energy blast Making Energy Blast in-line with Energy Melee + Energy Assault

[LightMaster]

I hear at least more than a few people saying about Energy Blast being a weak power set, as well as annoying for teammates if used recklessly. While I have met a player whose NRG/NRG Blaster outshining their own Fire/Fire Blaster, the general concensus that I can gather doesn’t change. Knockback means you have to be strategic with using your powers, and not spam them liberally. For Nova, slap a KB > KD and you’re good to go.

 

A Homecoming Issue (update) grants the Dominator’s Energy Assault that uses the Energy Storing / Energy Focus gimmick akin to Energy Melee, but with different powers having different benefits unlike the latter. Both sets’ Energy Focus is never granted through Build Up powers, so it’ll be kept in mind for Energy Blast.

 

Energy Melee’s Energy Focus

• Only granted through Total Focus.
• Barrage: Weaken the foe’s regeneration and secondary effects, and 100% stun rate.
• Power Crash: Hit five additional foes (six for Tankers, thanks Uun) in a cone.
• Energy Transfer: Executes extremely quickly.

 

Energy Assault’s Energy Focus

• In addition of Total Focus always granting Energy Focus, the four powers have a chance of granting it if used against a Disoriented target.
• Bone Crusher: Reduces the foe’s secondary effects.
• Whirling Hands: Recharges instantly.
• Power Burst: Increase base damage from 2.6 Energy/Smashing to 4.29 Energy/Smashing, higher than all other damaging Powers of Energy Assault except a Snipe cast Sniper Blast.

 

Example of Energy Blast’s Energy Focus

• The first four powers have a small chance of granting Energy Focus if used against a foe that resists Knockback (or the replacing status). Explosive Blast always grant Energy Focus.
  • Alternatively, Power Push always activate Energy Focus and Explosive Blast has a chance of per target. (Suggested by Uun)
• Power Bolt (or Power Blast depending on which if the two is far less picked): Reduce the foe’s secondary effects and regeneration.
• Power Push: Damage increased at 3.75 Energy/Smashing (or 4.15 Energy/Smashing if used by Sentinel, given the latter’s Power Push already deals pretty good damage)
• Nova: Greatly reduces the foes’ Resist(All) and Defense(All) for ten seconds. The resist and defense reducement depends on the Archetype:
  • Defender: Highest reducement on foes.
  • Corruptor: Second highest.
  • Sentinel: Slightly below Corruptor’s; can stack with Vulnerability.
  • Blaster: Lowest, but still noticable.
• Suggested by Steampunkette:

  • Energy Torrent increases to 16 targets. (Mirroring Power Crash's target count increase)

  • Sniper Blast becomes a massive KB power. (Mirroring Barrage's high Stun) [This one I don’t agree much but might see potential to push away a knockback-resistant foe off you.]

  • Power Blast becomes the "Deals double damage" power. [Might overlap with my idea for Power Push unless thiat power becomes the “always activate Energy Focus” one.]

These three / four powers can benefit a temporary but powerful buff that can help turn the tide while being distinguished from both Energy Melee and Energy Assault.
 

Do you have other ideas how to improve the power set other than resolving the excessive knockback?

Edited August 2 by LightMaster
Uun pointed out my error regarding Power Crash; also putting suggestions by others in this OP

[Steampunkette]

Keep the KB. In fact, make it more common throughout the set, rather than low to middling chances of KB. Better odds make it a better set.

 

Outside of that, I'd suggest making Power Push guarantee a hit of Energy Focus, and Explosive Blast have a chance per target.

 

Which ones spend it?

 

Energy Torrent increases to 16 targets. (Mirroring Power Crash's target count increase)

 

Sniper Blast becomes a massive KB power. (Mirroring Barrage's high Stun)

 

Then Power Blast becomes the "Deals double damage" power.

[LightMaster]

9 hours ago, Steampunkette said:

Keep the KB. In fact, make it more common throughout the set, rather than low to middling chances of KB. Better odds make it a better set.

 

Outside of that, I'd suggest making Power Push guarantee a hit of Energy Focus, and Explosive Blast have a chance per target.

 

Which ones spend it?

 

Energy Torrent increases to 16 targets. (Mirroring Power Crash's target count increase)

 

Sniper Blast becomes a massive KB power. (Mirroring Barrage's high Stun)

 

Then Power Blast becomes the "Deals double damage" power.

Other than Sniper Blast having massive KB being overkill and grief-inviting given it’s main purposes are snipe and rotation Extreme Energy/Smashing damage, the rest sounds good to me. Power Push in particular may invite players that aren’t Sentinel to try it beyond just pushing an overly aggressive foe away.

[Uun]

I like the idea of adding Energy Focus to Energy Blast. Increasing the target cap of Energy Torrent would be an appropriate bonus, perhaps also converting its kb to kd. Energy Torrent is probably the most hated power in the set for mob scatter (note that the Energy Mastery versions of Energy Torrent do kd). Buffing the damage of Power Push is also an appropriate bonus (similar to Stalagmite w/ Seismic Shockwaves) and would give people a reason to take the power, which is now typically skipped.

 

18 hours ago, LightMaster said:

Power Crash: Hit six additional foes in a cone.

Tanks only. All other ATs add 5.

[LightMaster]

33 minutes ago, Uun said:

I like the idea of adding Energy Focus to Energy Blast. Increasing the target cap of Energy Torrent would be an appropriate bonus, perhaps also converting its kb to kd. Energy Torrent is probably the most hated power in the set for mob scatter (note that the Energy Mastery versions of Energy Torrent do kd). Buffing the damage of Power Push is also an appropriate bonus (similar to Stalagmite w/ Seismic Shockwaves) and would give people a reason to take the power, which is now typically skipped.

The Energy Focus for Energy Torrent to hit more targets, I can get behind! This makes Energy Torrent more inticing to use and puts it more in-line with the Energy Mastery versions, too, since those usually do not scatter mobs thanks to already having Knockdown instead of Knockback.

 

Also thanks for pointing out abotu Power Crash’s increased target cap in Energy Focus.