Newbie Question on Positional Defenses

[SmalltalkJava]

I know there are 3 positional Defenses.

 

1. Melee

2. Ranged

3. AOE

 

If you end up capping Melee and Ranged, would it not by default cap AOE?    Are pbaoe attacks tagged as both Melee and AOE?   Are Ranged AOE attacks tagged as both Ranged and AOE?

 

Are there any mob AOE attacks that are just tagged as AOE?  If so how prevalent are they?

 

 

[Without_Pause]

AoE attack is something which is trying to hit more than one target. I'm going to fairly assume single target attacks are the ones which fall into melee and ranged.

[Williwaw]

Attacks are tagged as only one of the three, even if they'd seem to fall into more than one category, and that category isn't always obvious. Even knowing what Enhancement Sets a power takes doesn't help, you have to look at the power directly.  (And even that doesn't help if it's Location-targeted)

 

Foot Stomp is a PBAoE, and it's tagged as AoE and Smashing, despite being used in Melee ranged.  Cross Punch is likewise a PBAoE attack (based on the Enhancement Sets it takes), but it's tagged as Melee and Smashing.  Serpent's Reach takes Ranged Damage sets while Spinning Strike takes Targeted AoE sets, but both are tagged Melee and Smashing.  Fistful of Arrows and Empty Clips are both ranged cone attacks that take Targeted AoE sets, but Fistful of Arrows is tagged Ranged and Lethal, while Empty Clips is AoE and Lethal.

 

Damage auras are usually AoE (Mud Pots is AoE and Fire, Lightning Field is AoE and Energy, Death Shroud is AoE and Negative Energy) except when they're not (Genetic Contamination is tagged only Melee)

 

... basically what I'm saying here is that, yes, you need AoE defense, too.

Edited August 2, 2019 by Williwaw
More commas... MORE COMMAS!

[PaxArcana]

1 hour ago, SmalltalkJava said:

Are there any mob AOE attacks that are just tagged as AOE?  If so how prevalent are they?

Just as an example, from the powers that Players can use: some AoEs are not targeted on any one enemy.  They are targeted at a PLACE.

Caltrops ... Rain of Fire ... Whirlpool ... powers like that.

AoE Positional Defense helps against those.  Ranged and Melee defense do not.

[SmalltalkJava]

ok, thanks.  I'm trying to find a way to get good defenses as a /kin Mastermind.   So far I'm drawing blanks.  

[Call Me Awesome]

If you're starting from scratch it may be better to think about building S/L typed defenses instead of positional.  It's fairly easy to build significant defense from nothing in one type or position but it's far more challenging and can cause a lot of undesirable compromises in the build to get multiple positions or types of defense at an effective level.

 

Last I checked, which admittedly was prior to shutdown, Smash/Lethal defense was the best bang for the buck defense... roughly 70% of enemy attacks had one of those two tags.  Also there's a ton of sets offering S/L defense.  Trying for say 25% or better defense to multiple threats forces you to gather up a lot of set bonuses which may leave you a bit gimped in other areas.

 

My Blasters I tend to build for Ranged defense of around 40% since they don't spend much time in melee.  On the other hand a Kinetic will want to be close to benefit from Transfusion/Transference/Fulcrum Shift so you'll want to evaluate your needs based on that.  S/L defense will protect from more than just Melee but you'll also be getting hit by other damage types on occasion.  I have to confess to a lack of knowledge on MM's, they're the one AT I've never played to any significant level.  If your pets are going to be able to hold aggro then you may want to focus on building them up rather than chasing defenses for yourself.

[PaxArcana]

2 hours ago, SmalltalkJava said:

ok, thanks.  I'm trying to find a way to get good defenses as a /kin Mastermind.   So far I'm drawing blanks.  

... IOW, you're trying to teach a fish to climb trees.

 

First off, as the MM, you don't need much defense at all.  AoE is what you should aim for, if anything, because Bodyguard is better than any amount of Defense, and AoE is Bodyguard's kryptonite.

 

As for your pets, Increase Density gives S/L resistance, which will help against most targets.  The rest of /Kinetics simultaneously debuffs the enemy, and buffs you/your pets/your team.  Lots of -damage and -recharge in there.