Mmmm, end-game content has a lot higher accuracy and elemental damage. My typical S/L capped in Ice Armor doesn't seem to cut it. I have to rely on my dull pain and god-mode in tougher fights.
I can't say for sure but I feel resistance-based set does a little bit better ONLY if you have good set bonuses.
I have an incarnte MA/Will but don't have a high level Elec Stalker yet. My guess is Elec does a bit better with very good set bonuses and I only say this because Elec has endurance management and it has a good mix of resistance types. It covers almost everything.
Other people can feel free to chime in. I think both can be good. They are not "gimped" for sure.
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.
I didn't feel squishie at all at lvl 50 with my IOed KM/WP Stalker.
What WP lacks in resists, it beats ELA in Hit Pounts. Not sure if it's equal really, but that's 1600 HP vs 2000 HP, something to consider.
BrandX Future Staff Fighter
The BrandX Collection
Quote:
Whoa, what? Ice Armor doesn't do well in end-game content? I knew it!|
Originally Posted by Jibikao
Mmmm, end-game content has a lot higher accuracy and elemental damage. My typical S/L capped in Ice Armor doesn't seem to cut it. I have to rely on my dull pain and god-mode in tougher fights.
I can't say for sure but I feel resistance-based set does a little bit better ONLY if you have good set bonuses. I have an incarnte MA/Will but don't have a high level Elec Stalker yet. My guess is Elec does a bit better with very good set bonuses and I only say this because Elec has endurance management and it has a good mix of resistance types. It covers almost everything. Other people can feel free to chime in. I think both can be good. They are not "gimped" for sure. |
RE-ROLL!
Quote:
Lol, you've been looking for a way to discount ice armor for some time now, hating how it looks but agonizing over it because people say it's very good. I suspect that Jibikao's icer's build isn't complete yet, and doesn't have incarnate-softcap on it's own to s/l/e/n. And he says that he's actually needing to use all his tools in tougher fights, for once, not that he's a grease spot at 50+.|
Originally Posted by Synesence
Whoa, what? Ice Armor doesn't do well in end-game content? I knew it!
RE-ROLL! |
If you no likey /ice, then re-roll away! You'll have more fun, and at this stage in the game there's no set that can't be smartly built into a sturdy murder machine.
50s:
Grimmloch, Tactically Delicious, Ugly Frankie, Operative Tracker, CryoFurnace, Professional Help, Silver Sphinx, Aries Knight, Tachyon Aegis, Jade Sphinx
Currently building:
Any one of half a dozen alts!
Quote:
My apologies. When people say "end-game", I guess it needs to be more clear. Is it itrial, DA or just high end strike forces? I say Ice Armor is excellent in every high end SFs and most itrials (except MoM's 2nd stage. That stage has huge psionic damage). |
Originally Posted by Synesence
Whoa, what? Ice Armor doesn't do well in end-game content? I knew it!
RE-ROLL! |
About the only time I feel my Ice Armor is somewhat weaker is in DA. Those new mobs have a lot of elemental damage type that my S/L isn't good enough. It doesn't mean I drop dead in 5s. However, something tells me those new mobs are just good against most armor type. There are a lot of "auto damage" and kill my MM's pets left and right (earth quake and huge lightning blasts). Ice Armor is really good against the Ice bosses (those huge ice giants). Have you fought those new mobs in DA at +4? I don't do DA under +4. It's boring.
Ice Armor is really good in every other area. In fact, I would rate Ice Armor the best as long as there's no psionic attacks. You've got debuffs, buffs, endurance management, defense, some resist and +hp. What more do you need? Icy Bastion itself is a god mode + ultra fast regen + superb +recovery and it doesn't crash!
The question is about Willpower VS Elec Armor. I'll stick to that topic.
PS: I am probably the biggest advocate of Ice Armor here. I've been talking about it for a while now. Ice Armor is REALLY good. Please believe me.
PS 2: I can also tell you that I like Ice Armor better than Willpower and mostly because Ice Armor has slow debuff and endurance management. Willpower doesn't have that extra +recovery power and with the new stalker change, I do run low on endurance on my MA/Will. With ice armor, I never run low. You've got two ways to gain back endurance easily. Willpower's mini-god takes away 50% endurance when it crashes. Icy Bastion doesn't.
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.
Quote:
Oh, thank god. Scared me there, and I guess I wouldn't have re-rolled anyway. Three Ninjitsu Stalkers is crossing the line a bit, so yeah...I'll keep going with my Staff/Ice fighter and see how strong he gets. |
Originally Posted by Jibikao
My apologies. When people say "end-game", I guess it needs to be more clear. Is it itrial, DA or just high end strike forces? I say Ice Armor is excellent in every high end SFs and most itrials (except MoM's 2nd stage. That stage has huge psionic damage).
About the only time I feel my Ice Armor is somewhat weaker is in DA. Those new mobs have a lot of elemental damage type that my S/L isn't good enough. It doesn't mean I drop dead in 5s. However, something tells me those new mobs are just good against most armor type. There are a lot of "auto damage" and kill my MM's pets left and right (earth quake and huge lightning blasts). Ice Armor is really good against the Ice bosses (those huge ice giants). Have you fought those new mobs in DA at +4? I don't do DA under +4. It's boring. Ice Armor is really good in every other area. In fact, I would rate Ice Armor the best as long as there's no psionic attacks. You've got debuffs, buffs, endurance management, defense, some resist and +hp. What more do you need? Icy Bastion itself is a god mode + ultra fast regen + superb +recovery and it doesn't crash! The question is about Willpower VS Elec Armor. I'll stick to that topic. PS: I am probably the biggest advocate of Ice Armor here. I've been talking about it for a while now. Ice Armor is REALLY good. Please believe me. PS 2: I can also tell you that I like Ice Armor better than Willpower and mostly because Ice Armor has slow debuff and endurance management. Willpower doesn't have that extra +recovery power and with the new stalker change, I do run low on endurance on my MA/Will. With ice armor, I never run low. You've got two ways to gain back endurance easily. Willpower's mini-god takes away 50% endurance when it crashes. Icy Bastion doesn't. |
Sadly, can't show him off because I decided to get into Praetoria...
You won't be gimped with Willpower but it may not be as effective as Elec paired with elec.
Elec favors recharge which for Staff seems to be an interesting direction to go to due to non OMG factor of the damage. You also will get end management tools as clicks as opposed to inherents.
WP lets you benefit nicely from the increased HP cap of stalkers. it will also have better survivability without investment (because it is layered) but besides Strength of Will, nothing that will make you avoid the spiral of death once it's started.
Keep in mind I haven't tried Staff yet, so maybe the mitigation on the set shores up that specific weakness.
As for /Ice, well it's awesome. I fully understand that the look is a repellant for the set but if you're not bothered that much by it or are willing to tweak your colors to limit its opacity, roll one already.
Yes it has a weakness to psi and f/c you can't really address without inspirations but it is really sturdy against anything else and has a nuts T9. And if you go with Ageless Radial T4, it goes bonkers mode on DDR to boot.
@Viper Kinji
Currently working on:
Turtle Snapper - SD/MA/Ice Tanker
Elec Armor is great end-game.
Ice Armor can be still very very good, if you build like I did to maximize Icy Bastion's +RES and +REG and uptime (+RCHRG). I added Shadow Meld to my StJ/Ice and between that and Bastion, I am doing really well in DA and trials even with DA on +4/+8.
I can't see Ice Armor having too much trouble as I play a min maxed Elec/EA/Mu stalker, and have no trouble at all in any content.
EA does have higher defense values, and significant End Drain ability that Ice lacks, bu Ice has the Defensive build Up in icy bastion to leverage.
It really should hedge out.
I run +4x8 in DA with my stalker no problem.
When something good happens to me, I can never enjoy it....
I am always too busy looking for the inevitable punchline...
BEHOLD THE POWER OF CHEESE!
Ice is indeed a beast now, with its only disadvantages being as survivable as a tanker "only half of the time", having poor aesthetics(some like it though), and having low Psi protection.
Nin is more well-rounded and uses positional set bonuses which contribute more damage, but is not nearly as prepared for receiving damage as Ice.
Elec Armor can become very sturdy after IO's, but that can take away from investing into recharge if you aim for the softcap. The main issue is that stalkers don't get a damage aura which is one of Elec's great strengths.
WP shares the same defense issue with Elec, except it has less recharge to fall back on(but better self healing).
Mains (Freedom) @Auroxis
Auroxis - Emp/Rad/Power Defender Pylon Video Soloing an AV
Pelvic Thunder - SS/Elec/Mu Brute
Sorajin - Elec/Nin Stalker
Neuropain - Sonic/Mental/Elec Blaster
Quote:
What's your take on Elec VS EA? Both of them have 20% +recharge. I can't decide if I want to go with Staff/Elec or Staff/EA. |
Originally Posted by Auroxis
Elec Armor can become very sturdy after IO's, but that can take away from investing into recharge if you aim for the softcap. The main issue is that stalkers don't get a damage aura which is one of Elec's great strengths. |
I am leaning towards Elec because Guarded strike offers +defense which should provide good survival with +resistance in Elec. I guess I can stack defense with EA's defense but I always prefer a mix of both rather than pushing one of them to the highest possible. Some situations it's better just to have some defense and some resistance.
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.
Quote:
Seems like a toss-up. EA will be more reliable(except against psi) while Elec will have better peak performance.|
Originally Posted by Jibikao
What's your take on Elec VS EA? Both of them have 20% +recharge. I can't decide if I want to go with Staff/Elec or Staff/EA.
I am leaning towards Elec because Guarded strike offers +defense which should provide good survival with +resistance in Elec. I guess I can stack defense with EA's defense but I always prefer a mix of both rather than pushing one of them to the highest possible. Some situations it's better just to have some defense and some resistance. |
Staff does seem to have better synergy with Elec though.
Mains (Freedom) @Auroxis
Auroxis - Emp/Rad/Power Defender Pylon Video Soloing an AV
Pelvic Thunder - SS/Elec/Mu Brute
Sorajin - Elec/Nin Stalker
Neuropain - Sonic/Mental/Elec Blaster
Quote:
Yeah, I eventually picked Staff/Elec because Staff offers some +defense which should stack nicely with set defense bonuses and it has some protection against psi.|
Originally Posted by Auroxis
Seems like a toss-up. EA will be more reliable(except against psi) while Elec will have better peak performance.
Staff does seem to have better synergy with Elec though. |
And plus, I don't have a stalker /elec yet. I have a 50 spine/ea (pre-EA buffs)
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.
I am looking to start a new staff stalker and was wondering which secondary would be better for end game content. I was leaning towards willpower, but I don't want to get to 50 and then find out that I am gimped.
Thanks for any advice.
50's
Darth Keiv DM/Reg, Crack'ed Justice BS/Reg, Crack'ling Cage Fire/Rad,
Crack'ed Earth SS/Stone, Crack'ed Brawler DM/WP, Crack'ed Legend Axe/WP,
Crack'ed Current SS/Elec,Crack'ed Ice Ice/Kin, Crack'ed Cacophony Son/Son,
Crack'ed Widow SOA, Crack'ed Bully Thugs/Dark, Broil-O Fire/Kin, iCrack'ed DB/WP.