Rad/Rad: Help me get back into it.

Just re-upped after about five years away (I think I left just before Issue 8 hit, so after ED but before many other changes). I've rerolled some low-level alts to poke around, see content that's new to me, etc., but I'm having a really difficult time getting back into my main.

It feels like I'm incredibly squishy. Story Arc EBs I used to have no trouble with are regularly pounding me into the ground right through Radiation Infection (3-slotted with Enzyme HOs). I've looked at several of the new IO sets, but (a) even taking and slotting every +def pool power and set I can find in HeroBuilder doesn't come out to a whole lot of defense, and (b) I can't afford them.

Does anyone have a robust scrapfender-style Rad/Rad build that can actually finish story arcs (including Ouroboros, ideally) solo without developing a serious addiction to purple Inspirations? I'd prefer one that uses the Power epic pool but I'm not fixated on it, and if it requires set IOs I can probably build towards those over time, but I'd prefer some pointers towards builds that aren't hundreds of millions of inf. (Also, I have unlocked my Alpha slot but obviously have a long way to go before Incarnate abilities actually become a contributing factor.)

My main these days is more or less an even split between my Warshade and my Rad/Rad Defender (with my Dark tank and my MM not far behind), so I feel reasonably confident speaking to this. First, I want to point out that playstyle is a huge component here and much of what I am about to say is subjective and tailored to my preferred style of playing my Rad/Rad. There are several viable approaches you might take and my build may not work well for you if you do not like to play the way I play - for this reason I rarely post builds at all, preferring to look at builds someone else makes and fine-tune them since the result is more likely to be in-tune with the playstyle of the person who originally made that build.

All of that said, here are some brief thoughts about my approach to playing my Rad/Rad and the build that I currently use. The most fundamental playstyle decision you will want to make is whether you intend to play in an aggressive fashion mostly in melee, or if you prefer to play in a more conservative fashion mostly from range/in flight. These are fundamentally different approaches and everything from power selection to Sets changes based on this.

I personally prefer to play my Rad/Rad in melee to make use of Irradiate and Choking Cloud. I also tend to nuke a lot with Atomic Blast when the situation favors it. It is an aggressive playstyle and one that comes with a to-be-expected amount of occasional faceplants - but it is also decently fast (for a Defender) and IMO fun to play. Key powers include Radiation Infection, Enervating Field, Lingering Radiation, Choking Cloud, Irradiate, Neutron Bomb and Cosmic Burst. While some Rad players dislike Choking Cloud, it is central to the way I play and thus to the way I have designed these builds - with Tactics running and an occasional yellow inspiration, it keeps a significant portion of the mobs surrounding me held at any given time while I mob up the rest. When fighting tougher targets such as EBs, I turn it off and make use of ranged attacks and my debuffs to bring down the enemy while staying out of his reach. If EM pulse is up, that will allow me to pummel him in melee for a bit. Force of Nature is also very helpful for situations like these but is unlikely to be available if you have exemplared down much. I have beaten most EBs solo this way including the Praetorian AVs in the Maria arc, Trapdoor, Protean and others.

Below I have posted the solo build I currently use - I have a second build that I break out for team/TF/Trial play that is more debuff-centric but this is what I use to finish story arcs and what I used to get all my Ouro badges on this character. I hope you find it helpful. This is the generic IO version and the Set IO version of that solo build. I typically outfit all of my characters starting at level 35 or so with IOs and at 50 upgrade to level 50 generic IOs while I work on acquiring whatever Set pieces I want. You might take a similar approach. Again, I hope these are helpful to you, but I suggest you use these as a reference or a template (if at all) rather than copying them outright. You will more than likely be most effective and have the most fun when playing a build designed to complement your playstyle rather than mine. Good luck!

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

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Tetujin: Level 50 Technology Defender
Primary Power Set: Radiation Emission
Secondary Power Set: Radiation Blast
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Power Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Radiation Infection -- ToHitDeb-I(A), ToHitDeb-I(3), ToHitDeb-I(9), DefDeb-I(11), EndRdx-I(13), DefDeb-I(15)
Level 1: Neutrino Bolt -- Acc-I(A), Dmg-I(21), Dmg-I(34), EndRdx-I(46), RechRdx-I(48)
Level 2: Accelerate Metabolism -- RechRdx-I(A), EndMod-I(3), RechRdx-I(21)
Level 4: Irradiate -- Acc-I(A), Dmg-I(5), Dmg-I(5), EndRdx-I(7), RechRdx-I(11), DefDeb-I(15)
Level 6: Enervating Field -- EndRdx-I(A), EndRdx-I(7), EndRdx-I(9)
Level 8: Radiant Aura -- Heal-I(A), Heal-I(19), Heal-I(27), EndRdx-I(27), EndRdx-I(37), EndRdx-I(40)
Level 10: Combat Jumping -- EndRdx-I(A), DefBuff-I(13), EndRdx-I(17)
Level 12: Lingering Radiation -- Acc-I(A), RechRdx-I(17), RechRdx-I(19)
Level 14: Fly -- Flight-I(A)
Level 16: Assault -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 18: Maneuvers -- DefBuff-I(A), DefBuff-I(45)
Level 20: Tactics -- ToHit-I(A), ToHit-I(33), ToHit-I(42), EndRdx-I(42), EndRdx-I(43), EndRdx-I(43)
Level 22: Choking Cloud -- Hold-I(A), Hold-I(23), Hold-I(23), EndRdx-I(25), EndRdx-I(25), EndRdx-I(42)
Level 24: Air Superiority -- Acc-I(A)
Level 26: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(45)
Level 28: Cosmic Burst -- Acc-I(A), Dmg-I(29), Dmg-I(29), EndRdx-I(31), RechRdx-I(31), RechRdx-I(31)
Level 30: Aim -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 32: EM Pulse -- Acc-I(A), Hold-I(33), Hold-I(33), RechRdx-I(34), RechRdx-I(34), RechRdx-I(40)
Level 35: Neutron Bomb -- Acc-I(A), Dmg-I(36), Dmg-I(36), EndRdx-I(36), RechRdx-I(37), DefDeb-I(37)
Level 38: Atomic Blast -- Dmg-I(A), Dmg-I(39), RechRdx-I(39), RechRdx-I(39), EndRdx-I(40)
Level 41: Power Build Up -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 44: Force of Nature -- ResDam-I(A), RechRdx-I(45), ResDam-I(46)
Level 47: Temp Invulnerability -- ResDam-I(A), EndRdx-I(48), ResDam-I(48)
Level 49: Total Focus -- Acc-I(A), Dmg-I(50), Dmg-I(50), EndRdx-I(50)
Level 0: Freedom Phalanx Reserve
Level 0: Geas of the Kind Ones
Level 0: Portal Jockey
Level 0: Task Force Commander
Level 0: The Atlas Medallion
Level 50: Musculature Radial Paragon
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Acc-I(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Vigilance
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Heal-I(A), Heal-I(46)
Level 2: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(43)
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)





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

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Tetujin: Level 50 Technology Defender
Primary Power Set: Radiation Emission
Secondary Power Set: Radiation Blast
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Power Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Radiation Infection -- DarkWD-ToHitDeb(A), DarkWD-ToHitdeb/Rchg/EndRdx(3), DarkWD-ToHitDeb/EndRdx(9), DarkWD-Slow%(11), HO:Enzym(13), HO:Enzym(15)
Level 1: Neutrino Bolt -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(21), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(34), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(46), Achilles-ResDeb%(48)
Level 2: Accelerate Metabolism -- P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(A), Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg(3), Efficacy-EndMod/EndRdx(21)
Level 4: Irradiate -- Erad-Dmg(A), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(5), Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), Erad-%Dam(7), Achilles-ResDeb%(11), Sciroc-Dam%(15)
Level 6: Enervating Field -- EndRdx-I(A), EndRdx-I(7), EndRdx-I(9)
Level 8: Radiant Aura -- Numna-Heal/EndRdx(A), Numna-EndRdx/Rchg(19), Numna-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(27), RgnTis-Heal/EndRdx(27), RgnTis-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(37), RgnTis-Regen+(40)
Level 10: Combat Jumping -- Krma-ResKB(A), Ksmt-ToHit+(13), Zephyr-ResKB(17)
Level 12: Lingering Radiation -- TmpRdns-Acc/Slow(A), TmpRdns-Acc/EndRdx(17), TmpRdns-EndRdx/Rchg/Slow(19)
Level 14: Fly -- Zephyr-ResKB(A)
Level 16: Assault -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 18: Maneuvers -- GftotA-Def/EndRdx(A), GftotA-Def(45)
Level 20: Tactics -- GSFC-ToHit(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(33), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx(42), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(42), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(43), GSFC-Build%(43)
Level 22: Choking Cloud -- Lock-Acc/Hold(A), Lock-Acc/Rchg(23), Lock-Rchg/Hold(23), Lock-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(25), Lock-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(25), Lock-%Hold(42)
Level 24: Air Superiority -- Acc-I(A)
Level 26: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(45)
Level 28: Cosmic Burst -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(29), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(29), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(31), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(31), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(31)
Level 30: Aim -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 32: EM Pulse -- Lock-Acc/Hold(A), Lock-Acc/Rchg(33), Lock-Rchg/Hold(33), Lock-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(34), Lock-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(34), Lock-%Hold(40)
Level 35: Neutron Bomb -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(36), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(36), Posi-Dam%(36), Achilles-ResDeb%(37), LdyGrey-%Dam(37)
Level 38: Atomic Blast -- Erad-Dmg(A), Erad-Acc/Rchg(39), Erad-Dmg/Rchg(39), Erad-%Dam(39), Sciroc-Dam%(40)
Level 41: Power Build Up -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 44: Force of Nature -- Aegis-ResDam/Rchg(A), TtmC'tng-ResDam/Rchg(45), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(46)
Level 47: Temp Invulnerability -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(48), ImpArm-ResDam(48)
Level 49: Total Focus -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(50), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(50), Mako-Dam%(50)
Level 0: Freedom Phalanx Reserve
Level 0: Geas of the Kind Ones
Level 0: Portal Jockey
Level 0: Task Force Commander
Level 0: The Atlas Medallion
Level 50: Musculature Radial Paragon
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Acc-I(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- ULeap-Stlth(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Vigilance
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Mrcl-Rcvry+(46)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-End%(43)
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)

Edit: I belatedly realize that these builds make use of City Traveler, the veteran reward which allows you to skip the prereqs on travel powers. If you do not have this, just replace Fly with Super Jump (you may wish to do that anyway, or with another travel power of your choice if you do happen to have City Traveler on your account. Fly is taken here mostly for character concept reasons, though it is handy

I presume the OP is level 50 slotting HOs. I am not sure which EBs are giving trouble. The EBs in the incarnate mission content spawn +4 to start with, so Radiation Infection isn't as effective, purple patch and all.

Some of the downgraded AVs are tougher than others - I think Anti-Matter I ended up busting out Shivans to help me defeat, for instance. I usually keep a few on hand just in case when I solo because, as noted above, your debuffs are not as effective on EBs, especially those who are downgraded AVs, and sometimes they will get several lucky hits in on you and put you down.

For fighting EBs on a non IOed out rad/rad build, I try to bring a pet, either a Shivan or a Scrapper.

Something to be aware of is that higher rank foes resist tohit debuffs now, I believe bosses resist 30% (that was the case at one time, unless its been reverted), and a level 50 AV resists about 85% of it. Plus, you will note that the Enzyme HOs come with a 20% tohit debuff, not 33% now. Thus Radiation Infection does not floor the tohit of as many foes any more.

That said, *some* defense helps a rad quite a bit, since Rad Infection is still pretty potent and stacks with it. I won't go into the calculations, but as you get near a total of 45% defense + (-tohit), the "soft cap", your survivability goes up a lot. The Steadfast +3% defense IO is a way to start.

Longer term, for a cheap defense build, take the character villianside, run a Patron arc, and pick up Scorpion Shield, the only defense shield available to a defender. Though for the same effort invested, you could run regular hero tip missions, get alignment merits, and convert them into something like Luck of the Gambler +rch recipes (I suggest level 25 ones, and crafting them to sell the enhancement generally pays off well). Sell those on the markets and buy recipes for +defense IOs, most defense sets aren't that expensive. Thunderstrike in ranged attacks, Gaussian in Tactics, Lockdown in holds, etc.

I personally feel that more emphasis on recharge for a rad/rad is good, to get perma Hasten/Accelerate Metabolism. Thats a somewhat more expensive build, but I'm happy with mine at about 75% global recharge (before Hasten/AM) and only ~10% defense. Then I rely on the Psi epic pool for Mass Hypnosis on spawns, Dominate and Cosmic Burst to control bosses for survival. But its more a team build then a solo one.

Good tips! I'll definitely pick up a Shivan Shard; it certainly can't hurt. And I didn't know about the Steadfast +3% defense IO. That's clearly a priority pickup.

Right now I've settled on cranking through Tip missions for inf, and working towards a relatively budget frankenslotted +damage build to speed those up. Once that's done and I have the inf flowing I'll probably use another build slot for the super-defense build and see how that goes. Meanwhile, making slow progress towards Incarnate abilities (have half the shards I need for Musculature Boost, and 51% toward unlocking Interface), which certainly won't hurt.

(I did think about going villain for that powerset, but honestly, I'd rather just have Power Mastery. Total Focus + Cosmic Burst may not work on EBs with AV resistances, but it's pretty awesome against everything else.)

Thanks for the advice. I'm certainly more excited about playing my defender than I was.