Cant decide Elec/Nin or Savage/Nin or SR - Shield better?

[I-Dirty]

Which is better (yes I know that is opinion based) and why?

Edited September 18, 2021 by I-Dirty

[DreadShinobi]

Between Ninjitsu, Super Reflexes, and Shield Defense, I would choose Energy Aura.

 

EA hits softcaps easier than Nin and SD, it has healing and regeneration values that SR and SD lack, it has a recharge buff that Nin and SD lack, and it has access to some of the most powerful endurance sustain abilities in the game, which Nin, SR, and SD have zero endurance management tools. 

 

About softcaps -

--Ninjitsu Ninja Reflexes and Danger Sense are base 13.88% defense, slotted with LotG +Rchg, and LotG-Def (with +5 boosted IOs) you get to 20.85% def buff. When you add in Combat Jumping, Hide, and Weave buffs, and steadfast + gladi armor uniques you get to about 37% defense. That is an additional 8% to chase with IOs, as well as needing to fill the kb protection hole and slots for endurance management.

--Shield Defense is even worse off because the base values on Deflection and Battle Agility are set at 11.25% base. With the same set up as above with all +5 IOs you reach about 33% positional defense, leaving a massive 12% to chase with your IO slotting. Shield Defense also needs slots for +regen and endurance management.

-Neither Nin or SD have the free +20% global recharge

--Super Reflexes can hit 45% positionals by itself with CJ/Hide/Gladi Armor/Steadfast, however that requires 8 defense based powers (thinking about IO set diversification), it doesn't have any inherent heal or regen buff, or endurance management tools. 

--Energy Aura Kinetic Shield and Power Shield have a massive 16.5% base defense - this is why softcapping energy aura is so much easier than Nin or Shield, and why it so much more power-slot effective than SR because it gets such a large amount of defense from just 2 powers. For Energy Aura I put my 5 lotgs into Hide, CJ, Kinetic Shield, Weave, and Energy Drain - and so I slot Power Shield with 6 reactive defenses. Power Shield grants 26.42% def and Kinetic Shield grants 24.79% Def (with the lotg+rchg and lotg-def same slotting as used in the other sets for equal comparison). This puts your defense totals to 40.92% S/L def, 42.56% F/C, 46.5% Energy, and 36.55% Negative. Before Energy Drain, which can put you above softcaps to all sans negative. A set of Superior Blistering Cold is also a great choice for energy aura that gives you a 5% bump to S/L/C/F but it isn't necessary - Superior Stalker's Guile also provides 5% S/L def, and Assassin's mark provides 2.5% F/C. Needless to say Energy Aura is extremely efficient at hitting softcaps with essentially zero need to chase extra defense like Nin and SD have to, and it requires significantly less power picks than SR to hit those softcaps. This is all before mentioning just how amazing Energize is, which basically lets you ignore your blue bar, which none of the other sets can do. Because all your basic build requirements (defense softcaps, blue bar sustain, green bar sustain) are already set for you at base levels you can chase massive amounts of +rchg set bonuses and still have plenty of room for proc damage slotting which allows its offensive capabilities to far surpass the other sets.

 

More specifically there isn't a single primary power choice that I feel would perform better on Nin/SD/SR than it would on Energy Aura. 

Edited September 19, 2021 by DreadShinobi

[I-Dirty]

So Elec/Energy?

 

Do you know of a build?

[DreadShinobi]

15 minutes ago, I-Dirty said:

So Elec/Energy?

 

Do you know of a build?

Villain 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!

Level 50 Magic Stalker
Primary Power Set: Electrical Melee
Secondary Power Set: Energy Aura
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Presence
Ancillary Pool: Mu Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Havoc Punch -- SprAssMar-Rchg/Rchg Build Up(A), SprAssMar-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(5), SprAssMar-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(15), SprAssMar-Acc/Dmg(15), SprAssMar-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(17), SprAssMar-Dmg/Rchg(19)
Level 1: Hide -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 2: Kinetic Shield -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(13)
Level 4: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(11)
Level 6: Assassin's Shock -- SprStlGl-Rchg/Hide%(A), SprStlGl-Dmg/Rchg(7), SprStlGl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(7), SprStlGl-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(9), SprStlGl-Acc/Dmg(9), SprStlGl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11)
Level 8: Power Shield -- Rct-ResDam%(A), Rct-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(13), Rct-Def/Rchg(23), Rct-Def(40), Rct-Def/EndRdx(43), Rct-EndRdx/Rchg(43)
Level 10: Entropy Shield -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 12: Build Up -- GssSynFr--Build%(A)
Level 14: Jacobs Ladder -- FuroftheG-ResDeb%(A), Obl-%Dam(29), Obl-Dmg(31), OvrFrc-Acc/Dmg(31), OvrFrc-Acc/Dmg/End(34), OvrFrc-Dam/KB(34)
Level 16: Kinetic Dampening -- StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), UnbGrd-Max HP%(17)
Level 18: Chain Induction -- Hct-Dam%(A), Hct-Dmg/EndRdx(19), Hct-Dmg(21), Hct-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(23), Hct-Acc/Rchg(25), TchofDth-Dam%(31)
Level 20: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 22: Boxing -- AbsAmz-Stun(A), AbsAmz-EndRdx/Stun(25), AbsAmz-Stun/Rchg(27), AbsAmz-Acc/Stun/Rchg(27), AbsAmz-Acc/Rchg(29)
Level 24: Tough -- GldArm-3defTpProc(A)
Level 26: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(46)
Level 28: Energy Drain -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 30: Super Speed -- HO:Micro(A)
Level 32: Lightning Rod -- Arm-Dam%(A), Arm-Dmg/Rchg(33), Arm-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), Erd-%Dam(33), ScrDrv-Dam%(34), Obl-%Dam(37)
Level 35: Energize -- Prv-Absorb%(A), Prv-Heal/Rchg/EndRdx(36), Prv-Heal(36), Prv-Heal/EndRdx(36), Prv-EndRdx/Rchg(37), Prv-Heal/Rchg(37)
Level 38: Zapp -- StnoftheM-Dam%(A), StnoftheM-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39), StnoftheM-Acc/Dmg(39), StnoftheM-Dmg/EndRdx(39), StnoftheM-Acc/ActRdx/Rng(40), Apc-Dam%(40)
Level 41: Ball Lightning -- PstBls-Dam%(A), PstBls-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(42), PstBls-Acc/Dmg(42), PstBls-Dmg/EndRdx(42), PstBls-Dmg/Rng(43), Bmbdmt-+FireDmg(46)
Level 44: Mu Bolts -- Apc-Dmg/EndRdx(A), Apc-Dmg(45), Apc-Dmg/Rchg(45), Apc-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(45), Apc-Acc/Rchg(46)
Level 47: Summon Adept -- ExpRnf-Acc/Dmg(A), ExpRnf-Dmg/EndRdx(48), ExpRnf-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(48), ExpRnf-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(48)
Level 49: Provoke -- PrfZng-Taunt(A), PrfZng-Acc/Rchg(50), PrfZng-Taunt/Rchg/Rng(50), PrfZng-Taunt/Rng(50)
Level 1: Assassination 
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
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 -- HO:Micro(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run 
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Pnc-Heal/+End(A), Mrc-Rcvry+(3), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(3), NmnCnv-Heal(5)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-EndMod(A), PrfShf-End%(21)
Level 0: Marshal 
Level 0: High Pain Threshold 
Level 0: Invader 
Level 50: Ageless Core Epiphany 
Level 50: Musculature Core Paragon 
Level 0: Born In Battle 
Level 1: Quick Form 
------------

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[I-Dirty]

tyvm

[Without_Pause]

On 9/19/2021 at 1:14 AM, DreadShinobi said:

More specifically there isn't a single primary power choice that I feel would perform better on Nin/SD/SR than it would on Energy Aura. 

In defense of Shield, it trades off the lack of def, heal, end management, etc for offense. IO slotting and Incarnating a build can further patch up it's weaknesses. I'll say that some primaries can benefit from Shield since it adds an AoE. If a primary has a heal and/or end management, then again, I think Shield is the better pick. Case in point, Dark/sd versus Dark/ea. While Elec/sd is certainly a thing(I have one), Elec has enough AoE on its own so Shield isn't "needed."

[DreadShinobi]

44 minutes ago, Without_Pause said:

In defense of Shield, it trades off the lack of def, heal, end management, etc for offense. IO slotting and Incarnating a build can further patch up it's weaknesses. I'll say that some primaries can benefit from Shield since it adds an AoE. If a primary has a heal and/or end management, then again, I think Shield is the better pick. Case in point, Dark/sd versus Dark/ea. While Elec/sd is certainly a thing(I have one), Elec has enough AoE on its own so Shield isn't "needed."

The question is can you put as many damage procs in your shield build as I can with energy aura? How much is your global recharge deficit by chasing the softcap/procs? Are you relying on vigor/ageless/rebirth when EA can take musc/incan? And what is the opportunity cost by relying on dark melee sustain to prop up shield defense when EA can opt into a set with better damage? You can patch up shield's weaknesses yes, but there will inevitably be a trade off. Where Shield must make decisions on where and how those trade offs occur, EA takes option D) all of the above. You stuff your attacks full of damage procs and still have a softcapped defenses, layered mitigation/healing, infinite endurance, and massive global recharge.

[Without_Pause]

1 hour ago, DreadShinobi said:

And what is the opportunity cost by relying on dark melee sustain to prop up shield defense when EA can opt into a set with better damage?

Your statement was you preferred Dark/ea over Dark/shield. What I am saying is there can see support for the reverse since Dark offers a heal. I also looked up Croax's Elec/sd build and every attack had a damage proc unless a ATO set was involved. I already have an /ea build nearing the finish line, and I am working on a /sd build. Yes, the /ea has been a smoother ride, but I would honestly question how popular something like Elec/sd is over Elec/ea. As of 3/2/2020 there were 307 level 50 Elec/sd(#1) as where there were 34 Elec/ea(#37).

Edited September 22, 2021 by Without_Pause

[DreadShinobi]

39 minutes ago, Without_Pause said:

Your statement was you preferred Dark/ea over Dark/shield. What I am saying is there can see support for the reverse since Dark offers a heal. I also looked up Croax's Elec/sd build and every attack had a damage proc unless a ATO set was involved. I already have an /ea build nearing the finish line, and I am working on a /sd build. Yes, the /ea has been a smoother ride, but I would honestly question how popular something like Elec/sd is over Elec/ea. As of 3/2/2020 there were 307 level 50 Elec/sd(#1) as where there were 34 Elec/ea(#37).

You're cherry picking, and no I actually didn't say that, to be frank I don't see a point to playing dark melee (especially on stalker) and I wouldn't play shield defense just to find a use for it. If I was looking to play a melee set that can heal I will stick to Rad Melee, and with that I'd probably be looking at a tanker anyways. 

 

People like double teleport attacks. Popularity is a poor way to describe actual effectiveness, and no I am not saying anything one way or the other in that statement.

 

I have full respect for the information Croax put together in his thread, but take a closer look at his build. There are huge DPA differences between his elec/sd and my elec/ea. He absolute needed to put a huge amount of his slotting towards getting to the softcap and it did significantly reduce his potential output. 

Dmg procs available to his elec/sd vs my elec/ea

Zapp 1 proc vs 1 proc+1 purple proc

Ball Lightning 0 proc vs 2 proc

Chain Induc 1 purple vs 1 purple + 1 proc

Lightning Rod 1 proc vs 3 procs + 1 purple proc

 

I believe he would be using ageless to keep sustainable, which means he doesn't have rebirth. Since EA needs neither I can run incan, and also don't need maneuvers so I have provoke utility for teams as well. The EA build should also be exemplaring quite a bit better.

 

SD vs EA regen

437 hp regen / 30 sec vs 1568 hp every 30 seconds.

2.14 EPS vs 2.53 EPS with energy drain refill.

EPS gap will widen with sprint and super speed toggled on.

Ball Lightning spam = 1.31 EPS on the SD build. Stalkers are pretty endurance hungry, and a big part of why I talk about EA the way I do. Personally I just don't care for the over reliance on Ageless in character building these days.

 

The question then is... was AAO/shield charge worth it? I do wonder how the two would compare in actual gameplay.

[Croax]

I like this discussion it helps to get insight on how people play and what they priorize over something else.

 

To answer the OP directly:

Savage or Elec? -> Go for Elec

What goes best with Elec between Nin, SR and SD? Definetly SD! It is fun to double nuke. If you have never done it, try it out!

 

But normaly i would not recommend so fast what to pick, because we need some more information.

Do you play Solo a lot?

Do you plan to duo with a tank or kinetic or whatever?

Will you powerlevel that toon and spend a lot of time on lvl 50?

Do you want to play in groups from DFB to MLTF?

Do you plan on spending a lot of influence while leveling or will it be at the end?

 

You need to know that a lot of the powersets perform very different in the situations i mentioned above. While a group or even one other player can cover some of your bases, you will experience the game totally different.

With IOs and incarnates, the game is also totally different. 

And the truth is that the difference between Elec/SD or Elec/EA is not important if you solo speedrun missions on -1/1. If you go for ITFs Solo on hardcore Mode EA might be better, but you can not stop at 45% defenses there, you need to go higher.

There are pros and cons for both sides, but you can only decide yourself what the best is for you.

 

TLDR: Elec/SD if you have never played the combo. Everyone plays different, EA is better than SD overall.

[Without_Pause]

9 hours ago, DreadShinobi said:

You're cherry picking, and no I actually didn't say that, to be frank I don't see a point to playing dark melee (especially on stalker) and I wouldn't play shield defense just to find a use for it. If I was looking to play a melee set that can heal I will stick to Rad Melee, and with that I'd probably be looking at a tanker anyways.

My one post where I quoted you says otherwise. Let's be honest, one isn't taking Rad over Dark due to the heal. It is the ability to slot -res procs in it. Agreed, I would(and have) picked Dark and Rad for the other melee ATs. 

 

At the end of the day, people pick things for mix/max, fun, or both reasons. The OP never stated which way they leaned. I'm merely pointing out the by far most popular build combo for a stalker might just be something worth looking into even if it isn't the min/max best.

[ZemX]

12 hours ago, DreadShinobi said:

Lightning Rod 1 proc vs 3 procs + 1 purple proc

 

This isn't as big a difference as you might think.

 

Proc rates in LR and SC are abysmal because they are pseudopets.  i.e. They use 10 seconds as the activate time, just like a toggle or autopower instead of using the very long base recharge time of the power itself.   Then too, they are largish 20ft radius AoEs.   All that reduces the proc rate.   Your purple proc has a 25% chance and the others are 18%.  In total, you are adding 63.3 average damage (of varying types) per target hit if we multiply the proc damages by the %chance and add them up.  This is about 50% more than the LR base damage (not counting the inner radius bonus damage which is typically only going to hit one or a couple targets) to which you're adding another 60% with your two Armageddon set IOs.  So 110% added damage.   Croax slotted a full set of Obliteration meaning he's at or above the ED cap for damage and has one 3.5 PPM proc.  So around 100% +dmg on the power himself and he does have one proc giving him about 10% added damage.  I'd call that pretty even (unless I screwed up the math somewhere) and on top of that Croax's build is getting set bonuses in LR.

 

The proc differences you listed in the other powers might be more significant differences because their proc chances are likely higher.   Just wanted to point out that Lightning Rod and Shield Charge are both poor candidates for proccing.  If I ever put a proc in either it's to get a sixth-slot bonus, just like Croax did.

[I-Dirty]

On 9/22/2021 at 5:48 AM, Croax said:

Do you play Solo a lot?

 

Yes primarily I do solo

 

Do you plan to duo with a tank or kinetic or whatever?

 

Nope unless I box with my other account which isnt up to par yet

 

Will you powerlevel that toon and spend a lot of time on lvl 50?

Maybe...depends on availability

 

On 9/22/2021 at 5:48 AM, Croax said:

Do you want to play in groups from DFB to MLTF?

Not sure what that is lol

 

On 9/22/2021 at 5:48 AM, Croax said:

Do you plan on spending a lot of influence while leveling or will it be at the end?

at the end more than likely

 

[UltraAlt]

On 9/18/2021 at 7:28 PM, I-Dirty said:

Which is better (yes I know that is opinion based) and why?

 

The better one is the one that fits your character conception - if that sort of thing is important to you.

 

You have thousands of slots. I suggest making all three. You'll end up playing the one you enjoy playing the best.

[Croax]

Hey @I-Dirty,

if i understand you correct you will be most of the time solo, so it really does not matter which primary you pick. Savage and Elec will make you feel strong. Be sure to pick up the first two attacks, the cone, the Assassin Strike and Build Up up until lvl 8 then you can get the armor powers. As a Solo Stalker your best defense is killing everything before it kills you.

Btw. The easiest way to level the first 8 levels is to join a trial called Death From Below (DFB). There are groups forming in atlas park all the time. You can do it 2-3 times which will take you ~45 minutes? It should be faster usually. You can join at lvl 1.

 

For the Secondary, if you do not want to put money into the Stalker early on, i would recommend to go with Super Reflexes. Without a good amount of IOs all Armor sets will make you feel squishy. And Super Reflexes will be the easiest to reach defense caps.

I think i would do a respec at lvl 18 dropping one of the first attacks in favour of more defenses, now could be the right time for a travel power if you feel like it or combat jumping for more defense.

Later on i would do another respec at lvl 35 to be more like the endgame build you are trying to achieve.

 

After this respec, do one of the villain patron pool archs, to unlock them. You should have a good feeling for the Stalker by now. Now is the right time to dump money on the Stalker. Also now is the time for the roman task force in crim (ITF). You can get easy XP there.

The old common lvl 50 task force is callen Miss Liberty Task Force (MLTF). You can join one at lvl 45-50. It was once the hardest TF out there. You can see the power level of your Stalker and the difference of the Primaries and Secondaries of every AT in such hard conditions. If you would Powerlevel up to 35 or higher go with Elec/Shield, that combo is a late bloomer and can feel bad in the beginning. 

Lastly i recommend you take a look at my guide. It can help you a lot. Especially the part about ATO Synergy. You need to buy certain IOs to play the Stalker to its full potential.

[Chelsea Rorec]

I have a BS/SD stalker and what a lot of people forget is Against all Odds stacks +Dmg with the number of mobs around you.

So you can go from a 16% buff for 1 npc to a 64% buff for 10 npc's around you.

With BU that goes to 145% buff (80%) add assault and thats 156%(10%) and if guassians proc fires thats 263%.

Musculature just makes it an animal.

(Note i stacked some extra +dmg from set bonus which add up to 27% DMG plus the above)

 

Secondly shield is easy to cap if you take tough/weave.

People are probably like "OMG Fighting pool" but there are 2 reasons why here.

Obviously weave for the def but with reactive defence set for the +Res.

But the big plus here is with Tough and Deflection slotted for resistance it is really easy to cap the Smashing and Lethal Resistance on shield with a little bit of set +res bonuses.

73% S/L (other resists in the 30% range) 60% Melee Def(parry playing a big part here - 43% with no Parry) 50% ranged 42% AoE

 

I take Body Mastery to offset any end issues and to add a total of 4 chance for HP procs.

So 244 HP 3 times per minute.(roughly)

And an +Absorb proc.

 

As for Energy Aura being "The Best" that's pretty subjective.

I prefer Ninjitsu or SR over EA mainly down to the ease of capping Melee/Ranged/AoE def rather than all the typed def like S/L/NRG etc.

Most sets that have positional Def normaly have nice bonuses like +Dmg or S/L resists and Procs for more dmg also (looking at you mako's).

 

Edited September 25, 2021 by Chelsea Rorec

[Ethereal Star]

If by better you mean "more effective", I can tell you that Ninjitsu is not that great for stalkers, sadly.  It's not really bad, but I can't recommend it as a strong defensive secondary for them.  The only benefit of ninjitsu is that a lot of powers are skippable... and I don't think that's a big benefit. ^^; Ninjitsu on scrappers and sentinels on the other hand is excellent, so those might work better.  Furthermore, if you are going after theme, ninjitsu is fine.  So it just depends!

Specifically, ninjitsu lacks any significant powers, has no resistance really to speak of (except toxic, to a very small extent), and no endurance recovery (as a stalker).  Also, it's ultimate is borderline useless but that's not unique to ninjitsu at least.  It's also worth mentioning that Ninjitsu for some reason doesn't have as much defense debuff resistance as it should, making it less effective than some other defensive sets against enemies that debuff that.  It does have a self-heal, at least.  4/9 of its abilities (almost half) are skippable... but I don't consider that a benefit.  Caltrops, smoke flash, and blinding powder are extreme niche and rarely ever helpful in any significant way.  It's ultimate Kuji-In Retsu is only useful for providing temporary defense debuff resistance (and huge amounts of extra defense on top of what you already have) which is usually redundant and very niche, since it crashes.  I just can't recommend Ninjitsu, but at least defense-based defensive secondaries for Stalkers favor them for avoiding damage.

Super reflexes is not that absolutely amazing either, but it is significantly better than Ninjitsu.  It has some built in resistance (not much), and the defenses are more reliable.  It doesn't have healing and it doesn't have endurance recovery and its ultimate is also useless, however it does have some very nice tricks up its sleeves.  It has a scaling amount of resistance based off of how low your health is, it also has built in passive +recharge in one of its powers (+20%).  Unfortunately, if you want defense debuff protection (and resistance) you'll need to take most of the abilities which can be expensive.  Elude, it's ultimate, is useless, and is skipped by almost everyone.  It's not the absolute best defensive secondary for stalkers but it is a decent one!

 

Shield defense by comparison is one of the absolute best stalker secondaries and I highly recommend it if the theme suits you and it works with your primary power.  Elec/Shield specifically is very common.  I don't think savage/shield works, but I may be mistaken... either way shield has very strong defenses, decent resistances, and even some support buffs for your team.  It comes with a very nice +damage power (against all odds) as well, which scales up to +65% damage with enough enemies.  Shield charge is an effective and useful AoE teleport, and unlike some other secondaries the ultimate (one with the shield) is actually very powerful and does not crash.  Everything about shield defense is great!  The only bad thing I can say about shield defense is that all of its powers are quite useful and it will be harder to skip them.  At best, you can skip grant cover if you don't want to buff your team with free defense and resistance.

 

I want to add that your choices of primaries, electric melee and savage melee, are both very solid and are some of the very best stalkers have!  Your secondary is more supporting that, so it won't matter too much if you like ninjitsu for theme and really want to use it.  It will work fine!  If you want to be more powerful, shield defense is better (but might not work with savage, I am unsure sorry!), or alternatively super reflexes for something close to ninjitsu but more passive.

 

Ultimately it's up to you, but this is my opinion on these powersets. ^^

Edited September 25, 2021 by Ethereal Star
cleaning up grammar ^^

[FiveDiamondJack]

On 9/19/2021 at 2:59 AM, DreadShinobi said:

Villain 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!

Level 50 Magic Stalker
Primary Power Set: Electrical Melee
Secondary Power Set: Energy Aura
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Presence
Ancillary Pool: Mu Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Havoc Punch -- SprAssMar-Rchg/Rchg Build Up(A), SprAssMar-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(5), SprAssMar-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(15), SprAssMar-Acc/Dmg(15), SprAssMar-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(17), SprAssMar-Dmg/Rchg(19)
Level 1: Hide -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 2: Kinetic Shield -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(13)
Level 4: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(11)
Level 6: Assassin's Shock -- SprStlGl-Rchg/Hide%(A), SprStlGl-Dmg/Rchg(7), SprStlGl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(7), SprStlGl-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(9), SprStlGl-Acc/Dmg(9), SprStlGl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11)
Level 8: Power Shield -- Rct-ResDam%(A), Rct-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(13), Rct-Def/Rchg(23), Rct-Def(40), Rct-Def/EndRdx(43), Rct-EndRdx/Rchg(43)
Level 10: Entropy Shield -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 12: Build Up -- GssSynFr--Build%(A)
Level 14: Jacobs Ladder -- FuroftheG-ResDeb%(A), Obl-%Dam(29), Obl-Dmg(31), OvrFrc-Acc/Dmg(31), OvrFrc-Acc/Dmg/End(34), OvrFrc-Dam/KB(34)
Level 16: Kinetic Dampening -- StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), UnbGrd-Max HP%(17)
Level 18: Chain Induction -- Hct-Dam%(A), Hct-Dmg/EndRdx(19), Hct-Dmg(21), Hct-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(23), Hct-Acc/Rchg(25), TchofDth-Dam%(31)
Level 20: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 22: Boxing -- AbsAmz-Stun(A), AbsAmz-EndRdx/Stun(25), AbsAmz-Stun/Rchg(27), AbsAmz-Acc/Stun/Rchg(27), AbsAmz-Acc/Rchg(29)
Level 24: Tough -- GldArm-3defTpProc(A)
Level 26: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(46)
Level 28: Energy Drain -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 30: Super Speed -- HO:Micro(A)
Level 32: Lightning Rod -- Arm-Dam%(A), Arm-Dmg/Rchg(33), Arm-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), Erd-%Dam(33), ScrDrv-Dam%(34), Obl-%Dam(37)
Level 35: Energize -- Prv-Absorb%(A), Prv-Heal/Rchg/EndRdx(36), Prv-Heal(36), Prv-Heal/EndRdx(36), Prv-EndRdx/Rchg(37), Prv-Heal/Rchg(37)
Level 38: Zapp -- StnoftheM-Dam%(A), StnoftheM-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39), StnoftheM-Acc/Dmg(39), StnoftheM-Dmg/EndRdx(39), StnoftheM-Acc/ActRdx/Rng(40), Apc-Dam%(40)
Level 41: Ball Lightning -- PstBls-Dam%(A), PstBls-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(42), PstBls-Acc/Dmg(42), PstBls-Dmg/EndRdx(42), PstBls-Dmg/Rng(43), Bmbdmt-+FireDmg(46)
Level 44: Mu Bolts -- Apc-Dmg/EndRdx(A), Apc-Dmg(45), Apc-Dmg/Rchg(45), Apc-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(45), Apc-Acc/Rchg(46)
Level 47: Summon Adept -- ExpRnf-Acc/Dmg(A), ExpRnf-Dmg/EndRdx(48), ExpRnf-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(48), ExpRnf-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(48)
Level 49: Provoke -- PrfZng-Taunt(A), PrfZng-Acc/Rchg(50), PrfZng-Taunt/Rchg/Rng(50), PrfZng-Taunt/Rng(50)
Level 1: Assassination 
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
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 -- HO:Micro(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run 
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Pnc-Heal/+End(A), Mrc-Rcvry+(3), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(3), NmnCnv-Heal(5)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-EndMod(A), PrfShf-End%(21)
Level 0: Marshal 
Level 0: High Pain Threshold 
Level 0: Invader 
Level 50: Ageless Core Epiphany 
Level 50: Musculature Core Paragon 
Level 0: Born In Battle 
Level 1: Quick Form 
------------

 

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I'm curious on this Shinobi. Why Stalker and not Scrapper?

[Chelsea Rorec]

4 hours ago, Ethereal Star said:

 At best, you can skip grant cover if you don't want to buff your team with free defense and resistance.

Grant Cover is where the most of your Defence Debuff resistance comes from.

The other is Battle Agility.

[FiveDiamondJack]

2 hours ago, FiveDiamondJack said:

 

I'm curious on this Shinobi. Why Stalker and not Scrapper?

 

Actually, after getting 5this to level 20 and playing with it for a bit. I may have answered my own question. The control I have on my burst damage seems to be astounding.

[Chelsea Rorec]

Just from reading this there are some people who don't understand certain sets so call them rubbish or under powered.

If you don't like them that's fine.

 

[Saikochoro]

Out of your options I would hands down choose savage melee/shield defense. 
 

You get the double telenuke still (proc out savage leap) and it is faster and just overall better version of elec/shield defense in my opinion. 
 

Shield defense is one of the best armors in the game. Energy aura is also fantastic, but since it wasn’t one you mentioned I am not going to try to convince you to use energy aura. Shield defense is top tier along with energy aura. It can be built very tough and contrary to opinion further up in the thread is easy enough to softcap and still put procs in attacks and have decent rech and also take dps focused incarnates.  Not only that, but it give you a great damage boost in AAO and a good AoE. 
 

I have played and fully kitted out savage/shield, electric/shield, and savage/EA. I didn’t do electric/ea because I don’t feel that electric is really that great of a primary. Both can handle pretty much content you throw at it. I enjoy the savage/shield better than the savage/ea. 

 

That said, you can have fun with just about any power combination. The most important factor is: which one interests you the most? It really doesn’t matter if it is the absolute best, because even the “lower tier” combos can do awesome in pretty much all content. 
 

Pick whichever calls to you the most. 

[FUBARczar]

I would take Stone Armor over EA now-a-days. Some is better all around with better defensive numbers and psi defense and his the HP cap  

 

In most cases I would also take Shield over SR.  In my experience it's sturdier plus you get +DMG.  SR gives more n freedom for creative builds.

 

Never take Ninja on a stalker, pure tin foil armor.

[Chelsea Rorec]

I made a EM/EA brute and i have to say EA is utter garbage.

The claims made that EA is easier to soft cap are untrue and it is more of an end hog than Dark armour.

Energy drain DOES NOT help in the slightest.

 

Ninjitsu/SR is less of an end hog than this. Never have i had to eat some many blues just to stay in a fight in my life.

This is the reason Dread has slotted a Panacea,Miracle,Numina in health and it still dosn't help.

Don't trust the word of a person who slots boxing past the initial slot.

 

Straight to the No1 slot of the worst armours i've played.

[Microcosm]

On 12/16/2021 at 5:21 AM, FUBARczar said:

Never take Ninja on a stalker, pure tin foil armor.

 

This sentence made me sad. So sad that I slapped together a savage/nin build, then proceeded to clear some +4 Rikti and some Pylons, and solo the first mission of the ITF on +2/8 on beta server to remind myself nin is actually not bad. I'm pretty sure I could have done it +4/8, but didn't try. I'd like to clarify about nin:

 

1) With good recharge and some resist slotting, nin can actually cap Toxic and Psi resistance, since the resistances from the Heal and Mez clicks are stackable. That can be a very big deal, considering that most of the attacks in game that ignore all defense are either Toxic or Psi.

2) Caltrops is super not skippable. Skipping this is probably why people think nin is squishier. It is an active mitigation power that provides substantial mitigation. Throw a knockdown proc in there and you increase it even more. Caltrops also happens to do a good amount of damage over time, both to single targets and AoE. I combined it with Fold Space to pile the enemies densely on the patch.

3) The heal is very solid.

3) Blinding Powder is skippable, but fun with Contagious Confusion.

4) Smoke flash should always be skipped, especially as there is a temp power you can purchase that does the exact same thing.

5) Kuji-in Retsu (t9) is indeed skippable, but it has its uses if you want it for def debuff.

 

It is not the best secondary for all things, but it is not bad either. I would actually generally take it over SR unless I really needed the +rech from SR, but that's just me. You deal with the lower def debuff resistance by making all your enemies flop around or try to run away very slowly on Caltrops. Just a different approach.