Fire/EM - Ranged blaster

Shallak · June 30, 2021

Hey everyone, I just found out of CoH Homecoming! (tears of joy!)

I've been looking at the forums trying to find a good ranged blaster mostly to solo. Looking at the available powerset, I chose Fire/EM. As sort of a guide, I searched the forums for a Fire/EM build, but I havent found one in 10 pages! Is there something obviously wrong with Fire/EM?

What I am looking for is:

-Good ranged DPS (I have trouble with melee dps, I get confused if I dont see clearly)

-Enough defense (I want to be able to survivre!)

-Easy build (I want it to be fun, not stressfull work)

-Flight (I'd rather stay up)

I understand that TOP dps means some sacrifice and is not necessarily easy. I accept I wont be top dog, and I dont mind killing slower, as long as I kill at range and survive.

Feel free to direct me in the correct direction if you think Fire/EM is wrong.

Thanks for any help you can provide!

nihilii · June 30, 2021

Fire/EM is fine. There's been a whole bunch of new Blaster secondaries, which have attracted people away from the old reliable. Some may argue /EM isn't the best choice for a ranged blaster, but you can carry yourself perfectly fine with Fire/, and the /EM self buffs are easy and nonconditional which work well enough for a flying ranged blaster.

PeregrineFalcon · June 30, 2021

2 hours ago, Shallak said:

I accept I wont be top dog, and I dont mind killing slower, as long as I kill at range and survive.

It sounds to me like what you really want to play is a Fire/Energy Sentinel. You should give that a try.

carnalchaos · July 1, 2021

It will work from range but its got an awful lot of melee hard hitters you will be skipping over. Your life will change with energize which makes you a regen blaster. If you build for hit points and add in power boost before you click on energize you can get over 40 hp/sec pretty easily.

I think you picked a fun combo! I would be very careful switching from a blaster to a sentinel the drop off in damage is significant and blasters are in a really great spot right now.

brasilgringo · July 1, 2021

Fire/Elec blaster and get all blappy with it.

Try sentinel for something new from Live -- I'm not saying it's awesome sauce, but it's worth a try to get a feel for the game again.

Sunsette · July 1, 2021

9 hours ago, Shallak said:

Hey everyone, I just found out of CoH Homecoming! (tears of joy!)

I've been looking at the forums trying to find a good ranged blaster mostly to solo. Looking at the available powerset, I chose Fire/EM. As sort of a guide, I searched the forums for a Fire/EM build, but I havent found one in 10 pages! Is there something obviously wrong with Fire/EM?

What I am looking for is:

-Good ranged DPS (I have trouble with melee dps, I get confused if I dont see clearly)

-Enough defense (I want to be able to survivre!)

-Easy build (I want it to be fun, not stressfull work)

-Flight (I'd rather stay up)

I understand that TOP dps means some sacrifice and is not necessarily easy. I accept I wont be top dog, and I dont mind killing slower, as long as I kill at range and survive.

Feel free to direct me in the correct direction if you think Fire/EM is wrong.

Thanks for any help you can provide!

Fire EM should work fine for you.

EM's T1 is a great "get out of my face" button, Build Up is always wonderful, Power Boost is a skip with fire imo, Boost Range can be useful. If what you want is a secondary that stays out of your way and gives you a lot of freedom to be at maximum range, EM is arguably the best at that.

Devices and Tac Arrow are more active ranged secondaries but require more power choices.

Shallak · July 1, 2021

Thank you for the kind reply and advices. This community is most helpful!

I just tumbled upon Sovera's "Simple guide for newcomers" . This should make a lot of thing much easier for leveling.

nebber · July 2, 2021

Welcome to the Fire/EM ranks! That's my main.

I agree that EM can still be great for a ranged Fire blaster. You don't need many powers from it, so you can take all the blasts and more pool powers for funsies.

Boost range makes fire breath much better, hits more targets from a distance because of how cones get wider the further back you are. Energize is the best blaster sustain power.

As a ranged hover-blaster, ranged defence is your friend and you'll want to build for that, mostly from IO set bonuses. Since you're newly back to the game I imagine you'll be scrounging for cash before you can make a dream build. But, the good news is Thunderstrike and Artillery sets are on the cheaper side and each time you 6-slot those you get another ~4% ranged defence. All your single target blasts will take thunderstrikes and all your targeted AOES (fireball, fire breath, rain of fire) will take artillery. Buy these IOs attuned at the auction house, but note you can't use them until you are level 27. Put in lowball bids early and be patient.

You can also get ranged defence by:

Hover & Afterburner from the flight pool

Maneuvers power (leadership pool)

Weave (fighting pool)

Six-slotting Energize with Numina's IO set.

Two-slotting Fly & Hover with Blessing of the Zephyr

Six-slotting the Blaster AT sets (Defiant Barrage, Blaster's Wraith) in any attack (these sets are pricey though!)

Putting a Steadfast protecton IO (resistance/def) in a resistance shield (tough or an Epic resist sheild)

Putting a Gladiator's armour +3def IO in a resistance power

Six-slotting Aim or Tactics with Gaussian's IO set.

The magic number to build up to max out your ranged defence is 45%. If you get there, and run a resistance shield on top of it, you will be very durable indeed.

Happy blasting!

Cryoterm · July 4, 2021

that´s mine,

Hope that helps,

Annie,

Shmi_incarnate_content.mxd

Edited June 17, 2023 by Cryoterm

1seanv23 · July 4, 2021

Don't skip power boost. Heals, endurance drains/recovery, defense buffs etc are all greatly boosted by it.

One might argue it's potentially one of the most useful powers in /em for enhancing energize and defense. Can also be used with stun for a LONG hold on a lieutenant.

Edit: Well it doesn't enhance energize, but popping it when hopping in for a nuke adds extra defense.

Edited July 5, 2021 by 1seanv23

Saverok · July 13, 2021

On 7/4/2021 at 6:28 AM, Anodina said:

that´s mine,

Hope that helps,

Annie,

Shmi_incarnate_content.mxd 6.04 kB · 10 downloads

Is that a billion inf build? I see a lot of Purple in there. But I like your build!

ZorkNemesis · July 14, 2021

On 7/4/2021 at 2:58 PM, 1seanv23 said:

Don't skip power boost. Heals, endurance drains/recovery, defense buffs etc are all greatly boosted by it.

One might argue it's potentially one of the most useful powers in /em for enhancing energize and defense. Can also be used with stun for a LONG hold on a lieutenant.

Edit: Well it doesn't enhance energize, but popping it when hopping in for a nuke adds extra defense.

Power Boost is good for sure but it's far less useful on a Fire Blaster since Fire has no secondary effects to enhance. If you ask me it's more a matter of preference to take it when the primary set lacks something to boost. That's why I skipped it on an Energy and Archery Blaster.

Cryoterm · July 16, 2021

On 7/14/2021 at 12:39 AM, Saverok said:

Is that a billion inf build? I see a lot of Purple in there. But I like your build!

Here´s the latest iteration. Hope that also helps (not cheap builds, yup).

Hero Plan by Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer 3.0.0.0
https://github.com/Reborn-Team/Hero-Designer

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Blaster
Primary Power Set: Fire Blast
Secondary Power Set: Energy Manipulation
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Concealment
Ancillary Pool: Munitions Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Flares

(A) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage
(3) Superior Defiant Barrage - Damage/RechargeTime
(3) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime
(5) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
(5) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
(7) Superior Defiant Barrage - RechargeTime/+Status

Level 1: Power Thrust

(A) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage
(7) Mako's Bite - Damage/Endurance
(9) Mako's Bite - Damage/Recharge
(9) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge
(11) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
(11) Mako's Bite - Chance of Damage(Lethal)

Level 2: Fire Ball

(A) Ragnarok - Damage/Recharge
(13) Ragnarok - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
(13) Ragnarok - Accuracy/Recharge
(15) Ragnarok - Damage/Endurance
(15) Ragnarok - Chance for Knockdown

Level 4: Build Up

(A) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff
(17) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge
(17) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge/Endurance
(19) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Recharge/Endurance
(19) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Endurance

Level 6: Hasten

(A) Recharge Reduction IO
(21) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 8: Super Speed

(A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range/Endurance
(21) Blessing of the Zephyr - Knockback Reduction (4 points)

Level 10: Fire Breath

(A) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage
(23) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Damage/Recharge
(23) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
(25) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
(25) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
(27) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Recharge/Chance for Fire Damage

Level 12: Aim

(A) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff
(27) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge
(29) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge/Endurance
(29) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Recharge/Endurance
(31) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Endurance
(31) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up

Level 14: Fly

(A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range
(31) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range/Endurance

Level 16: Energize

(A) Numina's Convalesence - Heal/Endurance
(33) Numina's Convalesence - Endurance/Recharge
(33) Numina's Convalesence - Heal/Recharge
(33) Numina's Convalesence - Heal/Endurance/Recharge
(34) Numina's Convalesence - Heal
(34) Numina's Convalesence - +Regeneration/+Recovery

Level 18: Blaze

(A) Apocalypse - Damage/Recharge
(34) Apocalypse - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
(36) Apocalypse - Accuracy/Recharge
(36) Apocalypse - Damage/Endurance
(36) Apocalypse - Chance of Damage(Negative)

Level 20: Hover

(A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range
(37) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range/Endurance
(37) Kismet - Accuracy +6%
(37) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed

Level 22: Bone Smasher

(A) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage
(39) Mako's Bite - Damage/Endurance
(39) Mako's Bite - Damage/Recharge
(39) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge
(40) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
(40) Mako's Bite - Chance of Damage(Lethal)

Level 24: Energy Punch

(A) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage
(40) Mako's Bite - Damage/Endurance
(42) Mako's Bite - Damage/Recharge
(42) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge
(42) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
(43) Mako's Bite - Chance of Damage(Lethal)

Level 26: Blazing Bolt

(A) Sting of the Manticore - Accuracy/Damage
(43) Sting of the Manticore - Damage/Endurance
(43) Sting of the Manticore - Accuracy/Interrupt/Range
(45) Sting of the Manticore - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
(45) Sting of the Manticore - Chance of Damage(Toxic)

Level 28: Power Boost

(A) Recharge Reduction IO
(45) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 30: Super Jump

(A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range
(46) Blessing of the Zephyr - Knockback Reduction (4 points)

Level 32: Inferno

(A) Armageddon - Damage/Recharge
(46) Armageddon - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
(46) Armageddon - Accuracy/Recharge
(47) Armageddon - Damage/Endurance
(47) Armageddon - Chance for Fire Damage

Level 35: Boost Range

(A) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 38: Combat Jumping

(A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range
(48) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range/Endurance
(48) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed

Level 41: Stealth

(A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed

Level 44: Afterburner

(A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed

Level 47: Body Armor

(A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%
(48) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All)

Level 49: Cryo Freeze Ray

(A) Basilisk's Gaze - Accuracy/Hold
(49) Basilisk's Gaze - Accuracy/Recharge

Level 1: Brawl

(A) Empty

Level 1: Defiance

Level 1: Sprint

Shmi_16th_iteration.mxd

ThrillMill · July 16, 2021

This Hero build was built using Mids Reborn 3.0.5.6
https://github.com/Reborn-Team/MidsReborn

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Blaster
Primary Power Set: Fire Blast
Secondary Power Set: Tactical Arrow
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Flame Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Fire Blast -- Apc-Dmg(A), Apc-Dmg/Rchg(7), Apc-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(7), Apc-Acc/Rchg(9), Apc-Dmg/EndRdx(9)
Level 1: Electrified Net Arrow -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Fire Ball -- SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg(A), SprBlsWrt-Dmg/Rchg(11), SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(11), SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(13), SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(13), SprBlsWrt-Rchg/Dmg%(37)
Level 4: Glue Arrow -- Bmbdmt-Acc/Dam/Rech(A), Bmbdmt-Dam/Rech(50), Bmbdmt-Dam(50)
Level 6: Rain of Fire -- Artl-Acc/Dam(A), Artl-Dam/End(15), Artl-Dam/Rech(15), Artl-Acc/Dam/Rech(17), Artl-Acc/Rech/Rng(17), Artl-End/Rech/Rng(45)
Level 8: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(19)
Level 10: Upshot -- GssSynFr--ToHit/Rchg(A), GssSynFr--Build%(19)
Level 12: Aim -- AdjTrg-ToHit/Rchg(A), AdjTrg-Rchg(23)
Level 14: Super Speed -- Clr-EndRdx(A), Clr-Stlth(23)
Level 16: Flash Arrow -- CldSns-ToHitDeb(A), CldSns-Acc/ToHitDeb(25), CldSns-Acc/Rchg(27), CldSns-ToHitDeb/EndRdx/Rchg(27)
Level 18: Blaze -- SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg(A), SprDfnBrr-Dmg/Rchg(36), SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(36), SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(37), SprDfnBrr-Rchg/+Status Protect(37)
Level 20: Eagle Eye -- Prv-Heal(A), Prv-Heal/Rchg(21), Prv-Absorb%(21)
Level 22: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), Ksm-ToHit+(29), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(29), Rct-ResDam%(31)
Level 24: Maneuvers -- LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(A), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(25)
Level 26: Blazing Bolt -- StnoftheM-Acc/Dmg(A), StnoftheM-Dmg/EndRdx(31), StnoftheM-Acc/ActRdx/Rng(31), StnoftheM-Dmg/ActRdx/Rchg(33), StnoftheM-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(33)
Level 28: Gymnastics -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), WntGif-ResSlow(46)
Level 30: Kick -- Empty(A)
Level 32: Inferno -- Arm-Dmg(A), Arm-Dmg/Rchg(33), Arm-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(34), Arm-Acc/Rchg(34), Arm-Dam%(34)
Level 35: Bonfire -- SuddAcc--KB/+KD(A), Rgn-Dmg/Rchg(40), Rgn-Dmg(40), Rgn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(43), Rgn-Acc/Rchg(43), Rgn-Dmg/EndRdx(43)
Level 38: Oil Slick Arrow -- Artl-Acc/Dam(A), Artl-Dam/End(39), Artl-Dam/Rech(39), Artl-Acc/Dam/Rech(39), Artl-Acc/Rech/Rng(40), Artl-End/Rech/Rng(46)
Level 41: Fire Shield -- UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(42), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam(42), UnbGrd-Max HP%(42)
Level 44: ESD Arrow -- BslGaz-Acc/Hold(A), BslGaz-Acc/Rchg(45), BslGaz-Rchg/Hold(45), BslGaz-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(46)
Level 47: Tough -- GldArm-3defTpProc(A), StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(48), GldArm-End/Res(48), GldArm-ResDam(48)
Level 49: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(A), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(50)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Defiance
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 1: Health -- Pnc-Heal/+End(A), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(3), Mrc-Rcvry+(3)
Level 1: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 1: Stamina -- PwrTrns-+Heal(A), PwrTrns-EndMod(5), PwrTrns-Dam/EndMod(5)
Level 14: Speed Phase
Level 49: Quick Form
Level 50: Agility Partial Core Revamp
------------

1seanv23 · July 17, 2021

I forgot to add that powerboost + power thrust is hilarious.

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Fire/EM - Ranged blaster

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