Okay, so what's my survival strategy on a Grav/Kin

Currently it's "cross my fingers and hope." Naturally, this is insufficient. I've been fiddling around in Mids trying to come up with something that will survive alpha, but I've yet been unable to softcap even one kind of defense, so that's clearly not the route I ought to take.

I'm probably thinking about this totally wrong and there's some way of going about this by way of power usage and being good at playing controllers that I'm missing, too.

Basically, given these power sets and Teleportation as my travel power, how do I not die?

Is this solo or teamed?

Either one, really.

Are you leveling it or is it at 50 already?

On a grav/ controller who's not getting any mitigation from their secondary, um....

Well, there's always your AoE hold every few minutes. That will negate alphas, at least for the ones it hits. Other than that, wormhole while hiding behind something, and pray the spawn isn't spread out enough to make you miss a significant chunk of them. Or summon singy in the middle of the spawn if you don't mind hurling them all over the place.

Really, though, grav just stinks at actually providing mitigation. If your secondary can't cover for the primary in that regard, you wind up with a very low 'control' controller.

Teaming is probably better for you than trying to run solo too. A -lot- of people will love you for your secondary, while your primary will just be a light icing, unfortunately.

I think I talked to you briefly on the Help channel.

Below is a sample build that might work out for you. I took the Fire APP--you can change this if you want. Soft capped to Ranged in normal content. Rise of the Phoenix is great if you do incarnate stuff--you WILL die there, guaranteed, on any build. If you can, get both Destiny Barrier and Destiny Clarion, and switch between them depending on what you're fighting and which offers better advantages. (Barrier for the ITF or Apex, for example, and Clarion for MOM or UG).

I assumed Spiritual was the Alpha slot. It's possible you will find Stamina underslotted, in which case, move slots around a little to accomodate.


Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.952
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Controller
Primary Power Set: Gravity Control
Secondary Power Set: Kinetics
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Fire Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Crush -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(3), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(3), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(5), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(5), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(7)
Level 1: Transfusion -- Acc-I(A), Nictus-Acc/Heal(7), Heal-I(9)
Level 2: Lift -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(9), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(11), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(13), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(13)
Level 4: Gravity Distortion -- BasGaze-Acc/Hold(A), BasGaze-Acc/Rchg(15), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(15), BasGaze-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(17), HO:Perox(17)
Level 6: Siphon Power -- RechRdx-I(A), Acc-I(19)
Level 8: Crushing Field -- GravAnch-Hold%(A), Ragnrk-Knock%(19), TotHntr-Acc/EndRdx(21), Enf'dOp-Acc/EndRdx(21)
Level 10: Siphon Speed -- RechRdx-I(A), Acc-I(23)
Level 12: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(23)
Level 14: Super Speed -- Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(A), Zephyr-ResKB(25)
Level 16: Increase Density -- HO:Centri(A)
Level 18: Gravity Distortion Field -- BasGaze-Acc/Hold(A), BasGaze-Acc/Rchg(25), BasGaze-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(27), BasGaze-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(27), EoCur-Acc/Hold/Rchg(29)
Level 20: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), Ksmt-ToHit+(29), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(31), Zephyr-ResKB(31), LkGmblr-Def(50)
Level 22: Speed Boost -- EndMod-I(A)
Level 24: Boxing -- Stpfy-Acc/Rchg(A), Stpfy-EndRdx/Stun(31), Stpfy-Acc/EndRdx(33), Stpfy-Stun/Rng(33), Stpfy-Acc/Stun/Rchg(33), Stpfy-KB%(34)
Level 26: Wormhole -- Stpfy-Acc/Rchg(A), Stpfy-EndRdx/Stun(34), Stpfy-Acc/EndRdx(34), Stpfy-Stun/Rng(36), Stpfy-Acc/Stun/Rchg(36), Stpfy-KB%(36)
Level 28: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A)
Level 30: Weave -- RedFtn-Def/Rchg(A), RedFtn-Def(37), RedFtn-EndRdx(37), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(37), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg(39), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(39)
Level 32: Singularity -- ExRmnt-Acc/Rchg(A), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg(39), ExRmnt-Dmg/EndRdx(40), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40), ExRmnt-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(40), ExRmnt-+Res(Pets)(42)
Level 35: Fire Blast -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(42), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(42), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(43), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(43), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(43)
Level 38: Fulcrum Shift -- RechRdx-I(A), Acc-I(45)
Level 41: Transference -- Efficacy-EndMod/Acc(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(45)
Level 44: Fire Ball -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(45), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(46), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(46), Posi-Dam%(46)
Level 47: Rise of the Phoenix -- Stpfy-Acc/Rchg(A), Stpfy-EndRdx/Stun(48), Stpfy-Acc/EndRdx(48), Stpfy-Stun/Rng(48), Stpfy-Acc/Stun/Rchg(50), Stpfy-KB%(50)
Level 49: Fire Shield -- TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx(A)
Level 50: Spiritual Core Paragon
------------
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Containment
Level 1: Sprint -- Clrty-Stlth(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run

| Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Hero Designer to view the build |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
|MxDz;1471;666;1332;HEX;|
|78DA65945B6F125110C7CF81C5160A05A414DA022DD0D202954B6CE29331B1B6B51|
|5921AE37343704B372140008D7DD2AAAFDE2FF1C5BB3E99F8A2463F88B744BF82B6|
|5E5ECD3AECFCB918366C7E7B66E63F33E7ECB0F9F3C7ECAF56768E08E95A2C171A8|
|D8DC56AA559AF96CB6ADD922F94B4A2685D037447BA9E76506AA55E38A735B7DB6B|
|7F4FC8D1B39B9BA9135A456D6AC5867BB5B2A5D6D54A33D57EB0AD57497FAAA6AA6|
|7ECC6634E2DD4B44AE9BF85C3582C6BA5AD26ADDC4B35AD48ABBABA912F349A6A7D|
|DB4F6DC5E8BE2A052EDD221E10B28A303D019F329587E023E6BEC7CCA5AED624C6E|
|1F39A0D0E4EF3FA1AC548E497C83F88FC36E4B721BF1DF9EDC87F9D8466D62AE60F|
|2621828A18FE087E62BABE8087294C318B65D2588C8ABAB42439CF7EF47653F2EB2|
|09F79E0B4897D879823F725F316F338C12A398F15794691274249868C4DE972A8ED|
|03A3E473700DE9F8CAB9FDDF98ABA471B24F3817B8DFDB6473638F6EECD18F3D8E7|
|F06B1C740897B1BA51A1EAEAF78BC6C0BFC15464C083543A8991D61FF1AC18BDADE|
|29EE55521E1FDE8DEF02C7852E32A776C04BE06566F80AF30E610CDA3168C3D086A|
|18D421B85360AAD99EA4E70FF62C2278DBE15B205D966090E71DCF430E8046DCC98|
|1D7430EF1226D1CBE42EEF3BB6C79CFD09FE027F33E37F98CF68C022D046309F71C|
|C671CF399C07C26309F09CC679EEACE60D666F0FEE731233932CF610EE66E70ADF9|
|7BCCE7543389779E7C0DDD1BE681B7E03BF03DF3250D550A7DA670DE699C771AE79|
|DC6796771DE599CF70BAA97C17967126CFB6EA3FF256C52A74BECF65A5AE332AB88|
|1F7D517BBD16CC5140E97C07E8D78A0A762D7AA2CF9BE9B364FB2C07FB2C0B7D965|
|CCB825E8495CF765DE97C6FD0B1D5D5F98AE8273D14C40AFD1F1B07ED1B|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

Try this. Softcapped S/L/E, capped hitchance vs +3 enemies, permahasten, all key powers taken and properly slotted etc, i.e. standard controller build. It's cheap to boot (no PvPIO and 2 frankenslotted purples).

Even if you have no trouble soloing, softcapped defense is still valuable since it will allow you to solo tougher spawns. In teams, you can absorb the alpha if there isn't a tank and take the initiative, and besides kin is such an absurdly efficient set it's a waste not to take tough/weave. I prefer S/L/E on kins since this way you get to melee with impunity and get the full benefit of your buffs.

Alpha is Spiritual Core Paragon. If you exemp, you can use siphon speed to make up for the lost recharge (alternately, lose some rech from the build and make up for it with siphon speed, then put the extra slots elsewhere).

| Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Hero Designer to view the build |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
|MxDz;1447;664;1328;HEX;|
|78DA6594DB6E12511486F786C1CAA9D002851E68116C414068A3C61B13132BADB5A|
|0D4D3AD21744A272140008DBDD2EAADF6606DBC301E1FC0C42B7D10355EF415B48D|
|3EC0B866D64F218164F866FEBDD6DEFF5A7BCF141E5D757D5EDCBC2CA477BE5A6AB|
|5EECFD76BED66BD5A559BB642A9A29585F11BA02BDA1DE90465169BA5875A7BA3F3|
|1CEA09B9F2606D2DB3ACD5D4B6566E0967B14EE10B55ADB2DE7698F7B71BAABAEA3|
|16FF36A69556DB6D6B5869BC38C28AD5699C835B472A667CE42A9ACD25FABAD3637|
|42646986AE2D29F0D36DE22D614E119677E07BA6F201FCC83CF18999EBCD5D963C5|
|6609EBC01DE64268BCCF418E76ED3A344AEFC6E1122AC08D70FE6E04FF017D30B1F|
|DE258BC9054AB49AD9BAB062BE1D7AB4613E1BEAF0A38E11E48FA08E10EA08A18E5|
|DC95B64E40E7C656DEC1BF8867D4FDCE5B527BEB03E7989A858C5351AB6C38B1D5E|
|9C349993E713CE03CAB32B224A9A9B35E94E715C1C1CA2318FD90CDDE209F07A931|
|779FE0EF7481E82C721F42B827E45D0AF08FA752AC75EB3F0739D727DF0E34BB2B6|
|445A005A208DFD261F41D6ACC122C14773AD80B798B13BCC57943F0A3FA38FD973E|
|C09B8C93CFD147C06A25E2BAD338EB5C783D2EC8F425A183D08A30733A8BDC37D92|
|A7E06FEA906B9C3962C6FF82FF98798A8DC25FF4396BE917E016F3EC36B803EE328|
|D233CCD7B2AA7D1C32CBCEFD32624D8A72DE1609F679CA00B74E3CC0F821EA69D6A|
|4C71AE48A1461F6919D664E602D79905FD34368B3ECD22FEB783DE1BCC2163ECE9B|
|0AB49798FE3868D4D8F2BE24F6F7C82E38FBA9A45BEE69A875F32FD7B38E7CAF1BB|
|6D15380B0E9C0507CE820B6721DC8DD593DD7BE35127E77DCA5C9F72AE4F39DFA7E|
|4FB94A272FC0D11D254EC5EE3CBC04E56E8C8CF7195FA7F7952D75F|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

Scorpion shield? Being able to be chosen first? I call shenanigans! My poor heroes have to spend a power pick on something before I get a shield option. Sumthin' don't seem right 'bout that.