Build question for the Mind Doms out there

While planning my Mind/Energy Dom in Mid's, I'm hitting a wall power selection wise.

Keep in mind that I primarily solo and like to work in PUGs a lot.

My build will have Mass Hypnosis and Total Domination in it. The way the build is working, I'll be able to get one at 18 (Right after Power Boost) and I don't think I'll have room for the other until 41.

Here is the tentative build order:

Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.803
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Non Compos Mentis : Level 48 Technology Dominator
Primary Power Set: Mind Control
Secondary Power Set: Energy Assault
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Medicine
Ancillary Pool: Primal Forces Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Mesmerize
Level 1: Power Bolt
Level 2: Dominate
Level 4: Bone Smasher
Level 6: Confuse
Level 8: Levitate
Level 10: Power Blast
Level 12: Swift
Level 14: Fly
Level 16: Power Boost
Level 18: EMPTY
Level 20: Health
Level 22: Stamina
Level 24: Hasten
Level 26: Terrify
Level 28: Total Focus
Level 30: Stimulant
Level 32: Mass Confusion
Level 35: Aid Self
Level 38: Power Burst
Level 41: EMPTY
Level 44: Telekinesis
Level 47: Energy Transfer
Level 49: Temporary Invulnerability

Would you take Total Domination or Mass Hypnosis first? If the collective wisdom is I should have both sooner than 41, which Primary or Secondary should take the place of 41? (I want Heal Self by 35, so that's not an option to move to 41).

Thanks in advance.

you need both, asap. no kidding, they are both must have as soon as you can

Total Domination is the signature power of the set. It is your uber.

Mass Hypnosis is a great lead into every fight (it doesnt agro anything, just lets you set the stage) and recharges pretty fast, making it a great panic button too.

With Mass Confusion and good recharge, Total Domination becomes part of your mass lockdown rotation. Use one when the other is recharging.

I would drop Mesmerize completely and take Levitate at level 1. Have both Mass Hypnosis and Total Domination by level 18. Mesmerize is a throw away skill IMO, while Levitate will let you soft control bosses and stack mag.

I like Mez on Mind Doms because it's an ok damaging attack and is a really good control out of the box. Lasts forever, and will sleep bosses in one go I believe. Haven't check recently. Mass hypnosis is nice, but has a fairly long recharge and is kinda short for a sleep. With slotting it's good, but not super great when you first get it. Total domination is a great AE hold, for AE holds, but it also suffers the issues they have, long recharge and low duration.

What you choose depends on you. Mez is great for soloing, it's a another reliable control and takes no real slotting. It can be slotted as an attack, and I like it for that with most doms, but /energy has a good ranged attack chain early. So that isn't needed.

Levitate is nice, because it works on most bosses right away, it's good damage and it's pretty quick.

Mass hypnosis if slotted up, is nice for solo because it's your best AE control for a while. It's fast enough it lasts for a while, and can be made perma with slotting, if you want to bother.

Total Domination is lackluster without good slotting and lots of global recharge. It's better on teams then Mass Hypnosis, because sleeps just get broken. It's won't be up all the time, but it is useful, especially if you save it for when Domination is up.

One question I have for your proposed build, do you really need power boost at 16? I know it's nice and all, but you could push it off til later, and fit both the controls in earlier.


One last comment, I don't know what or how many IOs you plan to use, but that makes a difference also. Total Domination can fit a Basilisk's gaze, 4 of those is 7.5% more recharge, they are kind of expensive right now, due to the merger, but it's something to think about. Otherwise, both the sleeps can get a 6.25% recharge bonus, but takes 5 slots, but also a cheaper set, though sometimes also hard to get ahold of. For example, Mass Hypnosis with 5 lvl 30 call of the sandman slotted, everything except the proc, will end up being just a bit under perma at about 31s recharge, and 29s duration. A bit more global recharge would push that up.

Oh, just looked at your build again, you don't have Power Push. You need that, it's really good now on /energy Doms. It's fast animating, good damage, big knockback attack. Knockback can be annoying sometimes, but it's still worth it. It's basically the same DPA as Bone smasher, but recharges more quickly, and it's ranged and has a big knockback. If you don't want to drop bone smasher, then I would swap levitate, power push is better in almost every way, except the knockback is a bit more annoying then knockup.

For my extended opinion,check the guide in my sig.

In brief with Mind Control only Dominate is mandatory, the rest you can pick and choose to taste. In fact, Total Domination is the worst of the bunch with its long recharge and short duration. Power Push though is very good now.