Agorazium

Maybe a compromise would be to make the AOE effects bigger rather than brighter? Compared to for example Dimension Shift, Heart of Darkness, Shadow Field, Paralyzing Blast, Flash, Gleam etc. some of the pyro AOEs just look so small and sad.

The power icon for Controller Tesla Coil is a different color than the rest of the set FYI! (at least in the character creator)

First of all, thank you!!! This is the set I've been dreaming of for my main toon of 20 years. After dozens of iterations that were never quite what I wanted, I'm hopeful this will be the one. Feedback so far: I agree that the effects could be flashier. Dazzle is the cornerstone power that is going to be used thousands of times but it feels a little anemic. I think it might be the throw animation? The animation used for Neutrino Bolt for example might be better. The VFX are solid IMO. The sound effects also seem very quiet compared to my secondary. Blast Off is a fun secondary effect, but I think will be quite weak. A chance to knockdown on Dazzle and Explosive Bouquet, which will already hold, essentially doesn't do anything but look funny. I wonder if a chance to sleep/stun in an area, like Illusion's Blind, might be a little more useful while still thematic. I understand not every set is going to be at the same power level, but again, Blast Off might as well not be there on 2 of the powers including the one that will be spammed the most. ETA: nevermind I just noticed Blast Off has a -res debuff. I still think a knockdown on hold powers is a little silly but at least it won’t be doing nothing.

These are amazing. Abraxas and Nom de Plume in particular are so striking!

Hello! I was hoping the MM experts could take a look at this build. I haven't played Necro since live. I saw that someone (sorry I can't remember the name - strikerfox maybe?) recommends 6-slotting both Enchant Undead and Dark Empowerment but I'm curious if that's worthwhile as a Thermal that already has resist buffs and strong heals. I also feel like my Melt Armor slotting isn't great though I'm not sure what else to do with it. I value Res over Def on MMs so having low-ish ranged defense isn't a huge concern although I'm sure my build could be optimized better. I'm considering dropping Kick/Tough so I can grab Rune of Protection or possibly Hasten. I would like to keep Soul Mastery for theme and S/L resist. Thanks! Villain Mastermind Build plan made with Mids' Reborn v3.7.5 rev. 21 ────────────────────────────── Primary powerset: NecromancySecondary powerset: Thermal RadiationPool powerset (#1): SorceryPool powerset (#2): LeadershipPool powerset (#3): FightingPool powerset (#4): FlightAncillary powerset: Soul Mastery ────────────────────────────── Powers taken: Level 1: Zombie Horde A: Superior Mark of Supremacy: Endurance/Pet +Resist +Regen3: Superior Mark of Supremacy: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance3: Superior Mark of Supremacy: Accuracy/Damage5: Overwhelming Force: Damage/Chance for Knockdown/Knockback to Knockdown5: Blood Mandate: Accuracy/Endurance11: Blood Mandate: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance Level 1: Warmth A: Preventive Medicine: Heal7: Preventive Medicine: Heal/Endurance7: Preventive Medicine: Endurance/RechargeTime9: Preventive Medicine: Heal/RechargeTime9: Preventive Medicine: Heal/RechargeTime/Endurance11: Preventive Medicine: Chance for +Absorb Level 2: Gloom A: Thunderstrike: Accuracy/Damage15: Thunderstrike: Damage/Endurance15: Thunderstrike: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance17: Thunderstrike: Damage/Endurance/Recharge17: Cloud Senses: Chance for Negative Energy Damage Level 4: Fire Shield A: Aegis: Resistance19: Aegis: Psionic/Status Resistance37: Aegis: Resistance/Endurance37: Aegis: Resistance/Endurance/Recharge Level 6: Enchant Undead A: Steadfast Protection: Resistance/+Def 3% Level 8: Life Drain A: Thunderstrike: Accuracy/Damage21: Thunderstrike: Damage/Endurance23: Thunderstrike: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance23: Thunderstrike: Damage/Endurance/Recharge25: Apocalypse: Chance of Damage(Negative)25: Cloud Senses: Chance for Negative Energy Damage Level 10: Plasma Shield A: Unbreakable Guard: Resistance/Endurance21: Unbreakable Guard: Resistance Level 12: Grave Knight A: Superior Mark of Supremacy: Damage27: Superior Mark of Supremacy: Damage/Endurance27: Superior Mark of Supremacy: Accuracy/Endurance29: Achilles' Heel: Chance for Res Debuff29: Blood Mandate: Accuracy/Damage31: Blood Mandate: Accuracy/Endurance Level 14: Mystic Flight A: Blessing of the Zephyr: Knockback Reduction (4 points)46: Blessing of the Zephyr: Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range Level 16: Cauterize A: Numina's Convalesence: Heal/Endurance19: Numina's Convalesence: Endurance/Recharge31: Numina's Convalesence: Heal/Recharge31: Numina's Convalesence: Heal/Endurance/Recharge33: Numina's Convalesence: Heal33: Numina's Convalesence: +Regeneration/+Recovery Level 18: Soul Extraction A: Edict of the Master: Defense Bonus40: Sovereign Right: Resistance Bonus48: Call to Arms: Defense Bonus Aura for Pets48: Expedient Reinforcement: Resist Bonus Aura for Pets50: Expedient Reinforcement: Accuracy/Recharge50: Expedient Reinforcement: Endurance/Damage/Recharge Level 20: Maneuvers A: Luck of the Gambler: Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed33: Luck of the Gambler: Defense/Endurance42: Shield Wall: +Res (Teleportation), +5% Res (All) Level 22: Lich A: Superior Command of the Mastermind: Accuracy/Damage34: Superior Command of the Mastermind: Damage/Endurance34: Superior Command of the Mastermind: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge36: Superior Command of the Mastermind: Recharge/Pet +AoE Defense Aura36: Cloud Senses: Chance for Negative Energy Damage36: Soulbound Allegiance: Chance for Build Up Level 24: Forge A: Invention: Recharge Reduction Level 26: Dark Empowerment A: Invention: Endurance Reduction Level 28: Heat Exhaustion A: Invention: Recharge Reduction37: Invention: Accuracy Level 30: Melt Armor A: Achilles' Heel: Chance for Res Debuff39: Shield Breaker: Accuracy/Recharge39: Shield Breaker: Defense Debuff/Endurance/Recharge39: Shield Breaker: Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge Level 32: Tactics A: Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control: To Hit Buff34: Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control: To Hit Buff/Endurance Level 35: Kick (Empty) Level 38: Dark Embrace A: Gladiator's Armor: TP Protection +3% Def (All)40: Gladiator's Armor: End/Resist40: Gladiator's Armor: Resistance Level 41: Soul Tentacles A: Bombardment: Damage42: Bombardment: Accuracy/Recharge/Endurance42: Bombardment: Accuracy/Damage/Recharge43: Bombardment: Accuracy/Damage/Recharge/Endurance43: Bombardment: Chance for Fire Damage43: Positron's Blast: Chance of Damage(Energy) Level 44: Soul Storm A: Thunderstrike: Accuracy/Damage45: Thunderstrike: Damage/Endurance45: Thunderstrike: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance45: Thunderstrike: Accuracy/Damage/Recharge46: Ghost Widow's Embrace: Chance of Damage(Psionic)46: Unbreakable Constraint: Chance for Smashing Damage Level 47: Tough A: Unbreakable Guard: Resistance/Endurance48: Unbreakable Guard: Resistance/Endurance/RechargeTime Level 49: Assault A: Invention: Endurance Reduction ────────────────────────────── Inherents: Level 1: Supremacy Level 1: Brawl (Empty) Level 1: Sprint (Empty) Level 2: Rest (Empty) Level 1: Swift (Empty) Level 1: Hurdle (Empty) Level 1: Health A: Miracle: +Recovery13: Panacea: +Hit Points/Endurance Level 1: Stamina A: Performance Shifter: Chance for +End13: Performance Shifter: EndMod Level 14: Translocation

It needs some love, probably a buff/debuff to make it competitive. There's been so much power creep with newer sets that it's arguably not even the best at healing anymore - and I know someone will say "Empathy isn't a healing set it's a buff set!!!" but other sets are better at that too. That said, I think there's value in sets that are strong pre-50 even if they don't contribute as much to fully IOd teams. I think some minor tweaks to Empathy's core powers to give it more of an identity could be nice, like a lower cooldown for Recovery Aura that could make Empathy the premier +recovery set, or higher values to Fortitude or something.

Thanks! Re: Spectral Wounds, the only time I'm ever spamming my ST chain is against AVs really, and with the healing I assumed it would be lower damage over time than the other two.

I've wanted to make this combo work for a while but found it boring and on the weaker side. Decided to try again now that Liquefy is a usable power and it feels a lot better, but I think the build could be improved. The downside of Sonic is still there - it's not great for IO sets so I'm still quite far away from perma-PA (17 seconds without FF Recharge procs). I'm not really sure where I can squeeze more recharge in without dropping a bunch of powers. I dropped Spectral Terror on purpose. It's nice in low-level content but once PA, Flash and Liquefy are all slotted up it doesn't see much use since Liquefy in particular just does it all better. I have been enjoying Force of Will for a better attack chain and more AOE damage but I anticipate that'll have to go if I want perma-PA. Hero Controller Build plan made with Mids' Reborn v3.7.5 rev. 21 ────────────────────────────── Primary powerset: Illusion Control Secondary powerset: Sonic Resonance Pool powerset (#1): Leadership Pool powerset (#2): Force of Will Pool powerset (#3): Speed Pool powerset (#4): Flight Epic powerset: Energy Mastery ────────────────────────────── Powers taken: Level 1: Blind A: Thunderstrike: Accuracy/Damage 3: Thunderstrike: Damage/Endurance 3: Thunderstrike: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance 5: Thunderstrike: Damage/Endurance/Recharge 5: Unbreakable Constraint: Chance for Smashing Damage 7: Apocalypse: Chance of Damage(Negative) Level 1: Sonic Siphon A: Invention: Accuracy Level 2: Deceive A: Coercive Persuasion : Confused 9: Coercive Persuasion : Confused/Recharge 11: Coercive Persuasion : Confused/Recharge/Accuracy 11: Coercive Persuasion : Recharge/Accuracy 13: Coercive Persuasion : Confused/Endurance 13: Coercive Persuasion : Contagious Confusion Level 4: Sonic Barrier A: Unbreakable Guard: Resistance 15: Unbreakable Guard: Resistance/Endurance Level 6: Sonic Haven A: Unbreakable Guard: Resistance 15: Unbreakable Guard: Resistance/Endurance Level 8: Flash A: Superior Will of the Controller: Accuracy/Control Duration 17: Superior Will of the Controller: Control Duration/Recharge 17: Superior Will of the Controller: Endurance/Recharge 19: Superior Will of the Controller: Accuracy/Control Duration/Endurance 33: Superior Will of the Controller: Accuracy/Control Duration/Endurance/Recharge 33: Superior Will of the Controller: Recharge/Chance for Psionic Damage Level 10: Superior Invisibility A: Luck of the Gambler: Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed 19: Luck of the Gambler: Defense/Endurance Level 12: Maneuvers A: Red Fortune: Defense/Endurance 21: Red Fortune: Defense/Recharge 21: Red Fortune: Endurance/Recharge 23: Red Fortune: Defense/Endurance/Recharge 23: Red Fortune: Defense 25: Red Fortune: Endurance Level 14: Tactics A: Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control: To Hit Buff/Recharge/Endurance 34: Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control: To Hit Buff/Endurance Level 16: Disruption Field A: Invention: Endurance Reduction Level 18: Phantom Army A: Expedient Reinforcement: Accuracy/Recharge 25: Expedient Reinforcement: Accuracy/Damage 27: Expedient Reinforcement: Damage/Endurance 27: Expedient Reinforcement: Accuracy/Damage/Recharge 29: Expedient Reinforcement: Endurance/Damage/Recharge 29: Expedient Reinforcement: Resist Bonus Aura for Pets Level 20: Sonic Dispersion A: Impervium Armor: Resistance/Endurance 31: Impervium Armor: Resistance 31: Impervium Armor: Resistance/Endurance/Recharge 31: Impervium Armor: Resistance/Recharge 33: Gladiator's Armor: TP Protection +3% Def (All) Level 22: Group Invisibility A: Luck of the Gambler: Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed Level 24: Mighty Leap A: Blessing of the Zephyr: Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range 34: Blessing of the Zephyr: Knockback Reduction (4 points) Level 26: Phantasm A: Sovereign Right: Accuracy/Damage 36: Sovereign Right: Damage/Endurance 36: Sovereign Right: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance 36: Soulbound Allegiance: Chance for Build Up 50: Sudden Acceleration: Knockback to Knockdown Level 28: Project Will A: Thunderstrike: Accuracy/Damage 34: Explosive Strike: Chance for Smashing Damage 37: Thunderstrike: Damage/Endurance 37: Thunderstrike: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance 37: Thunderstrike: Damage/Endurance/Recharge Level 30: Liquefy A: Cloud Senses: ToHit Debuff 39: Cloud Senses: Accuracy/ToHitDebuff 39: Cloud Senses: Accuracy/Recharge 39: Cloud Senses: ToHit Debuff/Endurance/Recharge 40: Cloud Senses: Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge 40: Cloud Senses: Chance for Negative Energy Damage Level 32: Hasten A: Invention: Recharge Reduction 40: Invention: Recharge Reduction Level 35: Power Blast A: Thunderstrike: Accuracy/Damage 42: Thunderstrike: Damage/Endurance 42: Thunderstrike: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance 42: Thunderstrike: Damage/Endurance/Recharge 43: Force Feedback: Chance for +Recharge Level 38: Temp Invulnerability A: Steadfast Protection: Resistance/+Def 3% 43: Impervium Armor: Resistance 43: Impervium Armor: Resistance/Endurance Level 41: Energy Torrent A: Positron's Blast: Accuracy/Damage 45: Positron's Blast: Damage/Endurance 45: Positron's Blast: Damage/Range 45: Positron's Blast: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance 46: Positron's Blast: Chance of Damage(Energy) 46: Bombardment: Chance for Fire Damage Level 44: Wall of Force A: Positron's Blast: Accuracy/Damage 46: Positron's Blast: Damage/Endurance 48: Positron's Blast: Damage/Range 48: Positron's Blast: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance 48: Positron's Blast: Chance of Damage(Energy) 50: Bombardment: Chance for Fire Damage Level 47: Hover A: Luck of the Gambler: Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed Level 49: Sonic Repulsion A: Force Feedback: Chance for +Recharge 50: Sudden Acceleration: Knockback to Knockdown ────────────────────────────── Inherents: Level 1: Containment Level 1: Brawl (Empty) Level 1: Sprint (Empty) Level 2: Rest (Empty) Level 1: Swift (Empty) Level 1: Hurdle (Empty) Level 1: Health A: Miracle: +Recovery 7: Panacea: +Hit Points/Endurance Level 1: Stamina A: Performance Shifter: EndMod 9: Performance Shifter: Chance for +End Level 24: Takeoff https://api.midsreborn.com/build/download/FoOoIZGyHsSDf614

I’m leveling a Plant/Dark right now and it’s insanely good. It will always have value on well-built teams thanks to Tar Patch and Plant’s above-average damage, and it carries weaker teams on its own. There are better options for more damage-oriented builds but I wanted a defensive secondary to balance out the character and on Controllers I think /Dark is the best bet. Thematically it was a little difficult to tie the sets together but I came up with a life-force-manipulation concept that I’m happy with.

I recommend Ice/Nature too, Entangling Aura is stupid good coupled with Arctic Air. But it is a purely defensive build that does 0 damage.

I like grav/kin. Dimension Shift is one of the better “oh s***” powers in the game which really helps balance kin’s lack of defensive options in emergencies. If you’re sturdy enough to play in melee, Singularity’s pull-toward aura also helps keep enemies grouped for Fulcrum Shift.

My Bots/EA and Demons/Nature are my favorites. Both sets are lackluster (IMO) on other ATs but really shine on MMs where you don't have to choose between blasting and supporting. They're also both incredibly sturdy even at low levels which suits my playstyle.

Thank you, this is great feedback. You are correct that I don't know what I'm doing on blasters, I watched all your videos and they were really helpful! I'm very familiar with jousting on my tanks/MMs, I don't know why I didn't think to apply it to blasters too. Still tinkering with the build but I did drop Discharge to use those slots elsewhere, and now have him at 37% ranged defense, 20% melee and 70% S/L resist. I never solo, so I build my toons assuming that at least 1 person on my team will have Maneuvers/Tactics. I'm content with that for now I think, while I focus more on learning to play the AT and feel comfortable making adjustments. Thank you so much!

I've been trying to make a snake-inspired costume for years and can never get them to look right. This might be the best one I've ever seen!

Thanks! I didn't know you could do that, I've edited it into the OP. Thanks for the feedback. I do spend a fair amount of time in melee. Drain Psyche seems to not hit targets if I'm hovering above them; Shockwave is finnicky that way too. I do plan on dropping Static Discharge and redistributing some of those slots into Scream. Shocking Bolt is much quicker to activate than Shout which unfortunately is still not a great power, plus I try to have several different damage types on my DPS toons. The low recharge is noticeable but workable. My AOE attack chain cycles with no gaps, and if I have a free second on a single target, I can use Howl as filler for the extra -res proc.