Feedback on Pyro/Cold Build

[Renatos1023]

So, I've never IO'd out a controller and would like to with this one. This is only my second Lv.50 controller on Homecoming (used to main them on live) because I've always felt that Controllers sadly lacked in high-level and 50+ content. However, Pyro is a very solid set, and it's been a fun ride to 50. So, I want to now try and fully IO and Incarnate (at least to Tier 3) to see what a top-level troller can do.

 

I put a build together with the following goals:

1. Hover controller, out of melee range

2. Soft-capped Sm/Le defense, high ranged/AoE defense

3. Good global recharge

4. No purples (I rarely use them in builds due to cost)

 

Looking for feedback, especially with:

1. How/where I slotted the Controller ATOs (I want them both 6-slotted but wasn't sure which were the best powers to put them in).

2. Incarnates: I went with Agility Alpha and the Control Hybrid (first time using this one), but if there are other better options, please let me know.

3. Best way to slot Glittering Column (I went with a Damage set).

 

I play this as a support controller on teams (no soloing), so I know this definitely is not a very damaging build.

 

Thanks for any help!

Arctic Light - Controller (Pyrotechnic Control - Cold Domination).mbd

Edited September 27 by Renatos1023

[Uun]

I haven't played Pyro yet, but here are a few thoughts on /Cold and other things:

• Drop the def/rech in Maneuvers and move the slot to Tactics.
• In Arctic Fog, drop the LOTG def/end/rech and slot Gladiator's Armor res.
• In Sleet, you can get similar values and pick up some set bonuses if you slot Undermined Defenses.
• In Heat Loss, you can get similar values and pick up some set bonuses if you slot Preemptive Optimization.
• Take Infrigidate earlier? Consider adding more slots/%dmg procs.

[Renatos1023]

Thanks @Uun! I always have struggled with my Colds and slotting both Sleet and Heat Loss, I always err in favor of just using basic IOs. But your IO set options make sense, and I think I will try them out. And the +Res from Gladiator's Armor is a DUH that I definitely should have done. Thanks for catching that!

 

Edit: New build. I think I took all your suggestions Uun. And the build looks really good. I added a proc to Infrigidate but kept it at 49, couldn't figure out what to take later if I bumped it up.

 

Thanks!

Arctic Light - Controller (Pyrotechnic Control - Cold Domination).mbd

Edited September 28 by Renatos1023

[tidge]

I was going to post this in another thread, but I'll toss the advice here: I don't think Glittering Column is useful. For grabbing aggro, Catherine Wheel is more than enough.

 

On 9/27/2025 at 10:40 PM, Renatos1023 said:

I put a build together with the following goals:

1. Hover controller, out of melee range

2. Soft-capped Sm/Le defense, high ranged/AoE defense

3. Good global recharge

4. No purples (I rarely use them in builds due to cost)

 

A couple of comments on the 'goals'

 

It is hard to get both 'good global recharge' without purples. There is Hasten of course, but I find relying on Hasten to be too restrictive. Pyro doesn't really need that much in terms of Purple: 5x Explosive Bouquet, 5x in Brilliant Barrage is all I did.  Sparkling Chain has 6x of WotC.

 

I'm not a fan of Overpowering Presence. The 2-piece superior bonus can be nice, but generally that is where I'll stop with it. I'm using 2 pieces in Hypnotizing Lights to support the %damage.

 

I took:

Dazzle (3xGladiator's and lots of %damage)

Sparkling Chain (see above)

Hypnotizing Lights (see above)

Brilliant Barrage (stun)

Explosive Bouquet (hold)

Catherine Wheel (6xCupid's Crush)

Incendiary Aura (HO Enzyme)

 

Hover-blasting isn't my thing... Incendiary Aura isn't a power you'd necessarily need, I delayed it until level 30. If you intended to always Hover, I suggest slotting the Kismet +ToHit piece in Hover. I have it in Combat Jumping.  Set bonuses and inherent slotting might make this unnecessary (for me), but I don't really have a better place for more QoL to use that slot... and I hate the ToHit debuffs.

[Renatos1023]

On 9/29/2025 at 8:31 AM, tidge said:

I don't think Glittering Column is useful. For grabbing aggro, Catherine Wheel is more than enough.

 

I respect your opinion, but I wholeheartedly disagree. I think Catherine sucks at grabbing aggro for a 2 reasons:

1. I didn't take TP Other, and she loves getting stuck everywhere. On a corner, (where she apparently belongs), stuck; at an elevator, stuck. Down a straight ass hallway with nothing to get stuck on...you guessed it, she found a spot to get stuck. The pet AI is terrible if you can't TP it everywhere.

2. Not everyone wants to use advanced pet controls to throw their pet (who may actually be stuck 3 floors below) into a mob. 

 

I have to say that IMO Glittering Column is the set defining power. It not only snags aggro and does decent damage...but it also has a lovely 30% -to hit debuff. IMO it really is what I built my set around. As a /Cold I provide ~25% defense to my team (probs more, but not looking at Mids right not). That huge -to hit debuff just adds to mine and my team's overall defense. With my recharge I can use GC to open every mob, sometimes running +4, I use it multiple times per mob to keep the -to hit up. I've actually run 3 successful TFs with NO melee ATs, and with my GC as the opener. IMO GC is probs overpowered as an aggro-breaker, but I'm not complaining. 

 

Having hated Controllers since I came back to HC (like I said, I mained trollers live), Pyro brings tools that make Control not useless at high levels. IMO Glittering Column is to Pyro what Phantom Army is to Illusion. Except with my recharge, I can toss GC out every ~13-15 seconds. 

 

 

Edited October 3 by Renatos1023

[tidge]

I don't have to Teleport the Catherine Wheel at all... and I don't have the Teleport pool on any Controllers AFAIK.  Yes, I see it has to move through elevators... but it is extremely rare that there are enemy mobiles right at an elevator. The most 'extra' effort I put into CW is to occasionally set it on 'aggressive'... after I've started AoE controlling it always seems like the Wheel is picking up whatever aggro is leftover. Best of all (from my POV) is that I'm not worried about casting a power to taunt/debuff...  I can focus on the control (and doing damage).  I'm glad somebody likes it. I'm happy that for me it is a skippable power early in the power set that allows me to pick up pool (or secondary) powers.

[dukedukes]

10 hours ago, Renatos1023 said:

I have to say that IMO Glittering Column is the set defining power. It not only snags aggro and does decent damage...but it also has a lovely 30% -to hit debuff. IMO it really is what I built my set around. As a /Cold I provide ~25% defense to my team (probs more, but not looking at Mids right not). That huge -to hit debuff just adds to mine and my team's overall defense. With my recharge I can use GC to open every mob, sometimes running +4, I use it multiple times per mob to keep the -to hit up. I've actually run 3 successful TFs with NO melee ATs, and with my GC as the opener. IMO GC is probs overpowered as an aggro-breaker, but I'm not complaining. 

 

GC is a great opener to eat an alpha, I've seen it used well. The -tohit is quite nice though it's only a 10ft radius. Personally any troller worth their salt should be able to initiate pulls without tanks on the team and GC helps with that goal explicitly.

 

11 hours ago, Renatos1023 said:

Having hated Controllers since I came back to HC (like I said, I mained trollers live), Pyro brings tools that make Control not useless at high levels.

 

Grav is pretty cool, it's the only troller primary I play consistently. I eat alphas with a sing TP plus some good ranged defense and other things depending on the secondary. It's less mez based but is pretty fun for the mob grouping it can do.

 

2 hours ago, tidge said:

but it is extremely rare that there are enemy mobiles right at an elevator

 

There's a bug that affects troller pets (flying ones at least) where they get stuck trying to enter doors, like elevators. It doesn't happen all the time but it's somewhat frequent. Using TP target seems to be a workaround to bypass the bug, if you TP the pet at the door before entering it seems to get in the door every time.