New to Peacebringers

Arnabas · July 10, 2021

Back on live, I experimented very briefly with a PB, but not enough to really get a feel for them, other than to know how deadly Voids and Quantums were (at the time).

Now I would like to level up a PB and would like a bit of advice, partly to have a clearer view of the "purpose" of each form, and also in general. I am starting to form some assumptions based on the little bit that I have played and if I am wrong, would like to be pointed in the right direction.

What I know (or think I know) right now as a level 12 or so PB is this: Nova form is dishing out damage (Blaster-style) and Dwarf for is enduring damage (Tanker-style). Human form seems to be in the middle.

Having played pure human up until my last power choice, I have been splitting my enhancements between offence and defence. Having just picked my Nova form, I am thinking I should respec to take the (offence) enhancements out of the human-only powers and put them into the Nova-only powers to improve its attacks.

I had assumed that I would have to do the same later with the Dwarf form, as I was thinking it would add a number of defence powers, but reading up a bit, I see that like the Nova, it only gets new attacks. Does this mean that the Dwarf form keeps the Defence abilities that I am currently using in my human form (Shining Shield, Thermal Shield, etc), which turn off in Nova?

Once I have both the Nova and Dwarf forms available, does human form continue to have any particular use? Right now, it seems to offer better Defence than Nova, but when the Dwarf comes along, the Dwarf will take that role.

Any info you guys can share, would be great. Or even point to a simple but fairly comprehensive guide. In the meantime, i will keep looking for info myself.

Thanks

Omega Force · July 10, 2021

No, the dwarf doesn't use the human defensive powers. Human form is important for melee damage, travel, and for activating your nuke and buffs: Dawn Strike, Essence Boost, Hasten, Inner Light, and Light Form. The only exception is Nova keeps your eye lasers and Dwarf keeps, uh... Gleaming Bolt. The range is nerfed, though, while Nova gives your eye lasers a buff.

Fights start by wearing Human to buff up, then shift to Nova and start blasting. If things get hairy shift over Human or Dwarf for heals and armor. When you've suckered the enemies close, you can dance between all three forms to slam them with four effectively PBAOE attacks in quick succession (Dawn Strike, Solar Flare, Dwarf Flare, Nova Detonation.) Once you've thinned them out, you can shift to Human for the ST damage. In teams you can mostly stay Nova, but shift Human if someone on the team needs healing, or Dwarf to handle tanking and crowd control.

In mid levels it's tempting to turtle up and stay Dwarf after the enemy alpha strike smushes Nova. As you get more comfortable, practice breaking that habit. Knock them off their feet with a Dwarf Flare, shift to Nova and hit them with N Det, then go back to Dwarf. Or if you're down to one enemy shift to Human and scrap it out. Form shifting binds are critical.

Below is a tri-form endgame build with perma Light Form, and controlled AOE knocks. MIDS struggles to display the forms correctly, but Dwarf should be hard capped to everything except psi, which is still strong at 75%.

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 Natural Peacebringer
Primary Power Set: Luminous Blast
Secondary Power Set: Luminous Aura
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Fighting

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Glinting Eye -- Dcm-Acc/Dmg(A), Dcm-Dmg/EndRdx(25), Dcm-Dmg/Rchg(27), Dcm-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(27), Dcm-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(29), Dcm-Build%(29)
Level 1: Incandescence -- UnbGrd-Max HP%(A), GldArm-3defTpProc(31), ImpArm-ResPsi(31)
Level 2: Shining Shield -- ImpArm-ResPsi(A)
Level 4: Essence Boost -- Prv-Heal(A), Prv-Heal/EndRdx(33), Prv-EndRdx/Rchg(33), Prv-Heal/Rchg(34), Prv-Heal/Rchg/EndRdx(34), Prv-Absorb%(34)
Level 6: Bright Nova -- RctRtc-Pcptn(A)
Level 8: Radiant Strike -- Hct-Dmg(A), Hct-Dmg/Rchg(36), Hct-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), Hct-Acc/Rchg(36), Hct-Dmg/EndRdx(37), Hct-Dam%(37)
Level 10: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(37)
Level 12: Inner Light -- GssSynFr--Build%(A)
Level 14: Quantum Shield -- ImpArm-ResPsi(A)
Level 16: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 18: Incandescent Strike -- SprKhlGrc-Acc/Dmg(A), SprKhlGrc-Dmg/Rchg(39), SprKhlGrc-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40), SprKhlGrc-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(40), SprKhlGrc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(40), SprKhlGrc-Rchg/FormBuff(42)
Level 20: White Dwarf -- Ags-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Ags-ResDam/Rchg(42), Ags-ResDam(42), Ags-Psi/Status(43), StdPrt-ResDam/EndRdx(43), StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(43)
Level 22: Reform Essence -- Prv-Heal/Rchg(A)
Level 24: Conserve Energy -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 26: Glowing Touch -- DctWnd-Heal/EndRdx(A)
Level 28: Solar Flare -- Obl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(A), Obl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(45), EssTrn-Acc/Dmg(45), EssTrn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(45), EssTrn-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(46), SuddAcc--KB/+KD(46)
Level 30: Quantum Acceleration
Level 32: Dawn Strike -- Obl-Dmg(A), Obl-Acc/Rchg(46), Obl-Dmg/Rchg(48), Obl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(48), Obl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(48), SuddAcc--KB/+KD(50)
Level 35: Restore Essence -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 38: Light Form -- TtnCtn-ResDam/Rchg(A), ImpArm-ResDam/Rchg(50), ImpArm-ResPsi(50)
Level 41: Maneuvers -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 44: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 47: Tough -- ImpArm-ResPsi(A)
Level 49: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 1: Cosmic Balance
Level 1: Brawl -- GldStr-Dam/Rech(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Clr-Stlth(A)
Level 2: Rest -- EndMod-I(A)
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Mrc-Rcvry+(31), Pnc-Heal/+End(33)
Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-End%(A)
Level 1: Energy Flight -- BlsoftheZ-ResKB(A)
Level 10: Combat Flight -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(39), Rct-ResDam%(39)
Level 6: Bright Nova Blast -- Apc-Dmg(A), Apc-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(3), Apc-Acc/Rchg(3), Apc-Dmg/EndRdx(5), Apc-Dam%(5)
Level 6: Bright Nova Bolt -- AchHee-ResDeb%(A)
Level 6: Bright Nova Detonation -- Rgn-Dmg(A), Rgn-Dmg/Rchg(7), Rgn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(7), Rgn-Acc/Rchg(9), Rgn-Dmg/EndRdx(9), SuddAcc--KB/+KD(11)
Level 6: Bright Nova Scatter -- PstBls-Acc/Dmg(A), PstBls-Dmg/EndRdx(11), PstBls-Dmg/Rchg(13), PstBls-Dmg/Rng(13), PstBls-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(15), PstBls-Dam%(15)
Level 20: White Dwarf Antagonize -- PrfZng-Taunt/Rng(A), PrfZng-Dam%(17)
Level 20: White Dwarf Flare -- SprEssTrn-Dmg/Rchg(A), SprEssTrn-Rchg/Global Heal(17), SprEssTrn-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(19), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(19)
Level 20: White Dwarf Smite -- CrsImp-Acc/Dmg(A), CrsImp-Dmg/EndRdx(21), CrsImp-Dmg/Rchg(21), CrsImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(23), CrsImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(23), CrsImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(25)
Level 20: White Dwarf Step -- WntGif-ResSlow(A)
Level 20: White Dwarf Strike -- FrcFdb-Rechg%(A)
Level 20: White Dwarf Sublimation -- Prv-Heal/Rchg(A)
Level 50: Musculature Radial Paragon
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Arnabas · July 10, 2021

Thanks for the info!

Timeshadow · July 13, 2021

On 7/10/2021 at 10:11 AM, Arnabas said:

Having played pure human up until my last power choice, I have been splitting my enhancements between offence and defence. Having just picked my Nova form, I am thinking I should respec to take the (offence) enhancements out of the human-only powers and put them into the Nova-only powers to improve its attacks.

You want to get Nova as soon as it becomes available at level 6. In the early game, most enemies don't have hard hitting ranged attacks so the ability to float above their heads and rain bolts of light is the optimal way to engage them. Frankly, Nova is always going to be your primary source of ranged damage in a TriForm build. You don't need any of the Human ranged attacks but I recommend picking up Gleaming Bolt (It's fast Recharge makes it a great mule for the Achilles' Heel -Resist proc) and Glinting Eye (This works in Nova and fills out the form's attack chain). All the others are rendered unnecessary by their Nova copies.

On 7/10/2021 at 10:11 AM, Arnabas said:

I had assumed that I would have to do the same later with the Dwarf form, as I was thinking it would add a number of defence powers, but reading up a bit, I see that like the Nova, it only gets new attacks. Does this mean that the Dwarf form keeps the Defence abilities that I am currently using in my human form (Shining Shield, Thermal Shield, etc), which turn off in Nova?

As @Omega Force noted, the only Human powers that can be used in form are Glinting Eye (Nova) and Gleaming Bolt (Dwarf). Playing a TriForm build is about weaving between all three forms to get the maximum efficacy from each one. Generally speaking, you should avoid sitting in any one form for long periods unless something about the situation calls for that (i.e. You've got mezz effects on you and need the protection Dwarf offers).

In the same way Nova trivializes the Human blasts, Dwarf makes the shields largely irrelevant. Its inherent Resistance is pretty high (Something like 50% unenhanced) and it can easily reach up to 65% or 70% with basic +Resist IOs. In addition to that, it comes with built-in mezz protection. You get a mezz on you, you activate Dwarf and smash stuff until that mezz wears off.

In regard to Dwarf form's powers, it gets more than just attacks. You've got two single-target melee attacks, a PBAoE (White Dwarf Flare), a self-heal, Taunt, and a teleport. As I mentioned earlier, you can also use Gleaming Bolt while in Dwarf. It doesn't do much damage on its own but slotting it with the aforementioned Achilles' Heel proc allows you to cut a chunk out of enemies' Resistance, therefore enabling Dwarf to do a bit more damage.

On 7/10/2021 at 10:11 AM, Arnabas said:

Once I have both the Nova and Dwarf forms available, does human form continue to have any particular use? Right now, it seems to offer better Defence than Nova, but when the Dwarf comes along, the Dwarf will take that role.

Again, @Omega Force has it right. Human is the melee specialist (Best suited for hitting hard targets like Bosses), Nova does ranged DPS (Primarily good at taking out softer targets with AoEs), and Dwarf is for tanking/mezz protection. I'd reiterate though that playing a TriForm build effectively requires you to be using all three in concert with each other. For example, let's say you're about to engage a new spawn. You wanna be in Human form first so you can buff your damage with Inner Light. Once that's done, you could do something like this:

1) Stay in Human, use a PBAoE (Solar Flare, Dawn Strike, or Photon Seekers) to open with damage and knock everything around

2) Leap back out while shifting to Nova and blasting from range

3) Go into Dwarf to absorb some incoming damage, maybe pop a heal, and/or knock everything down with White Dwarf Flare

4) See what's still alive and choose how to proceed

Notice how each step uses a different form for a different purpose but they all end up synergizing to handle the spawn? That's the ideal TriForm methodology. Obviously, things differ depending on the kind of enemies you're up against and whatever teammates you have. You may want to be using Dwarf more frequently if you're running with several squishies, essentially functioning as a main tank. If you've got a good number of sturdy melee ATs around, you could get in close and mix it up alongside them in Human form or sit back and blast in Nova. It all depends on the situation.

Hope that helps. You can check out the guide in my signature for an overview of how a TriForm PB develops through the levels. Hope to see you slinging the light in-game. If you ever run across a PB named Sunsquall, that'll be me 😁

Edited July 13, 2021 by Timeshadow

Xiddo · July 13, 2021

Can 100% attest to how useful @Timeshadow’S guide is. Really changed how I view the toon.

Set up some binds for swapping trays and the whole AT opens up. So much less clunky.

you can really get it pretty tanky if you want to. I built in mind that I can get perma light form, some procs too, but also probably be res capped during posi/syn/yin. I wanted that because I didn’t want to die when taking the aggro if a lvl 10 tank is struggling vs vahz. Light form is only there from 33+ (exemplared).

I couldn’t stand PBs on live and now I’d said it’s my main. If I’m about on Athosin then feel free to drop me a /t 🙂