What is your favorite assault set?

All,

This is just a fluff piece, or a bit of conversation, or what-have-you. I'm wondering what your favorite assault set is, and why? Maybe it is your favorite for mechanical effect purposes, for min-maxing, or because of how the powers look, etc. Whatever the reason, I'm curious what you think.

My favorite is Energy Assault.

I love the effects and the sounds, and I especially love the way some of the energy colors work when blended. The spinning blast effect from Power Push is gorgeous. People often say "wow" and ask me what it was. Also, I really like the knock-back in the set, which ranges in likelihood of triggering (depending on the power). I like the mix of single target ranged attacks and single target punches. I love how fast I can drop most bosses. I know a lot of players would prefer a damage buff, but I prefer to extend my control durations so that I have a more relaxing window in which to crush my enemies. Basically, I *love* me some Power Boost.

The down sides to the set would include having only one small mediocre AOE that is point blank; and having a Snipe. Now I personally sorta dig snipes, but I find I rarely use them, or sometimes I simply can't fit them in the build. From a practical perspective, Energy Assault has 2 powers I never take. So the set isn't perfect by any standard.

Nonetheless, Energy Assault is my favorite, hands down.

I think after that, my favorite would be Psionic Assault or Fiery Assault. They have better AOE power than Energy Assault. I just prefer control duration extension over damage boosts (Embrace of Fire) or self recovery and regeneration (Drain Psyche), and I like the effects from Energy more. I know that Psi and Fire are more min-max and all, but my heart lies close to Energy.

What about you?


Lewis

Fire.

Why fire? Don't forget the 'why' ... its the most interesting part!

Lewis

I love all of them. The way they have both Ranged and Melee powers that lets them be a threat at any range just tickles me pink. When I first saw them I immediately went "I want that for Defenders!" Then I suggested an Electric Assault set that was nearly identical to the one we eventually got 3 years later. I think the only difference was I suggested Ball Lightning instead of Static Discharge.

Thorns!

I love having Toxic damage! I love the spikes coming of the body..but most of all I LOVE THE CRUNCH...

Yah that crunching sound thorns makes upon impact...it just feels me with glee.

It has to be Thorns for me. -Defence, and a mixture of Lethal, Toxic and (I think) Smashing damage. I haven't even started on Procs for my Plant/Thorns Domi and already I have like three damage types minimum.

Earth Assault. I love the way it looks and feels so powerful...even for powers that might not actually be such. I love the earth-shattering "kaboom". I love how Seismic Smash lets me say "I win" against any single target without purple triangles (and some times targets with them). I love standing right in people's faces and smashing those faces in like the melee-monger I am.

/Psi.

Good ranged abilities, decent AoE, okay melee, broad assortment of soft control, good -recharge, damage type that bypasses lots of enemies' resistance, excellent survival tool included, excellent endurance tool included, excellent -regen debuff included.

Tied for second would be /fire and /earth.

/Fire only does one thing aside from consume, and that's damage. It does it well. It's fairly one dimensional in that way, but if that one dimension is 'burning things to death,' I can cope.

/Earth is just so very smashy. I'm sure other sets can hit harder, but this set just feels so good. Earth-shacking, smashing with giant stone hammers, clobbering with boulders, all with an accompanied "Thoom!" It comes off in a very satisfying fashion. Add to that that you can smack foes about like rag dolls, stun them, knock them unconscious...it's a very fun set.

Martial Assault. Combining dual pistols, martial arts and weapon attacks into a single awesome set was the best idea the devs ever had! Oh, right. It doesn't exist. Crap.

Verbal Assault.

Voodoo Girl hits you with Withering Wit for 27897pts of Confidence Crushing damage!

I have different answers:

For pure "pwn-ness", I say Fire Assault has the best design (especially after Fireblast buff to 8s) because once you hold/control the mobs, why would you need the "side-effects" from the assault powers? So all you need is extra dps and fire assault has better range attacks too.


For "favorite", I am going with Icy Assault and only because I love Ice Swords. I love slashing people with it even though the numbers suggest that the damage isn't that high but that's what Bitter Ice Blast is for. BIB is at least a great range attack.

Earth Assault.

Stone Spears is awesome. I could spam that all fight long, and occasionally do.

100% agree with the OP. Energy is my favorite assault set by FAR. What's to like? Well, for one thing, it's got nice, high damage attacks that are 100% front-loaded, both ranged and AOE. The melee stuns synergize nicely with the stuns in my primary (Grav). Then there's power boost. This ability immensely useful. Extra duration on my opening holds/stuns is very, very nice, and nothing stops a wipe cold in its tracks like Vengeance + Power boost. Finally, there's the knockback. Yes, the melee mooks hate knockback, because apparently nothing is more important than the cloud of yellow numbers that fly up when they hit foostomp or whatever. Well, screw them. Knockback is AWESOME. It's a staple of the superhero genre, the rag doll effects are hilarious, and the soft control is suprisingly effective.

I'm torn between Fire and Energy.

Fire is just so damaging....I love it, but the lack of a secondary feature is problematic at lower levels. Once you get all of your Controls (and the Fire epic for more damaging goodness), I think it's the tops.

Energy is pretty damaging too, and the KB and Stuns can help you live longer as secondary controls. Pre 32, Energy is my favorite.

I'm with the OP too, NRG is just cool looking. I know Fire has bigger orange numbers and all but NRG just feels powerful. Power Push is probably my favourite ranged Domi attack, especially when you chain Total Focus after it and clobber something which is now 20 feet away and struggling to stand.


I like the feel of Thorns too, but I know it's a bit of a marmite set. Lunge is just a great power (have it on my Widow and my Fort as well even though the Fort is technically ranged other than Lunge).

Energy, Psi and Earth. Psi is the only one I've managed to get to 50 so far though... back when PSW was just plain silly. I still like it, I just rarely play my 50s (besides my Widow) anyhow.

Energy I love because it's fun to have a full ranged chain early (looking forward to getting the last blast at 38). Sometimes I do wish it had more AoE ability, but I mostly solo, so having good single target damage is more important to me.

I find Earth to be one of the most satisfying sets to play. Very smashy. One thing though is that I guess I'm rather a minority in that I hate the hammers. If I could customize them to just be generic stonefistyIsmashyou attacks I would be on it like paisley on tacky wallpaper.

@Oathbound & @Oathbound Too

Sweet. It was cool to see some Energy Assault love. I thought I was the only one.

Lewis

EDIT: P.S. Basenji = Rule!