It's STRONG and PRETTY.
Heh, jokes aside...
EA isn't the best set around due to the fact that it has three "holes" in it (NE/T/P damage). Four if you count low DDR as well. It's also more expensive to soft cap (which is all the rage nowadays) than positional defense based sets. This is mostly because sets with typed +Def cap at lower levels (Kinetic Combat, Eradication), have lower supply and thus cost more.
On the upside, you'll have slight resistances to S/L/E/NE/T, infinite Endurance (unless you for some reason don't take Energy Drain) and a decent heal (unless you for some reason don't take Energy Drain). The defenses out of the box aren't bad, but it's not the best set around.
Think it's worth mentioning that I don't really have any experience playing EA. I'm only going by numbers here.
- @DSorrow - alts on Union and Freedom mostly -
Currently playing as Castigation on Freedom
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Hi,
i never felt gimped playing my elec/ea. Once softcapped to S/L (which is quite easy), it was really really fun... kind of brutish (but that's cause of elec melee, best primary to stalker imo).
Also, base def value are the highest, i kind of felt it during the first lvls.
thanks for the replies guys. i've never done any of the soft capping stuff, or used set IOs. i've only used normal IOs.
i don't really know how that system works. so two things:
1) is there a good guide that explains that system, including the level differences of the set IOs?
2) is EA still viable/effective/pleasant without set bonuses?
this issue becomes a little more complicated since i plan to use it with Kinetic Melee, a currently unknown set. so i cannot provide any useful info about my primary.
I made a lvl 50 Spines/EA.
/EA in general works reasonably well like other defense sets.
/EA in Stalker is not as unique as in Brute because a Brute with /EA can actually run into enemy group without being seen by nearby group or patrols. I think most AT's stealth are not suppressed after being "seen". Stalker is the only one that is suppressed after been seen so Stalker can be seen by a nearby group after coming out of "hidden". I don't know if I explain it really well... lol If you made an Energy Aura or Dark Armor Brute, you should know what I mean.
If you are fighting against anything but Psionic damage, /EA is pretty good. The aoe heal from Energy Aura is a nice buff I have to say. You just need more targets to get good healing going.
I've tried that Repluse thing. It's pure gimmick. I respec it out later. It was draining way too much endurance for it to be useful.
What's left is to normalize all Assassin Strikes and improve Stalker's old sets (Claw, MA and EM)! You don't need to bring back the missing PbAoE attack. You just need to make the existing ones better! For example, make Slice a WIDER and LONGER cone.
I have a 32 EM/EA stalker and a 50 Elec/Nin stalker. Both sets are def based so its a good way to compare them. I have no experience with WP stalkers.
EA pros:
More def debuff resistance 50 instead of 30
no Endurance problems after energy drain
TP foe resist
EA cons:
more expensive to soft cap S/L def via kinetic combats
hard to softcap all damage types
weak heal even when fully slotted unless you are able to hit 8+ mobs
heal comes later (L28)
Nin pros:
def is positional so its much easier to softcap all.
heal is at fully slotted almost 50% no matter how many foes you are fighting
Caltrops + blinding powder + smoke bomb > repulse + conserve power
Nin cons:
Kujin-Ra < Overload (both cap def, but Overload gives extra hps, but if you are at hp cap its a waste)
Looks like just based on the heal Nin is better.
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Pretty much all stealth gets suppressed IIRC. I KNOW [Stealth] does. I have not checked things like Steamy Mist, but I do know that Superior Invisibility does not suppress.
HOWEVER, stealth does not matter if you aggro something. Stealth only keeps you from getting added to the mobs aggro list. You can be 100% invisible (or capped stealth if you would rather) and still be attacked. Once you are added to their aggro list -> attack, debuff, anything that rolls a to hit check for them, stealth doesn't matter.
And as far as brutes with stealth go, even if they were capped to stealth, and stood in a mob, they would get attacked. This is due to the way Fury is built. I can't find the linkie atm but there are three ways fury is modified. You attack, You are attacked, and how many mobs are surrounding you. This last one checks every so often, which notifies the mobs, and adds you to their aggro list.
Now, on to my thoughts of EA. It is the crappiest set of all time, don't ever use it. >.> :P
In all reality, I just want it all to myself because I am planning on making a Kin Melee/EA brute and want it to remain something that is not a FotM >.>
I got a Stone/EA brute to about 45 before deleting and I sort of regret it now. I was disappointed in the Heal of [Energy Drain]. When I read the power details it said +HP, and I inferred it meant +HP... not a heal. It is a rather lack luster in my opinion. It's not horrible, but if I was planning too AV solo, which I usually like to try to make my toons do, I would prefer [Conserve Power] and [Aid Self] instead of [Energy Drain]. Three of the biggest things that made me dislike my Stone/EA were:
1) Low Unenhanceable DDR
2) Long animation on a heal, that often times left me dead by the time I healed (2.37 second animation!)
3) Kinetic combats were too expensive to use (and still are) on a passive alt that I didn't play much.
Few temp powers that would help you as an EA brute are:
[Elusive Mind]
[Vanguard Psionic Shield] (30 min toggle: costs 150 Vanguard Merits)
[Kinetic Dampener] (great if you get debuffed, or before you get S/L soft-capped)
[Smoke Flash] (Just for giggles)
The Auto Resistance powers are nice, but could be better, and should be held off until you get more important powers.
TL;DR version:
Not the best, not crappy, has weaknesses and strengths, like all sets.
My Wish list:
A level 50 melee set like Kinetic Combat so that stupid squishies that are trying to soft-cap S/L can steal those IOs.
Enhanceable DDR
I can live with the heal the way it is, if the DDR was enhanceable.
Edit: OK, somehow I thought I was reading the brute forums (people mentioning brutes and fury and such) Take what you want, disregard the stuff that doesn't apply to stalkers =)
Your character does not have capped defense. Depending on your AT the cap is between 175% - 225%. Your defense is not teal in the combat window, it can go higher. STOP SAYING IT IS CAPPED! The correct term is Soft Cap.
I enjoy playing in Mids. I specialize in Melee Characters, other AT's usually bore me.
Honestly, I quite like the set. Sure, it has it's holes, mostly psychic, but also non-damage debuffs which tend to only have position tags (I'm looking at you web grenade.) I know there is technically a toxic hole too but the game doesn't throw many pure toxic attacks at you. In tradeoff for that you get basically unlimited endurance (and really? I would LOVE it if they gave conserve power the energize treatment.) Fully slotted up energy drian is 50 endurance per nearby enemy every 30 seconds. Also known as "Refill your end bar every 30 seconds except maybe if you're soloing." Ditched stamina once I got energy drian slotted up and never looked back, although I did eventually dip back into the fitness pool for swift so I would stop running slower then my teamates :P
My DM/EA stalker was my first villain to 50 and is still my favorite villain (not that I have THAT many.) I remember being fairly pleased with it's capabilities on SOs but it's definately gotten better after IOs. And, while there has been some defense added, I have NOT gone for a softcapped build and am still quite pleased with my durability. The only specific defense boost I added was a steadfast IO, all the other defense boosts were incidental while chasing what I was after (+dam.) Yes I know, DM is part of what makes him durable, but quite honestly I don't find I need to spam siphon life to keep myself at full. I mean, I do anyway cause it hits like a truck, but I don't HAVE to :P
I pretty much never see Energy Aura anywhere ever.
Is that just me, or is the set simply that terrible that it should be avoided like the plague?
Can anyone offer any insight and thoughts on the set? What are its pros/cons, unique qualities.
It sounds like a fun concept, but when I look it over it does look like a pretty basic Defense based set.
Should I just forget about it and roll Willpower instead?
Any feedback would be most appreciated.
Thanks!