Dark Melee/Willpower?

My wife's making a fire/rad, and I wanted to make another scrapper to play with her. I'm leaning towards DM/WP. Anyone played the combo? It looks really good on paper. Siphon life and the to-hit debuffs from DM will help add survivability, and with dark consumption and quick recovery I'm almost certain I can skip stamina. I'm also giving Dark Melee/Invulnerability some consideration too.

Any thoughts on either combo?

DM/WP is a beast.
If I were to skip either Dark Consumption or Stamina, I would skip Dark Consumption.

dm/inv would get my hat tip of the two given you have a f'rad... better taunt aura, more selective durability.

DM/WP is out there. It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until it's arrested everything in sight.

It's a really, really strong combo (personally I skipped Dark Consumption and picked up Stamina late in the build, because DC needs more slot investment to be really worthwhile. Also skipped Confront, took everything else in the primary/secondary). And it's strong out of the box - it doesn't need heavy investment in IOs to get powerful.

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DM/WP is a beast.
If I were to skip either Dark Consumption or Stamina, I would skip Dark Consumption.

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Dark Consumption is actually a good deal better over time than Stamina is and has the added benefit of not requiring 2 other powers and taking up one of your power pool picks. The only decent reason to take Stamina over it is because you're unwilling to sacrifice the animation time for a Smite every 75 seconds, which makes even less sense if you actually use it to mitigate some of the AoE woes that most DMs find themselves in. Personally, I find that DM is great simply because it allows you to bypass Stamina altogether, especially when combined with Quick Recovery. When I've actually got the option to go without Stamina and still have decent attacks (re: not having to slot for gobs of end redux), I take it and Dark Consumption (as well as Consume) do so incredibly well.

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dm/inv would get my hat tip of the two given you have a f'rad... better taunt aura, more selective durability.

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Same here, for the same reason. Playing a DM/Inv would allow your wife to go crazy with fire cages, hotfeet and any epic AoE, without any extra work on your end.

DM/WP is an excellent combination that can bring you tanker level survivability.

Quick Recovery at 20, Stamina at 22, and postpone Mind over Body to 24 and Heightened Senses relatively later, 30 or 35. You'll be quite adequately tough this way and enjoy playing the character a lot more.

I disagree that Stamina requires two useless power choices. Since regeneration is a large part of your survivability, you know you want Health as well as Fast Healing, so you'll be in the Fitness pool anyways. The two mentioned toggles just don't do enough before SO levels to justify taking them before, and trying to keep them up is still going to be a burden, especially since you don't get QR on a Scrapper until 20 anyways.

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Definitely decided to go with DM/WP. I am already taking swift and health, but I still think I'd rather have dark consumption than stamina. My reasoning is that over time, they might be roughly the same (I've not run the numbers), but dark consumption can get me a lot of endurance quickly, and stamina can't. If I get hit with something that kills my recovery rate, or a sapper gets ahold of me, dark consumption can get my endurance back to full, and stamina can't. It seems to me like overall having 1 power to boost recovery, and 1 that give you end back is a better, more versatile combo than just 2 powers that boost recovery. I suppose I could just take QR, Stamina, Dark Consumption, and Conserve Power, then laugh at the whole concept of endurance.

I took Quick Recovery, Stamina and Dark Consumption on my DM/WP and do not regret it. You may be able to "get by" without one of them, but I think you'll have to slow down from time to time waiting on Endurance. I really don't like doing that.

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I disagree that Stamina requires two useless power choices. Since regeneration is a large part of your survivability, you know you want Health as well as Fast Healing, so you'll be in the Fitness pool anyways. The two mentioned toggles just don't do enough before SO levels to justify taking them before, and trying to keep them up is still going to be a burden, especially since you don't get QR on a Scrapper until 20 anyways.


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Regen is a big part for WP but DM gives you something better then the Health power. A heal that is up every 10 sec, that heal is better then having Health and DC takes the need for Stamina. So no stamina is not a must and no Health is not a must so you don't need to take the fitness pool with DM. Other Willpower build I would say take the fitness pool but with DM you really don't need it.

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Definitely decided to go with DM/WP.
I suppose I could just take QR, Stamina, Dark Consumption, and Conserve Power, then laugh at the whole concept of endurance.

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That's exactly what I did with my DM/WP.

Here's the build I ended up coming up with. I'm aiming for defense first, then recharge, with a little regen thrown in where I can. Any improvements you can think of without resorting to purples?

Edit: Oh, and does anyone know what kind of attack chain I'll be able to run with this build?

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Midnight Haze: Level 50 Magic Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Dark Melee
Secondary Power Set: Willpower
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Ancillary Pool: Body Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Shadow Punch <ul type="square">[*] (A) Kinetic Combat - Accuracy/Damage[*] (3) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance[*] (3) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Recharge[*] (25) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance/Recharge[*] (37) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage[/list]Level 1: High Pain Tolerance <ul type="square">[*] (A) Healing IO[*] (5) Healing IO[*] (5) Healing IO[*] (46) Reactive Armor - Resistance[*] (46) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Endurance[*] (46) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Recharge[/list]Level 2: Smite <ul type="square">[*] (A) Kinetic Combat - Accuracy/Damage[*] (7) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance[*] (7) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Recharge[*] (15) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance/Recharge[*] (34) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage[/list]Level 4: Mind Over Body <ul type="square">[*] (A) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance[*] (9) Aegis - Resistance[*] (9) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge[*] (36) Aegis - Resistance/Recharge[/list]Level 6: Shadow Maul <ul type="square">[*] (A) Obliteration - Damage[*] (13) Obliteration - Accuracy/Recharge[*] (13) Obliteration - Damage/Recharge[*] (25) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge[*] (36) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge[/list]Level 8: Siphon Life <ul type="square">[*] (A) Kinetic Combat - Accuracy/Damage[*] (11) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance[*] (11) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Recharge[*] (15) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance/Recharge[*] (34) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage[*] (40) Healing IO[/list]Level 10: Indomitable Will <ul type="square">[*] (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance[*] (34) Luck of the Gambler - Defense[*] (39) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed[/list]Level 12: Hasten <ul type="square">[*] (A) Recharge Reduction IO[*] (40) Recharge Reduction IO[*] (43) Recharge Reduction IO[/list]Level 14: Super Speed <ul type="square">[*] (A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range[*] (31) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range/Endurance[*] (40) Blessing of the Zephyr - Knockback Reduction (4 points)[/list]Level 16: Rise to the Challenge <ul type="square">[*] (A) Endurance Reduction IO[*] (17) Healing IO[*] (17) Healing IO[*] (31) Miracle - +Recovery[/list]Level 18: Fast Healing <ul type="square">[*] (A) Healing IO[*] (19) Numina's Convalescence - Heal[*] (19) Numina's Convalescence - +Regeneration/+Recovery[/list]Level 20: Quick Recovery <ul type="square">[*] (A) Endurance Modification IO[*] (21) Endurance Modification IO[*] (21) Endurance Modification IO[/list]Level 22: Dark Consumption <ul type="square">[*] (A) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Recharge[*] (23) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Accuracy/Recharge[*] (23) Efficacy Adaptor - Accuracy/Recharge[*] (31) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod[*] (37) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Accuracy[*] (43) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Endurance[/list]Level 24: Swift <ul type="square">[*] (A) Run Speed IO[/list]Level 26: Soul Drain <ul type="square">[*] (A) Cleaving Blow - Accuracy/Recharge[*] (27) Accuracy IO[*] (27) Recharge Reduction IO[*] (37) Recharge Reduction IO[/list]Level 28: Heightened Senses <ul type="square">[*] (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance[*] (29) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed[*] (29) Luck of the Gambler - Defense[/list]Level 30: Health <ul type="square">[*] (A) Regenerative Tissue - +Regeneration[*] (39) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Endurance[*] (43) Numina's Convalescence - Heal[/list]Level 32: Midnight Grasp <ul type="square">[*] (A) Kinetic Combat - Accuracy/Damage[*] (33) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance[*] (33) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Recharge[*] (33) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance/Recharge[*] (36) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage[/list]Level 35: Boxing <ul type="square">[*] (A) Accuracy IO[/list]Level 38: Strength of Will <ul type="square">[*] (A) Resist Damage IO[*] (39) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%[/list]Level 41: Tough <ul type="square">[*] (A) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Endurance[*] (42) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge[*] (42) Reactive Armor - Resistance[*] (42) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Recharge[/list]Level 44: Focused Accuracy <ul type="square">[*] (A) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff[*] (45) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge[*] (45) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge/Endurance[*] (45) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Recharge/Endurance[*] (50) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Endurance[*] (50) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up[/list]Level 47: Weave <ul type="square">[*] (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance[*] (48) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance/Recharge[*] (48) Luck of the Gambler - Defense[*] (48) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed[/list]Level 49: Combat Jumping <ul type="square">[*] (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed[*] (50) Luck of the Gambler - Defense[/list]------------
Level 1: Brawl <ul type="square">[*] (A) Empty[/list]Level 1: Sprint <ul type="square">[*] (A) Empty[/list]Level 2: Rest <ul type="square">[*] (A) Empty[/list]Level 1: Critical Hit
------------
[u]Set Bonus Totals:[u]<ul type="square">[*]8% DamageBuff(Smashing)[*]8% DamageBuff(Lethal)[*]8% DamageBuff(Fire)[*]8% DamageBuff(Cold)[*]8% DamageBuff(Energy)[*]8% DamageBuff(Negative)[*]8% DamageBuff(Toxic)[*]8% DamageBuff(Psionic)[*]20.5% Defense(Smashing)[*]20.5% Defense(Lethal)[*]8.94% Defense(Fire)[*]8.94% Defense(Cold)[*]8.31% Defense(Energy)[*]8.31% Defense(Negative)[*]3% Defense(Psionic)[*]13.6% Defense(Melee)[*]9.88% Defense(Ranged)[*]10.2% Defense(AoE)[*]40% Enhancement(RechargeTime)[*]18% Enhancement(Accuracy)[*]5% FlySpeed[*]165.7 HP (12.4%) HitPoints[*]5% JumpHeight[*]5% JumpSpeed[*]Knockback (Mag -4)[*]Knockup (Mag -4)[*]MezResist(Immobilize) 13.2%[*]MezResist(Stun) 2.2%[*]4% (0.07 End/sec) Recovery[*]74% (4.14 HP/sec) Regeneration[*]10% RunSpeed[*]2.5% XPDebtProtection[/list]


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Edit: Oh, and does anyone know what kind of attack chain I'll be able to run with this build?

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Thanks to the low levels of recharge present, you're going to be using Smite&gt;SP&gt;MG&gt;Smite&gt;SP&gt;Siphon.

Looks like that attack chain gives about 144 DPS, not too shabby for a build that wasn't focusing on damage/recharge.

Endurance looks to be a problem though. I might need to drop focused accuracy for stamina.

DM/WP is awesomesauce in a can. I paired this with a Fire/Kin Controller and had to take Provoke so I could grab all the aggro off his squishy butt.

You don't need Stamina at all. Personally, I took Health to add to the already impressive Regen. I regularly ended up tanking with this Scrapper combo. Really, it leaves nothing in lacking once it gets rolling. (And I really like having Hurdle anyway.)

Just don't do what I did; don't skip Shadow Maul for Siphon Life early on. Boy does your attack chain suffer. (Don't use SM as a single target attack either, tho'.)

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(Don't use SM as a single target attack either, tho'.)

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Actually, feel free to do so. It's an AoE that's even more endurance efficient than your single target attacks. It's like cheating it's so good.