Has the Game Passed Ninja Blade By?

[11Troy11]

I wanted to make a super ninja for my stalker, but I've had a couple of people tell me I shouldn't bother because the minimal AOE would mean he wouldn't be much good solo (which is when I'd likely play him the most).

 

What say you stalker faithful?

[Gulbasaur]

95% of what you read online about builds is people taking things to the extreme and you should take it with a pinch of salt.

 

If you followed every piece of advice you read on the forum nobody would leave Atlas Park without 45% in all their defences, nobody who uses smashing, lethal, psi or toxic damage would be allowed on a team and anyone who uses knockdown under any circumstance ever would be banned from the game for griefing.

 

I'm pretty sure no one even notices what the DPS is doing in your average mission or task force.

 

In a lot of later game content, minions basically get taken down by teammate AoEs anyway, so someone who can hit a boss hard again and again until they fall down is probably more useful than yet another AoE spammer. Builds that focus mostly  on AoE can really struggle to take down bosses, so it works both ways. You'll be bringing something valuable to any team you're in.

 

Play what you want to play.

Edited August 4, 2020 by Gulbasaur

[aethereal]

The OP was asking about mostly solo play.

 

You certainly won't have any trouble taking a NB stalker to 50, solo, if that's what you want to do.  Would you find it frustrating to play with your notoriety turned to large (x5->x8) effective team sizes?  You might.  Having minimal AoE certainly makes dealing with large groups considerably slower, and increases the burden on your defensive choices since you have to endure attacks from minions and so forth for longer.  You can to some extent compensate for smaller amounts of AoE by aggressively finding AoE opportunities not in your primary (for example, Ball Lightning from the patron powers, maybe turning caltrops into a proc-bomb).

 

To a large extent the answer is a personal one.  Are you someone who is going to find it frustrating if you can't build yourself to effortlessly melt large mobs, or feel like it's a nagging problem if someone else's character does better than yours?  Are you someone who's perfectly content doing the whole game at +0/x1?  Somewhere in the middle?

[Saikochoro]

Absolutely not. Ninja blade is a fantastic primary. It is tied with street justice for my favorite stalker primary. I don’t even take one of the aoes on street justice. I play them both single target centric and clear mobs plenty fast. 
 

I also have kitted out electric / shield and savage / energy stalkers. Both of those have strong aoe. Neither of them is nearly as fun as my ninja blade or street justice stalkers.  
 

I wouldn’t listen to the people that only pay attention to AoE damage. They are usually the same people who nuke a mob and then move on to the next one leaving behind lieutenants and bosses for others to clean up on mobs. Having AoE is nice, but not mandatory.  Certainly not for stalkers who main claim to fame is outstanding single target damage. 

Edited August 5, 2020 by Saikochoro

[Gulbasaur]

3 hours ago, aethereal said:

The OP was asking about mostly solo play.

Ah, derp. Thanks!

 

My point still stands, though - there's no single one way to play this game.

[11Troy11]

Thanks all.

 

Does anyone have a really good build for an optimal NB Stalker? I'm willing to make the investment to maximize his potential. 

[Saikochoro]

6 hours ago, 11Troy11 said:

Thanks all.

 

Does anyone have a really good build for an optimal NB Stalker? I'm willing to make the investment to maximize his potential. 

What secondary are you going to use? I have one for energy aura secondary. 
 

Also, just general advice for picking powersets. While it definitely can be useful to gather opinions from others, don’t let those opinions force you into one set or away from another. Your own curiosity is a powerful force. You seem to really want to try ninja blade. You are going to be unsatisfied until you try it. Even if you try several other amazing combinations you will always have that ninja blade itch. Only way to find out if you will love it is to try it. 
 

Good thing is that it is easy to level, rename, have a ton of character slots, and you can respec to move IOs around. 

Edited August 5, 2020 by Saikochoro

[Lockpick]

Here is a build for one of the first characters I created.  He is in Pratoria hanging out.  I don't think I have gotten him past 12 at this point.  One day I will go back.  All that being said to say:

• This build was created last year when the game first came back, so it can certainly be improved
  • I would get rid of the Medicine pool
• The is theoretical since I haven't played it
• It is a starting point

 

Spoiler

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

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Demonblade: Level 50 Natural Stalker
Primary Power Set: Ninja Blade
Secondary Power Set: Ninjitsu
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Medicine
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Sting of the Wasp -- SprAssMar-Acc/Dmg(A), SprAssMar-Dmg/Rchg(3), SprAssMar-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(5), SprAssMar-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11), SprAssMar-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(13), SprAssMar-Rchg/Rchg Build Up(40)
Level 1: Hide -- ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(A), Ksm-ToHit+(42)
Level 2: Flashing Steel -- Arm-Dmg/Rchg(A), Arm-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(3), Arm-Acc/Rchg(5), Arm-Dmg/EndRdx(9), Arm-Dam%(13), AchHee-ResDeb%(17)
Level 4: Ninja Reflexes -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(15), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(19), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(31)
Level 6: Assassin's Blade -- SprStlGl-Acc/Dmg(A), SprStlGl-Dmg/Rchg(7), SprStlGl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(7), SprStlGl-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(9), SprStlGl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11), SprStlGl-Rchg/Hide%(17)
Level 8: Build Up -- GssSynFr--Build%(A)
Level 10: Danger Sense -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(15), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(19), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(34)
Level 12: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(42)
Level 14: Super Speed -- WntGif-ResSlow(A)
Level 16: Kuji-In Rin -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 18: Divine Avalanche -- Hct-Dmg/Rchg(A), Hct-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(25), Hct-Acc/Rchg(45), Hct-Dmg/EndRdx(45), Hct-Dam%(45), DefBuff-I(46)
Level 20: Kuji-In Sha -- Prv-Heal(A), Prv-Heal/EndRdx(21), Prv-EndRdx/Rchg(21), Prv-Heal/Rchg(23), Prv-Heal/Rchg/EndRdx(23), Prv-Absorb%(31)
Level 22: Kick -- Empty(A)
Level 24: Tough -- StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), GldArm-3defTpProc(25), UnbGrd-Max HP%(43), UnbGrd-ResDam(43), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(43), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(46)
Level 26: Soaring Dragon -- Mk'Bit-Acc/Dmg(A), Mk'Bit-Dmg/EndRdx(27), Mk'Bit-Dmg/Rchg(27), Mk'Bit-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(29), Mk'Bit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(29), Mk'Bit-Dam%(31)
Level 28: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(37), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(37), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(42)
Level 30: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 32: Golden Dragonfly -- SprAvl-Acc/Dmg(A), SprAvl-Dmg/EndRdx(33), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(33), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34), SprAvl-Rchg/KDProc(34)
Level 35: Moonbeam -- SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg(A), SprWntBit-Dmg/Rchg(36), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(36), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), SprWntBit-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg(37), SprWntBit-Rchg/SlowProc(40)
Level 38: Blinding Powder -- CrcPrs-Conf(A), CrcPrs-Conf/Rchg(39), CrcPrs-Acc/Conf/Rchg(39), CrcPrs-Acc/Rchg(39), CrcPrs-Conf/EndRdx(40), CrcPrs-Conf%(50)
Level 41: Shadow Meld -- Rct-ResDam%(A)
Level 44: Injection -- HO:Endo(A)
Level 47: Aid Self -- Pnc-Heal/+End(A), Pnc-Heal(48), Pnc-Heal/EndRedux(48), Pnc-Heal/Rchg(50), Pnc-Heal/EndRedux/Rchg(50)
Level 49: Field Medic -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Assassination
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
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 -- Clr-Stlth(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Mrc-Rcvry+(A), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(46)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-End%(A), PrfShf-EndMod(48)
Level 35: Experimental Injection
Level 1: Quick Form
------------

 

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[11Troy11]

22 minutes ago, Saikochoro said:

What secondary are you going to use? I have one for energy aura secondary. 
 

Also, just general advice for picking powersets. While it definitely can be useful to gather opinions from others, don’t let those opinions force you into one set or away from another. Your own curiosity is a powerful force. You seem to really want to try ninja blade. You are going to be unsatisfied until you try it. Even if you try several other amazing combinations you will always have that ninja blade itch. Only way to find out if you will love it is to try it. 
 

Good thing is that it is easy to level, rename, have a ton of character slots, and you can respec to move IOs around. 

I was thinking either:

 

SR for a natural theme and crazy fast recharge

Elec for the same tech and a resistance base to build defenses from 

EA because everything I read says it's crazy good.

[Bill Z Bubba]

Don't forget that you can increase your AoE with the APP/PPP pools at 35. It does look like ninja blade has even worse AoE baked in than Stalker Claws... which is saying something. I've built and deleted my BZB claws/sr stalker version twice now because of the loss of Spin. Running Ninja Blade with ONLY Flashing Steel as a cone, as your ONLY source of aoe? ... yea, I'd probably give up on it as well. Especially since Savage melee didn't get so screwed over and sits on a cone AND two pbaoes for stalkers.

Edited August 5, 2020 by Bill Z Bubba

[Saikochoro]

1 hour ago, 11Troy11 said:

I was thinking either:

 

SR for a natural theme and crazy fast recharge

Elec for the same tech and a resistance base to build defenses from 

EA because everything I read says it's crazy good.

Take a look in your other thread “need help with ninja blade”. I posted my ninja blade / ea build there. 
 

You can work it a little to pick up AoE powers from patron pools if you want. I do not feel any desire to pick up additional AoE on it and like it just fine as is. Still kills mobs plenty fast. 

[11Troy11]

20 minutes ago, Saikochoro said:

Take a look in your other thread “need help with ninja blade”. I posted my ninja blade / ea build there. 
 

You can work it a little to pick up AoE powers from patron pools if you want. I do not feel any desire to pick up additional AoE on it and like it just fine as is. Still kills mobs plenty fast. 

Thank you.

 

Do you remember what you soent on that build?

 

This might be a crazy idea, but I thought of picking up TP Foe to thin out mobs before I have to rush in on them.

[Saikochoro]

34 minutes ago, 11Troy11 said:

Thank you.

 

Do you remember what you soent on that build?

 

This might be a crazy idea, but I thought of picking up TP Foe to thin out mobs before I have to rush in on them.

It was expensive because it has purples and LOTG. Probably 400-500m. But I’m a “buy now” type of person. So if you put in bids and are patient you could probably knock off 50-75m of the price.  Even cheaper if you use converters for the more expensive items. For example, when I can’t get LOTG 7.5 rech for 6m or less, I buy the LOTG end/rech IO for 3.5-4m and convert to the 7.5 rech one. Sometimes it isn’t worth it, but most of the time you save money that way (unless you can’t get any within the set for <4m). It’s just slower.  

Also keep in mind that if you end up hating ninja blade / EA you can respec and transfer the IOs to another toon. The build is largely the same if you were to put in street justice or some other primary and would use most of the same IOs. If you pick a more resistance based or AoE based powerset you’d have to tweak a little, but even then you could sell the unused ones to buy the replacements.

 

 

I personally don’t think TP foe would be worth it unless you just did it for fun. Your defenses and mitigation will keep you safe even in +4/8 settings, especially when rune is active. Just hop in and cut everything down with your katana.  
 

Just remember to use energize proactively. Pop it for endurance reduction before starting a fight. By the time you might need it it will be on cooldown. That way you will have good endurance management without scarfing down blues. 

Edited August 5, 2020 by Saikochoro

[11Troy11]

Thank you

[Frosticus]

I enjoyed my nin/bio. I went with a post apoc look including the chainsaw blade for my sword. Pretty fun because golden dragonfly is one of my favorite attacks and divine avalanche really works well for /bio while leveling. However, divine avalanche doesn't get much use in the late game ime.

 

The lack of aoe is only as annoying as you find it to be. After doing a couple savage stalkers to 50, I find it hard to give up the amount of aoe they bring while also dealing solid st damage. That set leans toward having your cake and eating it too.

 

Another alternative if you want to do a sword based stalker would be dual blades. As fast as ninja blade is touted as being it has some strange hitches and pauses that bothered me. Dual blades flows really well, does ok aoe and is one of the higher st dps sets.

 

One final thing to take note of is that the stalker ATO proc that instantly recharges build up tends to work much better if you are hitting things with aoes as opposed to single target oriented stalkers. 

[Saikochoro]

1 hour ago, Frosticus said:

I enjoyed my nin/bio. I went with a post apoc look including the chainsaw blade for my sword. Pretty fun because golden dragonfly is one of my favorite attacks and divine avalanche really works well for /bio while leveling. However, divine avalanche doesn't get much use in the late game ime.

 

The lack of aoe is only as annoying as you find it to be. After doing a couple savage stalkers to 50, I find it hard to give up the amount of aoe they bring while also dealing solid st damage. That set leans toward having your cake and eating it too.

 

Another alternative if you want to do a sword based stalker would be dual blades. As fast as ninja blade is touted as being it has some strange hitches and pauses that bothered me. Dual blades flows really well, does ok aoe and is one of the higher st dps sets.

 

One final thing to take note of is that the stalker ATO proc that instantly recharges build up tends to work much better if you are hitting things with aoes as opposed to single target oriented stalkers. 

You bring up a good point about dual blades. If OP is wanting to get his katana fix he can do so with two instead of one and have some more AoE. 
 

That said, I still think ninja blade is a perfectly fine primary. 

[Haijinx]

yes