Pimp My 50: Sonic/AR Defender episode

[Yomo Kimyata]

As a part of Project Unicorn, the worst of the worst was Drummer Boy (Sonic/AR).  Now I know that none of us really have any idea what a unicorn is anymore and won't until the devs release updated information.  But this combination was unknown back in March, and for good reason.  Two underperforming sets with little or no synergy doth a craptastic combo make.  But I got him to 50, and had two builds throughout the process, one for solo, one for team play.  Yesterday I dusted him off and started thinking about how I would improve him.  So I'm asking you, how would YOU build and play this combo?  I'll give my thoughts and build below, but I almost always learn something new by looking at someone else's build thought process.

 

My thoughts for this build are:

- mostly solo work, but contribute on a team.

- I don't have a ton of high level defenders, so the epic/patron pools are all interesting to me.  I chose dark mastery but am not wed to it.

- max out resists where I can and then focus on melee defense (since dark mastery is pretty in your face).

- endurance help is needed, especially on team play.  Disruption Field is a little piggy when it comes to endurance.

- use the team shields mostly for set bonuses.  My experience is that very few people on high level teams really need that res help.

-  I haven't even thought about incarnates yet.

 

Here's what I'm working towards now:

 

Spoiler

http://www.cohplanner.com/mids/download.php?uc=1462&c=691&a=1382&f=HEX&dc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

 

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

Unicorn: Level 50 Magic Defender
Primary Power Set: Sonic Resonance
Secondary Power Set: Assault Rifle
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: zc_Leadership
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Dark Mastery

Hero Profile:
------------
Level 1:    Sonic Siphon    
 (A) Accuracy IO

Level 1:    Burst    
 (A) Achilles' Heel - Chance for Res Debuff

Level 2:    Slug    
 (A) Superior Defender's Bastion - Accuracy/Damage
 (3) Superior Defender's Bastion - Damage/Recharge
 (3) Superior Defender's Bastion - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
 (43) Superior Defender's Bastion - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
 (43) Superior Defender's Bastion - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
 (48) Superior Defender's Bastion - Recharge/Chance for Minor PBAoE Heal

Level 4:    Buckshot    
 (A) Superior Vigilant Assault - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
 (5) Superior Vigilant Assault - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
 (5) Superior Vigilant Assault - RechargeTime/PBAoE +Absorb
 (9) Superior Frozen Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
 (40) Superior Frozen Blast - Damage/Endurance/Accuracy/RechargeTime
 (50) Superior Frozen Blast - Recharge/Chance for Immobilize

Level 6:    Combat Jumping    
 (A) Kismet - Accuracy +6%
 (7) Shield Wall - +Res (Teleportation), +5% Res (All)
 (7) Reactive Defenses - Scaling Resist Damage
 (9) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed

Level 8:    Kick    
 (A) Force Feedback - Chance for +Recharge

Level 10:    M30 Grenade    
 (A) Superior Vigilant Assault - Accuracy/Damage
 (11) Superior Vigilant Assault - Damage/RechargeTime
 (11) Superior Vigilant Assault - Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
 (13) Superior Frozen Blast - Accuracy/Damage
 (13) Superior Frozen Blast - Damage/Endurance
 (46) Superior Frozen Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance

Level 12:    Sonic Dispersion    
 (A) Gladiator's Armor - Resistance
 (50) Gladiator's Armor - End/Resist
 (50) Gladiator's Armor - Recharge/Endurance

Level 14:    Tough    
 (A) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All)
 (15) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%
 (15) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance
 (17) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance
 (17) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance
 (19) Unbreakable Guard - +Max HP

Level 16:    Beanbag    
 (A) Absolute Amazement - Stun
 (34) Absolute Amazement - Stun/Recharge
 (37) Absolute Amazement - Accuracy/Stun/Recharge
 (37) Absolute Amazement - Accuracy/Recharge
 (40) Absolute Amazement - Endurance/Stun

Level 18:    Maneuvers    
 (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
 (19) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
 (21) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
 (21) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Recharge

Level 20:    Sniper Rifle    
 (A) Sting of the Manticore - Accuracy/Damage
 (23) Sting of the Manticore - Damage/Endurance
 (27) Sting of the Manticore - Accuracy/Interrupt/Range
 (31) Sting of the Manticore - Damage/Interrupt/Recharge
 (34) Sting of the Manticore - Damage/Endurance/Recharge

Level 22:    Hasten    
 (A) Recharge Reduction IO
 (23) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 24:    Weave    
 (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
 (25) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
 (25) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
 (27) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Recharge

Level 26:    Disruption Field    
 (A) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 28:    Flamethrower    
 (A) Annihilation - Chance for Res Debuff
 (29) Positron's Blast - Chance of Damage(Energy)
 (29) Bombardment - Chance for Fire Damage
 (31) Overwhelming Force - Damage/Chance for Knockdown/Knockback to Knockdown
 (31) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage

Level 30:    Sonic Haven    
 (A) Gladiator's Armor - Resistance
 (48) Gladiator's Armor - End/Resist
 (48) Gladiator's Armor - Resistance/Rech/End

Level 32:    Liquefy    
 (A) Annihilation - Chance for Res Debuff
 (33) Achilles' Heel - Chance for Res Debuff
 (33) Positron's Blast - Chance of Damage(Energy)
 (33) Bombardment - Chance for Fire Damage
 (34) Lockdown - Chance for +2 Mag Hold
 (43) Neuronic Shutdown - Chance of Damage(Psionic)

Level 35:    Dark Consumption    
 (A) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage
 (36) Superior Avalanche - Damage/Endurance
 (36) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
 (36) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
 (37) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge

Level 38:    Full Auto    
 (A) Ragnarok - Damage
 (39) Ragnarok - Damage/Recharge
 (39) Ragnarok - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
 (39) Ragnarok - Accuracy/Recharge
 (40) Ragnarok - Damage/Endurance

Level 41:    Dark Embrace    
 (A) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance
 (42) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance
 (42) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance/RechargeTime
 (42) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance

Level 44:    Soul Drain    
 (A) Fury of the Gladiator - Chance for Res Debuff
 (45) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up
 (45) Eradication - Chance for Energy Damage
 (45) Armageddon - Chance for Fire Damage
 (46) Obliteration - Accuracy/Recharge
 (46) Obliteration - Chance for Smashing Damage

Level 47:    Soul Transfer    
 (A) Preventive Medicine - Chance for +Absorb

Level 49:    Sonic Barrier    
 (A) Aegis - Psionic/Status Resistance

Level 1:    Brawl    
 (A) Empty

Level 1:    Quick Form    
Level 1:    Prestige Power Dash    
 (A) Empty

Level 1:    Prestige Power Slide    
 (A) Empty

Level 1:    Prestige Power Quick    
 (A) Empty

Level 1:    Prestige Power Rush    
 (A) Empty

Level 1:    Prestige Power Surge    
 (A) Empty

Level 1:    Sprint    
 (A) Empty

Level 1:    Vigilance    
Level 2:    Rest    
 (A) Empty

Level 4:    Ninja Run    
Level 2:    Swift    
 (A) Empty

Level 2:    Health    
 (A) Panacea - +Hit Points/Endurance

Level 2:    Hurdle    
 (A) Empty

Level 2:    Stamina    
 (A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End

------------

 

If this were your baby, how would you build him/her/they?  

[Onlyasandwich]

I've been wanting to find a good excuse to play /AR - maybe I'll try your unicorn challenge as well!

 

First impressions:

 

• Not quite sure what you are doing with your winter set slotting in M30 and buckshot. I would prefer to drop procs in here instead.
• It looks like Beanbag is mostly a mule here. I would rather see a tactics or assault pickup, and maybe drop those slots into Burst for a different purple mule. You could leave the achilles here for the sixth slot and have a usable achilles proc in your single target chain. Burst as currently slotted is not worth using just for the proc.
• Dark mastery is awesome, and you can make it work, but AR is super cone heavy, and the Dark stuff wants you in melee.  This is likely to be rather clunky in practice.
• You have chased a lot of recharge in this build. I'm not sure that you gain much from this focus.  Sonic as a primary doesn't really care, other than shaving a little off liquefy, which is a sort of weird but okay power to begin with. You have enough aoes on a short enough cooldown that you don't need high recharge to cycle them well.
• I like what you've achieved with resists - nothing wasted on overcapping, even with dispersion, tough, and epic!
• For examplar purposes, you probably want barrier as a low level pick. Lower levels are when you will actually want to use it.
• It might be worth considering a ranged focus for your defense instead of melee here. You're going to have to keep hopping back to range to use your cones. You don't really have a great way to avoid melee solo, but ranged is going to be shooting at you all day anyhow! Also, you'll find it easier to reach softcap, especially looking at artillery in your aoes.

 

I hope this is helpful!

 

 

 

Edited December 28, 2020 by Onlyasandwich

[Hedgefund]

I had an AR/Sonic Corr back in the olden days.  Even if I found that build it would be useless given the new toys we have to play with.  

 

I'll dive into this, it sounds interesting.

[Yomo Kimyata]

1 hour ago, Onlyasandwich said:

I've been wanting to find a good excuse to play /AR - maybe I'll try your unicorn challenge as well!  

 

First impressions:

 

• Not quite sure what you are doing with your winter set slotting in M30 and buckshot. I would prefer to drop procs in here instead.
• It looks like Beanbag is mostly a mule here. I would rather see a tactics or assault pickup, and maybe drop those slots into Burst for a different purple mule. You could leave the achilles here for the sixth slot and have a usable achilles proc in your single target chain. Burst as currently slotted is not worth using just for the proc.
• Dark mastery is awesome, and you can make it work, but AR is super cone heavy, and the Dark stuff wants you in melee.  This is likely to be rather clunky in practice.
• You have chased a lot of recharge in this build. I'm not sure that you gain much from this focus.  Sonic as a primary doesn't really care, other than shaving a little off liquefy, which is a sort of weird but okay power to begin with. You have enough aoes on a short enough cooldown that you don't need high recharge to cycle them well.
• I like what you've achieved with resists - nothing wasted on overcapping, even with dispersion, tough, and epic!
• For examplar purposes, you probably want barrier as a low level pick. Lower levels are when you will actually want to use it.
• It might be worth considering a ranged focus for your defense instead of melee here. You're going to have to keep hopping back to range to use your cones. You don't really have a great way to avoid melee solo, but ranged is going to be shooting at you all day anyhow! Also, you'll find it easier to reach softcap, especially looking at artillery in your aoes.

 

I hope this is helpful!

 

 

 

Awesome, very helpful!  
 

Cold/AR is another defender that was untouched in the March list (mine is languishing in his 40s) but is much more enjoyable to play.

 

I went with WOs instead of procs for three reasons:  the odds of triggering are too low for my tastes; more fire/cold res and slow and mez resist are nice (I may swap out the kismet accuracy for the Winters gift slow resist); if I go with musculature then lots of “wasted” damage ED gets ignored. 
 

I may be the only one who really likes Beanbag.  If I’m going against a hard boss, I can put him away for a bit with two shots.  (I actually used Sonic Cage while leveling as well...). But yeah, it’s skippable.

 

You are dead on with Dark, and I’m probably better off with Bonfire/Fire Shield/Melt Armor but then I lose an endurance tool.  Hmmm.

 

I’m a recharge junkie, but you’re right, it really only helps with Liquify and epic pool powers.  I could drop Hasten completely and throw some FF +recharges in some of the bullet powers, but not sure what to replace it with.  Maybe Weaken Resolve?  More -res would be nice to assist the lethal damage.

 

I actually don’t have tough activated in that build; purely a mule power!

 

thanks!

[Onlyasandwich]

Cold/AR may be just be ticket for me!

 

I definitely get that some people enjoy those single target stuns. I might like it more if you had something with which to stack it, or if it did usable damage all by itself.

One problem I see with AR is that its ST damage is pretty anemic, and highly resisted. The only big punch you have is your sniper. The way around that is proc damage. My guess is that this build would take forever and a day to take down a single Warwolf boss, for example. Your aoe is more versatile, and you would be fine in teams I imagine.

 

I can understand why you might not prefer procs in aoes, given the less consistent application. The procs would definitely be much more damage if you choose to try them some time! 

 

As for Dark's endurance tool - it is on a long enough cooldown that it is hard to rely on as a part of regular endurance needs. It is at best an occasional topper. I use it on some of my defenders that love melee, but it's more of a bonus than anything important. 

 

I don't know that I would suggest dropping hasten.

 

As you noted, there aren't a ton of really attractive and easy pickups.  If you did drop any powers, the low-hanging fruit for a one-slot wonder would be tactics or assault, or maybe a real travel power. Travel powers have a nice two slot mule for ranged defense as well in Zephyr.  

 

What you could do is focus your slotting more on ranged defense instead of heavy recharge. You could get to ranged softcap pretty readily if you tried. This doesn't mean you ignore recharge entirely - just pick it up where it happens. I usually start by piling on every possible bit of ranged defense I can find, check my total, and then see where I am happiest to shave off/reoptimize towards recharge or something else. 

[Doomguide2005]

Perhaps refiguring to include the new Teleport pool?  I've seen at least one mention of someone using it to 'hop' in and out of melee to get around issues with cones vs melee.

[Hedgefund]

Are you going to use the Defense amplifier full time?  I took a stab at this and would make some different choices with a full-time Def amp.

[Pzn]

I'm a huge fan of scorpion shield on my sonic defender.  It makes it trivial to soft cap s/l defense which makes you exceptionally tanky in combination with your resists from dispersion and tough.  I really like the patron pet as well since I can keep it alive with buffs and throw disruption field on it when soloing.  It's nearly perma on a high recharge build.  It would be a headache to rework your build for it but it's  something you might consider.  You wouldn't have any endurance management tools until incarnates then.

Edited December 30, 2020 by josh1622