An Ice/Energy Blaster


BattleEngine

 

Posted

---------------------------------------------
Exported from Ver: 1.6.9.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder - (http://home.comcast.net/~SherkSilver/index.html)
---------------------------------------------
Name: Ice Krystal
Level: 50
Archetype: Blaster
Primary: Ice Blast
Secondary: Energy Manipulation
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Ice Blast==> Acc(1) Dmg(3) Dmg(5) Dmg(7) Rechg(50) Rechg(50)
01) --> Power Thrust==> Acc(1)
02) --> Energy Punch==> Acc(2) Dmg(3) Dmg(5) Dmg(7) Rechg(9) Rechg(37)
04) --> Build Up==> Rechg(4) Rechg(15) Rechg(31) TH_Buf(48)
06) --> Aim==> Rechg(6) Rechg(17) Rechg(34) TH_Buf(50)
08) --> Freeze Ray==> Acc(8) Acc(9) Hold(17)
10) --> Bone Smasher==> Acc(10) Dmg(11) Dmg(11) Dmg(13) Rechg(15) Rechg(37)
12) --> Combat Jumping==> Jump(12) Jump(13) Jump(40)
14) --> Super Jump==> Jump(14)
16) --> Swift==> Run(16) Run(48) Run(48)
18) --> Bitter Ice Blast==> Acc(18) Dmg(19) Dmg(19) Dmg(21) Rechg(29) Rechg(43)
20) --> Hurdle==> Jump(20) Jump(21) Jump(46)
22) --> Stamina==> EndMod(22) EndMod(23) EndMod(23)
24) --> Stun==> Acc(24) Acc(25) DisDur(25)
26) --> Bitter Freeze Ray==> Acc(26) Dmg(27) Dmg(27) Hold(29) Hold(43) Rechg(43)
28) --> Power Boost==> Rechg(28)
30) --> Frost Breath==> Acc(30) Dmg(31) Dmg(31) Dmg(34) Rechg(37)
32) --> Blizzard==> Acc(32) Dmg(33) Dmg(33) Dmg(33) Rechg(34) Rechg(36)
35) --> Conserve Power==> Rechg(35) Rechg(36) Rechg(36)
38) --> Total Focus==> Acc(38) Dmg(39) Dmg(39) Dmg(39) Rechg(40) Rechg(40)
41) --> Flash Freeze==> Acc(41) Acc(42) Sleep(42) Sleep(42)
44) --> Frozen Armor==> DefBuf(44) DefBuf(45) DefBuf(45) EndRdx(45) DmgRes(46) DmgRes(46)
47) --> Hibernate==> Rechg(47)
49) --> Ice Bolt==> Acc(49)
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Sprint==> Empty(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Empty(2)
01) --> Defiance==> Empty(1)
---------------------------------------------


What do people think?


 

Posted

Looks damn good to me.

Though I tried Stun out back in I4 and though it worked ok on npcs, it didn't seem too hot in the arena. Has it gotten better since then?


 

Posted

PM Frozen_Rogue on the boards for info about this build, as he is currently our Ice/Eng guru


 

Posted

Most of my experience of the ice blast set was with the ice manipulation secondary, so just a few comments mostly about the primary there.

Ice bolt, Ice blast and Bitter Ice Blast are the three main blasts, ice is fortunate in that you can keep a ranged single target attack chain going pretty well, it seems a little strange to take Ice Bolt so late.

Personally I'm not a huge fan of blizzard unless you're going to be combining it with AOE slows, the damage is unnaffected by any buffs so it took a bigger hit than the other nukes to ED, and without a slow things are going to run out of it. Also, it has insane accuracy, if you do take it, you wont need to slot for accuracy. Perhaps if you do want to use it you could slot 3/3 on damage/slow?

Of the two holds Freeze ray is far superior. Bitter freeze ray has a very long animation time which makes it a good opener - especially to double stack holds on bosses - but not so great for mid fight. In addition while the damage is higher than freeze ray, it's not actually that spectacular compared to the DPS you can kick out using your main blasts. In other words you really don't need the recharge or damage in there. Freeze Ray on the other hand has a very fast animation time, if you are only going to 6 slot one of the holds I'd 6 slot that one (either 2 acc/2 hold duration/2 recharge or 2 acc/3 hold duration/1 recharge), combine it with power boost (maybe more slots in there actually?) and you're going to be able to lock most things down for long enough to kill them.

I'd probably slot my blasts slightly differently, I like to run 2 accuracy where possible, I also think that even with conserve power, and certainly before it, you'll struggle to run 2 recharge in every power without slotting any end reducers. But that's personal choice and it's not like you can't rearrange enhancements easily enough at any point

Personally I probably wouldn't put cold mastery with that set, and I definitely wouldn't slot frozen armour that heavily, but I figure by the time you get to level 41 you should be in a better position to consider which epic would fit best. I like the cold mastery set on my ice/ice for the extra slow, but she's a very very controllery character anyway. I would only take cold mastery on a character I felt didn't really need any armour, frozen armour just doesn't cut it in my opinion.


 

Posted

I would personally drop stun, pick up conserve power at 24 and boost range at 35.

Boost range is nowhere near as useful a it used to be in i5 (it did give an 80% boost but is now only around 40%(maybe even lower..)) but I think it is still more useful than stun. I found stun only to be useful when fighting a tank or scrapper 1vs1 in the arena.

Boost range is also still easily perma with 2 recharge rate and hasten.


Jupiter is slow looking into his notebook, but he always looks.
The [b]Retribution[/b] is coming.
[url="http://s76.photobucket.com/albums/j19/Valens_ii/"]Some of my toons[/url]

 

Posted

I'm No guru.

Happy Birthday Empath.

With Ice Energy, it very much depends what your aiming to play in. From the looks of this, it looks like your going for PvP; Ice/ENergy blasters rule there, as I'm sure you must know! But my build functions well In PvE to due to the rate it skills, so you should be fine with this advice either way! That's if you trust me

Your slotting for your Single target attacks (bar Ice bolt and the recharges of total focus, where I have enreds) is exactly the same as mine. THis slotting rocks as it keeps up a good attack chain. Punch and smasher circle really quite fast with the recharges, and bearing in mind you may need a couple of attacks chains to take down the likes of Stone-tanks, then that Slotting is golden. But I would try and fit Ice bolt earliar, as it's a nice filler and it does 60% damage of ice blast for have the end cost and recharge time.

I haven't taken either Frost Breath or Bitter Freeze ray for the same reason; their activation is just to slow and sluggish, particulary BFR. Your much better off slotting Freeze ray with a couple of rechrges and considering hasten (this'll also let you take SS as your Travel power which is great for darting up close and dropping toggles/pounding to oblivion!) if you want to Perma hold bossess in PvE. Or better yet take an epic with a second hold, like electric!

This next bit is most useful in PvP. I've taken invis and hover for Squishie hunting. Power boost increases the speed of hover(slotted with 3 recharges making it recharges very quick, nearish perma with hasten)and doubles the buffs from aim and build up. I can then drop invis and drop their toggles, dealing massive damage, freeze them, then finish them off. Then pick out the next target. ANd with SS to run away from threats and then reinvis, you have a fair bit of passive surviability.

Ok, well thats what I have to offer. Let me know what you think!


 

Posted

I'd slot both Ice blast and Energy punch for 2 acc and one recharge. The recharge on those is fast enough already, and you could always be more accurate, especially in PVP.

Defenitely slot freeze ray with more holds. I'd probably go 2 acc, 2 hold, one recharge and one end reduc. You don't need uber long hold time, because you'll be killing fast, but if you plan on dropping a hold before dropping toggles, the extra duration will be helpful. Powerboost will be good to use here as well.

I'd put one end reduction on both Bone Smasher and Bitter Ice blast as they can be a bit end draining when used often.

It would be better to put the 2 slots on swift on sprint instead, because sprint actually gives a better speed boost that swift, even at lv 50. Also it's nice because you can turn it of an on, so you won't be shooting by everything as much, because of 3 slotted swift.

The same goes for combat jumping really. CJ mostly adds height to your jump, while Hurdle is more about forward momentum. I'd probably not slot both of those so heavily.

Forget stun, you've got 2 holds already. Also, Total Focus is a high mag stun, while both energy punch and Bone smasher have a chance of stun. You don't need this.

I'd be more useful to slot Powerthrust a bit more as it's like a mini hold already. Just put 2 acc and a recharge on it and you'll be knocking people all over the place. Good chance for a follow up with bonesmasher and Bitter Ice blast. Best of all, it's practically unresistable when toggledropped(unlike holds, which can be resisted with inspirations and buffs)

Bitter Freeze ray is your slow animation, but long duration hold. It's good as an openener. I'd suggest 3 hold duration, 2 range and an accuracy. You should be hitting stuff from fairly far away then, perfectly safe, even with the long animation time. Again, buffin this with powerboost is a good thing.

Frosth breath already has a fairly high accuracy, so you could probably skip the acc slot and put a range on it, making the cone bigger allowing for more hits. This is mostly a PVE power anyway, so I expect you to buff it with aim and build up before using it. It's not bad in PVP, just not great.

Blizzard has already been mentioned, you don't need acc on this, another recharge or a slow is better. Slow is probably the best choice as this power is very situational is won't be used that much anyway.

conserver power, i'm not sure if this is good anymore. You have 10 minute recharge for a 60 second power?? That sounds like a glorified accolade power to me. It's occasionally handy in PVE, but in PVP you can do without it.

Defenitely put an end reduction on total focus.

I see you've chosen the Ice Epic, which I personally like. I wouldn't take Flash Freeze though. I don't see the point of taking a sleep power, unless your a controller(who gain containment damage from it). I'd pick Snow Storm instead, as it's a fantastic slow and sure to [censored] of any team that is effected by it.

Frozen armour might be good, i'm not sure at the moment. I think defense might benefit a blaster more than resistance, as not getting hit is always better than getting hit for less damage. It kinda depends if defense buffs can be buffed by powerboost, like some people say. If it does, than it's a great power to have, especially considering that Defiance also has a similar effect as powerboost(+damage, +acc, +special). If this is true, then you can boost your defense by 100% with powerboost and another 100% with full Defiance. Then again, it all depends if the defense is boostable, of which i'm not sure. Either way, i'd only slot it with 3 defense and maybe one end reduc, forget the resistance.

I have never tried Hibernate, but I am interested by it. Might be cool to try sometimes with a respec.

forget Icebolt. Too low damage to do any good whatsoever. Don't put any slots on it, don't pick it at all.

Last, but not least. Put 3 recharge on Powerboost, it's a very critical power, especially for the Ice/Energy build.


 

Posted

tbh, I only put Ice Bolt in becuase I couldn't see anything else I wanted at that point.


 

Posted

Ok, here's a revised build for Ice Krystal.

---------------------------------------------
Exported from Ver: 1.6.9.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder - (http://home.comcast.net/~SherkSilver/index.html)
---------------------------------------------
Name: Ice Krystal
Level: 50
Archetype: Blaster
Primary: Ice Blast
Secondary: Energy Manipulation
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Ice Blast==> Acc(1) Dmg(3) Dmg(5) Dmg(7) Rechg(27) Acc(43)
01) --> Power Thrust==> Acc(1) Acc(48) Rechg(48)
02) --> Energy Punch==> Acc(2) Dmg(3) Dmg(5) Dmg(7) Rechg(27) Acc(46)
04) --> Build Up==> Rechg(4) Rechg(9) Rechg(42)
06) --> Aim==> Rechg(6) Rechg(9) Rechg(43)
08) --> Freeze Ray==> Acc(8) Hold(13) Hold(15) Acc(21) Rechg(31) EndRdx(50)
10) --> Bone Smasher==> Acc(10) Dmg(11) Dmg(11) Dmg(13) Rechg(15) EndRdx(17)
12) --> Hasten==> Rechg(12) Rechg(17) Rechg(29)
14) --> Super Speed==> Run(14)
16) --> Swift==> Run(16) Run(43)
18) --> Bitter Ice Blast==> Acc(18) Dmg(19) Dmg(19) Dmg(31) Rechg(31) EndRdx(36)
20) --> Hurdle==> Jump(20) Jump(21)
22) --> Stamina==> EndMod(22) EndMod(23) EndMod(23)
24) --> Frost Breath==> Acc(24) Dmg(25) Dmg(25) Dmg(37) Rechg(37) Range(37)
26) --> Bitter Freeze Ray==> Acc(26) Hold(29) Hold(36) Acc(36) Rechg(46) Rechg(48)
28) --> Power Boost==> Rechg(28) Rechg(34) Rechg(46)
30) --> Teleport Foe==> Acc(30)
32) --> Blizzard==> Dmg(32) Dmg(33) Slow(33) Slow(33) Rechg(34) Dmg(34)
35) --> Combat Jumping==> Jump(35) Jump(40)
38) --> Total Focus==> Acc(38) Dmg(39) Dmg(39) Dmg(39) Rechg(40) Rechg(40)
41) --> Snow Storm==> Slow(41) Slow(42) Slow(42)
44) --> Frozen Armor==> DefBuf(44) DefBuf(45) DefBuf(45) EndRdx(45)
47) --> Hibernate==> Rechg(47)
49) --> Whirlwind==> EndRdx(49) EndRdx(50) EndRdx(50)
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Sprint==> Empty(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Empty(1)
01) --> Defiance==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Empty(2)
---------------------------------------------


 

Posted

Are you going for PvP or PvE?


 

Posted

Looks good. If you can spare some slots, I'd slot at least one tohit buff on both aim and build up. That way you can cycle them for added accuracy and stack them if you're ever debuffed or need to hit through very high defense buffs. For PVP though, you don't need this for PVE.

Also, slot sprint intead of swift


 

Posted

[ QUOTE ]
Are you going for PvP or PvE?

[/ QUOTE ]

A mix really, I want to level Ice up...but I want to be able to hold my own in PVP along the way.


 

Posted

Ice bolt does about 60% of the damage of Ice Blast, and recharges in half the time. Numerically that makes Ice Bolt superior - and it is the attack that will fill in the gaps around an Ice Blasters other attacks. so I would recommend slotting it up ASAP.

Deffo go with Snow storm. Im not 100% but i dont think you have a -fly with /energy. Snow storm can do this for you. Ice is the best single target blast. So blaster v blaster at range you should win being ice, combined with the slow of snow storm they dont have a chance.


 

Posted

The Ice/nrg build is about burst damage (not chains). You need to smack down a lot of damage really fast. You dont have to always use an attack.
Icebolt is one of those powers. Nice to have, but not really needed.


A Paragon Defender

 

Posted

[ QUOTE ]
Ok, here's a revised build for Ice Krystal.

---------------------------------------------
Exported from Ver: 1.6.9.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder - (http://home.comcast.net/~SherkSilver/index.html)
---------------------------------------------
Name: Ice Krystal
Level: 50
Archetype: Blaster
Primary: Ice Blast
Secondary: Energy Manipulation
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Ice Blast==> Acc(1) Dmg(3) Dmg(5) Dmg(7) Rechg(27) Acc(43)
01) --> Power Thrust==> Acc(1) Acc(48) Rechg(48)
02) --> Energy Punch==> Acc(2) Dmg(3) Dmg(5) Dmg(7) Rechg(27) Acc(46)
04) --> Build Up==> Rechg(4) Rechg(9) Rechg(42)
06) --> Aim==> Rechg(6) Rechg(9) Rechg(43)
08) --> Freeze Ray==> Acc(8) Hold(13) Hold(15) Acc(21) Rechg(31) EndRdx(50)
10) --> Bone Smasher==> Acc(10) Dmg(11) Dmg(11) Dmg(13) Rechg(15) EndRdx(17)
12) --> Hasten==> Rechg(12) Rechg(17) Rechg(29)
14) --> Super Speed==> Run(14)
16) --> Swift==> Run(16) Run(43)
18) --> Bitter Ice Blast==> Acc(18) Dmg(19) Dmg(19) Dmg(31) Rechg(31) EndRdx(36)
20) --> Hurdle==> Jump(20) Jump(21)
22) --> Stamina==> EndMod(22) EndMod(23) EndMod(23)
24) --> Frost Breath==> Acc(24) Dmg(25) Dmg(25) Dmg(37) Rechg(37) Range(37)
26) --> Bitter Freeze Ray==> Acc(26) Hold(29) Hold(36) Acc(36) Rechg(46) Rechg(48)
28) --> Power Boost==> Rechg(28) Rechg(34) Rechg(46)
30) --> Teleport Foe==> Acc(30)
32) --> Blizzard==> Dmg(32) Dmg(33) Slow(33) Slow(33) Rechg(34) Dmg(34)
35) --> Combat Jumping==> Jump(35) Jump(40)
38) --> Total Focus==> Acc(38) Dmg(39) Dmg(39) Dmg(39) Rechg(40) Rechg(40)
41) --> Snow Storm==> Slow(41) Slow(42) Slow(42)
44) --> Frozen Armor==> DefBuf(44) DefBuf(45) DefBuf(45) EndRdx(45)
47) --> Hibernate==> Rechg(47)
49) --> Whirlwind==> EndRdx(49) EndRdx(50) EndRdx(50)
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Sprint==> Empty(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Empty(1)
01) --> Defiance==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Empty(2)
---------------------------------------------

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Empath,

I hope you don't mind me getting inspiration for my build from your own (I am now leveling but I am already thinking pvp).

I see that you modded Energy Punch quite early and was wondering why Power Thrust gets modded so late. Isn't it a good close range power? (as far as I could experience, it seems to work more or less as well as Energy Punch, with a nice KB effect).

I took Ice Storm instead of Bonesmasher to test it and I must admit that the damages are minimal but the aggro very high, so I guess I'll drop it at the first respec.

I see you take Frost Breath (I guess it's a cone effect power) and I was wondering how easy to use it is. Just asking because I tried the lower version of this power (can't remember the name) and I found it hard to use and I very rarely managed to hit more than one opponent. Any experience with that?

Any guidance would be most helpful,

nostra


 

Posted

Power thrust has no use in combat really other than knocking people about. In my own PvP build I have 2 acc in it so I can hit with it in PvP when I need to but thats all there is to it really. Energy punch I love personally, underrated damage and one of the fastest attacks there is. You can squeeze it in many attack chains because it is so darn fast.

Bonesmasher is one of your big damage attacks and I recommend getting it when you can

I believe frost breath is an ok power in PvE but not that good in PvP.


 

Posted

Thanks Hammerfall.

Knocking back people is enough for me, especially those nasty melee fighters that slap me for insane damage. I'll definitely mod this power with acc, as you did. Thanks.

And, yes, I'll get rid of Ice Storm and take Bonesmasher. At least now I know why I'm doing it (nice to experience things as there are these free respec).

As for Frost Breath, after testing the lower version on mobs that were not moving much, I guess it's totally unusable against moving pvpers. A pass for me.

Thanks for the feedback,

nostra


 

Posted

Hi again nostra, the thing with power thrust is that its all about KB not damage, and as it recharges pretty fast most people dont slot it. Like we said in your own build's thread, KB is enough to kill some1, but if you can't KB them then it is worthless, so having it slotted lightly i usually no problem as an experienced player will only use it when the time is right.

You will definately need toslot the powers as you see fit as you level, PvE and PvP change as you level quite drastically.

On my dominator I have frost breath slotted 1 acc 1 damage 1 endred 1 recred 2 range, i use it mainly to stack slows with shiver and my 2 auras (+pet aura=3), cones are not amazing as they tend not to be slotted for burst damage, thats not to say that if you slotted it 1 acc 3dmg 2 recred it wouldnt be a nice ST attack, you will always hit your target (assuming you hit, if you get me) but if they are at the far reach of the cone and more foes are behind them, the cone wont hit. What am i trying to say? Aim at the back and middle of a mob, arrange your cones so they hit well, move fast, lrn 2 plai.

Hope that helped. Oh and some of these posts areprett yclose to when ED hit and have comments about not being able to buff the ice rain powers, which you can now, so if you're not sure about some statements quote and challenge

Plight


 

Posted

Frost breath is lovely for team PvE, particularly if someone is rounding things up for you (it makes a great crunch as well). It's a power I get a lot of use of on my ice/ice as I often pull on to ice patch which keeps them nicely contained, if it wasn't for that I'm not sure how much I'd use it when soloing - I suspect probably not a lot.

Damage wise for PvP compared to your other single target attacks, and taking in to account the animation time, I wouldn't get too excited bout it.

[Edit] Replied to last post instead of the person I intended to, Nostra.


 

Posted

Thanks for the two replies.

I'll give a try to frost breath, then.

Ice storm however is very weird. It hits on a large zone and with 1 damage repeated very quickly, but I can't really see the life of the mobs dropping. The main advantage is that foes in the zone are slowed and they usually stop whatever they're doing to flee from the zone, so it's a couple of seconds during which the whole crowed runs while we hit them. I'm sure this can help to dispose of a few of them quickly and turn the tide of a close battle. Problem is, it seems to generate serious aggro (I usually have half the surviving crowed on my back after an ice storm). What I have learnt to do is NOT cast it at the very beginning of a fight BUT rather let the others get some aggro before I launch ice storm and then it's usually enough for me not to get too much aggro. Any other tip?

BTW, speaking of AoE powers... I am not very impressed by ice storms. Are the other storms/blizzards, etc... better?

As for power thrust, I've already slotted it, so I'll just stay with 2 acc and 1 recred and it'll be perfect for its purpose (send foes flying).

Thanks guys!

nostra


 

Posted

Simple put ice/nrg is not an AoE dmg dealer, with blizzard you will do better, but dont expect too much, uber ST control and DPS comes at a cost

Plight


 

Posted

Yeah, Frost Breath is pretty nice for PvE. But as Wyx said, the animation time takes alot out of it in PvP.

Blizzard is a nice power to take for PvE as well, but again, I'll be dropping it when I change to a PvP build.

I'll dig out my current build for Ice later if you like, this one is very different to the one I'm using right now.


[ QUOTE ]
The main advantage is that foes in the zone are slowed and they usually stop whatever they're doing to flee from the zone, so it's a couple of seconds during which the whole crowed runs while we hit them.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's pretty much the main use for it. It can be handy when it starts to go bad, but alot of tanks will hate you if you make the mobs scatter.

[ QUOTE ]
Simple put ice/nrg is not an AoE dmg dealer

[/ QUOTE ]

Yup. As far as AoE damage goes, Ice/nrg is not all that. But for single target it's great.


 

Posted

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The main advantage is that foes in the zone are slowed and they usually stop whatever they're doing to flee from the zone, so it's a couple of seconds during which the whole crowed runs while we hit them.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's pretty much the main use for it. It can be handy when it starts to go bad, but alot of tanks will hate you if you make the mobs scatter.

[/ QUOTE ]

Bit of a digression on the subject of the rain powers.

I find rains can be very good damage at times, although dependant on who you're teaming with, what you're combining them with, and also if you have the powers to spare for something that can be situational.

My fire/fire blaster hasn't had Rain of Fire for about a year and a half but the next respec I do, I will be putting it back in again. Overall the secondary set isn't that fantastic, which leaves me powers to spare for those occasions when I'm teaming with a Dark Defender, or Controller who has the appropriate amount of lockdown for it to not cause choas, and when it doesn't cause chaos, it's a pretty decent amount of damage.

My Fire/Ice has taken Rain of Fire because she comes with her own mini-ice-patch anyway, so for soloing it's fine, and again, although the ice secondary is one of the better ones in my opinion, there's only a small number of powers needed to really get good benefits from it. Add that to the fact we have several controllers in the SG of similar level, including an Ice Controller, and suddenly it's part of my main attack chain.

My Ice/Ice has Ice Storm, slotted 3 slow and 3 damage, combined with Shiver, Snow Storm mobs simply cannot run out of it fast enough to cause a tanker problems. I don't recall ever having a complaint from a tanker.

I have absolutely no intention at all of taking Ice Storm on my Ice/Energy. I just don't have room on the build for a situation power, and it doesn't fit what I'm trying to achieve with that character at all - single target damage and control.

I wouldn't class them as "must have" powers by any means, but what a fire blaster can do teamed with a dark defender in aoe damage is extremely impressive. Put an ice/ice blaster in a team with an ice/kin and you have absolute complete stop on enemy movement, and the ice blaster can do pretty reasonable AOE damage without causing chaos, in addition to the usual good single target stuff. Any controller doing AOE lockdown, Ice Control with Ice Slick in particular, or a dark defender, turn powers that normally are so/so in to extremely effective attacks.

I think I rambled so much (I do like my blasters, I get distracted ) I almost forgot what I was trying to say there, but essentially, the rain powers are extremely visible when they're badly used, which they often are (although why people find that more annoying than a Kheldian walking in to the middle of the group, damaging them all, annoying them, and throwing them all round the room, I do not know), and because of that they have a reputation for being "bad", when in fact in certain situations they can be extremely effective when used well.