Dark / Sonics. My i8 toon!

After all the posts on Offenders & the debuffs of Sonics I've decided on my i8 alt for Faultline, a Dark/Sonics defender. Build is from my head & based on NoFuture stats. Feel free to post comments, changes or opinions.

The slotting is wonky as I've no Hero Editor so this is done by hand. Slots seem short on the ground with this build though, I could easily do with 8 more at level 40. If anyone has their own build or slottings feel free to post them.

This is a Team build, focusing on Dark debuffing and then helping out the real damage doers by lowering DmgResistance. I'd almost be tempted to move a Dmg slot from Scream into Shriek as a Recharge for stacking -DmgResists.

Archetype: Defender
Primary: Dark Miasma
Secondary: Sonic Blast
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01) --> Tar Patch==> Rechg(1) Rechg(3) Rechg(9)
01) --> Shriek==> Acc(1) Acc(9)
02) --> Scream==> Acc(2) Acc(3) Dmg(19) Dmg(36)
04) --> Twilight Grasp==> Acc(4) Acc(5) Heal(5) Heal(7)
06) --> Darkest Night==> ToHitDebuff(6) ToHitDebuff(7) EndRed(11)
08) --> Haste==> Recharge(8) Recharge(15) Recharge(37)
10) --> Howl==> Acc(10) Acc(11) Recharge(19) Dmg(34) Dmg(37) Dmg(37)
12) --> Fearsome Stare==> Acc(12) Acc(13) ToHitDebuff(13) Recharge(15) Recharge(17) Fear(17)
14) --> Superspeed==> RunSpeed(14)
16) --> Swift==> RunSpeed(16)
18) --> Hurdle==> Jump(18)
20) --> Stamina==> EndMod(20) EndMod(21) EndMod(21)
22) --> Shadow Fall==> DmgResist(22) DmgResist(23) EndRed(23)
24) --> Shout==> Acc(24) Dmg(25) Acc(25) Dmg(31) Dmg(31)
26) --> Howling Twilight==> Rechg(26) Rechg(27) Rechg(27)
28) --> Amplify==> Rechg(28) Rechg(29) Rechg(29)
30) --> TP Friend==>Range(30)
32) --> Dark Servant==> ToHitDebuff(32) ToHitDebuff(33) Acc(33) Heal(33) Acc(34) Recharge(34)
35) --> Screech==> Acc(35) Stun(36) Stun(36)
38) --> Dreadful Wail==> Acc(38) Acc(39) Dmg(39) Dmg(39)
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For Epics I'm thinking Power Mastery. Does the Power Boost affect my Accuracy debuffs?

Petrifying Gaze was omitted because I have the Single target stun at 35 (with the bonus of a DmgResist debuff in it) and it gave me 2 much needed slots getting TP Friend instead.

Twilight Grasp, DN and Shadow Fall are all underslotted.

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Twilight Grasp, DN and Shadow Fall are all underslotted.

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Yep, I'm aware of that as I said in my post.

An alternative slotting structure would be appreciated. I don't want to gimp myself so I can't kill anything solo either.

If I played Dark/Sonic, I think I would only go with 2-3 attacks given how great your primary is. For occasional soloing, something like Scream-Howl-Shout-Shriek (unslotted) would probably be enough, and I would probably go for Siren's Song too (instead of Aim). I haven't played Sonic Blast high enough to be sure (and have only seen the stun used against me in PvP ), but I think my build to 40 would be something like this:

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Exported from Ver: 1.7.6.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder - (http://sherksilver.coldfront.net/index.php)
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Name:
Level: 40
Archetype: Defender
Primary: Dark Miasma
Secondary: Sonic Blast
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Twilight Grasp==> Acc(1) Heal(13) Heal(13) Heal(37) Acc(39)
01) --> Shriek==> Acc(1)
02) --> Tar Patch==> Rechg(2) Rechg(3) Rechg(3)
04) --> Scream==> Acc(4) Dmg(5) Dmg(5) Dmg(11)
06) --> Darkest Night==> TH_DeBuf(6) TH_DeBuf(7) TH_DeBuf(7) EndRdx(9)
08) --> Hasten==> Rechg(8) Rechg(9) Rechg(11)
10) --> Swift==> Run(10)
12) --> Fearsome Stare==> Acc(12) Acc(15) Fear(15) Fear(17) Rechg(17) Rechg(19)
14) --> Super Speed==> Run(14)
16) --> Hurdle==> Jump(16)
18) --> Howl==> Acc(18) Dmg(19) Dmg(27) Dmg(27) Acc(40)
20) --> Stamina==> EndMod(20) EndMod(21) EndMod(21)
22) --> Shadow Fall==> EndRdx(22) DmgRes(23) DmgRes(23) DmgRes(25)
24) --> Petrifying Gaze==> Acc(24) Acc(25) Hold(29) Hold(29) Rechg(37) Rechg(37)
26) --> Howling Twilight==> Rechg(26)
28) --> Recall Friend==> IntRdx(28)
30) --> Siren's Song==> Acc(30) Acc(31) Sleep(31) Sleep(31) Rechg(34)
32) --> Dark Servant==> TH_DeBuf(32) TH_DeBuf(33) TH_DeBuf(33) Hold(33) Hold(34) Heal(34)
35) --> Shout==> Acc(35) Dmg(36) Dmg(36) Dmg(36)
38) --> Dreadful Wail==> Acc(38) Dmg(39) Dmg(39) Dmg(40)

I highly recommend 3 slow SO's in tar patch if you're used to mobs doing what you want them to do as a controller. DN isn't massive and mobs not behaving themselves and splitting up can really mess you up, the slow helps keep higher lvl mobs locked down somewhat.

But then I have 3 slow SO's in several snow storms, two glue arrows and a tar patch and wouldn't have it any other way so maybe I'm a slow-a-holic and not to be listened to.

I took a Dark/Sonic to 14 but switched to Dark/Archery because I already had a few sonic blast defenders. It's such a great blast set.

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Exported from Ver: 1.7.6.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder - (http://sherksilver.coldfront.net/index.php)
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Name: def_dark_sonic
Level: 50
Archetype: Defender
Primary: Dark Miasma
Secondary: Sonic Blast
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Twilight Grasp==> Acc(1) Acc(3) Heal(3) Heal(5) Rechg(48) EndRdx(48)
01) --> Shriek==> Acc(1) Dmg(7) Dmg(9) Dmg(11) Acc(31)
02) --> Scream==> Acc(2) Dmg(7) Dmg(9) Dmg(11) Acc(27) Rechg(31)
04) --> Darkest Night==> EndRdx(4) EndRdx(5) TH_DeBuf(34) TH_DeBuf(34) TH_DeBuf(36)
06) --> Tar Patch==> Rechg(6) Rechg(13) Rechg(40)
08) --> Hurdle==> Jump(8) Jump(50)
10) --> Combat Jumping==> DefBuf(10)
12) --> Fearsome Stare==> Acc(12) Acc(13) Fear(15) Fear(15) Rechg(19) Rechg(39)
14) --> Super Jump==> Jump(14)
16) --> Shout==> Acc(16) Dmg(17) Dmg(17) Dmg(19) Acc(31) Rechg(40)
18) --> Health==> Heal(18)
20) --> Stamina==> EndMod(20) EndMod(21) EndMod(21)
22) --> Petrifying Gaze==> Acc(22) Acc(23) Hold(23) Hold(25) Rechg(27) Rechg(29)
24) --> Acrobatics==> EndRdx(24) EndRdx(25)
26) --> Howling Twilight==> EndRdx(26)
28) --> Shadow Fall==> EndRdx(28) EndRdx(29) DmgRes(46) DmgRes(46) DmgRes(48)
30) --> Amplify==> Rechg(30) Rechg(34) Rechg(40) TH_Buf(50) TH_Buf(50)
32) --> Dark Servant==> Acc(32) TH_DeBuf(33) TH_DeBuf(33) TH_DeBuf(33) Rechg(43)
35) --> Screech==> Acc(35) Acc(36) DisDur(36) DisDur(37) Rechg(37) Rechg(37)
38) --> Hasten==> Rechg(38) Rechg(39) Rechg(39)
41) --> Dominate==> Acc(41) Hold(42) Hold(42) Hold(42) Rechg(43) Rechg(43)
44) --> Mind Over Body==> DmgRes(44) DmgRes(45) DmgRes(45) EndRdx(45) EndRdx(46)
47) --> Recall Friend==> EndRdx(47)
49) --> Super Speed==> Run(49)

That's my planned Dark/Sonic build to 50.

I've played a Bot/Dark MM and a Sonic/Elec defender at high levels, I really don't see the need for slows in Tar patch but the Endred and Recharge can be taken from Twilight Grasp once you get fluffy, or the tohitbuffs can be taken out of Aim if you don't mind missing occasionally.

Went with Psychic Mastery for the extra hold (stacks nicely with Pet gaze) and the added Psionic resistance, which combined with shadow fall makes this toon have the highest solo Psionic resistance in the game.

I'm not a great fan of the epic pool's version of Telekinesis, particularly with no self-endurance buff.

VERY powerful combo: Lots of controls, high damage output, stealth, fear protection, damage resistance, a self/team heal, a team rez, a toggle debuff to prevent aid self from firing, -resistance, -tohit, -regen and one of the best support pets in the game.

No defense, end drain protection and mez protection other than fear and cj/acro of course... and mediocre accuracy... but that's game balance for you! It wouldn't be fair to your opponents otherwise!

The synergy's great. Howling twilight will even stack with screech!

Cheers for the advice folks. I'm still juggling slots here. Certainly going to 6 slot Fearsome Stare, DN & Twilight Grasp.

This toon is gonna be teamed with a Fire/Rad controller & a Archery blaster. So Firecages should stop em scurrying about out of Darkest Night range. Also helps me with my useless Accuracy.

Gotta face the face I just can't slot my attacks up fully. Will 5/6-Slot Shout and just slot the first two for accuracy and use them to debuff the Archers targets dmg resistance. So Screech > Shriek > Scream > Shout should mean a stunned enemy with a -80% dmg resist when the Shout hits (110 if Tar Patch is also down), gotta be more useful to the team than my pitiful damage.

Howling Twilight I've taken already. Gonna 3 slot it for recharge for the mez, its like a ranged, autohit Thunderclap at level 6. Minions only but as someone said I can stack with Screech. It also does a decent -runspeed & -recharge as well as a decent 30 second -recharge for AVs. Oh, and it also brings people back from the dead apparently.

I may drop Amplify altogther if I don't have room for it. The Accuracy Buff is handy though for a toon with no defense debuffs themself. Hmmmm.

I'll throw out an updated build later. Still no idea what epic to get really.

I wouldn't bother 6 slotting Darkest Night - 3 to hit debuffs and an end red is plenty, two end reds if you have a spare one (which you don't). I'd also make sure you have 3 resistance enhancements and an end red in shadowfall.

Obviously put as many slots in fearsome stare as they will let you, and dream about how brilliant it would be if you could 12 slot things.

Ta DC. Fearsome Stare with 2xAcc, 1xToHitDebuff, 2xRecharge and 1xFear is how I'm planning it. I'm not banking on every having HOs so that'll have to do.

*Sigh* I think I'll just hang around Atlas and panhandle people to give me their spare slots.

"Got any slots for a Dark/Sonics ex-leper"

(the ex-leper part is particularly cunning I feel. When they stop to hear my tale I hit them over the head with a cosh and they awaken 2 hours later minus a few Enhancement slots and maybe a kidney)

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Obviously put as many slots in fearsome stare as they will let you, and dream about how brilliant it would be if you could 12 slot things.

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Inventions for the win!