Uh apart from the knock back which is present in most of the Energy attacks I wasn't aware it had any downsides. TBH I much prefer this to Nova. Looking at Mids and taking these attacks without any other buffs: (In DPS / No enhancements.)
Power Bolt - 9.27
Power Blast - 9.43
Energy Torrent - 4.08
Power Burst - 9.82
Sniper Blast - 9.4
Explosive Blast - 2.83
Nova - 0.54
Should point out I dislike Nova not because of anything here, but due to the endurance thing solo it can be a pain.
Might be a bit different when you have to slot secondaries too. But I definitely be planning on slotting Explosive Blast unless I'm playing as a Blapper
It was more a concern about AoE (or Cone) KB . I took energy torent and never use it because I die fairly consitantly when I do as the half dozen minions I KB'd get up and come and squish me.
Is this a concern with explosive blast and if so what can I do about it?
I solo my L50 Eng/Eng on Invincible, and Energy Torrent/Explosive Blast are my two first attacks against minion-only spawns. Not so useful against Lieuts and only handy against bosses for doing a bit of damage/KB to the minions hanging around.
Power Boost+Aim+BU+ET+EB = Orange minions down to a teensy tiny fraction of their health, and most of them flat on their backs. Then single-target attacks while EB recharges, hit it again, and everything's down. My build is not specced for uber-damage. Pop a red insp and orange conning minions drop like flies.
Energy Torrent and Explosive Blast are the two major KB powers in the set, and coupled with Conserve Power+Fly or Hover, you can change the KB to KD, which is very effective soft control for teaming.
The wisdom of Shadowe: Ghostraptor: The Shadowe is wise ...; FFM: Shadowe is no longer wise.
; Techbot_Alpha: Also, what Shadowe said. It seems he is still somewhat wise 
; Bull Throttle: Shadowe was unwise in this instance...; Rock_Powerfist: in this instance Shadowe is wise.; Techbot_Alpha: Shadowe is very wise *nods*; Zortel: *Quotable line about Shadowe being wise goes here.*
Ah see the question...
What Shadowe said then basically. I use Torrent and EB for knockdown too, I also have Power Puch to knock the bosses down.
Thanks for the help guys, I'm going to take EB and see how it goes. Also enough respect for soloing a blaster I've never managed to complete a single mission by myself.
Good luck out there and have fun
@Alphane on Union
Alphane lvl 26 inv/ss tank
Master Extreme lvl 27 e/e blaster
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I die fairly consitantly when I do as the half dozen minions I KB'd get up and come and squish me.
Is this a concern with explosive blast and if so what can I do about it?
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Since you say 'half a dozen minions' I'm assuming you're talking about using this whilst teamed, and it sounds like you're launching this as your opening attack, my advice would be fire off your single target attacks first until the rest of your team is well engaged and the tank has got control of the aggro, the controllers have locked the enemy down etc etc. _Then_ fire off your AoEs. Be careful with AoE knockbacks like energy torrent tho - some people get annoyed if you knockback their targets. You can be helpful about this by positioning yourself so that the knockback will throw your targets against walls or into corners.
Attacking first with an AoE is a classic low-level blaster mistake that'll kill you very quick, as you've found
Off course, once you're higher level and more experienced (and have both aim and build up) you learn when you _can_ get away with leading with AoE and astound your friends by wiping out entire spawns before they can blink.
I recently specced back into torrent and explosive blast on my pimped out level 50 energy blaster. With +20% damage and +50% recharge from IOs my usual chain against +1/+2 minion/lt spawns is Aim/Build up/energy torrent/explosive blast/power burst the lieutenant/energy torrent to finish up the sliver of health left on the minions. This will generally kill the whole spawn...
I have 5x positron's blast (all except the Dam/End) in both powers with the force feedback proc in torrent and the explosive strike damage proc in explosive blast and i'm certifiably addicted to energy blast AoE now.
It's not as much damage as a similarly IOed up fire/energy could do but i can get the chain out damn quick thanks to the fast activation times on the powers and the bodies flying everywhere are worth a little less damage imo
Union 50s:
Crimson Cannon: NRG/NRG/Force
Tara Thorn: Archery/NRG/Elec
Damatria: BS/SD/Body
Defend the Earth from Aliens in my MA Arc: ID:57186
Ive been playing energy/energy/force blaster for 9 months now and still think its great 
How you use all your powers and how you play is what makes the difference.
Single target (ranged) - PowerBolt, PowerBlast, PowerBurst, BoostRange
Single target (melee) - PowerThrust, EnergyPunch, Stun, Bonesmasher, TotalFocus, PowerBoost
Multiple target (Ranged) - EnergyTorrent, ExplosiveBlast
Multiple target (melee) - Nova
Nova is the single most devastating pbaoe in the game; I think to have an energy blaster and not use it is a waste With IO's you can pad out the damage buff and add more damage procs. Coupled with hasten and global recharge you can nuke every 60 seconds.
For endurance after nova pop a blue then Conserve, Forces or Geas.
With a high enough global recharge, conserve or forces will be up when nova is ready.
Back to the ops original question.
Like Shadowe I go for Bup+Aim+EB+ET and use this inbetween Novas which works great on all mobs. With fast recharge you can even hit them again before they get up
Soloing or teaming on invinc is not a problem as long as you learn your limits.
Send us a tell in game and we'll team up
@Amy83 on Union
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Nova is the single most devastating pbaoe in the game; I think to have an energy blaster and not use it is a waste With IO's you can pad out the damage buff and add more damage procs. Coupled with hasten and global recharge you can nuke every 60 seconds.
For endurance after nova pop a blue then Conserve, Forces or Geas.
With a high enough global recharge, conserve or forces will be up when nova is ready.
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I primarily solo my blaster, or have from 1-40, I tried Nova and found unless I was in a team or the mobs were a lower level than me a Nova was rapidly followed by a death. For that reason I don't have it in my build. Once I get another respec and have chance to change my build I'll get it back, partly as I now need to team far more and partly as I do team far more
But then I'm Nrg/Dev and Nova without BU is not really an 'I-Win' button that it is to an Nrg/Nrg.
anyone got any ideas why this is or isn't a good power. I've read E/E blaster guides that say it's horrible anyone any more detailed advice?