Tell me about Bio Armor

[Timeshadow]

So, I've got a character concept that fits well with (SS)/Bio but I'm struggling to figure out how to build it. Not in terms of individual IOs, per se, but exactly what my goals should be. 

 

I know Bio is a hybrid set. It seems to have a little bit of everything going on so I'm not sure where to focus. Do I aim for softcapped Def, big boi levels of Res, huge +Regen, or some balance of the three? 

 

For context, I play pretty casually most of the time. Soloing +4/x8 or other min/max feats aren't really for me. I just want something sturdy enough to be self-sufficient while still delivering a good amount of SMASH. Protecting a squishy here and there wouldn't be bad either. 

[Xandyr]

Maybe my write up (see sig) will help.

- x

[Timeshadow]

Thanks @Xandyr. Your write up was really helpful. I managed to put a build together that I think is semi-decent. It's got about 30% Def to everything except Toxic and Psi. I managed to counter enough of the -Res from Offensive Adaptation that I'm no longer looking at negative percentages when it's toggled on.

I could definitely get better Def numbers by taking Combat Jumping or something like that but having stealth (Usually in the form of Infiltration + a Stealth IO) is a must for me. Mystic Flight is there for theme but I'd be happy to switch it out for something else. Getting some +Perception in would be nice for those times when a smoke bomb gets tossed or there's a map full of Knives of Artemis to deal with.

If anyone has constructive feedback, I'd be happy to hear it.
 

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

Click this DataLink to open the build!

BioBrute: Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: Super Strength
Secondary Power Set: Bio Armor
Power Pool: Concealment
Power Pool: Sorcery
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Leviathan Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Punch -- KntCmb-Acc/Dmg(A), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx(5), KntCmb-Dmg/Rchg(7), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(7), CrsImp-Acc/Dmg(23)
Level 1: Hardened Carapace -- UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(13), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam(15), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(15), UnbGrd-Max HP%(48)
Level 2: Haymaker -- KntCmb-Acc/Dmg(A), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx(3), KntCmb-Dmg/Rchg(3), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), CrsImp-Acc/Dmg(19)
Level 4: Inexhaustible -- PrfShf-End%(A), RgnTss-Regen+(48)
Level 6: Environmental Modification -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(17), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(19), LucoftheG-Def(40), Rct-ResDam%(50)
Level 8: Knockout Blow -- SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg(A), SprBrtFur-Dmg/Rchg(9), SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(9), SprBrtFur-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11), SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11), SprBrtFur-Rech/Fury%(13)
Level 10: Adaptation 
Level 12: Infiltration -- Clr-Stlth(A)
Level 14: Mystic Flight -- WntGif-ResSlow(A)
Level 16: Ablative Carapace -- NmnCnv-Heal/Rchg(A), NmnCnv-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(17), NmnCnv-EndRdx/Rchg(50), DctWnd-Heal/Rchg(50)
Level 18: Rage -- GssSynFr--ToHit(A), GssSynFr--ToHit/Rchg(40), GssSynFr--ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(40), GssSynFr--Rchg/EndRdx(43), GssSynFr--ToHit/EndRdx(46), GssSynFr--Build%(46)
Level 20: Evolving Armor -- UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(23), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam(34), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(34)
Level 22: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 24: DNA Siphon -- TchoftheN-Heal(A), TchoftheN-Heal/HP/Regen/Rchg(25), TchoftheN-Acc/Heal(25), TchoftheN-Acc/EndRdx/Heal/HP/Regen(34), TchoftheN-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(39)
Level 26: Foot Stomp -- Obl-Dmg(A), Obl-Acc/Rchg(27), Obl-Dmg/Rchg(27), Obl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(29), Obl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(29), Obl-%Dam(31)
Level 28: Genetic Contamination -- Obl-Dmg(A), Obl-Acc/Rchg(37), Obl-Dmg/Rchg(37), Obl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(37), Obl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39), Obl-%Dam(39)
Level 30: Parasitic Aura -- ThfofEss-Heal(A), ThfofEss-Heal/Rchg(31), ThfofEss-Acc/Heal(31), ThfofEss-Acc/EndRdx/Heal(33), ThfofEss-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(33)
Level 32: Tough -- StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), GldArm-3defTpProc(33)
Level 35: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(36), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg(36), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(36)
Level 38: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(48)
Level 41: Spirit Shark -- Thn-Acc/Dmg(A), Thn-Dmg/EndRdx(42), Thn-Dmg/Rchg(42), Thn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(42), Thn-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(43), Thn-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(43)
Level 44: School of Sharks -- PstBls-Acc/Dmg(A), PstBls-Dmg/EndRdx(45), PstBls-Dmg/Rchg(45), PstBls-Dmg/Rng(45), PstBls-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(46)
Level 47: Stealth -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 49: Grant Invisibility -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury 
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Health -- Mrc-Rcvry+(A)
Level 1: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Stamina -- SynSck-EndMod(A), SynSck-EndMod/Rech(21), SynSck-EndMod/+RunSpeed(21)
Level 10: Defensive Adaptation 
Level 10: Efficient Adaptation 
Level 10: Offensive Adaptation 
------------

 

Edited July 20, 2023 by Timeshadow

[Zect]

Conventional wisdom for bio is: softcapped def or close to it (some don't softcap all types), permahasten (gives close to 50% uptime on parasitic aura), don't be in the negatives for exotic res when you have offensive adaptation on, and as much SL res as you can fit. However, you are an SS/ which complicates the picture because of the huge defense loss from the rage crash.

 

My recommendation for an incarnate SS/Bio is:

1. Perma doublestacked rage - takes about 172% global rech with spiritual core paragon. This has many synergistic benefits due to the huge tohit bonus (+40% unslotted) overpowering enemy debuffs and allowing you to skimp or eliminate acc slotting in many attacks and heals. Being able to slot less/zero acc due to insane rage bonuses is one of the big privileges of grossly overpowered SS toons. Don't waste it.

2. Barrier* destiny - the strongest overall destiny and the perfect solution to your rage crash. With doublestacked rage, it will crash every minute. On odd minutes, you use barrier destiny. On even minutes, you use parasitic aura. This way, you have a burst of mitigation or sustain every time your defenses drop.

 

Your build is very bad with many inefficient choices, hasten over 30s away from perma at the best (the essence of bio is always: recharge recharge recharge), positional defense sets on a typed defense armor, and all sorts of amateur build design mistakes. You slot the weaker resist unique but not the stronger (where's the shield wall?), I don't know what TotH and ToE are supposed to do for your build (better options: 5x doctwounds +optional 1 common acc or 6x prevmed provide rech, resists and a useful proc; 2-3x 53 D-sync reconstruction saves slots while providing good enhancement value)

 

You also manage to skip all the best powers from your epic and pools, though I can't tell if this is a deliberate concept choice; if it is, I completely respect giving up character power for concept. Carry on. If it's not, then you really want arctic breath over school of sharks, the -res and knockdown make it the star of mako's epic.

 

* I know a lot of people will try to tell you to go ageless for the debuff resist. This is questionable since the -def resist is ineffective unless you have native -def resist to stack it with. For every 2 minute cycle, ageless radial T4 provides:

• 85.50% res to all debuffs for the first 30s
• 63.75% for the next 30s
• 21.25% for the last 60s

Bio has zero native -def res. Zero. This means that half of the time, a Romulus Centurion will hit you and you lose 8% def instead of 10% and start to defense cascade anyway. It's objectively, mathematically worthless. The debuff res from Ageless radial is good on sets that already have middling amounts of debuff resist to stack with it, such as invuln (but then invuln is not usually a set that demands high rech, so you have to think carefully about whether you're getting your destiny's worth there, too.)

[Timeshadow]

@Zect Thanks for your input. I reworked the build to focus more on +Recharge and managed to get decent numbers. Not perma double stacked Rage numbers but better than what I had before. My Defenses aren't softcapped but I'm sitting comfortably in the mid 30s with Offensive running. I'm not thrilled about taking the Leaping pool but the extra set of Red Fortune + another LotG is undeniably nice. I appreciate the tip about Bile Spray. I don't have any experience with Leviathan Mastery (Picked it up for concept) so knowing it's strengths was helpful.

I'll be real, I don't like building with Incarnates in mind. I enjoy running content at all levels so a build that relies on powers you can only access at 50+ doesn't really work for my style. That being said, I can certainly incorporate the things that are best to have when I'm playing in that level range.

 

Spoiler

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

Click this DataLink to open the build!

BioBrute2: Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: Super Strength
Secondary Power Set: Bio Armor
Power Pool: Concealment
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Leviathan Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Punch -- KntCmb-Acc/Dmg(A), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx(5), KntCmb-Dmg/Rchg(7), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(7)
Level 1: Hardened Carapace -- RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctArm-ResDam/Rchg(11), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(13), RctArm-ResDam(13)
Level 2: Haymaker -- KntCmb-Acc/Dmg(A), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx(3), KntCmb-Dmg/Rchg(3), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), FrcFdb-Rechg%(50)
Level 4: Environmental Modification -- RedFrt-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFrt-Def/Rchg(15), RedFrt-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(15), RedFrt-Def(37), RedFrt-EndRdx(37), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(37)
Level 6: Inexhaustible -- PrfShf-End%(A), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(40)
Level 8: Knockout Blow -- KntCmb-Acc/Dmg(A), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx(9), KntCmb-Dmg/Rchg(9), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11), FrcFdb-Rechg%(46)
Level 10: Adaptation 
Level 12: Infiltration -- Clr-Stlth(A)
Level 14: Super Jump -- WntGif-ResSlow(A)
Level 16: Ablative Carapace -- DctWnd-Heal/EndRdx(A), DctWnd-Heal/Rchg(17), DctWnd-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(17), DctWnd-Heal(19), DctWnd-Rchg(19)
Level 18: Rage -- GssSynFr--Build%(A), RechRdx-I(23), RechRdx-I(23)
Level 20: Evolving Armor -- RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctArm-ResDam/Rchg(25), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(25), RctArm-ResDam(36)
Level 22: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(33)
Level 24: DNA Siphon -- Prv-Heal(A), Prv-Heal/EndRdx(31), Prv-EndRdx/Rchg(31), Prv-Heal/Rchg(31), Prv-Heal/Rchg/EndRdx(33), Prv-Absorb%(33)
Level 26: Foot Stomp -- SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg(A), SprBrtFur-Dmg/Rchg(27), SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(27), SprBrtFur-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(29), SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(29), SprBrtFur-Rech/Fury%(42)
Level 28: Genetic Contamination -- MckBrt-Taunt(A), MckBrt-Taunt/Rchg(45), MckBrt-Taunt/Rchg/Rng(45), MckBrt-Acc/Rchg(45), MckBrt-Taunt/Rng(46), MckBrt-Rchg(46)
Level 30: Parasitic Aura -- DctWnd-Heal/EndRdx(A), DctWnd-EndRdx/Rchg(34), DctWnd-Heal/Rchg(34), DctWnd-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(34), DctWnd-Heal(36)
Level 32: Kick -- Empty(A)
Level 35: Tough -- StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), GldArm-3defTpProc(36)
Level 38: Weave -- Rct-Def(A), Rct-Def/EndRdx(39), Rct-EndRdx/Rchg(39), Rct-Def/Rchg(39), Rct-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(40), Rct-ResDam%(40)
Level 41: Combat Jumping -- RedFrt-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFrt-Def/Rchg(42), RedFrt-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(42), RedFrt-Def(43), RedFrt-EndRdx(43), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(43)
Level 44: Spirit Shark -- OvrFrc-Dam/KB(A)
Level 47: Bile Spray -- Ann-Acc/Dmg(A), Ann-Dmg/Rchg(48), Ann-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(48), Ann-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(48), Ann-ResDeb%(50)
Level 49: Grant Invisibility -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(50)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury 
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Health -- Mrc-Rcvry+(A)
Level 1: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Stamina -- SynSck-EndMod(A), SynSck-EndMod/Rech(21), SynSck-EndMod/+RunSpeed(21)
Level 10: Defensive Adaptation 
Level 10: Efficient Adaptation 
Level 10: Offensive Adaptation 
Level 14: Double Jump 
------------

 

https://www.midsreborn.com/builds/download.php?uc=1672&c=719&a=1438&f=HEX&dc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

Edited July 21, 2023 by Timeshadow