A Controller is one of the four roles available in DCUO. This role focuses on restoring power to group members, debuffing Boss level opponents and incapacitating lower rank enemies. Controllers have specific debuff abilities that can lower an opponent's defense, healing or damage output. This role requires high Vitalization and Dominance. Each Controller power set has shields that are useful for activating controls and reviving downed allies. The symbol that represents a controller is in the shape of a sound wave.
Role[]
In order to acquire the control role, you have to select Gadgets, Light, Mental, Munitions or Quantum as your power set. Once you reach level 10, you will automatically have access to the control role. Controllers have no damage penalty, but do not gain any damage modifiers. Activating any super power while in the Controller role restores Power to group members over time. Controllers also gain +35% Vitalization. Control Effects are strengthened with longer durations and sometimes additional benefits.
Mail Messages[]
Upon reaching level 10, players receive a message from Oracle or Calculator, accessible from any mail terminal.
Heroes:
From: Oracle | Subject: Mission Control |
---|---|
"Ready to turn the dial up against villainy?? It's all in your hand - in the Control Role! It boosts your control abilities, like encases and stuns, and reduces your damage output. Certain abilities also restore power to your teammates. Check out the descriptions in the the Traits tab of you Communicator for more on role Bonuses. Plus, if the action gets too heated, you can always switch roles out of combat by using the up button (T on the keyboard)." | |
Attachment: Controller's Clutch of Command |
Villains:
From: Calculator | Subject: Mission Control |
---|---|
"Ready to turn it up a notch? It's all in your hand - in the Control Role! It boosts your control abilities, like encases and stuns, and reduces your damage output. Certain abilities also restore power to your teammates. Check out the descriptions in the the Traits tab of you Communicator for more on role Bonuses. Plus, if the action gets too heated, you can always switch roles out of combat by using the up button (T on the keyboard)." | |
Attachment: Controller's Clutch of Command |
Strategy[]
The Controller in group content is expected to maintain constant Power Over Time. The Controller should also provide instant power when a Healer or Tank is low on Power. Controllers can also buff the groups damage for a short time. Defense and Damage Output debuffs are useful on Boss opponents as they reduce Defense and Damage Out by 10% respectfully. As Controllers have access to detaunt shields, they are typically responsible for reviving group members and activating or moving items while in battle.
Stats[]
The primary stats for a Controller are:
Vitalization[]
Vitalization determines the potency of power heals.
Vitalization does NOT affect passive power regeneration or power regeneration from weapon attacks.
Power Healing = Base Power Multiplier * (50% Vitalization) .
Dominance[]
In group content, Dominance must be higher than enemy Willpower for crowd control effects to be effective.
The recommended Dominance for an Alert, Raid or Operation is needed to affect opponents in that content when using power based control effects.
Dominance is combined with Restoration to determine the potency of healing and shield abilities.
Shield = Base Shield Multiplier * (112.5% Restoration + 150% Dominance).
Healing = Base Healing Multiplier * (30% Restoration + 25% Dominance).
Power[]
Power is required to use abilities in a Loadout and is drained as they are performed.
Power is passively regenerated based on a percentage of max Power every second.
Power regeneration is increased out of combat.
Critical Power Chance[]
Critical Power Chance is the chance that a power heal will critically hit.
Base Critical Power Chance is 5%.
Critical Power Magnitude[]
Critical Power Magnitude is the bonus percent power healing of a critical power heal.
Base Critical Power Magnitude is 25%.
Special Powers and Abilities[]
Group Power[]
Activating any super power in Controller Role restores Power to group members over time.
Controllers also have abilities to restore additional Power to group members.
Function |
Powers |
---|---|
Restores Power to the three most fatigued group members |
Defibrillator : Gadgets |
Supercharge Shield that protects to group members |
Battle Drone : Gadgets |
Debuffs[]
A Controller Debuff is a Controller role effect that negatively affects an opponent for a short time.
There are 3 types of Controller Debuffs:
- Damage : Reduces the target's damage output by 10%.
- Defense : Reduces the target's defense by 10%.
- Healing : Reduces the target's ability to heal by 25%.
Controller Debuffs[]
Function |
Powers |
---|---|
Reduces Defense by 10% |
Gadgets : Gauss Grenade, Stasis Field |
Reduces Damage Output by 10% |
Gadgets : Sticky Bomb, Paralyzing Dart |
Reduces Ability to Heal by 10% |
Gadgets : Napalm Grenade, Cryo-Foam |
Utility Powers[]
Function |
Powers |
---|---|
Increases base Precision and Weapon DPS by 20% for 3 group members with the highest Power percentage |
Defibrillator : Gadgets |
Supercharge Shield that protects group members from damage |
Battle Drone : Gadgets |
Personal Shields useful for activating controls or reviving downed allies |
Gadgets : Distract |
Positioning ability to pull an opponent |
Gadgets : Taser Pull |
Quantum[]
Power |
Description |
---|---|
Temporal Extortion |
Restores Power to the three most fatigued group members. |
Event Horizon | Supercharge Shield that restores Power to group members. |
Time Shift |
Reduces the target's defense by 10%. |
Singularity |
Reduces the target's defense by 10%. |
Alcubierre Wave |
Reduces the target's damage output by 10%. |
Warp Barrage |
Reduces the target's damage output by 10%. |
Anomaly |
Reduces the target's ability to heal by 25%. |
Gravity Bomb |
Reduces the target's ability to heal by 25%. |
Quantum Tunneling |
Personal Shield that Detaunts enemies. |
Time Bubble |
Personal Shield. |
Einstein's Ray |
Positioning ability that Pulls target. |
Light[]
Power |
Description |
---|---|
Recharge |
Restores Power to the three most fatigued group members. |
Group Shielding | Supercharge Shield that restores Power to group members. |
Light Blast |
Reduces the target's defense by 10%. |
Whip Thrash |
Reduces the target's defense by 10%. |
Grasping Hand |
Reduces the target's damage output by 10%. |
Light Weight Strike |
Reduces the target's damage output by 10%. |
Snap Trap |
Reduces the target's ability to heal by 25%. |
Entrap |
Reduces the target's ability to heal by 25%. |
Light Barrier |
Personal Shield. |
Fan |
Positioning ability that Pulls target. |
Grasping Hand |
Positioning ability that Pulls target. |
Gadgets[]
Power |
Description |
---|---|
Defibrillator |
Restores Power to the three most fatigued group members. |
Battle Drone | Supercharge Pet that Shields and restores Power to group members. |
Gauss Grenade |
Reduces the target's defense by 10%. |
Stasis Field |
Reduces the target's defense by 10%. |
Sticky Bomb |
Reduces the target's damage output by 10%. |
Paralyzing Dart |
Reduces the target's damage output by 10%. |
Napalm Grenade |
Reduces the target's ability to heal by 25%. |
Cryo-Foam |
Reduces the target's ability to heal by 25%. |
Distract |
Personal Shield that Detaunts enemies. |
Taser Pull |
Positioning ability that Pulls target. |
Mental[]
Power |
Description |
---|---|
Psychic Empowerment |
Restores Power to the three most fatigued group members. |
Bastion | Supercharge Shield that restores Power to group members. |
Psychic Shock |
Reduces the target's defense by 10%. |
Telekinetic Pull |
Reduces the target's defense by 10%. |
Cryokinesis |
Reduces the target's damage output by 10%. |
Phantom Flames |
Reduces the target's damage output by 10%. |
Horrific Visage |
Reduces the target's ability to heal by 25%. |
Pyrokinesis |
Reduces the target's ability to heal by 25%. |
Grandeur |
Personal Shield that Detaunts enemies. |
Telekinetic Shield |
Personal Shield. |
Telekinetic Pull |
Positioning ability that Pulls target. |
Munitions[]
Power |
Description |
---|---|
Reload |
Restores Power to the three most fatigued group members. |
Active Protection System | Supercharge Shield that restores Power to group members. |
Five Barrel Minigun |
Reduces the target's defense by 10%. |
Smoke Grenade Launcher |
Reduces the target's defense by 10%. |
Flak Cannon |
Reduces the target's damage output by 10%. |
Shrapnel Grenade Launcher |
Reduces the target's damage output by 10%. |
Multi-Net Launcher |
Reduces the target's ability to heal by 25%. |
Rocket Launcher |
Reduces the target's ability to heal by 25%. |
Survival |
Personal Shield that Detaunts enemies. |
MRE |
Personal Shield. |
Net Retractor |
Positioning ability that Pulls target. |
Multi-Net Retractor |
Positioning ability that Pulls target. |
Recommended Iconic Powers[]
- Hard Light Shield: Encase yourself in a shield that prevents incoming damage for a short time.
- Word of Power: Call forth lightning to damage and knock back nearby enemies. The summoned lightning heals you and restores Power over time to you and up to 7 group members.
Recommended Equipment Mods[]
Placing Equipment Mods in slots does boost stats and improves performance while also increasing the CR slightly. Color Mods should match a socket color to gain bonus affinity stats.
White Tactical Equipment Mods require Lair System access.
Slot | Mod |
---|---|
Blue Slots | Vitalization & Dominance or Vitalization & Health |
Yellow Slots | Vitalization or Vitalization & Dominance |
Red Slots | Vitalization & Precision or Vitalization & Might |
Weapon Slot | Replenishing Adapter or Absorption Adapter |
Neck Slot | Escalating Replenishing Procs |
Back White Slot | Weakening Field or Breakout Protection |
Feet White Slot | Deadly Block or Explosive Block |
Chest White Slot | Reserve Tank or Core Strength |
Hands White Slot | Regenerative Shielding |
Trivia[]
- Controller is the only role with which the overhead icon when switching to it (an elongated octahedron) does not resemble the regular icon.