Character Build: X-Men Legends II

I'm always been fond of character creations in role-playing games. So I decided to write a series of character building guides in order to keep this blog updated. To kick start things, I'll write a team build for X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse, a game which currently satiates me while I wait for the release of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and Neverwinter Nights 2.

Flaming Tongue and Swords

Team Roster and Bonus:
Deadpool, Nightcrawler, Sunfire, and Toad forms the Agile Warriors team bonus and receive a +5% to experience gained.

This team is really fun to play, and it's probably my favorite build. The build is widely a melee offensive team designed to deal massive amounts of damage. Offensive skills like Deadpool's Rupturing Jab, Nightcrawler's Teleport Frenzy, Sunfire's Flame Sword, and Toad's Tongue Strike can really dish out a lot of damage on their own. But if used with Toad's Secretion boost, which increases the damage and movement, those skills can become quite scary.

For completing objectives, this team has it all. A flier (Sunfire) that can cross between gaps and fly to areas not accesible by foot. Teleporters (Deadpool and Nightcrawler) for also bridging gaps and getting through blocked areas. Brotherhood members (Deadpool and Toad) to open certain doors. You also have Toad that has the ability to put out fires. The only thing you need is a character than can push heavy things. So you'll need to change members, once in a while, in order to accomplish certain tasks that requires pushing (I remember switching Toad for Rogue about three times). You also lack the Leadership skill, which increases the experience gained from combination attacks, but the +5% to Experience from the team bonus will more than make up for it.

Characters

Deadpool
Probably the most straight-forward character in the game. A 'sword in your face' straight-forward character. However, you need to finish the game first to unlock and play him.

His most basic skill, Rupturing Jab, is quite a killer. It adds more than 1000% of physical damage to his base damage and leaves a bleeding damage over a few seconds. His passive skills like Weapon Mastery will also improve the damage and critical chance of his Rupturing Jab. Mutant Master, a passive skill that increases the regeneration rate of his energy points, is a must since you'll be using Rupturing Jab quite frequently. Regeneration, while not really necessary, will save you a whole lot of health packs. Stealth, which increases Deadpool's melee damage, is quite useful especially if you run out of energy.

For building Deadpool's stats, two points in Striking every level is a must. This will increase the damage done by Rupturing Jab. A point into Body every level is also advisible so he could take some beating. Then alternately distribute all your remaining points into Speed and Focus. Stop investing points into Focus when it reaches 80, and start putting an extra point into Striking.

Skills
Rupturing Jab: Maximize
Weapon Mastery: Maximize
Mutant Master: Maximize
Regeneration: Maximize or 9 Points
Stealth: Maximize or Some points
Teleportation: 11 Points or None (Nightcrawler is a better teleporter)

Stats
2 Striking
1 Body
1 Focus/Speed (Even/Odd Levels)

At Focus 80
2 Striking
1 Body
1 Striking/1 Speed (Even/Odd Levels)

Nightcrawler
The blue elf is another fun character to play. He also has a very bad exploitable bug in one of his attacks, making him the most powerful character in the game.

Early in the game, Nightcrawler's best offensive skill is the Divine Blades, a sword attack. So you need to invest at least five points in this skill and throw a couple more into Sword Mastery, a passive skill that will increase the damage and critical chance dealt by sword attacks. Later on, when Teleport Frenzy becomes available, you will need to redistribute all your skills from Divine Blades and Sword Mastery into Teleport Frenzy and Teleport Mastery.

Teleport Frenzy is a real wicked skill that will clear out a room full of opponents in just a matter of seconds. But the best thing is: It's free, no cost of energy points when you use it as long you don't invest points into the Teleport Attack skill. Passive skills like Critical Strike and Teleport Mastery will further enhance the damage dealt by Teleport Frenzy. Master of Chaos is also a good Xtreme attack, especially when you're swarmed by enemeis. Since it's also a teleport attack, Teleport Mastery will increase its effectiveness.

For Nightcrawler's stats, two points in Striking every level will increase the damage output done by melee attacks and powers. Since you'd be in the front lines taking hits, 1 point in Body would make Nightcrawler a bit sturdy. Then alternately distribute the rest of your points to Speed and Focus. Stop putting more points into Focus when it reaches 20, and add an extra point into Striking.

Skills
Teleport Frenzy: Maximize
Teleport Mastery: Maximize
Critical Strike: Maximize
Master of Chaos: Maximize
Teleport: Maximize or 3 Points
Divine Blades: Some points early in the game
Sword Mastery: Some points early in the game

Stats
2 Striking
1 Body
1 Focus/1 Speed (Even/Odd Levels)

At Focus 20
2 Striking
1 Body
1 Striking/1 Speed (Even/Odd Levels)

Sunfire
I only picked Sunfire so I can form the Agile Warriors and get the bonus. But this fiery Asian surprised me. As a range attacker, he's not much. But as a melee fighter, however, he's scorching

Most Sunfire builds out there are usually range attackers. If you go that way, then you'd be missing his best attack, the Flame Sword. Flame Sword is a melee attack that deals over 200 points of fire damage and has a 70% of critical chance when maxed. Since Flame Sword is only available late in the game, you need to invest points into Elemental Combat to heat things up. Elemental Combat adds fire damage to Sunfire's melee attacks and Fire Mastery, a passive skill that increases the damage and critical chance dealt by fire, will increase its effectiveness. Flaming Fury is also a good boost that adds fire damage to all melee attacks, including Sunfire's allies. Mutant Master is also a must since you'll be frequently using Flame Sword.

For Sunfire's stats, you need to prioritize Striking and Focus. High Striking score, coupled with Elemental Combat, early in the game will turn Sunfire into your biggest hitter. So you need to put at least two points here every level and 1 point into Focus to start building up his energy points. You also need to increase Speed and Body, alternately. Once you reach level 16, start putting 2 points into Focus and a point into Striking.

Skills
Flame Sword: Maximize
Flaming Fury: Maximize
Fire Mastery: Maximize
Mutant Master: Maximize
Elemental Combat: Some point early on, and maximize later if you can afford.
Flight: 1 Point

Stats
2 Striking
1 Focus
1 Body/1 Speed (Even/Odd Levels)

At Level 15
2 Focus
1 Striking
1 Body/1 Speed (Even/Odd Levels)

Toad
Like Sunfire, I only picked Toad to form the Agile Warriors and get the team bonus. Little did I realize that this digusting mutant packs solid attacks and the best power boost in the game.

You can build Toad in two ways, the spitting toad or the licking toad. In this team build, the licking toad reigns supreme since tongue attacks are melee attacks, and Sunfire's Flaming Fury adds fire damage to melee attacks. Tongue Strike is Toad's best attack in the game. It adds 800% of physical damage to Toad's base damage (when maximized) and also stuns the enemy for a few seconds. Tongue Mastery will also increase the effectiveness of all tongue attacks. Secretion, a boost that increases the movement and damage of Toad and his allies, is what makes him the best support character in the game. Mutant Master is also an important skill since you'll be using Secretion and Tongue Strike quite often.

For Toad's stats, you need to prioritize Striking to increase his base damage, and Focus to power his Tongue Strike and Secretion. So every level, you need to throw at least two points into Striking and a point into Focus. Speed and Body, you need to alternately increase these stats. Once you've reach level 11, start putting two points into Focus and a point into Striking.

Skills
Tongue Strike: Maximize
Tongue Mastery: Maximize
Secretion: Maximize
Mutant Master: Maximize
Critical Chance: Maximize or 1 Point
Tongue Lash: Maximize or None
Tongue Whip: Maximize or None
Mucous Spit: 1 Point (for putting out fires)

Stats
2 Striking
1 Focus
1 Body/1 Speed (Even/Odd Levels)

At Level 11
2 Focus
1 Striking
1 Body/1 Speed (Even/Odd Levels)

The Agile Warriors in Action

Well that's about it, I've written my first game guide. It's not much but I enjoyed writing it and it did took me some time. I do hope whoever utilizes this guide will enjoy the team build as much as I did.