1. Afaik melee powers arent affected by boost range. Initial its 7ft, should give you enough time to smack him back before he even tries to attack. (mobs have a slight delay before they do the attack)
2. Epic pool, cryo freeze ray 
On my AR/ice it been my bread and butter for really alot of lvls: "look! burning ice!". But with Cryo you can just put ignite out and continue on the next mob. Added that in a tem, there is always someone with immobilize.
3. If you use them. I have 1 in the tier2 power and it does proc once in a while, mainly because i spam tier1/2 attacks pretty much nonstop. My recent respec i took Buckshot also (with range IO's, as i dont have BR), also with a +rech proc. Although you hardly notice it when it procs, even with i think only 10% rech from sets, my hasten sometimes is nearly permanent.
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I haven't noticed Boost Range affecting Power Thrust. Usually what happens when an enemy closes in and I have Power Thrust queue up is they get knocked back, then their melee attack hits me. Try putting it on auto and it will go off as soon as your target gets near you (unless you're in the middle of another attack animation).
Also note that Buckshot and Slug will help keep stuff away from you, so you won't need to use Power Thrust all the time. Or just go hurdle/combatjumping and use active movement to stay out of melee (my favored method).
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Thanks for the replies!
I've been away from the game for some time and have noticed the AI has changed when it comes to retaliationary strikes. Damage is applied even if the foe is defeated before the animation is completed. With Boost Range, my Power Thrust has a range of 11,2 and if all was fair it should knock back encroachers of my personal space before they get a chance to take a stike at me. I fully expect the AI to cheat and have greater range of their melee attacks though. Guess I'll have to wait til level 35 to test it out.
Below is my level 50 build, I could squeeze in a little bit more ranged defense to break the soft cap (at 44,4% here) and get a little better global recharge as well. But I would have to sacrifice two semi-usable powers (Boost Power and EM Pulse) for two even less useful powers (Fly and Sniper Rifle) in order to do so.
What is the best way to enhance Stamina with only 3 slots? Is Performance Shifter: Chance for +End better than the third regular IO?
What do you guys think, fair build?
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EU_Damz: Level 50 Magic Blaster
Primary Power Set: Assault Rifle
Secondary Power Set: Energy Manipulation
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Electrical Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Burst -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(3), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(3), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(5), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(5), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(7)
Level 1: Power Thrust -- ExStrk-Dmg/KB(A), ExStrk-Acc/KB(7), ExStrk-Dam%(9)
Level 2: Slug -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(9), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(11), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(11), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(13), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(13)
Level 4: Build Up -- GSFC-ToHit(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(15), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(15), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx(17), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(17), GSFC-Build%(19)
Level 6: Buckshot -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(19), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(21), Posi-Dmg/Rng(21), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(23), FrcFbk-Rechg%(37)
Level 8: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), Zephyr-Travel(23), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(25)
Level 10: M30 Grenade -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(25), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(27), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(27), Posi-Dam%(29)
Level 12: Beanbag -- Stpfy-Acc/Rchg(A), Stpfy-EndRdx/Stun(29), Stpfy-Acc/EndRdx(31), Stpfy-Stun/Rng(31), Stpfy-Acc/Stun/Rchg(31), Stpfy-KB%(37)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(33)
Level 16: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 18: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A)
Level 20: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(33), EndMod-I(34)
Level 22: Flamethrower -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(34), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(34), Posi-Dmg/Rng(36), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(36)
Level 24: Hover -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), Zephyr-Travel(33), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(36)
Level 26: Conserve Power -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(37)
Level 28: Ignite -- AirB'st-Dmg/Rchg(A), Det'tn-Dmg/Rchg(39), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(39), HO:Nucle(39)
Level 30: Power Boost -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 32: Full Auto -- Ragnrk-Dmg(A), Ragnrk-Dmg/Rchg(40), Ragnrk-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40), Ragnrk-Acc/Rchg(40), Ragnrk-Dmg/EndRdx(42)
Level 35: Boost Range -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 38: Maneuvers -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(42), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg(42), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(43), RedFtn-Def(43), RedFtn-EndRdx(43)
Level 41: Shocking Bolt -- Lock-Acc/Hold(A), Lock-Acc/Rchg(45), Lock-Rchg/Hold(45), Lock-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(45), Lock-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(46), Lock-%Hold(46)
Level 44: Charged Armor -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), HO:Ribo(46)
Level 47: EM Pulse -- Stpfy-Acc/Rchg(A), Stpfy-EndRdx/Stun(48), Stpfy-Acc/EndRdx(48), Stpfy-Stun/Rng(48), Stpfy-Acc/Stun/Rchg(50), Stpfy-KB%(50)
Level 49: Surge of Power -- TtmC'tng-ResDam/Rchg(A), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg(50)
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Level 1: Brawl -- Dmg-I(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Clrty-Stlth(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Defiance
I love Blasters. I have several of them resting at level 50. After slumming with a Defender I got tired of the long protracted fights even vs even cons and decided I needed another Blaster fix.
Next project is an Assault Rifle/Energy. I have a few questions about the combo though:
1. Will Power Thrust under the effect of Boost Range hit and knock back a foe coming at me before said foe gets to squish me?
2. Is Ignite worth it why with no -immobilize attacks? How do you leverage it while solo?
3. I was thinking of eventually slotting Force Feedback: +Rech into Buckshot and M30 Grenade. Worth the slots?
Thanks!