what is your favorite defender build? and why?
My first Defender was a Radiation/Energy. My most recent Defender is a Radiation/Electric. I've tried some of the other powersets, but had trouble really getting into them. Except for Bots/Storm, but that's a Mastermind.
Here is my current build plan, but not 100% set in stone. The actual character is still level 24 as I write this, so it can still be considered a work in progress.
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.401
http://www.cohplanner.com/
[u]Click this DataLink to open the build![u]
Nene Shirai: Level 40 Science Defender
Primary Power Set: Radiation Emission
Secondary Power Set: Electrical Blast
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Flight
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Radiation Infection -- EndRdx(A), ToHitDeb(5)
Level 1: Charged Bolts -- Acc(A), Dmg(3), Dmg(5), Dmg(13), Acc(17), EnManip-Stun%(17)
Level 2: Accelerate Metabolism -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(3), RechRdx(7), EndMod(13), EndMod(15), EndMod(15)
Level 4: Radiant Aura -- Heal(A)
Level 6: Maneuvers -- EndRdx(A), DefBuff(7)
Level 8: Hasten -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(9), RechRdx(9)
Level 10: Short Circuit -- EndMod(A), EndMod(11), EndMod(11), Acc(37)
Level 12: Lingering Radiation -- RechRdx(A), Slow(19), Acc(19), Acc(31)
Level 14: Super Speed -- Run(A)
Level 16: Swift -- Flight(A)
Level 18: Health -- Heal(A)
Level 20: Stamina -- EndMod(A), EndMod(21), EndMod(21)
Level 22: Ball Lightning -- Acc(A), Dmg(23), Dmg(23), Acc(25), Dmg(25)
Level 24: Hover -- Flight(A), Flight(29), Flight(29)
Level 26: Enervating Field -- EndRdx(A), EndRdx(27), EndRdx(27)
Level 28: Tesla Cage -- Acc(A), RechRdx(31), RechRdx(31), Hold(34)
Level 30: Choking Cloud -- EndRdx(A), EndRdx(33), EndRdx(33), Hold(33), Hold(34), Hold(34)
Level 32: EM Pulse -- Acc(A), Acc(40)
Level 35: Voltaic Sentinel -- Acc(A), Acc(36), Dmg(36), Dmg(36), Dmg(37), RechRdx(37)
Level 38: Thunderous Blast -- Acc(A), Dmg(39), Dmg(39), Dmg(39), EndMod(40), EndMod(40)
Level 41: [Empty]
Level 44: [Empty]
Level 47: [Empty]
Level 49: [Empty]
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Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Vigilance
Basically, the first powers of the radiation set are just very important to me. These include Radiation Infection, Accelerate Metabolism, Radiant Aura, and Lingering Radiation.
Accelerate Metabolism combined with Haste is enough to push damage output of other defenders and controllers to near blaster levels, and can really super-charge an actual blaster. Recovery boosted from AM and stamina is also a huge help keeping the damage flowing without running out of juice. Only flaw in my build is the fact I'm built as an actual Defender and not an "Offender." So until the mid levels, the tier 1 attack is about all I have to actually fight with (and six-slotted to make that easier).
Radiation Infection makes it all worthwhile. Some herding is necessary to keep everyone in the zone, but when it happens, one becomes untouchable, Maneuvers and Hover (or Maneuvers and Combat Jumping) make things that much harder on the opponents.
Lingering Radiation is really useful as a backup when the anchor goes down or decides to run. Radiant Aura is useful as a backup for the same reasons.
Short Circuit from the electricity set is just plain evil when used to attack the opponents' endurance. If it isn't an archvillain, an application of Short Circuit completely drains the blue bar of every opponent in range, forcing them to combat their own endurance recovery to continue attacking. It is just plain fun.
But that's just me.
Tough question, I have my main defender, but I like so many different defenders too since Forcefield defender plays as much like a Storm defender as a Plant controller plays like an Ice/ice blaster.
Triumphant Defenders Forever
Psylenz FF/Psi, ArticQuark Storm/Rad, Symon BarSisyphus Bots/psn, Max VanSydow Thugs/Dk, Cyclone Symon Bots/stm, Blue Loki Ice/Cd, Widow 46526
HelinCarnate:OMG it is so terrible. I have the option to take 3 more powers but no additional slots. Boo F'ing hoo.
As you can see from my .sig I have played a wide variety of buff and debuffs.
My favorite defender from my stable is Mister Wales who is a rad/rad.
/rad is likely overkill for the secondary effect, but he was roleld before /sonic was around.
Rad to me is usefull in most situations, and brings a lot to the table.
My Kin is effective, but hard work and after running a TF or simialr I park her for quite a while, the constant click buffing wears.
I do like having the large stable of defenders to choose from, thats for sure as I can pick one accorind to the task in hand and my mood.
@Catwhoorg "Rule of Three - Finale" Arc# 1984
@Mr Falkland Islands"A Nation Goes Rogue" Arc# 2369 "Toasters and Pop Tarts" Arc#116617
<3 my Rad/Psy, huge damage, great debuffs, he was my first really good pvp toon, although retired now. :/
My Cold/Dark is ok, very powerful, but I don't find it as fun.
TA/Sonic was fun, although deleted now...
I'd have to say TA. I played all of them to 50 except rad and ff and they were all fun to level but TA is the one I go back and play the most at 50.
Still gay for my Rad/Dark Defender. A bevy of various crowd control, buff, debuffs and healing p0w34. Bonus points for nifty looking Hentacles + Green Clouds of radiation.
When there is no room left in Hell, the Dead shall walk the earth.
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what is your favorite defender build?
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TA/Dark/Dark.
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and why?
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AoE debuffs/controls/damage, access to almost every debuff (can get Placate from a proc and a day job power, leaving only -Range and -Special missing (that i can recall, don't have time to go through a list of debuffs to check, have to leave for work)), stacking ToHit debuffs, stacking Stuns and the more offensively you play, the better your damage mitigation.
Fun, effective and still the only character I've enjoyed enough to continue playing after hitting 50.
my favorite is my rad/sonic. why? because he is able to tank, debuff an AV to be as easy as a boss, solo AVs, GMs, ect. is able to do whatever i need to him to do. the only thing he lacks is massive AoE damage(unless i have someone dead on the team). aside from that cold/ and TA tie for second. Because they offers great buff/debuff, do great damamge, and are very rarely seen.
Positron's i13 letter: We are trying to make PvP more accessible to new players, while giving experienced PvP'ers the advantage that comes with formulating tactics around the new systems we're putting in place. PvP from now on will be on our priority list. If something isn't working out, we'll be in there tweaking it and making it work, for the entire future of the product, not just Issue 13.
My favorite is a secret 
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I love the sense of speed and power.
I love how the different powers work together to create a harmony that uplifts my allies and shatters my foes.
I love that I never have to choose between the needs of my build and the needs of the team.
I love the impression of a well oiled machine that when operating at peak efficiency is reaching the limits of what is possible for a Defender.
I love at the end of the mission when the entire team is commenting about how easy the AV they were worried about was, that I can just smile quietly to myself, smug and self satisfied like a well fed cat.
I love that I very quickly have max possible mez resistance so that stuns become a minor nuisance rather than a chain o' doom breakable only with a break free.
I love that I can dive in, lock down an entire spawn, stand in the middle of it, and then type "Ready!".
I love that I feel I "discovered" the combo when it was still rare.
I like light green. Which is lucky.[/list] - Jock Tamson, Who can keep a secret. Not this one, but I have others.
Sonic/Energy/Electrical
Its a difficult build, and one Ive made twice now. My first attempt got to 28 and was deleted as being the first character I couldnt solo on Invincible at that level.
I've since made a second one with the same power themes - Marvel-style cosmic energy blasts and molecular transmutation for all the +/- Res powers, and I'm having a brilliant time, probably because Im playing characters in pairs these days.
Sonic really is a great support set, and a lousy solo set.
Sonic/Energy also lends itself to messing around with IO's and benefits hugely from some of the changes in I14.
Thunderstrikes now give Ranged Defence bonuses twice, and Aegis gives AoE Defence bonuses twice. Add in the new Blessing of the Zephyr and I'm very happy with my collect-the-set "how tough can I make this Defender" obsession. So its one of those builds that grows and I get excited with each level for the new slots or powers.
Finally, it just looks cool. Orange and Blue are complementary colours, and both powersets look like they're manipulating large cosmic energy fields.
Id have to say Shoop My Kin/Ice Defender..
I love the buffing abilities of Kin and the Nice fast animation of Ice for damage..
Great for solo or Group.. Although my Dark/Elec Defender Im rolling with now is awfully fun so is my Emp/Sonic....
I love all my defenders but these are my fav 50's:
Emp/Nrg: Fixxee
Ice/Ice: Frosty Treat
Kin/Ice: Fixxed
Kin/Elect: Metaboleech
TA/Arch: Fruity Tootie
Dark/Dark: Death's Princess
Sonic/Ice: BoomBoom Betty
Storm/Psi: Khaeoss
FF/Sonic: Bubble Yummy
Rad/Dark: Fixxie
i'm liking my empathy/dark defender. dark does awesome damage, and its nice being a good healer for myself, and others as well.
edit: now i'm liking my dark/dark defender better than the empathy defender. aaaawwwwwwooooooo xX Dark Wolf Xx
When the going gets tough, I keep going back to my Force Field defenders. Why?
It makes the Statesman's Task Force into a low-stress encounter.
We beat the Sewer Trial on the first try.
The Honoree is really not such a bad guy once you hang out with him a while.
What can I say? I like slacking, I like being tremendously useful, and I can do both at once here.
Mini-guides: Force Field Defenders, Blasters, Market Self-Defense, Frankenslotting.
So you think you're a hero, huh.
@Boltcutter in game.
Once I get a 20 oz coffee poured and my fast twitch muscles are warmed up, my favorite is a Kin/Sonic defender.
Why? Because it's a combo that will transform any team into a steamrolling juggernaut. If it was already a steamrolling juggernaut, it would become steamrollerer.
To the damage cap and beyond!
After 3 weeks working a Cold/Ice up into the 30's...
I've decided I love Storm so much more 
Storm/anything is my favorite, because Storm is the greatest set in existence. It has lots of AoE debuff and control, plus damage and the fun of sheer chaos. It's a toolbox with everything you'll ever need to protect a team. Or tank, whichever you prefer
Storm/Sonic
Rad/Rad/Energy. Rad/ is a great swiss army knife set, /Rad just has the damn sexiest animations around, and /Energy gives me PBU'd EM Pulse and its hold duration best measured in epochs.
Having Vengeance and Fallout slotted for recharge means never having to say you're sorry.
PBU'd EM Pulse, PBU'd Lingering Radiation, PBU'd Accelerated Metabolism, mmmmm
Triumphant Defenders Forever
Psylenz FF/Psi, ArticQuark Storm/Rad, Symon BarSisyphus Bots/psn, Max VanSydow Thugs/Dk, Cyclone Symon Bots/stm, Blue Loki Ice/Cd, Widow 46526
HelinCarnate:OMG it is so terrible. I have the option to take 3 more powers but no additional slots. Boo F'ing hoo.
Right now, I'm enjoying Kin/NRG way more than I probably should be.
Pewpewpew + 25% permanent damage bonus + permanent travel power and recharge bonus at an early level = win!
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Right now, I'm enjoying Kin/NRG way more than I probably should be.
Pewpewpew + 25% permanent damage bonus + permanent travel power and recharge bonus at an early level = win!
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this is one of my favorites (i'm still a sucker for rad/rad though), this combo plays well, with /NRG's KB helping with the lack of mitigation in KIN/, and it works thematically, which i know isn't important to everyone, but it's the meat of the game for me.
Oh yeah, that was the time that girl got her whatchamacallit stuck in that guys dooblickitz and then what his name did that thing with the lizards and it cleared right up.
screw your joke, i want "FREEM"
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Storm/Sonic
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I tried to solo on my Empath/Elec this morning. 22 with all 25 IOs.
I very nearly ragedeleted. Went over to my 47 Storm/Sonic that I haven't played in a month or so (been playing my Claws/SR too much...if such a thing is possible), and man, I love Storm/Sonic.
So much difference between defender powersets!
Kinetic/psi/psi My first 50, and I feel as though I caught my niche with this one. I have played this game a long time and still my favorite toon hands down. Kinetics is a fast paced set. You are constantly moving, constantly observing, and constantly shifting tactics to a given situation. I like the Psi/Psi part of the build for the lock downs and holds. I play many defenders and I love them all, but for my favorite I have to say my Kinetic/psi.
Storm/Ice
Blizzard is the single highest damage aoe in the game, and freezing rain just means everybody is stuck in it for the duration and taking bonus damage. I wish sex felt this good.
what is your favorite defender build? and why? i want to know this from ppl whom have played as a defender to help me decide how to build a defender if i decide to make one.