First stab at the Crab..opinions welcome!
By
Master_Templar,
Posted on: 2011-08-08 18:37 in Soldiers of Arachnos
That looks like an incredibly solid build to me. Can't really think of any way you could improve upon it since you already hit all the bullet points and everything else is pretty much personal preference.
I have Channelgun but skipped Longfang. There are so many big attacks that are worth taking that you don't need both single-target filler attacks.
I don't know if Achilles' Heel on Channelgun is a waste... but I will say that any attack slotted with nothing but a proc is a waste. Do you really want an unslotted attack in your attack chain? 80% of the time, that's what it will be.
For -Resist, I don't use procs at all. I use the sixth slot in Venom Grenade for a Recharge IO so I can spam it a bit faster. For AVs I use Venom Grenade and Shatter Armor from Mace Mastery.
My Crab is melee-oriented and has Frenzy 6-slotted with Obliteration and it's a great attack. Frenzy is actually what defeats most of my foes when soloing. I attack a boss directly and just let the minions gather 'round where they will be hit by Frenzy.
However... since you plan to open each attack chain with an immobilize, I don't think you will get as much mileage out of Frenzy as I do. Now Arm Lash is also a great attack that can quickly finish off foes that get into melee with you. It's a cone and with a bit of practice you can catch multiple targets. Besides, what's the point of having a set of clawed mechanical arms if you can't slash people with them?
In general I think your build is very solid.
Quote:
Thanks for the feedback.|
Originally Posted by Two_Dollar_Bill
I have Channelgun but skipped Longfang. There are so many big attacks that are worth taking that you don't need both single-target filler attacks.
I don't know if Achilles' Heel on Channelgun is a waste... but I will say that any attack slotted with nothing but a proc is a waste. Do you really want an unslotted attack in your attack chain? 80% of the time, that's what it will be. For -Resist, I don't use procs at all. I use the sixth slot in Venom Grenade for a Recharge IO so I can spam it a bit faster. For AVs I use Venom Grenade and Shatter Armor from Mace Mastery. My Crab is melee-oriented and has Frenzy 6-slotted with Obliteration and it's a great attack. Frenzy is actually what defeats most of my foes when soloing. I attack a boss directly and just let the minions gather 'round where they will be hit by Frenzy. However... since you plan to open each attack chain with an immobilize, I don't think you will get as much mileage out of Frenzy as I do. Now Arm Lash is also a great attack that can quickly finish off foes that get into melee with you. It's a cone and with a bit of practice you can catch multiple targets. Besides, what's the point of having a set of clawed mechanical arms if you can't slash people with them? In general I think your build is very solid. |
-Fair enough about the proc/unslotted attack, I agree. It was more of a "hey, why not" option
-Doesn't Shatter Armor have redraw issues with Venom Grenade?
-Thing about Frenzy is that I never solo...do you still see this attack having utility when enemies are spread around a bit more while on a team?
-That attack chain is just what seemed to be the best AoE chain that I could come up with. Not sure what the "optimal" AoE chain is but would of course be willing to hear it. I don't mind running in to finish whatever's left with Frenzy. I play aggressively as it is so Frenzy just sounds like fun, to be honest. Plus, if I'm closer, that pulls some of the heat off of the pets (this assumes I'd be running in after I fire off a nice Suppression).
-However, I use Arm Lash currently. Yes, it puts out the hurt (and looks really cool), but the cone/range is simply awful I find. I get 1, maybe 2 enemies with it. I would be dropping it in this build. Good power, but there's better ones IMO
Best,
-MT
Global: @Master Templar on Freedom.
"This here's my demon face. You see I'm Satan's onion...s-scallion.. 'Minion?' no, not that."
After digging a bit more, it seems that Venom Grenade does -40% RES to Toxic (and -20% to all other types). So if you do Venom > Arctic > Bile that is hitting AoE for -55% RES toxic damage from the Bile...which is pretty nice! Follow up with Suppression and that's a really nice chain.
Is it worth it?
I guess the real question is: what's the optimal AoE chain for a Crab? (or is there a single one?)
-MT
Global: @Master Templar on Freedom.
"This here's my demon face. You see I'm Satan's onion...s-scallion.. 'Minion?' no, not that."
I normally hit Shatter Armor right after Venom Grenade and I don't know of any unusual redraw issues caused by this. Crabs have a lot of long animations and I think that the time required for Shatter Armor is okay for the amount of damage it does. I don't use Hasten and I don't mind if there are momentary pauses in my attack chain so your mileage may vary.
The "optimal" attack chain is the one that's fun to play. Many Crabs that are obsessed with the ranged AoE attacks will take Heavy Burst or Wide Area Web Grenade and skip melee attacks altogether. I want my Crab to be a tank with ranged attacks and pets, and most of my attacks are melee.
I've never tried to use the toxic attack chain though it has been discussed in previous threads and some people do swear by it.
Hey guys
So after asking some questions here and playing my crab I have settled on a build (for now). Keep in mind this is pre-Incarnate (pre alpha slot too), however I think it is still pretty solid. Please let me know what you think.
Build highlights:
-Softcapped defense to all positionals (M/R/AoE)
-Also has softcap to S/L/F/C and 35+ to the other 3 (includes Psy)
-Perma serum
-Perma spiderlings and only 7 seconds gap on Disruptors
-All 4 pet uniques included
-35% -RES for AoE guaranteed, much more potential (Achilles Heel)
-2x Maneuvers, 1x Tactics, 1x Assault so it's good for teaming too
-Done with only 2 purples so while not "cheap" it's still not "expensive"
Few other comments
-I was thinking to keep only Channelgun as ST attack and swap out Longfang for a 2nd assault, but the damage boost isn't THAT much/worth the END drain IMO. Plus Channelgun's base is much lower than Longfang so I kept that how it is.
-Is Achilles Heel on Channelgun a waste? Since I probably would only use this against AVs/GMs (who resist -RES IIRC) is it pointless?
-Is there ever too much -RES on non-AV targets (i.e. are there too many Achilles' Heel procs slotted)?
-Is Frenzy any good? How is the range? Without having it slotted out, etc, it's hard to get a true sense of the power, even on test. The base is so high I'd like to make use of this power if possible. My goal is to be an AoE Monster! Right now the attack chain would be Sharks > Breath > Grenade > Suppression. Longfang what's left.
Tell me what you think, thanks!
Best,
-MT
Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.942
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Agent Aftermath: Level 50 Natural Arachnos Soldier
Primary Power Set: Crab Spider Soldier
Secondary Power Set: Crab Spider Training
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Leviathan Mastery
Villain Profile:
Level 1: Channelgun -- Achilles-ResDeb%(A)
Level 1: Crab Spider Armor Upgrade -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A)
Level 2: Combat Training: Defensive -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 4: Longfang -- Decim-Acc/Dmg(A), Achilles-ResDeb%(5), Decim-Dmg/EndRdx(9), Decim-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(9), Decim-Dmg/Rchg(13), Decim-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(13)
Level 6: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(7), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(7)
Level 8: Suppression -- Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(A), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(15), Posi-Dmg/Rng(15), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(17), Posi-Acc/Dmg(17), Achilles-ResDeb%(19)
Level 10: Tactical Training: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(11), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(11), DefBuff-I(46)
Level 12: Venom Grenade -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(19), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(23), Posi-Dmg/Rng(33), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(33)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Zephyr-ResKB(A)
Level 16: Tactical Training: Assault -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 18: Boxing -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(25), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(34), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(43)
Level 20: Tough -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(21), RctvArm-EndRdx(21), RctvArm-ResDam(23)
Level 22: Mental Training -- Run-I(A)
Level 24: Fortification -- Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg(25), Aegis-EndRdx/Rchg(34), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(37), Aegis-ResDam(40)
Level 26: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(27), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(27)
Level 28: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(29), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(29)
Level 30: Serum -- Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(A), Dct'dW-Rchg(31), Dct'dW-Heal(31), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(31), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(33)
Level 32: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(34)
Level 35: Summon Spiderlings -- BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg(A), BldM'dt-Dmg(36), BldM'dt-Acc(36), BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(36), BldM'dt-Dmg/EndRdx(37), C'Arms-+Def(Pets)(37)
Level 38: Call Reinforcements -- ExRmnt-Acc/Rchg(A), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg(39), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(39), S'bndAl-Dmg/Rchg(39), ExRmnt-+Res(Pets)(40), S'bndAl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40)
Level 41: School of Sharks -- Enf'dOp-Acc/Rchg(A), Enf'dOp-EndRdx/Immob(42), Enf'dOp-Acc/EndRdx(42), Enf'dOp-Immob/Rng(42), Enf'dOp-Acc/Immob/Rchg(43), Enf'dOp-Acc/Immob(43)
Level 44: Arctic Breath -- Achilles-ResDeb%(A), Posi-Acc/Dmg(45), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(45), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(45), Posi-Dmg/Rng(46), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(46)
Level 47: Tactical Training: Leadership -- GSFC-ToHit(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(48), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(48), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx(48), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(50), GSFC-Build%(50)
Level 49: Summon Guardian -- SvgnRt-PetResDam(A), EdctM'r-PetDef(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Conditioning
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(3)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), EndMod-I(3), EndMod-I(5)
------------
Global: @Master Templar on Freedom.
"This here's my demon face. You see I'm Satan's onion...s-scallion.. 'Minion?' no, not that."