What do I do with Hurricane?


Brakner

 

Posted

This is my first time playing a Stormie high enough to have this power, and I picked it up pretty much on a whim. I figured, hey, it has a decent debuff and I could probably afford the cost.

The problem, however, is that the power comes with a fairly consistent repel effect, which has two pretty unpleasant side effects: it repels people out of my own debuff and it scatters spawns to the four winds. Literally. I guess I could try to shove people in corners with it, but I've had extensive practice doing that with Force Bubble, and even with a power THAT big, it's still a crapshot most of the time, let alone with something much smaller as Hurricane.

So here's my question - what do I do with this power? How do I us it? How do I make this power work for me more than against me?

*edit*
On that note, what do I do with Gale?


Quote:
Originally Posted by Arcanaville View Post
Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.

 

Posted

Despite all my efforts to utilize Hurricane as a positioning tool on my MM in the end I just gave up and specced it out. My Bots/Storm was doing much better before I tried to adapt to using it. I thought about keeping it as a Get off me power but in the end decided the Leadership pool was more appealing.

My Storm/Elec defender on the other hand LOVES Hurricane. Then again he's using it as a buffer for the backrow squishies. (Back when I used to team)

Only other use I've found for it was on a concept toon that use's it in conjecture with Fly. Being that he rides the wind.


Maestro Mavius - Infinity
Capt. Biohazrd - PCSAR
Talsor Tech - Talsorian Guard
Keep Calm & Chive On!

 

Posted

You missed the Golden Age of Hurricane, when it pulsed every (tenth? twenty-fifth?) fraction of a section, only repelled to the edge of the graphic, and gave you a pony at the end of every mission.

A few things to help the extra-long repel:
a) slow the critters first, if you have Snow Storm, before you begin pushing
b) immobilize the critters first, if you have patron immobilize
c) cast Freezing Rain mostly behind, but still hitting, the enemy spawn*
d) move in gentle, wide arcs to corral the critters

Usually on my /storm MM, the makeup and density of the spawn, and their location with regard to surroundings helps determine whether my alpha is Hurricane or Thunderclap (maybe not available to you yet).

Gale? only for available corners, or a really spread out spawn.


*I think--though am not sure--the bug with Freezing Rain means it's actually more effective when critters leave the FR area of effect before it's over.


 

Posted

So basically, the consensus is that it's a power that may be useful in what I would describe as an "elaborate" way, but isn't something that I'm going to want to pin my build around? OK, I can deal with that.

The likelyhood that I'll 'spec out of Hurricane is small, since I don't have much else I want to take, and I can still use it on repel-resistant single targets, such as downgraded EBs. Obviously, that's hardly a common occurrence, but if I can get ANY use out of the power, then why not? Probably won't bother slotting it much, however.

As far as Freezing Rain goes, this power confuses me. It's another one of those "It's a pseudo pet, but we really want to pretend it isn't." powers the real numbers for which are complete crap in-game. The new Red Tomax's City of Data, however, lists with a tick time of I believe .2 seconds, and with each tick applying a 30 SECOND DEBUFF! The hell?!? How does that even work when the pesudopet itself lasts only 15 seconds? Is it a 30-second, non-stacking, self-refreshing debuff that goes on for 15 seconds' worth of summon plus another 30 seconds' worth of lingering debuff? What gives?

Back to topic - with Freezing Rain and/or immobilization, the tactics needed to make Hurricane useful in broad-spectrum application are too precise and labour-intensive to be something I want to do again and again and again every fight. Once in a while with a particularly hard spawn, maybe, but not every other fight. Considering Hurricane is costs more than my soul, to boot, it's unlikely that'll be something I'll want to run very often anyway.

And to head it off at the pass - I don't think I'll take Leadership on this guy. It's a bit sideways of his concept, plus he has a ton of toggles to run besides. And now that "just take Stamina" is no longer an issue, I'll reconsider the decision next time I rebuild the character.

Far as Gale goes, I try to use it as "soft control" type mitigation, but it costs a lot and recharges very slowly for an effect that only lasts a second and a half most of the time. Will investigate.

*edit*
Thank you for your help


Quote:
Originally Posted by Arcanaville View Post
Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.

 

Posted

Use corners and walls, run around the edges of your Freezing Rain to keep mobs boxed in. On teams I run to the other side of the mob and turn on Hurricane then I move close enough to the mob to hit them with the -acc without scattering them. I find that I'm running around using hurricane to position mobs and debuff constantly. Usualy I'm running around the edges of a mob to herd them up nice and tight. I used to use it sparingly but once I got use to working the radius of Hurricane I started using it most of the time. It's almost always up when I solo. And on teams I will use a combination of Gale and Hurricane to position mobs into corners for AoE goodness.


Way to many alts.

 

Posted

Your mastermind wants to lead your minions. Your storm tools should work as well as provoke. With hurricane and snowstorm, the foes should really feel a lot of hate for you. That said, I am a firm believer that the hurricane is NOT on 100% of the time. It's a tool, not a costume part.

With storm, with all the powers in the set. You have to have your mind open to when opportunites arise to use them. Coupling gale with hurricane with pets' knockback, you will get a feel for pushing into a corner. Often, it is easier to PULL with hurricane and snowstorm. Warehouses have deadends; office buildings have all those little conference rooms. The tech labs have little cubby holes, too. These are opportunities for a stormy kill zone. Try using your hurricane to brush, push, knockdown a spawn, then run giggling into the conference room. The spawn will follow you for sure. Take a lap around the conference table or chairs in the presentation room and they pile in behind you as you take up position to block the door. Then, let the pets cut loose, or they can have a running battle chasing you, don't let the pets hold you back. Drop all the stormy powers you have: snowstorm, gale, freezing rain, thunderclap, tornado, lightning storm. They can't get out, and they are easily defeated in a debuffer's delight.

The range for the tohit debuff, the knock back is further out from the repel effect. Practice brushing mobs. The hardest thing to try, while effective, is to 'shark circle' the spawn in the middle of the room. Move them to a wall, a corner, a door, it gets much easier.

With I19 and inherent fitness, it is my opinion we will see more stormers. It will make a big dang difference to hurricane/snowstorm users.


Triumphant Defenders Forever
Psylenz FF/Psi, ArticQuark Storm/Rad, Symon BarSisyphus Bots/psn, Max VanSydow Thugs/Dk, Cyclone Symon Bots/stm, Blue Loki Ice/Cd, Widow 46526
HelinCarnate:OMG it is so terrible. I have the option to take 3 more powers but no additional slots. Boo F'ing hoo.

 

Posted

...It's not that hard to use...

I toggle it on and "press" the outside of the mob, just enough to keep them debuffed, but without repeling them all over the place.

You DON'T need to get all crazy with it, herding up mobs, positioning them and whatever. I don't even know why people tell you to do this, since it is mostly a waste of time. Hurricane is stupid powerful just toggled on and skimming the outskirts of the mob.


 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Candlestick View Post
...It's not that hard to use...

I toggle it on and "press" the outside of the mob, just enough to keep them debuffed, but without repeling them all over the place.

You DON'T need to get all crazy with it, herding up mobs, positioning them and whatever. I don't even know why people tell you to do this, since it is mostly a waste of time. Hurricane is stupid powerful just toggled on and skimming the outskirts of the mob.
I'm sorry, are you saying locking a full spawn of foes in a conference room with an angry tornado and lightning storm is a stupid waste of time?


Triumphant Defenders Forever
Psylenz FF/Psi, ArticQuark Storm/Rad, Symon BarSisyphus Bots/psn, Max VanSydow Thugs/Dk, Cyclone Symon Bots/stm, Blue Loki Ice/Cd, Widow 46526
HelinCarnate:OMG it is so terrible. I have the option to take 3 more powers but no additional slots. Boo F'ing hoo.

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Psylenz View Post
I'm sorry, are you saying locking a full spawn of foes in a conference room with an angry tornado and lightning storm is a stupid waste of time?
In certain situations, it's great. When a mob is already in a place where you can easily position them, sure, go for it.

The problem is, people think they HAVE to be doing this in order for Hurricane to be effective. They don't. Hell, you could toggle on Hurricane and FORGET IT, and it would still be incredibly effective.


 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Candlestick View Post
In certain situations, it's great. When a mob is already in a place where you can easily position them, sure, go for it.

The problem is, people think they HAVE to be doing this in order for Hurricane to be effective. They don't. Hell, you could toggle on Hurricane and FORGET IT, and it would still be incredibly effective.
I agree with this. Sometimes it's just a freezing rain/snowstorm moment, which is very potent in itself.


Triumphant Defenders Forever
Psylenz FF/Psi, ArticQuark Storm/Rad, Symon BarSisyphus Bots/psn, Max VanSydow Thugs/Dk, Cyclone Symon Bots/stm, Blue Loki Ice/Cd, Widow 46526
HelinCarnate:OMG it is so terrible. I have the option to take 3 more powers but no additional slots. Boo F'ing hoo.

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by MaestroMavius View Post
I thought about keeping it as a Get off me power but in the end decided the Leadership pool was more appealing.
and even as that it's not really that dependable as pretty much every mob i've fought while using that power have still managed to get close enough to attack me as the power isn't permanently repelling, only once every 2 - 3 seconds from what i noticed.

that said, i had minor successes with it on certain melee bosses, but it's just way to situational to be worth the cost of a much more general power.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Candlestick View Post

The problem is, people think they HAVE to be doing this in order for Hurricane to be effective. They don't. Hell, you could toggle on Hurricane and FORGET IT, and it would still be incredibly effective.
maybe you are right, but its still to situational to be worth the cost of something that works all the time, such as a leadership power.


Keid of Freedom

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ctuchik View Post



maybe you are right, but its still to situational to be worth the cost of something that works all the time, such as a leadership power.
......

wut

Hurricane is so much better then a leadership power, it's not even close. It's not situational. Anyone who tells you Hurricane is situational doesn't know how to use it.

Hurricane causes -35% To-Hit when 3 slotted with To-Hit debuffs. You know how much defense Maneuvers gives you 3 slotted? 4%.

All you need to do is press the outside of the enemy mobs. Thats it. It's not hard.


 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Candlestick View Post
......


All you need to do is press the outside of the enemy mobs. Thats it. It's not hard.
It just takes a little practice to know where that exact point is. It's not "hard" at all, but it takes actual effort on the users part, which can be rare for many.

I wouldn't play Storm without Hurricane, personally. It's an absolutely magnificent power.


 

Posted

Use it to deny the mobs access to your pets, and keep as many of the mobs debuffed by it as possible.


 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Candlestick View Post
......

wut

Hurricane is so much better then a leadership power, it's not even close. It's not situational. Anyone who tells you Hurricane is situational doesn't know how to use it.

Hurricane causes -35% To-Hit when 3 slotted with To-Hit debuffs. You know how much defense Maneuvers gives you 3 slotted? 4%.

All you need to do is press the outside of the enemy mobs. Thats it. It's not hard.
^
This


People have no clue just how powerfull this is. All you have to do is touch them once, then backoff and the -tohit still applies. Add to this the 2 Def IO's and SM / Maneuvers and even level minions are hitting your demons on a 5%

I cannot remember the last time I have had to use my piddly little heal since I use Hurricane 24/7 , they just cant hit my Demons.


 

Posted

I mainly use Hurricane in two situations:

1) When I have an enemy group I can shove into a corner or other tight quarters

2) When I need to debuff a group in order to safely fight them

In the second case, I don't actually stand there for long. I just run / jump by and brush them with the Hurricane without shoving them too far. The debuff lasts for ten seconds, so you can just circle a spawn shoving them in closer together and the debuff will last until your next lap. In the case of bosses or higher, just shove them a bit every few seconds and stay back out of repel range the rest of the time if there's no handy corner to shove them into.

Hurricane is a huge to-hit debuff and also a -range debuff, so it makes a big difference in tough fights. You just have to practice nudging things with it long enough to debuff them (one tick, or 1/4 second) without scattering them all over the place.

(It's especially fun on office maps with large teams where you'll get a huge spawn standing in a little alcove... just walk up to the front of the alcove from one side and flatten the whole spawn back into a corner, where you of course drop Freezing Rain and a Lightning Storm on them. )


Cascade, level 50 Blaster (NRG/NRG since before it was cool)
Mechmeister, level 50 Bots / Traps MM
FAR too many non-50 alts to name

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Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brakner View Post
^
This


People have no clue just how powerfull this is. All you have to do is touch them once, then backoff and the -tohit still applies. Add to this the 2 Def IO's and SM / Maneuvers and even level minions are hitting your demons on a 5%

I cannot remember the last time I have had to use my piddly little heal since I use Hurricane 24/7 , they just cant hit my Demons.
I don't got the Defense IO's yet in my Demons/Storm, but my results are similar. When I got Hurricane, it went from constantly spam healing my demons to only healing them possibly once or twice every mission.

Used correctly, Hurricane will make you more survivable then *any* other power available to Masterminds.


 

Posted

I have the fortune to be able to run a trio, so I just run 3 of them constantly on my /Storm MM trio and I run up in the foes. Scatter be damned. None of the bad guys hit anything, there are 3 snow storms on everything, and 3 freezing rains. Later there will be 3 AOE immobilizes.

I know you dont have that luxury.

But yeah, you might prefer to skip it. I would never skip it. The benefits are massive. I've had years and years to play Stormies, so I've learned how to use it well, even when I don't have an AOE Immob to play with. However, that takes a lot of time, effort, patience, practice and skill.

Lewis


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