Skipping the final pet on any of the MM sets can seriously weaken the build. Especially since by lvl 24, your genin will be -2 lvls and your Jounin -1. Your final pet is usually what helps you deliver that big damage punch in MM builds. Not to mention the Oni is fire damage which is better than Lethal and Smashing in most cases.
How are you going to light Oil Slick ? With Epic?
Oni does fire damage. :P
Seriously, I can understand skipping Tier 1 but skipping boss pet is just gimping too much.
What's left is to normalize all Assassin Strikes and improve Stalker's old sets (Claw, MA and EM)! You don't need to bring back the missing PbAoE attack. You just need to make the existing ones better! For example, make Slice a WIDER and LONGER cone.
Ninja/TA is one of the least powerful MMs. If you skip Oni you'll be completely gimped. Oni is ST damage, most of your AoE damage, and has good control. He's undeniably ugly as hell, but that's just the way it is.
If you take Oni and take/slot your powers appropriately, and play skillfully, ninja/TA is not completely terrible. Ninja/TA is the kind of thing you may want to try as your 5th or 6th MM, as a challenge.
Thanks guys. You all confirmed what I suspected. The feedback is appreciated.
Hey guys, I have been looking at creating a MM for a little while now and really would like to use Trick Arrow as my secondary. I am looking at Ninjas as my primary but have a question. For personal reasons I do not wish to take Oni on my toon.
Question: Will a Ninjas/TA MM be usable and powerful enuff to enjoy without Oni or does skipping Oni completely gimp the character?