance vs. all damage except Toxic & Psionic, up to around 18% resistance.
-Recommended slotting: 1 to 3 Defense

Ah, the SR passives. The passives have their uses, especially with the scaling resistances as you get below 60% health. While they are useful, however, there are better powers you can take. If you have an opening, then this will do you well.

+Practiced Brawler+
-Level available: 16
-Brawl Index: N/A
-End Cost: 10.4
-Recharge: 200 seconds
-Activation: 1.53 seconds
-Secondary effects: Protects you from all status effects, except fear, confuse, and Placate. 120 second duration.
-Recommended slotting: 2 Recharge

The greatest status protection in the game, right here. A CLICK power, and not a toggle. With 2 White Recharge SO's, it's perma. Especially great in PvP, when everyone is getting their status protecting toggles knocked up, you're still going. I suggest getting this at 16, or ASAP.

+Dodge+
-Level available: 20
-Brawl Index: N/A
-End Cost: N/A
-Recharge: <_< N/A
-Activation: -_- N/A
-Secondary effects: 5% defense vs. Melee, scaling resistance up to around 18% vs. everyone except Toxic & Psionic.
-Recommended slotting: 1 to 3 defense

For info, see Agile.

+Quickness+
-Level available: 28
-Brawl Index: N/A
-End Cost: N/A
-Recharge: N/A
-Activation: N/A
-Secondary effects: 20% recharge reduction, +Run Speed
-Recommended slotting: 1 Run speed

I love this power. This is pretty much Swift combined with a toned down Hasten, except it's on ALL the time. This is very useful, and you should pick this up ASAP, especially seeing how EM has some long recharging attacks. Great power.

+Evasion+
-Level available: 35
-Brawl Index: N/A
-End Cost: .23881 per sec
-Recharge: 4 seconds
-Activation: 3 seconds
-Secondary effects: 22.5% defense vs. AoE.
-Recommended slotting: 3 Defense, 1 End Redux

The third toggle. This toggle isn't as "required" as FF and FS are. It has no secondary effects, besides the defense, and AoEs aren't very common. It might help against powers as in Blazing Aura in PvP, but that's about it. Up to you if you want this.

+Elude+
-Level available: 38
-Brawl Index: N/A
-End Cost: 2.6
-Recharge: 1000 seconds
-Activation: 2 seconds
-Secondary effects: 45% defense vs. Ranged/Melee/AoE, and everything else.
-Recommended slotting: 3 defense, 3 recharge

Best 'god mode' power in the game by far. 3 slotted with defense, this gives you 70.20% defense against EVERYTHING. This is an amazing move. Click this and you don't have to worry about anything in PvE. Just stand there, and you will go back in to Hide, or just attack like crazy. Amazing. Get this at 38.

That about sums Super Reflexes up. I love playing this set, and I hope you will too.

~Strategies~

Alot of people believe that Stalkers are horrible on teams in PvE, and can be replaced with something better. I disagree.

Stalkers can easily find the most threatening mob, and take him from the fight before he can do anything! This makes Stalkers very useful in large teams.

As for an attack chain, mine is usually BU+AS+ET+BS+Placate+TF. That will kill a lieutenant and down and even some bosses. As for PvP, I might go TF+Placate+BU+AS+ET+BS+EP. Come up with your own attack chain, and just have fun!

The biggest rule is this: HAVE FUN! Don't take everything so seriously, ease up a bit. Let people know what you're doing before you do it so people don't panic. Enjoy your toon!

~Conclusion~

I love playing my main, Scarred Shadow. Whenever I play him, I have a blast. I don't remember ever being bored. Just try to make everything work for you, and contribute to your team as well as you can.

If you have any questions or suggestions, send me a PM on the boards or send me a PM @I Hate Clockwork. If you're ever on Triumph, send me a tell as well.

Well, thank you for reading, I hope this helps you all!

GL,

Shadow.

Shadow_Poison · 03-23-2006 09:24 PM

Oh wow, forgot to post my build. Here it is:

---------------------------------------------
Exported from Ver: 1.7.6.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder
---------------------------------------------
Name: Scarred Shadow
Level: 41
Archetype: Stalker
Primary: Energy Melee
Secondary: Super Reflexes
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Energy Punch==> Acc(1)Rechg(34)Dmg(36)Dmg(36)Dmg(36)
01) --> Hide==> DefBuf(1)
02) --> Bone Smasher==> Acc(2)Dmg(3)Dmg(3)Dmg(5)EndRdx(5)Rechg(23)
04) --> Focused Fighting==> EndRdx(4)DefBuf(11)DefBuf(15)DefBuf(15)
06) --> Assassin's Strike==> Acc(6)Dmg(7)Dmg(7)Dmg(9)Rechg(9)Acc(11)
08) --> Focused Senses==> EndRdx(8)DefBuf(17)DefBuf(19)DefBuf(19)
10) --> Hasten==> Rechg(10)Rechg(13)Rechg(13)
12) --> Placate==> Rechg(12)Rechg(21)Rechg(21)
14) --> Super Speed==> Run(14)Run(31)
16) --> Practiced Brawler==> Rechg(16)Rechg(17)
18) --> Build Up==> Rechg(18)Rechg(23)Rechg(31)TH_Buf(37)
20) --> Hurdle==> Jump(20)
22) --> Health==> Heal(22)Heal(37)Heal(37)
24) --> Stamina==> EndMod(24)EndMod(25)EndMod(25)
26) --> Energy Transfer==> Acc(26)EndRdx(27)Dmg(27)Dmg(29)Dmg(29)Rechg(31)
28) --> Quickness==> Run(28)
30) --> Stealth==> EndRdx(30)
32) --> Total Focus==> Acc(32)EndRdx(33)Dmg(33)Dmg(33)Dmg(34)Rechg(34)
35) --> Evasion==> EndRdx(35)DefBuf(40)
38) --> Elude==> Rechg(38)Rechg(39)Rechg(39)DefBuf(39)DefBuf(40)DefBuf(40)
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Sprint==> EndRdx(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Acc(1)
01) --> Assassination==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Rechg(2)
---------------------------------------------

Thanks again.

LifeAsA_Skater · 10-30-2006 05:27 PM

Very helpful, thanks.

Daemodand · 10-31-2006 09:01 AM

A comment on the /SR part of your excellent guide. The passives are actually pretty darn important. The scaling resistance has saved me more times than I can count on my /SR Scrapper. And the relatively small amount of Defense they provide are actually pretty important has they help close /SR's #1 weakness, the Defense gap. Without them, you go down more easily when your health is in the red. 9 times out of 10, with them, they'll give you that extra moment or two to Heal or get out of Dodge (the city, not the power ).

However, given Stalkers' low amount of hit points, I agree they are more skippable than they are on a Scrapper. Resistance is at its best when it has lots of HP backing it up after all. Still, even on a Stalker, the passives are something to seriously consider.

One final small nitpick on Evasion. AOEs are actually very very common. So are cones. Evasion is all that really stand between you and those AOEs. My Hero planner says there's 37.5% Defense to AOEs in Hide. I think that's a misplaced decimal point, but even in the unlikely event it isn't, why not take Evasion and really shut down cones and AOEs almost completely? And if I'm right and that decimal point is misplaced, Evasion becomes far more important. Between the levels of 1 and 35, my /SR Scrapper was constantly vexed by AOEs and cones. After level 30 or so, they were downright deadly. And if they're deadly to someone with Scrapper HP, they must be hell on earth to someone with Stalker HP. I can't recommend Evasion strongly enough.

If you must skip one power from /SR (not at all recommended, but if you absolutely must for some reason) skip Quickness. If you have Swift you won't miss the speed boost much and 20% recharge, though very nice, is not something you'll necessarily miss when it's gone either. Quickness is the one possibly skippable power in the set (even though it still comes highly recommended). One should even consider 3 slotting it for periods of double stacked mez protection. It's almost like getting your own private set of purple triangles. Almost.

I love /SR, but I hate that it is such a tight build. Its so tight its like a python.

The best comics are still 10�!
My City of Heroes Blog Freedom Feature Article: "Going Rageless?"
If you only read one guide this year, make it this one.
Super Reflexes: the Golden Fox of power sets!

WARNING: I bold names.

SlimChance · 11-01-2007 10:20 AM

Thanks for the guide Shadow. I have an EM/SR Stalker and your guide is a great resource. A couple of questions. Do you feel that Stamina is essential for this build? Why do you need stealth? My Stalker is only L29 and I recently returned to the game. I don't PVP much. I assume that stealth is used for PVP reasons not PVE?

MsMisery · 12-04-2007 12:40 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the guide Shadow. I have an EM/SR Stalker and your guide is a great resource. A couple of questions. Do you feel that Stamina is essential for this build? Why do you need stealth? My Stalker is only L29 and I recently returned to the game. I don't PVP much. I assume that stealth is used for PVP reasons not PVE?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes correct although it can be a nice bonus against carnies and longbow with enhanced perception in PvE, stacked stealth has become a PvP standard Hide+Stealth+a stealth IO on Sprint I even go a step further with SS as my travel power seems you just can't be invis enough to survive for long in Warburg.

As for your question about stamina Energy is a drain big time I have a lvl 50 EM/SR Stalker and though I have mixed feelings about Stamina for Bloody Bay I would work it if you can I definately recommend it for all above 25.

Hope I helped Enjoy your gaming