THE SECRET TO A PURE DARKNESS!!!!
Okay, I just want to say something before I help you. A pure Darkness Defender is one of the best defenders out there lol. Okay I'll give you some key powers you need-
-Dark Servant
-Tentacles
-Your AoE heal
-Your AoE rez
-Your fear power
-Your sniper power(can't remember the name of it.)
-Tar patch(this is recommended to be one of the last powers you get because tentacles does a way better job.)
-there are two powers you should get in you mastery set:
--The endurance power(can't remember the name of it)
--Oppressive gloom
Also this is not needed but highly recommended: get hover & flight and get fitness
Technique while playing a darkness:
keep your Aoe heal on auto. If your going against an av or a huge mob throw your res off even if people are alive so the enemies are debuffed and you can actually effect them. After that throw off tentacles. If you have a very good tank and the groups are held togather throw down tar patch. Also always have Dark Servant out at all times. ***Know when to use those two mastery powers, this is key and will help you.
I have been playing my fire fire tank since 2005 and My uncle has played his Pure darkness since 05 aswell. We are a superior match against any enemies and these are his secrets to playing his d3. If you can get in a team with a kin, a fire fire tank and a stone, you four will be able to take on what 12 man teams can't.
I hope this helps you and if you need any other help feel free to pm me. It's hard to find anyone who plays pure darkness right anymore.
Pinnacle - The Drunk Server!
MAIN: Desi Boy> Level 51 Fire/Fire Tank
Super Group: C.O.R.E.
Tanking since 05'
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MAIN: Desi Boy> Level 51 Fire/Fire Tank
Super Group: C.O.R.E.
Tanking since 05'
Vigilante
Quote:
Withs a well build D4 you can take on what 8 man teams have trouble doing solo...watching TV.|
Originally Posted by Desitre
THE SECRET TO A PURE DARKNESS!!!!
Okay, I just want to say something before I help you. A pure Darkness Defender is one of the best defenders out there lol. Okay I'll give you some key powers you need- -Dark Servant -Tentacles -Your AoE heal -Your AoE rez -Your fear power -Your sniper power(can't remember the name of it.) -Tar patch(this is recommended to be one of the last powers you get because tentacles does a way better job.) -there are two powers you should get in you mastery set: --The endurance power(can't remember the name of it) --Oppressive gloom Also this is not needed but highly recommended: get hover & flight and get fitness Technique while playing a darkness: keep your Aoe heal on auto. If your going against an av or a huge mob throw your res off even if people are alive so the enemies are debuffed and you can actually effect them. After that throw off tentacles. If you have a very good tank and the groups are held togather throw down tar patch. Also always have Dark Servant out at all times. ***Know when to use those two mastery powers, this is key and will help you. I have been playing my fire fire tank since 2005 and My uncle has played his Pure darkness since 05 aswell. We are a superior match against any enemies and these are his secrets to playing his d3. If you can get in a team with a kin, a fire fire tank and a stone, you four will be able to take on what 12 man teams can't. I hope this helps you and if you need any other help feel free to pm me. It's hard to find anyone who plays pure darkness right anymore. |
The Real secret of Darkness is its To-hit Debuffs which although not obvious = Defense. You really can not really go wrong with anything with Dark but a few things to keep in mind; If you skip Fluffy (dark servant) hang yourself now. He is pure awesome in a can, he will destroy anything he touches, including chuck norris. Another thing, every power in dark/ is useful....except Black hole. It is a rather massive aoe PHASE SHIFT. Teams will hate you and it eats up a slot that can be put to much beter use elsewhere.
Some basic tactics while using a D4:
1) Open up with Fearsome stare, it is a MASSIVE to-hit debuff that will get you enough time to figure out what to do without worrying about being shot to death from ranged badies. Also anything in a active fear state is pretty much held untill its attacked.
2)Use tar pit often. When you place tar pit put it around a choke point where they HAVETO run through it to get to you, another thing is to not place it at the center of a mob. Put it at the very edge and stay on the far side, they will need to run ALL the way through it to get to you. That will buy you enough time to blast em with Tenticles untill even the most anal of boss's will be rooted firmly to the ground.
3) Fluffy is a tank. Dont be affraid to resummon him in the middle of a mob, even if hes allready out. The more things around him the more things that being hit by chill of the night, a big -to-hit debuff and a minor damage aura.
There is alot of other neat tactics that can be used with D4, such as hearding with Darkest night but it takes some practice and a confident team to avoid being killed.
Anywho you can find my dark/dark corrupter build here http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=188270 , just replace the mu-master powers with Darkness mastery ((especially the End restore power)) It is a absolute tank, basicly unkillable and fairly cheap at around 150million infs to put together.
D: Toss me a hai @DarkNat My Fify glory: Renzer Dark/Dark Corr., Renzro Dark/Dark Def., Amartasu Dark/Dark Scrap.Less important ones: Fire/Fire Blaster,Ice/Ice Blaster,Ele/Ele Brute, Mind/Storm Troll,Fire/Kin Corr.,Bots/FF MM., DB/Regen Scrap.
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I stopped reading right here. Taking Tar Patch as one of your last powers isn't very good advice. Not only is it a slow, but it's a -30% resistance debuff. You should take it when it's available, and slot it with recharge asap. Use it whenever it's up. |
Originally Posted by Desitre
THE SECRET TO A PURE DARKNESS!!!!
Okay, I just want to say something before I help you. A pure Darkness Defender is one of the best defenders out there lol. Okay I'll give you some key powers you need- -Dark Servant -Tentacles -Your AoE heal -Your AoE rez -Your fear power -Your sniper power(can't remember the name of it.) -Tar patch(this is recommended to be one of the last powers you get because tentacles does a way better job.) -there are two powers you should get in you mastery set: --The endurance power(can't remember the name of it) --Oppressive gloom Also this is not needed but highly recommended: get hover & flight and get fitness Technique while playing a darkness: keep your Aoe heal on auto. |
No mention of Darkest Night? It's another huge to-hit debuff(-18.75% unslotted). Combined with Fearsome stare, unslotted, that's 37.5% to-hit debuff.
I would hardly ever advocate keeping Twilight Grasp on auto(in fact I have never done so myself). There should never be a need to heal every 4ish seconds.
Please, please don't put Twilight Grasp on auto.
ShadowNate has it right. Fearsome Stare will be your opener most of the time; if facing something very threatening, let Dark Servant soak the alpha (summon it right on top of them). The HUGE PBAoE tohit debuff in Chill of the Night means Fluffy will usually survive the initial volley, giving you time to throw Fearsome Stare and/or Darkest Night. Tar Patch, then alternate Tentacles and Nightfall until everyone is dead. The snipe is skippable if your build gets too tight; your cones are not. Be sure to slot Dark Servant heavily for tohit debuff.
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ok i admit u dont need the heal on auto at all times, sry i should have been more specific on when to use it.|
Originally Posted by Ignatz
I stopped reading right here. Taking Tar Patch as one of your last powers isn't very good advice. Not only is it a slow, but it's a -30% resistance debuff. You should take it when it's available, and slot it with recharge asap. Use it whenever it's up.
No mention of Darkest Night? It's another huge to-hit debuff(-18.75% unslotted). Combined with Fearsome stare, unslotted, that's 37.5% to-hit debuff. I would hardly ever advocate keeping Twilight Grasp on auto(in fact I have never done so myself). There should never be a need to heal every 4ish seconds. |
Now there is alway a huge thing with tar patch and tentacles, some people love love love tar patch, but honestly if you have tentacles(the biggest aoe hold in the game unless they recently nerfed it) you don't really need tar patch. Yeah its great but a d4 should have a fear and have tentacles so u dont need neccessarily tar patch.
also when using tentacles target the far back center because it is a cone attack
Pinnacle - The Drunk Server!
MAIN: Desi Boy> Level 51 Fire/Fire Tank
Super Group: C.O.R.E.
Tanking since 05'
Vigilante
MAIN: Desi Boy> Level 51 Fire/Fire Tank
Super Group: C.O.R.E.
Tanking since 05'
Vigilante
Quote:
You are DEAD wrong sir. Placing a tar patch before TT makes mobs far easier to bunch up if used properly (like I previously mentioned, puting it at the far edge of a mob, it will litterally make them line up to be shot to death especially by TT)). The -resistance in Tar patch makes up for the fairly ((lets be honest)) meh damage of /dark blast. Another thing is you can't safely corner pull with tenticles.|
Originally Posted by Desitre
ok i admit u dont need the heal on auto at all times, sry i should have been more specific on when to use it.
Now there is alway a huge thing with tar patch and tentacles, some people love love love tar patch, but honestly if you have tentacles(the biggest aoe hold in the game unless they recently nerfed it) you don't really need tar patch. Yeah its great but a d4 should have a fear and have tentacles so u dont need neccessarily tar patch. also when using tentacles target the far back center because it is a cone attack |
As for putting heal on auto...Thats just a bad idea. You might accidently draw agro on yourself while placing your cones, etc. Also, even with good slotting your looking at it chewing up 5 end when it goes off and it will take a solid 4-5 Seconds to recharge. If you are doing your job well with a dark/ then you should NOT need to be constantly healing, saving it for only when your fighting a nasty boss ((it does have a regen and damage debuff )) or when a lucky shot takes a bite out of your or someone elses hp, otherwise wasting it will not help your end bar or the survival of anyone else.
D:< You are a fruit salad, not a heal bot! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
*edit*
Also, if you really are facing a stupid challege...like...I unno... Juggling multiple AV's/Giant monsters (you bet you **** I did that) Xyzyx is right, use fluffy to absorb the alpha strike, as soon as possible heal fluffy, douse whatever you're fighting with Fearsome stare and turn on Darkest Night. Fluffy is a pretty smart pet actually and will dump his own version of Darkest night (which is EXACTLY the same as yours, 10 targets AOE up to 25ft from the anchor) this will pretty much put a end to whatever it smacking on you.
D: Toss me a hai @DarkNat My Fify glory: Renzer Dark/Dark Corr., Renzro Dark/Dark Def., Amartasu Dark/Dark Scrap.Less important ones: Fire/Fire Blaster,Ice/Ice Blaster,Ele/Ele Brute, Mind/Storm Troll,Fire/Kin Corr.,Bots/FF MM., DB/Regen Scrap.
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Don't forget Fearsome Stare. Fearsome Stare + Tar Patch + Tenebrous Tentacles with a Hold Proc in it is one of the most ridiculous lockdown/DeBuff combo's ive ever seen, considering it can be applied multiple times on the same group.
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Originally Posted by Desitre
THE SECRET TO A PURE DARKNESS!!!!
Okay, I just want to say something before I help you. A pure Darkness Defender is one of the best defenders out there lol. Okay I'll give you some key powers you need- -Dark Servant -Tentacles -Your AoE heal -Your AoE rez -Your fear power -Your sniper power(can't remember the name of it.) -Tar patch(this is recommended to be one of the last powers you get because tentacles does a way better job.) -there are two powers you should get in you mastery set: --The endurance power(can't remember the name of it) --Oppressive gloom Also this is not needed but highly recommended: get hover & flight and get fitness . |
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Originally Posted by BackAlleyBrawler
you *******!!!!
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Quote:
Okay enough of this arguing crap about pure darkness the reason it can go on forever is because pure darkness is probably the mst original and hybrid class in the game. You can play it sooo many different ways. The thing is is that its not a easy simplistic class and no one can ask for a perfect build. you must find out what build fits you best.
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Originally Posted by ShadowNate
You are DEAD wrong sir. Placing a tar patch before TT makes mobs far easier to bunch up if used properly (like I previously mentioned, puting it at the far edge of a mob, it will litterally make them line up to be shot to death especially by TT)). The -resistance in Tar patch makes up for the fairly ((lets be honest)) meh damage of /dark blast. Another thing is you can't safely corner pull with tenticles.
As for putting heal on auto...Thats just a bad idea. You might accidently draw agro on yourself while placing your cones, etc. Also, even with good slotting your looking at it chewing up 5 end when it goes off and it will take a solid 4-5 Seconds to recharge. If you are doing your job well with a dark/ then you should NOT need to be constantly healing, saving it for only when your fighting a nasty boss ((it does have a regen and damage debuff )) or when a lucky shot takes a bite out of your or someone elses hp, otherwise wasting it will not help your end bar or the survival of anyone else. D:< You are a fruit salad, not a heal bot! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. *edit* Also, if you really are facing a stupid challege...like...I unno... Juggling multiple AV's/Giant monsters (you bet you **** I did that) Xyzyx is right, use fluffy to absorb the alpha strike, as soon as possible heal fluffy, douse whatever you're fighting with Fearsome stare and turn on Darkest Night. Fluffy is a pretty smart pet actually and will dump his own version of Darkest night (which is EXACTLY the same as yours, 10 targets AOE up to 25ft from the anchor) this will pretty much put a end to whatever it smacking on you. |
Pinnacle - The Drunk Server!
MAIN: Desi Boy> Level 51 Fire/Fire Tank
Super Group: C.O.R.E.
Tanking since 05'
Vigilante
MAIN: Desi Boy> Level 51 Fire/Fire Tank
Super Group: C.O.R.E.
Tanking since 05'
Vigilante
Thank you all so much for the replies.... Got a build going on mids now, hoping to test it out today. 
Kinda figured half the stuffz written here through play, Tis a shame Fearsome stare is a cone though. =/ Anyway. Thank you!
@Psycho Jas
Quote:
Horrible advice, listen to nothing of this.|
Originally Posted by Desitre
THE SECRET TO A PURE DARKNESS!!!!
Okay, I just want to say something before I help you. A pure Darkness Defender is one of the best defenders out there lol. Okay I'll give you some key powers you need- -Dark Servant -Tentacles -Your AoE heal -Your AoE rez -Your fear power -Your sniper power(can't remember the name of it.) -Tar patch(this is recommended to be one of the last powers you get because tentacles does a way better job.) -there are two powers you should get in you mastery set: --The endurance power(can't remember the name of it) --Oppressive gloom Also this is not needed but highly recommended: get hover & flight and get fitness Technique while playing a darkness: keep your Aoe heal on auto. If your going against an av or a huge mob throw your res off even if people are alive so the enemies are debuffed and you can actually effect them. After that throw off tentacles. If you have a very good tank and the groups are held togather throw down tar patch. Also always have Dark Servant out at all times. ***Know when to use those two mastery powers, this is key and will help you. I have been playing my fire fire tank since 2005 and My uncle has played his Pure darkness since 05 aswell. We are a superior match against any enemies and these are his secrets to playing his d3. If you can get in a team with a kin, a fire fire tank and a stone, you four will be able to take on what 12 man teams can't. I hope this helps you and if you need any other help feel free to pm me. It's hard to find anyone who plays pure darkness right anymore. |
If by build advice your asking for slotting advice sorry, I cant help you. However, if your asking for powers advice, id say this.
Open with fearsome stare. Follow with tarpatch and then the TT+nightfall combo. If its an especially dangerous mob id put darkest night out on a boss/Lt. rinse repeat.
With soo many great powers it is difficult to pick which you want.
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Originally Posted by Shadow Ravenwolf
My favorite combo is Faceplant/DebtCap with the TeamWipe Ancillary
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Originally Posted by Dispari
Yeah, I like Blasters too.
 |
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horrible advice???? almost everyone on this thread agrees with everything except my ideas on tar patch and the healing. The only advice you can give the op is three powers??? maybe your advice is good for a few situations but we're talking about a lvl 50 not a lvl 10.
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Originally Posted by JamMasterJMS
Horrible advice, listen to nothing of this.
If by build advice your asking for slotting advice sorry, I cant help you. However, if your asking for powers advice, id say this. Open with fearsome stare. Follow with tarpatch and then the TT+nightfall combo. If its an especially dangerous mob id put darkest night out on a boss/Lt. rinse repeat. With soo many great powers it is difficult to pick which you want. |
Pinnacle - The Drunk Server!
MAIN: Desi Boy> Level 51 Fire/Fire Tank
Super Group: C.O.R.E.
Tanking since 05'
Vigilante
MAIN: Desi Boy> Level 51 Fire/Fire Tank
Super Group: C.O.R.E.
Tanking since 05'
Vigilante
Unrelated to the topic at hand but why are you calling it a D4? Have you found some magical 4th dark pool? Because if not it is a D3.
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D4 means there are four Ds look Darkness Darkness Darkness Defender. the reason there are three darkness's is for th two power pools and the mastery pool. we commonly refer to this as a pure darkness defener although some ppl prefer D4.
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Originally Posted by Chaos Creator
Unrelated to the topic at hand but why are you calling it a D4? Have you found some magical 4th dark pool? Because if not it is a D3.
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Pinnacle - The Drunk Server!
MAIN: Desi Boy> Level 51 Fire/Fire Tank
Super Group: C.O.R.E.
Tanking since 05'
Vigilante
MAIN: Desi Boy> Level 51 Fire/Fire Tank
Super Group: C.O.R.E.
Tanking since 05'
Vigilante
Good enough for me I stand(sit) corrected.
Quote:
The cone is huge. You won't have any problems hitting an entire group.
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Originally Posted by SoulTouch
Thank you all so much for the replies.... Got a build going on mids now, hoping to test it out today.
Kinda figured half the stuffz written here through play, Tis a shame Fearsome stare is a cone though. =/ Anyway. Thank you! |
So my recommendations for *playing* a D3/D4 (depends on whether you count defender as a 'D', or just the Dark/Dark/Dark, which I prefer) uses a somewhat standard Dark defender opening of Fearsome stare (even if they aren't affected by fear, they are ALWAYS affected by the -to hit debuff), tar patch and TT to debuff, control, debuff, slow, debuff, hurt and immobilize.
As a D3 you now have choices... a nice sequence for the CONE ranged choice: whip off the Nightfall, and blast away. Use the rest of the debuff/hold/heal powers as needed to keep you/Fluffy/the team up and running, but blast until your heart is content (and the enemy is dead). If the targets are tough, use Darkest Night and cast/re-cast Fluffy into the middle as an AoE. If things get hairy, use Howling for a nice stun, use black hole (be sure to warn teammates) and/or dark pit (especially in combo with Howling; however, this power is end expensive, slow to recharge and only mag 2 - may not be worth taking it).
A nice use of the MELEE ranged choice: run in with Oppressive Gloom running - lay down a howling or a dark pit (if you took it) to get a mag 4 total stun to get bosses if they are around - use Soul Drain to build up for Blackstar (nuke em all!), then Dark Consumption on anything left standing to get your blue back. Fire up OG again, and mop up with your single target blasts.
Since the melee ranged stuff works best with a large group (Soul Drain, Dark Consumption) use the toggle pull method to herd them (assuming you have no tank)... Put Darkest Night on a boss or LT and hide around a corner. Drop Tar Patch in the spot they are about to run through (they get caught as if it were... well... a tar patch >.< ). THEN TT, and move in for the kill(s).
Obviously you will find out what play style is right for you - especially if you have a dedicated partner/team - but this is a nice general idea of what I do with my D3 on teams of all sizes.
I'm glad I found this thread on the first day I re-upped my account. I've been looking for a new character to try and a D4 sounds like fun. 
Quote:
Extremely fun and extremely survivable. Solo'n is kinda slow and endo intensive.|
Originally Posted by Midnight_Frost
I'm glad I found this thread on the first day I re-upped my account. I've been looking for a new character to try and a D4 sounds like fun.
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But on a team... watch out. This is the only defender I would trust to "tank" for a team without a tank.
I had to stop playin mine at around lvl 47ish cuz after 50 i generally retire that toon. Unfortunatly my ddd did hit 50 after a couple tf's with friends.
Im thinkin bout either a fire/dark or dark/dark cor to get my dark miasma fix in.
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Originally Posted by Shadow Ravenwolf
My favorite combo is Faceplant/DebtCap with the TeamWipe Ancillary
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Originally Posted by Dispari
Yeah, I like Blasters too.
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Precisely. While it takes some time to become truly adept at it, D3 "snaring" is as close to Team Godmode as it gets. |
Originally Posted by ShadowNate
You are DEAD wrong sir. Placing a tar patch before TT makes mobs far easier to bunch up if used properly (like I previously mentioned, puting it at the far edge of a mob, it will literally make them line up to be shot to death especially by TT)). The -resistance in Tar patch makes up for the fairly ((lets be honest)) meh damage of /dark blast. Another thing is you can't safely corner pull with tentacles.
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Personally, I tend to lay down the Tar patch before going out and rounding up the enemies with Darkest Night. If I'm using a corner (which is true about 90% of the time), I set the Tar Patch so that its outer edge bisects the point of the corner (takes a bit of practice to learn whereto place the center of the patch). This way the enemies bunch up into the smallest possible area. Darkest Night, cast on the mob farthest from you (so that he collects the rest on the way through), protects reasonably well, allowing you to dash back around the corner, breaking their LOF. As soon as they bunch at the corner, slowed by the Tar, you hit them with Fearsome Stare first, then Tenny Tents. At that point, you can start blasting (or quickly casting Fluffy, who should not accompany you on your "collection")...but if you have a big team with you, you're not going to have much time to do so. The spawn, immobilized, feared, and unable to hit anything, won't last long.
Like I said: Team Godmode, when done right.
"And in this moment, I will not run.
It is my place to stand.
We few shall carry hope
Within our bloodied hands."
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Listen to this person. Her D4 was incredible. Kept our ragtag PUG team alive and unscathed through Romey in an ITF. Debuff was incredibile! i'm def making a D4 for my next fender.
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Originally Posted by Rhynwa
So my recommendations for *playing* a D3/D4 (depends on whether you count defender as a 'D', or just the Dark/Dark/Dark, which I prefer)
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Triumph Lurker: mintmiki 50 emp/archer
basically, if you see a miki on Triumph, it's probably cute and it's probably me.
Huge thanks to cuppamanga and all the folks in the mac help forum for prolonging my borrowed time on this game.
And its all possible with just SO's.
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Originally Posted by Shadow Ravenwolf
My favorite combo is Faceplant/DebtCap with the TeamWipe Ancillary
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Originally Posted by Dispari
Yeah, I like Blasters too.
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Out of curiosity, anyone team their Dark/Dark Def with a Fire Scrapper that has Burn? I remember teaming mine with a Fire Tank one time, and the damage output was huge, once I convinced him to let me lead off. With a scrapper it should be amazing
Fearsome Stare -> Tentacles -> Tarpatch, then he lept in and hit his buffs then Burn. Minions and Lieuts just melted and the rest of the team unloaded on the bosses or stragglers.
Oh and as for the D3/D4 thing, not that it really matters, but Dark/Dark defenders were referred to as D3's before there were ancillary powers.
@IronHoss
@Payamma Gurl
I'm sorry that your crew was stupid enough to fire on a station filled with a quarter million civilians, including your own people. And I'm sorry I waited as long as I did before I blew them all straight to hell. ~Sheridan, The Fall of Night
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Roll them slowly and carefully! They are POINTY and they can HURT if they poke you!| D4 Help! |
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You, sir, are full of win!
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Originally Posted by Westley
Roll them slowly and carefully! They are POINTY and they can HURT if they poke you!
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I've recently got my Dark/Dark/Dark Defender to lvl 50, and after 3 respecs I still can't find the perfect build. I was hoping someone here could give me a bit of help. I'm mainly looking for a good TF/Team build. (Not PvP - If you even can PvP on a Dark/Dark) Inf isn't a problem. Thank you very much in advance!
-Jas.
@Psycho Jas