Questions about DM/SR
I guess I just don't know where the idea came from that anything less than soft-capped is some huge deal, and automatically un-fun or unplayable (not that you said that, but it seems to be an idea that runs rampant).
I guess I should of said I wanna be less squishy then I am now and hit the soft cap. Still having fun without being there yet but might as well keep working on him since he is so much fun.
Below is a build that I made. I don't think mine is better than yours, but you can compare and see what you think.
SR has pretty good resistance against defense debuff. As long as you can reach soft cap, mob's to-hit chance will be floored. There are benefits for pushing defense higher than the cap. Some mobs and summoned pets have to-hit higher than normal. However, your defense is not really high enough for such cases.
If you want to be tougher than soft-capping defense, then it's more efficient to have higher resistance, higher hit points, and some ways to heal yourself. I think you can slot up your tough instead of just using it to provide a slot for steadfast. In my build, there are more hit point and regeneration set bonus. Dark melee has siphon life which is a very good heal. I slot it for both damage and heal such that it can be used as an attack. I have darkest night in my build. I don't think the to-hit debuff is useful most of the time, but the damage debuff helps against hard-hitting bosses. The endurance usage is definitely much higher, I'm not sure if dark consumption can replenish your endurance fast enough, maybe you don't need to turn it on all the time.
I got rid of a couple powers from your build. I doubt that touch of fear is really that useful. I use single target fear for my brute. My experience is that if I'm beating it, the fear is pretty useless. Touch of fear has a pretty high to-hit debuff, which is probably not that important for SR. I guess you don't need to pop elude with soft-capped defense.
I guess your attack chain is of the buzz saw type, which has a pretty high dps. I pick midnight grasp in my build as I think it provides some burst damage, dps is not always the best in some situations. And I basically replace your shadow punch with boxing. Both have similar damage and are fast recharging, boxing should be ok as a filler attack.
Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.601
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: Dark Melee
Secondary Power Set: Super Reflexes
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery
Villain Profile:
Level 1: Smite -- T'Death-Acc/Dmg(A), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx(11), T'Death-Dmg/Rchg(13), T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(13), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(15), T'Death-Dam%(48)
Level 1: Focused Fighting -- S'dpty-Def/EndRdx(A), S'dpty-Def/Rchg(3), S'dpty-Def(3), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(9)
Level 2: Focused Senses -- S'dpty-Def/EndRdx(A), S'dpty-Def/Rchg(5), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(5), S'dpty-Def(9)
Level 4: Agile -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(7), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(7)
Level 6: Boxing -- C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(27), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(27), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(29), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(29)
Level 8: Siphon Life -- C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(17), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(17), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(19), Nictus-Heal/HP/Regen/Rchg(19), Nictus-Heal(34)
Level 10: Practiced Brawler -- RechRdx-I(A), EndRdx-I(11)
Level 12: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 14: Combat Jumping -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(15)
Level 16: Health -- Heal-I(A), Numna-Heal(43), RgnTis-Regen+(46), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(46)
Level 18: Dark Consumption -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(34), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(36), P'Shift-Acc/Rchg(37), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(37), P'Shift-End%(37)
Level 20: Evasion -- S'dpty-Def/EndRdx(A), S'dpty-Def/Rchg(21), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(21), S'dpty-Def(25)
Level 22: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(23), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(23), EndMod-I(25)
Level 24: Super Jump -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(34)
Level 26: Soul Drain -- Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(39), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(40), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(40), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(40)
Level 28: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), TtmC'tng-ResDam(31), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx(31), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(31)
Level 30: Weave -- S'dpty-Def(A), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx(33), S'dpty-Def/Rchg(33), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(33)
Level 32: Midnight Grasp -- T'Death-Acc/Dmg(A), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx(42), T'Death-Dmg/Rchg(43), T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(50), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(50), T'Death-Dam%(50)
Level 35: Dodge -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(36), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(36)
Level 38: Lucky -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(39), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(39)
Level 41: Soul Tentacles -- TotHntr-Immob/Acc(A), TotHntr-Acc/Immob/Rchg(42), TotHntr-EndRdx/Immob(42), TotHntr-Acc/EndRdx(43)
Level 44: Darkest Night -- DarkWD-ToHitDeb(A), DarkWD-ToHitDeb/Rchg(45), DarkWD-Rchg/EndRdx(45), DarkWD-ToHitDeb/EndRdx(45), EndRdx-I(46)
Level 47: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(48), RechRdx-I(48)
Level 49: Quickness -- Run-I(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury
------------
Set Bonus Totals:
- 7.5% DamageBuff(Smashing)
- 7.5% DamageBuff(Lethal)
- 7.5% DamageBuff(Fire)
- 7.5% DamageBuff(Cold)
- 7.5% DamageBuff(Energy)
- 7.5% DamageBuff(Negative)
- 7.5% DamageBuff(Toxic)
- 7.5% DamageBuff(Psionic)
- 6.75% Defense(Smashing)
- 6.75% Defense(Lethal)
- 6.13% Defense(Fire)
- 6.13% Defense(Cold)
- 6.13% Defense(Energy)
- 6.13% Defense(Negative)
- 3% Defense(Psionic)
- 10.5% Defense(Melee)
- 9.25% Defense(Ranged)
- 9.25% Defense(AoE)
- 10% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
- 37% Enhancement(Accuracy)
- 5% Enhancement(Immobilize)
- 10% FlySpeed
- 331.7 HP (22.1%) HitPoints
- 10% JumpHeight
- 10% JumpSpeed
- MezResist(Held) 5.5%
- MezResist(Immobilize) 9.9%
- MezResist(Sleep) 2.2%
- 5% (0.08 End/sec) Recovery
- 68% (4.26 HP/sec) Regeneration
- 3.13% Resistance(Negative)
- 10% RunSpeed
Hey thanks for the responses! Not sure that I would drop Smite...its such am integral part of my chain with dmg procs in it. Low endurance and helps stack the -tohit buff. Touch of Fear is nice as well since it gives me a place to dump some exotic IO sets that are nice. It also is a great way to knock a bosses to hit chance real low and keep the harder hitters or pesky mobs from doing too much.
Elude is kinda a mixed bag. It seems like overkill most of the time, but it definetly has its uses. I use it as a way to conserve energy since even with stamina and Dark Consumption I still run kinda low in long fights. If I am getting low and Consumption is still on cooldown I pop Elude and the +Recovery buff keeps me going no problem. Consumption is up by the time I crash and gets me back in the fight if there are still mobs up or I run and rest.
I was under the impression that running Tough was just a waste of End in a Defense heavy build since I am not stacking it as heavy as other defensive builds. Im just using it as filler atm and not too sure I could support another toggle while maintaining a healthy End pool.
Also, if I put that Steadfast IO in Tough...does it work even though I never turn the power on?
My Characters
Knight Court--A CoH Story Complete 2/3/2012
Alright having gave this some more thought I have decided that my attack chain might be a tad lacking with only Brawl, Smite, Shadow Punch, and Boxing so the toss up power to drop would be Touch of Fear. Not really looking forward to losing a great utility power though.
The two powers im looking at are either Maul or Grasp...both having issues. Long cast time on Maul and the unremarkable tier 9 Grasp. Not too sure what to pick up.
Also, soft capped defenses means 40% right? Cant seem to remember atm...
I use to skip both shadowmaul and midnight grasp as well in all my Dm toons but they upped Midnight grasp a while back. It needed it badly. I felt it was by far worst t9 and worst big hitter STA power for a brute in the game. They front loaded alot of its damage and gave it a little boost in damage. Its no KO or Gr. Fire Sword but its a good a attack now. It use to be a joke for a t9 power. I would say grab it and see how you like it.
Best of luck,
Cipher
Agree with Louis, you want Midnight Grasp and personally I'd want both MG and Shadow Maul. Get good at catching multiple foes with Shadow Maul's cone and it more than pays for its animation and endurance usage.
Further slot and use Siphon Life as an attack which just happens to heal.
Here's another build for thought with alternate sets used for a variant with more net recovery.
I'd probable continue to tweak it to eliminate the 6th +22.5 hp bonus and to try and get Smite to 95% accuracy against +4's while staying soft capped vs melee (it'll be just under without the full ToD there now ... though arguably you'd never notice)
Also if you haven't got the accolades pretty much any build is going to benefit strongly from the +max health and +max endurance found in them.
Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.601
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Sushiloving LotG sets (v1.00.i16): Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: Dark Melee
Secondary Power Set: Super Reflexes
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery
Villain Profile:
Level 1: Smite -- T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(A), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(3), T'Death-Dmg/Rchg(3), T'Death-Acc/Dmg(13), T'Death-Dam%(23), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx(37)
Level 1: Focused Fighting -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(7), LkGmblr-EndRdx/Rchg(15), LkGmblr-Rchg+(31)
Level 2: Focused Senses -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(7), LkGmblr-EndRdx/Rchg(15), LkGmblr-Rchg+(31)
Level 4: Shadow Maul -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(5), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(5), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(11), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(17), Oblit-%Dam(37)
Level 6: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 8: Siphon Life -- T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(A), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(9), T'Death-Acc/Dmg(9), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(11), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(17), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(37)
Level 10: Practiced Brawler -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+(13), Ksmt-ToHit+(46), Zephyr-Travel(46), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(46), Zephyr-ResKB(50)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Jump-I(A)
Level 16: Health -- Mrcl-Heal(A), Mrcl-Heal/EndRdx(39), Mrcl-Rcvry+(40), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(40), RgnTis-Regen+(40)
Level 18: Dark Consumption -- Efficacy-Acc/Rchg(A), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(19), P'Shift-Acc/Rchg(19), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(21), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(23)
Level 20: Evasion -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(21), LkGmblr-EndRdx/Rchg(34), LkGmblr-Rchg+(43)
Level 22: Boxing -- Acc-I(A)
Level 24: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), Aegis-ResDam(25), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(25), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(34)
Level 26: Soul Drain -- Erad-Dmg(A), Erad-Dmg/Rchg(27), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(27), Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(31), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(50), AdjTgt-EndRdx/Rchg(50)
Level 28: Weave -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(29), LkGmblr-EndRdx/Rchg(29), LkGmblr-Rchg+(34)
Level 30: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(33)
Level 32: Midnight Grasp -- T'Death-Acc/Dmg(A), T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(33), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(33), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(36), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(36), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(36)
Level 35: Dodge -- S'dpty-Def(A), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx(39), S'dpty-Def/Rchg(43)
Level 38: Agile -- S'dpty-Def(A), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx(39), S'dpty-Def/Rchg(43)
Level 41: Gloom -- Dev'n-Acc/Dmg(A), Dev'n-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(42), Dev'n-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(42), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(42), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(45)
Level 44: Lucky -- S'dpty-Def(A), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx(45), S'dpty-Def/Rchg(45)
Level 47: Darkest Night -- DarkWD-ToHitDeb/EndRdx(A), DarkWD-ToHitdeb/Rchg/EndRdx(48), DarkWD-Rchg/EndRdx(48), DarkWD-ToHitDeb(48)
Level 49: Quickness -- Run-I(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Acc-I(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- ULeap-Stlth(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Fury
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Love my DM/SR. Had a few questions.
Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.601
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: Dark Melee
Secondary Power Set: Super Reflexes
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery
Villain Profile:
Level 1: Shadow Punch
- (A) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
- (37) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
- (37) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
- (39) Mako's Bite - Chance of Damage(Lethal)
- (39) Touch of Death - Chance of Damage(Negative)
- (39) Perfect Zinger - Chance for Psi Damage
Level 1: Focused Fighting- (A) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance
- (36) Red Fortune - Defense/Recharge
- (36) Red Fortune - Endurance/Recharge
- (37) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
- (48) Red Fortune - Defense
- (48) Red Fortune - Endurance
Level 2: Smite- (A) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage
- (3) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance
- (3) Touch of Death - Damage/Recharge
- (23) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
- (23) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
- (25) Touch of Death - Chance of Damage(Negative)
Level 4: Focused Senses- (A) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance
- (5) Red Fortune - Defense/Recharge
- (5) Red Fortune - Endurance/Recharge
- (19) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
- (43) Red Fortune - Defense
- (46) Red Fortune - Endurance
Level 6: Touch of Fear- (A) Glimpse of the Abyss - Accuracy/Recharge
- (7) Glimpse of the Abyss - Endurance/Fear
- (7) Glimpse of the Abyss - Accuracy/Endurance
- (9) Glimpse of the Abyss - Fear/Range
- (17) Glimpse of the Abyss - Accuracy/Fear/Recharge
- (17) Glimpse of the Abyss - Chance of Damage(Psionic)
Level 8: Agile- (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed
- (9) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
Level 10: Siphon Life- (A) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Recharge
- (11) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Endurance/Recharge
- (11) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Endurance
- (13) Touch of the Nictus - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge
- (15) Touch of the Nictus - Accuracy/Endurance/Heal/HitPoints/Regeneration
- (15) Touch of the Nictus - Heal/HitPoints/Regeneration/Recharge
Level 12: Combat Jumping- (A) Defense Buff IO
- (13) Defense Buff IO
Level 14: Super Jump- (A) Jumping IO
Level 16: Hurdle- (A) Jumping IO
Level 18: Health- (A) Numina's Convalescence - +Regeneration/+Recovery
- (19) Numina's Convalescence - Heal
Level 20: Stamina- (A) Endurance Modification IO
- (21) Endurance Modification IO
- (21) Endurance Modification IO
Level 22: Practiced Brawler- (A) Recharge Reduction IO
Level 24: Dodge- (A) Defense Buff IO
- (25) Defense Buff IO
Level 26: Evasion- (A) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance
- (27) Red Fortune - Defense/Recharge
- (27) Red Fortune - Endurance/Recharge
- (34) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
- (43) Red Fortune - Defense
- (48) Red Fortune - Endurance
Level 28: Dark Consumption- (A) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Accuracy
- (29) Performance Shifter - EndMod
- (29) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Recharge
- (33) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Accuracy/Recharge
- (34) Performance Shifter - Accuracy/Recharge
- (34) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End
Level 30: Soul Drain- (A) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage
- (31) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
- (31) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
- (31) Multi Strike - Damage/Recharge
- (33) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance
- (33) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Endurance
Level 32: Boxing- (A) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage
- (40) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance
- (40) Touch of Death - Damage/Recharge
- (40) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
- (42) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
- (43) Touch of Death - Chance of Damage(Negative)
Level 35: Lucky- (A) Defense Buff IO
- (36) Defense Buff IO
Level 38: Quickness- (A) Run Speed IO
Level 41: Elude- (A) Recharge Reduction IO
- (42) Recharge Reduction IO
- (42) Recharge Reduction IO
Level 44: Gloom- (A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage
- (45) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance
- (45) Thunderstrike - Damage/Recharge
- (45) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
- (46) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
- (46) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
Level 47: Tough- (A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%
Level 49: Weave- (A) Endurance Reduction IO
- (50) Defense Buff IO
- (50) Defense Buff IO
- (50) Defense Buff IO
------------Level 1: Brawl
- (A) Accuracy IO
Level 1: Sprint- (A) Run Speed IO
Level 2: Rest- (A) Recharge Reduction IO
Level 1: FuryWas wondering if this build was overkill for Def. I want to have as much survivablilty as possible. I also dont have billion of influence so any tips on what sets I should get for bargain prices aetc would be nice. Just wanna be soft capped and be able to non-squishy.