Mind/Elec Newb looking for advice

[Phasma Tacitus]

So, I just started playing City of Heroes and my first character has been a Mind/Elec Dominator. Liking it until now, still just level 9, but I think I've got the basics of the game to try out other combinations of powers and classes to see how they're like, but I want to know from the more experienced about my first choice, Mind/Elec. How viable is it? Should I keep it or focus on something else? Any advice is welcome.

[Mezmera]

I've had just about every variation of Mind dom there is.  A Mind control Dominator is fantastic while Electric Assault is underwhelming.  For someone just starting out it's kind of good to cut your teeth on an underperforming power like say an Electric Assault so if you play something like a Mind/Energy dom you'll see how night and day power combinations can effect the AT you've chosen to play.  

[Phasma Tacitus]

Good to know I chose a good primary then, I'll return to it after testing some different setups. The character won't be a keeper though, considering Elec Assault isn't a good choice, but I'll play with it a while for a challenge, it will surely help out with tactics.

[Coyote]

Mind is a set that is all ranged, and with a cone especially likes to stay away from mobs. With that in mind, I'd look for a secondary that plays well at range. IMO, Fire is best for that (and I'm running a Mind/Fire), but Energy is also good (damage is not that high, but you can slot Force Feedbacks everywhere and get perma-Doom status much earlier than normal) and Ice and Dark also do well at range.

[Phasma Tacitus]

My intention was to go for a ranged character, so it's good knowing Mind Control is focused on that, but I wasn't aware about the secondaries dictating that kind of focus.

[Coyote]

They don't "dictate", but there are sets that have better ranged attacks and worse melee, or the reverse. For example, Earth Assault has a PBAoE, a damage aura, and a short-range (20') AoE. And its heaviest hitting attacks are melee-range. So while its ranged attacks aren't bad, it's hard to play an Earth Assault Dominator and NOT be in melee range, where it does very good AoE damage.

Conversely, Fire's 2-3 best attacks are ranged single-target. So it works better as a ranged single-target set.

 

Sure, they can each function at all ranges, but some are better at range and some are better in melee. The biggest constraints are Energy, Earth, Thorns, and Martial, which instead of splitting AoE attacks with 1 cone (ranged) and 1 melee PBAoE have more melee-range AoE than ranged AoE attacks. So if you want these sets and use them for AoE, you're strongly influenced towards a melee-range playstyle.

Edited March 6, 2020 by Coyote

[Mezmera]

5 hours ago, Coyote said:

Mind is a set that is all ranged, and with a cone especially likes to stay away from mobs. With that in mind, I'd look for a secondary that plays well at range. IMO, Fire is best for that (and I'm running a Mind/Fire), but Energy is also good (damage is not that high, but you can slot Force Feedbacks everywhere and get perma-Doom status much earlier than normal) and Ice and Dark also do well at range.

Have you looked at the revamp notes?  Energy Assault is stupid good damage now, especially when you use the new mechanics correctly.  I'd venture to say it's the best dps atm on a dom especially when you have a melee playstyle.  You can be in melee and use the aoe mind controls to just the same affect as you would at range.  Yes there's terrify but you can switch that out for a better power more suitable to fit energy.  

[Coyote]

7 minutes ago, Mezmera said:

Have you looked at the revamp notes?  Energy Assault is stupid good damage now, especially when you use the new mechanics correctly.  I'd venture to say it's the best dps atm on a dom especially when you have a melee playstyle.  You can be in melee and use the aoe mind controls to just the same affect as you would at range.  Yes there's terrify but you can switch that out for a better power more suitable to fit energy.  

 

Yes, but I consider Mind Control as "ranged" not because you can't use it in melee, but because if you have an all-ranged set that is an advantage, and you're giving it up when going into melee. I would recommend Energy Assault paired with a primary that has a reason to close to melee, and I would further recommend it with a primary that has a Stun power so that you can just start with a Stun and then keep everything Stunned. Fire and Dark would be good, though Electric and Ice can also work with their preference to be in melee. Mind... works, but I think it works better at range.

[Mezmera]

There's no real one way to play Mind control honestly.  Plus I find "range" powersets to be just much more adaptable as opposed to meleecentric ones like the ones with offensive pbaoe toggles like Arctic Air.  That's why I like Mind control so much because you can play it any way you like.  

 

Energy's two strongest attacks (not counting whirling hands) are ranged and outgun anything any other dom can get even in a ranged set like say /fire.  Plus building up defenses on the side is not giving anything up, the mix of great melee and ranged powers in Energy Assault maximizes your potential.  With the various ways to get hard control from Mind the mob of bad guys will be dead way before a domination power boosted aoe hold wears off.  

Edited March 6, 2020 by Mezmera

[Frosticus]

On 3/4/2020 at 7:49 PM, Phasma Tacitus said:

So, I just started playing City of Heroes and my first character has been a Mind/Elec Dominator. Liking it until now, still just level 9, but I think I've got the basics of the game to try out other combinations of powers and classes to see how they're like, but I want to know from the more experienced about my first choice, Mind/Elec. How viable is it? Should I keep it or focus on something else? Any advice is welcome.

If you like it, you should play it. 

 

Just about everything is viable in coh, doubly so if you take the time to learn your character. 

 

I think people either love or hate mind control. I'm not a fan of it and have taken it to 50 on  with a troller and a dom back in the old days. But others feel it is the best. 

 

Elec is ok. It hits hard if you put a gaussian proc into buildup. 

The only major let down is voltaic sentinel. That power really needs some love for every AT that gets it. It definitely doesnt feel like a t9 power. 

[mbre2006]

7 hours ago, Coyote said:

but I think it works better at range.

Is there any proof to this or it's more of an opinion?

[Coyote]

12 hours ago, mbre2006 said:

20 hours ago, Coyote said:

but I think it works better at range.

Is there any proof to this or it's more of an opinion?

 

Yes

[mbre2006]

10 hours ago, Coyote said:

 

Yes

More of an opinion it is. Got you.