Questions About Tactical Arrow

[Renatos1023]

Just hit 38 on my Elec/TA Blaster. It's been a fun ride so far (but I do miss me some heavy hitting melee powers). I'm no Blaster pro, and only have 2 or 3 at 50. When it comes to taking and slotting some of the TA powers, I'm drawing some blanks...it's different enough from my Trick Arrow defender that I figured I'd come here and get some expert advice. This character is currently working with lv.30+ basic IOs, no sets yet. 

 

1. Glue Arrow - is this worth slotting for damage? Currently I just have the base slot with a recharge enhancement. It seems to do more damage than its description implies, so I was wondering if slotting Dam was worth it. Or do you all proc this one?

2. Ice Arrow - I skip this on all my TA Defenders. Is it worth it if you aren't proc-bombing it? I don't like Tesla Cage so I didn't take that hold or this one, so no stacking holds.

3. Flash Arrow - I just have this with the base slot, and slotted with to-hit debuff. Would you do it differently?

4. ESD Arrow - I get this is Trick Arrow's EMP Arrow rip off. I skipped because it just looks like a relatively crappy mag 2 stun. Am I missing something here? Or is this a totally skippable T8 power?

5. Oil Slick Arrow - Currently slotted for basic damage, recharge, and end. redux. Are any procs or specific sets worth it?

 

Thanks for any help! Tactical Arrow is definitely a different breed of Blaster to me. I'm used to having a melee attack or two, so playing totally at range is a very new, albeit fun, experience.  

[Hjarki]

1. I always skip Glue Arrow. It technically does a fair bit of damage - a bit over 70 damage - but this damage occurs slowly over 30 secs so it's mostly wasted. Procs also work poorly because it's a pseudopet. Trick Arrow also has the second best (after FIre) Immobilize. It does the same damage as your T1 attack (albeit without the possibility of the +20% damage on a low endurance target), so you can potentially just take T1 and the Sniper attack as single target attacks and still put together a respectable rotation.
2. I take Ice Arrow solely because Holds are such slotting opportunities. You've got Unbreakable Constraint, Basilisk's Gaze and even Lockdown - all of which are amongst the game's best sets.
3. Flash Arrow is nice if you like to stealth clickie missions. However, the hit debuff component is relatively small and is resisted into meaninglessness by AV/GM. It does enable you to slot Cloud Senses - but a full 6-slot will negate the stealth clickie aspect due to the damage proc.
4. ESD Arrow. For almost every Blaster, this is a waste of a power. For an Electric Blast Blaster, I'd consider it essential. Once you've slotted it - presumably with Preemptive Optimization - it will floor the endurance of most spawns from range (especially if used in conjunction with Charge Up). While it's only 10 targets, it will increase your attacks - such as Thunderous Blast - by 20%.
5. Oil Slick Arrow. Procs tend to work poorly in pseudopet powers (they don't use the recharge of the power but the activation time of the pseudopet). I tend to put a set like Artillery in here. Since you're using an Energy-based primary, it's pretty easy to explode and it does 250 damage over 15 sec (the same as a standard Blaster ultimate).

[tidge]

Glue Arrow and %damage: This is one of those power that %procs very well on cast (on any targets immediately hit) , but not well on the pseudopet 'ticks'. I have it slotted as follows:

 

Level 1:                 Glue Arrow        

 (A) D-Sync Guidance (Accuracy/Range): Level 53

 (*) Javelin Volley – Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 50+5

 (*) Javelin Volley – Chance of Damage (Lethal)

 (*) Positron’s Blast - Chance of Damage (Energy)

 (*) Ice Mistral’s Torment - Chance of Damage (Cold)

 (*) Annihilation - Chance for Res Debuff

 

Ice Arrow:  I skipped this because:

• It is single target, among other things it won't really be high-producing part of a mature attack chain
• Glue Arrow is the better control and %damage (more targets, and a placed area of effect)
• IMO Holds require more investment in slots to make worthwhile, especially if the build cannot easily stack them

 

Flash Arrow I only kept the base slot, I need slots elsewhere:

Level 16:              Flash Arrow       

 (A) ToHit Debuff IO: Level 50+5

 

ESD Arrow is a fun attack IMO. It has a pair of stuns that stack, and it does have damage potential. I have it slotted as:

Level 28:              ESD Arrow          

 (A) Absolute Amazement -Stun/End: Level 50+5

 (*) Absolute Amazement - Stun/Recharge: Level 50+5

 (*) Absolute Amazement - Accuracy/Stun/Recharge: Level 50+5

 (*) Absolute Amazement - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 50+5

 (*) Unbreakable Constraint - Chance of Damage (Smashing)

 (*) Gladiator's Net - Chance of Damage (Lethal)

 

Oil Slick Arrow is another "good %proc on cast, not so good on the pseudopet".  You will have to look at "pet damage" to see the %damage. My slotting is:

Level 30:              Oil Slick Arrow  

 (A) Javelin Volley - Accuracy/End/Recharge: Level 50+5

 (*) Javelin Volley - Chance of Damage (Lethal)

 (*) Bombardment - Accuracy/End/Recharge

 (*) Bombardment - Chance of Damage (Fire)

 (*) Ice Mistral’s Torment - Chance of Damage (Cold)

 (*) Impeded Swiftness - Chance of Damage (Smashing)

 

I should note that the slotting above is from a Trick Arrow/Tactical Arrow Blaster that is getting typical set bonuses from the primary set slotting.

[tidge]

On 9/18/2024 at 10:02 PM, Renatos1023 said:

Thanks for any help! Tactical Arrow is definitely a different breed of Blaster to me. I'm used to having a melee attack or two, so playing totally at range is a very new, albeit fun, experience.  

 

One last piece of information that went into my build: because of the lack of melee, I made an extra effort to try to get the range of all the attacks in the Trick/Tactical Blaster's arsenal to be roughly equivalent.

[BZRKR]

I have an AR/TA/Mace Blaster (sheathed weapons ahoy!!) that I recently leveled from 1-50 villain side with my super group.

 

I used Electrified Net Arrow into the 30's and respecced into Glue Arrow with Proc slotting similar to Tidge's above. Especially when fighting Longbow, the area -fly of Glue arrow was more useful than a single target immobilize. The proc damage worked well for me on cast, just as described above.

 

I slotted Oil Slick Arrow with a 5-pack of Bombardment, mostly to get the range bonuses (I also have Bombardment in Flamethrower and Ignite). In addition to the soft control and the big fire, Oil Slick Arrow is a favorite of mine because of the idiosyncrasies of Location AoE powers, allowing me to shoot up through balconies, or onto stairwells, etc.

 

After leveling this character, I think Tactical Arrow is my current favorite Blaster Secondary. 

Edited September 20 by BZRKR
words are hard

[Frozen Burn]

On 9/18/2024 at 10:02 PM, Renatos1023 said:

Just hit 38 on my Elec/TA Blaster. It's been a fun ride so far (but I do miss me some heavy hitting melee powers). I'm no Blaster pro, and only have 2 or 3 at 50. When it comes to taking and slotting some of the TA powers, I'm drawing some blanks...it's different enough from my Trick Arrow defender that I figured I'd come here and get some expert advice. This character is currently working with lv.30+ basic IOs, no sets yet. 

 

1. Glue Arrow - is this worth slotting for damage? Currently I just have the base slot with a recharge enhancement. It seems to do more damage than its description implies, so I was wondering if slotting Dam was worth it. Or do you all proc this one?

2. Ice Arrow - I skip this on all my TA Defenders. Is it worth it if you aren't proc-bombing it? I don't like Tesla Cage so I didn't take that hold or this one, so no stacking holds.

3. Flash Arrow - I just have this with the base slot, and slotted with to-hit debuff. Would you do it differently?

4. ESD Arrow - I get this is Trick Arrow's EMP Arrow rip off. I skipped because it just looks like a relatively crappy mag 2 stun. Am I missing something here? Or is this a totally skippable T8 power?

5. Oil Slick Arrow - Currently slotted for basic damage, recharge, and end. redux. Are any procs or specific sets worth it?

 

Thanks for any help! Tactical Arrow is definitely a different breed of Blaster to me. I'm used to having a melee attack or two, so playing totally at range is a very new, albeit fun, experience.  

 

 

Yeah, without melee powers, /TA is for ranged blasting.  I do wish there could've been a "Bow Bash" or "Bow Slam" or some other such thing for beating a foe over the their head with the Bow - ooo, or "Arrow Jab" where you just use your hand to stab an arrow into someone.  😄  

1. Take Glue Arrow and slot it for damage - proc it if you want, but it's good for igniting your Oil slick and helping foes stay in it when it's burning.  The Toxic and fire DoT from both are really nice.
2. Ice Arrow - I love holds on my blaster, especially if you can have 2, then you can hold pesky bosses or multiple Lts / mins that are also troublesome.  They generally do good damage for blasters and it's also a way to increase your survivability.
3. Flash Arrow - I just leave a single generic Acc in it.  The base debuff is fine and I'd rather make sure it hits those higher level mobs.  And it's great for not needing stealth and walking past groups and/or clicking glowies right in front of their faces.
4. ESD Arrow can be skippable, but given you are an Elec Blast - you may want to take it and slot it up for endmod and draining foes.
5. Oil Slick - yep, slot for damage and recharge.  Procs are meh in it.  You're better served with a set that gives full damage and then some extras for full recharge.  

 

[tidge]

12 hours ago, Frozen Burn said:

 

 

Yeah, without melee powers, /TA is for ranged blasting.  I do wish there could've been a "Bow Bash" or "Bow Slam" or some other such thing for beating a foe over the their head with the Bow - ooo, or "Arrow Jab" where you just use your hand to stab an arrow into someone.  😄  

 

 

While I am 100% ok with Tactical Arrow's focus on "Tricksy Archer", I can imagine variants of single target attacks (a.k.a. Arrow Stab) and PBAoE (Bow Sweep) for more melee minded archers.

[Uun]

15 hours ago, Frozen Burn said:

Flash Arrow - I just leave a single generic Acc in it. The base debuff is fine and I'd rather make sure it hits those higher level mobs. 

Flash Arrow is autohit in PVE.

[kelika2]

On 9/18/2024 at 10:02 PM, Renatos1023 said:

1. Glue Arrow - is this worth slotting for damage? Currently I just have the base slot with a recharge enhancement. It seems to do more damage than its description implies, so I was wondering if slotting Dam was worth it. Or do you all proc this one?

2. Ice Arrow - I skip this on all my TA Defenders. Is it worth it if you aren't proc-bombing it? I don't like Tesla Cage so I didn't take that hold or this one, so no stacking holds.

3. Flash Arrow - I just have this with the base slot, and slotted with to-hit debuff. Would you do it differently?

4. ESD Arrow - I get this is Trick Arrow's EMP Arrow rip off. I skipped because it just looks like a relatively crappy mag 2 stun. Am I missing something here? Or is this a totally skippable T8 power?

5. Oil Slick Arrow - Currently slotted for basic damage, recharge, and end. redux. Are any procs or specific sets worth it?

As for an elec blaster

1. its ok with just a base slow/snare or recharge, its basically caltrops tier damage.  generally paired with oil slick

2. im going to say no, you might get some use stacking with tesla cage if you have it but i dont take it

3. last i remember flash arrow for blasters is like 5-7% tohit debuff,. not worth it for me

4. no, robot enemies are too rare

5. use glue arrow with this since some enemies just book it.  i dont use it for procs and the sets i use for it are ATOs or Bombardment or artillery depending on what you are slotting for

[Frozen Burn]

2 hours ago, Uun said:

Flash Arrow is autohit in PVE.

 

Ah.  Cool.  Thanks.

[PyroBeetle]

I have 3 TA blasters into the Incarnate levels and I have found them to work best when they lean into their ranged strength. Defense in depth is a tactical term that I use solo. Every fight begins the same, Flash Arrow, Glue Arrow, Oil Slick Arrow, M30 Grenade, Full Auto, Flamethrower, M30 Grenade, polish off the remaining bosses.

 

Glue Arrow is slotted with procs, Flash Arrow is slotted with 4x Dark Watchers, and Oil Slick with Obliteration IIRC. I have not found ESD Arrow to be of particular use, but you might to run in and fire off your Short Circuit.

 

Ice Arrow I take and proc out, it is a regular in my attack chain. Electrified Net Arrow I have, and it is slotted, but I only rotate in for trackstar mobs. It is one of 5 ST attacks that I have. I could drop it to include Buckshot in my AoE instead, but I found that my AoE attacks are recycling just fine and Buckshot wasn't needed, so I went back to ENA for situational usage.

 

Hope this helps!

Edited September 27 by PyroBeetle
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