Seeds of Confusion is one of the most powerful and effective tools in the game. Generally, it just lets you tank. Use it to absorb the alpha and cause bad guys to cluster together for AoE attacks... but the time it wears off, everyone should be dead or very near to it.
Use it - possibly with some sort of stealth - and then focus on the Bosses with impunity, benefitting from whatever buffs or debuffs the other baddies offer you.
It's basically a cone confuse that's up very often and has a great arc and range. Just target the enemy in the very back and initiate using it, you should hit all/most of the mob every time.
Spore Burst isn't very useful, really. Plant can and will get by fine just using Entangler, Seeds, Carrion Creepers, and Vines (even Vines isn't entirely vital, but it's a TAoE hold. What's not to like?)
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The key powers in Plant are Strangler, Roots (slotted up for damage), Seeds of Confusion, Carrion Creepers. Each of these should be taken as soon as they are available. Venus Fly Trap is strongly, strongly recommended. Vines is a good idea, but not essential.
Entangle, Spore Burst, Spirit Tree are entirely optional. Spore Burst is the most frequently skipped power, as AoE sleeps have limited benefit on teams or a build that does AoE damage. For an Empathy secondary, Spirit Tree can easily be skipped, or it can become an important additional boost to the Regen Rate for your team. Entangle can be a damage power if you want.
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In terms of skippable powers, opinions will obviously vary to some degree, but I'd put them into these basic categories:
Powers you will pry from my cold dead hands:
<ul type="square">[*]Seeds of confusion. One of the best AoE controls in the game without a doubt, thanks to its excellent duration:recharge ratio and the value of confuse. Like stuns and holds, confuse provides complete mitigation, but can also act to increase xp/time.[*]Carrion creepers. Draws quite a lot of aggro away from you and puts out some impressive damage. It's one of those powers you take as soon as it's available and devote all available slots till you're up to 6.[*]Roots. AoE immobilizers are often take em or leave em, and you may expect this to be even more true in a set that lacks stuns (since they are often combined), but the damage of this power far exceeds its peers. Treat it as an AoE damage power that also happens to generate containment.[*]Strangler. Just because single target holds are always good. I have seen a few niche builds that can justify skipping or delaying the power, but I don't think I ever would.[/list]
Powers that aren't essential, but are really nice:
<ul type="square">[*]Entangle. Very typical for a ST immobilize power. It does the job nicely if you want a reasonable amount of ST damage, and there are times having a mag 4 immobilize is very handy.[*]Vines. Also fairly typical for an AoE hold. Some people find them superfluous, but I definitely consider it a useful addition to any build.[*]Fly trap. Not fantastic as controller pets go; in fact the general consensus is that it falls pretty squarely at the bottom of the heap. Still, it's a little extra damage and aggro draw that you don't have to manage, and it's pretty handy to have around for tougher targets.[/list]
Powers that make me go 'meh':
<ul type="square">[*]Spore burst. AoE sleeps are occasionally beneficial, though last time I checked this didn't share the aggro-free nature of the equivalent from mind control. I'm sure one can find uses for it, but sleeps are of limited value in the majority of situations and the heavy AoE nature of plant doesn't help.[*]Spirit tree. I've seen people praise this power on occasion, but I just don't see it being worth a pick. In your case, being empathy makes it even more suspect.[/list]
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Pyromantic pretty much said it all in his post.
I kept entangle for AVs and more single target damage if I need it. It was very helpful while leveling up since I slotted it for damage.
Fly Trap is a very vanilla pet, but stays mostly out of the way and assists with building containment and a little damage here and there. You can slot an Achilles Heel Resist Debuff Proc in her I believe.
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I actually took Spore burst for my plant/rad troller. I don't actually really use the power, but i put the purple sleep set in for the recharge bonus.
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I basically have Strangler, Roots, Spore Burst, Seeds of Confusion, Vines, Carrion Creepers, and Fly Trap. Now it may depend on how your playing or with whom...I just got my first plant/emp to level 35 last night and I run with my BF's Katana/Fire Scrapper. I am looking to respec her and take out the Spore Burst(sleep) I don't even use it any more, just have to decide what I want to take instead. But I would definitely take the Seeds of Confusion, especially at level 8. Work it with the Roots slotted with damage, and giggle away, I have so much fun watching the baddies fight each other. I also love the Vines, Carrion Creepers and Giant Fly Trap. Fly Trap does more damage now since I14 changes, but still can get a little flighty. The Vines are a nice hold, for my BF's Scrapper, he goes in and burns them out. Carrion Creepers I have frankenslotted for slow/immobile/damage and use it when we have big mobs. Never took the Spirit Tree never saw a use for it, and never took Entangle it just seemed eh.
just my two cents...
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Hello,
I just got my Plant/Rad to 40, take a quick look at my build. (I removed the Rad powers)
Level 40 Science Controller
Primary Power Set: Plant Control
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Strangler -- BasGaze-Acc/Hold(A), BasGaze-Acc/Rchg(3), BasGaze-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(3), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(5), Ruin-Acc/Dmg(5), Thundr-Acc/Dmg(39)
Level 2: Roots -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(9), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(9), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(11), Posi-Dmg/Rng(11), Det'tn-Acc/Dmg(39)
Level 6: Entangle -- Decim-Acc/Dmg(A), Decim-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(17), Decim-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(19), Decim-Dmg/EndRdx(19), Decim-Dmg/Rchg(21)
Level 8: Seeds of Confusion -- Mlais-Acc/Rchg(A), Mlais-EndRdx/Conf(21), Mlais-Acc/EndRdx(23), Mlais-Conf/Rng(23), Mlais-Acc/Conf/Rchg(25), C'phny-Dam%(40)
Level 18: Vines -- BasGaze-Acc/Hold(A), BasGaze-Acc/Rchg(27), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(29), BasGaze-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(39)
Level 30: Carrion Creepers -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(33), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(33), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(34), Posi-Dmg/Rng(34), Posi-Dam%(34)
Level 32: Fly Trap -- ExRmnt-Acc/Rchg(A), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg(36), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), ExRmnt-Dmg/EndRdx(36), Dmg-I(37), LdyGrey-%Dam(40)
As you can see I took both the single target and AoE Immobilizes (yes both, it's nice to have to cycle damage and another power to load a +recharge in) and the other powers that most have recommended. I tried Spores but respec'ed out of it, you have more then enough tools already without it.
I would strongly recommend you take all the powers I listed, Seeds is the BIG MUST, if your not going to take that, make a Fire Controller 
I also avoided purple sets, if you can afford it, go for it
I took Entangle, Roots, Strangler, Seeds of Confusion, Vines and at Level 22, I'm doing serious damage - Quick!
Seeds is my opener using Steamy Mist as my Stealth in. I'll let them bunch in some before hitting Roots so they're all nice and close. If I get a miss, that one his hit with Entangle. I'll then cycle through Strangler & Entangle on Boss / Luit taking them down first, applying Roots as it recharges. I have two recharge Lvl 15 I/O in Seeds and two Lvl 15 Acc I/O and I can apply it twice to the same mob if need be. It's very easy to have it ready for every mob group. If I do get a miss on one of the baddies, it's easy to apply a single Strangler on them to quiet them down while I finish working on the boss. It's like slicing through butter with a hot knife. The mobs just drop away.
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Quote:
You can't slot purples on a level 40 |
Originally Posted by Robert_B
I also avoided purple sets, if you can afford it, go for it
|
I just reached lvl 16 the other night and took Seeds of Confusion. I havent really had time to use it but I read this power is very useful. In what ways, how do I use this power to benefit my team? I also have the one (can't remember the name) that puts targets to sleep. That I like but a lot of times my teammates slice through the mobs, so when I respec, can this power be forgotten? I am asking for advice on what other powers that are ok to skip. My secondary is EMP if that makes a difference.