SS/Energy Aura for incarnate trials

Master Flipp · 01-09-2012 08:43 PM

I'm looking for advice from the build guru's and brute experts.

My brute is currently lvl 50, and I'm about to respect into the following build.

It's hit all the criteria I've set for him so far.

1: Soft capped I-trial def of 65% to: S/L/F/C/E with only 4 foes effected by Energy Drain.
2: Sustainable Perma-Energy Drain.
3: Over 2k max HP.
4: Only a 5 second downtime for Energize.
5: I do have all accolades and the Agility Core Paragon Alpha.

I'm here to ask the CoH community if there is a way to optimize this build in any shape, form, or fashion before I go about taking the time and infamy to respec him into this following build.

Thanks in advance.

Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.953
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Flawless Fusion: Level 50 Science Brute
Primary Power Set: Super Strength
Secondary Power Set: Energy Aura
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Jab

(A) Kinetic Combat - Accuracy/Damage
(3) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance
(3) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Recharge
(5) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance/Recharge

Level 1: Kinetic Shield

(A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
(5) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
(7) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
(7) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed

Level 2: Punch

(A) Kinetic Combat - Accuracy/Damage
(9) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance
(9) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Recharge
(11) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance/Recharge

Level 4: Dampening Field

(A) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance
(11) Aegis - Resistance/Recharge
(13) Aegis - Resistance

Level 6: Power Shield

(A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
(13) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
(15) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed

Level 8: Haymaker

(A) Kinetic Combat - Accuracy/Damage
(15) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance
(17) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Recharge
(17) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance/Recharge

Level 10: Entropic Aura

(A) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 12: Taunt

(A) Mocking Beratement - Taunt
(19) Mocking Beratement - Taunt/Recharge
(19) Mocking Beratement - Taunt/Recharge/Range
(21) Mocking Beratement - Accuracy/Recharge
(21) Mocking Beratement - Taunt/Range

Level 14: Combat Jumping

(A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
(23) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
(23) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed

Level 16: Knockout Blow

(A) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage
(25) Mako's Bite - Damage/Endurance
(25) Mako's Bite - Damage/Recharge
(27) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge
(27) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
(29) Mako's Bite - Chance of Damage(Lethal)

Level 18: Rage

(A) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff
(29) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge
(31) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge/Endurance
(31) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Recharge/Endurance
(31) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Endurance
(33) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up

Level 20: Energy Cloak

(A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
(33) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
(33) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed

Level 22: Energy Protection

(A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/Endurance
(34) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%
(34) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All)

Level 24: Boxing

(A) Empty

Level 26: Tough

(A) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance
(34) Aegis - Resistance/Recharge
(36) Aegis - Resistance

Level 28: Energy Drain

(A) Performance Shifter - EndMod
(36) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Recharge
(36) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Accuracy/Recharge
(37) Performance Shifter - Accuracy/Recharge
(39) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Accuracy
(39) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End

Level 30: Weave

(A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
(39) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
(40) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed

Level 32: Foot Stomp

(A) Eradication - Damage
(40) Eradication - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
(40) Eradication - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
(42) Cleaving Blow - Accuracy/Damage
(42) Cleaving Blow - Damage/Endurance
(42) Cleaving Blow - Damage/Recharge

Level 35: Energize

(A) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Endurance
(43) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Recharge
(43) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Endurance/Recharge
(43) Doctored Wounds - Heal
(45) Doctored Wounds - Recharge

Level 38: Soul Tentacles

(A) Trap of the Hunter - Accuracy/Recharge
(45) Trap of the Hunter - Endurance/Immobilize
(45) Trap of the Hunter - Accuracy/Endurance
(46) Trap of the Hunter - Immobilize/Accuracy
(46) Trap of the Hunter - Accuracy/Immobilize/Recharge
(46) Trap of the Hunter - Chance of Damage(Lethal)

Level 41: Dark Obliteration

(A) Ragnarok - Damage/Recharge
(48) Ragnarok - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
(48) Ragnarok - Accuracy/Recharge
(48) Ragnarok - Damage/Endurance
(50) Ragnarok - Chance for Knockdown

Level 44: Maneuvers

(A) Kismet - Accuracy +6%
(50) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance
(50) Gift of the Ancients - Defense

Level 47: Hasten

(A) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 49: Super Speed

(A) Winter's Gift - Slow Resistance (20%)

Level 0: Born In Battle
Level 0: High Pain Threshold
Level 0: Invader
Level 0: Marshal
Level 50: Agility Core Paragon
------------
Level 2: Swift

(A) Run Speed IO

Level 2: Health

(A) Numina's Convalescence - +Regeneration/+Recovery

Level 2: Hurdle

(A) Jumping IO

Level 2: Stamina

(A) Performance Shifter - EndMod
(37) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Accuracy
(37) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End

Level 1: Brawl

(A) Empty

Level 1: Fury
Level 1: Sprint

(A) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 2: Rest

(A) Interrupt Reduction IO

Level 4: Ninja Run

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EarthWyrm · 01-11-2012 03:44 PM

The character I've played most, both overall and in incarnate trials, is my SS/EA brute, so since nobody else has jumped in I thought I'd offer some thoughts. (Note: I said this, then typed a dissertation. Oh well...)

My general opinion is that because you will never be called upon to solo an iTrial, building for the iTrial soft-cap isn't usually worthwhile. Even running through the "gather" portion of Lambda, I rarely have trouble (the lowest of my non-Psi defenses is +50.6% without Energy Drain), and when I do a purple insp takes care of most of it. The amount of +def flying around in those trials, from incarnate powers and other various buffs, is ridiculous; my squishies often pass the incarnate soft-cap!

Assuming you are committed to that route, though, there aren't a ton of things that there's even room to change. A few jump out, though:

1. The second piece of Steadfast Protection gets you minimal added resistance in Energy Protection, and the set bonus you get from having it there is lower than the set bonus you'd get if you used the slot to put a fourth piece of Performance Shifter in Stamina. There are other things you could do with that slot as well, probably.
2. The Kismet unique is not needed in this build (because of Rage). The slot would be better used elsewhere. If you're going to 5-slot Taunt, for example, you might as well take the Kismet slot and get the 7.5% recharge bonus for Mocking Beratement. (If you're worried about the rule of 5, don't; the LotG bonus is a separate named bonus from the 7.5% you'd get from something like Mocking Beratement or Basilisk's Gaze.)
3. Taking Jab just to slot Kinetic Combats in it is a waste of a power slot; you could slot those same 4 Kinetic Combats in Boxing, which has higher base damage and is negligibly different on recharge and end cost. Dumping Jab means you could take some other random one-slot power later on. Assault or Tactics are worth a glance, and Darkest Night, even with just an end reducer in it, synergizes very well with this build. And since /EA can still experience cascading defense debuff failure, having Overload as an "Oh crap!" button isn't terrible.
4. Speaking of Basilisk's Gaze, you could modify the slotting on KO Blow to use 2 Basi and 4 Mako (or any other damage set, really; the 4 Kinetic Combats could go here and you'd have 3 slots you could use elsewhere - like Darkest Night, if you went that route, since 4 pieces of Dark Watcher gives nice bonuses) and have better e/n defense, since 2 Basi gives you 2.5% and 6 Mako gives you 1.88%. You could also go nuts and slot 4 Basi and 2 level 50 Damage IOs boosted to +5, but I don't get the impression you're concerned enough about maximizing recharge to do that.
5. I'm curious why you went with Soul Tentacles over Gloom. I've played with Soul Tentacles on my SS/EA, and the 25-degree arc on the cone doesn't synergize all that well with your other two AoE attacks, Foot Stomp and Dark Oblit. Plus, Gloom is AMAZING and something I can't imagine not being part of my attack chain. Gloom also takes Thunderstrike, which gives you you more E/N defense for 3 slots than you get for 6 with Trap of the Hunter. In fact, 6-slotting Thunderstrike in Gloom would get you 3.75% E/N, which probably frees up some slots elsewhere. For example, that 6th slot would mean you no longer have to shove 3 Erads and 3 Cleaving Blow into Footstomp, so that you could (for example) add a fourth Erad (for the big +hp boost), the FF +rech proc (amazing in FS) and something like D/E or A/D/E from another PBAOE set to flesh out the power's stats. Yeah, you lose a little recovery, but you have Energy Drain ready every 17 or so seconds; recovery should be the last of your worries.
6. Depending on what you want to spend, a set of 5 Panacea (no proc) in Energize is also nice.

Anyway, that's what I can see that could be tweaked without changing the focus of the build away from having iCap defenses. The important thing, in the end, is that you're happy with it and end up with a character that's fun for you to play, so please feel free to disregard anything I suggested that doesn't mesh with your playstyle.

My postings to this forum are not to be used as data in any research study without my express written consent.

Master Flipp · 01-14-2012 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EarthWyrm

Anyway, that's what I can see that could be tweaked without changing the focus of the build away from having iCap defenses. The important thing, in the end, is that you're happy with it and end up with a character that's fun for you to play, so please feel free to disregard anything I suggested that doesn't mesh with your playstyle.

In the end, I think your absolutely right. It really doesn't matter what you do with your build, as long as your happy with the end results and how it plays.

I did take your advice though, and moved some slots around. I took out the 3rd slot in tough, and added a slot to hasten. I tested gloom, and I like it better than Soul Tentacles ( I haven't messed with Soul Mastery that much). I put 4 Thunderstrikes there, then I took those extra slots and added it too Stamina and Tuant. That netted me more end rec, and more recharge.

I appreciate the advice EarthWyrm.

Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.953
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Flawless Fusion: Level 50 Science Brute
Primary Power Set: Super Strength
Secondary Power Set: Energy Aura
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Punch

(A) Kinetic Combat - Accuracy/Damage
(3) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance
(3) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Recharge
(5) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance/Recharge

Level 1: Kinetic Shield

(A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
(5) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
(7) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
(7) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed

Level 2: Haymaker

(A) Kinetic Combat - Accuracy/Damage
(9) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance
(9) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Recharge
(11) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance/Recharge

Level 4: Hasten

(A) Recharge Reduction IO
(50) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 6: Dampening Field

(A) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance
(11) Aegis - Resistance/Recharge
(13) Aegis - Resistance

Level 8: Power Shield

(A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
(13) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
(15) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed

Level 10: Entropic Aura

(A) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 12: Boxing

(A) Kinetic Combat - Accuracy/Damage
(15) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance
(17) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Recharge
(17) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance/Recharge