Talk:Nova/Abilities/@comment-67.43.247.201-20161012033350/@comment-67.43.247.201-20170701020944

I would say it depends. I use Nova all of the time (most used frame) and it is this very question that drove me to the realization that unless I'm beholden to some pre-formed group, for a particular purpose, in an activity that features extremely large tiles, I usually don't feel a need to mod aggressively for duration.

I usually end up with something pretty close to this:

https://i.imgur.com/nifUP5V.png

Even at the shown duration of 168%, the wave still covers a total of 55.25 meters on each cast, which is quite large. Capped efficiency means that all you need to do is find one orb to be able to recast.

85% range does result in a fairly small AM Absorb field, but it still has pretty tremendous utility, even at this size. It will block all kinds of things, including Kela's cheap-ass OHKO rocket attacks. I'm usually pointing it at the floor, so some portion of the field ends up extending over me for a moment, so it provides a decent angle of coverage.

It is hilarious to sail orbs past enemies using weapons like the flux rifle, because they appear to simply aim straight dead-center at the orb as it passes. You can also drop an orb, and run alongside in its absorption field, and have it protect you on the go.

You can swap in 15% more range if you don't care about Escape Velocity, though it is a pretty nice thing to have too.

You can directly swap to a R8 Trans Fort to spare a little duration but still hit your +45% strength (though 27.5 loss isn't terrible), or pair Power Drift in the exilus slot with intensify, and lose no duration.

My Narrow Minded isn't rank 10 simply because I haven't gotten around to it yet.