Merc/Time looking for feedback

Oysterhead · January 1, 2023

I'm new to building MMs (and my first real Time Manipulation as well), but pulled this together after trying to pick up info from other posts. Below is a 'leveling' build, so no purples or boosts in it. I was aiming for as much recharge as possible to get perma-everything in Time (or double/triple stacked where possible) and Serum as well. Hitting 232.5% global recharge as is which seems pretty nice for no superior sets, if my math is right it'd jump to 248.75% with the ATOs upgraded and one of the hold sets upgraded to 5-piece Unbreakable Constraint.

I dropped one of the pet auras (Call to Arms) to fit more recharge. I at one point had Slug with another FF proc in it, but really didn't find I was using it enough to justify the pick, so dropped it for Time Crawl (which does more damage with procs, fwiw) Damage procs in Time Crawl & Time Stop I'm wondering if I might be better off dropping into either Slowed Response or getting enough slots int Chrono Shift for 5-slot Synapse's Shock for another 6.25% global recharge?

Any thoughts appreciated!

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Meknomancer · January 1, 2023

One of my favourite combos. I'd put mercs in no. 1 spot for damage since page 5 although saying that usually starts an argument between those running necro with the new soul extraction and old thugs toons running burnout and gangwar.

3rd rech io in serum is a wasted slot once you boost the first 2 to 50.

Rech io in farsight is a wasted slot its always available when you need it.

Put the call to arms back in. Mercs get great resists and with serum they become pretty godly but once you throw on farsight/manouvres/the def uniques.

Take power boost if your going mace so you can pb your farsight.

I like to take burst for gm/av's its much less end heavy than m30 nade which i save for mobs and to proc the ff+rech. They dont need slots they are just in the build to bump the damage of the pets.

If you start spamming time crawl/time stop/time crawl/slowed response/time crawl your blue bar vanishes fast so i try to fit in 2 acc/end pieces and boost them and call it a day.

I slot times juncture with the dark watcher and pacing of the turtle procs. Its amusing.

You could drop the def/end piece from tactical upgrade.

I like to heavily proc out slowed response with achilles/lady grey/shield breaker they fire off a lot in big mobs.

Stealth is a useless power if you run TJ and only useful if you plan to keep toggling it on and off when needed/ghosting.

Pet slotting....i carry a load of procs and unslotters and change my slotting on them regularly. I still havent found something i like that works best. Secondary is so important, if your chasing recharge which you do on /time it does leave you short of empty slots for damage procs in pets and mercs don't have that extra power to mule them in like demons hell on earth/necro soul extract/thugs gang war, its hard enough hitting max damage on them and if you do toss in procs they end up sucking wind in long fights.

StrikerFox · January 1, 2023

That's a pretty sweet build. I really like that you got Serum perma. Few things:

-Hasten is still perma even with one slot.

-Jam in the Shield Wall unique somewhere for +5% res to all damage types.

-Equip Mercs will slot Steadfast, KB protection and Glad Armor?

-MM endurance is worse than it appears on Mids'. The endurance buff from Chrono Shift lasts for 30 seconds. Only the +recharge portion lasts for 90s.

-Don't worry about pet endurance too much. Chrono Shift providing a 30s buff, and perma-Serum providing a diminishing end buff throughout it's 60s duration.

-Tactics probably doesn't need to be slotted so heavily. Farsight and Supremacy both add +tohit. Also all Merc pets apply -def debuffs.

-Manage to squeeze Power Boost into the build, using it just before Farsight, will add an additional +6.15% def to all damage types/position for you and pets/teammates in range.

Noticed a few of the MM powers are slotted with procs but the pets have none. Merc pets are sort of like proc monsters themselves. It will improve their dps significantly if that's something you're after. Unfortunately some of the pet uniques would need to be sacrificed. It's not ideal but did some testing with and without damage procs VS a pylon. Note Achilles' and Soulbound was still slotted in all the tests. Only Shield Breaker/Lady Grey/Explosive Strike were added/removed (Replaced with more acc/dam/end). MM personal attacks were not used.

With procs 106secs/490dps
Procless 158secs/371dps
With procs/Tar Patch/Serum 74secs/646dps
Procless/Tar Patch/Serum 118secs/453dps

If pets can get to a comfortable level of survivability with Farsight, Maneuvers, Time's Juncture, pet upgrades etc, and still maintain perma Hasten, Chrono Shift and maybe Serum, it would be worth cramming in a few damage procs. Procs in Soldiers make the most impact, followed by Spec-Ops and lastly Commando. Prioritize Lady Grey first, then Shield Breaker just because of their damage types (NE VS lethal). Explosive Strike is dead last.

Meknomancer · January 2, 2023

I'm glad to see someone testing them that knows numbers. I have mercs running with every secondary except /emp /rad /kin /elec although the /sonic /pain /ta /poison pretty much never get touched. They work so well with /time and /cold /traps /bubs /dark benefitting massively from the extra defence or huge - to hit put out. M30 nade with an ff+rech/overwhelming kb/kd/annihilation proc in bumps secondary powers and hasten to the point where they are all perma with very little recharge needed. Not sure about the procs slotting. They need it for sure but the t2 pets can take so many and they do a ton of cc it makes me wonder if its worth it with them as they cycle through so many different attacks. T1 benefit the most by a mile so i usually toss in the soulbound bu and a lady grey but i can't find a way to drop any pet uniques, the slotting is super tight, which doesnt leave room for the t2/t3 to get any.

Oysterhead · January 2, 2023

My thanks to you both!

Made some modifications, below, that I plan to respec into soon. Currently 36, so starting to come together. I fit a couple procs into t1 pets, switched t2 over to call to arms to get defensive aura over resistance. Ended up dropping all attacks, even M30, to fit powerboost in without giving up other stuff. I have Stealth to do exactly what you asked Meknomaner, drop TJ and stealth when needed, also for the final lotg slot. I did enjoy M30 for the ff procs, but, I'm still sitting at high enough global recharge that it shouldn't matter at all, everything is permanent without it. Otherwise the +damage to target doesn't seem as valuable as any power I'd have to drop to get one back in. If I keep this guy going 50+ I'll drop more procs into t2 pet at minimum, dropping the call to arms set bonus as upgrading to purples will give enough recharge to offset the loss, and potential in Commando too, is my thinking.I still have 4 slots in tactics (including the BU proc which I know isn't idea there, but I figure random build up procs for everyone is worthwhile), may drop 2 and add the -recharge procs to time's juncture.

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Meknomancer · January 2, 2023

It does look good. Guaranteed fun. Still not sold on stealth but i'm happy to run a map and aggro the entire thing with TJ 🙂

StrikerFox · January 2, 2023

On 1/2/2023 at 3:16 PM, Oysterhead said:

My thanks to you both!

Made some modifications, below, that I plan to respec into soon. Currently 36, so starting to come together. I fit a couple procs into t1 pets, switched t2 over to call to arms to get defensive aura over resistance. Ended up dropping all attacks, even M30, to fit powerboost in without giving up other stuff. I have Stealth to do exactly what you asked Meknomaner, drop TJ and stealth when needed, also for the final lotg slot. I did enjoy M30 for the ff procs, but, I'm still sitting at high enough global recharge that it shouldn't matter at all, everything is permanent without it. Otherwise the +damage to target doesn't seem as valuable as any power I'd have to drop to get one back in. If I keep this guy going 50+ I'll drop more procs into t2 pet at minimum, dropping the call to arms set bonus as upgrading to purples will give enough recharge to offset the loss, and potential in Commando too, is my thinking.I still have 4 slots in tactics (including the BU proc which I know isn't idea there, but I figure random build up procs for everyone is worthwhile), may drop 2 and add the -recharge procs to time's juncture

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When 50, boost the IO's in Hasten and Serum to +5, and upgrade the MoS to superior versions. Can lose CtA and the CotMM sets and still be perma. Is that how BU in Tactics work? I could have sworn it only increases the chance for your MM to get the buff, but pets/teammates around you does not get the chance to buff themselves at all.

It will be a balancing act when hitting 50 to perfect this build. Supremacy + PB/FS + Tactics = +34% tohit for all your pets in range. Can increase that amount by slotting +tohit IOs in Farsight. Chrono Shift + Serum's endurance buffs. I'm not sure how much pet acc and end stats could be sacrifice to make room for procs and uniques.

Explosive Strike in Soldiers is pretty useless. Only the Medic's Frag Grenade has a chance to activate it. Shield Breaker proc will be more effective. Explosive Strike is only good in Commando.

Oysterhead · January 2, 2023

On 1/2/2023 at 7:51 PM, StrikerFox said:

Is that how BU in Tactics work? I could have sworn it only increases the chance for your MM to get the buff, but pets/teammates around you does not get the chance to buff themselves at all.

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Ah you're right, I misread how it works as a chance to active on each member, rather than the chance to active raising per member. Yea with that in mind that's no where near as useful.

Thanks for the heads up on explosive vs shield breaker! I figured it was a global chance to proc one everything rather than the specific powers then work on, but that makes sense.

evetsleep · January 2, 2023

On 1/2/2023 at 1:22 PM, Meknomancer said:

I'm glad to see someone testing them that knows numbers. I have mercs running with every secondary except /emp /rad /kin /elec although the /sonic /pain /ta /poison pretty much never get touched. They work so well with /time and /cold /traps /bubs /dark benefitting massively from the extra defence or huge - to hit put out. M30 nade with an ff+rech/overwhelming kb/kd/annihilation proc in bumps secondary powers and hasten to the point where they are all perma with very little recharge needed. Not sure about the procs slotting. They need it for sure but the t2 pets can take so many and they do a ton of cc it makes me wonder if its worth it with them as they cycle through so many different attacks. T1 benefit the most by a mile so i usually toss in the soulbound bu and a lady grey but i can't find a way to drop any pet uniques, the slotting is super tight, which doesnt leave room for the t2/t3 to get any.

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The mercs get insanely tanky on my /elec MM (Shock Commander). Between faraday cage, serum, and the RES uniques plus electrics +ABSORB I plant them with an aggressive posture and a stay and they act like a high dps turret. The mez & kb resistance is also a nice benefit. I've been really happy with how he's turning out.

Also I have a merc/trick arrow that is surprisingly tough with all the debuffs TA can dish out (including -DMG which is basically +RES which goes really well with Serum).

I'd you're looking for a new spin on mercs I'd recommend these for a change of pace.

Meknomancer · January 5, 2023

Not a big fan of /elec on any AT having tried it with necro on mm, elecx2 troller and corr. I do love /ta and the mercs/ta is a lot of fun but for some reason i prefer it with bots. Mercs get massive res from serum so i tend to find they play better with the def sets than something like /elec which doesnt really have what i consider proper debuffs and the heal can be annoying when i actually need it for myself.

Tacheyon · January 27, 2023

On 1/5/2023 at 2:33 PM, Meknomancer said:

Not a big fan of /elec on any AT having tried it with necro on mm, elecx2 troller and corr. I do love /ta and the mercs/ta is a lot of fun but for some reason i prefer it with bots. Mercs get massive res from serum so i tend to find they play better with the def sets than something like /elec which doesnt really have what i consider proper debuffs and the heal can be annoying when i actually need it for myself.

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/EA is a busy set, but it does bring a ton of tankiness to all pets. Between Heals, Absorb shields and +Res Bubble and a END recharger your pets can keep going, and going and going....etc. True it does lack in debuffs such as -tohit, -def and -res. But you can floor a MOBS end bar so they can't do anything to you anyway. It's a set that you outlast your enemy and not just beat them down.

I just wish the Devs could fix the T9 power so it actually works on pets.

Crysis · January 27, 2023

I'll personally never understand a MM who takes zero personal attacks. But you do you man. Enjoy the ride.

Malinkadink · February 22, 2023

On 1/27/2023 at 1:14 AM, Tacheyon said:

/EA is a busy set, but it does bring a ton of tankiness to all pets. Between Heals, Absorb shields and +Res Bubble and a END recharger your pets can keep going, and going and going....etc. True it does lack in debuffs such as -tohit, -def and -res. But you can floor a MOBS end bar so they can't do anything to you anyway. It's a set that you outlast your enemy and not just beat them down.

I just wish the Devs could fix the T9 power so it actually works on pets.

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Flooring mobs END does very little as soon as they get an end tick they can use any attack regardless of its actual cost, its perhaps more useful in pvp, but for pve times -recharge would do more to mitigate damage since enemies couldn't fire abilities as often.

That said I spent a couple hours coming up with what I would consider a very strong build for merc/time. Care was taken to ensure enough accuracy for +4 mobs once getting the +1 from incarns. soldiers are procced out, but commando and spec ops only got achilles heel as it provides the largest increase in damage since everyone does more damage to the target when debuffing -res. I'm going to be leveling a merc/time shortly and because of the absurd defenses provided by power boost + far sight + clarion for good measure I will be able to drop one or even both 5% defense aura IOs which will let me put both 10% resists into commando and give commando and spec ops a lady grey proc.

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Edited February 22, 2023 by Malinkadink

Crysis · February 23, 2023

On 1/2/2023 at 3:20 PM, Meknomancer said:

It does look good. Guaranteed fun. Still not sold on stealth but i'm happy to run a map and aggro the entire thing with TJ 🙂

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Indeed, TJ is fantastic for “tankerminding” and debuffing at the same time!

TJ + Farsight + Chronoshift are the three pillars of the /Time set.

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