Power Set Proliferation

Overview

Powerset Proliferation refers to taking powers available to one archetype and adapting them for use on another archetype. In some cases, such as the Blast sets for Blasters, Corruptors and Defenders, powersets can be copied with minimal changes. In other cases, like the Assault sets for Dominators, powers from multiple existing powersets may be combined to create a brand new set. Occasionally, entirely new powers are created for the proliferation.

According to the lore, Doctor Brainstorm is responsible for causing Powerset Proliferation, having created a device dubbed the Resonance Manipulator which somehow altered the energy strands connecting heroes and villains to their powers.

Issue 12

The first round of Powerset Proliferation took effect with the release of Issue 12: Midnight Hour. The following is a list of powersets proliferated in that release:

Hero			Villain
Archetype	Primary	Secondary	Archetype	Primary	Secondary
Blaster	Psychic Blast	Mental Manipulation	Brute	Battle Axe · War Mace	Super Reflexes
Controller	Plant Control	Thermal Radiation	Corruptor	Electrical Blast	Storm Summoning
Defender	Cold Domination	Ice Blast	Dominator	Earth Control	Electricity Assault
Scrapper	Fiery Melee	Fiery Aura	Mastermind	[none]	Storm Summoning
Tanker	Dark Armor	Dark Melee	Stalker	Electric Melee	Electric Armor

• Mental Manipulation was a combination of Psychic Blast and Psionic Assault. World of Confusion was created during this proliferation.
• Electricity Assault was a combination of Electrical Blast and Electric Melee.
• The Stalker version of Electric Armor substituted Hide for Lightning Field.

Issue 16

The second round of Powerset Proliferation took effect with the release of Issue 16: Power Spectrum. The following is a list of powersets proliferated in that release:

Hero			Villain
Archetype	Primary	Secondary	Archetype	Primary	Secondary
Blaster	Radiation Blast	[none]	Brute	Claws	[none]
Controller	[none]	Cold Domination	Corruptor	Archery	Trick Arrow
Defender	Traps	Assault Rifle	Dominator	[none]	Earth Assault
Scrapper	Electric Melee	Electric Armor	Mastermind	[none]	Thermal Radiation
Tanker	Electric Armor	Electric Melee	Stalker	Broad Sword	[none]

• Earth Assault was a combination of Stone Melee and Stone Mastery attacks. Stone Spears was created during this proliferation.

Issue 21

The third round of Powerset Proliferation took effect with the release of Issue 21: Convergence. The following is a list of powersets proliferated in that release:

Hero			Villain
Archetype	Primary	Secondary	Archetype	Primary	Secondary
Blaster	Dark Blast	Darkness Manipulation	Brute	Katana · Broad Sword	Regeneration
Controller	[none]	Poison	Corruptor	Psychic Blast	Poison
Defender	Thermal Radiation	Fire Blast	Dominator	[none]	[none]
Scrapper	Battle Axe · War Mace	Energy Aura	Mastermind	[none]	Sonic Resonance
Tanker	Super Reflexes	Martial Arts	Stalker	[none]	Ice Armor

• Darkness Manipulation was a combination of Dark Melee, Dark Miasma, and Dark Blast.
• All versions of Energy Aura and Poison received significant improvements when they were proliferated.
• The Stalker version of Ice Armor substituted Hide for Icicles and Icy Bastion (a Godmode power) for Hibernate. Additionally, the PBAoE Slow effect of Chilling Embrace is suppressed while the stalker is in the Hidden state.

Unlikely Proliferations

The following is a list of powersets that are not likely to be proliferated to certain archetypes in the future:

Brute

• Ice Melee

Along with Ice Armor, this set was available during the City of Villains beta testing and was removed because the set's Foe: -Recharge was counterproductive to the Brute's Inherent Power, Fury.

• Ice Armor

Stalker

• Shield Defense

This set was specifically not made available to Stalkers when it was introduced. The rationale was never given, but it presumably has to do with the ally-centric powers conceptually contrasting the Stalker's gameplay mechanics.

Corruptor, Mastermind

• Empathy

The developers have explicitly stated that Empathy will not get proliferated to villains; Pain Domination was introduced in its place.

Controller, Defender

• Pain Domination

Since villains will not be receiving Empathy, it's unlikely that heroes would receive Pain Domination.

See Also

• Issue 12
• Issue 16
• Issue 21
• Epic Powerset Proliferation