Your power picks appear to be fine.
One small thing: If you are planning on keeping hasten active, rage does not need as much recharge.
You do want set IOs. Just because you can't fork over 20 million easy on a recipe doesn't mean there aren't IOs out there for you. Here are some cheaper IO sets that will drastically increase your performance and efficiency without breaking your budget.
To begin with, the comparative cost of crafting a 49 vs. a 50 recipe is substantial, while the difference is minute. Save a bit of money when you can and buy the 49.
1) Doctored Wounds (5 set) - total cost 20 million
--This set works great in energize. You will cap your recharge and gain some great bonuses. This is the best thing you can do.
--Use Heal, Heal/Rech, Heal/End/Rech, End/Rech, and Rech (skip heal/end)
2) Multistrike (2) - Total Cost 2 million.
--Great efficient option for Lightning Field
--Use Acc/Dam/End and Dam/End
--Unlike cleaving blow, this one doesn't require rare salvage
--The more expensive twin of Scirroco's dervish (this requires rare salvage) complements this nicely.
3) Adjusted Targeting (2) - Total Cost 2-3 million
--Handy to slot in rage
--Use Recharge and To-Hit/Rech
--Add 1-2 more generic recharge IOs
4) Titanium Coating - Varied total cost
--This set is the cheaper of the two level 50 sets, but it can still be expensive.
--If you want some melee defense, you can 6 slot this.
--If you simply want a bit of efficiency, the res/end IO is a good way to go.
5) Mocking Beratement (1-2) - Total Cost, 1-2 million
--This particular set is great in attacks for the 1.88% end bonus.
--Almost nobody wants these, so you can get them cheap!
--Use Acc/Rech and Rech IO from this set for a decent recharge bonus and a bit of accuracy.
6) Thunderstrike (3) - Total Cost 2-3 million
--The three triples in this set will put you well on your way to slotting Mu Lightning effectively.
--If memory serves me, this set also does not require rare salvage!
7) Devastation (2-3) - Total Cost 5-6 million
--Picking the quad (acc/dam/end/rech) and triple (acc/dam/rech) from this set to complete mu lightning.
--If you want, pick up the proc (chance for hold) and add a 6th slot to mu lightning for fun. The hold animation is the tesla cage, so it fits perfectly!
--This set does require rare salvage, though the recipes typically are reasonable. Don't confuse this with decimation (the more expensive one)
8) Force Feedback Chance for +rech
--This works great in footstomp. As the chance for this to work increases with each enemy you hit, it is perfect for footstomp.
--It's cheap!
An Expensive SS/Elec Melee Defense Build:
The following build is for maximizing survivability while maintaining an impressive offensive capability. It is NOT cheap, but it utilizes some of the cheaper elements I already suggested (note Lightning Field and Energize)
Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.401
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: Super Strength
Secondary Power Set: Electric Armor
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Mu Mastery
Villain Profile:
Level 1: Punch
- (A) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage: Level 40
- (3) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance: Level 40
- (11) Touch of Death - Damage/Recharge: Level 40
- (15) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 40
- (17) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 40
- (37) Touch of Death - Chance of Damage(Negative): Level 40
- (A) Titanium Coating - Resistance: Level 50
- (5) Titanium Coating - Endurance: Level 50
- (23) Titanium Coating - Resistance/Endurance: Level 50
- (40) Titanium Coating - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
- (46) Titanium Coating - Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
- (50) Titanium Coating - Resistance/Recharge: Level 50
- (A) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage: Level 40
- (3) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance: Level 40
- (11) Touch of Death - Damage/Recharge: Level 40
- (13) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 40
- (17) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 40
- (37) Touch of Death - Chance of Damage(Negative): Level 40
- (A) Titanium Coating - Resistance: Level 50
- (5) Titanium Coating - Resistance/Endurance: Level 50
- (23) Titanium Coating - Resistance/Recharge: Level 50
- (40) Titanium Coating - Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
- (43) Titanium Coating - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
- (50) Titanium Coating - Endurance: Level 50
- (A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
- (7) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
- (7) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
- (A) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage: Level 40
- (9) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance: Level 40
- (9) Touch of Death - Damage/Recharge: Level 40
- (13) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 40
- (15) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 40
- (27) Touch of Death - Chance of Damage(Negative): Level 40
- (A) Jumping IO: Level 50
- (A) HamiO:Ribosome Exposure
- (19) HamiO:Ribosome Exposure
- (40) HamiO:Ribosome Exposure
- (A) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
- (A) Numina's Convalescence - Heal: Level 50
- (19) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Recharge: Level 50
- (31) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Endurance: Level 50
- (31) Numina's Convalescence - +Regeneration/+Recovery: Level 50
- (43) Panacea - +Hit Points/Endurance: Level 50
- (A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
- (A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End: Level 50
- (21) Performance Shifter - EndMod: Level 50
- (21) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Recharge: Level 50
- (31) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Accuracy: Level 50
- (A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%: Level 30
- (36) Steadfast Protection - Knockback Protection: Level 30
- (37) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All): Level 50
- (A) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 50
- (25) Scirocco's Dervish - Damage/Endurance: Level 50
- (25) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 50
- (27) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance: Level 50
- (A) Run Speed IO: Level 50
- (A) Doctored Wounds - Recharge: Level 50
- (29) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Recharge: Level 50
- (29) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
- (34) Doctored Wounds - Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
- (46) Doctored Wounds - Heal: Level 50
- (A) Empty
- (A) Armageddon - Chance for Fire Damage: Level 50
- (33) Armageddon - Damage/Endurance: Level 50
- (33) Armageddon - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 50
- (33) Armageddon - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 50
- (34) Armageddon - Damage/Recharge: Level 50
- (34) Force Feedback - Chance for +Recharge: Level 50
- (A) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Recharge: Level 50
- (36) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Accuracy/Recharge: Level 50
- (36) Performance Shifter - EndMod: Level 50
- (A) Titanium Coating - Resistance/Endurance: Level 50
- (39) Titanium Coating - Resistance/Recharge: Level 50
- (39) Titanium Coating - Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
- (39) Titanium Coating - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
- (48) Titanium Coating - Resistance: Level 50
- (50) Titanium Coating - Endurance: Level 50
- (A) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage: Level 50
- (42) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance: Level 50
- (42) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge: Level 50
- (42) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 50
- (43) Positron's Blast - Chance of Damage(Energy): Level 50
- (A) Ragnarok - Damage/Endurance: Level 50
- (45) Ragnarok - Chance for Knockdown: Level 50
- (45) Ragnarok - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 50
- (45) Ragnarok - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 50
- (46) Ragnarok - Damage/Recharge: Level 50
- (A) HamiO:Cytoskeleton Exposure
- (48) HamiO:Cytoskeleton Exposure
- (48) HamiO:Cytoskeleton Exposure
- (A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
Level 1: Brawl
- (A) Empty
- (A) Empty
- (A) Empty
------------
Set Bonus Totals:
- 7.5% DamageBuff(Smashing)
- 7.5% DamageBuff(Lethal)
- 7.5% DamageBuff(Fire)
- 7.5% DamageBuff(Cold)
- 7.5% DamageBuff(Energy)
- 7.5% DamageBuff(Negative)
- 7.5% DamageBuff(Toxic)
- 7.5% DamageBuff(Psionic)
- 15.4% Defense(Smashing)
- 15.4% Defense(Lethal)
- 6% Defense(Fire)
- 6% Defense(Cold)
- 6% Defense(Energy)
- 6% Defense(Negative)
- 6% Defense(Psionic)
- 24.8% Defense(Melee)
- 6% Defense(Ranged)
- 6% Defense(AoE)
- 31.3% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
- 10% Enhancement(Heal)
- 39% Enhancement(Accuracy)
- 10% FlySpeed
- 196.8 HP (13.1%) HitPoints
- 10% JumpHeight
- 10% JumpSpeed
- Knockback (Mag -4)
- Knockup (Mag -4)
- MezResist(Held) 13.8%
- MezResist(Immobilize) 8.25%
- MezResist(Sleep) 8.25%
- MezResist(Stun) 6.6%
- MezResist(Terrorized) 2.2%
- 14.5% (0.24 End/sec) Recovery
- 22% (1.38 HP/sec) Regeneration
- 7.88% Resistance(Fire)
- 7.88% Resistance(Cold)
- 10% RunSpeed
Set Bonuses:
Touch of Death
(Punch)
- MezResist(Immobilize) 2.75%
- 22.5 HP (1.5%) HitPoints
- 2.5% DamageBuff(All)
- MezResist(Held) 2.75%
- 3.75% Defense(Melee), 1.88% Defense(Lethal), 1.88% Defense(Smashing)
(Charged Armor)
- MezResist(Sleep) 2.2%
- 22.5 HP (1.5%) HitPoints
- MezResist(Stun) 2.2%
- MezResist(Held) 2.75%
- 2.5% Defense(Melee), 1.25% Defense(Lethal), 1.25% Defense(Smashing)
(Haymaker)
- MezResist(Immobilize) 2.75%
- 22.5 HP (1.5%) HitPoints
- 2.5% DamageBuff(All)
- MezResist(Held) 2.75%
- 3.75% Defense(Melee), 1.88% Defense(Lethal), 1.88% Defense(Smashing)
(Conductive Shield)
- MezResist(Sleep) 2.2%
- 22.5 HP (1.5%) HitPoints
- MezResist(Stun) 2.2%
- MezResist(Held) 2.75%
- 2.5% Defense(Melee), 1.25% Defense(Lethal), 1.25% Defense(Smashing)
(Knockout Blow)
- MezResist(Immobilize) 2.75%
- 22.5 HP (1.5%) HitPoints
- 2.5% DamageBuff(All)
- MezResist(Held) 2.75%
- 3.75% Defense(Melee), 1.88% Defense(Lethal), 1.88% Defense(Smashing)
(Health)
- 12% (0.75 HP/sec) Regeneration
- 28.1 HP (1.88%) HitPoints
- 6% Enhancement(Heal)
(Stamina)
- 5% JumpSpeed, 5% JumpHeight, 5% FlySpeed, 5% RunSpeed
- 28.1 HP (1.88%) HitPoints
- 2.5% (0.04 End/sec) Recovery
(Grounded)
- 1.5% (0.03 End/sec) Recovery
- 3% Defense(All)
- Knockback Protection (Mag -4)
(Grounded)
- 3% Defense(All)
(Lightning Field)
- 10% (0.63 HP/sec) Regeneration
(Lightning Field)
- MezResist(Sleep) 1.65%
(Energize)
- MezResist(Terrorized) 2.2%
- 1.26% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
- 4% Enhancement(Heal)
- 5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
(Foot Stomp)
- 4% (0.07 End/sec) Recovery
- 2.52% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
- 15% Enhancement(Accuracy)
- 10% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
(Power Sink)
- 5% JumpSpeed, 5% JumpHeight, 5% FlySpeed, 5% RunSpeed
- 28.1 HP (1.88%) HitPoints
(Tough)
- MezResist(Sleep) 2.2%
- 22.5 HP (1.5%) HitPoints (Exceeded 5 Bonus Cap)
- MezResist(Stun) 2.2%
- MezResist(Held) 2.75% (Exceeded 5 Bonus Cap)
- 2.5% Defense(Melee), 1.25% Defense(Lethal), 1.25% Defense(Smashing)
(Electrifying Fences)
- 2.5% (0.04 End/sec) Recovery
- 1.58% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
- 9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
- 6.25% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
(Ball Lightning)
- 4% (0.07 End/sec) Recovery
- 2.52% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
- 15% Enhancement(Accuracy)
- 10% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
Thanks for that! I know very little about IO sets and just assumed they were all ridiculously expensive, some of this sounds affordable and I will give it a shot.
There are IO's on the market that sell for as little as 5,000 inf. Spend a little bit of time at the market and sort them by category (melee, ranged...). Then go through and find what is cheap and start looking at the numbers. Write them down. What you will find is if any IO modifies more than one aspect, it becomes even more efficient. For example, at level 50:
Accuracy SO - 33.3%
Accuracy IO - 42.4%
----Set IOs
Acc/Dam - 26.5% each
Acc/Dam/Rech - 21.2% each
Acc/Dam/Rech/End - 18.5% each
Now let's put that into practice.
5 slot a single target attack with lvl 50 SO's. 2 acc, 2 dam, 1 end.
It yields 66% acc, 66% dam, 33% end redux
5 slot the same attack with generic IO's equivalents.
84.4% acc, 84.4%, 42.4% respectively.
Now let's look at some cheaper sets out there.
-Focused Smite Acc/Dam/Rech, lvl 40 19.3% each
-Focused Smite Acc/Dam, lvl 40, 24.13 each
-Focused Smite Acc/End/Rech, lvl 40, 19.3% each
-Smashing Haymaker Dam/End/Rech, lvl 35, 18.35% each
-Smashing Haymaker Acc/Dam, lvl 35, 22.94%
Now if you notice, I'm even picking sets that aren't in 50 range, which means you can get them before you're 50 and keep them until you have the desire to upgrade. It also means they are often quite inexpensive and that the salvage needed can often be cheaper as well.
Let's total this up.
84.10% acc
83.24% dam
37.65% end
56.95% rech
Compare this with the level 50 generic IOs, and you will see that lower level IOs that modify several aspects actually manage to better enhance your attack. Now, the set bonuses are nothing to write home about, but the actual strength of that attack is now much better.
If you haven't, go to http://www.cohplanner.com to check out Mid's Hero Designer. It may help a bit with the math, while you sit at the market and start seeing just how cheap these can be.
And yes, you will save money if at around that level you buy Set IOs, because you won't be buying SOs every few levels.
Hi all,
so have put together a build using SOs because I don't think I have enough money to fit her out with a full set of IO sets. Feel free to give advice on IO slotting for the benefit of others or if I suddenly come into loadsa infamy 
I have a lvl 50 SS/ELA/MM brute that I would like some advice on. This is my main villain-side and I am not massive on alts so will be using her for all my red-side activity (so she needs to be well rounded and not just built for something like farming/AVs etc...)
I do not get to spend that much time playing CoX anymore
Some notes on my playstyle:
- I love jumping into mobs and spamming footstomp and ball lightning
- I love stacking Rage as much as possible (I know there is debate for and against but I like to stack)
- I hate missing, hence rage slotting and two accuracies in some powers
- I hope that between stamina, energize and power-sink I will have little/no end problems
- I hope that energize means I no longer have to take Heal Self
Could I please get some feedback on the following build? (I made a concious decision to pick powers at certain levels so I could get enough slots in powers overall, but I don't really care about when I added slots)
Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.401
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Mama Rage: Level 50 Mutation Brute
Primary Power Set: Super Strength
Secondary Power Set: Electric Armor
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Mu Mastery
Villain Profile:
------------
Level 1: Punch Acc(A), Acc(3), RechRdx(5), RechRdx(7), Dmg(17), Dmg(19)
Level 1: Charged Armor ResDam(A), ResDam(23), ResDam(25)
Level 2: Haymaker Acc(A), Acc(3), RechRdx(5), Dmg(7), Dmg(15), Dmg(17)
Level 4: Conductive Shield ResDam(A), ResDam(23), ResDam(25)
Level 6: Hurdle Jump(A)
Level 8: Knockout Blow Acc(A), Acc(9), RechRdx(9), Dmg(11), Dmg(11), Dmg(15)
Level 10: Static Shield ResDam(A), ResDam(27), ResDam(27)
Level 12: Hasten RechRdx(A), RechRdx(13), RechRdx(13)
Level 14: Super Speed Run(A)
Level 16: Health Heal(A), Heal(19), Heal(31)
Level 18: Rage RechRdx(A), RechRdx(31), RechRdx(31), ToHit(36), ToHit(39), ToHit(39)
Level 20: Stamina EndMod(A), EndMod(21), EndMod(21)
Level 22: Grounded ResDam(A)
Level 24: Lightning Reflexes Run(A)
Level 26: Lightning Field Acc(A), Acc(34), EndRdx(36), Dmg(36), Dmg(37), Dmg(37)
Level 28: Energize RechRdx(A), RechRdx(29), RechRdx(29)
Level 30: Boxing Acc(A)
Level 32: Foot Stomp Acc(A), RechRdx(33), RechRdx(33), Dmg(33), Dmg(34), Dmg(34)
Level 35: Power Sink RechRdx(A), RechRdx(37), RechRdx(39), EndMod(40), EndMod(40), EndMod(40)
Level 38: Power Surge RechRdx(A), RechRdx(43), RechRdx(46)
Level 41: Mu Lightning Acc(A), Acc(42), RechRdx(42), Dmg(42), Dmg(43), Dmg(43)
Level 44: Ball Lightning Acc(A), RechRdx(45), RechRdx(45), Dmg(45), Dmg(46), Dmg(46)
Level 47: Tough EndRdx(A), ResDam(48), ResDam(48), ResDam(48)
Level 49: Weave EndRdx(A), DefBuff(50), DefBuff(50), DefBuff(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury
A big thank you for any advice/suggestions you can give.