U.S.S. Mitscher

Notes

• All weapon-centric builds benefit from the tactical ultimate, as weapon haste and bonus weapon damage from the Focused Frenzy active are appreciable when used on big targets. Applying the bonus to your team is also appreciated. I do not find the cooldown boost from Frenzied Reactions to be needed on a build with a good cooldown scheme.

• Engineering skills

  • Since I use this skill tree for both tanks and offtanks, taking two points in Hull Restoration/Hull Capacity helps survivability. Increased Hull Capacity boosts Tyler's Duality as well

  • I always take a single point in Hull Plating, but other resistance skills and Damage Control are not worth it. Likewise, 2 points in Impulse Expertise is an appreciable boost to maneuverability. Warp Core Potential and especially Warp Core Efficiency help boost power to subsystems. Efficiency is particularly good at adding power to subsystems I am not allocating much power to.

  • Improved EPS Power Transfer is essential for recovering power while firing energy weapons. 

• Science skills

  • Single points in Shield Restoration/Shield Capacity are low opportunity cost for relatively high survivability gains. Since I need skill points elsewhere, only 1 here for those. 

  • A single point in Shield Regeneration has surprisingly large impact on shield regeneration based on recent research by Jay

  • Since this character uses Quantum Phase torpedoes on 2 builds, which scale with Drain Expertise, I take both points in DrainX. A single point in Control Expertise powers the Fragment of AI Trait on builds that use it on this toon. 

  • All energy builds should take maximum points in Long Range Targeting Sensors. 

  • The rest of the science skills are of little value on this build and are completely skippable. 

• Tactical skills

  • Energy Weapon Training, Hull Penetration, Shield Penetration, Weapon Specialization, and Weapon Amplification are all worthwhile skills to take 3 points in as they boost energy weapon damage directly. Since I do have a torpedo and it does decent damage, 2 points in Projectile Weapon Training is a good choice. 

  • I like taking 2 points apiece in accuracy and defense. Defense is a small contribution to avoiding incoming damage but also helps reduce enemy crits when you're not moving and accuracy is just good all around, if not a stat that you'll need tons of. 

  • Coordination Protocols, Defense Coordination and Offensive Coordination are good team boosts so I always take those. They also benefit hangar pets on builds that have those. Improved Tactical Readiness is essential for reducing tactical cooldowns along with the rest of the cooldown scheme. 

• Unlocks

  • There are two crucial unlocks: battery expertise (improves duration of consumable batteries) and threat control which either increases or decreases threat based on threatening stance. I lean a little heavier on Engineering in lieu of stacking more points into the Tac Ultimate. 

This ship is a cannons + 1 torpedo set up. It has absolutely zero investment into exotic damage, so I am not skilled at all into those.

Intel/Strategist is the best-in-slot choice for non-tank Energy builds. Intel provides substantial damage through flanking and Intel Fleet. Strategist likewise adds damage through Logistical Support, Maneuver Warfare, and Show of Force, as well as some damage reduction through Layered Defenses.

Notes

Torpedoes: One, I wanted a torpedo for immersion purposes. Two, the right torpedo, when used with Super Charged Weapons, is NOT a DPS loss considering it also brings a very powerful set bonus (25% Critical Damage from War Discretion). While I'm more fond of the Quantum Phase Torpedo and it generally outperforms the Dark Matter Torpedo, I couldn't justify its inclusion here without the console. 

Radiolytics: Generally procs don't matter, but Radiolytics are one of the better Phaser variants, certainly better than Agony with their paltry chance for a minor DOT. The Pulse Phaser Turret is for flavor.

Pahvan Omni: This functions as a beam, but still benefits from cannon firing modes, allowing for easy triggering of Mixed Armaments Synergy without needing a Beam Omni. It also does a ludicrous amount of damage from its proc under AOE firing modes. 

Quad Cannons: The regular ones are perfectly fine if you don't have the Battlecruiser bundle. I didn't want to spend Dil on a fresh set of Quad Cannons since I had the Overload-Linked ones already.

Notes:

Drive Train: Discovery 3-piece is also an option for some extra damage if you don't want to do the fleet core. I have not messed around with the Khitomer set. 

Hangar Bay: Elite Type 7s are the best hangar pets for overall DPS due to the insane amount of debuff they bring. 

Notes: 

Alternate energy types: Obviously all weapons would need to be replaced except the Dark Matter Torpedo. If Disruptor, consider the Nausicaan Energy Torpedo. Keep D.O.M.I.N.O. and replace the Advanced Engineering / Colony consoles with the appropriate flavor. 

Budget Tweaks:

 If low budget, try Tilor's Cyclone build, but otherwise 

• Drop Flagship 2-piece (T6X and T6X2 upgrades)

• Replace D.O.M.I.N.O. with Quantum Phase Converter 

• Replace Subspace Fracture Tunneling Field with a Protomatter console

• Replace Broadside Combat Module with Temporal Disentanglement Suite

• Replace Immolating Phaser Lance with Approaching Agony or shuffle consoles to pick up another Fleet Colony console

• Replace Tachyon Net Drones with Assimilated Module

• Drop Kobayashi Maru Transponder if unavailable (T6X2 upgrade and event); if available, drop the Hull Patches instead

Meta Notes

• Could replace Mixed Armaments Synergy III with Reverse Shield Polarity if going tankier. 

• I belatedly realized that not all of my bridge officers are SROs/Watchers. Will fix that for next update; meta preference is to slot boffs with either of those two traits (or Vanguard Engineered Soldier boffs)

Meta-Focused Tweaks:

If going full DPS, with unlimited budget 

• Give Your All -> Duelist’s Fervor or Intel Handler

• Repair Crews -> Adaptive Offense or Terran Targeting Systems

Budget Tweaks:

 If low budget, (try and keep the ones at the bottom) 

• Drop Breen Shield Tunneling (Elite Captain unlock)

• Fragment of AI Tech -> Deft Cannoneer

• Context Is For Kings -> Operative

• Boimler Effect -> Point Blank Shot (this one hurts to lose)

• Repair Crews -> Techie

• Unconventional Systems -> Cannon Training

• A Good Day to Die -> Innocuous

• Intelligence Agent Attache -> Accurate

Meta-Focused Tweaks:

If going full DPS with unlimited budget, it's still going to be hard to get better than this. Maybe swap out Super Charged Weapons for Weapon Emitter Overdrive or Terran Goodbye?

Budget Tweaks:

 If low budget, (try and keep the ones at the bottom) 

• Drop Ship of the Line (T6X2 upgrade) if you're not using the Legendary Inquiry. If you are, drop Universal Designs

• Drop Thirst For Battle  (T6X upgrade)

• Superior Area Denial -> Improved Command Frequency

• Universal Designs -> Unconventional Tactics

Notes:

Other good C-store traits to replace Ship of the Line/Thirst for Battle are Calm Before the Storm (Ghemor) or Strike From Shadows (Shran). You could also try Temporal Tunneling (Atlantis) but you'd need a more consistent trigger.

Miscellaneous

This ship manages cooldowns via Photonic Officer and Boimler Effect. Photonic Officer I with Boimler Effect is generally enough to cover cooldowns for bridge officer powers with minimal opportunity cost. 

Link to CDR sheet for this build