Part 14

Dive into Part 14 of our City of Heroes guide! We break down essential powers like Hasten, Provoke, and Super Speed, plus offer crucial tips for new heroes.

Alright, let's talk about some of the powers you'll be looking at in Part 14. This section dives into some really key abilities, especially for movement and keeping enemies focused on you. We'll go through each one, and I'll give you my honest take on whether it's worth your valuable power picks.

First up, let's cover the Presence category. These powers are all about controlling the battlefield and making sure enemies are paying attention to you, not your teammates.

• Taunt: Honestly, this one's a bit of a tough sell. Scrappers and Tankers, who would normally want a Taunt power, already have access to it. So, for most folks, this power is pretty much worthless.
• Challenge: Similar to Taunt, this one doesn't offer much. It's hard to find a real use for it, unless you're really set on chaining Taunt and Challenge together endlessly, which isn't exactly a winning strategy.
• Provoke: Now this is a solid power, especially for defensive Tankers and Burn Tankers. Even after a nerf, it's still super useful for keeping aggro locked onto you. Definitely a basic need for Tankers.
• Intimidate: A fear power! I love these, but this specific one gets a baffling 0.0/10 rating. Seems like a missed opportunity.
• Invoke Panic: This is a PBAoE (Point Blank Area of Effect) Fear power. The idea of chaining this with Cloak of Fear sounds amazing for never getting hit, but the rating here is a staggering -10/10. Use with extreme caution, or maybe just skip it.

Next, we've got the Speed powers. These are all about getting around and how fast you can act.

• Flurry: This is a common trap for new players! Everyone seems to grab it, but it's honestly horrible. It does weak damage and takes way too long to cast. Seriously, skip this and take Hasten instead.
• Hasten: Ah, Hasten! This is arguably the best power in the game. If you can 6-slot it with Recharge Reducer SOs (Superior Origin Enhancements), you can have it on permanently. It's incredibly needed, and almost every character should get it.
• Super Speed: This is the fastest travel power, and it's definitely the most challenging. You get incredible pure speed, but you absolutely need to memorize the routes. It's great for learning the zones well because you're not just blinking around. As long as you've got the routes down, you can beat almost anyone in a race, except maybe in specific zones like Faultline and The Hollows.
• Whirlwind: You'll look pretty silly using this, but it does have some niche use. You can turn it on for a split second during a tough fight for a brief respite. It's not a top-tier power, but it's not completely worthless either.

Finally, let's look at Teleportation powers.

• Recall Friend: This is a decent power. It's helpful if someone's lagging behind or if you need to pull them out of a bad situation. It's not amazing, but it's alright.
• Teleport Foe: This one's pretty bad. It rarely hits, and when it does, it just pulls the whole group of enemies right to you. The only reason it gets a slightly higher rating is that it can sometimes be used to free enemies stuck in geometry, which is a rare but useful trick.
• Teleport: This travel power requires the most customization and is my least favorite. If you 6-slot it, it can compete with Super Speed, but honestly, most travel powers don't need any slots. Get it for the concept or novelty, but I don't really recommend it for pure effectiveness.
• Team Teleport: An AoE version of an already not-great travel power? This one gets a very low rating. Even if you get it at level 20, most players will already have their preferred travel power by then.

After picking your powers, remember to choose your costume and name. Then, you'll hit 'Enter Outbreak' and follow the tutorial. It's pretty straightforward. If you get stuck, don't be afraid to ask for help in the broadcast channel!

Once you're out of the tutorial, you'll need to decide if you want to start in Atlas Park or Galaxy City. I personally prefer Atlas Park because it's a bit easier to learn and navigate. From there, find Ms. Liberty or Back Street Brawler to train up, and then talk to your first contact to get your initial missions. Just remember the golden rule: don't steal other people's kills!