Stalkers are what?

I'm trying to figure out what my toon is going to be"scrapper if Blueside but not sure about red side" and Scrapper and Brute seem pretty strait forward. I looked through the guides and did some searching but can't sem to find what a Stalker really is.


They attack from stealth for major damage I know. Other than that I think they get scrapper type powers.


Where is stalker in the damage range? Seems like they should be ahead of scrappers and brutes due to the nature of the stalkers attacks ect.. But I have not read that anywhere.


Are they just scrappers with stealth? Do you stealth in groups? that seems a little bothersome with the rush rush rush types i used to play with a long time ago.

Thanks for any information you guys want to give me.

Bah I just read the stalker guides and read over and over...."Stalkers don't team well" Either those guides are way out of date and things have changed or I guess I will look elsewhere. Seems counter productive to create a character in a mmo that doesnt team well.


I hope this is outdated or wrong.

They're essentially Scrappers that trade an AoE attack*, some hit points, and a large chunk of the maxhp cap, for a bit of extra single target burst if you take the time to set up AS. They also trade one of the powers from their secondary for Hide - which provides a little bit of defense (1.875% to all outside of hidden status, add in another 3.75% to all and 37.5% to AoE while in hidden status) and just enough stealth (150') that you can stand next to snipers without aggroing them, at 0 endurance cost.

The base damage modifier is lower, but they get a base of 10% chance to critical on any attack which can scale up with team size, since you get an extra 3% chance to critical for each teammate within 30' of you. That extra critical chance boosts your over-time damage up past Scrapper levels (assuming the same attack chain) on small/medium-sized teams provided your team doesn't scatter to the four winds every fight. That's also not factoring in the guaranteed criticals from hidden status.

As to whether or not the trade is worthwhile... well, that's up to each person to decide for themselves. Personally I think that Stalkers still are on the short end of the melee stick overall - the lack of AoE in most sets and all secondaries hurts in PvE - but they can do some respectable damage (to a single target, they're potentially the highest damage melee AT in the game with the 31% critical rate on a full team) and can be very sturdy if built well.

* - Electric Melee for Stalkers doesn't trade an AoE attack, it trades a damageless AoE stun to pick up Assassin's Shock. Essentially they get something for nothing there.

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Thanks for the information guys..If I go redside i will pick another At. Stalkers do sound neat but seem a little more advanced. That along with the less team friendly means i will save the stalker for a alt.

Thanks again.

That guide is wrong. Sorta.

A Stalker is a Blapper with stealth and mez protection. Sorta.

The issue with stalkers and teaming has more to do with pacing. There's a set period of time (I forget if it's 6 or 8 seconds) before hide re-engages after you stop attacking and getting attacked. That means that it takes you a little bit to get yourself setup for the opening Buildup -> ASSASSINSTRIKE.

So, some stalkers modify their playstyle on teams to be more like scrappers and just go start stabbing whatever has the most HP.

However, I won't give you rose-colored lenses. Stalkers still aren't highly sought after on teams. That said, if you have a group of friends you team with regularly, don't worry.

Edit: Siolfir already put it well: Don't rely on hide/AS on teams as much - go with the team flow and you'll be fine.

I think part of the teaming thing depends on what server you're on. I've had absolutely no problem getting on teams/strike forces on Freedumb since the stalker changes; more and more people became aware of the massive change for the better and the AT has, at least there, lost much of its stigma. Really, a stalker is more desirable than a scrapper in large team situations (as long as they can crank out some AoE as in Electric and Spines, even katana/broadsword with some tricks) because of the higher damage with crits. The hp difference isn't a huge deal with defense based sets, but with others it can kind of suck.

So you have to be very choosy with your powersets unless you really know what you're doing. They have a slight learning curve, but great potential. If you just want to bash stuff, the stalker probably isn't your best choice; but if you like the style of play that forces you to think a little more, in return possibly offering a slightly higher reward, then you should try them out.

I treat playing my DM/Nin as if I need to get rid of the problem mobs in a spawn for my team asap.

Debuffers, mezzers, and high damage dealers. Anything that can put a crimp into smooth teaming should be the stalker's first target.

Imho a Stalker is even better in a (big) team than a scrapper because even when you´re unhidden you have a chance to crit which increases with every member joining the team. THIS is what has made stalkers that much better than scrappers for teams (for me)

Back about a year ago, I tried a Stalker, and I wasnt totally thrilled with it, and it was rough trying to get a team because people wanted heals or AoE damage red side, so I started making teams of Stalkers.

Its acctually amazing just how quickly a Stalker Player learns to team with other Stalkers.After mid way through the first mission with 7 Stalkers on the team, we started gathering in the mob and almost as if we where mind linked, we would all start mentally watching each other to pick a seprate target and each of us would fire off our Assassin Strikes.

That was prolly the most Zen like experiance iv had in this game, and we dropped mobs in short order.The remaining Baddies left from our starting Alpha was met with a flurry of pain, and after all lay dead on the floor, all the Stalkers would dissapear once more, and all would go silent.

Then the Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth Started again, and not 1 Stalker died during this all Stalker team.

Makes me wish for the good ol days.

Hah, that sounds like fun. I've been on teams with 1 or 2 other stalkers before and noticed the same effect. We would watch each other and select seperate targets.

I've been wanting to try an all stalker team for a while. I'd love to see 8 *** hit an AV or EB all at once. Eight stalkers each choosing a target and wiping an entire spawn at once sounds like fun too.

8 Stalkers that AS a spawn...

- 60% unresistable, unaffected by Purple Patch Tohit Debuff.

- 90% of the spawn under a mag 5 Fear, affecting bosses as well (if they're even alive at this point).

- Plenty of opposition dispatched before the fight even has begun.