3 forma Loki that smashes Steel Path. Partly because of long-duration Invisibility, mostly because of Pillage's 100% Armor/Shield Strip, and Invulnerability through Safeguard Switch. The Helminth ability I choose is Pillage because it can 100% armor/shield strip, cleanse status effects in an AEO, and scales of duration much better than range. I swapped his ultimate for Pillage since Radial Disarm, has a short range (6.8m) with this build, because Decoy is very fragile on SP you can swap it too. I have swapped 4 because I want the option to keep doing spy missions with him. However, this build is largely designed and tested for solo Steel Path Endurance. I suggest using a build with Enemy Radar/[Energy Siphon], max duration, higher efficiency, normal range, and Perspicacity for spy missions. Alternate 100% Armor Strip Helmnith options from best to worst are Terrify, Tharros Strike, [Seeking Shuriken], and Fire Blast. Also, you could use Nourish, [Xata]'s Whisper, Roar, or Eclipse for more weapon damage instead of an Armor Strip.
Explanation: It looks like Pillage has no range, but it expands 20m every second for 5.25 seconds. At the end, I have 107.7 m Pillage, that can strip 100% armor and give me back shields. The 25.5 m range on Switch Teleport isn't bad, I can still use it for [Safeguard Switch] quite well. I am immortal through a [Safeguard Switch], spam it there is no cooldown to it, and it is positively affected by ability duration. Duration is high for Invisibility; it is the trademark ability of [Loki]. Arcane Energize to compensate for the low Efficiency. Decoy is a dead ability unless I am using [Safeguard Switch] on it, that way it is still decent for excavation, defense, and disruption missions.
Personal Perspicapacity Speed Spy Loki: https://overframe.gg/build/507238/
Ignore the unnecessary essay below.
Guide Breakdown:
With [Corrosive Projection], because it acts as 72% Strength, a full armor strip can be achieved with 328% Strength. A single tap turns Steel Path enemies into weaklings. Disclaimer: If the [Corrosive Projection] is exchanged for another aura mod, then 400% strength is needed for Pillage. For, the missing 72% strength, you'll need to exchange an arcane for R5 Molt Augmented with 238 kills and use one Tau Strength shard as well.
[Power Drift] for 15% Strength and the chance to resist knockdown. Prime Sure Footed is better, but it will cost one more forma and one Tau Strength shard as well.
[Narrow Minded], [Primed Continuity], and Molt Efficiency because they increase the duration of Invisibility to 31.5 seconds. I feel that is a comfortable duration for any mission. (262.5% Duration with Molt Efficiency)
Then I use Blind, Rage, Transient Fortitude, Umbral Intensify, and Amar's Hatred for Strength. Loki with a complete armor/shield strip turns into a killing machine, it's much better than using [Irradiating Disarm]. Note: You can also exchange Armar's Hatred for Adaptation, Rolling Guard, or Nira's Hatred, but that action will cost one Tau Strength shard too.
I run [Primed Flow], and Arcane Energize so I don't ever run out of energy. The focus school to run is your choice, it doesn't have to be Zenurik if you are using Arcane Energize, but if you aren't running Arcane Energize then it better be Zenurik. Arcane Steadfast can work too.
[Safeguard Switch] is a better [Rolling Guard], it is the same cleaning status effects and grants invulnerability to either yourself (3 seconds) or your allies (6 seconds) but it is also affected by Ability Duration (7.875 yourself/15.75 seconds for others). So, you can be invulnerable forever because it can be refreshed while active with no cooldown. Note: I can replace it with [Hushed Invisibility] for spy missions. With different forma, you can equip, Adaptation, Rolling Guard, Vigorous Swap, or any other mod you enjoy.
I enjoy using two Ability Strengths, two Ability Duration, and one Casting Speed for Archon shards. If you don't have enough crimson shards, then use Casting Speed amber shards, or a mix of Azure Max Health/Armor.
For Arcane, I opted for Arcane Energize, because I have low efficiency, and Molt Efficiency (36% Duration), to make up for the [Transient Fortitude] duration penalty. Since I am running Zenurik, instead of Arcane Energize, I then can use Arcane Arachnee for damage (It's like [Vigorous Swap], but it synergizes with [Loki]'s Wall latch talent and lasts 30 seconds). You can also use any other damage arcane that matches the weapon you enjoy, such as Arcane Acceleration, Arcane Velocity, Arcane Fury/Strike, etc.
I'll not mention Shield Gating, since you'll absolutely never ever need it with this build.
Steel Path Endurance Short Guide: Use two Tau Ability Strengths shards, change [Power Drift] into Primed Sure Footed, and Amar's Hatred into Adaptation or Rolling Guard. Adaptation is better for casual Steel Path and lower-level Endurance gameplay ([Adaptation] turns [Loki] into an excellent tank with Pillage), but it loses effectiveness as you go up to the level 9999 cap. At level cap, [Rolling Guard] is the better choice. Instead of Zenurik for Energy, you can run Vazarin for its sling, or Madurai for extra damage. This suggestion is entirely optional and up to you, as I stay invisible and invulnerable through Safeguard Switch. Most importantly, don't forget to bring a strong weapon, with Viral, Crit/Slash, or Heat, and Faction Smite to maximize the damage on red Health from Pillage.
Enjoy :3
Note for me: Terrify full armor strip can be achieved at 137% strength with [Corrosive Projection], and without [Corrosive Projection] it can be achieved at 167% strength. Tharros Strike is very OP, and [Seeking Shuriken] is good for bosses and deals additional bleed damage too. Fire Blast because it has been nerfed hard, needs two casts. Drop strength and equip range mods. Pillage feels the best, compared to other armor strips. Tested Roar and Eclipse and both work remarkably well, but Xata's Whisper and Nourish are not as good. Eclipse can become permanent high-strength damage with invisibility cast afterward in high-light areas.
