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Post by gholos on Jun 14, 2015 2:51:05 GMT -5
Hi all, I have restart to play CO after many years, so now i m a bit confused about how to spec my char. I want to play a pure PvE tank with high mitigation dmg, good aggro and self healing power, a char. with very high survivability even when i play alone . Just for a matter of taste i like that my char have CON as primary and STR as secondary and use some might powers. Searching in the web, i have find many builds and i tried to make my own, but i dont remember well the mechanics of the game so i need help. powerhouse.nullware.com/powerhouse.html?v=11&n=&d=1314913ABM4A020I000I20GI80KI903IG089Q03DL04MB03K704IE04I70DJ5037O04IC0W2O4C0tak3STYThanks all (Sorry for my bad english)
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Post by not1stepbackwards on Jun 15, 2015 21:47:22 GMT -5
Welcome back, good build. There's just a few things I wish to remind you of.
Most strongly recommended: Molecular Self Assembly energy unlock
You probably want an energy unlock power, so you don't have to use the energy builder, to keep attacking/grabbing threat. I know Defiance helps with that, but there are times when you lose threat, and that's when you most need energy. I most strongly recommend for your build Molecular Self Assembly, which is based on Intelligence. It recharges your energy bar whenever you use a cooldown power and it resets, like Conviction, like Unbreakable.
Strongly recommended: Masterful Dodge active defense
Get another active defense in addition to Unbreakable, I strongly recommend Masterful Dodge. The idea is you rotate between them. Yes, there is a shared cooldown timer (when you use Masterful Dodge, you cannot use Unbreakable for 15 to 20 seconds), but that's not a problem as you only need 1 at a time anyway. What's more, the extra cooldown timer also recharges your energy with Molecular Self Assembly. With high Intelligence, you basically constantly rotate between 2 active defenses, like Unbreakable, attack, attack, attack, Masterful Dodge, attack, attack, attack, hit Conviction every once in a while, repeat.
(If you're wondering what to swap, I'd say Roomsweeper, Bountiful Chi Resurgence and/or Miniaturization Drive. Long before, Roomsweeper was considered a good power, and while it's still useful, its knockback is now a problem for the team gameplay style. Bountiful Chi Resurgence is probably not necessary if you have Conviction. Miniaturization Drive might be your character theme (like you're making a growing character), but aside from that, it's not a big deal IMHO.)
Minor recommendation: +5 SS/+5 Rec
This is just a personal preference, and not that important. For Talents on your stats, instead of going +8 Str or +8 Con or +8 Int, do +5 Str/+5 Rec, +5 Con/+5 Rec, +5 Int/+5 Rec, etc. It's really not a big deal, though.
Good build, as is your English. I hope my explanation is clear, let me know if it's not.
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Post by gholos on Jun 16, 2015 1:28:34 GMT -5
Welcome back, good build. There's just a few things I wish to remind you of. Most strongly recommended: Molecular Self Assembly energy unlock You probably want an energy unlock power, so you don't have to use the energy builder, to keep attacking/grabbing threat. I know Defiance helps with that, but there are times when you lose threat, and that's when you most need energy. I most strongly recommend for your build Molecular Self Assembly, which is based on Intelligence. It recharges your energy bar whenever you use a cooldown power and it resets, like Conviction, like Unbreakable. Strongly recommended: Masterful Dodge active defense Get another active defense in addition to Unbreakable, I strongly recommend Masterful Dodge. The idea is you rotate between them. Yes, there is a shared cooldown timer (when you use Masterful Dodge, you cannot use Unbreakable for 15 to 20 seconds), but that's not a problem as you only need 1 at a time anyway. What's more, the extra cooldown timer also recharges your energy with Molecular Self Assembly. With high Intelligence, you basically constantly rotate between 2 active defenses, like Unbreakable, attack, attack, attack, Masterful Dodge, attack, attack, attack, hit Conviction every once in a while, repeat. (If you're wondering what to swap, I'd say Roomsweeper, Bountiful Chi Resurgence and/or Miniaturization Drive. Long before, Roomsweeper was considered a good power, and while it's still useful, its knockback is now a problem for the team gameplay style. Bountiful Chi Resurgence is probably not necessary if you have Conviction. Miniaturization Drive might be your character theme (like you're making a growing character), but aside from that, it's not a big deal IMHO.) Minor recommendation: +5 SS/+5 Rec This is just a personal preference, and not that important. For Talents on your stats, instead of going +8 Str or +8 Con or +8 Int, do +5 Str/+5 Rec, +5 Con/+5 Rec, +5 Int/+5 Rec, etc. It's really not a big deal, though. Good build, as is your English. I hope my explanation is clear, let me know if it's not. Thank you for the reply, i will change my build, using your advices
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Post by gholos on Jun 16, 2015 2:37:06 GMT -5
Howether, now what is the best freeform tank build for being unkillable and take good aggro? I have hear that DEX was nerfed and PRE no longer help in holding aggro, so at moment what is the best combination of superstats possible?
Thanks.
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Post by not1stepbackwards on Jun 16, 2015 14:57:18 GMT -5
That is another good question. I used to play the Behemoth AT, tried to be a good Tank, then I played different ATs, then I went Freeform. Having tried many different strategies, you may not like my honest answer: To be a good tank...play a good survivable DPS instead (except for Frosticus, a new Rampage boss). Before we get to that, let's take care of your immediate question 1st. --- I think your setup is fine with Con/Str/Int, nothing wrong with it, but it is only 1 strategy and there are others. Dex was nerfed and forced you to choose between high crits and high dodge; you have to focus on 1. I think Pre still helps, but high DPS draws aggro much more than Pre can. That said, here is a classic Dex/Pre/Con Tank build that still works, by Snake Wildlife, a pretty famous CO tank: powerhouse.nullware.com/powerhouse.html?v=11&n=You%20need%20about%2060%20End&d=1236a3GQPOh6300Q000Q305P10KP900I900Q617J503BH04A600K7079Q03AJ00MB03JC030mc42N3q438QThe difference is that, even with the right setup (which I think you already have), you may have problems holding aggro over a long fight against a good DPS. It's simply the way CO works, enemies feel threatened more from damage dealers and healers (in fact, here Pre is actually useful to draw aggro, by increasing healing). A very good aggro power is Devour Essence, because it's health draining; it deals damage and heals you, which draws enemies to you. That's why the above build by Snake Wildlife is still considered very good. --- Now back to my point about tanking by being a good DPS. Simply put, most enemies in CO, up to and including Gravitar the Rampage boss, aren't that difficult with a good DPS build. There's other tricks as well, like noticing most enemies in the game do Physical damage, so I take a DPS passive like Kinetic Manipulation that also offers Physical protection, while taking cheap Physical resistance gear like the Armadillo Glasses, Gloves, and Ring. Thus, I have almost the same survivability as a pure tank, and it is enough, but doing much more DPS. It's like finding that balance point for yourself. However, the greatest factor is that, unlike other MMOs, CO is designed so that tanks are not totally necessary. Sure, it helps, but a DPS who knows how to survive is even better. The one exception is the new Rampage boss, Frosticus. There's no easy way to tank that, you'll still need a healer and a bit of luck.
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Post by gholos on Jun 16, 2015 17:35:17 GMT -5
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Post by not1stepbackwards on Jun 17, 2015 4:46:23 GMT -5
CON is a fine choice, an excellent one, for the reasons you mentioned. I only showed Snake Wildlife's build as an example of Dex and Pre working; it was not meant to say your build was wrong, to suggest changing it. Again, I see your logic and I see his logic, those are both valid strategies. And to your question, no, CON has never been out-of-date. The one thing CO hasn't nerfed is hit points --- However, I also think your Might build is pretty good. Just in the spirit of being helpful, I made the changes based on my previous suggestions: powerhouse.nullware.com/powerhouse.html?v=11&n=&d=1314MEPABMTA020I000I20GI80KI903IG089Q03AJ00MB03K705IE04II03J5037G00IC0m2O4C0tak3STYI had to swap out a few things, which you may disagree with. One issue is that I put in Haymaker, which is great for 1 target, and especially good for bosses. Haymaker usually knocks enemies back, but against those that cannot be knocked back, like bosses, it does extra damage. It's one of the top powers for that reason. The trade-off/weakness is, it's not good DPS against mobs, partly because I took out Roomsweeper. Iron Cyclone is good for drawing aggro for mobs, but it is actually a Ranged power; it uses Ego, not Str. However, for your goal of being a pure tank, that's fine, I think. --- For your version of Snake's Devour Essence build, please know there's a few minor issues with the powers I saw. Don't worry, this is not a criticism, just sharing some experience! It's to do with the energy unlock, Supernatural Power. It returns energy only from Bestial and Infernal attacks (like Devour Essence). Thus, energy intensive moves like Inertia Dampening Field and even Conviction might cause you to run out of energy, which kinda slows you down. Supernatural Power is kind of weird like that. Also, I noticed you Frenzy took instead of Shred, maybe for an AoE attack? It turns out, Snake included Shred for an important reason, it causes Bleed very effectively, so he could then affect a target with the Venomous Breath's Paralytic Bile advantage and Devour Essence's Phlebotomist advantage. It's an interesting chain reaction. For an AoE that does good DPS and actually draws aggro really well, I'd actually add Epidemic, a huge cloud attack which causes damage over time. But don't worry about this build, I only showed it as an interesting example of Dex/Pre. --- I also don't want to confuse you, but if you want to see an example of a DPS build that's a better tank than most tanks, let me know.
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Post by gholos on Jun 17, 2015 5:24:25 GMT -5
Thanks for the good advices,
after i have read the Snake's build you have linked, i have decided to try it, i m using it now and it seems very good cause i m costantantly healed by devour's essence. Now i would to ask if, in your opinion, in this build is maybe better to put CON as primary for stun and hold resitance and Dex and PRE as secondary or if is better to leave DEX as primary. Really i dont have a specific might build in mind, im searching for a build that give me the maximum durability possible, cause often i play alone and the Snake's build seems very good for this.
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Post by not1stepbackwards on Jun 17, 2015 6:24:41 GMT -5
Now I see! Cool! Ok, I'm sorry I misunderstood. CON or DEX? Tough call, but I remember this 1 detail. The DEX, as you know, affects Crits. You CAN Crit on Healing, and damage. So it helps survivability and helps you keep aggro. I remember now that's why Snake said to put Dex 1st. CON is good for HP, for Knock, for Hold. However, there was a game mechanic change IMHO, but it's hard to actually measure. CO made it so that you get knocked back anyway by certain enemies. Thus, if you want HP, that's great. But if you really want CON for the Knock and Hold, it might not be worth it. And the bottom line: the best way to resist Knock and Hold, is actually to simply Block, thus the Knock and Hold resistance isn't that helpful. This is very noticeable in the Warlord Alert, where there's a lot of people with shotguns. I remember on my Behemoth, I was getting Knocked back as badly as anyone. Thus, to compare: DEX - higher healing - higher DPS, which also leads to better aggro CON - more HP This is why I think DEX primary is better in this particular build. I actually forgot until you asked this 2nd time, sorry, But 1 final point - remember you can re-spec superstats. It's cheaper at the start, but even at max level, it's only 50G. You may want to test both ways, see if Snake was right.
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Post by gholos on Jun 17, 2015 6:38:56 GMT -5
Hehe ok, thank again for the help mate and for the link to the Snake's build, is very interesting and funny to play
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