Looking for some ideas on what to partner with /DA
Claws, Broad Sword, Katana, Dual Blades are all good choices.
I suggjest all the Weapon sets, because nothings prettier then the Eye-Ball weapons with Dark Armor.Its very good to Theme them together.
Also, with Claws, you save alot of Endurance vs the other sets, and its rather easy and fun to play.
I went ahead and made my BS/SD Orc, because of the Eyeball equipment, and Orcs tend to like pretty, yet mocob looking things.Like a Rams Skull shaped into a hat with Feathers.
My suggestions...
Claws & Dual Blades are fun to combine with /DA for the Follow-Up/Blinding Feint that comes along with the sets. Watch that DMG aura eat bigger chunks away at the enemy. Claws however has the added benefit of the lower END cost on the attacks (which goes nicely with /DA)...however I find if you throw the right IOs into the mix, END issues become less of an issue, but I'd also skip Shockwave on a Claws/DA personally (I hate the herd to a corner mentality to use it...and well...I hate to herd period :P), but others have liked it and don't mind the work to use it and keep the enemies in the mez auras.
Katana/Broadsword, you can never go wrong with, really. Parry/Divine Avalanche just add more to your survival, good dmg output, and a nice mix of ST/AOE dmg. Not to mention it's not that hard to grab ahold of a -Resist Proc and throw it in one of your attacks. 
Electric Melee seems like a great combo to stack with /DA. I've only used it to the early levels before deletion (altaholic who can't stay with a toon for long if I don't REALLY like the concept). Good AOE, I don't find ELM hard on the END, and it just does well. 
Dark Melee, no offense to the DM/DA fans, I just found boring. :P It's one of the sets I really want to get into, and infact, my current Katana/FA Scrapper (1 bar away from lvl 39), was originally planned to be DM/DA, but I changed it when I realized the concept of the character really needed 1) a lethal component to its attacks (Claws or Swords) and 2) A rez that didn't need a target to use (that left Regen, FA, and WP, and WP was automatically out of the running, as I have alot of those )
Spines adds lots of AOE fun, but oh how it can be tough on the end bar without IOs. I made it work before IOs, but I hated being locked into Conserve Power (and thusly before Physical Perfection).
So in the end my suggestion...Elec/DA Can't go wrong with a teleport attack, that knocks them down, then giggles maniacly as the mez auras keep them from attacking back (in theory anyways...my ELM/DA never got that high...but I'm sure I'll reroll one sooner or later...*sigh* if only Soul Transfere didnt need a target to rez off of...Id use DA more often).
BrandX Future Staff Fighter
The BrandX Collection
Quote:
No offense taken. I defend your right to express your opinion no matter how incorrect |
Originally Posted by BrandX
Dark Melee, no offense to the DM/DA fans, I just found boring. :P It's one of the sets I really want to get into).
|
SI Radio has many DJs and listeners whom hold City of Heroes close to their hearts. We will be supporting many efforts to keep CoH ALIVE!!
Quote:
Was thinking of you when I said it Des. |
Originally Posted by Desmodos
No offense taken. I defend your right to express your opinion no matter how incorrect
|
BrandX Future Staff Fighter
The BrandX Collection
Quote:
ahhhh shucks|
Originally Posted by BrandX
Was thinking of you when I said it Des.
|
On a slightly more serious note, part of the problem with Dark Melee is there so many different ways to play it. Often referred to as a "utility belt" primary, what you actually use depends largely on your secondary and IO sets you focus on. I think this contributes considerably as to why I still enjoy the set so much. After 5 years of playing DM/DA I'm still not bored of it. Granted I love my DM/DA character conceptually as well. The truth is my builds have changed so much over the years that the character always feels fresh. I could easily alter my build and play-style accordingly the instant I get bored. I should also acknowledge both DM and DA have been altered considerably over that time.
Presently (I'm not actively playing), my build omits Shadow Punch, Touch of Fear, and Dark Consumption. I am big advocate of stacking ToF and CoF but I haven't done so for nearly two years. I can remember a time where I would have laughed at the notion of skipping all these powers. I also recall phases where I found no use for Siphon Life. If I wanted to, I could easily alter my IO set bonus scheme and build the character completely differently with out sacrificing the character's concept or survivability (though strategies would change). I can't really say that for any other primary.
SI Radio has many DJs and listeners whom hold City of Heroes close to their hearts. We will be supporting many efforts to keep CoH ALIVE!!
Quote:
Well, I never said it was a bad combo. Or that DM or DA where bad.|
Originally Posted by Desmodos
ahhhh shucks
On a slightly more serious note, part of the problem with Dark Melee is there so many different ways to play it. Often referred to as a "utility belt" primary, what you actually use depends largely on your secondary and IO sets you focus on. I think this contributes considerably as to why I still enjoy the set so much. After 5 years of playing DM/DA I'm still not bored of it. Granted I love my DM/DA character conceptually as well. The truth is my builds have changed so much over the years that the character always feels fresh. I could easily alter my build and play-style accordingly the instant I get bored. I should also acknowledge both DM and DA have been altered considerably over that time. Presently (I'm not actively playing), my build omits Shadow Punch, Touch of Fear, and Dark Consumption. I am big advocate of stacking ToF and CoF but I haven't done so for nearly two years. I can remember a time where I would have laughed at the notion of skipping all these powers. I also recall phases where I found no use for Siphon Life. If I wanted to, I could easily alter my IO set bonus scheme and build the character completely differently with out sacrificing the character's concept or survivability (though strategies would change). I can't really say that for any other primary. |
I just haven't been able to get into the DM/DA combo. Maybe I just need the concept that really gets me into it. And hey, I love self rezes! And would of went Katana/DA instead of Katana/FA, if only Soul Transfere didn't require a target to rez.
Though now, after playing my Katana/FA to lvl 39, I can't picture he any other way than Katana/FA. So, take that as you will. Hehe
BrandX Future Staff Fighter
The BrandX Collection
Quote:
I actually agree with this. My BS/DA has had the Rularuu broadsword for quite a while now.
|
Originally Posted by Fire_Minded
Claws, Broad Sword, Katana, Dual Blades are all good choices.
I suggest all the Weapon sets, because nothings prettier then the Eye-Ball weapons with Dark Armor.Its very good to Theme them together. |
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Dechs Kaison See, it's gems like these that make me check Claws' post history every once in a while to make sure I haven't missed anything good lately. |
Why was that my favorite attack ever landed?
It critted on all 3