Most Powerful Build Possible?

Hi all, I've been pondering this for a little while, especially after lurking around the forums for as long as I have. I have seen many, many claims of X build can handle AV's no problem, Y build can farm like nobody's business, etc, etc.

But here is the big question: in the grand scheme of things, what build is overall the best (not from a flavor standpoint or playstyle, I mean technically the best) for simply playing anything in CoX? This includes:

-solo
-teaming
-farming
-tough target take down (AVs and even GMs)
-PvP
or whatever else you can come up with.

In my personal opinion, I think it is down to these two:

Bots/Traps needs much less of an investment to get near-OPed.

I say roll up one to get the feeling, then a ILL/Rad.

Well I know my Thugs/Traps makes the game feel like easy mode most of the time, so if Bots/Traps is more powerful, then it must be something.

I think the Q the OP is trying to find an answer to is which AT poweset combination is the most versatile.

I'd imagine there are at least 6 combos if not more that can perform the various tasks to varying degree. Some slightly better at this, while others slightly better at that.

Not really sure there is an answer to be had in this thread.

Just because Ill/Rad may or may not be the most versatile combination does not mean you should actually try farming with one.

I understand the purpose of the thread...a question of versatility.

The Q doesn't in my opinion serve a purpose other than the fact a Q was answered to some degree.

This Q might have merit if perhaps this game was designed in a way that teaming with other players was not possible.

Then the Q of an "ultimate build" might have some significance.

The fact that one is able to team with others means people are free to specialize their characters to one or two or three areas.

Don't misunderstand me. I am not advocating the abolishment of debate.

All I am saying is trying to build a character that can "adequately" perform in a large array of circumstances does not necessarily mean you have an "ultimate build."

It depends too much of the situation.

Most of my characters can solo AVs and GMs, and they can also clear +4/x8 spawns of certain mobs (Council, Batle Maiden Warriors, upper level CoT and anything without heavy debuffs or mezzes) but just as well, they readily get pwn'd by others

While my Defender (Radiation/Sonic) can solo Lusca without inspirations, he may see himself overpowered by certain 'lesser' enemies such a Positron or Antimatter, and put in a position where he has to pop inspirations to win

My Controller (Fire/Radiation) can also accomplish said feat against Lusca, but when faced with oponents that summon multiple spawns (Lord Recluse, Winter Lord) he gets screwed, cause the Imps are unable to focus fire and usually attract the attention of the enemy summons

Both my Corruptor (Fire/Traps) and my Mastermind (Robotics/Traps) can solo every redside GM (all 3 of them) and even Abyss Monsters without breaking a sweat. However they share the same susceptibility to Positron, and also have a nemesis of their own in the rank of Vindicators: Swan. Being trappers, they place several gadgets on the battlefield to achieve tactical superiority over the oponent, but Swan can neutralize this tactic by using Fulcrum Shift off of all my traps, and then proceeding to one-shot me.

So, even if you can find a build that can solo +4/x8, solo AVs and solo GMs, they might *NOT* be able to solo every +4/x8 mob, and might not able to solo every AV and GM

just to bring up a point for the ill/rad controller's side (seeing as I kinda pushed Bot/Trap a bit there):

The account where the ill/rad soloed lusca was pre-Io's, he/she/it/potato did it i think even before CoV, but post ED

Yeah farming on ill/storm and ill/rad doesnt work that well. Also Ill/Storm won´t drop gm´s.

Ill/rad is a pretty nice combo. Pretty much anything with Rad is excellent. Ill/Storm, while also excellent and fun in the right hands, is far from uber. It is extremely chaotic, which is where much of the fun comes from, but lacks real controls or other sets.

My Fire/Rad is a controlling BEAST, and the only toon I ever play past 50. She has such a deep toolbox of tricks and powers, I love pushing her in over her head and digging my way out. Sure, she dies alot, but imho, if you're not coming dangerously close to dying, you're doing it wrong.

I loved playing Bots/Dark. Tough minions + AoE heal + pets that heal + massive tohit debuffs + bodyguard mode = indestructible steamroller.

As a power combination, my vote would be a Rad/Sonic Defender. However, it will not handle all of the above on any given build at the highest level. It can solo easily on most builds. It can be built to make sure nobody ever dies, period. It can be built to take down AVs/GMs. It can be made into a decent PvPer (mine gets quite a few wins for being a gimped PvP AT). It can make an ok farmer (lacking a bit in strong AOEs that don't kill your end).

But note, you're not going to find a build that owns PvE totally that'll own PvP totally, or vice versa. This is simply because of the mechanics for both are a bit different and require building for different things.

But the most important thing that can be said: a heavily IOed anything will be very strong.

Like has been mentioned...there's no one build that can do all that.

The builds for instance that can take down GMs, tend to lack some of the mitigation you might want in general PvE.

I find a well IO'ed WP (brute/scrapper), can handle most situations in PvE, when it comes to the varied enemy types.

As has been shown, you can get that and enough damage to solo AVs (depending on your Primary)...however, a scrapper/brute isn't going to be soloing GMs (might survive them, but arent going to surpass their regen).

well, it seems my example of the ill/rad builds fall short with farming/aoe...

and bot/traps only falls to swan when she does FS?

no offense to anyone who's posted before this, but im starting to think bot's traps may be the best, as only 1 enemy so far has been said to give it trouble (swan), and it *can* do all of the things mentioned above, albeit it farms slowly...