For another take on a strong AoE power set, see my post on Elec Melee. Caveat: I haven't played Spines on a Stalker so I'm not sure how they compare.
Freedom: Blazing Larb, Fiery Fulcrum, Sardan Reborn, Arctic-Frenzy, Wasabi Sam, Mr Smashtastic.
It's been a while since I played DA content. I don't recall them having extra stronger lethal resistance (unlike Longbows, Malta, Rikti).
If lethal resistance extra strong, Spine can be a good choice. If your goal is x8, I would go with Elec, Spine and Staff. Staff has decent enough aoe and you get extra +defense too on top of your SR's.
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.
Since playing some of the Dark Astoria content and a few other new things, I've rethought my stance on Super Reflexes. It seems like maybe having too much Defense isn't so bad when every other enemy shoots -20% Def Debuffs like they were going out of style. With that said, I want to find a powerset to pair with SR, one that has enough AoE for me to wade into x8 spawns and still clear quickly solo. I'm leaning towards Spines/SR. Here's an example build, I focused on +Health (18.76% from sets) mostly, and got just enough accuracy bonus that I shouldn't be completely inept if I get hit by a tohitt debuff. Because of the nature of SR, I'm pretty dead set on Agility Core as my Alpha, but looking at the build and taking Physical Perfection, I also considered Vigor Core. Vigor would have a more beneficial effect on my overall endurance usage, as well as boosting all my accuracy and regen, while sacrificing some defense and recharge. I do not want to take both and swap out as needed, so I'd rather just know which one will be more beneficial.
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.956
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
BoneSpine: Level 50 Magic Stalker
Primary Power Set: Spines
Secondary Power Set: Super Reflexes
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Concealment
Ancillary Pool: Body Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Lunge -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(3), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(3), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(5), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), Mako-Dam%(7)
Level 1: Hide -- S'dpty-Def(A), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx(7), S'dpty-Def/Rchg(9)
Level 2: Spine Burst -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(9), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(11), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(11), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(13), Oblit-%Dam(13)
Level 4: Focused Fighting -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(15), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(15)
Level 6: Assassin's Impaler -- SStalkersG-Acc/Dmg(A), SStalkersG-Dmg/Rchg(21), SStalkersG-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(23), SStalkersG-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(23), SStalkersG-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(25), SStalkersG-Rchg/Hide%(25)
Level 8: Build Up -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(27)
Level 10: Focused Senses -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(27), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(29)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- Ksmt-ToHit+(A)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(29)
Level 16: Practiced Brawler -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 18: Impale -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(31), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(31), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(31), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(33), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(33)
Level 20: Agile -- S'dpty-Def(A), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx(33), S'dpty-Def/Rchg(34)
Level 22: Dodge -- S'dpty-Def(A), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx(34), S'dpty-Def/Rchg(34)
Level 24: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(36)
Level 26: Ripper -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(36), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(36), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(37), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(37), Oblit-%Dam(37)
Level 28: Quickness -- Run-I(A)
Level 30: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 32: Throw Spines -- Ragnrk-Dmg(A), Ragnrk-Dmg/Rchg(39), Ragnrk-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(39), Ragnrk-Acc/Rchg(39), Ragnrk-Dmg/EndRdx(40), Posi-Dam%(40)
Level 35: Evasion -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(40), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(42)
Level 38: Superior Conditioning -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(42), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(42)
Level 41: Physical Perfection -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(43), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(43), Mrcl-Rcvry+(43), Mrcl-Heal(45), Mrcl-Heal/EndRdx(46)
Level 44: Tough -- GA-3defTpProc(A), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(45), Aegis-ResDam(45), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(46), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(46)
Level 47: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(48), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(48), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(48)
Level 49: Stealth -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(50), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(50), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(50)
Level 1: Assassination
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 4: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 4: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Numna-Heal(17), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(17), Panac-Heal/+End(19)
Level 4: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 4: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(19), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(21)
Level 50: Agility Core Paragon
Level 0: Portal Jockey
Level 0: Task Force Commander
Level 0: The Atlas Medallion
Level 0: Freedom Phalanx Reserve
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Set Bonus Totals:
"Look, personally I just want a new issue to feature changes that don't cause a mass exodus of players..."
Issue 17: We Didn't Break Anything!
How to suck at CoX
Literally the Best Build Ever: Years in the Making