Spine Burst? More like Spine Bust

[MitchEvans]

I've been playing two different Spines brutes as baby farmers, one /Bio and one /Fire.  They both work pretty well, even though I haven't geared up with purples etc.

 

In my travels, I have become very underwhelmed with Spine Burst.  The animation is glacial for nominal payoff.  I'm very tempted to respec out of it and rely on Throw Spines, Ball Lightning, etc. for AoE damage.

 

Is that nuts?  I see various high-end builds include it, but can't see how it ever fits into a rotation.  What am I missing here?

 

[Krazie Ivan]

mule'd, or some may use it w/o knowing how sub-optimal it is to do so on the really high-end builds they copy off the forums w/o good understanding of the game mechanics ...would be my guesses. some of the farmers i see in-game have it, but no Fences/Ball... which is the real shame, imo.

[MitchEvans]

Exactly, other than a vessel for another 5-set Scirocco bonus, I struggle to see its worth.

[Sovera]

I had the same reaction. Spine Burst and Combustion from Fire Melee in Tankers is something that animates for much too long for the damage it produces.

[StoneKarma]

My Spines/Fire Farmer's attack chain is Ball Lightning - Spine Burst - Burn - Electrifying Fences.

In comic con, you're usually surrounded and messing with cones is not very different from single target. 

My clear times are usually about 5:30.

There is a farming thread with several builds advantages/disadvantages of power sets. Really, anything you want to know about farming. I found it very helpful. 

 

Here's the link to the thread: 

 

Edited August 29, 2020 by StoneKarma

[HelenCarnate]

If you want decent times with a spines character, you will need to learn to use Throw spines and hit as many targets as possible every time.  Outside of that power, Rad is way better for farming.

[MitchEvans]

On 8/28/2020 at 11:23 PM, HelenCarnate said:

If you want decent times with a spines character, you will need to learn to use Throw spines and hit as many targets as possible every time.  Outside of that power, Rad is way better for farming.

I like the other powers in Spines, it's just Spine Burst that fall flat IMO.   My rotation for big mobs is a mix of Burn, Throw Spines, Ball Lightning and Elec Cages.  Throw in an ion judgment from time to time, and Spine Burst never fits in.  It's basically a parking spot for 5 Scirocco slots.

[HelenCarnate]

24 minutes ago, MitchEvans said:

I like the other powers in Spines, it's just Spine Burst that fall flat IMO.   My rotation for big mobs is a mix of Burn, Throw Spines, Ball Lightning and Elec Cages.  Throw in an ion judgment from time to time, and Spine Burst never fits in.  It's basically a parking spot for 5 Scirocco slots.

If you are using it as a mule and never actually activate it, I would try to fit 1 more slot in and toss in Mocking Beratement.  For those that have cones down, this seems to work rather well.

 

Spoiler

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 Natural Brute
Primary Power Set: Spines
Secondary Power Set: Fiery Aura
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Concealment
Ancillary Pool: Mu Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Lunge -- SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg(A), SprBlsCol-Dmg/EndRdx(3), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(3), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(5), SprBlsCol-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg(5), SprBlsCol-Rchg/HoldProc(7)
Level 1: Fire Shield -- Ags-ResDam(A), Ags-ResDam/EndRdx(7), Ags-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(9)
Level 2: Blazing Aura -- SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg(A), SprBrtFur-Dmg/Rchg(9), SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(11), SprBrtFur-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11), SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(13), SprBrtFur-Rech/Fury(13)
Level 4: Healing Flames -- Prv-Heal(A), Prv-Heal/EndRdx(17), Prv-EndRdx/Rchg(17), Prv-Heal/Rchg(19), Prv-Heal/Rchg/EndRdx(19), Prv-Absorb%(21)
Level 6: Build Up -- GssSynFr--Build%(A)
Level 8: Spine Burst -- MckBrt-Taunt(A), MckBrt-Taunt/Rchg/Rng(21), MckBrt-Taunt/Rchg(23), MckBrt-Acc/Rchg(23), MckBrt-Taunt/Rng(25), MckBrt-Rchg(29)
Level 10: Temperature Protection -- GldArm-3defTpProc(A)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), RedFrt-EndRdx(15), RedFrt-Def(25), RedFrt-Def/EndRdx(27), RedFrt-Def/Rchg(31), RedFrt-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(31)
Level 14: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(31)
Level 16: Plasma Shield -- StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(A)
Level 18: Quills -- 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 20: Consume -- MckBrt-Taunt(A), MckBrt-Taunt/Rchg(34), MckBrt-Taunt/Rchg/Rng(36), MckBrt-Acc/Rchg(36), MckBrt-Taunt/Rng(36), MckBrt-Rchg(37)
Level 22: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 24: Tough -- Ags-ResDam(A), Ags-ResDam/EndRdx(37), Ags-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(37)
Level 26: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), RedFrt-EndRdx(27), RedFrt-Def(29), RedFrt-Def/EndRdx(39), RedFrt-Def/Rchg(39), RedFrt-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(39)
Level 28: Burn -- Arm-Dam%(A), Arm-Dmg/EndRdx(40), Arm-Dmg/Rchg(40), Arm-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40), Arm-Acc/Rchg(42), FuroftheG-ResDeb%(42)
Level 30: Super Jump -- BlsoftheZ-ResKB(A)
Level 32: Stealth -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 35: Fiery Embrace -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(42)
Level 38: Electrifying Fences -- SprFrzBls-Acc/Dmg(A), SprFrzBls-Dmg/EndRdx(43), SprFrzBls-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(43), SprFrzBls-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(43), SprFrzBls-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg(45), SprFrzBls-Rchg/ImmobProc(45)
Level 41: Ball Lightning -- Rgn-Dmg(A), Rgn-Dmg/Rchg(45), Rgn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(46), Rgn-Acc/Rchg(46), Rgn-Dmg/EndRdx(46), Ann-ResDeb%(50)
Level 44: Throw Spines -- PstBls-Dam%(A), PstBls-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(48), PstBls-Acc/Dmg(48), PstBls-Dmg/EndRdx(48), PstBls-Dmg/Rng(50), Ann-ResDeb%(50)
Level 47: Grant Invisibility -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 49: Invisibility -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
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: Fury 
Level 1: Sprint -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run 
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Pnc-Heal/+End(A), Mrc-Rcvry+(15)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-End%(A)
Level 50: Musculature Core Paragon 
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