If you're softcapped anyway, I don't believe the tohit debuff is doing anything more for you. I didn't know that AV/EBs resist the damage debuff, though.
I'm actually trying to make the same decision on my shield brute, and I think what persuaded me is that darkest night is a better set mule (dark watcher's despair), and that OwtS doesn't provide enough survivability to be a good panic button.
@Dysc, on virtue:
Virtue blues: Overnight (DP/MM), Kid Ridiculous (FC/rad), Panorama (Ill/time)
Virtue reds: Block Party (SS/SD), Goldcrush (earth/fire), Deadwire (claws/elec), Snowcrush (ice/kin)
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I didn't know that AV/EBs resist the damage debuff, though.
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AFAIK they dont
Using DN against an AV works out very well since it lowers incomming damage which makes your resist that much better
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I didn't know that AV/EBs resist the damage debuff, though.
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AFAIK they dont
Using DN against an AV works out very well since it lowers incomming damage which makes your resist that much better
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AVs don't get any special debuff resistance for damage debuffs, but they can (and do) reduce it's effectiveness just like any other mob. There are two primary ways this happens:
<ul type="square">[*]Mobs that resist the same damage type they deal. Damage debuffs aren't global, they're applied to every damage type individually. If a mob has resistance to a damage type (say, smashing) then the smashing damage debuff is reduced proportional to their resistance (50% smash res = 50% lower smash dmg debuff). If a mob deals that same damage type (like BABs) then you'll notice it being less effective. This also means that if a mob can somehow hit 100% res to a damage type, they'll completely ignore the dmg debuff.
[*]Higher level enemies resist the debuff due to the Purple Patch just like every other debuff[/list]
Having said that, damage debuffs are one of the more potent debuffs that can be used against AVs. Is it better than OwtS? Well, pros and cons:
Pro:
*) Darkest Night is always available, while OwtS will always have downtime.
*) Darkest Night doesn't just increase your survivability, but anyone on the team that mob attacks.
*) The tohit debuff can act as a buffer for tohit debuffs. (Essentially useless vs AVs, though.)
Cons:
*) It costs additional endurance while OwtS gives you endurance.
*) OwtS's +res is stable and won't vary depending on what you're fighting.
*) If you're softcapped, it provides less mitigation than OwtS to s/l. ex: OwtS is 22.5% s/l res enhanceable and Darkest Night offers 21% dmg debuff which is resistible. OwtS also offers a +MaxHP buff. (It is likely stronger vs exotic damage, but I haven't done the math for that.) Also remember that dmg res stacks additively towards the cap while res + dmg debuff stacks multiplicatively. (Simple example with made up numbers: 50% res + 50% res (capped at 90% res/mitigation) is stronger than 50% res * half damage (75% mitigation).)
I refrain from saying either is vastly superior to the other (for one thing, I don't have the in game experience to do so), but there doesn't look like a clear winner, in my book. It'd depend on your build / what you want it for.
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If you're softcapped anyway, I don't believe the tohit debuff is doing anything more for you. I didn't know that AV/EBs resist the damage debuff, though.
I'm actually trying to make the same decision on my shield brute, and I think what persuaded me is that darkest night is a better set mule (dark watcher's despair), and that OwtS doesn't provide enough survivability to be a good panic button.
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it would be helpful against mobs that use builtup-like powers and other powers that boost to-hit
It is very useful for AE missions(and pvp) because custom mobs can have those very easily (hard and extreme).
Lets not forget to that with /SD you're all ready running 6-7 toggles before Darkest Night.
My DM/SD build has one power left to pick and I'm still undecided on this last one. I've been reading that the usefulness of Darkest Night diminishes once defenses are soft capped and the effects are extremely resisted when used against EB/AV. However, from a team point of view, it is still very useful for bosses and below. Should I bother to take this power or go for OwtS instead?