Elec/SR Suggestions... Thoughts?

Xeph · February 6, 2022

I've been playing this character for a little while now and have enjoyed the style of the character significantly. Messing around in Mids I've managed to create a build that possesses an alarming degree of flexibility... so what's my conundrum?

Jack of all, master of none... I suspect that's why Sentinel's are in such a strange place in the meta right now. Whatever the case, I'm trying to embrace it - a "Jack of All" build. Currently he'll be a solid off tank, decent damage, end drainer and even light healer later on.

Maybe there's a way I could re-engineer set bonuses to get a little closer to my overarching goal? Influence isn't a concern for this.

Any suggestions or thoughts? I'm open to any discussion on this.

Spoiler

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

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Sentinel
Primary Power Set: Electrical Blast
Secondary Power Set: Super Reflexes
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Presence
Ancillary Pool: Electricity Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Charged Bolts

(A) Sentinel's Ward - Accuracy/Damage
(3) Sentinel's Ward - Damage/RechargeTime
(3) Sentinel's Ward - Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime
(5) Sentinel's Ward - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
(5) Sentinel's Ward - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
(7) Sentinel's Ward - RechargeTime/Chance for +Absorb

Level 1: Focused Fighting

(A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
(36) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Recharge
(40) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
(40) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
(43) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
(43) Kismet - Accuracy +6%

Level 2: Lightning Bolt

(A) Power Transfer - EndMod
(7) Power Transfer - Damage/Recharge
(9) Power Transfer - Damage/EndMod
(9) Power Transfer - Damage/Accuracy/Endurance
(11) Power Transfer - Damage/Accuracy/Recharge/Endurance
(11) Power Transfer - Chance to Heal Self

Level 4: Focused Senses

(A) Reactive Defenses - Defense
(17) Reactive Defenses - Defense/Endurance
(19) Reactive Defenses - Endurance/RechargeTime
(19) Reactive Defenses - Defense/RechargeTime
(21) Reactive Defenses - Defense/Endurance/RechargeTime
(21) Reactive Defenses - Scaling Resist Damage

Level 6: Zapping Bolt

(A) Opportunity Strikes - Accuracy/Damage
(13) Opportunity Strikes - Damage/RechargeTime
(13) Opportunity Strikes - Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime
(15) Opportunity Strikes - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
(15) Opportunity Strikes - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
(17) Opportunity Strikes - RechargeTime/Chance for Opportunity

Level 8: Hover

(A) Hypersonic - Flying / Increased Fly Protection

Level 10: Master Brawler

(A) Preventive Medicine - Heal
(23) Preventive Medicine - Heal/Endurance
(23) Preventive Medicine - Endurance/RechargeTime
(25) Preventive Medicine - Heal/RechargeTime
(25) Preventive Medicine - Heal/RechargeTime/Endurance
(27) Preventive Medicine - Chance for +Absorb

Level 12: Tesla Cage

(A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage
(43) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance
(46) Thunderstrike - Damage/Recharge
(48) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
(48) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
(48) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge

Level 14: Fly

(A) Flight Speed IO

Level 16: Enduring

(A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End

Level 18: Voltaic Sentinel

(A) Expedient Reinforcement - Accuracy/Damage
(31) Expedient Reinforcement - Damage/Endurance
(34) Expedient Reinforcement - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
(37) Expedient Reinforcement - Endurance/Damage/Recharge

Level 20: Agile

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

Level 22: Dodge

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

Level 24: Charge Up

(A) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 26: Short Circuit

(A) Preemptive Optimization - Accuracy/Recharge
(27) Preemptive Optimization - EndMod/Endurance
(29) Preemptive Optimization - EndMod/Recharge
(29) Preemptive Optimization - EndMod/Accuracy/Endurance
(31) Preemptive Optimization - EndMod/Accuracy/Recharge
(31) Preemptive Optimization - EndMod/Endurance/Recharge

Level 28: Quickness

(A) Flight Speed IO

Level 30: Provoke

(A) Mocking Beratement - Threat/Placate
(50) Mocking Beratement - Threat/Placate/Recharge

Level 32: Thunderous Blast

(A) Artillery - Accuracy/Damage
(33) Artillery - Damage/Endurance
(33) Artillery - Damage/Recharge
(33) Artillery - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
(34) Artillery - Accuracy/Recharge/Range
(34) Artillery - Endurance/Recharge/Range

Level 35: Evasion

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

Level 38: Chain Fences

(A) Enfeebled Operation - Accuracy/Recharge
(39) Enfeebled Operation - Accuracy/Endurance
(39) Enfeebled Operation - Accuracy/Immobilize/Recharge
(39) Enfeebled Operation - Accuracy/Immobilize

Level 41: Paralyzing Jolt

(A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage
(42) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance
(42) Thunderstrike - Damage/Recharge
(42) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
(50) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
(50) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge

Level 44: Rehabilitating Circuit

(A) Numina's Convalesence - Heal/Endurance
(45) Numina's Convalesence - Endurance/Recharge
(45) Numina's Convalesence - Heal/Recharge
(45) Numina's Convalesence - Heal/Endurance/Recharge
(46) Numina's Convalesence - Heal
(46) Numina's Convalesence - +Regeneration/+Recovery

Level 47: Evasive Maneuvers

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

Level 49: Elude

(A) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 1: Opportunity

Level 1: Brawl

(A) Empty

Level 1: Sprint

(A) Empty

Level 2: Rest

(A) Empty

Level 1: Swift

(A) Flight Speed IO

Level 1: Hurdle

(A) Empty

Level 1: Health

(A) Miracle - +Recovery

Level 1: Stamina

(A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End

Level 1: Shocked

Level 50: Task Force Commander
Level 50: The Atlas Medallion
Level 50: Freedom Phalanx Reserve
Level 50: Portal Jockey
Level 14: Afterburner
------------

PyroBeetle · February 9, 2022

Having played multiple Sentinels to Incarnate levels, I have to say, compared to a build that leverages props, you are going to feel like you are tickling mobs, not blasting them.

Set bonuses are tasty, but Sentinels path to damage is to leverage procs.

oldskool · February 11, 2022

On 2/6/2022 at 1:22 PM, Xeph said:

Jack of all, master of none... I suspect that's why Sentinel's are in such a strange place in the meta right now.

DPS meta > than all according to some very vocal people. Sentinels are essentially a DPS only AT, they really don't offer anything else beyond this, and are the lowest on the totem pole.

The lower damage gets people to question its role, then said people try to pigeon the AT into other roles, and then they realize it sucks at that too.

This isn't that complicated. The Sentinel is just an underperforming DPS AT with an incredibly low ceiling for optimization. If a person is willing to do all of the bending over backwards it takes in order to tread water in the extremes of the DPS meta, then the AT can be adequate at best.

The quality of said DPS is also variable based on observer where adequate to me may be substandard to someone else. Substandard could come from any number of explanations and nitpicking where the bar for what is acceptable ranging somewhere around 250~ DPS (an easy ranged-only Blaster build can do this in its sleep).

On 2/6/2022 at 1:22 PM, Xeph said:

Maybe there's a way I could re-engineer set bonuses to get a little closer to my overarching goal? Influence isn't a concern for this.

You could increase your potential damage by changing the slotting in Tesla Cage. Take a look at changing out your current set bonus with 5pc Apocalypse + Unbreakable Constraint (Chance for Smashing Damage). This would be a substantial DPS increase if you opted to go this route. That is, so long as you hit with the attack. 😉 This change would get you closer to the baseline DPS needed to just barely exceed the average regeneration rate of an AV. You wouldn't have enough damage to take one down quickly with your set up (they'll likely hurt you faster than you can hurt them still), but it would be a big change for sure.

Tanky-wise, Tough and Weave would be part of the recipe here. There isn't a secret set of 5-6pc bonuses that I think you are missing. You've already found that 5pc LotG is a big S/L resist boost. Any other resistance sets would be in opposition to slotting in your other powers (i.e., Short Circuit, Thunderous Blast, etc.). So, this is less a specific set selection topic and a consideration for a full rebuild from the ground up. In other words, there isn't a whole lot more you'd do here to push the needle on tankyness. You don't have enough base resistance to make Incarnate Alphas like Cardiac or Resilience worth your time for this.

Same can be said for healing. That power, enhanced, is only offering 16% healing. You could potentially push this with Incarnate choices at the expense of damage and defense. The Spiritual and Vigor Alphas could get you into an 18% to 19% (Vigor Core only) healing bonus.

You could get funky with some other Incarnate choices too. For Hybrid, take a peek at Support and Melee. Melee likely less appealing due to your Hover use, but Support may be more interesting to you.

In Destiny, Rebirth works as a heal for everyone and is something different from the usual Barrier/Ageless you may see. Also, Rebirth works very well with Super Reflexes when you dodge most attacks.

DarknessEternal · February 11, 2022

Suggestion: Play an Arachnos Soldier instead.

More ranged damage, more melee damage, more aoe damage, better durability, better team support abilities.

The only thing a Sentinel has going for it over the Soldiers is choosing what the graphics of their terrible powers look like.

Edited February 11, 2022 by DarknessEternal

Xeph · February 26, 2022

Spoiler

On 2/11/2022 at 7:53 AM, oldskool said:

DPS meta > than all according to some very vocal people. Sentinels are essentially a DPS only AT, they really don't offer anything else beyond this, and are the lowest on the totem pole.

The lower damage gets people to question its role, then said people try to pigeon the AT into other roles, and then they realize it sucks at that too.

This isn't that complicated. The Sentinel is just an underperforming DPS AT with an incredibly low ceiling for optimization. If a person is willing to do all of the bending over backwards it takes in order to tread water in the extremes of the DPS meta, then the AT can be adequate at best.

The quality of said DPS is also variable based on observer where adequate to me may be substandard to someone else. Substandard could come from any number of explanations and nitpicking where the bar for what is acceptable ranging somewhere around 250~ DPS (an easy ranged-only Blaster build can do this in its sleep).

You could increase your potential damage by changing the slotting in Tesla Cage. Take a look at changing out your current set bonus with 5pc Apocalypse + Unbreakable Constraint (Chance for Smashing Damage). This would be a substantial DPS increase if you opted to go this route. That is, so long as you hit with the attack. 😉 This change would get you closer to the baseline DPS needed to just barely exceed the average regeneration rate of an AV. You wouldn't have enough damage to take one down quickly with your set up (they'll likely hurt you faster than you can hurt them still), but it would be a big change for sure.

Tanky-wise, Tough and Weave would be part of the recipe here. There isn't a secret set of 5-6pc bonuses that I think you are missing. You've already found that 5pc LotG is a big S/L resist boost. Any other resistance sets would be in opposition to slotting in your other powers (i.e., Short Circuit, Thunderous Blast, etc.). So, this is less a specific set selection topic and a consideration for a full rebuild from the ground up. In other words, there isn't a whole lot more you'd do here to push the needle on tankyness. You don't have enough base resistance to make Incarnate Alphas like Cardiac or Resilience worth your time for this.

Same can be said for healing. That power, enhanced, is only offering 16% healing. You could potentially push this with Incarnate choices at the expense of damage and defense. The Spiritual and Vigor Alphas could get you into an 18% to 19% (Vigor Core only) healing bonus.

You could get funky with some other Incarnate choices too. For Hybrid, take a peek at Support and Melee. Melee likely less appealing due to your Hover use, but Support may be more interesting to you.

In Destiny, Rebirth works as a heal for everyone and is something different from the usual Barrier/Ageless you may see. Also, Rebirth works very well with Super Reflexes when you dodge most attacks.

@oldskool Appreciate the suggestions and advice. From the sounds of it though it's not possible to achieve what I was hoping, at least not from a min/max perspective. I guess this game just really lacks a good frame work for a Hybrid character. You either do damage or support I guess? It's all good, there's tons of other character concepts to entertain myself with.

Spoiler

On 2/11/2022 at 3:31 PM, DarknessEternal said:

Suggestion: Play an Arachnos Soldier instead.

More ranged damage, more melee damage, more aoe damage, better durability, better team support abilities.

The only thing a Sentinel has going for it over the Soldiers is choosing what the graphics of their terrible powers look like.

I've got a Soldier almost to 50 and it isn't doing quite what I was looking for with this character, but I appreciate the suggestion.

In retrospect after thinking about this carefully I guess the only way I could maybe get closer to what I'm looking for would be to play a Kheldian... but that's a whole nother can of worms.

I'll put this whole idea to rest for now. Thanks to everyone that chimed in.

DarknessEternal · February 26, 2022

56 minutes ago, Xeph said:

Reveal hidden contents

@oldskool I guess this game just really lacks a good frame work for a Hybrid character. You either do damage or support I guess?

Reveal hidden contents

That's just not true either. Both Corrupters, Masterminds, (some) Controllers, and Soldiers do good damage and support at the same time.

Xeph · February 27, 2022

11 hours ago, DarknessEternal said:

That's just not true either. Both Corrupters, Masterminds, (some) Controllers, and Soldiers do good damage and support at the same time.

My apologies, it was poorly worded - mostly out of defeat. You can deal solid damage and support, but you can't tank at the same time.

I'm truly looking for that Hybrid style but outside of Khelds it doesn't exist in an accessible form.

Again appreciate the insight, but I'm putting this character and concept on the back burner for now. I think once I'm ready to hit it again I'll pursue a Tri-Form Kheldian build.

DarknessEternal · February 27, 2022

12 hours ago, Xeph said:

My apologies, it was poorly worded - mostly out of defeat. You can deal solid damage and support, but you can't tank at the same time.

Ok, that's extremely greedy and poor game design if you could be great at dps, support, and tanking.

That being said, Illusion Controllers are.

Xeph · February 28, 2022

9 hours ago, DarknessEternal said:

Ok, that's extremely greedy and poor game design if you could be great at dps, support, and tanking.

That being said, Illusion Controllers are.

Ignoring Illusion Controllers, I'll keep looping back to the Kheldian in this discussion since it does all three things. But is it OP? Being able to do all three to a reasonable extent was my goal, not be the absolute best at it.

Many games have had hybrid characters in the past, so it's far from unusual. Something like a Paladin from EQ, a druid from WoW (basically WoW's version of a Kheldian) - I know I'm kinda comparing Apples, Oranges and Tomato's with those references but still... that's what I was looking for.

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