You know what I never see? Ice/Sonic

I haven't ever really run a successful controller before, I'm more of a brute guy. However, being a long time veteran, I feel this needs to change. I'm working on an Ice/Sonic controller right now and was wondering if anyone had a build I could use as a template for a new build.

I'm looking to maximize the hold strength of the ice and also maximize the damage resistance buff from the sonic. Any help would be great.

Thanks.

There is good reason this combo is rare--the endurance usage is brutal. It's probably a lot more workable now at 50 thanks to all the new incarnate abilities, but the level up process will be tough. You definitely want to team as much as possible.

I've got the character to 30 so far. I DID notice the endurance drain, but I agree that the incarnate powers will help with that. I'm hopeful, but again since I've never run a controller effectively before, I'm looking for a build to work off of.

I doubt many folks will have a build for you -- Ice is a fairly rare primary, and Sonic is probably the least used secondary. I don't recall many (if any) posts about the combo. Ice is the lowest damage primary, so there is little damage to take advantage of the Damage Resistance Debuffs in Sonic. The pet isn't very durable, so Jack isn't a good target for that ally debuff (Works well for Earth's Animate Stone).

Personally, while I run a lot of controllers, I have never been able to get */Sonic very far . . . I just haven't enjoyed the set. It is nice to have a Sonic on my teams, but I don't really want to play the set. I have an Ice/Storm at 50, and a low level Ice/Rad at a low level on a rarely-used server. Overall, if I want a high-control, low damage controller, I prefer Earth.

I have an earth/son/earth that is a really solid team player. Not the best solo, but a very solid support. If you're OK with that, ice/son should fill that role decently as well.

I've adapted my softcapped S/L build over to ice/son/ice (guessing you'd go /ice for theme, but whatever ) over for you as a starting point:

45 s/l, 27 f/c, 19.5 en/neg, 14.5 psi + sonic resists (+12% fire res, 36% cold res from frozen armor + cardiac alpha).

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.93
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Controller
Primary Power Set: Ice Control
Secondary Power Set: Sonic Resonance
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Flight
Ancillary Pool: Ice Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Block of Ice -- BasGaze-Acc/Hold(A), BasGaze-Acc/Rchg(3), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(7), BasGaze-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(9)
Level 1: Sonic Siphon -- Acc-I(A), Acc-I(3)
Level 2: Chilblain -- Enf'dOp-Acc/Rchg(A), Enf'dOp-EndRdx/Immob(5), Enf'dOp-Acc/Immob(9), Enf'dOp-Acc/EndRdx(11), Enf'dOp-Immob/Rng(15), Enf'dOp-Acc/Immob/Rchg(36)
Level 4: Frostbite -- Enf'dOp-Acc/Rchg(A), Enf'dOp-EndRdx/Immob(5), Enf'dOp-Acc/EndRdx(11), Enf'dOp-Immob/Rng(19), Enf'dOp-Acc/Immob/Rchg(31), Enf'dOp-Acc/Immob(37)
Level 6: Arctic Air -- CoPers-Conf(A), CoPers-Conf/Rchg(7), CoPers-Acc/Conf/Rchg(13), CoPers-Conf/EndRdx(17), CoPers-Conf%(37), HO:Micro(50)
Level 8: Super Jump -- Jump-I(A)
Level 10: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 12: Ice Slick -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(13)
Level 14: Sonic Barrier -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), S'fstPrt-ResKB(40)
Level 16: Disruption Field -- EndRdx-I(A), EndRdx-I(17)
Level 18: Shiver -- CtlSpd-Acc/Slow(A), CtlSpd-Acc/EndRdx(31), CtlSpd-Rng/Slow(19), CtlSpd-EndRdx/Rchg/Slow(23)
Level 20: Sonic Dispersion -- Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg(21), Aegis-EndRdx/Rchg(21), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(23), Aegis-ResDam(43)
Level 22: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 24: Tough -- Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg(25), Aegis-EndRdx/Rchg(25), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(29), Aegis-ResDam(46)
Level 26: Glacier -- BasGaze-Acc/Hold(A), BasGaze-Acc/Rchg(27), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(27), BasGaze-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(29)
Level 28: Sonic Haven -- Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg(40), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(43)
Level 30: Weave -- GftotA-Def/EndRdx(A), GftotA-Def/Rchg(31), GftotA-EndRdx/Rchg(34), GftotA-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(34)
Level 32: Jack Frost -- ExRmnt-Acc/Rchg(A), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg(33), ExRmnt-Dmg/EndRdx(33), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), ExRmnt-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(34), BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(37)
Level 35: Hover -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), Srng-EndRdx/Fly(36)
Level 38: Liquefy -- Achilles-ResDeb%(A), Achilles-DefDeb/Rchg(39), LdyGrey-DefDeb/Rchg(39), LdyGrey-DefDeb/Rchg/EndRdx(39), LdyGrey-Rchg/EndRdx(40)
Level 41: Ice Blast -- Decim-Acc/Dmg(A), Decim-Dmg/EndRdx(42), Decim-Dmg/Rchg(42), Decim-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(42), Decim-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(43)
Level 44: Frozen Armor -- GftotA-Def/EndRdx(A), GftotA-Def/Rchg(45), GftotA-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(45), GftotA-Def(45)
Level 47: Ice Storm -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(48), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(48), Posi-Dmg/Rng(48), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(50)
Level 49: Hibernate -- Numna-Heal/Rchg(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(50)
Level 50: Cardiac Total Core Revamp
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Containment
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Numna-Heal(15), Mrcl-Rcvry+(36)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-End%(46), EndMod-I(46)

Code:

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Note #1: If you just wanted pure survival, you could swap out the +recharge slotting I have done for more defense - you could probably squeeze another 9% energy/negative in there, at minimum.

Note #2: CARDIAC!

I have to say Lobster, Ive never seen someone take both hover and combat jumping before.
I was thinking for going for Mako's patron set for theme actually, but then again for effectiveness, I might need to worry more about endurance cost.

Consider me corrected then.

I'll have to look into it a bit more. The character just hit 35 last night. Its a fish themed character so I thought Mako's shark and barf attacks would be a funny addition.

As for the accolades, of course! Badge monger here.
Is it worth taking leadership as a controller?

Thanks again.

Because they have no synergy together. Ice needs a debuffing secondary to make up for its lackluster damage, And Sonic is just Resistance version of forcefield that falls short of it's cousin. Making that combo is just asking for trouble, however if your one of those adventurous crazy people, then go right ahead

I just dont find two powers iceslick/liquefy out of a whole set constitutes as synergy with the whole set...yes iceslick and liquefy are great together but when mentioning the values are similar to some rad powers, you have to take the whole rad set into account then the whole sonic set into account. There's not really much of a comparision on that one.

You'd get more bang for you buck on a

Ice/Rad
Ice/Cold

Maybe even a ice/storm than Ice/Sonic. Then those resist shields look pretty, but to me they are only useful with toons who have the ability to heal themselves for great gain, have good defense or resistance on their own, mainly melee toons. All they do for squishies is up your face plant seconds for example from 20 secs to 25secs lol.

Sonic has literally 3 good powers throughout the whole set. Which to me doesnt justify taking it over anything else except for the sake of being unique.

I pretty much agree with most of what Phantom Fury said, but want to add my own take on a few small items.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phantom_Fury 2. Frostbite is an iffy power. While it's great at setting up containment (one of only 2 options for aoe containment), it totally negates the function of ice slick, which is your bread and butter control. Not to mention, spamming frostbite will drain your end like crazy.

I agree with you about spamming Frostbite. I just want to add that I consider the power very important for two reasons:
- It's how you set up AoE Containment
- It keeps enemies in place so that you can more safely use Arctic Air for its confusion properties

The knockdown protection in Frostbite lasts just 12 seconds. If you slot the power for range, you can get durations approaching 50 seconds, where the enemies can't move, you get containment, but they still fall.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phantom_Fury 3. Taking both Shiver and Arctic Air is a bit redundant, but will depend on your playstyle. I prefer Arctic Air, but I also prefer to be up close and personal. If you prefer to stay at range, grab Shiver. You probably won't need both. Of course, if you have nothing else that you want to take, it's not "bad" to have both. You can stick a few damage procs in Arctic Air for a little dps boost.

IMO Arctic Air and Shiver have little in common with each other. They are each comparable to Quicksand and Volcanic Gasses from the Earth set in terms of function. I tend to feel that an Ice Control character who stays exclusively at range is working against the strengths of the set. IMO the reason to consider taking Shiver is to have an option for moments when you are forced back out of pole (not so much "melee") range for safety reasons or when the enemies cover too wide an area to keep all of them in Arctic Air. IMO a pure ranged build bypasses significant opportunities, including the ability to add to its own solo damage with Arctic Air.

[EDIT: In addition, it should be noted that -Recharge has a LOT more utility when used with a Confusion power. That's because -Recharge has little function until enemies use their powers. If you can make most of them use their attacks on each other, you significantly decrease how many shots make it in your direction.]

Note that being that close also puts you into range for Glacier, a power many players use as an "emergency button" that IMO they should as a "because it's up on a fresh spawn" power. Glacier's has a 30ft radius, which is 10ft larger than the ranged holds in other sets. This sounds less impressive than it is until you do the math on it; a sphere with a 30ft radius actually has than three times the volume as a 20ft one, which is why Glacier is able to catch entire spawns in one shot. If you ever get your global accuracy and recharge high enough to have the power up every 60-70 seconds it becomes one of the best powers in the game, both for its size, and for the fact that even on 24-person leagues, the graphic is very communicative and easy to see, unlike any other AoE hold.

Geez, I walk away for two days and you guys are getting all carried away with each other and such. Well, as I've said previously, I haven't run very many controllers, so obviously I'm no expert, BUT I will have to say I've noticed decent -RES and resistance buffs on the sonic end of things.

But you folks get carried away talking about rad and electricity, I just wanted to make a fun character here, who accomplishes what your generic controller should do: Hold the bad guys, and buff the good guys.

I appreciate the input you guys are putting forth, but would also like to remain on topic.

Iv had an ice/sonic Controller at 50 for a couple years now. I rolled it just shortly after sonic came out. I Ice Slicked, Bubbled and Debuffed my way to 50. Then he pretty much sat there. He dies, ALOT. I have one of every controller primary at 50, and repeats of some on their way. I Love a good earth/plant/Electric/fire with an awesome Cold/Storm/Kin combo. Most of my trollers are Solid in the buffing or in the Offensive area, and they all have awesome survive-ability, except for the Ice Sonic. I don't really play solo, but they are all amazing on teams. But the Ice/sonic just bites the dust, on a regular basis. I'm not sure if its the Ice or the Sonic, or the combination of the two. The end drain is also horrid. If you wan'ted to play sonic id say pair it with a Fire, Elec, or Plant. If you want to play Ice, Id try Cold, Storm, or Kin.

Ice/sonics exists, but you won't see very many of them.