Sonic Melee - First impressions

[BasiliskXVIII]

Just to set expectations: I didn’t want to “race” this character to 50. I’m deliberately taking it slowly, mostly soloing through story arcs, and I didn’t touch Sonic Melee on Beta at all. The concept didn’t initially grab me, but then the name Treblemaker came to mind and that was that. This isn’t a full guide, just first impressions of the set so far. I’ll update as I level if people are interested.

 

I’m level 21 at the moment, so we’re not talking 4 Star ITFs yet. I only a handful of low-level IOs that have dropped or which I had in storage, I'm mostly running SOs. This is my experience as a Sonic/Dark stalker.

 

Attune

This is clearly the most contentious power in the set, and I understand why. It doesn’t completely ruin the experience for me, but it has both real strengths and real friction, so YMMV. Attune is a single-target toggle that does a slow but significant DoT and amplifies your other Sonic attacks against that target. It suppresses while you’re hidden, so you can put it on an unaware enemy without breaking stealth; the damage only starts once you’re revealed.

 

What’s good about it?
It’s surprisingly effective at disrupting enemies who have interruptible abilities. Sky Raider Engineers are the easiest example: you can drop Attune on one, AS the boss, and the Engineer won’t get their FFG up because the trickle damage keeps interrupting them. It feels very proactive in a way that the game doesn't often encourage, so this stands out.

 

What’s less good?
It’s still a toggle. You want it up constantly, which means dragging it from target to target as things die or scatter. Without Attune running, your ST damage feels slightly below average; with it, slightly above average. I don’t know the exact numbers, but the lack of it is noticeable. I don't usually enhance until level 12, because it normally goes so fast, but because I held off on grabbing Attune immediately, my damage felt lackluster in a way that was unpleasant.  So you’re encouraged, pressured even, to get it early and keep it rolling nonstop.

 

The sound effect is also loud. Very loud. If anyone knows the internal name so I can silence it, you’ll have my eternal gratitude.

 

There’s also a build-pressure angle. Stalkers already want early AS, Placate, Build Up, status protection, and their main defensive tools. Needing to wedge Attune in early too makes the low-level power curve feel even more crowded. Playing without it feels anemic; playing with it feels like one more spinning plate.

 

There’s another issue with Attune that becomes obvious once you play around with it for a bit: it demands animation time without paying that time back in immediate impact. In most melee sets, your T3 power is either a heavy single-target attack or a cone; something that justifies a bit of animation with a meaningful chunk of damage delivered as ST or AoE. Attune does neither. It’s a setup move, and setup moves only feel good when the set rewards you for using them. The damage it offers accumulates to be significant. But that's very much outside of the Stalker philosophy.

 

The rest of the set

The yellow “-res(debuff)” visuals still look strange to me, but the mechanic is interesting. Stalkers get a baked-in -ToHit in Assassin’s Strike, so technically you’re getting at least one boosted effect, but at only 5–6% extra effect per stack, the benefit isn’t huge, to say nothing of the unlikeliness of performing a slow AS after having hit them with other attacks. Generally, this will be more of an incidental team play bonus than something you'll benefit from solo, except with a few specific armour sets, and even then the debuff is small enough to make it mostly irrelevant. It feels like it's mostly just there because Sonic's thing is -res(damage), and the devs didn't want lots of that in a melee set, you do still get to apply that with your AS, though. 

 

What’s more notable is the status effects sprinkled through the set.
• T1 has a chance for knockdown.
• T2 has a chance for hold.
• Assassin’s Whisper is a Mag 5 sleep, so anything you AS and don’t kill will most likely be asleep unless it has purple triangles.

 

Unfortunately, Assassin’s Whisper does not allow sleep sets, so you can’t slot Fortunata’s Hypnosis: Chance for Placate, which would have been probably the best possible use for it. The proc chances for the status effectsare low, so you’re not turning into a miniature Stalktroller (Stalminator?), but slotting a Lockdown +2 Mag proc in one of the early attacks might be an interesting experiment later.

 

In closing

That’s where things stand at level 21. The rest of the set has charm, but Attune is the piece that isn’t landing. It’s an “attention tax,” it doesn’t move with your target, and it eats animation time without giving you the kind of immediate impact every other melee T3 offers. The delayed payoff is real, but it doesn’t feel good in the rhythm of a Stalker’s chain, and the damage bump doesn’t quite justify the micromanagement. If it behaved more like a PBAoE buff, or simply auto-shifted to your current target, the whole set would breathe better.

 

Even so, the kit has enough texture (status effects, utility moments, and a distinct identity) that I’m curious to see how it develops with a full chain and proper slotting. I’ll keep levelling Treblemaker and update once I can see how the set performs in the 30–40 range, where melee sets usually reveal their real shape.

 

Edit: I decided to test the volume of attune with a dB meter on my phone at about 1' from the speaker. Not the most accurate thing, but good enough for my needs. I was getting a baseline of 53-55dB when just getting ambient noises. Most of the other powers - Sonic Thrust, Strident Echo, and Assassin's Whisper took me to between 60-63db. Attune? Maxed out at 72dB. So, from your ear's perspective that's about twice as loud. Very disruptive when you are expected to reapply it 2-3 times per fight.

Edited Saturday at 06:00 AM by BasiliskXVIII
Added some info.

[Hjarki]

Purple triangles doesn't cover Sleep effects. I haven't tested it, but a Sonic Stalker should theoretically be able to keep an AV asleep permanently as long as the only attack hitting it is Assassin's Whisper.

[Captain Fabulous]

The thing about Attune that you'll learn as you continue to level up is that as you gain more attacks you'll use it less and less. You rely on it heavily at lower levels simply because you have to. But at higher levels you will find yourself only using it on bosses+ because it's simply not worth the effort on minions and LTs. You will also see this on large teams even at lower levels. Things die so quickly you simply don't need to use Attune on anything lower than a boss. Or for special use cases you outlined like the Sky Raiders. Or Embalmed Vahziloks to prevent them from going boom. Also nice to put on destructible objects and let it tick away the last bit of health while you're safely out of range of the explosion. 

[Groovy_Ghoul]

@BasiliskXVIII I really appreciate your initial impressions. Thanks!

 

@Captain Fabulous Given that you use Attune less and less as you level, is it worth adding more slots to Attune or keep it at one with an endurance reducer, or something similar, and toggle on for those longer fights? What is your recommendation? 

[Warshades]

On 11/29/2025 at 12:45 AM, BasiliskXVIII said:

Attune is the piece that isn’t landing. It’s an “attention tax,” it doesn’t move with your target, and it eats animation time without giving you the kind of immediate impact every other melee T3 offers.

 

There was really no need to re-invent the wheel with this power which is what it feels like was done. Make it a PBAoE toggle that does trickle damage similar to what Radiation and Spines have. It can still have the effect of "attuning" with enemies, perhaps limit it so that it only buffs single target attacks in the set so that the AoE isn't over powered as a result (not sure if this was ever changed from beta, but I think it only buffed the T1/T2 powers on beta when I first tested it?). Then you can just keep it running, get it's benefits on any nearby targets in the PBAoE aura, and not have to worry about moving it from target to target and recasting it. 

[BasiliskXVIII]

2 hours ago, Warshades said:

 

There was really no need to re-invent the wheel with this power which is what it feels like was done. Make it a PBAoE toggle that does trickle damage similar to what Radiation and Spines have. It can still have the effect of "attuning" with enemies, perhaps limit it so that it only buffs single target attacks in the set so that the AoE isn't over powered as a result (not sure if this was ever changed from beta, but I think it only buffed the T1/T2 powers on beta when I first tested it?). Then you can just keep it running, get it's benefits on any nearby targets in the PBAoE aura, and not have to worry about moving it from target to target and recasting it. 

For stalkers specifically, I think they took the wrong power to swap for AS. Running through the low levels as I am, I find I really miss having another big hitter to fill out an attack chain. I'd much rather have "Assassin's Attunement" or whatever and Sandman's Whisper. Or add it as a secondary effect to the target of placate (you could change the name to dead zone) or something. The damage of Attune isn't bad, but stalkers really want their DPS in terms of DPA, and not getting a decent backup to open fights with that can reliably take out a minion if your AS whiffs is painful.

 

Alternately, make Stalker Attune front-loaded with damage. One big burst up front and then a low damage DoT to follow it. I'd be willing to forego the "does not alert enemies" as well as the almost-immediate recharge part if the power could be used as a Sonic Melee version of Bone Smasher or something.

 

Admittedly, this will get better as the character's recharge improves and after I get the T9 attack, but I still feel that Attune is a bad fit in a stalker set, expecting slow attrition from an at that's all about burst damage. 

[BrandX]

On 11/30/2025 at 7:00 PM, Warshades said:

 

There was really no need to re-invent the wheel with this power which is what it feels like was done. Make it a PBAoE toggle that does trickle damage similar to what Radiation and Spines have. It can still have the effect of "attuning" with enemies, perhaps limit it so that it only buffs single target attacks in the set so that the AoE isn't over powered as a result (not sure if this was ever changed from beta, but I think it only buffed the T1/T2 powers on beta when I first tested it?). Then you can just keep it running, get it's benefits on any nearby targets in the PBAoE aura, and not have to worry about moving it from target to target and recasting it. 

 

I like it in theory.  However, I feel with such a power, it really should put Sonic Melee into the top tier for single target, big bad DPSing.

Place Attune on an AV and the Sonic should be a top tier ST DPS compared to a lot of the other sets imo.   At least in the top 3.  Which I think can be obtained just by giving the attacks more oomph on the attacking of attuned target.

[Warshades]

1 hour ago, BrandX said:

I like it in theory.  However, I feel with such a power, it really should put Sonic Melee into the top tier for single target, big bad DPSing.

Place Attune on an AV and the Sonic should be a top tier ST DPS compared to a lot of the other sets imo.   At least in the top 3.  Which I think can be obtained just by giving the attacks more oomph on the attacking of attuned target.

 

My main point was just about simplifying the process of how attuning is applied so that it's not such a tedious mechanic. It's a bit counter intuitive on how it's designed. You want to hit the target that you use it on to gain additional damage/effects, but that in turn kills the target faster which then requires recasting it and it becoming tedious to continually do so. If the amount it enhances the ST powers needs to be reduced a bit to account for the fact that we no longer need to click, cast, and apply it then that would be fine by me. If it only buffs a few ST powers and not all of them, that's fine also. It's not like Quills on spines is skipped despite not having any damage enhancing effects to the other powers in the sets, it's taken because the PBAoE aura damage is useful and adds up. In the end I know it's just my opinion and devs may have a different vision for the set and Attune power.

 

Going back to your other point, let's say that changing it to an aura toggle does make Sonic a top tier ST melee set, why would that be a problem? Why can't a set that's being released be top tier for something? There are top tiers for whatever category you want to make a list on, like ST or AoE damage, etc. Being a new set shouldn't exclude it from becoming a top tier ST set, it gives the set a specialty much like EM is considered one of the top tier ST damage sets while having poor AoE damage (and EM might still edge out Sonic on top, at least on Stalkers). What right do any of the current sets have at being top tier at anything that others aren't allowed to ever surpass them, like Fire Blast for damage output on blasters? 

 

Attuning an AV is an ideal scenario, they are basically guaranteed to be the last remaining enemy in a fight so recasting Attune isn't an issue. But when you're fighting mob to mob, even if you go by the standard of only placing it on the boss in the group, the power just feels tedious to have to recast on each new group. Again, it's personal opinion in the end and I in no way want to imply that my impression of the Attune power is the only correct one, but I just feel like the set would flow much better by turning Attune into a damage aura toggle that would attune to any enemies nearby that are hit by it. 

[BrandX]

50 minutes ago, Warshades said:

 

My main point was just about simplifying the process of how attuning is applied so that it's not such a tedious mechanic. It's a bit counter intuitive on how it's designed. You want to hit the target that you use it on to gain additional damage/effects, but that in turn kills the target faster which then requires recasting it and it becoming tedious to continually do so. If the amount it enhances the ST powers needs to be reduced a bit to account for the fact that we no longer need to click, cast, and apply it then that would be fine by me. If it only buffs a few ST powers and not all of them, that's fine also. It's not like Quills on spines is skipped despite not having any damage enhancing effects to the other powers in the sets, it's taken because the PBAoE aura damage is useful and adds up. In the end I know it's just my opinion and devs may have a different vision for the set and Attune power.

 

Going back to your other point, let's say that changing it to an aura toggle does make Sonic a top tier ST melee set, why would that be a problem? Why can't a set that's being released be top tier for something? There are top tiers for whatever category you want to make a list on, like ST or AoE damage, etc. Being a new set shouldn't exclude it from becoming a top tier ST set, it gives the set a specialty much like EM is considered one of the top tier ST damage sets while having poor AoE damage (and EM might still edge out Sonic on top, at least on Stalkers). What right do any of the current sets have at being top tier at anything that others aren't allowed to ever surpass them, like Fire Blast for damage output on blasters? 

 

Attuning an AV is an ideal scenario, they are basically guaranteed to be the last remaining enemy in a fight so recasting Attune isn't an issue. But when you're fighting mob to mob, even if you go by the standard of only placing it on the boss in the group, the power just feels tedious to have to recast on each new group. Again, it's personal opinion in the end and I in no way want to imply that my impression of the Attune power is the only correct one, but I just feel like the set would flow much better by turning Attune into a damage aura toggle that would attune to any enemies nearby that are hit by it. 

 

I don't recall saying anything about making it an aura toggle.  And I never said anything wrong with the set being a top tier set in ST DPS.  In fact, I said it should be a top ST DPS set for those hard targets, because of how Attune works.  

 

I don't feel using Attune as a concept is hard.  I do feel it can be tedious if tried to use it on every target.

 

Place it on tough target and smack em around.  If you can take them down quickly enough without it, no need to attune anything.  Basically use it on EBs, AVs, GMs, or high enough +Level Bosses. 

 

I personally have no issue with it, but I don't feel it's as strong as it should be.  Maybe if it was, that would make it to powerful?  I don't think so.  I'd think the way to improve it is just increases in the damage the attacks do to the attuned target.  So, that Deafening Wave, for instance, won't be slamming the non attuned target with some bigger number.  I believe I suggest put the +10% they do now to Attuned targets to 15 or 20% and see how that does.

 

*shrug*  I also know that while I may like the idea of the set, doesn't mean I like the less damage, or that others may not like the mechanic.  I don't care for TW's mechanic myself, but plenty of people love it.

[Warshades]

19 minutes ago, BrandX said:

I don't recall saying anything about making it an aura toggle.

 

When you quoted my section in your response, I thought you referencing my comment about making Attune into a aura toggle and that you "like it in theory", but were then saying it would make it top tier if that was done and that it would be a "bad" thing from the "big bad DPSing" section of the comment. Again, apologies for misinterpreting the comment, I think I just really need to go get some sleep at this point. 

[BrandX]

8 minutes ago, Warshades said:

 

When you quoted my section in your response, I thought you referencing my comment about making Attune into a aura toggle and that you "like it in theory", but were then saying it would make it top tier if that was done and that it would be a "bad" thing from the "big bad DPSing" section of the comment. Again, apologies for misinterpreting the comment, I think I just really need to go get some sleep at this point. 

 

I could've maybe said it wrong.  I did mean I like Attune as is in theory.  I just think it's not doing enough ST DPS to the big targets, where it should really shine.

 

Which now gets me wondering, if maybe it could be set that the attacks give more damage based on level of the enemy.  Oh!  An EB/AV/Monster/hard object?  Well now the attacks do 20% more damage and a strong DoT on the T1/2s!

 

Minions, Lts and Bosses?  Maybe they keep the 10%?

 

I don't know, other than I still think with a Attune being the mechanic, better ST damage 😛