Cold/Fire Build Advice

[Cutter]

Disclaimer: I don't play many squishies, but I'm working on it!

 

Just started this new guy and, given the above, want to make sure I have a clear plan before I really get into it. I cobbled this build together from a few different posts. It hits Ranged/E/N softcaps, S/L rescap (and juuuust misses E rescap). Hasten is a couple seconds off perma without Alpha; Heat Loss & Benumb are a little further away but still close (close enough?).

 

I'm concerned my end use and recovery are too close together & will be unsustainable. I am NOT overly concerned about damage (tho it's obviously there) as this will primarily be a teaming hero.

 

Kinda guessed on Alpha with Agility Core - I'm not especially chasing procs, so it seemed like the best option. Open to arguments on others. (Note that I'm hitting those defense caps without it, and this Alpha pushes Hasten to perma status.)

 

With that in mind, are there any questionable choices, major oversights, or more subtle optimizations that I've missed? Thanks in advance!

 

Hero 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!

Canadian North: Level 50 Technology Defender
Primary Power Set: Cold Domination
Secondary Power Set: Fire Blast
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Mu Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Ice Shield -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(15), GldArm-3defTpProc(15), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(25), Ksm-ToHit+(34)
Level 1: Flares -- Apc-Dmg(A), Apc-Dmg/Rchg(3), Apc-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(3), Apc-Acc/Rchg(7), Apc-Dmg/EndRdx(9)
Level 2: Infrigidate -- ShlBrk-Acc/DefDeb(A), ShlBrk-%Dam(31), AchHee-ResDeb%(50)
Level 4: Fire Ball -- SprDfnBst-Acc/Dmg(A), SprDfnBst-Dmg/Rchg(5), SprDfnBst-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), SprDfnBst-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(7), SprDfnBst-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(9), SprDfnBst-Rchg/Heal%(21)
Level 6: Glacial Shield -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 8: Hover -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(50)
Level 10: Rain of Fire -- Artl-Acc/Dam(A), Artl-Dam/End(11), Artl-Dam/Rech(11), Artl-Acc/Dam/Rech(17), Artl-Acc/Rech/Rng(37), Artl-End/Rech/Rng(40)
Level 12: Arctic Fog -- Rct-Def(A), Rct-Def/EndRdx(13), Rct-EndRdx/Rchg(13), Rct-Def/Rchg(25), Rct-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(46), Rct-ResDam%(50)
Level 14: Fly -- WntGif-ResSlow(A)
Level 16: Maneuvers -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(17), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(21), LucoftheG-Def(46)
Level 18: Benumb -- Acc-I(A), RechRdx-I(43)
Level 20: Aim -- GssSynFr--Build%(A)
Level 22: Tactics -- AdjTrg-ToHit(A), AdjTrg-ToHit/Rchg(23), AdjTrg-ToHit/EndRdx/Rchg(23), AdjTrg-EndRdx/Rchg(43), AdjTrg-ToHit/EndRdx(43)
Level 24: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(46)
Level 26: Sleet -- SprVglAss-Dmg/Rchg(A), SprVglAss-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(27), SprVglAss-Rchg/+Absorb(27)
Level 28: Blaze -- SprVglAss-Acc/Dmg(A), SprVglAss-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(29), SprVglAss-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(29), GldJvl-Dam%(31), GldJvl-Dam/End/Rech(31)
Level 30: Kick -- Empty(A)
Level 32: Heat Loss -- PreOptmz-Acc/Rech(A), PreOptmz-EndMod/End(33), PreOptmz-EndMod/Rech(33), PreOptmz-EndMod/Acc/End(33), PreOptmz-EndMod/Acc/Rech(34), PreOptmz-EndMod/End/Rech(34)
Level 35: Blazing Bolt -- StnoftheM-Acc/Dmg(A), StnoftheM-Dmg/EndRdx(36), StnoftheM-Dmg/ActRdx/Rchg(36), StnoftheM-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(36), StnoftheM-Dam%(37), Apc-Dam%(37)
Level 38: Inferno -- Erd-Dmg(A), Erd-Dmg/Rchg(39), Erd-%Dam(39), SprAvl-Rchg/KDProc(39), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(40)
Level 41: Charged Armor -- RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctArm-ResDam/Rchg(42), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(42), RctArm-ResDam(42)
Level 44: Tough -- RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctArm-ResDam/Rchg(45), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(45), RctArm-ResDam(45)
Level 47: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(48), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(48), LucoftheG-Def(48)
Level 49: Conserve Power -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Quick Form
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 1: Vigilance
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Flight-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Pnc-Heal/+End(A), Mrc-Rcvry+(19)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-End%(A), PrfShf-EndMod(19)
Level 50: Agility Core Paragon
------------

 

| Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer to view the build |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
|MxDz;1495;716;1432;HEX;|
|78DA65944D4F13511486EF74A62D6DF928B47CD3420B482DEDB4055C9B006202141|
|1DD370D1DDA49EA4C534A224BFF821B7702EEDCB8F073ED2FD0A8FFC0C4489082BA|
|1051339ECE7BAC249D409EE97BDFF371EF3D6DF6EE62FB93EBF7AE0AA973A19CDFD|
|ECE2D6A5B9A51D0AADEDBDA66C930CB667157D0D3B99037F2053D6F8CAD99D55AC9|
|4D52E89F3537BFB3B5A52E98E5426ED1BCA31BF99A6E1A43CDD58DBC51D40AEA925|
|ED572F354A3267CEBA6595697CA7AB154EBB2DF57B53C59B74B7AC56B7FBE55D1B4|
|42076C0D976E1407AF55F44DAA52ADEE546A663597DDC965299956DD1DA06662F4B|
|FE210FC588AE89584C828A2B39F1822CEC8F6E7811530F247D8FAA7E0859884C35E|
|7324992AE84A816D6970992021C62139643B4FD805665ED36240119F29AF0C8F537|
|E8A9ACA33E673D0F5026C7B09065F81594AE144AC70F23E3C74E26EBBA825B959CB|
|F8C143AAE5E15A1ED9696B5E85E904FD2E70C20D4EB58137A8960F799DBE3AEAB79|
|F304FF9CCBE82C96F60E63BE8A39E3AB8CF8E6168DDA475219FDCC57DFAB9CF6000|
|4C06C175AADD8D78A97B48D85A7C1A3CA23D053877E031CE3D40B97B915BE97D08A|
|D6F8FB90FC60F988FC028C5F4F3B9F5DBB93D22C9BC499641BEC741F236FC4333CC|
|2BE017EA6398E763380D6D649639078613D87B58051D5433C4BD872C7AC406551AB|
|567C6728EFE40D4D819F327F31C8CFC62FE068FA98328DF6EF40D4E67FC2DF31DF3|
|3D38F18199C1EEEB143BC9B193870E7B422F1D31EBCC03D499DA63EE8335DA4C8C6|
|F3216A69729455C1E6546985150A61D4FB3779ABD09F626D89B60AF425E95BD2A4F|
|488A2724C51392E209F9D82E449A4F32CDB736A234BFB1F4D738DD957853B1E22DA|
|BE91625D3A2CCB628732DCA6A8BB2D650B0136B5D69FE2608C95EF5F89BBF00D6B1|
|9756255E1DC71D9DFCD7242982C9E959C619D52FFA63F09F5EF43FC0FDF6DC071B0|
|5ADF33E7AE776FE029606F0D9|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

[Onlyasandwich]

Looks pretty solid all around! No major nitpicks here.

 

Some notes:

• Might be worth splitting arctic fog into resist slotting as well? I know you've capped energy resist (almost) and the set bonuses are nice. I see you likely slotted it this way chasing recharge, which is not a bad idea to maximize fire's ST chain.
• Reactive armor sets might be better consolidated into a couple Ribos each. The bonuses don't look like they're helping you hit important softcaps or other goals.
• You could take these extra slots and proc out Infrigidate more perhaps? Maybe sprinkle some other procs around for incidental damage. I might recommend a Preventative medicine proc in health.
• You can pull the purple proc from blazing bolt, give it to Blaze, which otherwise lacks the ability to slot another damage proc. You can swap the purple for the javelin toxic proc in bolt.
• One tack to consider: You could take these extra slots from Riboing the armors and mule out fly and hover for zephyr ranged defense. This would allow you to drop ragnarok 5 slot in Rain of fire and still keep softcap ranged, along with even more recharge. You'd even have one slot extra to play with - maybe drop a proc in RoF, maybe keep the 6 purple slot for the bonus - whatever.

[Cutter]

56 minutes ago, Onlyasandwich said:

Looks pretty solid all around! No major nitpicks here.

 

Some notes:

• Might be worth splitting arctic fog into resist slotting as well? I know you've capped energy resist (almost) and the set bonuses are nice. I see you likely slotted it this way chasing recharge, which is not a bad idea to maximize fire's ST chain.
• Reactive armor sets might be better consolidated into a couple Ribos each. The bonuses don't look like they're helping you hit important softcaps or other goals.
• You could take these extra slots and proc out Infrigidate more perhaps? Maybe sprinkle some other procs around for incidental damage. I might recommend a Preventative medicine proc in health.
• You can pull the purple proc from blazing bolt, give it to Blaze, which otherwise lacks the ability to slot another damage proc. You can swap the purple for the javelin toxic proc in bolt.
• One tack to consider: You could take these extra slots from Riboing the armors and mule out fly and hover for zephyr ranged defense. This would allow you to drop ragnarok 5 slot in Rain of fire and still keep softcap ranged, along with even more recharge. You'd even have one slot extra to play with - maybe drop a proc in RoF, maybe keep the 6 purple slot for the bonus - whatever.

Some good points to consider there. I always forget about Hami-Os when I'm building - definitely worth looking at those when I get to 50. (Level 5 now so it's a long way off 🙂 )  I'll see what those changes do to the build.

 

I appreciate your advice!

[Cutter]

Update: High 30s now, working on buying my pieces, and I have to say this guy plays smoothly and not at a crazy frantic pace. 4-minute bubbles leave plenty of time to set things on fire (I have an Elec² Def languishing at 40 cause the primary is so fast paced it's exhausting to play). Heat Loss is the shizzle - I definitely notice when it's expired.

 

One thing I've noticed is that I don't use Aim much at all. Wondering, given team exclusivity & running Tactics, if Aim is really necessary. Replacement would likely be Assault or Afterburner. Gotta get more reps in before I pull the trigger on making that change.

[Onlyasandwich]

You could try consciously focusing on aim usage in a session, and see if you remember. Key binding it more conveniently might also help.

 

Aim is always nice before a nuke, but is not strictly necessary. It you team mostly, gaussian proc in tactics has its own advantages as well.

 

 

Edited December 30, 2020 by Onlyasandwich

[Doomguide2005]

Aim I'd probably keep for two reasons.  Gaussian's proc in Aim will fire when you use Aim giving you a great deal more control over when it happens vs Tactics.  As I understand it Tactics checks every 10 seconds which might be between mobs or while your nuke is recharging or maybe when you do need it.  Second I had a lot of fun with PBU (which would require a different mastery or alt build).  PBU+Aim+Tactics does some silly good things to your To Hit.  Want to hit Mako after he hits Elude or that Paragon Protector after he MoGs with Benumb etc..  You'll ruin their day. 

[Frosticus]

You shouldn't have endurance issues even with just the auto hit buff from HL. More aggressive/proc builds sometimes need to ensure they stand near a target to get 2 buffs from HL, but you should be fine just staying at range. Plus you have conserve power if things start to dip.

 

Personally if I wasn't chasing a proc build (which is the direction I went with cold/fire/psi) I'd just look to softcap ranged def and then look to boosting resistances evenly as much as possible. I'd seek to put them all in a spot where melee core hybrid (with no targets in range) gets me close to res cap in as many areas as possible. With psi app you could potentially soft cap ranged and res cap s/l/e/f/c/p leaving just neg/toxic a bit short. If you went sorcery over flight you could fit in rune of protection as well. Cycle melee hybrid and rune for near full time mez protection and great resistances.

 

The defender absorb proc in a frequently used attack is pretty clutch ime. Finally, I tend agree that procs aren't the be all and end all with fireblast; however, I'd still proc out inferno as much as possible on a team build. 3 +5 armageddon (dam/rech, acc/dam/rech, proc) and 3 more damage procs ensures going into the fray is worthwhile.

 

Just preferences though. The build you posted looks super solid.

[Cutter]

Some good points to consider. Thanks for the continued targeted feedback.

 

20 hours ago, Doomguide2005 said:

Aim I'd probably keep for two reasons.  Gaussian's proc in Aim will fire when you use Aim giving you a great deal more control over when it happens vs Tactics.  As I understand it Tactics checks every 10 seconds which might be between mobs or while your nuke is recharging or maybe when you do need it.  Second I had a lot of fun with PBU (which would require a different mastery or alt build).  PBU+Aim+Tactics does some silly good things to your To Hit.  Want to hit Mako after he hits Elude or that Paragon Protector after he MoGs with Benumb etc..  You'll ruin their day. 

I'm used to Build Up on my melee guys, which tends to be on a "use when ready" basis. Feels like Aim is a "have ready to use when needed" kinda power? And I'll definitely consider PBU in my thought process as I take another look at the epics.

 

19 hours ago, Frosticus said:

You shouldn't have endurance issues even with just the auto hit buff from HL. More aggressive/proc builds sometimes need to ensure they stand near a target to get 2 buffs from HL, but you should be fine just staying at range. Plus you have conserve power if things start to dip.

 

Personally if I wasn't chasing a proc build (which is the direction I went with cold/fire/psi) I'd just look to softcap ranged def and then look to boosting resistances evenly as much as possible. I'd seek to put them all in a spot where melee core hybrid (with no targets in range) gets me close to res cap in as many areas as possible. With psi app you could potentially soft cap ranged and res cap s/l/e/f/c/p leaving just neg/toxic a bit short. If you went sorcery over flight you could fit in rune of protection as well. Cycle melee hybrid and rune for near full time mez protection and great resistances.

 

The defender absorb proc in a frequently used attack is pretty clutch ime. Finally, I tend agree that procs aren't the be all and end all with fireblast; however, I'd still proc out inferno as much as possible on a team build. 3 +5 armageddon (dam/rech, acc/dam/rech, proc) and 3 more damage procs ensures going into the fray is worthwhile.

 

Just preferences though. The build you posted looks super solid.

My thought on taking Mu epic was to rescap the 3 most common damage types. I'll tinker around with the others tho and see what those combinations look like. Likewise with Sorcery/RoP - some kind of flight is essential to concept, so I'll see what I can do there (losing hover would be sad tho). I don't tend to look past Alpha when I'm first building, and in any case likely would have overlooked Melee hybrid here, so that suggestion is appreciated.

 

Re: Absorb ATO proc in Sleet, I stole that exact slotting from another post on here. I've got Sleet coming around every ~16 seconds, and thus far use it basically on cooldown. Looks like it's a 4/5 PPM chance, so it's losing an opportunity or two where I have it. Does plugging it into an AoE make up for that? I could throw it into Blaze/Blazing Bolt instead. Added to the list...

 

Finally, the Inferno proc suggestion is great. I'm not really chasing much in the way of set bonii as-is, so shifting the build to procs isn't going to impact anything.