Illusion/Storm... Controlled Chaos!

[pauljima]

1 minute ago, Xyvkin said:

I've been taking a Illusion/Storm controller to 50 and before investing all my money on his build, would like to ask a question.

 

I see people mention how they solo stuff with it, but what about group play? I have to know if I'll be accepted or useful in groups.

I actually did some teaming yesterday. Full team of x8/+4. She performed beautifully. Damage output was good, chaos reigned supreme, and with the KB->KD the brutes we’re still able to do their thing.

 

Lots of fun and felt like I was more than just a contributor... apart from the Scrapper on team with Incarnate abilities that occasionally one-shotted entire mobs, I felt pretty well up to snuff.

 

I’m usually a Brute guy, but this build is kind of quickly rising the ranks to my favorite toon. She tanks (PA), controls, deals out the damage, and has multiple means of staying alive.

 

Think I’ll pursue accolades and incarnate stuff with her for sure.

[Xyvkin]

1 hour ago, pauljima said:

I actually did some teaming yesterday. Full team of x8/+4. She performed beautifully. Damage output was good, chaos reigned supreme, and with the KB->KD the brutes we’re still able to do their thing.

 

Lots of fun and felt like I was more than just a contributor... apart from the Scrapper on team with Incarnate abilities that occasionally one-shotted entire mobs, I felt pretty well up to snuff.

 

I’m usually a Brute guy, but this build is kind of quickly rising the ranks to my favorite toon. She tanks (PA), controls, deals out the damage, and has multiple means of staying alive.

 

Think I’ll pursue accolades and incarnate stuff with her for sure.

This was exactly what I was looking for, thank you so much for telling me. 

 

Somehow, I feel compelled to illusion/storm.

 

Was that Scrapper a TW user? I'm usually a melee character too and I realized I can't compare almost anything to TW.

 

[pauljima]

19 minutes ago, Xyvkin said:

This was exactly what I was looking for, thank you so much for telling me. 

 

Somehow, I feel compelled to illusion/storm.

 

Was that Scrapper a TW user? I'm usually a melee character too and I realized I can't compare almost anything to TW.

 

Honestly I couldn't say... x8/+4 teams are so chaotic and hard to keep track of...

[Riverdusk]

With liberal use of kb to kd IO's you can definitely be "team friendly" and also contribute quite a bit.  I like the idea @Zepp has of having two builds, one "chaos" and one "controlled", although expensive to do of course.

[Zepp]

6 hours ago, Riverdusk said:

With liberal use of kb to kd IO's you can definitely be "team friendly" and also contribute quite a bit.  I like the idea @Zepp has of having two builds, one "chaos" and one "controlled", although expensive to do of course.

I got a billion influence lying around after basically finishing the first build... should be enough for a second...

[roleki]

On 6/10/2020 at 5:34 PM, pauljima said:

Holy Hell that build looks expensive but fun. 

Only thing is, it's not killing stuff as quick as it could, so apparently it's not expensive enough 🙂 Illusion and Storm both demand a lot of resources (i.e. inf) so it will tend to be one of the more expensive builds when you pair them together.  Luckily, resources are easy to come by if you're willing to do a little non-traditional gaming here and there, so expense is kind of a misnomer.

 

Myself, I don't think controllers in general need as much defense as your typical character, especially in the case of Illusion controllers, and especially if that Illusion controller has Perma PA and Spectral Terror slotted for -ToHit.  PA holds aggro, and Spectral Terror dumps out *massive* -ToHit, which really shores up the defense calculations when mobs take a swing at you.  Also, a macro to combine insps and crap out purples is free, and leaves you with slots you can invest in making yourself a better emitter of justice.  

 

Which, hate to say, includes slotting KB:KD wherever possible.  Illusion lacks an immobilize power and unmitigated KB will absolutely KILL your efficiency.  I get being a proud purveyor of chaos, but I guarantee you will have almost as much fun (if not more!) if you're melting things in moments instead of minutes.  Also, KB:KD turns Gale into a powerhouse soft control, especially when slotted with FF+Recharge, and when Tornado/Lightning Storm are slotted with KB:KD, everything they hit just flops down RIGHT THERE, so there's no downtime when switching targets or chasing them.  

 

This is my Ill/Storm, built with more of an eye towards killing things than engaging in prolonged fights.   It's an ugly Ill/Storm, but it's mine 🙂

 

 

Hero Plan by Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer 2.6.0.7
https://github.com/ImaginaryDevelopment/imaginary-hero-designer

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Weather Permitting: Level 50 Technology Controller
Primary Power Set: Illusion Control
Secondary Power Set: Storm Summoning
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Fire Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Blind -- SprWiloft-Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/Rchg(A), SprWiloft-EndRdx/Rchg(9), SprWiloft-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx(9), SprWiloft-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx/Rchg(11), SprWiloft-Rchg/Dmg%(13)
Level 1: Gale -- FrcFdb-Acc/KB(A), FrcFdb-Rechg%(7), SuddAcc--KB/+KD(7)
Level 2: Spectral Wounds -- Dcm-Acc/Dmg(A), Dcm-Dmg/EndRdx(13), Dcm-Dmg/Rchg(15), Dcm-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(17), Dcm-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(17)
Level 4: Super Jump -- Jump-I(A)
Level 6: Deceive -- CrcPrs-Acc/Conf/Rchg(A), CrcPrs-Conf%(34)
Level 8: Flash -- UnbCns-Hold(A), UnbCns-Hold/Rchg(23), UnbCns-Acc/Hold/Rchg(25), UnbCns-Acc/Rchg(25), UnbCns-EndRdx/Hold(31)
Level 10: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), Ksm-ToHit+(11)
Level 12: Steamy Mist -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(34)
Level 14: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(15)
Level 16: Freezing Rain -- Ann-Dmg/Rchg(A), Ann-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(43), Ann-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(43), Ann-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(46), Ann-ResDeb%(46)
Level 18: Phantom Army -- ExpRnf-Acc/Rchg(A), ExpRnf-Acc/Dmg(19), ExpRnf-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(19), ExpRnf-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(21), SlbAll-Dmg/Rchg(21), SlbAll-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(23)
Level 20: Group Invisibility -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 22: Maneuvers -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 24: Tactics -- GssSynFr--ToHit(A), GssSynFr--ToHit/EndRdx(31), GssSynFr--Build%(31)
Level 26: Spectral Terror -- DarWtcDsp-ToHitDeb(A), DarWtcDsp-ToHitDeb/Rchg(27), DarWtcDsp-ToHitdeb/Rchg/EndRdx(27), DarWtcDsp-ToHitDeb/EndRdx(29), GlmoftheA-Dam%(29)
Level 28: Superior Invisibility -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 30: Hurricane -- EndRdx-I(A), EndRdx-I(40)
Level 32: Phantasm -- ExpRnf-Acc/Dmg(A), ExpRnf-Dmg/EndRdx(33), ExpRnf-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), ExpRnf-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(33), SuddAcc-KB/Acc/Dmg(34), SuddAcc--KB/+KD(37)
Level 35: Tornado -- ExpRnf-Acc/Rchg(A), ExpRnf-Acc/Dmg(36), ExpRnf-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), ExpRnf-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(36), FrcFdb-Rechg%(37), SuddAcc--KB/+KD(37)
Level 38: Lightning Storm -- Apc-Dmg/Rchg(A), Apc-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(39), Apc-Acc/Rchg(39), Apc-Dmg/EndRdx(39), Apc-Dam%(40), SuddAcc--KB/+KD(40)
Level 41: Fire Ball -- Rgn-Dmg(A), Rgn-Dmg/Rchg(42), Rgn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(42), Rgn-Acc/Rchg(42), Rgn-Dmg/EndRdx(43)
Level 44: Thunder Clap -- AbsAmz-Stun(A), AbsAmz-Stun/Rchg(45), AbsAmz-Acc/Stun/Rchg(45), AbsAmz-Acc/Rchg(45), AbsAmz-EndRdx/Stun(46)
Level 47: O2 Boost -- Prv-Heal(A), Prv-EndRdx/Rchg(48), Prv-Heal/Rchg(48), Prv-Heal/Rchg/EndRdx(48), Prv-Absorb%(50), Prv-Heal/EndRdx(50)
Level 49: Fire Shield -- StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), GldArm-3defTpProc(50)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Containment 
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run 
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Mrc-Rcvry+(A), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(3), Pnc-Heal/+End(5)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- SynSck-EndMod(A), SynSck-EndMod/+RunSpeed(3), PrfShf-End%(5)
Level 50: Agility Core Paragon 
Level 50: Ion Core Final Judgement 
Level 50: Degenerative Core Flawless Interface 
Level 50: Warworks Core Superior Ally 
Level 50: Ageless Core Epiphany 
Level 50: Support Core Embodiment 
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Edited June 21, 2020 by roleki

[Hjarki]

On 6/15/2020 at 1:10 PM, Xyvkin said:

I've been taking a Illusion/Storm controller to 50 and before investing all my money on his build, would like to ask a question.

 

I see people mention how they solo stuff with it, but what about group play? I have to know if I'll be accepted or useful in groups.

I'm sure you will be accepted - people tend to bring anyone along. Useful is another thing entirely.

 

Against a single hard target, Illusion is fine. Your Phantom Army will happily pound away. Storm is more problematic. Many AV will simply run out of Freezing Rain and run away from the Tornado (which will also take them out of range of your static Lightning Storm). This makes playing Storm without a ST Immobilize on a Controller problematic. Virtually your entire secondary can simply be negated by an AV who likes to move around. It also makes fighting that AV a nuisance for all the melee in group.

 

Against large spawns, it's even worse. The primary tactic for dealing with them is to condense the spawn and then use AE abilities. However, almost everything you do fights against that 'condense' process. Your Phantom Army will pull things out and tank them. Your Tornado will cause enemies to run away. Enemies will try to escape your Freezing Rain. In some groups, your Illusion/Storm will actually be 'negative damage' - if you had just stayed at zone and not contributed at all, the mission would have gone faster because you weren't interfering with everyone else's ability to deal damage.

 

This is less of a problem if you simply go off on your own parallel path for most of the mission. However, Ill/Storm isn't very good at dealing AE damage, so this is problematic as well. You'll eventually kill a spawn, but it will take you a lot longer than almost any other (decent) build.

 

With that in mind, this is primarily an issue with being incompatible with melee. If you're an group entirely comprised of Controllers/Masterminds (and, to some extent, Defenders/Corruptors), then you can play a useful role because they're not so reliant on tightly packed spawns.

[SenkanYamato]

Capped range defense. 73.4 S/L resist.

 

http://www.cohplanner.com/mids/download.php?uc=1480&c=674&a=1348&f=HEX&dc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

Edited September 17, 2020 by SenkanYamato

[Zeraphia]

This is my version...

 

Perma-PA no ageless/FF procs needed.

Gapless ranged attack chain. Blind -> Mental Blast -> Spectral Wounds -> Repeat, continuously!

Doubled Freezing Rains

39% ranged defense (really high considering everything in melee won't really be an issue, you'll have gapless ranged attack chain for safety and whatever gets in melee will be stunned)

Thunder Clap is your go-to AoE aoe control, yes the mag 2 stun is low but it is excellent for a illusion controller which usually lacks these harder aoe controls.

All attacks are properly slotted to deliver high damage to the best of their abilities.

75% capped S/L resists, decent resists to everything else. 

Takes Ageless, and can go without Clarion due to Indomitable Will being your go-to Mez protection!

 

Hero Plan by Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer 2.6.0.7
https://github.com/ImaginaryDevelopment/imaginary-hero-designer

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Controller
Primary Power Set: Illusion Control
Secondary Power Set: Storm Summoning
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Psionic Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Spectral Wounds -- Dcm-Acc/Dmg(A), Dcm-Dmg/EndRdx(13), Dcm-Dmg/Rchg(13), Dcm-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(15), Dcm-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(17)
Level 1: Gale -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Blind -- GldJvl-Acc/Dmg/End/Rech(A), NrnSht-Dam%(17), UnbCns-Dam%(23), GldNet-Dam%(25), GhsWdwEmb-Dam%(11), GldJvl-Dam%(11)
Level 4: Deceive -- CrcPrs-Conf%(A), CrcPrs-Conf/EndRdx(5), CrcPrs-Conf(5), CrcPrs-Conf/Rchg(7), CrcPrs-Acc/Conf/Rchg(9), CrcPrs-Acc/Rchg(9)
Level 6: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(7)
Level 8: Superior Invisibility -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 10: Steamy Mist -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(40), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(42), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg(42), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(42)
Level 12: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 14: Tough -- StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), GldArm-3defTpProc(15)
Level 16: Freezing Rain -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 18: Phantom Army -- SlbAll-Build%(A), SlbAll-Dmg/Rchg(19), ExpRnf-Acc/Rchg(19), ExpRnf-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(21), ExpRnf-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(21), ExpRnf-Acc/Dmg(23)
Level 20: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(34), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(34), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg(37), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(37), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(27)
Level 22: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 24: Maneuvers -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), Rct-ResDam%(25)
Level 26: Super Speed -- BlsoftheZ-ResKB(A), BlsoftheZ-Travel/EndRdx(43)
Level 28: Thunder Clap -- SprWiloft-Rchg/Dmg%(A), SprWiloft-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx/Rchg(29), SprWiloft-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear(29), SprWiloft-Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/Rchg(31), SprWiloft-EndRdx/Rchg(31), SprWiloft-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx(31)
Level 30: Flash -- UnbCns-Hold(A), UnbCns-Hold/Rchg(46), UnbCns-Acc/Hold/Rchg(46), UnbCns-Acc/Rchg(48), UnbCns-EndRdx/Hold(50)
Level 32: Phantasm -- ExpRnf-+Res(Pets)(A), SvrRgh-PetResDam(33), ExpRnf-Acc/Dmg(33), ExpRnf-Dmg/EndRdx(33), ExpRnf-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(34)
Level 35: Tornado -- OvrFrc-Dam/KB(A), ExpRnf-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), ExpRnf-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(36), ExpRnf-Acc/Dmg(36), ExpRnf-Dmg/EndRdx(37)
Level 38: Lightning Storm -- Apc-Dam%(A), Apc-Dmg/Rchg(39), Apc-Dmg/EndRdx(39), ExpStr-Dam%(39), GldJvl-Dam%(40), GldJvl-Acc/Dmg/End/Rech(40)
Level 41: Mental Blast -- Dcm-Acc/Dmg(A), Dcm-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(43), Dcm-Dmg/EndRdx(43), Dcm-Dmg/Rchg(50), Dcm-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(50)
Level 44: Psionic Tornado -- Rgn-Dmg(A), Rgn-Dmg/Rchg(45), Rgn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(45), Rgn-Acc/Rchg(45), Rgn-Dmg/EndRdx(46)
Level 47: Mind Over Body -- RctArm-ResDam(A), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx(48), RctArm-ResDam/Rchg(48)
Level 49: Indomitable Will -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Containment 
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run 
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Pnc-Heal/+End(A), Mrc-Rcvry+(3)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-EndMod(A), PrfShf-EndMod/Rchg(3), PrfShf-End%(27)
Level 0: Portal Jockey 
Level 0: Task Force Commander 
Level 0: The Atlas Medallion 
Level 0: Freedom Phalanx Reserve 
Level 50: Ageless Core Epiphany 
Level 50: Support Core Embodiment 
Level 50: Degenerative Core Flawless Interface 
Level 50: Pyronic Core Final Judgement 
Level 50: Agility Radial Paragon 
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