Claws/Ice - on the right track?

[Duck-Smokes-Quack]

Hi guys,


Ive been working on a Claws/Ice build in mids and wondered what you all think? I have little to no experience with either set so good to get some feedback.
 

• Claws/: As I understand it the best ST attack chains for claws are as follows
  ST = Follow up > Focus > Slash repeat - the slotting logic being Follow Up has +build up proc & +50% crit proc in it, followed by Focus (with double damage procs) followed by Slash with the -res proc
  
  AoE= Follow Up > Shockwave > Spin - similar logic with KB>KD in Shockwave + damage procs in both
  
  *note i didnt 6 slot Superior Crit striks in follow up because that would be my 6th +10%rech bonus which violates the rule of 5 for sets
  
   
• /Ice: Im an uber novice here ... am I doing it wrong or are Ice Armors numbers just a bit ... meh? Not sure if my slotting makes any sense
  - perma Hoarfrost
  - Icicles ... no idea how to slot this one ... did it botch it?
  - skipped Permafrost since its seems pointless, Winters Gift unqiue gives me the 20% slow res anyway
  - Icy Bastion looks good and will be up about 1/3 of the time
  - Conserve Power up 1/2 the time
  - Build does look a bit end heavy though
  - No idea at all how to slot Energy Absoroption ...
  - Dislike taking Maneuvers but even with it the defensive numbers just seem ... low
  
  Am i missing something with /Ice? Getting defence into the build seems a bit of a struggle, and even then with just 41% DDR the defense will be stripped away in no time at all.
  Resistances (apart from Cold) are basically non existant, even my previous /SR builds found more S/L resist that /Ice.
  Hoarfrost maybe is best of being used reactivly then as a heal rather than have it "perma".
   

 

Im just not sure. Any and all feedback and critique welcome please!

Let me know how you feel not just about the build but the powersets (/Ice in particular)

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[BrandX]

A first thought I have, is I'd six slot Reactive Defense in Frozen Armor, since it'll give you more resists and more +RCH.  Looks like at the cost of 2% Damage increase, but also get better END Use Management.

 

Hoarfrost with Preventive Medicine (so move a slot from Health) instead of Doctored Wounds.  Better bonuses with more Resists and more +RCH.

 

I'd replace the KD Proc in Shockwave to the Damage IO.  The attack does Knock.  You have KB-KD Proc.  May as well get more damage.

 

I'd personally drop Physical Perfection for Permafrost for the added Slow Resist and Fire Resist.  Put in some +5 with the IOs (including the RCH IOs in Hasten, to make it perma) and you'll help take care of more end problems you may face.  Seeing as how you have Energy Absorption for End Recovery and Conserve Power, I just don't see it being an issue, especially since part of claws gimmick is cheaper end use.

 

Speaking of Energy Absorption, I'd maybe replace the ENDMOD IO with the +5% Resist All IO.

 

Putting in Permafrost also allows putting the +3% Defense IO in it, and slotting Unbreakable Guard to 4th set bonus and more +Resist.

 

This Hero build was built using Mids Reborn 3.1.2.5
https://github.com/LoadedCamel/MidsReborn

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Level 50 Science Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Claws
Secondary Power Set: Ice Armor
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Body Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Strike -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Frozen Armor -- Rct-Def(A), Rct-Def/EndRdx(3), Rct-EndRdx/Rchg(3), Rct-Def/Rchg(5), Rct-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(5), Rct-ResDam%(39)
Level 2: Slash -- Hct-Dmg/Rchg(A), Hct-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(7), Hct-Acc/Rchg(7), Hct-Dmg/EndRdx(9), Hct-Dam%(9), AchHee-ResDeb%(11)
Level 4: Chilling Embrace -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 6: Spin -- Arm-Dmg/Rchg(A), Arm-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(13), Arm-Acc/Rchg(13), Arm-Dmg/EndRdx(15), Arm-Dam%(15)
Level 8: Follow Up -- GssSynFr--Build%(A), SprCrtStr-Dmg/Rchg(17), SprCrtStr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(19), SprCrtStr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(19), SprCrtStr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(21), SprCrtStr-Rchg/+50% Crit(21)
Level 10: Wet Ice -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 12: Super Speed -- HO:Micro(A)
Level 14: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), WntGif-ResSlow(17), Ksm-ToHit+(23)
Level 16: Glacial Armor -- RedFrt-Def(A), RedFrt-EndRdx(23), RedFrt-Def/Rchg(25), RedFrt-Def/EndRdx(25), RedFrt-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(39), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(39)
Level 18: Focus -- Apc-Dmg/Rchg(A), Apc-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(27), Apc-Acc/Rchg(27), Apc-Dmg/EndRdx(29), Apc-Dam%(29), GldJvl-Dam%(31)
Level 20: Energy Absorption -- ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(A), SynSck-EndMod(42), SynSck-Dam/Rech(42), SynSck-EndMod/Rech(45), SynSck-Dam/Acc/End(46), SynSck-EndMod/+RunSpeed(50)
Level 22: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(31)
Level 24: Hoarfrost -- Prv-Heal(A), Prv-Heal/EndRdx(31), Prv-EndRdx/Rchg(33), Prv-Heal/Rchg(33), Prv-Heal/Rchg/EndRdx(33), Prv-Absorb%(48)
Level 26: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 28: Maneuvers -- RedFrt-Def(A), RedFrt-EndRdx(46), RedFrt-Def/EndRdx(48), RedFrt-Def/Rchg(48), RedFrt-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(50), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(50)
Level 30: Tough -- UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-Max HP%(34), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(34), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(34)
Level 32: Shockwave -- Rgn-Dmg/Rchg(A), Rgn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), Rgn-Acc/Rchg(36), Rgn-Dmg/EndRdx(37), Rgn-Dmg(37), OvrFrc-Dam/KB(37)
Level 35: Icicles -- SprScrStr-Acc/Dmg(A), SprScrStr-Dmg/Rchg(43), SprScrStr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(43), SprScrStr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(43), SprScrStr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(45), SprScrStr-Rchg/+Crit(45)
Level 38: Icy Bastion -- StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(A)
Level 41: Weave -- RedFrt-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFrt-Def(42), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(46)
Level 44: Conserve Power -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 47: Permafrost -- GldArm-3defTpProc(A)
Level 49: Assault -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Critical Hit 
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Pnc-Heal/+End(A), Mrc-Rcvry+(36), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(40)
Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-EndMod(A), PrfShf-End%(11), PwrTrns-EndMod(40), PwrTrns-+Heal(40)
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 12: Speed Phase 
Level 50: Freedom Phalanx Reserve 
Level 50: Task Force Commander 
Level 50: The Atlas Medallion 
Level 50: Portal Jockey 
------------

 

Edit...changed Energy Absorption Slotting there and Weave.

Edited January 16, 2022 by BrandX

[Bill Z Bubba]

1 hour ago, Duck-Smokes-Quack said:

ST = Follow up > Focus > Slash repeat - the slotting logic being Follow Up has +build up proc & +50% crit proc in it, followed by Focus (with double damage procs) followed by Slash with the -res proc

 

That's debatable. It's what I shoot for but I've seen better ST times with fu, focus, slash, shockwave, repeat and on scrappers, eviscerate has a higher than normal crit rate that can be leveraged against the Crit Strike's proc.

 

Gassian in Followup sounds awesome, but at 1 PPM, it's not. You could stick another damage proc in there and you might get more out of it but that'll be something to test.

 

Biggest thing jumping out at me, and others will need to speak on it, is Energy Absorption. That's where Ice gets its extra defense from. As it is, you'll be firing it off every 20 sec for almost 13 end. That's gonna eat your bar pretty fast.

[BrandX]

1 minute ago, Bill Z Bubba said:

 

Biggest thing jumping out at me, and others will need to speak on it, is Energy Absorption. That's where Ice gets its extra defense from. As it is, you'll be firing it off every 20 sec for almost 13 end. That's gonna eat your bar pretty fast.

 

Been awhile, but if I recall, it's Defense can't actually be increased, so it's more of a surrounded by enemies ability, rather than when 1 on 1.

[BrandX]

Oh, thinking on it, I'd likely move the Steadfast +3% Defense IO to Icy Bastion.  Don't lose much on Tough (less than 1% S/L Resist) and gain quite a bit on Icy Bastion's Resists.

[Bill Z Bubba]

7 minutes ago, BrandX said:

Been awhile, but if I recall, it's Defense can't actually be increased, so it's more of a surrounded by enemies ability, rather than when 1 on 1.

 

CoD seems to imply that the defense is enhanceable, as it's missing the lock for ignores enhancement. Mids appears to be thinking that it does if you hit two or more.

 

https://cod.uberguy.net./html/power.html?power=scrapper_defense.ice_armor.energy_absorption&at=scrapper

 

Granted, ain't much. But I was more thinking of finding a way to get some end reduction in there.

 

Edited January 16, 2022 by Bill Z Bubba

[BrandX]

Just now, Bill Z Bubba said:

 

CoD seems to imply that the defense is enhanceable, as it's missing the lock for ignores enhancement. Mids appears to be thinking that it does if you hit two or more.

 

https://cod.uberguy.net./html/power.html?power=scrapper_defense.ice_armor.energy_absorption&at=scrapper

 

 

Yeh, Mids does.  I was thinking of Wet Ice, which took away the Defense slotting.

[BrandX]

Edited the slotting on Energy Absorption.  More +RCH than the slotting in Weave gave.

[Onlyasandwich]

15 minutes ago, Bill Z Bubba said:

Biggest thing jumping out at me, and others will need to speak on it, is Energy Absorption. That's where Ice gets its extra defense from. As it is, you'll be firing it off every 20 sec for almost 13 end. That's gonna eat your bar pretty fast.

While you do have to account for cost to cast, it is after all a +end power, and a strong one at that. Even with no endmod and against a single target, you are still end positive upon casting. I like to slot it with lotg 5 piece. That + the shield wall unique as you have here would be solid. Synapse's Shock is a fine alternative of course, and will help you use it as a real end support tool in single target only situations. Base end slotting will top you off in crowds either way. Also another reason to consider musculature radial for the Alpha as well.

 

I typically use EA as an excuse to abandon other end support powers on Ice armor. Since it animates so quickly, and you want to be spamming it anyhow for +def in most situations, you lose very little in the trade - conserve power won't really be necessary at all. I think this build would benefit from either investing in another epic, or abandoning epics in favor of tactics or maybe a lotg mule. I can confirm that the defense is enhanceable in-game on EA.

 

 

 

 

[Jaxman100]

Here's some food for thought.

 

This is my current build on HC.  When I get around to it I will probably respec Chilling Embrace back in.  You can see I focused much more on soft capping defenses that high recharge rate. Alternating Icy Bastion and Rune of Protection to boost resistances.  

 

You could drop Infiltration, Conserve Power, and Physical Perfection for Hasten, Chilling Embrace, and Super Speed (if you want to be able to stealth). Steal a slot from Stamina to 2 slot Hasten, and possibly the 5% resist IO in CJ for Chilling Embrace if you want to manage that end cost. 

I do suggest keeping the recharge on Energy Absorption fairly low. At about 24 seconds recharge it's 'stacks' about half the time if you aren't hitting 9 targets with the first cast.  It's a great end tool and helps over capping defense for debuffs.  But I do rely on being able to up my resists to help with defense debuffs and letting my defense recover before engaging the next spawn. 

 

1 on 1 Energy Absorption won't solve your end issues.  One of the reasons I have Conserve Power currently.  An incarnate Endurance Mod bonus could help out there.  I personally like Intuition to get Damage and Range for Focus and Shockwave. The Tier 4 slow movement is nice for Chilling Embrace as well. 

 

Definitely a build I wish I had more slots for.

 

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