Coming Back, Trying to Pick a Controller

[TheOOB]

I played years and years ago on live, and controller was always my favorite AT, with Fire/Rad and Illusion/Rad being what I played the most of. I'm looking to get back into the game, and trying to figure out which controller to roll up first. For primaries, fire, illusion, and dark all look the most fun for me, and secondaries rad, darkness, and time look interesting, but I figured I'd see what people think. I'm looking for something that can solo well while still being useful in a group, and that doesn't require really expensive enhancements or max level to be fun. I don't mind the set being a bit complicated, but I want damage to be high enough that fights don't take forever.

 

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[BurnTheWitch]

I think that I speak for a large number of people when I say, "you can't go wrong, pick what interests you. . . Yadda yadda yadda."

 

That being said, if you want to pick up where you left off,  that is certainly an option. I'm personally a hugh fan of my Dark/Dark troller, so my vote will go there.  I will warn that the damage was lacking until she was geared, but she is lockdown and a great addition to any team.  Her soloability exists now, but I remember almost abandoning soloing in the mid 20's (she was not gifted piles of enhancements, that should be noted.) Until she was geared up.

 

Now I will say that Dark/ Fire sounds like a combo win, although I've never played the combo.

 

[Psyonico]

My dark/dark solos very well, but he’s also fully IO’d out.  I recently started a fire/dark.  He’s still only level 8 or 9 so I can’t comment on how effective he is yet, but fire brings more damage to the table, while /dark should be able to help with its massive -tohit and -damage debuffs and Soul Absorption for extra recovery.

[TygerDarkstorm]

I highly recommend trying out the /Marine secondary, especially with a primary like Fire. Quite a few folks here have made monsters out of  Fire/Marine controllers. Fire/Nature should also be a decent combo for something different.

 

For those mentioning Fire/Dark, this is probably a decent starting point: 

 

[Force Redux]

If you like teaming Plant/Nature is an excellent all rounder. Great AOE damage potential but single target is okay but not stellar.

[Warshades]

I'll add plant and arsenal to the primary considerations. Arsenal has one of the toughest pets in Tri-Cannon and, iirc, 2 AoE controls that can be proc'd out with damage procs to increase damage, Sleep Grenade and Flash Bang. Plant has always been a strong performer with Seeds of Confusion and Carrion Creepers. If you want more damage output, I would probably suggest a dominator since their secondary power set options are all about dealing damage. Some of the better damage output secondaries on controllers include storm, TA, traps, and marine. Most others focus more on debuffs/buffs rather than directly dealing damage.

[Glorificus]

I'd say Plant is probably still the overall strongest Control set, followed by the new Arsenal, and then maybe Gravity or Illusion in third place. 

[Force Redux]

Illusion/Traps - so versatile, very different playstyle, a bit better solo than on teams due to the nature of /traps being mostly immobile and longer-ish recharge; but you also build for recharge for illusion, which helps traps though, so when recharge is built up, even on teams some of your traps are always useful and up for the next group or every other group. Plus teleport to move them around. This build excels at moving ahead of the pack, not trailing behind.

 

Illusion/Rad - versatile, works well doing anything, really - lacks some of the tricks and damage of /Traps but is easier/cheaper to build for recharge, a tad bit more group friendly than traps. Lovely lovely AOE hold toggle in /Rad. Proc it for effectiveness and stacking Hold on bosses. Same as /nature.

 

Plant/nature - as I said, king of AoE, solid support set, really shines in groups. Very thematic. 

 

Plant/Marine - about as good as nature, maybe a smidge better for damage and buffs, but its really apples and oranges. Theme is strong here. Go Leviathan. 

 

Gravity/Dark - Strong single target damage, best pet ever, combined with a fantastic dark fluffy in /Dark, you get the whole package except a bit light on AOE, but you can proc bomb the stun if you like, add in incarnates, epics and temp powers, you're fine. Super safe. Feels stronk.

 

Arsenal/TA - kind of like a controllery Rambo build. Lots of damage potential, not enough keys, so make sure you keybind lol. You are the swiss knife/tool kit/boy scout kit. Great for a gadgeteer!

 

These are the ones I have and are familiar with. I would recommend them to any who want  a controller.

 

Best budget controller: Gravity/Dark. 

 

Best newbie controller: Plant/Nature. 

Edited yesterday at 01:42 AM by Force Redux

[Scarlet Shocker]

OP hasn't mentioned how s/he likes to play - solo or teamage. It's not super critical to know but can influence choices.

 

For primarily teaming I'd suggest /thermal is a very solid support set - great buffs for your team, and some amazing debuffs for your opponents. Melt Armor is highly underrated IMO and you can get it recharged quite fast in a good build.

 

I'd also recommend  /storm and /poison as good solid secondaries with /Trick Arrow almost up there too. /Storm gives you great debuffs, keeps enemies away and generally throws stuff around enough it won't be bothering you too much. /Poison is almost all ST and reasonably melee focused, but is still deadly with some punishing debuffs and ways to reduce even AVs to poodles. /TA is a good all-round set, giving you some reasonable debuffs, good soft-control and is inexpensive in terms of endurance etc

 

For primaries I'd say Dark is by far one of the best in terms of control vs damage giving you goodly amounts of both and has some very useful -to Hit debuffs, whereas Plant is all about damage and holds. It's also excellent but Dark just edges it IMO. Mind is also excellent at control but its damage is slow (A Mind/TA is one of the most painful characters I've ever played. Nothing could touch me but killing anything was a challenge) although a lot of enemies are weak to Psi. Stone is very good at locking stuff down but again, not so much damage.

 

Ultimately, play what feels good and suits your style the best. I would strongly advise against playing FotM builds or following the crowd. In my experience, going left-field has often produced some amazingly fun results. My personally favourite controller builds are my Dark/Poison and my Plant/TA. If I'm ever in a position where I want to get something done those will be my go-to toons, often my first picks over any other ATs or sets.

 

Have many funs and welcome home

[Troo]

On 5/5/2025 at 9:50 PM, TheOOB said:

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Try some new stuff with some that you may be familiar with?

 

Plant / Storm

Arsenal / Radiation

[Troo]

On 5/5/2025 at 9:50 PM, TheOOB said:

I'm looking to get back into the game

 

AND Welcome Back!