Act Fast | Meta Update - January 2025

[@CasualSAB]

Join the STOComms Discord: discord.gg/stocomms Epic Creator code: casualsab Real-Merch Affiliate Code (Get 5-10% off your order!): casualsab real-merch.com?rs_ref=00g0820m Links: Martin's Breen Intel Courier Vid: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6jKi3uii7Jjrrc Mirror Engle Build Guide: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIXKanhpjNOiiKM Bort comment on Krenim Console: old.reddit.com/r/sto/comments/1icrp7j/krenim_chronophage_meta_for_epg/m9wp0x7/ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Builds Discord: discord.gg/stobuilds CasualSAB Discord: discord.gg/FTe3mkb Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/casualsab.bsky.social Twitter: twitter.com/ThatSpencerB Become a Channel Member! kzbin.info/door/rNSp1ex_ZNgLQEogSRqpCwjoin Tips: streamelements.com/casualsab-1546/tip

[@elitejeffrey3719]

You should try, Enhanced Induction Coils - console combined with Best Diplomat, & Onboard Dilithium Recrystallizer. With these two ship traits, when you activate the console, you will get a cat 2, 60% Bonus Dmg....😅

[@navyman8903]

Never thought I'd see the day where Spencer told us to take ALL the ISOMAGS off of the build. Wild times.

[@MaraMakesContent]

Just be aware - if you aren't comfortable with maintaining these cycles constantly, and don't know when best to employ the active damage consoles - you *will* be better served by a passive build. In fact I advise most players to stick with them. This is just an incredibly powerful and fun variation that now exists at the apex of the meta.

[@navyman8903]

@MaraMakesContent I appreciate that and thank you for saying that. I'm going to make this build at some point soon to train myself to do it, but most of my builds will be passive. I'm also a filthy console player, so we benefit from passive.

[@Bacnow]

@@navyman8903 - “filthy console player” 😅😅😅

[@stephenkelly8312]

@@MaraMakesContentall that is old is new again. Uncon is back! Next some update to MW will bring Isomags back. Options are fun.

[@thejarredhog3936]

Hope this didn't just kill my income.

[@EpicFables]

thanks SAB, great recap and hopefully people can act on some of these pretty quick

[@axelhopfinger533]

Boy, am i glad i got the Breen Shield Tunneling trait for my main right after your lock box review video dropped so i got it for only 65 mil EC.

[@TheChillee]

I’m traveling, what’s the cost now?

[@axelhopfinger533]

@@TheChillee Around the 140 mil+ mark

[@hughejass9461]

Thank you sir, hopefully you're feeling better. I did pick up a few of the traits you've mentioned in your recent videos and I've seen a difference, but others are just not in my price range. It's always informative to see what the DPS chasers are using in their builds. For now I'm staying with my isomag plasma build as it works just fine for all levels of gameplay. Keep up the great work and thanks again.

[@MaraMakesContent]

Frankly most people should stick with Mags. The Magless Concept (I'm calling it the "Krait" in the tradition of the Dragon/Drake builds of old) is a very active, high skill floor build that will fall apart if you do not know what you're doing.

[@TheChillee]

So the current Uncon apex meta, which kills the Krait, will be called.. The Mongoose?

[@stephanmeyer1726]

The Trait Harmonic Shield Linkage counts the Photonic Fleet Summons from the SCI Captain ability for its stacks

[@CasualSAB]

Sci's were already the best endgame tanks imo. So this just reinforces that even more.

[@VosperCDN]

Appreciate the news, especially the upcoming end of those buyouts. Cheers, fly safe.

[@dragangalic3199]

I just love your videos. Ty for all your work .Get better soon. 🍺

[@MBroam]

Thanks for your videos. I am no where near a "meta" level player, but I learn a lot from your vids and it makes my time in game more fun 😁

[@johnlewis1830]

I made a post on Reddit saying yur Mirror Strike wing escort build was the new Meta for most content and I got down voted to hell and a bunch of people saying it only works in solo or supported content. Some people just don't have critical thinking skills

[@setoredan]

Thank you, sir, for the information.

[@jcstang8952]

Thanks for the details abouit the Omni. I use it, I just didn't know that much about it. One of the cooler sets they've given us!

[@SD_FANZ209]

I believe i have a "pahvo set" that I haven't even yet

[@davidsprings3730]

the new traits are moist.

[@Nick_Kearney]

Of course. Spencer puts out a meta update video and the price of things on the exchange that he mentioned have gone up.

[@jgt76]

Funny, once I heard you could do a "vovin" without a target, I made exactly that keybind for myself.

[@dennisbeckmann3032]

Thx for this vid, very helpful! 👍

[@magandak]

Speaking of the Sec31 Rifle that was a promotion, have you heard of any updates on it being as it was advertised, account wide unlock?

[@CasualSAB]

No updates there :(

[@magandak]

@@CasualSAB Thank you!

[@3d1stp3rs0n]

Thanks a lot for the video. Wow, there are no isomacs anymore in the meta? But this only works with a uncon build on a ship with temporal seats, right? In the chat, someone complained that he did not see the +30% pen stacking from the breen trait. I would like to see some numbers before I spend all my EC for that trait.

[@CasualSAB]

With the builds incorporating the vovin console and a ton of uncon, a full uni console setup is coming out ahead.

[@MaraMakesContent]

Doesn't have to be Temporal seats - it's any high number of uncon procs. Wrt pen - it's not skill, it's -drr. And it's definitely working.

[@Mac-1701]

Sounding good, glad to see if you are feeling better. I do like how you care about the player base and make sure that they are aware of the most impactful time limited items in the game. The new LB, whilst most of the content didn't interest me as I really didn't like discovery, it is good to have some new "meta" items drop. Hopefully the devs don't listen to the the minority of the player base that don't quite understand the items in the game and call for stuff to be nerfed. As always, good information explained well

[@ADway-hn7qu]

Cant wait to see: "8 gold Isomags are a good budget alternative if you dont have $2,000 worth of gamble box loot".

[@stephenkolostyak4087]

^^^^^^^^^ I don't have uncon or the rest.

[@MaraMakesContent]

[Cannons] and [Beams] Isomags *are* fantastic budget moves right now. They are extremely, extremely, cheap and don't really sacrifice that much in the way of damage output in exchange for that massive drop in price.

[@stephenkolostyak4087]

@@MaraMakesContent I've been using those for a while. Lets me use whatever weapons I want. Pretty sure it makes Pavho hit harder, too.

[@CubeEarthTheory]

It's that Cryptic math. And you thought the "new" math was difficult. It's like the item that "Reduces cooldown by 100%". Well, this would be instant, wouldn't it?

[@TJMODLA]

Serious question...on that Solo HSE run. How are you not instantly blowing up from the borg torpedos?

[@CasualSAB]

The lobi plasma autoturret these builds use auto shoots a secondary target like targetable torps every second. That and the AoE abilities I've got on have enough range to catch the targetable torps.

[@short72hp1]

I did what I always do sped 5 min after the vid, googling the consoles you mentioned😁💯👍

[@shailathunderbird5319]

so is the tooltip at 10:00 incorrect? cuz you said it gives you 20% where the tooltip says it gives you 2%, ah you mean it stacks per person /npc , i was confused , ignore my comment lol

[@merlin83221]

I don't have access to the second chance buyout. Can't figure out why. Event tab it is greyed out. and Cstore it is missing

[@TenNoZeorymer72]

Dumb question perhaps, but I don't have an "Event Buyout" tab in my Z-Store page. The only different thing I have is a "Legacy Unlock" tab at the bottom. I bought the game at launch and then was off of it for 12 years and came back 2 months ago. I take it I'm locked out of it?

[@ReWindz1110]

Should I still use the pahvan omni on a ap beam build

[@CasualSAB]

I would

[@ReWindz1110]

@@CasualSABk ty😊

[@BaldemnicSW]

Nice to hear you, although you still sound a little poorly. Best speed in getting well soon!

[@eclipsetrekker]

Can you share how your Hexacanon is almost 10% of your DPS on what looks like a plasma build? That's insane ! Mine is barely doing between 5 - 7.5% and 2.5% less than a turret with SV3 on a disruptor build. Your turret is way under the Hexacanon....how ? I have legendary CrtD/Dm + Dm on mine.

[@CasualSAB]

Are you constantly keeping your enemies directly in front of you? It has a small firing arc like a DHC/DC.

[@alphaomega5001]

How do you get 11 space traits and 6 space officers?

[@CasualSAB]

9 Base Traits (+1 From being Alien) (+1 From Elite Captain Upgrade) 6th Doff slot is available to purchase at fleet spire

[@alphaomega5001]

@@CasualSAB Thank you.

[@denbaker7358]

How big is the new breen ship compared to a galaxy class please?

[@CasualSAB]

Very small. It's smaller than some pets.

[@denbaker7358]

@CasualSAB ah a 32nd eleos then nice thank you

[@exgym82]

Will you stream any time soon?

[@CasualSAB]

Yes

[@exgym82]

@@CasualSAB 🙂

[@Ionotron]

The Krenim Chronophage gives 10% cooldown reduction for science bridge officers abilities. I am still sitting on that phoenix epic token and think about taking the old Krenim science vessel. The console from that (Timeline Stabilizer) grants 15% sci bridge officer cooldown reduction. So before I take that it would be nice to know, if these consoles stack, or if taking both would be a waste. Does anyone know the answer to that?

[@BenHamilton-n8f]

Usually these would stack but it shouldn’t really matter… PO/ Boimler/ Aux2bat/ whatever you use should take care of your cooldowns

[@Levi_Skardsen]

Since you don't use isomags on the solo build, does that mean you can use any mix of energy weapons you want? Or should you still stick to one type of damage with them?

[@CasualSAB]

I still go with plasma to take advantage of the Complex Plasma Fires trait.

[@Mangler1701]

Yo when is sto going to replace the esd on console

[@CasualSAB]

Hopefully sometime this month.

[@regancollins1465]

So this must mean having the same weapon type is pointless now?

[@CasualSAB]

Rainbow setups have been viable for a while now. [Beams] or [Cannons] Isomags work really great for doing that.

[@short72hp1]

Are the new drones fixed so they can be sold yet?

[@CasualSAB]

Tuesday

[@shailathunderbird5319]

I dont have a buyout tab in my zen store, does that mean i didnt miss any? if so, i cant find the omni beam he spoke of - nvm i found it, i was looking for a box, it was not a box it was the item itself

[@Jay-ql4gp]

Breen shield tunnelling as of 2/1/25 1:00 pm CST is now over 200 million. It's getting ridiculous.

[@CasualSAB]

Damn

[@rooooooby]

Just get it between May and January when no one plays the game

[@TheChillee]

Well.. that is true

[@jeffhogan3433]

I'm confused...the Pahvan omni...is it optimal on BFAW builds only? Or does it out perform same energy omni's on BO builds as well?

[@CasualSAB]

Use a CSV on your BO build and the omni should still get FAW. As soon as you let this thing hit multiple enemies, it does amazing damage.

[@jeffhogan3433]

@CasualSAB right! With the preferential targetting trait right? Ugh...forgot about that. See? This is why your vids are so important lol

[@oathblade]

In STO keybinds...in what?

[@CasualSAB]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3q5i4Sfrb1kpbs sourceforge.net/projects/sto-keybind/

[@roguephoenix]

i don't have that "event buyout" tab on my zenstore window.

[@CasualSAB]

Did you play those events last year?

[@roguephoenix]

@CasualSAB I don't know... 😅 Could that be the reason? If I played and claimed them already then I won't have any buyout?

[@CasualSAB]

Correct, you'll have the items in your events store to reclaim. Journal > Events > Reclaim Rewards.

[@roguephoenix]

@@CasualSAB ah! Thank you. You're always a fountain of information about this game.

[@torturedsoul8066]

How do you get these stats on your build?

[@VolkXue]

shield tunneling was around 140 million from day one.. People can go to hell if they think i'm paying that for a trait lol

[@TheChillee]

200m now and climbing… still, I see it going higher… inflation in STO Exchange.

[@bobbelcher5366]

Great video as always! Questions... Why SIF Conduits/Chronophage(assuming its nerfed a bit) over Experimental Power Redirection or D.O.M.I.N.O.? Seems like on paper they should provide a more concrete DPS boost? Especially EPR combined with Override Subsystem Safeties and a Large Aux Bat. Is it because you stripped pretty much all survivability and SIF gives a bit + some damage? As for moving from DHC to DC, assuming you meet all the caveats you mentioned how big a boost is this? Just hesitant to spend all those resources if its one of those 1-2% increase kind of things. You also got me wondering if I should drop some survivability on my Engle(especially on my drive train) but I only run random elites and the thought kind of makes me squirm a bit haha. Thanks again, always a pleasure seeing a notification from your channel :) cheers!

[@MaraMakesContent]

EPR's Overload At Will fucks with firing cycles, for one. Second, it's got 10s less uptime, and a lower overall damage boost. Third, SIF has a mobility boost that stacks with Evasive/Deut/Comp, which is rare. DOMINO isn't used for basically the same reason as the last reason, as well as the Cat2 boost being pretty washed out by all of our massive Cat2 stacking, and the Haste being somewhat less valuable with well, *gestures vaguely* As for Chronophage, even with a say 25% nerf, the direct damage is way more impactful than either of those consoles, so it justifies itself.

[@bobbelcher5366]

@@MaraMakesContent Thank you for the response! I guess I am just confused why 85%(OSS+Aux bat) weapon damage for 15 seconds is worse than 15% energy damage for 25? Is the extra 10 seconds just literally that big? Also, honest question.. Is "energy damage" the same thing as "energy weapon damage"? Solid point on the mobility boost though, I didn't know that! I guess when I think about it the firing cycle issue alone would be enough to slot something else but man do I love me some laser spam!

[@MaraMakesContent]

@@bobbelcher5366 SIF stacks 5-6 times, refreshing each stack

[@csnyder6997]

If I didn't get the grand prize for completing these 2024 events and if I buy them out, will I receive the grand prize?

[@MaraMakesContent]

If you buy out enough of them to get enough points you need, yes.

[@davidfleming3022]

@casualSAB just to make sure I follow, is the recommendation now to drop Isomags for other damage dealing consoles for best performance?

[@MaraMakesContent]

*IF* and *ONLY IF* you can maintain your cycles and know how to use the consoles correctly. Otherwise a passive build will do you better.

[@davidfleming3022]

@MaraMakesContent thank you. I began learning how to be better in the last year or so. Still working on it. Love your new channel BTW

[@MaraMakesContent]

@@davidfleming3022 Just doin what I do

[@TheChillee]

@@MaraMakesContentdon’t feel insulted. It’s basically saying you will need to actively pilot your ship AND understand the what’s & whys of how you are doing it. Definitely not for spacebar smashing

[@olliek2837]

I’m not seeing “event buyout” in the cstore. Is there a glitch? Great vid as always

[@Cofe82]

I run an EPG build on my T6 sci Vesta with the Altamid omni on it- would the Pavan omni be better?

[@MaraMakesContent]

100%

[@thextreme7619]

Has anybody else been having the issue with traits again? It started happening to me again last night.

[@davidkaye8712]

Spencer propgating FOMO, is this part of your new CM duties :P I hate the new lock box kit modules binding to character on open. I had over 50% of my boxes that were kit modules, a rip off IMHO.

[@MaraMakesContent]

the modules should be unbound on Tuseday

[@davidkaye8712]

@@MaraMakesContent To late for me, I discarded them all, taking up too much space :)

[@Stormplayers]

i ran to my pc right away to update my World Razor lol

[@outlawedTV88]

you ran? 😁

[@short72hp1]

I thought you said the ship was a skip ?

[@CasualSAB]

Played with it a bit and found it to be a bit better than expected. Fun ship to fly if you want that terran hydra alternative.

[@short72hp1]

In that case I may grab it it's fairly cheap on exchange

[@TheChillee]

I wonder if dual cannon costs are skyrocketing now as everyone thinks they are in that upper crust of DPSers? Boss, quit manipulating the market or the STO Securities & Exchange Commission will come after you for insider trading! 😂

[@bigv3210]

Good job at manipulating the market and causing prices to skyrocket. I find it funny that I watched the market on all of the items much as the tunneling trait jump 200% in price just a half hour before this video was posted. You have never posted a meta update this quickly after the last one and this wasn't even a meta update. This was just a retelling of the lock box items you already covered in the prior video on those items. Nothing here was "new" but phrased in a way to get people to "Act Fast" to buy these things from the exchange after someone happened to jack the prices on everything minutes before this went live. Tell us how much you and your friends make off of this.

[@CasualSAB]

I wanted to recap the newest additions, and wanted to get the word out there about the event buyouts going away. This was the most effective way to get that information widely dispersed. As for market manipulation, I have acquired ~7 of the breen shield tunneling traits via opening the lockbox and sold 1. I did not clear up the market to flip em like some believe.

[@bigv3210]

@@CasualSAB Someone happened to clear the market and jack the price just before this went live. For example, prices on the tunneling trait had been around 50-75M before your first video on the lockbox. After the video, prices jumped to 140-150M. This was reasonable though given the lockbox had literally just come out and from what I could see your video was the first to publically show everyone what the numbers were. SInce that time, the price had fluctuated around the 150M mark. HOWEVER, yesterday they started to trend back down to the point where they were closer to where you stated in this video of 100M. Then a half hour or so (give or take since youtube doesnt give exact time for uplaods that I can tell) before this video goes live, the market is cleared and prices jacked to 300M.

[@TheChillee]

I saw the video at 0930 this AM EST 2.1.2025. At that time, the cost of a tunnel trait on the exchange (I got one in my opening of 15 Lockboxes) was 68m credits. I did buy it. I haven’t seen the price since I’m at airports now, but if at 200-300m, it’s just a manifestation of the Ferengi Great Material Continuum. Spencer is not manipulating the market. But there are plenty of players and probably Gold sellers, who Spencer has crusaded against, who watch and act knowing Spencer’s observations are 100% on point. This is why I only watch his (and Mara’s) channels for STO content. It’s the insight and timely posting of videos. It literally is information that is actionable.., no different than real world edges on Wall Street… hardl “insider”information or improper market manipulation. It f I buy a whole bunch of Trellium K boxes so I can reset the bottom price point and sell my supplies of Trellium K, am I smart to try and squeak a profit or am I a nefarious manipulator? Is it against the rules? It’s part of the game.

[@20JK10]

Come on, you're so close to 3 million dps.

[@CasualSAB]

I know :(

[@oryanstar1010]

SO I GUESS THE TEMPORAL DISORDER CONSOLE ISN'T REALLY THAT VALUABLE THAT THEN AFTER ALL IT WASN'T MENTIONED HERE SO MAYBE I JUST WON'T BOTHER GETTING IT

[@MaraMakesContent]

TEMPORAL DISORDER WAS REALLY OK AS A F2P BEGINNER DURABILITY CONSOLE IF YOU GOT IT FROM THE EVENT ITSELF BUT I WOULDNT SPEND ANY MONEY ON IT

[@docroadie]

Bumma. looks like the Pahvo set isnt in the Event buyout tab. That was fast since your posting 2 hours ago.

[@MaraMakesContent]

If it isn't there for you you probably actually have it. Check your Space items event reclaim tab on the events page of your journal.

[@docroadie]

@ oh Crapzors. Didn’t think about that. I have so many consoles and ships. Hard to keep track of..lol

[@dhotnessmcawesome9747]

[@picard2005]

none of these trains are worth credits that they go for right now lol

[@pcubed664]

You just casually say Dual Cannons are better than Dual Heavy...do you know how much dill this is going to cost those of us with alts :.(.

[@CasualSAB]

I mentioned conditions for it. IF you're using the Credence console with a high uncon setup, or have a team using it on you at a 1.5m+ dps level, DC can come out ahead. If not, DHC still likely better for you.

[@TheChillee]

@@CasualSABDHCs meaning DHCs with isomag support, right?

[@martinarg1979]

😁👍🫂

[@MaraMakesContent]

Yeah I'm just like that.

[@pcubed664]

If your running that many universal consoles you might as well run a space wizard.

[@MaraMakesContent]

Except this is stronger lol.

[@GalacticGaming96220]

EPG builds are far too slow for the insanity that this man performs, trust me

[@mikeekim2532]

I have zero interest for any lock boxes. Ever. Played and hour on Endeavors again today for crap rewards of common materials and less than 20K C. This game has been WORTHLESS AND LAME for over a year now! Its not me Deca, it is you.

[@FeeriiEekii]

I also have zero interest for lockboxes, the only lockbox ships I have come from the yearly event campaign. Yet enjoy the game regardless. For me the Endeavour rewards aren't the important part, it is the Endeavor perks you unlock. I'm awaiting the new story mission and anniversary bundle (or at the very least the individual ships like the Ark Royal). How can you even blame DECA? They've barely touched the game as is, they are still in the proces of handover-takeover with Cryptic.If you feel the need to blame anyone, blame Embracer.

[@edapplederry5888]

#Nerficus

[@Flight--tz5nf]

No disrespect to you CasualSAB. But I am sick and tired of Meta this and Meta that. When the "Meta" doesn't always work for everyone. And I for one am sick and tired of working for something that doesn't work. I have followed guides till I was blue in the face. Even yours. Nothing works. And won't work until Craptic or DECA let's it work. For everyone.

[@MaraMakesContent]

Skill issue. But seriously the "meta" in this context *literally* isn't for everyone, I'm surprised you didn't pick up on that. This is for the highest end players. But regardless, following builds without *understanding how to pilot or the underlying mechanics* will yield you nothing. So uh... skill issue.

[@outlawedTV88]

@MaraMakesContent I was just about to write the same, tnx mara

[@play030]

McStu and Stu1701 are good at helping players who are not into the Meta stuff. Good luck.

[@stephenkelly8312]

Yeah a lot of practice goes into using meta builds to their fullest potential. But if you’re doing over 200k in elite content, you’re doing better than most players. Don’t sweat it.

[@JD-kl8hz]

coming on a vid about the meta and bitching about it being about the meta is like going on porn hub and bitching about all the vids being f**king. Seriously no one is forcing you to watch this.

[@realplonk]

Years b4 it comes back into the game??? This game doesn't have years. They would be stupid if they didn't start selling that stuff right away...

[@TheChillee]

I disagree; this game likely has years ahead of it. If Star Trek on Paramount simmers down, we may reenter a new dark age like TV Trek (2005-2017), which only got revived by “alternate universe” Trek (Abram Trek starting in 2009) making Star Trek mainstream and popular. Time will tell, I guess.

[@VulpisFoxfire]

The sad take from all this is STO is P2W. :-/ This video is all 'buy this, buy that' all with RL money. :-(

[@cojhawk21]

That's only if you're chasing the crazy high numbers. If you're doing about 100k-200k DPS, you're above average, and having a good time.

[@TheChillee]

Chasing DPS is not part of the game Cryptic/DECA designed.,, it is what players have morphed an aspect of the game in lieu of more frequent and/or engaging content, a Foundry replacement, something to bide time with. No different than the concept of PvP. Why is it more popular than PvP? There are many reasons, but DPS can still be a solo play option. The point is, either are valid. Players enjoy them. There is always a cost of entry, and it doesn’t have to involve real life money. If some random player got an Engle or Atlantis class vessel and was gifted all the meta consoles, would they become a mainstay in the DPS Leaderboards with practice and time? The answer is NO, time and practice help, but you must learn. That’s up to the specific player. That has no “cost”, but is the biggest barrier to entry.

[@SpecialJess2]

Hey i am interested in comming back for some casual dpsing is there been any new sets or traits or consoles for buffing pets since dominion faction dropped