Elec/SD builds?

[brasilgringo]

I know Croax has a great Stalker thread with an example Elec/SD build.  I'm attracted to Elec / SD for the 2 mini-nukes.  Wonder if anyone has any builds they like, especially that proc where possible (esp. FF +recharge).  

 

How does the build play?  Do you feel powerful/survivable without any kind of self heal? 

[Lockpick]

Here are some builds I am working on, but it is mainly theory as I am only level 32 right now.  I generally take the Body Mastery pool because I usually need the endurance powers.  This time I have decided to go with Mu Mastery for Zapp and Ball Lightning.  I will likely also look at adding Electric Shacles in a future build because I can imagine that is pretty good with procs.

 

In both of these builds I was priortizing soft-cap defense and then S/L resistance.  I would like to proc some of these powers out but unfortunately I need the set bonuses for defense.

 

Build 1 - This seems like it might be the better of the 2 builds.  I am definitely concerned about the enduance factor and am planning to close that whole with the Ageless incarante.

Spoiler

This Hero build was built using Mids Reborn 3.0.4.7
https://github.com/Reborn-Team/MidsReborn

Click this DataLink to open the build!

War Lightning (June 2021): Level 50 Natural Stalker
Primary Power Set: Electrical Melee
Secondary Power Set: Shield Defense
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Ancillary Pool: Mu Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Havoc Punch -- Mk'Bit-Acc/Dmg(A), Mk'Bit-Dmg/EndRdx(3), Mk'Bit-Dmg/Rchg(3), Mk'Bit-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(5), Mk'Bit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), Mk'Bit-Dam%(11)
Level 1: Hide -- Rct-ResDam%(A), Rct-Def(23), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(50)
Level 2: Deflection -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(15), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(25), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(37), RctArm-ResDam(37), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx(42)
Level 4: Battle Agility -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(15), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(31), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(40), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg(40)
Level 6: Assassin's Shock -- SprStlGl-Acc/Dmg(A), SprStlGl-Dmg/Rchg(7), SprStlGl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(7), SprStlGl-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(9), SprStlGl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(9), SprStlGl-Rchg/Hide%(11)
Level 8: Build Up -- GssSynFr--Build%(A)
Level 10: True Grit -- NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(A), NmnCnv-Heal(13), Prv-Absorb%(42), Prv-Heal(45), ImpSki-Status(45), ImpSki-ResDam/EndRdx(48)
Level 12: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(13)
Level 14: Fly -- WntGif-ResSlow(A)
Level 16: Active Defense -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 18: Chain Induction -- Mk'Bit-Acc/Dmg(A), Mk'Bit-Dmg/EndRdx(19), Mk'Bit-Dmg/Rchg(19), Mk'Bit-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(21), Mk'Bit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(21), Mk'Bit-Dam%(23)
Level 20: Against All Odds -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 22: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 24: Tough -- UnbGrd-Max HP%(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(25), UnbGrd-ResDam(46), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(46), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx(46), RctArm-ResDam(48)
Level 26: Thunder Strike -- SprAssMar-Acc/Dmg(A), SprAssMar-Dmg/Rchg(27), SprAssMar-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(27), SprAssMar-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(29), SprAssMar-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(29), SprAssMar-Rchg/Rchg Build Up(31)
Level 28: Grant Cover -- ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(A)
Level 30: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(31), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(34), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(50), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg(50)
Level 32: Lightning Rod -- SprAvl-Acc/Dmg(A), SprAvl-Dmg/EndRdx(33), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(33), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34), Arm-Dam%(34)
Level 35: Shield Charge -- ScrDrv-Acc/Dmg(A), ScrDrv-Dmg/EndRdx(36), ScrDrv-Dmg/Rchg(36), ScrDrv-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(36), ScrDrv-Dam%(37)
Level 38: Zapp -- ExcCnt-Acc/Dmg(A), ExcCnt-Dmg/EndRdx(39), ExcCnt-Dmg/ActRdx(39), ExcCnt-Dmg/Rng(39), ExcCnt-Dmg/Rchg(40), ExcCnt-Stun%(42)
Level 41: Ball Lightning -- SprFrzBls-Acc/Dmg(A), SprFrzBls-Dmg/EndRdx(43), SprFrzBls-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(43), SprFrzBls-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(43), SprFrzBls-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg(45)
Level 44: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 47: One with the Shield -- StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), GldArm-3defTpProc(48)
Level 49: Electric Shackles -- UnbCns-Dam%(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Pnc-Heal/+End(A), Mrc-Rcvry+(17)
Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-End%(A), PrfShf-EndMod(17)
Level 49: Quick Form
Level 1: Assassination
------------

 

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Build 2

Spoiler

This Hero build was built using Mids Reborn 3.0.4.7
https://github.com/Reborn-Team/MidsReborn

Click this DataLink to open the build!

War Lightning 4: Level 50 Mutation Stalker
Primary Power Set: Electrical Melee
Secondary Power Set: Shield Defense
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Mu Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Havoc Punch -- SprAssMar-Acc/Dmg(A), SprAssMar-Dmg/Rchg(3), SprAssMar-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(3), SprAssMar-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), SprAssMar-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), SprAssMar-Rchg/Rchg Build Up(11)
Level 1: Hide -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(23)
Level 2: Deflection -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(13), LucoftheG-Def(15), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(25), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg(45)
Level 4: Battle Agility -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(13), LucoftheG-Def(15), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(25), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg(45)
Level 6: Assassin's Shock -- SprStlGl-Acc/Dmg(A), SprStlGl-Dmg/Rchg(7), SprStlGl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(7), SprStlGl-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(9), SprStlGl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(9), SprStlGl-Rchg/Hide%(11)
Level 8: Build Up -- GssSynFr--Build%(A)
Level 10: True Grit -- GldArm-3defTpProc(A), StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(50)
Level 12: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(17)
Level 14: Fly -- WntGif-ResSlow(A)
Level 16: Active Defense -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 18: Chain Induction -- Mk'Bit-Acc/Dmg(A), Mk'Bit-Dmg/EndRdx(19), Mk'Bit-Dmg/Rchg(19), Mk'Bit-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(21), Mk'Bit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(21), Mk'Bit-Dam%(23)
Level 20: Against All Odds -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 22: Boxing -- Acc-I(A)
Level 24: Tough -- UnbGrd-Max HP%(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(43), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(46), UnbGrd-ResDam(46)
Level 26: Thunder Strike -- SprAvl-Acc/Dmg(A), SprAvl-Dmg/EndRdx(27), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(27), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(29), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(29), SprAvl-Rchg/KDProc(31)
Level 28: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(31), LucoftheG-Def(34), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(40), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg(46)
Level 30: Maneuvers -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(31), LucoftheG-Def(37), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(42), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg(45)
Level 32: Lightning Rod -- Arm-Dmg/Rchg(A), Arm-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), Arm-Acc/Rchg(33), Arm-Dmg/EndRdx(33), Arm-Dam%(34), FrcFdb-Rechg%(34)
Level 35: Shield Charge -- ScrDrv-Acc/Dmg(A), ScrDrv-Dmg/EndRdx(36), ScrDrv-Dmg/Rchg(36), ScrDrv-Acc/Rchg(36), ScrDrv-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(37), FuroftheG-ResDeb%(37)
Level 38: Zapp -- StnoftheM-Acc/Dmg(A), StnoftheM-Dmg/EndRdx(39), StnoftheM-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39), StnoftheM-Dam%(39), Apc-Dmg(40), Apc-Dam%(40)
Level 41: Grant Cover -- Rct-ResDam%(A)
Level 44: Super Speed -- BlsoftheZ-ResKB(A)
Level 47: Ball Lightning -- Artl-Acc/Dam(A), Artl-Dam/End(48), Artl-Dam/Rech(48), Artl-Acc/Dam/Rech(48), Artl-Acc/Rech/Rng(50), Artl-End/Rech/Rng(50)
Level 49: Burnout -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Pnc-Heal/+End(A), Mrc-Rcvry+(17), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(42), Prv-Absorb%(43)
Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-End%(A), PrfShf-EndMod(42), SynSck-EndMod/+RunSpeed(43)
Level 49: 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 4: Ninja Run
Level 50: Musculature Radial Paragon
Level 50: Ion Core Final Judgement
Level 50: Degenerative Core Flawless Interface
Level 50: Storm Elemental Radial Superior Ally
Level 50: Ageless Core Epiphany
Level 50: Assault Radial Embodiment
Level 50: Freedom Phalanx Reserve
Level 50: Portal Jockey
Level 50: Task Force Commander
Level 50: The Atlas Medallion
Level 1: Assassination
------------

 

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I hope these builds help with some ideas...

 

 

 

 

[brasilgringo]

My mids is now borked due to recent update, but attached is I think Croax's build.  What I was hoping to change was to slot some health sets (inc absorb IO) into True Grit and get some +rchg FF procs into the teleport nukes.

elec-SD-stalker.mxd

[Madae]

Can't comment on the Stalker combo really, but I have an elec/elec Tanker and a BS/SD Stalker... Obviously Lightning Rod is a great ability, I hear it doesn't take you out of Hide, though that could be wrong? I did mess around a bit with elec/elec Stalker cause I really like my Tanker, probably the most fun I've had in this game, and I've seen the /SD combo and talk before, but I honestly wasn't all that impressed with SD as a whole. Shield Charge giving you a mass AoE ability would undoubtedly combo really well with Lightning Rod, the other major point I've seen brought up is giving Stalker Grant Cover is a bit of an oddity. Kind of a interesting tool. With my BS Stalker, Shield Charge was just ok.

 

Unfortunately the main problem I find with the elec/SD is the complete lack of an endurance regen/recovery power (other than the capstone, and I have kind of a personal irritation with powers that exhaust you), and there are a lot of toggles and extra goodies that come with SD, making this very heavy on endurance (as my BS/SD can attest). Probably not that big of a deal if you can fund yourself with an alt and load up on the necessary enhancements early on, or if you don't mind eating blues all day, but I suppose I generally prefer something a little more sustainable without all that extra work. I can imagine it would be pretty fun though after putting enough time in it, and definitely one of the better Stalker power combos overall if that is your concern, since generally speaking you don't get this kind of thing in other Stalker sets.

 

On a side note, Stalker Elec gets all the good stuff, so I think it would combo well with just about anything. Against all Odds in SD... I never really felt like it did anything noticeable, at least for Broadsword (which I have a really hard time liking, it just feels off).

Edited June 14, 2021 by Madae

[Oysterhead]

8 hours ago, Madae said:

I hear it doesn't take you out of Hide, though that could be wrong?

 

Correct. That's the big strength of this combo, both Lightning Rod and Shield Charge work by spawning pseudopets to do their damage, which the game does not consider to be offensive action from the stalker, so you stay in hide. Which means you can do both back and back, still be in hide the whole time, get the bonus crit on all of that AoE damage, and still open with another attack for additional bonus crit chance.

 

8 hours ago, Madae said:

Against all Odds in SD... I never really felt like it did anything noticeable

Against all Odds is a pretty hefty damage bonus stacking.  Equal to eating a small red or two at all times in a crowd (10% with 1 thing in range, up to 59.5% with 10), and -7.5% damage to everything, which is better than resists as it helps everyone and goes above the cap in the formula.

General question for anyone, as I have an Elec/SD stalker in the wings I plan to play soon as well, anyone ever experimented with putting performance shifter +end procs in attacks that accept it (which looks to be all but Lightning Rod, Assassin's and Thunder Strike) to offset some endurance concerns? 1.5ppm is a bit low, and its trading damage.

[ZemX]

7 minutes ago, Oysterhead said:

Against all Odds is a pretty hefty damage bonus stacking. 

 

One thing I wonder on my Ice/Shield is this... should I really be using Shield Charge from range?  It's fun to zoom in and knock em all down of course, but wouldn't it be better to hop (or CTP) into the pack first, wait a beat, then Shield Charge zero distance?  This would give AAO a tick to boost your damage before you Shield Charge.  And SC doesn't seem to have any mechanic to boost damage from range like Savage Leap does, for example.

 

As far as that goes, the oft mentioned "it doesn't break Hide" thing doesn't seem to be a big deal to me.  Seems you're better off doing your Hide crit first than chancing someone breaks Hide on you after a Shield Charge / Lightning Rod, no? 

 

So... hop into the middle of a spawn.  Build Up.  Fire your Hide critical attack, whatever it is, then your Tele-attacks.  Wouldn't that make the most of AAO?

 

35 minutes ago, Oysterhead said:

General question for anyone, as I have an Elec/SD stalker in the wings I plan to play soon as well, anyone ever experimented with putting performance shifter +end procs in attacks that accept it (which looks to be all but Lightning Rod, Assassin's and Thunder Strike) to offset some endurance concerns? 1.5ppm is a bit low, and its trading damage.

 

Tricky.  It probably does a little better than just using an EndRdx but probably not a whole lot.  But you'd have to do all the annoying math to find out, which for the AoEs is even more annoying.  I just ran through it quick for Charged Brawl and assumed you had already slotted it for 33% EndRdx and 33% Recharge with some IO set (I didn't actually try a specific set so this could be way off).  But for the sake of argument, this worked out to about a 15% proc rate.  Perf Shift gives you 10% end.  So assuming you've not increased your Endurance, that's 10 end times 15% or 1.5 end on average each time you activate the power.  That's more than the ~1  end a second SO EndRdx would give you.  But again, not by a whole lot, and it goes down the more recharge you have in whatever set you've slotted in those powers.  And down again if you plan to use an alpha that enhances recharge.  Whereas slotting an EndRdx there is both cheaper and saves you the same endurance amount every time you activate the power no matter how much recharge enhancement it has (note: global recharge doesn't hurt the proc chance either though).

 

tl;dr It's a lot of annoying math to figure this out for all the AoEs in particular.  I generally just go with the procs in Health and Stamina and let the endrdx in IO sets do the rest.  If I'm hurting for End at endgame, I'll get some help from the alpha slot.  

[Sancerre]

On 6/14/2021 at 11:00 AM, ZemX said:

 

One thing I wonder on my Ice/Shield is this... should I really be using Shield Charge from range?  It's fun to zoom in and knock em all down of course, but wouldn't it be better to hop (or CTP) into the pack first, wait a beat, then Shield Charge zero distance?  This would give AAO a tick to boost your damage before you Shield Charge.  And SC doesn't seem to have any mechanic to boost damage from range like Savage Leap does, for example.

 

As far as that goes, the oft mentioned "it doesn't break Hide" thing doesn't seem to be a big deal to me.  Seems you're better off doing your Hide crit first than chancing someone breaks Hide on you after a Shield Charge / Lightning Rod, no? 

 

So... hop into the middle of a spawn.  Build Up.  Fire your Hide critical attack, whatever it is, then your Tele-attacks.  Wouldn't that make the most of AAO?

 

yes, you are on the right mark for efficiency of maximizing damage output.  not sure how often AAO updates but i usually have all 3 positional defenses and damage bonus monitor'd on all my characters... sometimes the damage bonus would not tick up for a few seconds.  im guessing the game engine just runs an area check every 2 seconds or so.

 

lighting rod and shield charge use pseudo pets, so they dont actually break hide.. they do not benefit from the crit chance either though.  so this is not some amazingly busted interaction... in fact i would argue that if it DID use your hide and provide nothing in return, that would be a _bug_.  it is working as intended... and ultimately just gives off a little bit of feelsbadman knowing that your 2 iconic powers within the powersets cannot crit.

 

i only ever got my elec/SD stalker up to 40 before i decided it wasnt a solid direction for me.  as fun as it was having the 2 tele-nukes, the downtime was hefty and thunder strike felt absolutely awful to use.  maybe the gameplay feels better with some epic/patron powers...

[ZemX]

3 minutes ago, Sancerre said:

not sure how often AAO updates but i usually have all 3 positional defenses and damage bonus monitor'd on all my characters... sometimes the damage bonus would not tick up for a few seconds

 

If City of Data is anything to go by the Activate Period for AAO is 1 second.  But to that I'd add a half second for latency.  You can see that last bit in a lot of places in the game.  If you run up to a glowy and click it immediately, it will often interrupt because the server doesn't know you've stopped moving yet.  You have to wait just a hair and then click.  Same goes for running or leaping into a pack and hitting a PBAoE.  If you're too quick, it doesn't hit everyone.  So if I was going to bother with this on Shield Charge, for instance, I'd leap in, count out "one and two AND..." and key on the last "and" to be sure AAO had boosted my damage.

 

But zipping in and knocking everyone down is cool too, so.... 🤪

 

8 minutes ago, Sancerre said:

i only ever got my elec/SD stalker up to 40 before i decided it wasnt a solid direction for me.  as fun as it was having the 2 tele-nukes, the downtime was hefty and thunder strike felt absolutely awful to use.  maybe the gameplay feels better with some epic/patron powers...

 

Maybe.   I wasn't tempted by Elec/SD for this reason.  I went Ice/SD because Ice has two very nice normal AoEs on relatively good timers, so the Shield Charge just seems like a little extra bit of fun.