Enjoying my Thugs/Empath

[Peacemoon]

So I created my Thugs/Empath hero last night and it was such fun I got to level 15 and had completed multiple story arcs without really intending to!

This is despite starting off with the pistols power rather than call thugs (oops!).

 

What I like about this combo is that I’m surprisingly tough with my pets in bodyguard.

For an empath he deals a good amount of damage via his henchman and no problem soloing elite bosses without breaking a sweat. 
 

Even though I have played solo, having a group of pets to heal and support means you get a lot of use out of Empathy in a way you don’t with other ATs when solo. 
 

So far I haven’t really been using enhancements and have been playing +0/x3. It gives enough enemies to have fun with without being overwhelmed.

 

I will try create a proper build later and post it here.
 

The character is a charismatic revolutionary type who is leading his followers against corrupt corporations and politicians and their wealth. More of a vigilante than a hero, he connects with people on an emotional level via is empathy powers and inspires them to his cause. Other than that he has no other superpowers, so will probably be going for things like infiltration for travel, and very minimal epic power pool usage.

[Peacemoon]

This Hero build was built using Mids Reborn 3.0.6.0
https://github.com/LoadedCamel/MidsReborn

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Anshalo: Level 50 Mutation Mastermind
Primary Power Set: Thugs
Secondary Power Set: Empathy
Power Pool: Concealment
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Force of Will
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Field Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Call Thugs

• (A) Superior Command of the Mastermind - Accuracy/Damage
• (9) Superior Command of the Mastermind - Damage/Endurance
• (11) Superior Command of the Mastermind - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (11) Superior Command of the Mastermind - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (13) Superior Command of the Mastermind - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (13) Superior Command of the Mastermind - Recharge/Pet +AoE Defense Aura
  

Level 1: Healing Aura

• (A) Numina's Convalesence - Heal/Endurance
• (5) Numina's Convalesence - Endurance/Recharge
• (5) Numina's Convalesence - Heal/Recharge
• (7) Numina's Convalesence - Heal/Endurance/Recharge
• (7) Numina's Convalesence - Heal
• (9) Numina's Convalesence - +Regeneration/+Recovery
  

Level 2: Heal Other

• (A) Preventive Medicine - Heal
• (25) Preventive Medicine - Heal/Endurance
• (25) Preventive Medicine - Endurance/RechargeTime
• (33) Preventive Medicine - Heal/RechargeTime
• (33) Preventive Medicine - Heal/RechargeTime/Endurance
• (34) Preventive Medicine - Chance for +Absorb
  

Level 4: Infiltration

• (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
• (50) Reactive Defenses - Scaling Resist Damage
• (50) Blessing of the Zephyr - Knockback Reduction (4 points)
  

Level 6: Equip Thugs

• (A) Endurance Reduction IO
  

Level 8: Dual Wield

• (A) Superior Winter's Bite - Accuracy/Damage
• (33) Apocalypse - Damage/Endurance
• (48) Superior Winter's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (48) Apocalypse - Chance of Damage(Negative)
  

Level 10: Weaken Resolve

• (A) Achilles' Heel - Chance for Res Debuff
• (50) Accuracy IO
  

Level 12: Call Enforcer

• (A) Soulbound Allegiance - Chance for Build Up
• (15) Soulbound Allegiance - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (15) Soulbound Allegiance - Damage/Endurance
• (17) Soulbound Allegiance - Damage
• (17) Soulbound Allegiance - Accuracy/Recharge
• (19) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up
  

Level 14: Assault

• (A) Endurance Reduction IO
  

Level 16: Tactics

• (A) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Endurance/Recharge
• (34) Adjusted Targeting - Endurance/Recharge
• (34) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Endurance
• (37) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff
• (40) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Recharge
  

Level 18: Gang War

• (A) Expedient Reinforcement - Damage/Endurance
• (19) Expedient Reinforcement - Accuracy/Damage
• (21) Expedient Reinforcement - Resist Bonus Aura for Pets
• (21) Call to Arms - Defense Bonus Aura for Pets
• (23) Sovereign Right - Resistance Bonus
• (23) Edict of the Master - Defense Bonus
  

Level 20: Fortitude

• (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
• (45) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
• (46) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Recharge
• (46) Luck of the Gambler - Endurance/Recharge
• (46) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
• (48) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
  

Level 22: Maneuvers

• (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
• (43) Shield Wall - Defense/Endurance
• (43) Shield Wall - Defense
• (45) Shield Wall - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
• (45) Shield Wall - +Res (Teleportation), +5% Res (All)
  

Level 24: Victory Rush

• (A) Endurance Reduction IO
  

Level 26: Call Bruiser

• (A) Superior Mark of Supremacy - Damage
• (27) Superior Mark of Supremacy - Damage/Endurance
• (27) Superior Mark of Supremacy - Accuracy/Damage
• (29) Superior Mark of Supremacy - Accuracy/Endurance
• (29) Superior Mark of Supremacy - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (31) Superior Mark of Supremacy - Endurance/Pet +Resist +Regen
  

Level 28: Recovery Aura

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO
• (31) Recharge Reduction IO
  

Level 30: Hasten

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO
• (31) Recharge Reduction IO
  

Level 32: Upgrade Equipment

• (A) Endurance Reduction IO
  

Level 35: Regeneration Aura

• (A) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Endurance
• (36) Doctored Wounds - Endurance/Recharge
• (36) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Recharge
• (36) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Endurance/Recharge
• (37) Doctored Wounds - Heal
• (37) Doctored Wounds - Recharge
  

Level 38: Adrenalin Boost

• (A) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Endurance/Recharge
• (39) Doctored Wounds - Endurance/Recharge
• (39) Doctored Wounds - Recharge
• (39) Doctored Wounds - Heal
• (40) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Recharge
• (40) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Endurance
  

Level 41: Temp Invulnerability

• (A) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All)
• (42) Unbreakable Guard - +Max HP
• (42) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%
• (42) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance
• (43) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance
  

Level 44: Stealth

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

Level 47: Misdirection

• (A) Accuracy IO
  

Level 49: Clear Mind

• (A) Endurance Reduction IO
  

Level 1: Brawl

• (A) Empty
  

Level 1: Sprint

• (A) Empty
  

Level 1: Supremacy 

Level 2: Rest

[LightningSmurf]

You didn't slot Health or Stamina?

[Peacemoon]

4 hours ago, LightningSmurf said:

You didn't slot Health or Stamina?

I tend to use only the default slots for miracle and end recovery. But it depends on how much space I have in the build. If I can squeeze a second slot into stamina I usually try to, however with Empathy it’s not really necessary. 
 

This build is quite old now but it would still work.

[Doomguide2005]

      I've never run Empathy on a MM.  Haven't really run MM at all outside of shortly after CoV came out.  Probably a project to try out again at some point here on HC.

   By 6 slotting Doctored Wounds and LotG are you chasing after mez resistance or Psi and Toxic resistance (or both)?  Seems like those slots would be better spent elsewhere even moreso than a solo defender or controller.  You've got pets to help you out if/when you get mezzed.  And RegenAura I would think make the extra damage resists fairly inconsequential for most content at most difficulties.  I usually find slots to be the hardest thing to come up with in a build.

[Peacemoon]

Yeah this build could definitely use some work to fine tune. 

 

I still really like Thugs/Empath and had a lot of fun playing it. It really lets you lean in to that Empath support role, even when solo, by giving you your own personal npc team to play with!

 

Thugs is a nice primary for it because you have a good mix of characters in your squad; the bruiser (the tank), the enforcers, the arsonist (the suicide blaster). It’s really fun.