SomeGuy

TF doesn't need to crit to guarantee short ET. It doesn't even need to land, just be cast. It does put some different thoughts on why CS/ATO2 should be used in ET. You can do some fun things with ATO2 in ET. You're gonna be able to do Whirling Hands and another attack in the ATO2 window with it there. *wait, did my response before sound like I was advocating for ATO2 in something other then ET? Cause I'm team ET for where I think ATO2 should be.

I actually got away from TW BEFORE the nerf cause of the same reasons you stated. There are more reasons, but those were a part of it.

TF-(buildup-ET (ATO2 here)-Snipe-BS Short ET looks like this for the ATO2 proc: Whereas TF's looks like this: That is going to eat up a LOT of the benefit of the ATO2 firing. If the ATO2 is in ET that leaves enough time to do a BS-Snipe in that window. Sometimes a BS is skipped since you should be doing BU in between TF and ET. So you can get a Snipe-TF (I think...but you can definitely get a TF). Keep in mind the ATO2 lasts for 3.25s once it activates. BS-Snipe is 3.036 total arcana time. You have 2.85s of ATO2 with it in ET. You have 1.483 with it in TF. So if you have the ATO2 in TF you get ONE attack (because you only get 1.005s of ATO2 if it's in TF). If it's in ET you get 2.85s. That's a lot of time. Even if you cast long ET it looks like this: Now the arcana time for long ET in 2,9, so you get 2.546s of the proc benefits, but that is still massively different than with it in TF. ATO2 Duration ET Short: 2.85s ET long: 2.546s BS: 2.498s TF: 1.005s

I think the post I responded to might draw some confusion. The response I gave remarks on how the current TW does better ST DPS than a DM with 1x stack of Soul Drain. Most primaries do, actually. For my own data I have 9 other primaries, paired with Bio Armor, having a better average time than TW/BIO average. I have 13 other primaries with better averages than DM/BIO. I've always considered Tier Lists as pretty good guidelines on where to start looking, but it definitely doesn't mean what I will enjoy the most. Hell, this one doesn't absolutely agree with my data. But it's close (looking at DB and WM). I LOVE playing DM. Damage wise it's an underperformer, but it's easily one of the more fun sets to play for me.

TW doesn't get Whirling Smash until 26 and Arc of Destruction until 32. I honestly can't imagine how frustrating it would be to play the set without those abilities and trying to solo. That's basically all your AOE (or AOE worth anything that is). AoD is ESSENTIAL for an optimal ST rotation to boot. So does it get better? I'd have to think it would if I was in your shoes.

I guess I'll respond to that question. TW is absolutely not in the same category as stuff like DB anymore. It falls into the "is it worth it?" thought process like Kinetic Melee. You know how much of a fight and RNG being on your side for those kind of times to happen for TW? Keep in mind TW is NOT averaging less than 1:20 with no temps. Where it's placed on this tier list lines up with my own data collection. You can't face-roll TW/BIO and expect to get a 1:30 time. You have to have a really REALLY tight attack rotation. It may be as tightly needed as a world first raiding guild DPS' rotation (and I'm talking from experience). And even then, you better have some RNG on your side.

There is a lot of irony here.

Even with the defense changes this build should be fine since it is soft-capped to all types except neg/psi. Parry would be useless with this build. 13pts of KB protection and 70% recharge/run speed protection. The Chance to Heal and Chance to Absorb procs will save you. Enough to the point it is noticeable. The reason for the Shield Wall 3pc is because HP>HP/s. This will exemp just fine. Catalyze everything (just get it off the AH that way). That's part of the reason the Kismet is in Power Shield and not Combat Jumping (to have access to it sooner if need be). Hopefully this gives some good ideas. Boxing and Brawl are just set mules for the Blistering Cold 2pc bonus. Same with Overload. It's just a mule for the Shield Wall unique. I don't even have it on my bars. Granted, it is a good power, even if you don't need the Defense from it. It provides other good stuff. Each attack is a defense debuff, so that debuff is a 1:1 increase to your chance to hit. Assault>Tactics very much in this build's situation.

A procced out BS actually does decent damage. Paired with ENA? Sounds like a win. I'll see if I already have something.

It's that good. I was never impressed by the AOE of it, but it's ST DPS is pretty rockin'.

The secondary does Bio Armor levels of damage (this isn't an exaggeration, it really does). So if you do Stone Armor, I hope you really enjoy runners because everything will be running away.

lol basically 😛 Corpse blasting is one of my chief complaints about playing Energy Melee.

KM is fine. It doesn't perform poorly for someone who figures it out. Is it worth that? Up to you. It shouldn't be compared to Staff, let alone Spines. Now those are sad performers.

This. Each person has different reasons. Mine are this and to have actual numbers for myself. Really, that's the only reason I stick to the standard of no temps for my runs. I started doing this back on Live and it stuck so I don't have crazy variables across powersets when I see numbers. I personally don't care if people do, or if their build is really only built for Pylons. I did a Pylon only build ONCE out of curiosity. Coincidentally, I fall in to the group that think tankers got way to buffed 😄

They wanted to make Brutes irrelevant. This isn't going to go back.

And then there are those that still think regen is good.

They didn't get overbuffed at all. Nope. Not an iota. *this is sarcasm since some people simply refuse to get it.

Neither Katana or DB have redraw with that costume option clicked. So this doesn't matter if that's the case.

lol the OLD TW/BIO, and still not there

I replaced Strike with Shockwave and got the same average. Both attacks do similar DPA and have a similar cast time and Shockwave is more versatile. Don't think I could go back.

I just like assault T4 for the passive 10% damage boost. That's pretty darn nice. Stack that with Assault from the Leadership pool and you have an extra 20% damage at all times. The passive boost is perma. The toggle isn't. I like perma. Mmmm...

No clue why you wouldn't be able to apply it to any WM/X, honestly. But this is my WM/SD/Snipe:

It's dumb simple. CL-Snipe-SH-CL-JB-SH-CL repeat.@Pzn and I tried to make a procced WM work, and I can't quite remember, but I think the only way I was able to get it close was NOT taking snipe and still put the ATO2 in Clobber. There was no time difference.in either, really. I just *really* like having a combat snipe, and the build for it is straight through, so that one is definitely my preference. WM/BIO Proc w/ Melt Armor

No. Below WM. Pretty middle of the pack now.

Nuke as the one in the build? Sounds like its not a temp 😛