When to replace IO enhancements with purple sets or Hamidon enhancements... NEED YOUR THOUGHTS :)

[Xalon]

Hey all! I hope everyone is having a great day!

 

We start with the training, SO and Dual-Origin enhancements, until we start slotting IO enhancements and sets. At level 50, I see players doing a few things that I would like to know about more:  (and what you all think)

 

Making all IOs slotted +5

Attuning all IOs slotted

Adding Hamidon enhancements

Adding all purple enhancements

 

Which of these gives you the best performance (or possibly mix of a few of these).

 

I'm not sure if you can +5 a purple set. Any thoughts? I would like to know what to make my ultimate goal to make my character as powerful as they can possibly be. 

 

All thoughts and opinions are welcome. Maybe together we can agree on what is the best end goal for ehancements to be at their strongest. Thanks!

 

[Psyonico]

As long as you use level 50 purples (as opposed to attuned) you can +5 them.

 

As for the best strategy,  since you can only slot 1 of each purple IO per build, you can't use all purples.

 

So basically it comes down to should you attune, or should you +5, and that answer... depends.

 

If you are going for set bonuses and plan on exemplaring, then you should attuned so that you get set bonuses at levels below 47.  If you are frankenslotting then you're probably better off +5ing to maximize enhancement percentages.   Note: procs should always be either the minimum level for the set or attuned, since they provide the same benefit regardless of enhancement level.

 

I personally attuned anything that has a max level > 30 and isn't a purple/pvp.  For any set that has a max level of 30 (I'm looking at you,  Siphon Insight) I usually will slot level 30s and +5 to max out enhancement values. 

 

Purple and PvP IO set bonuses remain regardless of the level difference,  so it can be worth +5ing some of them (for example, most purple sets only have end redux in 1 piece on a dual aspect, making +5ing that one useful)

[Doc Spectre]

I tend to get purple sets if I’m trying to make a power permanent like Peacebringer Light form or Domination or a Dom.
I guess the exotic damage resistance set bonuses are also somewhat useful.

 

I find it’s best to know what set bonuses you want to focus on before splurging a bunch of Inf on sets you may not even need. If you are not aware you may want to research the ‘rule of five’ regarding Set IO bonuses also.

[Psyonico]

3 hours ago, Doc Spectre said:

I find it’s best to know what set bonuses you want to focus on before splurging a bunch of Inf on sets you may not even need

I want to second this.   It's extremely important to know what you're looking for before you spend 16-20 million inf per IO on purples.

[Uun]

Boosting to 50+5 has more value if you're slotting 1 or 2 enhancements (i.e., Hasten). If you're 6-slotting a power, boosting the entire set to +5 gains you very little due to ED. Hamidon  (HO) and DSync enhancements are similar - they allow you to get higher values from fewer slots. 

 

Very Rare (purple) sets have higher enhancement values and provide a lot of bang for the buck. That said, they mostly have the same set bonuses (recovery, F/C resist, acc, recharge, P/T resist). There are a few outliers, but if you're looking for defense bonuses, you probably want to look to Winter sets.

 

Global IOs (i.e., LOTG +7.5% rech) should always be attuned. If slotted as lvl 50 IOs, they will stop working if you exemp below lvl 47.

[Intermipants]

I always buy attuned IOs up to level 50.

 

At 50 I catalyze ATOs to get the superior version, swap non-attuned purples in for the IO sets I’d been using up to 50, boost purples and any regular IOs (e.g. recharge in hasten) to +5.

[Snarky]

Buy everything attuned except Purples.  Purples are automatically attuned (although only slottable at 50). If you attuned a Purples the only harm is you cannot +5 it, arguably lowering its usefulness.  Also, you lose the cool shape!  +5ing the Purps is expensive, and unless pursuing a “frankenslotting” strategy it is of limited value.  But chasing these things is what we do…

[tidge]

16 hours ago, Xalon said:

Making all IOs slotted +5

Attuning all IOs slotted

Adding Hamidon enhancements

Adding all purple enhancements

 

Which of these gives you the best performance (or possibly mix of a few of these).

 

Attuning was explained by @Psyonico. I'll just repeat: non-attuned pieces can be boosted

 

Because of Enhancement Diversification , boosting provides the most value when one or more is true:

• The enhancements slotted in a power aren't being crushed by ED [e.g. ---/Endurance Reduction pieces in most Purple Sets)
• The enhancements slotted in a power don't need to be catalyzed to work "all the way down" in level [e.g. Purples, PVP, IOs]
• The enhancements slotted in a power aren't contributing set bonuses (or the player doesn't care about them below whatever level) [often with Frankenslotting]

Hami-Os are like pre-boosted pieces, the base enhancement values of a level 50 are roughly equivalent to a 50+5 piece. Superior pieces (ATO, Winter) are equivalent to boosting a non-Superior to +5.

 

Franken-slotting is mixing and matching sets/pieces. It could be using  just one of something like Accuracy/Endurance, or multiple Heal/Recharge from different sources.

 

[Ukase]

A lot of people do things differently. There's no real right or wrong - except attuning purples is a bit silly, because you can't boost them. And, they're already attuned. And if you try to attune a boosted purple, you lose the boosts. 

I have a few sg bins that hold a few sets of what I call "temporary" IOs. Right now, I'm on a fire/dark controller. 

At level 50, it's going to have a very rare/purple set of unbreakable constraint in it. But until I get 50 and can slot them, I'll use the winter set of entomb. 

I never use TOs or DOs when I start. I'd rather go naked then spend inf on enhancements that do next to nothing. So, at level 2, I use the START vendor 5 free enhancements that are all dam/rech/chance of XYZ, and accuracy SOs. I'll fill in end reducers and recharges as necessary. 

And I'll upgrade every level. 

I tend to use purple sets for characters that will rely on a certain power as their "bread and butter". For this controller, Fade is a nifty power. And Coupling it with power boost might also be part of it's future, but power boost might make it clickier than I want. Either way, it'll require a fair amount of recharge. I slot them at 50 and boost them. (unless it's a damage proc) 

Hamidon/D-Syncs, Titan-Os, Hydra-Os, those are a different kind of thing. The acc/dam usually goes in one power that's got damage procs, so no set bonuses to sweat over. I might use a Cyto or two in Tactics. I might use a membrane in fade (Defense/Recharge). Not sure yet. But they are generally in a power that might take one or two slots. 

[Xalon]

This is all such great information. I appreciate all of you for taking the time to add your thoughts. 

 

So for purple IOs, do you mean you can only slot on set per type per build? or just one purple io per set, in one build?

 

21 hours ago, Psyonico said:

As long as you use level 50 purples (as opposed to attuned) you can +5 them.

 

As for the best strategy,  since you can only slot 1 of each purple IO per build, you can't use all purples.

 

So basically it comes down to should you attune, or should you +5, and that answer... depends.

 

If you are going for set bonuses and plan on exemplaring, then you should attuned so that you get set bonuses at levels below 47.  If you are frankenslotting then you're probably better off +5ing to maximize enhancement percentages.   Note: procs should always be either the minimum level for the set or attuned, since they provide the same benefit regardless of enhancement level.

 

I personally attuned anything that has a max level > 30 and isn't a purple/pvp.  For any set that has a max level of 30 (I'm looking at you,  Siphon Insight) I usually will slot level 30s and +5 to max out enhancement values. 

 

Purple and PvP IO set bonuses remain regardless of the level difference,  so it can be worth +5ing some of them (for example, most purple sets only have end redux in 1 piece on a dual aspect, making +5ing that one useful)

 

[Yomo Kimyata]

Here's how I roll (specifically at slotting at 50):

 

First of all, attuned is prettier than non-attuned, so if it makes no difference, I roll with attuned.

 

Part of your thought process is whether or not you want to exemp down, i.e., play at content with lower level caps, and WHETHER OR NOT IT MAKES A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE.  When you exemp down, you can lose set bonuses with fixed level IOs.  (Please note you do not lose enhancement levels.  If you exemp down and you have a level 50 damage IO boosted to +5, you are still going to get your damage enhanced.)  You want to go with attuned sets if you want to retain those set bonuses at lower levels, or you want boosted if you want every little bit of enhancement at level 50.  But you want to consider whether or not you want or need all those set bonuses on, say, a synapse TF where they really won't matter since the content is so easy especially on a team, and you want to consider if you really want or need an extra percentage or two of enhancement at level 50.  For non-purple, non-pvp, I will generally go with attuned versions, because they are prettier.

 

Now, purple and pvp IOs are different.  You get to keep set bonuses all the way down whether or not they are attuned.  Purples only exist at 50, so when I buy them I buy them at level 50 and boost them to +5, UNLESS they are procs which I buy attuned because I prefer the looks.

 

PvPs are slottable at level 7, and I'll always buy them and slot them in attuned form.  But when I hit 50, I treat them as purples.  So if I have an attuned glad armor +res, I'll pull in out at end game and replace it with a level 50 +5.

[Uun]

5 hours ago, Ukase said:

For this controller, Fade is a nifty power. And Coupling it with power boost might also be part of it's future, but power boost might make it clickier than I want.

Power Boost doesn't work on Fade.

 

[Ukase]

It did in mids. But I decided to not go that route. I don't want to click the same thing every 30 seconds. 

[Psyonico]

19 hours ago, Xalon said:

 

So for purple IOs, do you mean you can only slot on set per type per build? or just one purple io per set, in one build?

Each purple IO is unique.  So you can only slot 1 Armageddon Acc/Dam (for example) in your build.

 

There is only 1 purple set per category, so there's no way to slot more than a total of 6 Ranged ST damage purples in a build (one of each of the 6 unique Armageddons).

[Maelwys]

4 hours ago, Ukase said:

It did in mids. But I decided to not go that route. I don't want to click the same thing every 30 seconds. 

 

Never blindly trust Mids whenever it comes to power boosting effects.

 

It can't tell the difference between Fade and Cold Domination's bubbles (which aren't affected) and Farsight and Force Field's bubbles (which are) let alone pet abilities like Protector Bot Force Shield (which won't inherit power boost effects on the master but is affected by allied power boost effects... and which has also had the wrong base defence value in Mids since forever).

And it's not wonderful when it comes to separating toggles/autos (which get buffed for the duration of Power Boost) from long duration clicks (which get buffed until the effect of the click itself wears off) either.

 

Edited Sunday at 05:20 PM by Maelwys

[Sanguinesun]

On 9/14/2025 at 9:50 PM, Ukase said:

It did in mids. But I decided to not go that route. I don't want to click the same thing every 30 seconds. 

 

Mids has been for years a mess and shouldnt be definitively trusted on its data. Make stuff in it, make notes on what it states but then go test the same on the ptr and invariably numbers will almost always be different(often less).  Mind you ptr obviously is for testing changes the team implements and that can have a bearing but often its just because mids is, as said, a mess and shouldnt be trusted.

 

On 9/13/2025 at 7:59 AM, Xalon said:

Hey all! I hope everyone is having a great day!

 

We start with the training, SO and Dual-Origin enhancements, until we start slotting IO enhancements and sets. At level 50, I see players doing a few things that I would like to know about more:  (and what you all think)

 

Making all IOs slotted +5

Attuning all IOs slotted

Adding Hamidon enhancements

Adding all purple enhancements

 

Which of these gives you the best performance (or possibly mix of a few of these).

 

I'm not sure if you can +5 a purple set. Any thoughts? I would like to know what to make my ultimate goal to make my character as powerful as they can possibly be. 

 

All thoughts and opinions are welcome. Maybe together we can agree on what is the best end goal for ehancements to be at their strongest. Thanks!

 

 

Regarding DO/SO's, there are methods to level to a point to skip any necessities of those(and saves influence) and just using IO's from a certain level range.

 

That said then, something I want to point out in relation to your desires to put top end enhancements in slots that may or may not have relevance:   you play goals.

 

Most of the content here is casual. Most of the play goals of most players here is extremely casual.  Unless you intend to do pretty specific goals requiring variations of min/maxing (and as well custom to those goals mind you) then you'd likely not need to spend the time/effort or influence to get and slot em.   If you're just gen pop playing, joining hami's, lower tfs, MSRs, etc, gen pop IO's will be fine, especially if you get into having lots and lots of archetype builds you just want to level up/try, this will save you alot of influence/time in the long run too(again if that's part of your goals... your goals essentially arrent really specifically mentioned after all).

[Ironblade]

"Making all IOs slotted +5"

I consider that a massive waste.  I already have most of the important effects slotted into diminishing returns territory.  Upgrade to +5 is useful when you one have one or two slots to spare for a power or where three would be wasteful.  A perfect example is Hasten.  You don't need three slots there when you can just have two level 50 IO's upgraded to +5.

 

"Attuning all IOs slotted"

I don't bother.  Too much extra work.

 

"Adding Hamidon enhancements"

Where it makes sense, absolutely.  An HO gives a big improvement over a single IO set piece.  Some powers beg for HO's.  For example, on my invuln tanks, I will put two Cytoskeletons (+def, +to hit, end reduction) in Invincibility along with a couple defense IO's to get to ED level on the defense.  The Cytoskeletons are also a top pick for Fortitude in the Empathy et.  In Parry, I'll put four pcs of Luck of the Gambler, and then two Nucleolus (accuracy, damage) to ensure I hit and do reasonable damage.

 

"Adding all purple enhancements"

Definitely, with the footnote that I don't add them later.  I design a build while the character is low level and decide what purples to use.  In those powers, I just use SO's until I hit 50 and can slot the purples.  A lot of people respec at 50 into their "final build".  I design the final build early on and work toward it.  Respeccing is such a pain.

 

 

[FlammeFatale]

On 9/13/2025 at 4:42 PM, Uun said:

Global IOs (i.e., LOTG +7.5% rech) should always be attuned.

 

"Always" is a good starting rule but there are exceptions. I have a couple characters with a boosted LOTG. It is enough to put them over the defense sofcap and saves a slot.

I guess it depends if you are focusing on end game or on examplaring.

 

[Uun]

28 minutes ago, FlammeFatale said:

"Always" is a good starting rule but there are exceptions. I have a couple characters with a boosted LOTG. It is enough to put them over the defense sofcap and saves a slot.

I guess it depends if you are focusing on end game or on examplaring.

A lvl 50 LOTG/+7.5% enhances defense by 15.906%. Boosting it to 50+5 increases the defense enhancement value to 19.8825%. For that to have a material impact, it would need to be slotted in a power that has a large base defense value. In a power that has a base value of 15.0% defense, boosting the enhancement would increase your defense by an additional 0.6%. In a power that has a base value of 5.0% defense, boosting the enhancement would only increase your defense by 0.2%.

 

On top of this, it would need to be in a situation where ED doesn't enter the picture. Say the 15.0% defense power is 3-slotted with LOTG def, def/end and def/+7.5%. Boosting the first two pieces will increase your defense by 0.45% but boosting the third piece (the 7.5% global) only adds another 0.09%.

 

Even in the "end game", fractions of a percent under/over the defense soft cap aren't going to meaningfully effect your survivability. If you're never going to exemplar go ahead and do it, but I've got to believe there are better ways to get there.

[Clave Dark 5]

As I'm not a min/maxer, I don't mess with either purples or even Hami-Os.  I alt a lot and after leveling a character, I'm often ready to start another by the time I hit 50 (and my last few toons have been stalling out interest-wise in the upper 40s anyway).

[Scarlet Shocker]

A couple of points here:

 

I don't think Training Origins exist any longer. They were removed some while back so you go straight to DOs. 

 

Hami Os are great but I only use them when there's a need for a "filler" enhancement that gives me a dual benefit - for example I need one extra Acc/Dam. Note that I don't believe you can +5 Hamis. You can get them to 53 max I believe.

 

As others have said don't bother slotting purples until you're 50 and make sure you know what your build needs first because they can be expensive.

 

One final thought: Unless you're absolutely going to Min/Max and play the toughest content you can find solo, you run the risk of seriously overthinking things. Decide what you want your build to do, Damage, Support, Control etc and aim along those lines but once you're mostly with a good build those extra few percentage points aren't realistically gonna get noticed in normal gaming. Rather than worry about the perfect build just play the character and enjoy the fun

[Maelwys]

15 hours ago, Uun said:

A lvl 50 LOTG/+7.5% enhances defense by 15.906%. Boosting it to 50+5 increases the defense enhancement value to 19.8825%. For that to have a material impact, it would need to be slotted in a power that has a large base defense value.

FWIW, the vast majority of my builds have attuned "+7.5% Rech" LoTGs and +5'ed "+3% Def" Steadfasts (I've many powers with Res+Res/EndRed IOs + a Lv30+5 Steadfast).

But there are some toons where I've intentionally +5'ed one or more of my LoTGs to poke something over the Softcap. In those cases I typically try to leave the lower-level powers with attuned versions and +5 the versions in the powers that I've taken closer to level 50; so that the effect on exemplaring is minimized.

And in a few cases I've opted to +5 a LotG in order to improve the return of a slot-starved +Def-Granting attack power (Defensive Sweep, Divine Avalanche, etc)
Example: 

Build has 45.07% with one stack of Defensive Sweep as-is.
With an attuned LotG; that'd drop to 44.62%. Barely perceptible in practice? Sure. But I likes my round numbers.
 

Edited 1 hour ago by Maelwys

[Uun]

6 hours ago, Scarlet Shocker said:

As others have said don't bother slotting purples until you're 50

It's not possible to slot purples until you're lvl 50.