Chokeing cloud frustration...
many people do skip it, its not really a necssary power
on my sonic/rad corr i took it at first too and was planning on slotting 1 acc in it, but as soon as i noticed it couldnt take acc enhances i immediatly respec'd it out.
unless you plan on putting IOs or HOs in the power which increase acc, its always gonna suck.

So I am running a Ill/Rad, and I thought it would be so cool to have CC. Then I started to noticed it was missing, so I check, to see if it allows accuracy enhancements. It doesn't.
Now even not, the power is nice, but it takes so long to stack holds, if it wasn't for my decoys, I would be toast. Is that power skippable, or am I missing something? |
Choking Cloud is wonderful on a Fire/Rad -- I consider it to be one of the key powers. While I haven't gotten one high enough yet, Choking Cloud is (supposed to be) great on an Ice/Rad. Why? Because both of those powersets have another PB AoE toggle that works with Choking Cloud to make it more effective. CC on its own is pretty lame, but with something to mez or get the attention of the foes first, giving CC time to establish its hold, it is very effective. Fire/Rad has the combo of CC+Hot Feet, with Flashfire+Fire Cages to establish the initial hold. Ice/Rad has CC+Arctic Air, with Ice Slick to allow time for CC+AA to take effect.
You can get Accuracy in it by slotting IO Hold sets or Hami-O's. But to be effective, you really need max slotting for EndRdx and Hold. Again, my Ill/Rad guide discusses the slotting and why.
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Guide Links: Earth/Rad Guide, Illusion/Rad Guide, Electric Control
I don't know if this actually works, but using using Radiation Infection to drop the def on foes around you might help Choking Cloud hit?
I don't play my toons with Choking Cloud much, but I've had my best success with Choking Cloud when it is fully enhanced for hold.
Seeing as you have Illusion, I suppose it stacks best with Flash.
I don't know if this actually works, but using using Radiation Infection to drop the def on foes around you might help Choking Cloud hit?
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To second what Local said, I have and cherish CC on my Fire/Rad, but I plan on probably skipping it on my Ill/rad. Just different play styles.
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I was thinking that Choking Cloud would be good to create containment, especially for an Illusion primary, where it is difficult to create containment. But I don't have a Rad high enough to know for myself. Just like a lot of Dark Armor powers not fully slotted many of them look worthless, but there are usually ways to improve things.
Reasons to Take Choking Cloud:
1. Stack Holds since you already have 2 other PBAoE holds
2. Create Containment for AoE attacks like Fireball or Fissure
3. The -Defense from Rad should help your accuracy
4. Sets like "Lock Down" -- Give +accuracy, reduce Endurance, and increase hold time, with the further chance to hold proc in there.
It's a rather skippable power.
However, that said, once it's slotted up correctly, it is a nice backup defense power.
Although it doesn't take accuracy on it's own, any multi-aspect IO that has accuracy will improve CC's chance of hitting. (note that it has to pass both a chance to hit and a chance to occur check)
Also anything that lowers the mobs defense (hello rad infection) also helps.
Slot it up with a couple of Acc/Hold IO's, some Endurance Reduction, and (optionally) the Lockdown proc and it's a very nice power.
The mobs run in, get a single hit off, and then tend to stand there choking while you deal with them.
My Mind Control/Radiation controller loves it...the (very) few mobs I haven't already locked down soon get that way if they try to close with me.
Personally, the only thing I really don't like about it is that it's one of the few remaining toggle powers (along with most/all of the ice set) that doesn't have it's sound effects fade out after a little while.....
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Kudos to Soulwind. I would also remind choking cloud users that they want to be up close and personal with the radiation infection anchor. Maximize your stackable benefits. Flashfire, hotfeet, cinders, ice slick, blizzard, earthquake, volcanic gases ... get the picture? ... all contribute to choking cloud's effectiveness. Personally, I love most the maps such as Shadowhunter when you have multiple warwolves choking on the cloud's goodness.
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HelinCarnate:OMG it is so terrible. I have the option to take 3 more powers but no additional slots. Boo F'ing hoo.
Choking cloud is skippable, but I would not skip it. I use on my Earth/Rad, and it is great. You cannot slot accuracy, but you can get improvement with IO's that have accuracy in. I use a full set of Lockdown for the set bonuses. The +2 hold proc hits frequently in my opinion, and I bring it up mostly for AV's, GM's and TF's. Of course, I have lockdown set in my volcanic gasses as well, so I hold pretty much everything. Most AV's are held for greater than 50% of the time and fairly quick. Of course Earth/Rad/Stone is pretty damn hold-ariffic. It probably synergizes best with Fire Primary because of hot feet requiring you to melee, but it is not bad once slotted.
I actually think it is a good hold for illusion as you do not have great "hard" holds, and sometimes, it is just great to hold someone. Despite sounding like a bad country song there, consider lockdown sets, or perhaps an easy place for purples.
Cheers and hold me,
Night Sable
aka Atomic Tera Lvl 50Earth/Rad Troller on Freedom
I was thinking that Choking Cloud would be good to create containment, especially for an Illusion primary, where it is difficult to create containment. But I don't have a Rad high enough to know for myself. Just like a lot of Dark Armor powers not fully slotted many of them look worthless, but there are usually ways to improve things.
Reasons to Take Choking Cloud: 1. Stack Holds since you already have 2 other PBAoE holds 2. Create Containment for AoE attacks like Fireball or Fissure 3. The -Defense from Rad should help your accuracy 4. Sets like "Lock Down" -- Give +accuracy, reduce Endurance, and increase hold time, with the further chance to hold proc in there. |
1. It consumes a ton of endurance, which may keep you from being able to spam your single target Blind-SW-Blast-SW attack chain for very long.
2. Everything else in your powersets are ranged except for Flash and EM Pulse -- which are both "Run in and hit it" type holds. For the most part, your AoE control comes from Phantom Army and Spectral Terror, both ranged. Choking Cloud requires you to run in and stay for a while while its funky chance-to-apply works. While waiting, you are a sitting duck, since even invisibility won't help. Sure, you can use Flash to hold them, Spectral Terror to fear them or Phantom Army to distract them, but then why do you need Choking Cloud?
3. Choking Cloud takes a while to for the odds to work in your favor and get most of the foes held. What are you doing while waiting? Fire/Rad has Hot Feet chipping away with damage and using Fear and Slow to keep foes in the area, and has Fire Cages to keep them in place. What does Illusion have? Phantom Army or Spectral Terror, sure, but if they are distracted by PA or feared by spooky, then why use Choking Cloud? (Yes, it sets Containment. But frankly, since Illusion can only rely upon APP power for AoE damage, that doesn't really add up to all that much. Not worth the risk. Illusion's main damage is its single-target attack chain and its pets. The single-target attack chain makes its own Containment by leading off with Blind.)
4. Phantasm's AI is set to knock back foes who are near you . . . blasting them out of Choking Cloud. Since the hold duration of each pulse is short -- almost 15 seconds if fully slotted or only 7.45 seconds unslotted at level 50, you then have some ticked-off foes who are not held.
5.It is another power that needs 6-slots. What power do you give up and where do you get the slots? Flash or EM Pulse? They are far more useful as "panic button" powers and fill-ins for when PA is recharging. (However, if you are going to take Choking Cloud, I agree that the Lockdown +2 Mag proc is great in it. Because of the unique mechanism of the power, it really adds a lot.)
Some people, including some in this thread, like Choking Cloud on an Ill/Rad. I tried it and hated it. I love it on my Fire/Rad, so I don't have some kind of prejudice against the power. I just don't think it fits into my playstyle for an Ill/Rad. I think more experienced Ill/Rads agree with my perspective than disagree.
LOCAL MAN! The most famous hero of all. There are more newspaper stories about me than anyone else. "Local Man wins Medal of Honor." "Local Man opens Animal Shelter." "Local Man Charged with..." (Um, forget about that one.)
Guide Links: Earth/Rad Guide, Illusion/Rad Guide, Electric Control
Global ACC also helps it hit: Tactics; +ACC IO Set bonuses; yellow inspirations; etc....
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Take a look at my Illusion/Radiation Guide. I explain in that guide why I feel that Choking Cloud is fully skippable for an Ill/Rad. The discussion on Choking Cloud explains the unique mechanics of this power.
Choking Cloud is wonderful on a Fire/Rad -- I consider it to be one of the key powers. While I haven't gotten one high enough yet, Choking Cloud is (supposed to be) great on an Ice/Rad. Why? Because both of those powersets have another PB AoE toggle that works with Choking Cloud to make it more effective. CC on its own is pretty lame, but with something to mez or get the attention of the foes first, giving CC time to establish its hold, it is very effective. Fire/Rad has the combo of CC+Hot Feet, with Flashfire+Fire Cages to establish the initial hold. Ice/Rad has CC+Arctic Air, with Ice Slick to allow time for CC+AA to take effect. You can get Accuracy in it by slotting IO Hold sets or Hami-O's. But to be effective, you really need max slotting for EndRdx and Hold. Again, my Ill/Rad guide discusses the slotting and why. |
So I am running a Ill/Rad, and I thought it would be so cool to have CC. Then I started to noticed it was missing, so I check, to see if it allows accuracy enhancements. It doesn't.
Now even not, the power is nice, but it takes so long to stack holds, if it wasn't for my decoys, I would be toast.
Is that power skippable, or am I missing something?
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