Square_One

I think I heard somewhere that more -res actually increases the effect of -dam. Or maybe it was vice versa. Is anything like that true?

The build you're planning for doesn't have Grav. Emanation...my usual knee-jerk reaction is to scream and shout until someone understands just how trivial that power makes soloing. It's permable even without any IO bonuses...with some amount of +recharge, it's extremely easy to perma. Stupefy's a nice set anyway, and the purple stun set is fairly cheap. But if you don't want a perma mag 3 AoE stun and understand what the potential for it is, go ahead.

But anyway...

As was said, Eclipse first. Not sure how your Acc for it is - shouldn't be too bad, but your mentioned build uses only IO bonuses and Tactics to help its Acc, and you don't have Tactics yet.

Grav Em first as well, if you feel like it. If the Acc in it is good, you can face the alpha after you've capped your resistance with Eclipse.

Why no Quasar? It'll clear a spawn (or get really close) after you Mire, and all you have to do is pop a blue + Stygian to return.

Meh, don't have much more to say...when I was leveling mine, all I had to do was Grav Em once then go into Nova, and that pretty much took care of a spawn. You've got to deal with surviving for longer since you don't have that amount of damage available.

*Oh, and Khelds (Warshades in particular) play radically different than any other AT, especially the more static melee AT's like scrappers. And it takes a bit to learn to reign in on them - my tactics and strategies seemed to change with every new power I got. So don't take Debt's comment too badly.

Here are some posts in this Kheld subforum within a couple pages that contain some builds and ideas.

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

All those were on the first 3 pages here in the kheld subforum. That about does it for potential builds. Some of those will be IO builds, but a few should be leveling builds.

As for guides and strategy, some of those threads have quite a bit. Also look at the guides posted at the top of the forum - they're old, but still very valuable and applicable.

Nova form does really well in zone PvP. It's IMO the best and only option. That being said, Warshades don't really have much to enhance Nova form with.

The human Buff powers are only situational in the Zones - they need bodies to hit. You can basically only find big lower level spawns to Eclipse off of in Warburg, so you have to find players quickly. If you do while the buff is up - well let's say I don't think I've ever been killed with capped resistance while protecting myself with the dual cannons of Nova Bolt and Blast. Without it, you've got to be able to use the fast flight to your advantage. And even then, messing with actual pvp toons is not going to get you many kills at all.

Dwarf is okay, the slowness is debilitating, however. Attacks themselves aren't that bad.

(The above coming from a purpled shade's experience. PvPing was a LOT easier for him before the last change, where I could quickly Grav Em a MM's pets or throw out a quick animating hold that also does some nice damage. MM's have always been the easiest, thanks to the TP Foe power we get, plus Grav Em and buffs from enemies. Stalkers and Squishies in general were easier before, so long as you got the jump on the stalk.)

Now for a PB, who can actually enhance Nova with self +buff like Build Up and +HP powers, and with a self poppable tier nine, they do a lot better.

The -dmg from Darkest Night should still be fairly high even on AV's, unless I'm mistaken. I've always heard that Kin's should keep Siphon Power - if only to use on AV's, for that purpose.

If you're using Divine Avalanche, it will cap you to Melee by itself. Also Lethal, so building towards both Smashing/Lethal (as they're bonuses usually come together) would still be only half as effective.

Um, you do use the pets, right? If not, that would be #1 - they are the most damaging pets blueside, and will do their work in whatever form you're in, and even if you're dead.

Quasar is grand fun. Human Mire -> Dwarf Mire -> Quasar -> blue -> Stygian and you're back, with buff time to spare from human mire to go into Nova to mop up any mobs missed.

Gravitic Emanation might help. It can be perma'd easily (just use some triple IO's and 5/6 slot it), so you can run up to a group, stun them all...and then switch to Nova to blast in safety. When stun is about to wear off, back to human to use it again. Yeah, I suppose that really doesn't help much, considering you'll be back to Nova in no time. :P

Gravity Well, Inky, and Emanation go together well when you're up against the really tough/annoying bosses/mobs. Up against, say, Vanguard, who's nasty debuffs will easily rip a Dwarf apart? (Well, the bosses at least) Grav Em, run in with Inky, then start layering holds with Well (will need some Rech and Hold enhancement for that though). It also does nice ST damage to boot.

Not that I know of...later on, if you still need help with endurance while in forms, make sure to split slotting between end mod and redux - that might be best.

If you ever get IO sets and have some +recovery lying around from bonuses and some end redux in the form powers, slotting the forms themselves for end mod or redux isn't that important. (More important on Dwarf than Nova, IMO). I've got a single Fly/End Redux IO in Nova, but that's on my 'shade, where end problems are cured by Stygian. Dwarf still has some Res and End Redux, if I remember right.

*Walks in talking about how awesome Drain Psyche is on his Dom, and how he doesn't need Stamina.*

*Gets clubbed in the head, and then dragged off into some lower dungeon.*

Yes, Orbiting is a toggle that will stay on, so long as you do not switch out of human. And yes, it's damage will be buffed by either human or dwarf mire.

The old guides are still useful - not much as changed powers wise for quite a while. I'm not sure if the older guides talk about IO's though. If they do, then they're basically up to date. As for strategy/powers, go, I'll offer some tips if you want to go tri-form, lemme see if I can order them into coherent thoughts.

Damage:
Slot Nova's AoE's and Blast. The Bolt can be slotted once/if you have slots elsewhere. (I've never slotted the bolt on mine, and probably will only do so if I change to a more PvP-enabled build, or am going for specific set bonuses) Slot them like any normal ranged/AoE attack.

Dwarf's single attacks and Mire needs some slots - just enough to make them effective. When you get into the 40's and have a lot more slots, you can spend time getting them built up more. Mire when slotted well can crank out some damage.

Quasar - standard nuke. I enjoy it, just for the sake of double miring and then unloading it. (Human Mire (lasts 30 secs) -> Dwarf Mire (lasts 10? secs) -> immediately into Human to nuke)

Unchain Essence is there if you want it, you might need the slots to beef up the forms though. Some people like it even on Tri builds, but I still think firing the two AoE's in Nova will be more effective.

Shadow Blast isn't too bad for tagging stragglers if you happen to be in human at the moment.

Orbiting is not something I'd suggest for a tri-former. It's a standard PBAoE damage toggle, but does less damage than most, and will be toggled off as soon as you change forms.

Control/Buff/Debuff:
Gravitic Emanation is amazing. I'd recommend 5 or 6 slotting it quickly with dual or tri IO's. It can be perma'd if you use some Acc/Rech/Stun IO's. More on this with strategies.

Gravity Well - mag 3 hold and really nice damage (belongs in both categories, really). Slot it with mez first, then later add damage once you find yourself generally more safe as you play/get used to the 'shade again.

Human Mire, doesn't have to be extensively slotted, but you'll want it working well as mainly a buff power. Other words, focus on Acc/Recharge first, damage later.

Stygian Circle - can also be slotted minimally. I've always used 1 End Mod IO, I think. You can add another or a recharge if you prefer.

Starless Step - useful for taking on low level Q's and V's. And MM's in PvP. :P

Inky Aspect can also be used with a tri-form, just not so much as all-human. Minimal enhancement needed - Acc and Stun I guess. I've only used it a few times, but it's helped during those times.

Eclipse - take immediately. Mine's slottedd 2 Acc/Rech 2 Res/Rech, but you might need another slot or two without any IO bonuses. Use it, love it. It will cap your resistance and stay even when you switch forms. Resistance-capped Nova is sweet.

Dwarf heal needs slotting also - it is very end hungry. Acc/Heal/End I'd say at first, the damage is definitely secondary to the heal.

Others:
Dark Extraction is awesome. You'll want it fairly heavily slotted with Rech/Acc/Damage...those buggers are the most damaging pets available blueside, at least that's what I've always heard.

Hasten is really nice, since Eclipse, Mire, Pets, Quasar are all clicks on timers. And hasten's buff carries over to the forms to help the attack chains there. Also, Super Speed + Shadow Cloak = Stealth, which is nice for landing an Eclipse or just stealthing when needed. (Since we also get a free TP Ally power)

Strategy:
Hm...at 39, you'll have all of your tools available. Which is really nice, to say the least. Most of the guilds should have better strategy, and it will still be fine to use.

Emanation + Nova. Approach a spawn. Grav Emanation -> Nova. Can easily kill all or most before they're out of the stun.

Nova in general...try to attack spawn from air, directly above - at least when teaming. This will cause the KB to become KD, and help reduce scatter.

Eh...trying to think of other strategies, I thought I'd have more...just learn to be aware of what's available. Hard boss ahead? Grav Em + Inky until you can stack Gravity Wells to hold him. Or just use Dwarf. Or Nova, then when low on health use Stygian, while using the occasional KB as protection. Choices are up to you. Eclipse when needed/can, and you're basically indestructible. At least while it's up. :P

Stygian allows you to skip Stamina, which is nice. Use it after every fight, and you'll be full health/end for the next one.

If you need build help, there's several threads on the 1/2/3rd pages of this kheld section that have good tri-form builds, try checking those out and see what you think.

This looks like an awesome combo for damage reduction/resistance. Sonic provides resistance, and Ice provides -recharge/slows, which effectively mean resistance (Bad guys attacking only 25% of the time = 75% resistance basically).

Neato.