Frontline Mod Discussion, Part 1 (Asana, Brynn, Garrison, Isadora, Magnus, Phaedra)

Asana

Asana

1. Swordmaster (2) – Vault (3) – Atomic (2) – Nothing (0) – Archangel (3)
2. Leech Blade (3) – Vault (3) – Shining (1) – Watchful (1) – Savior (2)

Build #1 is my default on Asana.  I like Archangel — just position for your ultimate so you’re in range.  Vault is basically mandatory to give you flexibility about how to position your dash.  (You don’t take it so that you hit a second enemy — though you certainly can and that’s nice too.  You take it so you can bounce off the target and not be predictable about your positioning.)  Build #2 shows some decent alternatives that you can mix and match as you see fit.  Leech Blade, since the August 2017 changes, is a pretty decent alternative mod on primary and I think you can make a reasonable build with that.  Savior is good if you are on a big map or need on-demand ult.  Watchful Defense is very good vs. stuff like Zuki.  Shining Blade is a solid 1-point mod on your Stand and Fight.

Brynn

Brynn

1.  Hold the Line (2) — Shieldbearer (3) — Kinetic Buildup (1) — Battle Hardened (1) — Sunder (3)

I’m only giving 1 build.  Since the nerfs to Radamantium Reinforced, it’s not mandatory, but you could still take that on primary if you want.  Shieldbearer is really, really good.  Kinetic Buildup is nice to have increased knockback distance, really good if your team has stuff you can combo with.  Press the Advantage is also nice if you can spare the points.  Battle Hardened is cheap at 1 point and 10 shields is awesome; I value it more highly than Nimble Warrior (though haste is good too).  For Brynn’s ultimate, I like Shattered Will to apply weaken, but Sunder is very good situationally (59 damage mighted ultimate helloooooo).

Garrison

Garrison

1.  One on One (2) — Big Shot (3) — Locked (2) — In Pursuit (1) — Juiced Up (2)
2.  One on One (2) — Big Shot (3) — Double Trouble (3) — Nothing (0) — Juiced Up (2)
3.  One on One (2) — Tracker (1) — Locked (2) — Quake Slam (3) — Juiced Up (2)
4.  Power Glove (1) — Concussion (2) — Focus Fire (3) — Frontline (2) — Juiced Up (2)

My builds for Garrison often depend on the map.  On a small map like Cloudspire, I favor Build #2, where Double Trouble is likely to gain value, and Locked and Loaded is too costly.  On larger maps, you can afford Locked and Loaded because there’s more room to have a sprint turn where you aren’t taking any other action.

One on One is almost a must for me — 32 damage is significantly better than 29.  Juiced Up is also really good — the +25 on yourself or an ally is a real difference-maker.

I like Big Shot personally.  You can also take Concussion, Tracker Rounds, Single Out, or even no mod is fine.  Tracker Rounds is especially good against invisible enemies like Kaigin or Nix; otherwise the reveal doesn’t last long enough to really do much.  Build #4 displays a few alternative mods that are pretty good.  Power Glove is a popular choice but I do prefer One on One.  Even Haymaker isn’t terrible now, honestly!  Focus Fire is also quite good.

Build #3 is the Quake Slam build.  In general I find you don’t really need the root on dash, and 3 points and longer cooldown is a steep price, but there are two situations where you might want it.  One is if you have positioning-sensitive allies (Zuki Big One, Aurora Ion Cloud, etc.) and want to make sure enemies are stuck in it.  And situation two is for hunting invisible enemies, particularly Nix.  Root him.  Reveal him.  Kill him.

Isadora

Isadora

1.  Focal Point (3) — Cannon Ball (3) — Nothing (0) — Over-overcharge (3) — Killinator, Assemble! (1)
2.  Focal Point (3) — Pellet Hunter (1) — Zippy Line (2) — Static Cling (2) — Pile o’ Pellets (2)

Build #1 is just a solid high-damage build.  Focal Point is very good for consistent damage on a pretty good primary ability!  Build #2 focuses on energy with Pellet Hunter + Pile o’ Pellets + Energized buff from somewhere to quickly recharge your shields.  Zippy Line is reasonable vs. heavy-dash teams, and Static Cling is always good because of the root, but since the changes I might have Build #2 go with Yank the Chain and Over-overcharge.  Killinator, Assemble! is added since the increase in Suit Up cooldown, to help mitigate that.

There are also some decent builds that run energy on primary, but I haven’t tested them out much yet.

Magnus

Magnus

1.  Shatter (3) — Single Out (2) — Trample (3) — Nothing (0) — Lower Morale (2)

I’m only including 1 build, because that’s really all I run.  However, there are definitely some options.  On your primary, you could take Bonecrusher or Force Capacitor.  On Extinction Event, Protection Racket is pretty good, especially in Solo Queue where enemies bunch.  Trample is a must-take in my opinion — adds a ton of versatility to your dash targeting.  I don’t take anything on Deal Breaker, but good options are Haymaker and Suction Punch.  You want value even if the enemy unstops.  Pinball is really fun but not practical usually.  Finally, all of the ult mods are decent — you could take any or none, as you see fit.

Phaedra

Phaedra

1.  Tremors (1) — Lighting Bugs (1) — Chitinous (2) — Battering (3) — Broodmother (3)
2.  Tremors (1) — Big Bugs (2) — Chitinous (2) — Battering (3) — Earthen Barrier (2)
3.  Stagger (3) — Lighting Bugs (1) — Chitinous (2) — Battering (3) — Ensnare (1)

The only mod I think is certain is Chitinous — 10 shields is very good, and you’re generally popping Mending Swarm on a turn you expect to take damage.  Plus it might help you stay alive that turn, so you can heal back up next turn.  You could consider the unstoppable mod in rare cases.  I also take Battering Ram on dash if I have the points, because it’s really fun bursting through walls and part of why Phaedra is good.

Apart from that, I think the builds speak for themselves.  I think Tremors is quite strong for one point, as it takes advantage of Phaedra’s natural strength, hitting targets through walls.  I have also seen Stagger in action and it’s quite good.

Lighting Bugs is surprisingly useful for 1 point.  Obviously you’re supposed to pop the bugs, but on the off chance you don’t, it’s probably because the target put some distance between them and you, and having a random reveal on them a turn later is quite nice.  If you can spare the extra point, of course, Big Bugs is good because more damage is always good, right?

Ultimate — depends how many points you have.  I’m fond of Broodmother but I think Ensnare and Earthen Barrier are quite good as well.