Desmodos

If you want a defense build, I strongly recommend you keep CoF over OG. 2 specific reasons; 1) The to hit debuffs applied by CoF add directly to your defense. With low levels of defense, the to hit debuff is insignificant. At high levels of defense, they become extremely significant. Think of the difference between 40% defense vs 45% defense. 2) Many of the sets that can be slotted into CoF have large defense bonuses, and are extremely cheap.

I'm one of the people Werner mentioned who has tested Death Shroud numbers via Hero Stats. I was not the first to come up with the results, but I wanted to see them for myself. Death Shroud was consistently my highest damaging attack (Spines/DA was the only exception.) Unless you test it, you should not notice how effective Death Shroud is. I tested a build without Death Shroud and was very displeased, specifically with how hard it was to manage endurance with out it. In a large spawn, even if Death Shroud does not munch down every minion by the time you defeat the boss, it still decreases the amount attacks you need to dispatch them, hence the endurance savings.

If cardiac does not solve all your endurance problems, you've done something wrong.

I personally hate your build and the build Werner is suggesting to you. (not a personal attack on either build, just my gut reaction to both builds). Basically, both of these builds sacrifice much of what Dark Armor has inherently in an attempt to convert them into Super Reflexes builds.

The distinction being the "Ramia Angriffe + Iggy" mod build actually achieves something for that sacrifice; soft cap with strong damage out put and easy endurance management.

My objections to such a build design is the lack of defense debuff resistance; since you've abandoned all of Dark Armor's strengths, when it occurs the build is obliterated.

You can build BS/DA for soft cap to positional or typed with out sacrifices the builds strengths. I prefer typed for the ease of slotting (it uses less slots), but either option works fine. I'll post and example of both shortly.

Using the build you posted, the only place you can afford to pull a slot from is Dark Consumption. Lose the damage proc in Dark Consumption, replace it with Acc/Dmg/Recharge. Leave the Acc/Rechr from Efficacy Adaptor in, move the last slot to Hasten.


Yes you can. They are not mutually exclusive. I routinely run both on all my flying characters.

I got two copies of the e-mail.

E-mail me or post your e-mail and I'll forward it to you. Desmodos@gmail.com

yeah, my 2nd account would most likely shift to premium, depending on the restrictions. Main account will remain ViP.

I have found, that level 50 IOs are generally more expensive than lower level IOs. I do like my builds to be more exemplar capable as I get rather accustomed that that level of performance, losing every bonus makes exemplaring rather unappealing. In most cases, if you are using a full set, level 50s aren't really needed. If you're using a single IO or even two from a set, then you have to use level 50s as the enhancement values will be too low.

And no, Enzymes continue to work in the same manner.

We don't have full specifics, but keep in mind side by sides are base values. Meaning, you can have a premium account and just purchase features you are missing from ViP account. Yes there will be some things you cannot purchase, such as forum access or VIP server access. I strongly suspect Global Channels would be a purchasable item (my suspicion, I have no proof/confirmation of this at this time.)

The idea here, is that a VIP account will be cheaper than having a premium account + purchasing everything that's in the VIP account.

The way I'm looking at it, is 2 slots worth 4% smash/lethal resistance? My build has 56% S/L resistance with no resistance slotting in Tough. Just two defense uniques. Granted I achieved that via Cardiac Core and Gladiator's Unique.

That's about how I understand it.

Yes, you keep them. Keep in mind, new packs will come out. Under the new system, you can use your 400 points a month purchase the items you like from future packs. If you're are on a Premium, you will have to shell out cash from your pocket. As I understand it, they want to make the VIP accounts a no brainer, the way to do that is release really shiny packs that F2P and Premium players will want to buy. VIP players will simply use their points.

In other words, as a VIP player, you no longer get nickel and dimed for shiny new packs. If you found yourself wanting most of the packs, you're better off staying on a VIP. If you passed on most of the packs, Premium may be the route for you, particularly if you have 8 alts you don't play very often.

You've got the right basic idea, but a few choices are misguided, IMHO. Soft capping in Dark Armor is rarely worth the effort. Basically, you've sacrificed a great deal of damage out put for a smidge more survivablity. 35-40% S/L and E/Ne is the ballpark objective.

*Tough is a mule for Gladiator's and Steadfast +defense. Fully slotting up Tough is of little benefit. The base values of Tough on scrapper mods make slotting else where more beneficial.

*You need A LOT more recharge. Your single target attack chain depends on it. It will also allow you to had a great deal more AoE damage.

*Dark Regneration should be available ever 9-11 seconds. At this level, you no longer need to slot heals in Siphon Life, allowing you to treat it solely as an attack. (Comment specific to DM/DA.)

* Shadow Punch should be removed from the build. Sadly, Shadow Punch is no longer ideal for scrapper Dark Melee attack chains. You're ideal ST attack chain is Smite - Siphon Life - Smite - Mignight Grasp. If you fall short on recharge, you can use Smite - Siphon Life - Fire Blast - Midnight Grasp.

* I strongly recommend switch to Cloak of Fear. All CoH negatives are over come with IOs while good and cheap sets can be slotted into CoF. CoF + DM debuffs + defense = you hard to kill.

* I strongly recommend you invest in Purple Sets for +acc, +recharge, and + Fire/Cold resistance. Not to mention high % PROCs.

* I strongly recommend you switch to Blaze Mastery. Soul Mastery is turd for DM/DA. I REALLY hoped Soul Mastery would have been better to maintain the "Dark Elemental" theme for my DM/DA. Unfortunately, Incarnates offers no such option. Then factor in that for scrappers, Fire Ball is your absolute best option for APP AoE. (Mu Mastery a close second.) With High levels of recharge, you can unleash Fire Ball ever ~9 seconds (three times before Soul Drain wears off.)

* In case you didn't know, get Atlas Medallion and Portal Jockey ASAP. Then get Cardiac Core Alpha ASAP. This will dramatically simplify your endurance management and boost your survivablity.


Here's what my current build looks like.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.93
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

DM/DA Possible I19 Build C: Level 50 Magic Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Dark Melee
Secondary Power Set: Dark Armor
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Ancillary Pool: Blaze Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Smite -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(3), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(3), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(9), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(11)
Level 1: Dark Embrace -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(17), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(23), RctvArm-ResDam(23)
Level 2: Shadow Maul -- Armgdn-Dmg(A), Armgdn-Dmg/Rchg(13), Armgdn-Acc/Rchg(13), Armgdn-Dmg/EndRdx(15), Armgdn-Dam%(15)
Level 4: Death Shroud -- Erad-Dmg(A), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(5), Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), C'ngBlow-Dmg/EndRdx(7), C'ngBlow-Acc/Dmg(7), C'ngBlow-Dmg/Rchg(9)
Level 6: Hover -- Zephyr-ResKB(A), SW-ResDam/Re TP(21)
Level 8: Siphon Life -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(17), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(19), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(19), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(21)
Level 10: Obsidian Shield -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(11), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(25), RctvArm-ResDam(43)
Level 12: Murky Cloud -- RctvArm-ResDam(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(33), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(33), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(46)
Level 14: Fly -- Zephyr-ResKB(A)
Level 16: Dark Regeneration -- Theft-+End%(A), Theft-Acc/EndRdx/Heal(27), Theft-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(29), Nictus-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(29), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(31), H'zdH-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(31)
Level 18: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 20: Dark Consumption -- Erad-Acc/Rchg(A), Erad-Dmg/Rchg(31), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), C'ngBlow-Dmg/Rchg(42), C'ngBlow-Acc/Rchg(42), C'ngBlow-Acc/Dmg(43)
Level 22: Touch of Fear -- SipInsght-ToHitDeb(A), SipInsght-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(34), SipInsght-Acc/Rchg(34), SipInsght-ToHitDeb/EndRdx/Rchg(43), SipInsght-%ToHit(50)
Level 24: Cloak of Darkness -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), HO:Enzym(48)
Level 26: Soul Drain -- Erad-Acc/Rchg(A), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(36), RechRdx-I(37), Rec'dRet-ToHit(37), Rec'dRet-ToHit/Rchg(37)
Level 28: Cloak of Fear -- SipInsght-ToHitDeb(A), SipInsght-ToHitDeb/EndRdx/Rchg(33), SipInsght-Acc/ToHitDeb(34), SipInsght-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(40), SipInsght-Acc/Rchg(40)
Level 30: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 32: Midnight Grasp -- Hectmb-Dmg(A), Hectmb-Dmg/Rchg(39), Hectmb-Acc/Rchg(39), Hectmb-Dmg/EndRdx(39), Hectmb-Dam%(40)
Level 35: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), GA-3defTpProc(42)
Level 38: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), HO:Enzym(45)
Level 41: Char -- Empty(A)
Level 44: Fire Blast -- Apoc-Dmg/Rchg(A), Apoc-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(45), Apoc-Acc/Rchg(45), Apoc-Dmg/EndRdx(46), Apoc-Dam%(46)
Level 47: Fire Ball -- Ragnrk-Dmg(A), Ragnrk-Dmg/Rchg(48), Ragnrk-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(48), Ragnrk-Acc/Rchg(50), Ragnrk-Dmg/EndRdx(50)
Level 49: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 0: Freedom Phalanx Reserve
Level 0: Portal Jockey
Level 0: Task Force Commander
Level 0: The Atlas Medallion
Level 50: Cardiac Core Boost
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- HO:Micro(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Critical Hit
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Mrcl-Rcvry+(27)
Level 2: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(25)

Look at this way, if you bought most of the packs that came out, you are WAY better off staying subscribed. If you did not really dig the packs and have 8 alts you never play, Premium is the way to go.

I would say average builds, not best.

I wasn't suggesting the contrary. But by their very nature, such powers have minimal impact on Dual Blades. Their base recharge is too long. Even Dull Pain doesn't recharge fast enough to have any real impact.

Contrast those to Dark Regeneration, Healing Flames, or to a lesser degree, Energize.

Regeneration is obviously the worst culprit, granted all it's click powers are quick animating.

Hence I said very little. While Knock downs make for decent mitigation, with Dual Blades you can't just chose the knockdown power "as needed" with out sacrificing damage out put (cancellation of a combo). Compared to mitigation options of some of the other scrapper primaries, it's just not as effective. This not to speak ill of Dual Blades, it's simply the trade off for a set that offers great Aoe and ST output in the same attack chain.

It was meant as general statement regarding all three secondaries. Ironically, the one click power I was referring to, in all three secondaries was the 'optional' tier 9 power.

This in a thread where I made post supporting AE Farming?

There is nothing wrong with folks expressing their opinion against farming. That does not mean they are attack folks who chose to farm.

1) Punctuation is your friend.
2) Not really sure who you are aiming this at. Folks are just expressing their opinions.
3) Maybe decaff?

Keep in mind your choice is certainly valid, but it remains up to the individual. The CoF concerns you outlined can easily be overcome with IO Set bonuses that happen to compliment other areas of Dark Armor very well.

An argument could be made that on high defense builds, OG costs you more HP than it prevents.

In the end, it comes down to the rest of your build (or rather IO bonuses you acquired.) For me, and how I build Dark Armor, Cloak of Fear is the superior choice.

Another note: this is specific to scrappers. Since Brutes and Tankers can attain higher resistance values, there are builds where the argument can sway in either direction.

Agreed.