I found my forever stalker. Staff/Ice

KaizenSoze · February 1, 2023

It's not the most uber, but I love it and wanted to share.

Positives:

Good aoe
Good defense/resists to most damage
Caps almost every resist, except psi, when Icy Baston is running
- With Hoarfrost and Icy Baston I can tank the hydra heads on Apex
Can shrug off a lot of psi damage due to Hoarfrost +hp
End stable, so you can use barrier instead of ageless
Immune to slows
Combo system is actually fun
Chilling embrace helps with runners and resists

Negatives

Not the highest damaging stalker. You need to use the combo system
s/l resist aren't great, but that can be mitigated with Icy Baston and Hoarfrost
Smash damage can be heavily resisted, but you wreck robots

Game play videos coming

Build:

Spoiler

This Villain build was built using Mids Reborn 3.4.6
https://github.com/LoadedCamel/MidsReborn

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Glacier Elf: Level 50 Natural Stalker
Primary Power Set: Staff Fighting
Secondary Power Set: Ice Armor
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Body Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Mercurial Blow

(A) Superior Assassin's Mark - Accuracy/Damage
(3) Superior Assassin's Mark - Damage/RechargeTime
(3) Superior Assassin's Mark - Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime
(5) Superior Assassin's Mark - Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
(5) Superior Assassin's Mark - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
(7) Superior Assassin's Mark - RechargeTime/Rchg Build Up

Level 1: Hide

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

Level 2: Guarded Spin

(A) Multi-Strike - Accuracy/Damage
(11) Multi-Strike - Damage/Endurance
(13) Multi-Strike - Damage/Recharge
(13) Multi-Strike - Accuracy/Endurance
(15) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed

Level 4: Frozen Armor

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

Level 6: Assassin's Staff

(A) Superior Stalker's Guile - Accuracy/Damage
(17) Superior Stalker's Guile - Damage/Recharge
(19) Superior Stalker's Guile - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
(19) Superior Stalker's Guile - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
(21) Superior Stalker's Guile - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
(21) Superior Stalker's Guile - Recharge/Chance to Hide

Level 8: Hoarfrost

(A) Preventive Medicine - Chance for +Absorb
(23) Preventive Medicine - Heal
(23) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance
(25) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance
(25) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance
(27) Unbreakable Guard - +Max HP

Level 10: Wet Ice

(A) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 12: Build Up

(A) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up

Level 14: Super Speed

(A) Run Speed IO

Level 16: Chilling Embrace

(A) Pacing of the Turtle - Accuracy/Slow
(27) Pacing of the Turtle - Damage/Slow
(29) Pacing of the Turtle - Accuracy/Endurance
(29) Pacing of the Turtle - Range/Slow
(31) Pacing of the Turtle - Endurance/Recharge/Slow
(31) Pacing of the Turtle - Chance of -Recharge

Level 18: Eye of the Storm

(A) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage
(31) Superior Avalanche - Damage/Endurance
(33) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
(33) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
(33) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge

Level 20: Permafrost

(A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%
(34) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All)
(34) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance
(34) Aegis - Resistance/Recharge
(36) Aegis - Resistance
(36) Aegis - Psionic/Status Resistance

Level 22: [Empty]

(A) Empty

Level 24: Boxing

(A) Empty

Level 26: Serpent's Reach

(A) Superior Winter's Bite - Accuracy/Damage
(36) Superior Winter's Bite - Damage/RechargeTime
(37) Superior Winter's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
(37) Superior Winter's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
(37) Superior Winter's Bite - Recharge/Chance for -Speed & -Recharge
(39) Force Feedback - Chance for +Recharge

Level 28: Glacial Armor

(A) Shield Wall - Defense/Endurance
(39) Shield Wall - Defense/Recharge
(39) Shield Wall - Defense
(40) Shield Wall - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
(40) Shield Wall - +Res (Teleportation), +5% Res (All)

Level 30: Hasten

(A) Recharge Reduction IO
(40) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 32: Sky Splitter

(A) Superior Blistering Cold - Accuracy/Damage
(42) Superior Blistering Cold - Damage/Endurance
(42) Superior Blistering Cold - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
(42) Superior Blistering Cold - Damage/Endurance/Accuracy/RechargeTime
(43) Superior Blistering Cold - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
(43) Force Feedback - Chance for +Recharge

Level 35: Energy Absorption

(A) Shield Wall - Defense/Endurance
(43) Shield Wall - Defense/Recharge
(45) Shield Wall - Defense
(45) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End
(45) Performance Shifter - EndMod

Level 38: Icy Bastion

(A) Aegis - Resistance/Recharge
(46) Aegis - Endurance/Recharge
(46) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge
(46) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 41: Focused Accuracy

(A) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 44: Tough

(A) Impervium Armor - Psionic Resistance
(48) Impervium Armor - Resistance/Endurance

Level 47: Weave

(A) Shield Wall - Defense/Endurance
(48) Shield Wall - Defense/Recharge
(48) Shield Wall - Endurance/Recharge
(50) Shield Wall - Defense

Level 49: Maneuvers

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

Level 1: Assassination

Level 1: Brawl

(A) Empty

Level 1: Sprint

(A) Celerity - +Stealth

Level 2: Rest

(A) Endurance Modification IO

Level 1: Swift

(A) Run Speed IO

Level 1: Hurdle

(A) Jumping IO

Level 1: Health

(A) Panacea - +Hit Points/Endurance
(7) Numina's Convalesence - +Regeneration/+Recovery
(9) Miracle - +Recovery

Level 1: Stamina

(A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End
(9) Performance Shifter - EndMod
(11) Synapse's Shock - EndMod/Increased Run Speed

Level 1: Combo Level 1

Level 1: Combo Level 2
Level 1: Combo Level 3
Level 14: Speed Phase
------------

Edited February 1, 2023 by KaizenSoze

Hjarki · February 1, 2023

A ST rotation of PS -> SR -> AS -> SS is actually quite hard-hitting. You've got 3 attacks in between Assassin's Staff, so you never waste a Focus. Sky Splitter hits like a beast off an ATO proc and the only true weak attack in the mix is Serpent's Reach. Unfortunately, it requires a somewhat inconvenient 334% recharge (a bit too high for non-Hasten builds, too low for Hasten builds).

Staff is also tough to make work with typed defenses:

+Melee covers an entire category while +Lethal only covers half of one from Guardian Spin
Avalanche + LotG and Armageddon + FF are the almost automatic choices for the two AEs, but Avalanche is primarily Melee Def rather than typed Def.
Neither Hecatomb nor Blistering Cold works well in Sky Splitter since they're low recharge sets. You really want to pack the ATO into SS since that's where you need all the recharge - but that leaves you without a home for one of Hecatomb or Blistering Cold since your only other melee attack is Precise Strike.

I think my favorite implementation of Staff on a Stalker is actually Staff/Electric/Soul. With the Sky Splitter proc, you can easily cap most resists. With Guarded Spin, you can over-cap Melee Defense. For the rest? A good offense is the best defense.

In terms of Ice Armor, I think sets like Kinetic Melee or Stone work well.

StriderIV · February 1, 2023

32 minutes ago, Hjarki said:

A ST rotation of PS -> SR -> AS -> SS is actually quite hard-hitting. You've got 3 attacks in between Assassin's Staff, so you never waste a Focus. Sky Splitter hits like a beast off an ATO proc and the only true weak attack in the mix is Serpent's Reach. Unfortunately, it requires a somewhat inconvenient 334% recharge (a bit too high for non-Hasten builds, too low for Hasten builds).

Staff is also tough to make work with typed defenses:

+Melee covers an entire category while +Lethal only covers half of one from Guardian Spin

Avalanche + LotG and Armageddon + FF are the almost automatic choices for the two AEs, but Avalanche is primarily Melee Def rather than typed Def.

Neither Hecatomb nor Blistering Cold works well in Sky Splitter since they're low recharge sets. You really want to pack the ATO into SS since that's where you need all the recharge - but that leaves you without a home for one of Hecatomb or Blistering Cold since your only other melee attack is Precise Strike.

I think my favorite implementation of Staff on a Stalker is actually Staff/Electric/Soul. With the Sky Splitter proc, you can easily cap most resists. With Guarded Spin, you can over-cap Melee Defense. For the rest? A good offense is the best defense.

In terms of Ice Armor, I think sets like Kinetic Melee or Stone work well.

My KM/Ice Stalker is my all time favorite. Just so much fun and great synergy.

KaizenSoze · February 2, 2023

What I am about to say about other primaries does not mean those primaries are bad. They just do not work for me.

Tried EM/FM/BS/SJ/Claw/DM... etc etc. The staff attacks flow for me, unlike the others. On a fast moving team, being able to hop into a spawn and fire Eye of the Storm critting half the mobs just works. The staff combo system game just works for me, unlike say Street Justice. The other primaries either didn't have enough aoe or single target to make me happy.

The combo is sturdy without excessive management unlike for instance, bio. This has been true for me and bio on all ATs.

I have already solo'ed several, even or +1, AVs, so the build is doing enough damage for my tastes even before getting all my T4 incarnates.

twozerofoxtrot · February 2, 2023

I've run a staff stalker before and can agree with all. I more or less ignored the combo system but still really enjoyed it. Getting the cone at low levels was great too.

Not much of a stalker player but can see why you love the character so much. Staff is at home on Stalkers.

StriderIV · February 2, 2023

30 minutes ago, KaizenSoze said:

What I am about to say about other primaries does not mean those primaries are bad. They just do not work for me.

Tried EM/FM/BS/SJ/Claw/DM... etc etc. The staff attacks flow for me, unlike the others. On a fast moving team, being able to hop into a spawn and fire Eye of the Storm critting half the mobs just works. The staff combo system game just works for me, unlike say Street Justice. The other primaries either didn't have enough aoe or single target to make me happy.

The combo is sturdy without excessive management unlike for instance, bio. This has been true for me and bio on all ATs.

I have already solo'ed several, even or +1, AVs, so the build is doing enough damage for my tastes even before getting all my T4 incarnates.

17 minutes ago, twozerofoxtrot said:

I've run a staff stalker before and can agree with all. I more or less ignored the combo system but still really enjoyed it. Getting the cone at low levels was great too.

Not much of a stalker player but can see why you love the character so much. Staff is at home on Stalkers.

Absolutely. Staff and KM both shine on Stalkers. That hasn’t stopped me from having a Tanker with both though, since they’re awesome 😂

KaizenSoze · February 2, 2023

11 hours ago, twozerofoxtrot said:

I've run a staff stalker before and can agree with all. I more or less ignored the combo system but still really enjoyed it. Getting the cone at low levels was great too.

Not much of a stalker player but can see why you love the character so much. Staff is at home on Stalkers.

I enjoyed staff so much I made a brute, staff/ice, not a fun as the stalker. But it is great for holding aggro in general content.

Fury boosted icicles and staff AOEs are tasty.

Meknomancer · February 2, 2023

I remember the day stalkers got /ice and seeing one of these pretty much soloing an itf a few days later they do look great.

StriderIV · February 2, 2023

5 hours ago, KaizenSoze said:

I enjoyed staff so much I made a brute, staff/ice, not a fun as the stalker. But it is great for holding aggro in general content.

Fury boosted icicles and staff AOEs are tasty.

I had a friend who would farm with this combo! Not the fastest, of course, but it got the job done and looked like a ton of fun.

Zepp · February 2, 2023

I have a Staff Scrapper and I actually do not take Eye of the Storm or Sky Splitter, yet I still make it work. I find the damage from maintaining perfection of body outweighs the bonus that those two attacks provide. It does require a slightly more expensive build, but it's worth it.

oddrobin · February 9, 2023

I rolled a staff/ice stalker in January 2021 and fell in love from the get go. She can dish it and she can take it. The stuff I soloed with her on the journey to 50 was delightfully surprising. The action is swift, the orange numbers don't stop, and the buffs are righteous. She is my favorite melee character so far (and I have rolled a lot of 'em!). Spreading the love!

Rokkeb · February 9, 2023

I've been wanting a stalker , but nothing I tried was feeling very fun. I ran a few up to 20s or 30s and always ended up abandoned them.

So after reading your post I made 2 new stalkers, staff/ice and staff/elec. I ran both through dfb posi 1/2 and yin and decided I'd stick with the elec armor.

But am loving the staff on stalker. Yeah the numbers aren't massive , but it's super fun, and nice having the aoe attacks as well.

KaizenSoze · February 11, 2023

On 2/2/2023 at 1:41 PM, Zepp said:

I have a Staff Scrapper and I actually do not take Eye of the Storm or Sky Splitter, yet I still make it work. I find the damage from maintaining perfection of body outweighs the bonus that those two attacks provide. It does require a slightly more expensive build, but it's worth it.

This post got my curiosity going. So, I did some testing on the beta server. Against the Vanguard Training Dummy you can get from Aeon SF.

Here's how to get the badge, only on beta of course, /reward asfvanguardchallengereward 0

Zepp was right for single target damage in a stationary fight.

Rules: Ageless Core, Musculature Core, Assault core, slotted not used

6:00 combo used
5:21 no combos
5:10 no combos, Achilles -res
5:08 no sky splitter, Achilles -res

The difference between combos and no combos in pretty noticeable. Achilles -resist does help, but it can only go into a very fast recharging power, so it doesn't proc that much.

I don't think I will change my build, except not worrying about combos, thank you Zepp. Sky splitter is providing recharge and -fly, so it has value outside of pure damage.

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I found my forever stalker. Staff/Ice

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