All Teams Love Awesome Support (A.T.L.A.S.) build

[kamikazees]

Think the world of your Engineer? Then try the ATLAS build! This is an Engineer build meant to get you to lvl 25 (or 26) allowing you to support your teammates along the way. It is a very common build focusing on maxing Empathy, Protection and Transferrence, skills which are almost universal to all Engineers.

This build can be accomplished without respects (but see Note). I'll set forth the build first, then how to level it, how to use it and a suggested skill map. Your comments appreciated:

A. THE BUILD

1 - Wither
2 - Leech
6 - Empathy
1 - Revive
1 - Force Shield
0 - Suppression
6 - Protection
6 - Transferrence
1 - Pain
0 - Sonic Boom

Note: Most Engineers are respecing to drop Wither and Leech altogether, putting those 3 points elsewhere. Choices are Pain (offensive/boss), Force Shield (self-defensive) or Leech (offensive/self-defensive). Some may also choose Sonic Boom (offensive, general). Respecing is not necessary but is more effective.

B. HOW TO LEVEL IT

2. Wither (1) (auto)
3. Leech (1) (auto)
4. Empathy (1) (auto)
5. Empathy (2)
6. Revive (1) (auto)
7. Empathy (3)
8. Force Shield (1)
9. Empathy (4)
10. Empathy (5)
11. Empathy (6)
12. Leech (2)
13. Protection (1)
14. Protection (2)
15. Protection (3)
16. Transferrence (1)
17. Protection (4)
18. Protection (5)
19. Protection (6)
20. Pain (1)
21. Transferrence (2)
22. Transferrence (3)
23. Transferrence (4)
24. Transferrence (5)
25. Transferrence (6)
(26). Pain (2)

C. HOW TO USE IT

This build is simple and very effective. It relies on Empathy to heal, Protection to lessen damage, and Transferrence for damage and healing. All 3 cost 10 energy. Empathy can be active 6 out of 8 seconds. Protection lasts 2 minutes. Transferrence can be used every 10 seconds and heals allies near the target on the second tick. Cheap + Effective + Useful = Win.

Using these skills is easy. Activate Protection before battle. Empathy when the party starts taking damage (or when appropriate). At lower levels, use Wither and Leech to damage. Later, use Transferrence. Use Pain/Leech if the Engineer pulls aggro. Force Shield between encounters (or when the Engie can avoid aggro). Works all the time.

But why no love for Wither, Suppression or Sonic Boom, you ask? Well, I think these skills do not have a good cost/benefit ratio. Wither is a DOT that takes 10 seconds to fully work. It is also reduced by armor. Chances are, if the mob you hit with it lives 10 seconds, it has A LOT of armor and will not take much damage. Suppression is better with the recent change, but is more geared for solo play. Sonic Boom is also ok, but has such a long recharge (30 seconds) it is usually better to invest elsewhere.

D. SUGGESTED SKILL MAP

1. Empathy
2. Transferrence
3. Leech
4. Pain

5. Empathy
6. Protection
7. Force Shield
8. Revive

1, then 2, 3 and/or 4 are the main attacks (depending on what you need). 5 makes sure you always have Empathy ready (you can put Wither in slot 5 if you want to use it. I don't). 6, 7 and 8 are your buffs.

So what do you think?