Combos with the best synergy

[11Troy11]

Is there a listing anywhere of Stalker primary/secondaries that match best with each other? I looked, but it's either not there or in missed it 

[Troo]

There are mentions along these line but it's a complicated question.

 

Looking for synergies:

• Getting a heal in a primary can help a secondary without a heal. example: Dark/Super Reflexes
• Getting defense in a primary can help a secondary that focuses on resist, regen ,or stack with a defense focused secondary. example: Broad Sword/Bio
• Focusing on AoE powers. example: Elec/Shield

 

It is hard to go wrong with stalkers. Play what is fun.

 

Spoiler

 

https://hcwiki.cityofheroes.dev/wiki/Stalker

 

 

 

Edited July 1, 2020 by Troo

[Microcosm]

What Troo said, but here are some that I feel have particularly good synergy

 

Ice/bio: stacking sleeps and ice adds significant mitigation to bio when needed

Staff/fire: staff is incredibly versatile, but is a little weak on damage, which burn helps

Sav/ice: savage is strong but gives 0 mitigation, while ice is incredibly resilient once invested in

Db/elec or ea or sr: db is especially recharge hungry if you want to push the damage to the max, and these three offer +rech along with being very tough

Anything lacking AoEs/rad: rad gives two aoes to help your primary out, especially with procs

 

Edited July 2, 2020 by Microcosm
cursed autocorrect

[Tsuko]

Stalkers are Damage dealers.

 

Damage is done by hitting hard, quick and smartly.

 

So, the best are :

 

- PVE : Street Justice, Savage for single target / Ninjato and Dual blade for small radius AOE, Elec for large radius.

 

- PVP : Psi / Martial Arts / Savage / Rad / Street justice.

 

Armor : Bio, Energy for PVP and PVE : Bio but all "fantasy" can be viable, cause in the end, a good stalker dont tank.

 

There is just a niche with Shield for the Elec / shield Stealth AOE (both attack and armor have a large attack unable to crit but not breaking your hide)

[JStacy337]

If I am remembering right, Kin Melee has some of the faster animation times (Yes, I know they appear to be slow, but go check Arcana), and they apply that sweet -Dam effect to your enemies. Combine that with a +Def armor set and it's a pretty decent combo. My Kin/EnA is a beast, just don't pay attention to her complete lack of AOE.

[r0y]

So far, I have only been impressed with two stalkers primaries:  Street Justice and Ice Melee.  The rest are "OK" and don't really stand out.  Psi Melee is decent in PvP, I've heard.

 

Stalkers, to me, are about hitting hard.  AoE is ok, but unless you're often soloing, it's not so necessary.  I usually play in large teams and/or leagues, so most of the "trash" is dead within a second or two, thus leaving the boss/AV for single-target use.  Elec/Shield synergizes well and looks good on paper, but in large teams/leagues there's a lot of AoE damage, so it's not as crucial as it is for the solo (set to x8, ofc) or small team play.

 

For armor, Bio is generally the go-to, as it gives the +Damage when Offensive Adaption is on (which is usually is) and Bio has everything covered, so it synergizes well with anything.  I also really like Energy Aura (EA) as it's very flexible and gets end reduction (Energize) in it's heal, as well as a +rech (Entropy Shield).  In PvE, I believe the hardest hitting combo is Ice/Bio, especially seeing how much Freezing Touch does especially when proc'd with damage procs.  I have the most fun with my StJ/EA stalker, though.  StJ is such a smooth set, fast, low recharge (coupled with EA's +rech it's even better) - it is a lot of hard-hitting action, no waiting.  StJ's combo mechanic is the best implementation of such a thing in the game, IMO.

 

Again, on large teams and/or in big leagues, armor and survivability becomes less necessary.  So it all comes down to play style and where you're going to do most of playing.  From leveling solo to always teamed, it really changes the approach.  Most armor sets are solid enough and almost all damage sets are decent enough to get the job done.

 

Also, always get the ATO sets.  At the very least, the procs.  Stalkers get the best ATO procs in the game.  Both of them dramatically alter the AT.

[Chance Jackson]

On 7/4/2020 at 7:37 AM, wyldchyld said:

If I am remembering right, Kin Melee has some of the faster animation times (Yes, I know they appear to be slow, but go check Arcana), and they apply that sweet -Dam effect to your enemies. Combine that with a +Def armor set and it's a pretty decent combo. My Kin/EnA is a beast, just don't pay attention to her complete lack of AOE.

IIRC the -Dam is only applied to Non-Stalker versions of Kin Melee

[FUBARczar]

On 7/7/2020 at 4:28 PM, r0y said:

Psi Melee is decent in PvP, I've heard.

Psi Melee is good in PVE as well. It has a nice AoE with good mitigation (k/u) and nothing hits harder than Greater Psi Blade + Insight from hide, then add BU + Bio +dmg...  TK Blow is possibly the best T1-T3 in any set.  

 

Rad is good as well, hit's hard, slightly slow.

 

but I think they can all be fun.  

[FUBARczar]

7 hours ago, Chance Jackson said:

IIRC the -Dam is only applied to Non-Stalker versions of Kin Melee

in game show -dmg

Spoiler

 

[Hjarki]

Stalker is one of the least 'synergistic' ATs because the mechanics give all the sets a degree of commonality they don't have in their native form. Stalker primaries all have Assassinate, all have Build Up and are generally stripped of their 'unique' components. Stalkers secondaries don't have taunt/damage auras and do have Hide.

 

So building a Stalker tends to be more about combining power with power than it is fitting together abilities so strengths cover weaknesses.

[r0y]

3 hours ago, FUBARczar said:

Psi Melee is good in PVE as well. It has a nice AoE with good mitigation (k/u) and nothing hits harder than Greater Psi Blade + Insight from hide, then add BU + Bio +dmg...  TK Blow is possibly the best T1-T3 in any set.  

 

Rad is good as well, hit's hard, slightly slow.

 

but I think they can all be fun.  

I have  a psi melee brute, tank and stalker all at 50++.  I agree with the nice mitigation of the KU from Mass Levitate; however, TK Blow pales compared to Shadow Maul (another T3), but I also agree that Greater Psi Blade, especially once proc'd out with damage procs, hits amazingly hard.

 

Back before the tanker changes, on a tank it would spread insight strike.  It was awesome, and really helped the tank damage (obv. it's weaker on tanks than scrapper/stalker/brute).  Now it no longer does, and one is stuck with the 2nd to worst (rad melee) secondary-effect mechanic in the game.  I retired my tank (stripped IO's and parked it) because it was so "not as fun" to play as other tanks.

 

That and by iTrial / incarnate stuff, PSI is resisted, as is lethal - which is why TK Blow and Mass Levitate shine, I believe (they mix in smashing damage).  Nothing worse than facing robots with a Psi Melee toon, except perhaps being a lethal-based damage toon.  Still, psi melee is a fun, but quickly boring, set to play.

[kiramon]

4 hours ago, Hjarki said:

Stalker is one of the least 'synergistic' ATs because the mechanics give all the sets a degree of commonality they don't have in their native form. Stalker primaries all have Assassinate, all have Build Up and are generally stripped of their 'unique' components. Stalkers secondaries don't have taunt/damage auras and do have Hide.

 

So building a Stalker tends to be more about combining power with power than it is fitting together abilities so strengths cover weaknesses.

 

Synergy != Complementary

[Chance Jackson]

5 hours ago, FUBARczar said:

in game show -dmg

  Hide contents

 

Looks like I was wrong 

[FUBARczar]

9 hours ago, r0y said:

That and by iTrial / incarnate stuff, PSI is resisted, as is lethal - which is why TK Blow and Mass Levitate shine, I believe (they mix in smashing damage).  Nothing worse than facing robots with a Psi Melee toon, except perhaps being a lethal-based damage toon.  Still, psi melee is a fun, but quickly boring, set to play.

there is more than just robots out there, plus stalker get to add Moonbeam or Zapp

[FUBARczar]

9 hours ago, r0y said:

...TK Blow pales compared to Shadow Maul (another T3), but I also agree that Greater Psi Blade, especially once proc'd out with damage procs, hits amazingly hard.

It's top tier.  I'd put Shadow Maul there as well, along with Kinetic's Smashing Blow, Rad's Radioactive Smash and TK which all have have great DPA and mitigation (-tohit AoE/Disorient/KD/KU)

[Coyote]

Fire Aura works best with a primary that has a PBAoE Knockdown power with high chance to occur in order to better leverage Burn, like Ice Melee, Psy Melee,

Dark Armor and Energy Aura have PBAoE mag 2 Stun toggles, so they work well with primaries that have AoE Chance to Stun powers. Or even single-target in order to keep a Boss perma-Stunned.

 

Avoid using melee sets that have a Parry effect together with armor sets that have Typed Defenses (i.e.: Smash, Lethal, etc), because the Parry powers will protect against only one of Smash or Lethal, leaving the other weak. But they do protect against Melee in general, so they work well with armor sets that have Positional Defense (Melee, Ranged, AoE).

[Glowman]

@r0y would you happen to have an ice/bio build you would be willing to share?

[r0y]

2 hours ago, Zer0 Hour said:

@r0y would you happen to have an ice/bio build you would be willing to share?

I have played it on the test server, and made one on the regular server, but it's only level 10 or so...  but here is the build I made and will follow for Ice/Bio:

Spoiler

Villain Plan by Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer 2.7.2.10
https://github.com/Crytilis/mids-reborn-hero-designer

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Fridgita: Level 50 Natural Stalker
Primary Power Set: Ice Melee
Secondary Power Set: Bio Armor
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Ice Sword -- SprAssMar-Acc/Dmg(A), SprAssMar-Dmg/Rchg(43), SprAssMar-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(45), SprAssMar-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(45), SprAssMar-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(46), SprAssMar-Rchg/Rchg Build Up(46)
Level 1: Hide -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(5), Ksm-ToHit+(40)
Level 2: Frost -- SprStlGl-Acc/Dmg(A), SprStlGl-Dmg/Rchg(5), SprStlGl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40), AirBrs-Dmg/Rng(42), PstBls-Dmg/EndRdx(43), PstBls-Dmg/Rng(43)
Level 4: Boundless Energy -- EffAdp-EndMod(A), EffAdp-EndMod/Rchg(17), NmnCnv-Heal(19), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(19)
Level 6: Assassin's Ice Sword -- Hct-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(A), Hct-Acc/Rchg(7), Hct-Dmg/Rchg(7), SprStlGl-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(9), SprStlGl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(15), SprStlGl-Rchg/Hide%(17)
Level 8: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), DefBuff-I(9)
Level 10: Environmental Modification -- Rct-Def(A), Rct-Def/EndRdx(11), Rct-EndRdx/Rchg(11), Rct-Def/Rchg(13), Rct-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(13), Rct-ResDam%(15)
Level 12: Build Up -- GssSynFr--Build%(A)
Level 14: Super Jump -- WntGif-ResSlow(A)
Level 16: Adaptation
Level 18: Ice Patch -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 20: Hardened Carapace -- UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(21), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(21), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam(25)
Level 22: Ablative Carapace -- DctWnd-Rchg(A), DctWnd-EndRdx/Rchg(23), DctWnd-Heal/Rchg(23), DctWnd-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(25), DctWnd-Heal(46)
Level 24: Kick -- KntCmb-Acc/Dmg(A), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx(48), KntCmb-Dmg/Rchg(50), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(50)
Level 26: Freezing Touch -- Hct-Dmg(A), Hct-Dmg/EndRdx(27), Hct-Dam%(27), NrnSht-Dam%(37), GhsWdwEmb-Dam%(37), UnbCns-Dam%(37)
Level 28: DNA Siphon -- ThfofEss-Heal/Rchg(A), ThfofEss-+End%(29), Erd-%Dam(29), ScrDrv-Dam%(34), Obl-%Dam(36), Arm-Dam%(36)
Level 30: Tough -- UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(A), UnbGrd-Max HP%(31), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(31), StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(31), GldArm-3defTpProc(50)
Level 32: Frozen Aura -- ScrDrv-Acc/Dmg(A), ScrDrv-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(33), ScrDrv-Dam%(33), Erd-%Dam(33), Obl-%Dam(34), FuroftheG-ResDeb%(34)
Level 35: Moonbeam -- SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg(A), SprWntBit-Dmg/Rchg(36), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(39), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(39), SprWntBit-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg(40), SprWntBit-Rchg/SlowProc(48)
Level 38: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(A), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(39), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(42)
Level 41: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(42)
Level 44: Maneuvers -- LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(A), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(45), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(48)
Level 47: Genetic Corruption -- FrtHyp-Plct%(A)
Level 49: Shadow Meld -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 1: Assassination
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Mrc-Rcvry+(A), Pnc-Heal/+End(3)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-EndMod(A), PrfShf-End%(3)
Level 16: Defensive Adaptation
Level 16: Efficient Adaptation
Level 16: Offensive Adaptation
------------

 

 

 

[Glowman]

Thanks @r0y!

[VertigoIguana]

Here's an Ice/Bio build I had put together a while ago, just incase it gives you any ideas. 

 

Villain Plan by Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer 2.6.1.25
https://github.com/Crytilis/mids-reborn-hero-designer

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Stalker
Primary Power Set: Ice Melee
Secondary Power Set: Bio Armor
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Ice Sword -- SprAssMar-Rchg/Rchg Build Up(A), SprAssMar-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(3), SprAssMar-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(3), SprAssMar-Dmg/Rchg(5), SprAssMar-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(5), SprAssMar-Acc/Dmg(7)
Level 1: Hide -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 2: Frost -- PstBls-Dmg/EndRdx(A), PstBls-Dmg/Rng(11), PstBls-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(11), PstBls-Acc/Dmg(13), PstBls-Dam%(13), HO:Centri(15)
Level 4: Hardened Carapace -- StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), GldArm-3defTpProc(17), UnbGrd-Max HP%(19), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(19), UnbGrd-ResDam(21), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(21)
Level 6: Assassin's Ice Sword -- SprStlGl-Acc/Dmg(A), SprStlGl-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(23), SprStlGl-Rchg/Hide%(23), OvrFrc-Dam/KB(25), Hct-Dam%(25), Hct-Dmg/EndRdx(27)
Level 8: Boundless Energy -- PrfShf-End%(A)
Level 10: Environmental Modification -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(27), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(29)
Level 12: Build Up -- GssSynFr--Build%(A), RctRtc-ToHit/Rchg(29), RctRtc-Pcptn(31)
Level 14: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 16: Boxing -- KntCmb-Acc/Dmg(A), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx(31), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(31), KntCmb-Dmg/Rchg(33)
Level 18: Maneuvers -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(33), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(33)
Level 20: Ablative Carapace -- Prv-Absorb%(A), Prv-Heal/Rchg/EndRdx(34), Prv-Heal/Rchg(34), Prv-EndRdx/Rchg(34), Prv-Heal/EndRdx(36), Prv-Heal(36)
Level 22: Tough -- RctArm-ResDam(A), RctArm-EndRdx(36), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx(37), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(37)
Level 24: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(37)
Level 26: Freezing Touch -- SprBlsCol-Rchg/HoldProc(A), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg(39), SprBlsCol-Dmg/EndRdx(39), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(39), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40), UnbCns-Dam%(40)
Level 28: DNA Siphon -- SprStlGl-Dmg/Rchg(A), SprStlGl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(40), SprStlGl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(42)
Level 30: Adaptation 
Level 32: Frozen Aura -- Arm-Dam%(A), Arm-Dmg/EndRdx(42), Arm-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(42), Arm-Acc/Rchg(43), Arm-Dmg(43), FuroftheG-ResDeb%(43)
Level 35: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(45)
Level 38: Moonbeam -- SprWntBit-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg(A), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(45), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(45), SprWntBit-Dmg/Rchg(46), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg(46), SprWntBit-Rchg/SlowProc(46)
Level 41: Soul Storm -- SprEnt-Rchg/AbsorbProc(A), SprEnt-Acc/Hold/End/Rchg(48), SprEnt-Hold/Rchg(48), SprEnt-Acc/Hold/End(48), SprEnt-End/Rchg(50), SprEnt-Acc/Hold(50)
Level 44: Assault -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 47: Shadow Meld -- ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(A), Rct-ResDam%(50)
Level 49: Ice Patch -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Assassination 
Level 1: Brawl -- KntCmb-Acc/Dmg(A), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx(7), KntCmb-Dmg/Rchg(9), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(9)
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+(15)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-End%(A), PrfShf-EndMod(17)
Level 16: Defensive Adaptation 
Level 16: Efficient Adaptation 
Level 16: Offensive Adaptation 
Level 0: Marshal 
Level 0: Invader 
Level 0: High Pain Threshold 
Level 0: Born In Battle 
Level 38: Experimental Injection 
Level 1: Quick Form 
------------

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