Seeds of Confusion is a hard control available at level 8, with a long duration and a fast recharge. Other sets have for a comparable staple AOE control a disorient with twice the recharge time and far shorter duration.
The Carrion Creepers are a pet-like entity which will be around quite a while with some recharge reduction and cause all kinds of harassment to enemies.
Plant effects in general are simply cool looking for many of us, though the total graphics effect is intense.
I'm not aware of really strong, specific synergies with secondaries. I went with kinetics because everyone likes a kin, I like playing kins, and I wanted Carrion Creepers out and around even more often. Storm Summoning is a common secondary for thematic reasons at least. I wouldn't mind thermal, sonic, force field or even empathy in a pinch for helping keep the Fly Trap alive - the poor thing likes attracting more aggro than it can survive.
Roots also does double the damage of other set's AoE immobilize powers. It also sets up containment for itself, so spammed, makes for nice AoE damage.
Storm is great, as Freezing Rain debuffs defense and damage resistance, effectively increasing the damage you get out of confused mobs and Roots.
I've heard alot of good stuff about Plant/TA as well, for similar debuffing reasons.
Let me start off by saying I have never made an Empath after 40 months of mostly on, sometimes off playing, over 3 main servers and 35 25+ lvl characters. (I'm an altoholic, yes I need help.) I don't like playing "H34L0r".
BUT, after trying out a Plant/Thorns dominator, and really enjoying it, I wanted to try it hero side. But what to pair with it?
As stated above, Seeds of Confusion and Carrion Creepers are the mainstays. Seeds recharges pretty quickly, but having it available as much as possible is a good idea. Carrion Creepers is a great power, but you really need +RECHARGE to make the most of it.
SO, I looked around for a secondary that would give and/or also benefit from a lot of +recharge (Personally, it also has to make sense thematically). Empathy struck me as a good match, and it has worked out exceedingly well. I play very aggressively, spam FORT, RegA, RecA, AB, CC, Seeds and sometimes I heal, but not very much.
Stone Mastery caps things off nicely.
Here is my build. It isn't crazy expensive, but it is a blast to play.
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.401
http://www.cohplanner.com/
[u]Click this DataLink to open the build![u]
Spirit of the Woods: Level 50 Natural Controller
Primary Power Set: Plant Control
Secondary Power Set: Empathy
Power Pool: Teleportation
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Stone Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Strangler -- Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:33(A), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:33(15), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:33(17), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:33(17), Hold-I:50(19), Hold-I:50(19)
Level 1: Healing Aura -- Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx:33(A), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg:33(3), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:33(3), Dct'dW-Heal:33(13), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg:33(15)
Level 2: Entangle -- Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:33(A), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:33(21), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:33(43), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:33(43)
Level 4: Heal Other -- Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx:33(A), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg:33(5), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg:33(5), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:33(7), Dct'dW-Heal:33(7)
Level 6: Recall Friend -- IntRdx-I:50(A)
Level 8: Seeds of Confusion -- Mlais-Acc/Rchg:33(A), Mlais-EndRdx/Conf:33(9), Mlais-Acc/EndRdx:33(9), Mlais-Conf/Rng:33(11), Mlais-Acc/Conf/Rchg:33(11), RechRdx-I:50(13)
Level 10: Resurrect -- RechRdx-I:50(A)
Level 12: Swift -- Run-I:50(A)
Level 14: Teleport -- TSM'n-Stlth:50(A)
Level 16: Clear Mind -- RechRdx-I:50(A)
Level 18: Health -- Heal-I:50(A)
Level 20: Stamina -- EndMod-I:50(A), EndMod-I:50(21)
Level 22: Fortitude -- AdjTgt-ToHit:33(A), AdjTgt-ToHit/Rchg:33(23), AdjTgt-ToHit/EndRdx/Rchg:33(23), AdjTgt-EndRdx/Rchg:33(40), AdjTgt-Rchg:33(40)
Level 24: Hasten -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(25), RechRdx-I:50(25)
Level 26: Carrion Creepers -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(27), Det'tn-Acc/Dmg:50(27), Det'tn-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(34), Det'tn-Dmg/Rchg:50(37), ImpSwft-Dam%:30(37)
Level 28: Recovery Aura -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(29), Efficacy-EndMod/EndRdx:33(29), Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg:33(34)
Level 30: Roots -- TotHntr-EndRdx/Immob:33(A), TotHntr-Acc/EndRdx:33(31), TotHntr-Immob/Acc:33(31), TotHntr-Dam%:33(31), Dmg-I:50(43), Dmg-I:50(46)
Level 32: Fly Trap -- ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg:37(A), ExRmnt-Dmg/EndRdx:37(33), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:37(33), ExRmnt-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg:37(33), Achilles-ResDeb%:20(34)
Level 35: Regeneration Aura -- Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg:38(A), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg:38(36), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:38(36), Dct'dW-Heal:38(36), Dct'dW-Rchg:38(37)
Level 38: Adrenalin Boost -- Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg:41(A), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg:41(39), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:41(39), Dct'dW-Heal:41(39), Dct'dW-Rchg:41(40)
Level 41: Fissure -- Det'tn-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Det'tn-Dmg/EndRdx:50(42), Det'tn-Dmg/Rchg:50(42), Det'tn-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(42), FrcFbk-Rechg%:50(46), FrcFbk-Rchg/EndRdx:50(46)
Level 44: Seismic Smash -- Mako-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx:50(45), Mako-Dmg/Rchg:50(45), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(45)
Level 47: Earth's Embrace -- Mrcl-EndRdx/Rchg:40(A), Mrcl-Heal/Rchg:40(48), Numna-Heal/Rchg:50(48), Numna-EndRdx/Rchg:50(48)
Level 49: Hurl Boulder -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:50(50), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(50), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Containment
------------
[u]Set Bonus Totals:[u]<ul type="square">[*]10.5% DamageBuff(Smashing)[*]10.5% DamageBuff(Lethal)[*]10.5% DamageBuff(Fire)[*]10.5% DamageBuff(Cold)[*]10.5% DamageBuff(Energy)[*]10.5% DamageBuff(Negative)[*]10.5% DamageBuff(Toxic)[*]10.5% DamageBuff(Psionic)[*]7.5% Defense(Energy)[*]7.5% Defense(Negative)[*]3.75% Defense(Ranged)[*]37.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)[*]16% Enhancement(Heal)[*]5% Enhancement(Immobilize)[*]39% Enhancement(Accuracy)[*]2.5% Enhancement(Confused)[*]5% FlySpeed[*]45.8 HP (4.5%) HitPoints[*]5% JumpHeight[*]5% JumpSpeed[*]MezResist(Confused) 2.5%[*]MezResist(Held) 2.5%[*]MezResist(Immobilize) 5.8%[*]MezResist(Sleep) 5.8%[*]MezResist(Stun) 2.5%[*]MezResist(Terrorized) 11.3%[*]11% (0.18 End/sec) Recovery[*]12% (0.51 HP/sec) Regeneration[*]5.04% Resistance(Fire)[*]5.04% Resistance(Cold)[*]5.01% Resistance(Energy)[*]1.26% Resistance(Negative)[*]5% RunSpeed[*]1% XPDebtProtection[/list]
The biggest problem with storm is all the crazy KB. Plant cancels it out. nothing like watching Tornado sit on a mob. then moving on if it wants to to another mob, and watching it sit on it. same is true with lighting storm. The biggest issue with it is KB mobs out of its own range. Not going to happen with plant.
Sure other troller primaries do the same thing, but not with the base damage the primary brings.
Plant is up there with Illusion when it comes to soloing.
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Plant is up there with Illusion when it comes to soloing.
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Not so much, both illusion and fire are better than plant when it comes to soloing, plant just doesn't have the single target damage on par with fire and illusion, and mind for that matter. Plant is more AoE focused.
Edit: I must have deleted half my reply.
The thing about Plant is it gets Mind Control's tier 9 at tier 5 except it's better.
My Plant/Radiation leveled as fast as my non Fire/XXX Blasters solo. I guess Radiation might be ideal with Plant, but so what.
I AM one of those angry guys who feels that Plant makes people snicker at Mind, maybye sometimes they are nice and throw in a "Poor Mind, it was already the Masochists set".
How about just make Mass Confusion tier 5, throw away Mass Hypnosis and give Mind a giant floating brain at tier 9 that spams Dominate and Mesmerize and is surrounded by World of Confusion.
Sorry for the thread derail. It's just annoying being actually "LoL-ed" at by pugs when I'm on my Mind Controller since Plant has more control by level 8. Plant can totally lock down an average spawn of mobs with just training enhancements.
I can't believe anyone can say Mind solos like Plant. It is good against bosses. And you can definitly "get by". But it's two "defining" powers Confuse, and Mass Confusion, were given to Illusion and Plant respectively. Sets that both get Pets and strong damage (Illusion single target, Plant AoE).
uhm, Mind is awesome.... it has so many AoE controls that you always have something to fall back on. Plant gets.... seeds (and an agro sleep that everyone skips). Not to mention the fact that, with mind, you can stack sleeps, you can stack confuse, you can stack holds...
I aint knocking plant by far - it's an awesome set, but if you think all mind/ brings to the table is Mass confusion, you're nuts!
To the OP, the cornerstone of plant is seeds of confusion. It makes leveling pretty easy. Creepers are also a signature power - not all *that* amazing, but certainly a lot of fun.
Yea,
Mind is Awesome. That's why it's been FotM for so long.
My two favorite pairings with Plant are /Storm and /TA. Storm has already been mentioned. /TA brings several things to the table. Acid Arrow and Disruption Arrow help you leverage Seeds, by increasing the damage enemies do to themselves without weakening their damage at the same time ( unlike, say, /Rad ). It adds more control to help you deal with things that resist Seeds of Confusion, like Nemesis and Bosses. It adds more damage from Oil Slick.
Arc #40529 : The Furies of the Earth
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It's just annoying being actually "LoL-ed" at by pugs when I'm on my Mind Controller since Plant has more control by level 8.
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LOLed at?
I've had teams tell the *tank* to let me set things up first. The only reason it's not the first FOTM set to come to mind (heh) is Fire/Kin's insanity. And then you look redside, where Mind/ is almost worshipped.
Mind solos and teams very well. It solos *differently* from Plant.
(And as much as I like seeds, the reason it comes in earlier is (a) it's a cone and (b) it causes aggro. Confuse and Mass Confusion do not. Seeds pairs very well with /Thorn on a Dom, since you've got more damage to take out groups before Seeds wears off.)
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Yea,
Mind is Awesome. That's why it's been FotM for so long.
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Because not being FoTM is the sign of a bad set? ok... I'm not going to try to argue with you any further - if you're determined to hate mind/, then sobeit.
Nice derail to visit our old friend the dead horse. Nothing wrong with mind IMHO except I feel a bit too many things resist its powers late game. Plant certainly doesn't replace it though or play anywhere near the same. And don't dare touch mass hypnosis. And I laugh at the FoTM reasoning as anecdotally I see just as many if not more Mind controllers out there than I see plant.
Anyway, back to the OP, plant/storm is by far my favorite combo for plant. For all the reasons already mentioned and for the fact that /storm is the only secondary that has an aoe -fly power (snow storm). It helps overcome what can be an annoyance to plant control, flyers.
Plant goes great with basically anything. I think it works best if you intend to add some damage, so 6 slot Roots for accuracy, damage, and endurance reduction.
Some examples of synergies:
Trick Arrow - The great thing about this combo is that you can play an "all ranged" controller who flies around with Hover. You get not one but two resistance debuffs, which'll boost the damage potential of Roots.
Storm Summoning - The anti-KB effect of Roots (which you should be spamming for sweet, sweet damage) makes it a lot easier to use Storm's more unusual tools, like Tornado.
Radiation Emission - Seeds of Confusion tends to bunch the mobs up together. This means that your AOE debuffs will hit more targets and function more efficiently.
Plant Control/Thermal Radiation was a nice pairing,
- You'll always have something to do: healing allies, buffing thier resistances, demezzing, ensnaring mobs and spreading the joyous 'seeds of love'...and that's all before level 20. When solo...you can pretty much ignore your secondary set (except for warmth every now and then) and let the wonderful plant world do it's work for you with lots of 'seeding' in between. The 'sleep bomb' does wonders in case you draw extra attention. Can't wait for 'Melt Armor' so my wonderfully confused mobs can kill each other faster.
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The biggest problem with storm is all the crazy KB. Plant cancels it out. nothing like watching Tornado sit on a mob. then moving on if it wants to to another mob, and watching it sit on it. same is true with lighting storm. The biggest issue with it is KB mobs out of its own range. Not going to happen with plant.
Sure other troller primaries do the same thing, but not with the base damage the primary brings.
Plant is up there with Illusion when it comes to soloing.
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This. Plant is so effective, you can skip the pet. The flytrap basically ambles about chompling on all of the things you have rooted. I mostly use the thing for diversions.
Plant storm is a very fun solo friendly set. 
my plant/storm is the most fun character i've created, and im running out of server slots 
. True enough, single target damage is its only shortcommings, which can be alleviated with pool/epic powers. for AoE, it is a sheer monster. I took rock armor on mine, I will herd 2 or 3 spawns of romans, pull them back, throw seeds/roots freezing rain, Vines!.. then carrion creepers! omg the creepers, its like a forest of hurt.
I think creepers gives you more control than people realise. even if its soft control.
Combat Kangaroos, Justice Server. First 50's
Jirra Roo Plant/Storm/Stone/Musculature Controller
Combat Kangaroo Rifle/Energy/Mace/Spiritual Blaster
Kung Fu Kangaroo Martial Arts/Reflexes/Body/Spiritual Scrapper
Tribal Arc Shield/Elec/Mu/Spiritual Tanker
Mind just doesn't fit my playstyle, but when I tried it on Dom that a played to mid 20s I thought it was pretty tough, and I hadn't even got to the good stuff yet. lol
Still, think this is neat idea :
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give Mind a giant floating brain at tier 9 that spams Dominate and Mesmerize and is surrounded by World of Confusion.
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And on topic: I love the look of plants and was thinking I would like to try a plant/rad .. had theme in mind and think they would fit nicely together too from looking at the sets.
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my plant/storm is the most fun character i've created, and im running out of server slots . True enough, single target damage is its only shortcommings, which can be alleviated with pool/epic powers. for AoE, it is a sheer monster. I took rock armor on mine, I will herd 2 or 3 spawns of romans, pull them back, throw seeds/roots freezing rain, Vines!.. then carrion creepers! omg the creepers, its like a forest of hurt.
I think creepers gives you more control than people realise. even if its soft control.
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And this is the kinda thing that has kept me from making a plant/rad ... already was thinking I might wanna use that slot for plant storm.. 100s of themes spring to mind for that set lol
And everyone keeps spouting how cool it is...
Dang this altism. 
Altitis, embrace it
Combat Kangaroos, Justice Server. First 50's
Jirra Roo Plant/Storm/Stone/Musculature Controller
Combat Kangaroo Rifle/Energy/Mace/Spiritual Blaster
Kung Fu Kangaroo Martial Arts/Reflexes/Body/Spiritual Scrapper
Tribal Arc Shield/Elec/Mu/Spiritual Tanker
My main gripe is that I wish Mass Confusion, the only thing that Mind had to itself, had been left Mind only.
Anyone with a lick of sense would trade Mass Confusion for Seeds. I think recharging every 30 seconds vs. every 2 minutes kinda makes up for the aggro.
And I just reactivated but when I had left a year ago, the only reason mind was worshipped redside is because of Billion Infamy Mind/Fire doms.
The only thing Mind had to itself? So... who else has Telekinesis? Who else has a single-target sleep of high enough magnitude to get bosses in one hit? Who else has an aggro-free area sleep?
Seeds of Confusion is Plant's "every fight" area control. Its best counterpart in Mind is Terrify, which is a more interesting comparison.
I team with the Repeat Offenders.
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The only thing Mind had to itself? So... who else has Telekinesis?
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Defenders who want it. Since they made it max 5 targets who DOESN'T want it!!!???
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Who else has a single-target sleep of high enough magnitude to get bosses in one hit? Who else has an aggro-free area sleep?
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You got me, those are real [censored] show stoppers there. That's why I rolled my Mind controllers. Yes Plural.
I guess sleep is usefull soloing. In pug's Mass Hypnosis is good for picking the group of mobs the fire blaster will attack.
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Seeds of Confusion is Plant's "every fight" area control. Its best counterpart in Mind is Terrify, which is a more interesting comparison.
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I'm sure Plant controllers would gladly trade Seeds for an aoe
Fear that lets every mob you use it on hit you every time you use it or they are attacked. Hell they'd probably give up Creepers too.
I know [censored] isn't going to change, but I don't have to like it. Mass Confusion used to be something I broke out with pride when the [censored] hit the fan. It was, dare I say it, Exotic. It was also hillarious since it was so seldom seen.
What I meant by "had to itself" is sort of like how only Gravity Controllers can throw forklifts at people. Or how a level 50 /SS tank can punch a level 1 mob 15 stories into the air.
The fact that the version Plant gets is functionally better only inflames things.
This argument is pointless though. And I've hyjacked the thread enough. All of you are right. Mind is overpowered, especially our pet. Mass Confusion should be Tier 1 in the Presence pool. Or make a pool set made up of all the tier 9 controller powers.
To the OP. Obviously I'm a controller freak. Plant rules. I played a plant/rad to 50 and it was great fun. Plant/TA is probably better numbers wise. I just liked the evil look of all the "vines from hell" with the swirling green mist. From level 8 I was able to solo almost as fast as a Blaster (counting time not spent running back from the hospital). I can definitly see it asthetically as a love it or hate it set. I appreciate Butter Cup (Fly Trap) in a sort of "Plan 9" campy way. It's hard to take it seriously.
Edit: Oh, looks like you picked /Storm. That's a great set too. Actually a Plant/Storm may be my next alt. I don't have a /Storm with a primary with -KB. And like you said, it's an obvious thematic pairing.
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Altitis, embrace it
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QFT
The variety of different characters and the fact you can easily get them to 50 is CoH's main attaction to me.
I was just wondering. I have not found any great secondary effect or cornerstone power or feature of damage or recharge or magnitude that makes the set really stand out. I am also not able to find a particular secondary that will synergize the best with it.
Just wondering if someone could point me in the right direction. Thanks.