Ill/Cold build, is it viable?

Just curious to see how well this build would do, was set up for me by a friend for soloing AV's/GM's and in the future when it comes time to change em over to villain said the Hero's/GM's over yonder. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.


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Matt the Hackzorz: Level 50 Magic Controller
Primary Power Set: Illusion Control
Secondary Power Set: Cold Domination
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Psionic Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Spectral Wounds -- Apoc-Dmg(A), Apoc-Dmg/Rchg(3), Apoc-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(3), Apoc-Dmg/EndRdx(5), Apoc-Dam%(5)
Level 1: Infrigidate -- LdyGrey-DefDeb/EndRdx(A), LdyGrey-DefDeb/Rchg/EndRdx(7), LdyGrey-DefDeb/Rchg(7), LdyGrey-%Dam(9), ImpSwft-Dam%(9), Achilles-ResDeb%(11)
Level 2: Blind -- FtnHyp-Sleep(A), FtnHyp-Sleep/Rchg(11), FtnHyp-Acc/Sleep/Rchg(13), FtnHyp-Acc/Rchg(13), FtnHyp-Plct%(15)
Level 4: Deceive -- CoPers-Conf(A), CoPers-Conf/Rchg(15), CoPers-Acc/Conf/Rchg(17), CoPers-Acc/Rchg(17), CoPers-Conf%(19)
Level 6: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(23)
Level 8: Swift -- HO:Micro(A)
Level 10: Flash -- UbrkCons-Hold(A), UbrkCons-Hold/Rchg(19), UbrkCons-Acc/Hold/Rchg(21), UbrkCons-Acc/Rchg(21), UbrkCons-EndRdx/Hold(23)
Level 12: Group Invisibility -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg(43), LkGmblr-Rchg+(43)
Level 14: Health -- Mrcl-Heal(A), Mrcl-Heal/EndRdx(42), Mrcl-Rcvry+(42)
Level 16: Hover -- Zephyr-Travel(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+(25), Zephyr-ResKB(25)
Level 18: Phantom Army -- ExRmnt-Acc/Rchg(A), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg(27), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(27), ExRmnt-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(29), S'bndAl-Dmg/Rchg(29), S'bndAl-Build%(31)
Level 20: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(40), P'Shift-End%(42)
Level 22: Arctic Fog -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(36), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(37), LkGmblr-Rchg+(37), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(37)
Level 24: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 26: Spectral Terror -- Abys-Acc/Rchg(A), Abys-EndRdx/Fear(31), Abys-Acc/EndRdx(31), Abys-Fear/Rng(33), Abys-Acc/Fear/Rchg(33)
Level 28: Benumb -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(33), RechRdx-I(46)
Level 30: Fly -- HO:Micro(A)
Level 32: Phantasm -- ExRmnt-Acc/Rchg(A), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg(34), ExRmnt-Dmg/EndRdx(34), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(34), S'bndAl-Dmg(36), S'bndAl-Acc/Rchg(36)
Level 35: Sleet -- LdyGrey-DefDeb/Rchg(A), LdyGrey-DefDeb/Rchg/EndRdx(50)
Level 38: Heat Loss -- Efficacy-EndMod(A), Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg(39), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(39), Efficacy-Acc/Rchg(39), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc(40), Efficacy-EndMod/EndRdx(40)
Level 41: Indomitable Will -- LkGmblr-Def/Rchg(A), LkGmblr-EndRdx/Rchg(43), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(45), LkGmblr-Rchg+(45)
Level 44: Mind Over Body -- ImpArm-ResDam(A), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(45), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(46), ImpArm-ResDam/Rchg(46)
Level 47: Psionic Tornado -- Ragnrk-Dmg(A), Ragnrk-Dmg/Rchg(48), Ragnrk-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(48), Ragnrk-Acc/Rchg(48), Ragnrk-Dmg/EndRdx(50), FrcFbk-Rechg%(50)
Level 49: Snow Storm -- EndRdx-I(A)
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Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Containment
Level 6: Ninja Run

Slotting Fortunata Hypnosis in Blind is a mistake. This is a Hold and Damage power, and slotting it for sleep, a rarely seen side effect of the power, is wasting a power that should be one of the most frequently used powers you have. Blind sets up containment for Spectral Wounds and any other direct damage powers you may have. Consider 4 Basilisk, an acc/Dam Hami-O and a Dam/Mez Hami-O.

For an Illusion Controller, a single target Blast adds a lot to your ability to do damage. You can have a very powerful attack chain of Blind-SW-Blast-SW. I prefer Fire, then Ice, because they are fast-activating (1 sec.), but Psi and Primal have OK blasts, too (1.67 sec). Fire does the most damage. Personally, I don't feel a need for the Psi Pool since PA are drawing most of the aggro so I rarely have a mez come my way. My Ill/Rad guide explains why I prefer the Fire APP, but if you need a place for a LotG Recharge, then the Ice set works, too.

There are some other points, but I don't have time right now.

As Local said, without a good quick recharging source of AOE containment (something illusion lacks), you are better off going with single target blasts from your epics. I have an Ill/cold, I really like it. I'm not so sure it will be the AV killer that some other combos produce. I'm not saying it's not possible, but you can probably get an AV killer much easier with an Illusion or fire/rad. It really looks to me like your friend just said, "Lets take the most expensive IOs and stick them wherever they fit. There! AV killer!"

Extreme examples...but I see dead AVs...

http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=226677

You have issues like recharge and duration of debuffs. Read the sentence right after the one you quoted. I'm not saying it's not possible, its just easier with other combos. AM in rad is very helpful in keeping the attack chain going without having to invest heavily in recharge bonuses. Yes, there are some very powerful debuffs in cold, how easy (and expensive) they are to maintain, is another question.

That said, I haven't really given it a go against AVs solo. (I did test my Ill/therm against GMs in PI for giggles and it produced consistent stalemates) My current build is pretty darn heavy on recharge, I will check it out ingame and see how it stacks up v. AVs and report back what I observe.

I understand now. In terms of IO investment Ill/Rad is easier to manage those AV Killer levels of performance.

Side note Ill/Cold has been done as has Fire/Thermal. I would imagine Ill/Thermal is feasible too.

Yeah, note I was playing around with GMs and not AVs with my Ill/therm. So I'd think Ill/therm would be very viable against AVs. I typically team and prefer teaming, so soloing AVs isn't something I look for unless its for academic purposes ie threads like this.

I think I'll look into comparing the two and their performance against AVs. Might be fun.

I plan on taking Illusion/Cold to The Rogue Isles...What powers to avoid from both set and what would be a better choice, APP or Leviathan Mastery?

Leviathan Mastery has Bile Spray and Water Spout and Cold/Smashing in the Coralax pet.

Solo or teamed?

Well Champion Redside is as empty as a diabetics sugarbowl so I would solo but we can dual build so either is fine

Ok. For a solo build

Musts-

Blind, Spetral Wounds and confuse early. Phantom army, spooky and phantasm.

Sleet, benumb and Heat Loss. And I think snowstorm is a nice addition for a little extra control.

Decisions-

Do you want shields for Phantasm's survivability. If you don't what will you replace them with? Team build you obviously want them.

Superior Invisibility v. Arctic Fog: I prefer AF as it does offer some resists and def. With superspeed you have invisibility. YMMV

Frostwork- not so sure it's that important on Phanty, YMMV.

Flash- depending on your settings and recharge in your build whether this is useful or not.

Likely out-

Group Invisibility No point solo really, IMO.

APP v. Leviathan- Very very tempting. Waterspout is a crazy fun power. I love it on my doms. Yeah, no real strong opinion out of the box, since you are taking them to redside, I'd lean towards Leviathan.

That's all just off the top of my head. Chime in if I missed anything. Hope it helps.

We'll have the option of APP or PPP when we go rogue so I really dont know about the *PP.

having another pet is a tempting order but would the legacy APP be better?

also... do the pets timeout and die or are they like the Animate Stone pet? Ive never seen an Illusion Controller since my time in Paragon City was short compared to The Rogue Isles