Storm build advice

[Entape]

This is the first character I haven't really been sure what to do with, so I thought I'd post it up here and see if anyone could offer suggestions. I read a bunch of posts on different ideas and settled on ranged defense and recharge as my main goals. I ended up making a full build, but then as I was slotting it, I was unhappy with some of the choices. It had Ice Mastery and the Fighting Pool, but Toughness seemed a waste with my low resists and HP pool, and the ice armor was just a mule. I think I already have all the powers I wanted and don't know what to do with the rest of it. I've been gleaning ideas from the forum for years, but I just couldn't find enough this time to be satisfied with the result.  I'm fairly happy with the initial bulk of choices here, (except maybe 02 Boost) but could use advice on any of it really. 

 

 

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[Uun]

Congratulations on entering the elite corps of Storm/Rad defenders. I haven't remade it on HC, but played one on live from i3 to sunset. 

• I'm not sure what you're trying to do with Gale. The damage isn't worth enhancing, but you've only slotted 1 %dmg proc. In any case, it needs more accuracy (turn off Aim in Mid's). 
• O2 Boost isn't a great power and not worth the 6 slot investment. The +reg/+rec unique needs to be in an active power and will only work for 120s after using O2.
• There's no reason to take both Gale and O2 Boost, so just pick one. 
• Steamy Mist should have 6 slots. Both the defense and the resistance are worth enhancing. 
• Freezing Rain isn't worth slotting for damage and procs have a low chance to fire. Slot 2 recharge IOs or 3 pieces of a Defense Debuff set.
• Hurricane should be slotted with a Tohit Debuff set (which will also cover end reduction). It doesn't require more than 3-4 slots. Note, the kb>kd doesn't affect the repel.
• Sting of the Manticore is a better choice in Proton Volley.
• Slot the Gaussian's %bu proc in Aim
• In Cosmic Burst, swap the dmg/rech for the %dmg proc
• Don't skip Irradiate. It's a massive defense debuff with a huge radius and accepts a lot of %dmg procs.

[Entape]

Thank you. I played this same toon on live, but never made it out of the 20s I don't think, because I didn't want to team with any melee characters and drive them nuts. 

Another thank you for the pointers. I had thought to use Gale to just keep things knocked down, but with Tornado and Lightning Storm up so often, it probably won't matter. I was just using the explosive strike set for the ranged def, but it was a weird fit. I was slot starved, so dropping one of the 2 initial powers and not slotting so much will help. I wasn't sure on Irradiate since I don't want things close to me, so thanks for clearing up its benefits. Back to Mids now to make adjustments. Maybe with the differences I can figure out what Epic to take. 

[Doomguide2005]

Gale can be used to knock them down -> move in use Irradiate and then move back out if you wish to avoid being in melee.

[Psylenz0511]

On 6/26/2025 at 3:04 PM, Entape said:

Thank you. I played this same toon on live, but never made it out of the 20s I don't think, because I didn't want to team with any melee characters and drive them nuts. 

Another thank you for the pointers. I had thought to use Gale to just keep things knocked down, but with Tornado and Lightning Storm up so often, it probably won't matter. I was just using the explosive strike set for the ranged def, but it was a weird fit. I was slot starved, so dropping one of the 2 initial powers and not slotting so much will help. I wasn't sure on Irradiate since I don't want things close to me, so thanks for clearing up its benefits. Back to Mids now to make adjustments. Maybe with the differences I can figure out what Epic to take. 

 

My opinion differs a bit from sir Uun in that I DO like both gale and O2. I do agree with Uun that six slotting O2 is overkill.

 

What I have developed in my storm builds is taking gale, slotting for accuracy, slot for KB > KD and also throw in a force feedback proc in gale to boost your recharge. I throw one of the force feedback procs in tornado, lightning storm, and electron haze is a good place as well. The force feedback won't fire on each lightning strike but with enough recharge you will be cranking out tornado and lightning storm quite frequently. My storm energy may not be maximized in its single target damage abilities but with max recharge comes more storms and more tornadoes.

 

With much lightning storms and tornadoes comes great stormy responsibility.

 

O2 is great for a spot heal on teammates that need a quick blast of healing and it works wonders on teammates that have used a wakie. I also toss it on folks that are experiencing rapid endurance drains frequently. I am looking at you Mr. Super Stunner.

[Psylenz0511]

On 6/26/2025 at 3:08 PM, Doomguide2005 said:

Gale can be used to knock them down -> move in use Irradiate and then move back out if you wish to avoid being in melee.

 

I agree stormies have to be very mobile. You can practice this by defending the reactor core in Terror Volta respecification trials 🙂

[Entape]

3 hours ago, Psylenz0511 said:

 

My opinion differs a bit from sir Uun in that I DO like both gale and O2. I do agree with Uun that six slotting O2 is overkill.

 

 

I also noticed that if I only want one of the first two secondary powerset attacks, it's either Snow Storm or O2 (assuming I take Gale) for level 2. Snow Storm just doesn't seem necessary with everything else I'm firing off, so O2 might work better. Now I'm just in a position where I need to play it for a while with what I settled on and fine-tune it based on the mission experience. I'll try your advice on getting more Force Feedback in there with Tornado and Lightning Storm. Thanks for the reply!

[Uun]

Snow Storm can be useful at low levels, but it quickly becomes overshadowed as you gain more powers. I keep it primarily to ground fliers, but it's 1-slotted. O2 Boost has its uses (as described above), but it doesn't need more 2-3 slots. I usually 1-slot it with the Preventive Medicine %absorb proc.