Mercs/Trick Arrow MM build help wanted

The_Entropist · 06-05-2012 01:43 PM

Hi, I'm back after a pretty lengthy absence and want to bring my main toon up to 50 but not sure about slotting or powers. I'm primarily looking for a PVE build and maybe a secondary build just for Ouroboros runs. I'd prefer to stay away from purples or other sets that are going to be nigh impossible to afford without major grinding.

I've just dinged 40 with this toon.

1. Soldiers

1. Entangling Arrow

2. Slug (probably will be respec'ed out)

4. Glue Arrow - (Pacing of the Turtle - Acc/Slow, Range/Slow for sure)

6. Equip Mercenary

8. Flash Arrow (this is up for every battle - probably 4-5 slotted with Siphon Insights if not horribly expensive)

10. Hover (probably six slotted if that's not a waste - currently five slotted. Blessing of the Zephyr Knockback Reduction SBE, looking to buy a Freebird + Stealth to make me harder to hit though a drag on many escort missions. No idea on whether Shield Wall is brutally expensive but it probably is. I figure 3 to 4 Luck of the Gamblers). Downside to the slotting is that you really don't get a high degree of def no matter what but the LotG set bonuses might make it worth it regardless and it's my only def until I get Scorpion Shield).

12. Spec Ops

14. Fly

16. Poison Gas Arrow

18. Ice Arrow

20. Aid Other (necessary for keeping pets alive)

22. Acid Arrow

24. Aid Self

26. Commando

28. Teleport Foe (I've taken this so I can visit the hospital less. Might make sense to respec out closer to 50 but I still find it helpful as my guys will still aggro groups I don't want to aggro yet)

30. Disruption Arrow

32. Tactical Upgrade

35. Scorpion Shield

38. Oil Slick Arrow - burns nicely with taser inherent

41. EMP Arrow - thinking about going with this here as it will likely need more slotting than Power Boost and will likely need Performance Shifter's Chance for +End

44. Power Boost

47. Web Envelope

49. Web Cocoon? - this might be overkill. Also since I am probably respeccing Slug out I might have space for another power. Hasten, Maneuvers and Assault look like strong possibilities.

Any thoughts, opinions and "I've done that"s appreciated. Thanks

Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.957
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

The Entropist: Level 49 Technology Mastermind
Primary Power Set: Mercenaries
Secondary Power Set: Trick Arrow
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Medicine
Power Pool: Teleportation
Ancillary Pool: Mace Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Soldiers

(A) Damage Increase IO
(3) Damage Increase IO
(3) Healing IO
(7) Accuracy IO
(7) Accuracy IO
(9) Blood Mandate - Accuracy/Damage

Level 1: Entangling Arrow

(A) Trap of the Hunter - Immobilize/Accuracy
(11) Trap of the Hunter - Chance of Damage(Lethal)
(11) Accuracy
(17) Immobilisation Duration

Level 2: Slug

(A) Ruin - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge

Level 4: Glue Arrow

(A) Slow IO
(19) Slow IO
(19) Recharge Reduction IO
(21) Recharge Reduction IO
(21) Pacing of the Turtle - Range/Slow
(23) Range

Level 6: Equip Mercenary

(A) Endurance Reduction IO
(9) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 8: Flash Arrow

(A) Accuracy IO
(23) To Hit Debuff IO

Level 10: Hover

(A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Knockback Reduction (4 points)
(25) Defense Buff IO
(25) Defense Buff IO
(27) Defense Buff IO
(27) Freebird - FlySpeed
(29) Endurance Reduction

Level 12: Spec Ops

(A) Damage Increase IO
(13) To Hit Debuff IO
(13) Damage Increase IO
(15) Damage Increase
(15) Damage Increase
(17) Empty

Level 14: Fly

(A) Flight Speed IO
(29) Flight Speed IO

Level 16: Poison Gas Arrow

(A) Induced Coma - Chance of -Recharge
(31) Hibernation - Accuracy/Sleep/Recharge
(31) Hibernation - Accuracy/Recharge

Level 18: Ice Arrow

(A) Tempered Readiness - Damage/Slow
(31) Essence of Curare - Accuracy/Hold/Recharge
(33) Hold Duration
(33) Accuracy

Level 20: Aid Other

(A) Regenerative Tissue - Heal/Recharge

Level 22: Acid Arrow

(A) Defense Debuff IO
(34) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance

Level 24: Aid Self

(A) Regenerative Tissue - Heal/Endurance
(34) Regenerative Tissue - Heal/Recharge

Level 26: Commando

(A) Brilliant Leadership - Accuracy/Endurance
(36) Brilliant Leadership - Damage
(36) Brilliant Leadership - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
(37) Accuracy IO
(37) Endurance Reduction
(39) Damage Increase

Level 28: Teleport Foe

(A) Accuracy

Level 30: Disruption Arrow

(A) Range

Level 32: Tactical Upgrade

(A) Endurance Reduction IO
(33) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 35: Scorpion Shield

(A) Defense Buff
(36) Empty

Level 38: Oil Slick Arrow

(A) Recharge Reduction

Level 41: EMP Arrow

(A) Empty

Level 44: Web Envelope

(A) Empty

Level 47: Power Boost

(A) Empty

Level 49: Web Cocoon

(A) Empty

Level 1: Brawl

(A) Empty

Level 1: Prestige Power Dash

(A) Empty

Level 1: Prestige Power Slide

(A) Empty

Level 1: Prestige Power Quick

(A) Empty

Level 1: Prestige Power Rush

(A) Empty

Level 1: Prestige Power Surge

(A) Empty

Level 1: Sprint

(A) Run Speed IO

Level 1: Supremacy
Level 2: Rest

(A) Empty

Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 4: Swift

(A) Empty
(34) Empty

Level 4: Health

(A) Healing IO
(5) Healing

Level 4: Hurdle

(A) Empty

Level 4: Stamina

(A) Empty
(5) Empty

------------
------------
Set Bonus Totals:

1% Enhancement(Confused)
4% Enhancement(Sleep)
5% Enhancement(Immobilized)
Knockback (Mag -4)
Knockup (Mag -4)
4% (0.13 HP/sec) Regeneration
4% SpeedRunning

------------
Set Bonuses:
Trap of the Hunter
(Entangling Arrow)

5% Enhancement(Immobilized)

Blessing of the Zephyr
(Hover)

Knockback (Mag -4), Knockup (Mag -4)

Hibernation
(Poison Gas Arrow)

4% Enhancement(Sleep)

Regenerative Tissue
(Aid Self)

4% SpeedRunning

Brilliant Leadership
(Commando)

4% (0.13 HP/sec) Regeneration
1% Enhancement(Confused)

So that's what it looks like now - not what the ideal would be.

_Pine_ · 06-05-2012 11:52 PM

First. Use Mids

Next, Stealth is a No No on an escort. The ones that can see through stealth are combat NPCs and will fight every mob you run into. And the ones that won't fight, can't see through stealth. Lose-Lose

Teleport foe is not good. It just isn't. Perf Shifter proc will proc on the target. So don't do that. Glue Arrow just really is not that great. I would drop it or proc it. Flash Arrow is also just not that great but its better than an MM attack. Ice Arrow is the same way, it is cool, but is not really that great over all. Grab it if you want 4 basilisk gazes. EMP Arrow is a very good debuff, on the target and on you :/ I have never used it, however looking at it's numbers, its impossible to perma, so the -regen is kinda moot imo. I don't like that it stops your recovery to do it.

TA's Champs are Poison Gas Arrow, Acid Arrow, Disruption Arrow, and Oil Arrow. Slot em and love them.

As a build goal, I would focus on S/L soft cap (easy to attain, keeps you alive)-> then +recharge (keeps debuffs coming).

Also MM's thrive on Leadership.

Your character does not have capped defense. Depending on your AT the cap is between 175% - 225%. Your defense is not teal in the combat window, it can go higher. STOP SAYING IT IS CAPPED! The correct term is Soft Cap.
I enjoy playing in Mids. I specialize in Melee Characters, other AT's usually bore me.

The_Entropist · 06-06-2012 05:12 PM

Thanks much for the response and tips. I'll try to update with something more accurate with Mid's. A couple things I'd like to get clarification on:

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Pine_

Teleport foe is not good. It just isn't.

It's kept me alive many times when without it would have been a trip to the hospital. That's not to say I'm defending it per se - but I will probably have to keep it on my Ouroboros build. What is it that you don't like about it and what are some alternatives in your view?

Quote:

Perf Shifter proc will proc on the target. So don't do that. Glue Arrow just really is not that great. I would drop it or proc it. Flash Arrow is also just not that great but its better than an MM attack. Ice Arrow is the same way, it is cool, but is not really that great over all. Grab it if you want 4 basilisk gazes.

Thanks a lot about the Perf Shifter - I had missed that when looking on Paragon Wiki! I'm trying to get away from MM attacks because for the most part they're worthless. FA is good for not aggro-ing adjoining groups. I assume that Basilisks are for the 7.5 percent global recharge more than any thing else (?).

Quote:

TA's Champs are Poison Gas Arrow, Acid Arrow, Disruption Arrow, and Oil Arrow. Slot em and love them.

As a build goal, I would focus on S/L soft cap (easy to attain, keeps you alive)-> then +recharge (keeps debuffs coming).

Also MM's thrive on Leadership.

Any suggestions on what and where to slot there? Honestly not sure what you mean by S/L soft cap. I presume you mean on set bonuses when you're talking about +recharge.

What's your take on Web Cocoon (or Web Envelope for that matter)? Is Power Boost worth it?

Thanks!

Nyghtmaire · 06-11-2012 11:27 AM

HI there and welcome back to the game.

At the outset, let me echo _Pine_'s recommendations, except:

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Pine_

As a build goal, I would focus on S/L soft cap (easy to attain, keeps you alive)-> then +recharge (keeps debuffs coming).

Since you are going for a hover build, I would not recommend chasing the slashing/lethal ("S/L") defense softcap. If you're hovering, range and aoe positional attacks will pose much more of a threat. Instead, you may wish to layer defense and resistance, especially any energy resistance you can scrounge.

And +recharge, of course, rocks!

I have a sample build below. It uses a couple enhancement boosters to lift range defense up to 32% - or the value it would take to softcap range (and AoE in this instance as well) with one small purple. Also, it uses a gladiator's armor slot. Since you've been gone, these pvp shinies have decreased substantially in price from their +2billion peak to the 200-300 million mark. It is still expensive, but far less so.

The LotG's +recharge are expensive as well. However you may purchase these for 2 hero/villain marks at a pop. Lastly, the mastermind ATO's are not the ideal enhancements for your pets. However a) the recharge bonus is massive, and b) the unique adds a whooping 15% AOE defense to your pets. Overall, I squeezed all the pet unique that were available to your combination in to try and boost the pets' protections as much as possible.

Drawback: I had to drop teleport foe and the medicine pool to fit your personal protection in the build.

TLDR - the slotting and order by which powers are taken can (and likely should) be cleaned up. It is merely an alternative view of a direction you may wish to consider.

On to your questions...

Quote: