A lot of Dark Armors survivability lies on Oppressive Glom and Cloak of Fear. Both of those severely cuts down your fury building, making it a rather poor choice for Brutes. It can still do ok, but I think most prefer making them Scrappers, Tanks or Stalkers.
I haven't really seen that many Dark Armor Brutes in the higher level, and by that I mean I can count the number I have seen from two sever together on one hand 
With that said I was on a ITF last weekend with this DB/DA Brute, and I have to say, she was ripping it up! While the power of Dark armor doesn't really shock me, I had never seen it with DBs before. I think she only died like maybe one or two times. Funny enough I think of of them was cause she went afk to get the phone, came back and forgot to turn armor toggles on 
Hey it happens!
I have a 50 db/da and it is really strong. I dont have og and rarely ever turn on cloak of fear. Honestly, I never thought I would level it but it turned into a lot of fun. I built mine with quite a bit of defense and of course recovery. If you dont want to sink some decent infamy in a da I personally would not recommend it.
My main is a Fire Melee/Dark Armor brute and, I gotta say, I love playing him. It's definitely not terrible. I just leap into a circle of enemies, use Fire Sworc Circle, Greater Fire Sword the strongest enemy(which usually kills them), then use weaker attacks on the enemies that are stunned from Oppressive Gloom.
I still build plenty of fury from doing attacks and being hit by those that don't get stunned, and Dark Regeneration rocks incredibly if slotted correctly.
That's sweet to hear, finally got my SM/DA brute to 26, like it so much I started work on a Fire/DA brute, might even try a Elec/DA one day.
Dark Armor is a very misunderstood set. It can be both powerful and pathetic, depending on who is using it. It is a set that requires a lot of finetuning, tweaking, and not to mention micromanaging. Granted, you're not going to be able to survive a group of level 54 bosses in AE for very long but then besides Stone Armor (and perhaps /SR) brutes, who can? In fact, before WP came along, it was considered to be a jack of all trades, master of none set for brutes.
Contrary to popular opinion, you don't *need* to turn on Oppressive Gloom all the time to survive. I have it on my Fire/DA brute but I barely use it except for the hairest of situations. Sure, OG can make survival easier but it is hardly required when you need to build up fury. Anyways, once IOed out, a /DA brute can have decent resists against almost every damage type and decent defense (20% or so) if you combine it with weave and CJ. If you go with the Ghost Widow Patron, you can also pickup Dark Obliteration and Darkest Night, both of which can make your defense seem that much higher with their -tohit debuffs. If all else fails, you still got the best combat heal in CoX (Dark Regeneration) as a backup. The biggest drawback of /DA is the endurace issue (KB too but that can fixed easily with IOs) but once you get that under control, you don't have any glaring weaknesses.
My first 50 was a dark/dark brute. The only problems they had were against heavy spike energy EBs. Then brutes got Darkest Night and even they ceased to be a problem in the slightest.
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I like DA much more on a tank vs a brute. That said, it is a set that is not for everyone. Sort of like fiery aura. Most say it sucks, but it has strengths and weaknesses like everything else.
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I have always maintained that Dark Regeneration is the most powerful skill in the game. The Theft of Essence: Chance for +end proc is pure insanity in this skill.
With some defense and regenration from IOs, Dark Armor can be an absolute beast.
I seem to have no luck with procs, how often would you say Chance of +end goes off for you?
I've seen quite a few good /da brutes. But most of them require some io's. Right out of the box, you're going to have a lot of toggles to juggle. They tend to do better in a longer drawn out fight. I would consider them a challenging set, but with the potential to be very good.
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My first 50 Brute was Elm/Da. It was fun but I've never been overly impressed with Dark Armor. I think there are too many tricks or layers of mitigation and the set does none of them exceptionally well. I would rank this set close to Fire and Elec for survivability on teams.
I do have a DA/Energy Tank that seems to be doing much better but that's because I've dropped countless millions of inf into IOs and Melee Defense.
Basically, DA is a good all around set for general PvE but tough mobs and/or AV type encounters can prove hazardous.
I have championed a few changes to DA over my years here and they are:
1. Allow Dark Regen and Death Shroud to apply -tohit debuff on affected targets, non-stackable. -5% tohit from DR, -3.5% from DS, and only DS' tohit debuff is enhanceable
2. Have Dark Regen's endurance usage fluctuate with # of enemies hit up to 3 targets. 1 target hit, 33% of current end cost or 11 endurance cost(before end red), 2 targets 66% of endurance or 22 endurance (before end red), 3 targets hit...normal endurnace cost.
3. Replace Soul Transfer with Eclipse, a slightly watered down version.
I can see the first two being applied and the last one is more of a hope. To be honest, just doing #3 would fix most problems with DA.
My first Brute was a EnM/DA Brute. I often like to take the underdog of all sets and play them to 50 to see just how bad bad is. Wasn't all that bad to me. I actually had quite a bit of fun with it. Now granted, it's not as survivable as my SS/WP, but it can be played and with some success.
I plan on respec'ing mine here soon and once I have enough inf to IO it out I'll do that too. Here is my planned respec'd build.
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oOBunnyGoneBadOo: Level 50 Mutation Brute
Primary Power Set: Energy Melee
Secondary Power Set: Dark Armor
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Mu Mastery
Villain Profile:
Level 1: Energy Punch -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(40), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(40), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(43), T'Death-Dam%(46)
Level 1: Dark Embrace -- RctvArm-ResDam(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(3), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(3), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(7)
Level 2: Bone Smasher -- T'Death-Acc/Dmg(A), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx(37), T'Death-Dmg/Rchg(37), T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(39), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39), T'Death-Dam%(40)
Level 4: Murky Cloud -- RctvArm-ResDam(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(5), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(5), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(7)
Level 6: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 8: Whirling Hands -- Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(9), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(9), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(13), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(15), Sciroc-Dam%(15)
Level 10: Obsidian Shield -- RctvArm-ResDam(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(11), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(11), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(13)
Level 12: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Jump-I(A)
Level 16: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Numna-Heal(17), Heal-I(17)
Level 18: Total Focus -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(19), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(19), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(36), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(36), Mako-Dam%(37)
Level 20: Stamina -- Efficacy-EndMod(A), Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg(21), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc(21)
Level 22: Death Shroud -- M'Strk-Acc/Dmg(A), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx(23), M'Strk-Dmg/Rchg(23), M'Strk-Acc/EndRdx(25), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(27), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(27)
Level 24: Acrobatics -- EndRdx-I(A), EndRdx-I(25)
Level 26: Dark Regeneration -- Theft-Heal/Rchg(A), Theft-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(29), Theft-Acc/EndRdx/Heal(29), Theft-+End%(33)
Level 28: Boxing -- Acc-I(A)
Level 30: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), RctvArm-ResDam(31), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(31), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(31)
Level 32: Energy Transfer -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(33), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(33), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(34), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34), Mako-Dam%(34)
Level 35: Cloak of Darkness -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(36), GftotA-Def(48), GftotA-Def/EndRdx(50)
Level 38: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(39), GftotA-Def(48), GftotA-Def/EndRdx(50)
Level 41: Electrifying Fences -- Det'tn-Acc/Dmg(A), Det'tn-Dmg/EndRdx(42), Det'tn-Dmg/Rchg(42), Det'tn-Dmg/Rng(42), Det'tn-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(43), Det'tn-Dmg/EndRdx/Rng(43)
Level 44: Ball Lightning -- Det'tn-Acc/Dmg(A), Det'tn-Dmg/EndRdx(45), Det'tn-Dmg/Rchg(45), Det'tn-Dmg/Rng(45), Det'tn-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(46), Det'tn-Dmg/EndRdx/Rng(46)
Level 47: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(48)
Level 49: Build Up -- AdjTgt-Rchg(A), AdjTgt-ToHit/Rchg(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Acc-I(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Fury
Dark Regenearation, with its massive 20' radius, causes that proc to fire quite regularly in a team setting.
Here are the values of it firing at least once per number of targets hit.
<font class="small">Code:[/color]<hr /><pre>
Targets %Chance
1 20%
2 36%
3 49.8%
4 59.1%
5 67.3%
6 74.8%
7 79.1%
8 83.3%
9 86.6%
10 89.3%
</pre><hr />
I would say that, on average, I hit about 4 targets with Dark regeneration. On a team setting, this value is closer to 6, while solo it's closer to 2.5. If you average 4 targets hit, the proc fires at least once about 60% of the time, and in that 60% there are chances for double, triple, and quadruple procedures.
I sometimes gain endurance by using Dark Regeneartion in a team setting.
<QR>
lolz dark armor
Infinity and Victory mostly
dUmb, etc.
lolz PvP anymore, Market PvP for fun and profit
I have a lv50 elec/dark armor brute that is a complete blast to play. I tear through mobs without an issue. About the only time I die is when I am not paying attention.
I will say that I didn't use CoF or OG. Slot for end reduction and acc, everything else will follow.
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DA has the best survivability of any melee armor set outside of tier-9s (and it's as good as some teir-9s).
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DA has the best survivability of any melee armor set outside of tier-9s (and it's as good as some teir-9s).
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I disagree ALOT. SR, INV, WP are all more survivable outside of Tier 9s in my experience.
A lot of das effectiveness depends on how good you become with dark regen. If used optimally (I admit it is tough) it can outperform rttc and fast healing combined against mobs. The defense/resist numbers from wp and da are basically a wash. Of course wp gets its nice health bonus but da can get a lot of mitigation from either cof or og.
Im not sure what primary from wp you are comparing to the em/da. If it is something like ss or sm you have to admit that is an unfair comparison. When dealing with single avs though I would def take the wp as the burst damage from avs can make it even harder to time dark regen.
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The problem is, nobody likes having their costume hidden.
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I've noticed the combat aura can be visible, but that would be about it. Dark Armor and Granite do not win any fashion points!
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Just curious?
I never see any in game lately, so I decided to make one no budget for fun and can't seem to get any input on the build (multiple forums)...
Is Dark Armor underperforming that badly that no one wants to play/look at it?
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As others have said, Dark Armor can be a beast, you just need to be familiar with the powers and slot it right.
Mine is a DB/DA + Scirocco lightning powers = Sith Warrior 
In one hand he wields Talsorian Blade in the other the Rularuu.
DA isn't incredibly popular. I use mine for just about everything, actually. He can survive an awfu lot, but that's also after about a dozen respecs. It's taken me a long time to get him where I want him.
The good parts of DA are the heal, the solid mitigation against all damage types, and the self-rez with included 12-second mag +30+ stun. Cloak of Fear and Opressive Gloom are situational. I tried both, respecced out of them, and don't miss them at all. Cloak of Darkness is very much a useful power, allowing stealth to an AT that usually has no ability to do so.
The bad parts of DA are high END usage, no godmode Tier 9 for when things get hairy, a weakness to knockback, and no exceptionally high mitigation numbers.
DA can be very good. It takes a lot of practice to play it well, and even when played well, the nature of the set seems to be a lot closer to the jagged edge. When it works, it works well. hen it doesn't, well, we get a self rez.
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I really dig my Elec/DA/Sci Brute.
He's fairly strong, but he's also very pretty. He's like a black cloud of doom that spews evil red lightning!
's doesn't make things plural.
Just curious?
I never see any in game lately, so I decided to make one no budget for fun and can't seem to get any input on the build (multiple forums)...
Is Dark Armor underperforming that badly that no one wants to play/look at it?
When something good happens to me, I can never enjoy it....
I am always too busy looking for the inevitable punchline...
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