Update my Rad/Sonic Def

brasilgringo · February 28, 2023

Hi All - looking for some feedback on finally getting around to updating my Rad/Sonic post the Sonic Assault changes. For example, dropping Howl and working in Shockwave? Curious of anyone has any tips forDoctorDebuffer_Live_Feb2023.mxd the reworked set. Current build below. Thanks.

This Hero build was built using Mids Reborn 3.4.7
https://github.com/LoadedCamel/MidsReborn

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Doctor Debuffer: Level 50 Mutation Defender
Primary Power Set: Radiation Emission
Secondary Power Set: Sonic Attack
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Psychic Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Radiant Aura

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

Level 1: Shriek

(A) Superior Vigilant Assault - Damage/RechargeTime
(7) Superior Vigilant Assault - Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
(9) Superior Vigilant Assault - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
(9) Gladiator's Javelin - Chance of Damage(Toxic)

Level 2: Accelerate Metabolism

(A) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Recharge
(13) Synapse's Shock - EndMod/Recharge
(15) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Recharge

Level 4: Radiation Infection

Hamidon Origin:Enzyme Exposure

Level 6: Howl

(A) Defender's Bastion - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
(15) Defender's Bastion - Damage/Recharge
(17) Defender's Bastion - Accuracy/Damage
(17) Defender's Bastion - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
(19) Defender's Bastion - Recharge/Chance for Minor PBAoE Heal
(19) Defender's Bastion - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance

Level 8: Enervating Field

(A) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 10: Combat Jumping

(A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
(21) Karma - Knockback Protection

Level 12: Hasten

(A) Recharge Reduction IO
(21) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 14: Lingering Radiation

(A) Accuracy IO

Level 16: Assault

(A) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 18: Choking Cloud

(A) Lockdown - Accuracy/Recharge
(23) Lockdown - Chance for +2 Mag Hold
(23) Lockdown - Recharge/Hold
(25) Lockdown - Accuracy/Hold
(25) Lockdown - Endurance/Recharge/Hold
(27) Lockdown - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge/Hold

Level 20: Maneuvers

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

Level 22: Kick

(A) Explosive Strike - Damage/Knockback
(29) Explosive Strike - Chance for Smashing Damage
(29) Explosive Strike - Accuracy/Knockback

Level 24: Tough

(A) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All)
(31) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance
(31) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance
(31) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance/RechargeTime
(33) Unbreakable Guard - +Max HP

Level 26: Weave

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

Level 28: Amplify

(A) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge/Endurance
(34) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge
(34) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Endurance
(36) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff
(36) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up
(36) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Recharge/Endurance

Level 30: Shout

(A) Superior Vigilant Assault - Accuracy/Damage
(37) Superior Vigilant Assault - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
(37) Superior Vigilant Assault - RechargeTime/PBAoE +Absorb
(37) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance
(39) Gladiator's Javelin - Chance of Damage(Toxic)
(39) Apocalypse - Chance of Damage(Negative)

Level 32: EM Pulse

(A) Basilisk's Gaze - Recharge/Hold
(39) Basilisk's Gaze - Accuracy/Hold
(40) Basilisk's Gaze - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge/Hold
(40) Basilisk's Gaze - Accuracy/Recharge

Level 35: Dominate

Hamidon Origin:Nucleolus Exposure
(40) Gladiator's Javelin - Chance of Damage(Toxic)
(42) Gladiator's Net - Chance of Damage(Lethal)
(42) Neuronic Shutdown - Chance of Damage(Psionic)
(42) Ghost Widow's Embrace - Chance of Damage(Psionic)
(43) Unbreakable Constraint - Chance for Smashing Damage

Level 38: Dreadful Wail

(A) Superior Avalanche - Damage/Endurance
(43) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
(43) Superior Avalanche - Recharge/Chance for Knockdown
(45) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
(45) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
(45) Armageddon - Chance for Fire Damage

Level 41: Tactics

Hamidon Origin:Cytoskeleton Exposure

Level 44: Mind Over Body

(A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%
(46) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance
(46) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance
(46) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance/RechargeTime
(48) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance

Level 47: World of Confusion

(A) Coercive Persuasion - Confused
(48) Coercive Persuasion - Confused/Recharge
(48) Coercive Persuasion - Recharge/Accuracy
(50) Coercive Persuasion - Contagious Confusion
(50) Coercive Persuasion - Confused/Recharge/Accuracy
(50) Coercive Persuasion - Confused/Endurance

Level 49: Vengeance

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

Level 1: Vigilance

Level 1: Brawl

Zect · March 1, 2023

11 hours ago, brasilgringo said:

For example, dropping Howl and working in Shockwave?

Shockwave is good (soft control and FF proc), but do not skip howl to take it. Howl is one of only 2 aoe powers you have that applies -res (the nuke being the other) and invaluable for stacking with your enervating field.

Anyone recommending skipping howl must supply a very good answer for what you gain in place of it that is worth not stacking an extra -20% res on an entire group of mobs in the alpha.

11 hours ago, brasilgringo said:

Level 2: Accelerate Metabolism

(A) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Recharge

(13) Synapse's Shock - EndMod/Recharge

(15) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Recharge

Your AM is just barely permanent with 2x 53 D-sync conduits (endmod/rech), if you are looking to save a slot.

Alternately, 6x preemptive optimization is an alternative way to gain ranged def at a net cost of only 3 added slots. If you drop the explosive strikes in kick and scrounge up 1 more slot this will fully softcap you to ranged, and even give a bit more recharge.

Here is an experiment you can try. The next time you play solo, use an enhancement unslotter and unslot the +5 perfshifter: endmod you have in stamina to test if your blue bar holds up under pressure. This will tell you if that slot can be reassigned elsewhere. If it does, try unslotting the miracle: +recovery as well.

Perma-AM gives significant endurance and introduces the possibility of slashing +recovery slotting and +recovery uniques in health/stamina (perma-heatloss coldfenders may consider the same optimization).

11 hours ago, brasilgringo said:

Level 30: Shout

(A) Superior Vigilant Assault - Accuracy/Damage

(37) Superior Vigilant Assault - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance

(37) Superior Vigilant Assault - RechargeTime/PBAoE +Absorb

(37) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance

(39) Gladiator's Javelin - Chance of Damage(Toxic)

(39) Apocalypse - Chance of Damage(Negative)

Your t3 blast is screech; better DPA and it stuns. Yes, it does real damage now.

11 hours ago, brasilgringo said:

Level 10: Combat Jumping

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

(21) Karma - Knockback Protection

Replace Karma -kb with Steadfast -kb in mind over body for a small recovery bonus.

* * *

You seem to be aiming for a multi-vector defense strategy, which is very demanding. Have you given thought to an alpha slot, or is this exclusively a pre-incarnate build? The slot-efficiency from an alpha slot can significantly help achieve this build goal.

Here is an example of how agility core alpha enables a perma-hasten, perma-AM 40% def to all rad/sonic. Assigning the remaining slots and power choices is left as an exercise for the reader. Powers are to illustrate the use of sets only; swapping them out for your preferred powers is encouraged.

A defense amp, 2 min barrier core, or a single other defender running maneuvers will softcap (45%) you to everything. Putting on radiation infection on this build will i-cap (yes, i-cap) you against +4 incarnate critters, for example.

Edited March 1, 2023 by Zect

brasilgringo · March 1, 2023

Thanks @Zect. Updated build with current Incarnate powers attached below.

'

1) Howl / Shockwave - I think I may have confused the change to Screech with Shockwave. So keep Howl for AOE dmg / -RES -- check.

2) Shout vs. Screech - I guess it was Screech that changed -- would you swap out Shout for Screech now?

3) AM slotting - thanks for tips.

4) Not sold on Choking Cloud - thinking about maybe switching to 5 Unbreakable Constraints and a Lockdown +2Mag, but I could drop it. Thoughts? If I dropped it I could keep both Shout and Screech.

5) Agiliity alpha vs. Musc --> usually I've avoided Agil because I read it nerfs proc chances.

6) Multi-vector def--> I was trying to get M & R at least to around 32% (so 1 small purple would softcap) but I might be OK backing away from that.

7) Now that we can choose between T1 and T2, would you keep Shriek or go for Scream?

DoctorDebuffer_Live_Feb2023.mxd

Edited March 1, 2023 by brasilgringo

Uun · March 1, 2023

I take both Shout and Screech so that I have 3 ST attacks (I don't have Dominate). Would recommend that you try to fit Siren's Song into the build. It's now the most damaging AoE in the set outside of Dreadful Wail and Howl + Siren's Song can be chained with enough recharge. I would drop World of Confusion. It's a 1.5 second mag 2 confuse (minion only) with an 8-foot radius. Fully enhanced you might get it to stack briefly, but it's largely superfluous if you're running Choking Cloud.

nihilii · March 1, 2023

I have nothing to add except agree with Uun on every single point.

Siren's Song does almost twice the damage of Howl (and ~150% Shockwave damage), it's absolutely massive. On top of that, sleep as part of your damage rotation is quite useful: drops toggles on lieuts (think tsoo sorcerers), and whenever you need room to breathe you can stop AoEing and switch to ST.

I personally run and chain all 3 cones, but Shockwave is the one that gets kicked out first.

From your original build you want to drop Shriek, now that we can grab the T2 at level 1. Screech -> Shout -> Scream is the new attack chain, it flows beautifully.

Edited March 1, 2023 by nihilii

Zect · March 2, 2023

Quote

2) Shout vs. Screech - I guess it was Screech that changed -- would you swap out Shout for Screech now?

For an attack chain comprised of pure sonic attacks? No. I believe the optimal chain would then be scream > shout > screech bottlenecked by an easy ~203% rech in screech - essentially, the 3 highest-dpa attacks.

(You can compare the dpa of attacks conveniently on your own. In mids, windows > power graphs > select damage /anim from the middle dropdown list.)

You seem intent on using the procced-out dominate as an attack, which complicates the picture. However, after thinking about it, I cannot imagine any setup where dropping shout results in a dps gain. Your best attack chain within reach may be scream > shout > screech > dominate requiring 182% rech in dominate (basically, 182% global rech if not using agility or any rech enhancements in dominate). Please feel free to prove me wrong, however.

Quote

5) Agiliity alpha vs. Musc --> usually I've avoided Agil because I read it nerfs proc chances.

Yes. Agility is a dps loss if you derive your dps from proc-bombing, so the tradeoff is one of defense vs offense.

Normally, for a rad/sonic the dps loss will be small because /sonic is not a heavily proccable set anyway (compared to, say, DP), but your build with proc-bombed dominate is an outlier.

You can certainly cut back on defense - I usually run with a modest 32.5% to all on my rads. If you are going this route I recommend dropping world of confusion entirely. You should be able to muster enough defense without the coercive persuasion, and world of confusion has a very small radius compared to your hold aura (8ft vs 15ft).

brasilgringo · March 3, 2023

Thanks @Uun and @nihiliiand @Zect ... some decent info around screech->shout->scream so I rebuilt to drop proc'd dominate and put back in Choking Cloud and work in Siren's Song. Kept Musc Radial for the bonuses to def debuff, to-hit debuff, endurance and run speed (no travel power) besides just damage. Therefore proc'd out Siren's Song. Hopefully this is better on most fronts. Melee / Ranged are > 32% and AOE lags a bit at 24% but purples (meds) will help and since I usually team with this toon, I'll count on some external buffs most of the time. Pulled slots from AM to go back to Conduits and then slotted up CJ to get more -KB early.

Is the best way to stack -RES now the chain above (screech, shout, scream) or do you also add in the Howl -RES when it's up? (outside of Wail having -RES when it's up).

Thx again.

This Hero build was built using Mids Reborn 3.4.7
https://github.com/LoadedCamel/MidsReborn

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Doctor Debuffer: Level 50 Mutation Defender
Primary Power Set: Radiation Emission
Secondary Power Set: Sonic Attack
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Mu Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Radiant Aura

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

Level 1: Scream

(A) Superior Vigilant Assault - Damage/RechargeTime
(7) Superior Vigilant Assault - Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
(9) Superior Vigilant Assault - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
(9) Gladiator's Javelin - Chance of Damage(Toxic)

Level 2: Accelerate Metabolism

D-Sync Origin:D-Sync Conduit

Level 4: Radiation Infection

Hamidon Origin:Enzyme Exposure

Level 6: Howl

(A) Defender's Bastion - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
(13) Defender's Bastion - Damage/Recharge
(15) Defender's Bastion - Accuracy/Damage
(15) Defender's Bastion - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
(17) Defender's Bastion - Recharge/Chance for Minor PBAoE Heal
(17) Defender's Bastion - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance

Level 8: Enervating Field

(A) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 10: Combat Jumping

(A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
(19) Blessing of the Zephyr - Knockback Reduction (4 points)
(19) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range
(21) Reactive Defenses - Scaling Resist Damage
(21) Karma - Knockback Protection

Level 12: Hasten

(A) Recharge Reduction IO
(23) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 14: Lingering Radiation

(A) Accuracy IO

Level 16: Shout

(A) Apocalypse - Damage
(23) Apocalypse - Damage/Recharge
(25) Apocalypse - Damage/Recharge/Accuracy
(25) Apocalypse - Recharge/Accuracy
(27) Apocalypse - Damage/Endurance
(27) Gladiator's Javelin - Chance of Damage(Toxic)

Level 18: Choking Cloud

(A) Unbreakable Constraint - Hold
(29) Unbreakable Constraint - Hold/Recharge
(29) Unbreakable Constraint - Hold/Recharge/Accuracy
(31) Unbreakable Constraint - Recharge/Accuracy
(31) Unbreakable Constraint - Hold/Endurance
(31) Lockdown - Chance for +2 Mag Hold

Level 20: Amplify

(A) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge/Endurance
(33) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge
(33) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Endurance
(33) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff
(34) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up
(34) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Recharge/Endurance

Level 22: Boxing

(A) Empty

Level 24: Siren's Song

Hamidon Origin:Nucleolus Exposure
(34) Overwhelming Force - Damage/Chance for Knockdown/Knockback to Knockdown
(36) Javelin Volley - Chance of Damage(Lethal)
(36) Bombardment - Chance for Fire Damage
(36) Positron's Blast - Chance of Damage(Energy)
(37) Annihilation - Chance for Res Debuff

Level 26: EM Pulse

(A) Basilisk's Gaze - Recharge/Hold
(37) Basilisk's Gaze - Accuracy/Hold
(37) Basilisk's Gaze - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge/Hold
(39) Basilisk's Gaze - Accuracy/Recharge

Level 28: Screech

(A) Superior Vigilant Assault - Accuracy/Damage
(39) Superior Vigilant Assault - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
(39) Superior Vigilant Assault - RechargeTime/PBAoE +Absorb
(40) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance
(40) Gladiator's Javelin - Chance of Damage(Toxic)
(40) Apocalypse - Chance of Damage(Negative)

Level 30: Dreadful Wail

(A) Superior Avalanche - Damage/Endurance
(42) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
(42) Superior Avalanche - Recharge/Chance for Knockdown
(42) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
(43) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
(43) Armageddon - Chance for Fire Damage

Level 32: Tough

(A) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All)
(45) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance
(45) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance
(45) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance/RechargeTime
(46) Unbreakable Guard - +Max HP

Level 35: Weave

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

Level 38: Maneuvers

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

Level 41: Tactics

Hamidon Origin:Cytoskeleton Exposure

Level 44: Charged Armor

(A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%
(48) Steadfast Protection - Knockback Protection
(48) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance
(50) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance
(50) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance/RechargeTime
(50) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance

Level 47: Assault

(A) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 49: Vengeance

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

Level 1: Vigilance

Level 1: Brawl

nihilii · March 3, 2023

The new Sonic Vibrations gives you a single -12% res that replaces itself with each application, and a -8% res lasting 8 seconds that can stack. Unless you want to apply -res to multiple targets, you can stick to the ST chain.

Meknomancer · March 3, 2023

If you plan to solo gm's+av's turn on all your toggles, long fights are going to leave you winded. 1 slotted rad infection and enervating field with assault on top and you'll see that blue bar vanish in a few chain attacks. I see so many builds with only a single end red in enervating which is fine teaming when the av drops in 15 seconds but if your going to be hitting stuff for over 2 minutes i'd look at finding extra slots for your toggles. Even turning off CC only helps a little.

brasilgringo · March 3, 2023

1 hour ago, Meknomancer said:

If you plan to solo gm's+av's turn on all your toggles, long fights are going to leave you winded. 1 slotted rad infection and enervating field with assault on top and you'll see that blue bar vanish in a few chain attacks. I see so many builds with only a single end red in enervating which is fine teaming when the av drops in 15 seconds but if your going to be hitting stuff for over 2 minutes i'd look at finding extra slots for your toggles. Even turning off CC only helps a little.

Fair point but not soloing with this toon.

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