Help please with an AR/Pain Build Critique

Since the links to the guides are still down, and my search fu sucks, I've decided to go directly to the populace and ask for help. Why? Because this is my first AR anything (archetype-wise). Also, Pain is not as similar to Emp as I thought it was.

Here's the build I'm thinking about. I haven't placed IO sets or anything like that. Just assume that they all have Lvl 50 IO enhancements. My MIDS export didn't work so I've tried to make it as readable as possible.


Fraulein Firepower: Level 50 Mutation Corruptor

Primary Power Set: Assault Rifle
Secondary Power Set: Pain Domination

Power Pools: Fitness, Flight, Teleportation
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery

Villain Profile:

Level 1: Burst: (A), (3), (40), (40), (43)
Level 1: Nullify Pain: (A), (5), (7), (46)
Level 2: Slug: (A), (3), (37), (39), (40)
Level 4: Buckshot: (A), (5), (7), (13), (13)
Level 6: Swift: (A), (43), (46)
Level 8: Soothe: (A), (9), (9), (48)
Level 10: Conduit of Pain: (A), (11), (11)

Level 12: Hover: (A)
Level 14: Fly: (A), (15), (15)
Level 16: M30 Grenade: (A), (17), (17), (37), (37)
Level 18: Health: (A), (19), (19)
Level 20: Stamina: (A), (21), (21)

Level 22: Flamethrower: (A), (23), (23), (25), (25)
Level 24: Enforced Morale:(A)
Level 26: Ignite: (A), (27), (27), (31), (34), (36)
Level 28: Soothing Aura: (A), (29), (29)
Level 30: World of Pain: (A), (31), (31)

Level 32: Full Auto: (A), (33), (33), (33), (34), (34)
Level 35: Anguishing Cry: (A), (36), (36)
Level 38: Painbringer: (A), (39), (39)
Level 41: Soul Drain: (A), (42), (42), (42), (43), (50)
Level 44: Soul Storm: (A), (45), (45), (45), (46), (50)

Level 47: Summon Mistress: (A), (48), (48), (50)
Level 49: Recall Friend: (A)

Any advise would be helpful... Thank you.

I actually agree with your power choices for the most part, I would just rearrange them and some of the slotting.

Move Soothing Aura and Enforced Morale up. Soothing Aura is awesome on teams or when you solo. I'd put it at level 22 for sure. Enforce Morale's primary purpose is to relieve your teammates from being mezzed. That will be useful even at level 16.

M30 Grenade and Ignite are a lot more expendable. Ignite is okay, but without something to hold down your enemies it's just good for keeping mobs out of melee range. That's something Buckshot and Slug will do for you anyway. M30 Grenade's ubiquitous. The damage is considerably less than Buckshot or Flamethrower with that scattering knockback.

In terms of slotting, give more attention to your attacks sooner. Conduit of Pain will go really far with only 2 slots (recharge), so give that other early slot to Burst and let it wait till level 40 to get seriously slotted. Health, too, I would start with 2 slots. I'd probably start Fly and World of Pain off with only 2 slots also.

Honestly, the only thing I don't like is Ignite with all those slots and nothing to hold the mobs down. I'd consider dropping it, spreading those slots across your attack chain, and leaving the spot open to see how things are going. Then when you get there, depending on how your play style and team dynamics have worked out you could pick up something that doesn't require so much slotting. Recall Friend earlier, for example, or even Share Pain if you find your teams wanting more healing. Assault or Hasten would be other things to consider in its place, that would only take 3 slots total to be effective.

thanks for the responses. And yes I know that AR/Pain have 0 or less synergy. I actually meant for this to be a DPS build with healing as more of a utility. So I can see slotting the attacks sooner. I also see what you're saying about Ignite. My thought was after Buckshot knocks over a spawn, ignite can finish them off.