Dark/?/?


Bench

 

Posted

Hi all -

I'm just back to the game and thinking about trying out Dark Miasma as it's the one defender set I've yet to experience. (I've played a Cold, Sonic, Rad and Emp to 50, and Tarps to 35 on a defender, and Storm, Kin & FF to 50 on a troller - note: I didn't include TA because I just can't deal with re-draw and I'm not really into archer as a blast set). While I'm not a min/maxer by definition, I do like to push my toons to the limit of their effectiveness w/in their given concept. For this concept it's dark <insert some blast here>. Outside of that, I'm open.

Anyway, I understand the Dark Set as a whole, but I'm not quite sure what secondary & epic to pair with it. I can't seem to make that mental leap to see how you could use a secendary to 'enhance' the effects of the primary (aside from the additional -toHit of dark of course). Off the top of my head I'd be comfortable with Sonic, Rad, Psy & Dark blast and maybe elec or energy if a case could be made.

So what dark/secondary/epic combos are fun (and effective) to play?

Edit: I guess with GR around the corner I could do this as a corr as well.


 

Posted

if you want an offender, make a corr. fire/dark is always nice or ice for blizz.

if you want to debuff dark is good for the -to hit but damage is mediocre and of course sonic. epic, for me anyway, depends on how you slot. I don't like the dark epic, power is good for damage and FoN, and psi is a good set mule set.


Positron's i13 letter: We are trying to make PvP more accessible to new players, while giving experienced PvP'ers the advantage that comes with formulating tactics around the new systems we're putting in place. PvP from now on will be on our priority list. If something isn't working out, we'll be in there tweaking it and making it work, for the entire future of the product, not just Issue 13.

 

Posted

Sonic - great sinergy with -res but little AoE, Siren's Song is great for most sonic toons but I don't think you'd need with all the mitigation in Dark Miasma

Dark - good AoE, the Dot makes it look like it does little damage. The ST damage is not good.

Rad Blast - good AoE and decent ST, requires melee for Irradiate while most other primaries can be played from range with Dark.

Psy - good ST, good AoE, that'd be my pick, the only defender I managed to get past 40 is my Rad/Psy, I never felt like I was doing too little damage even solo.

Ice would be another solid contender, Ice Storm + Tar Patch = win. But I like Psy's combo of ST+Aoes betters, I feel it's more balanced, although Psy lacks Aim.

Energy - KB is counterproductive to fearsome stare, tar patch, darkest night...

Elec - I HATE Elec Blast's low damage and there's nothing in Dark/ to help you drain mobs to make elec's secondary effect better.

As PC_Guy said Fire/Dark corrs are monsters, and for defs I feel Psy has the closest mix of ST+AoE.


 

Posted

just a general query, but how does archery and assault rifle play with dark miasma? rain of arrows and full auto i can see been good, just no aim on assault rifle


 

Posted

I really like my Dark/Ice for the blaster sized damage in Ice Storm and Blizzard. On top of a tar patch, it's a killer combination. I also like freeze ray for when you just got to take a guy out of action. I'm looking at you Mr. Sapper.


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Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Predatoric View Post
just a general query, but how does archery and assault rifle play with dark miasma? rain of arrows and full auto i can see been good, just no aim on assault rifle
both suck, not worth it.


Positron's i13 letter: We are trying to make PvP more accessible to new players, while giving experienced PvP'ers the advantage that comes with formulating tactics around the new systems we're putting in place. PvP from now on will be on our priority list. If something isn't working out, we'll be in there tweaking it and making it work, for the entire future of the product, not just Issue 13.

 

Posted

Why not Dark/Dark/Dark ... the classic D3? Crowd control, a nice heal (two if you count the pet), AoE rez and other goodies.
Hmm... maybe I should reroll mine and get her out to play again.


 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Predatoric View Post
just a general query, but how does archery and assault rifle play with dark miasma? rain of arrows and full auto i can see been good, just no aim on assault rifle
Quote:
Originally Posted by PC_guy View Post
both suck, not worth it.
And yet somehow my Dark/Archery Defender performs rather well both solo and on teams. Rain of Arrows is especially fun since you can launch it around corners, just like Tar Patch.

My Dark/Ice skipped Freeze Ray and took Dominate at 41. So far all my Dark Miasma users have been easy to play, but i find Dark Miasma makes almost any set it's paired with look good.


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Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Schismatrix View Post
And yet somehow my Dark/Archery Defender performs rather well both solo and on teams. Rain of Arrows is especially fun since you can launch it around corners, just like Tar Patch.
so can ice storm and blizzard. defender RoA is a hollow shell of the blaster version and the rest of the set is very lackluster when compared to the other secondaries and its blaster counterpart.


Positron's i13 letter: We are trying to make PvP more accessible to new players, while giving experienced PvP'ers the advantage that comes with formulating tactics around the new systems we're putting in place. PvP from now on will be on our priority list. If something isn't working out, we'll be in there tweaking it and making it work, for the entire future of the product, not just Issue 13.

 

Posted

I suppose it depends on which limits you want to push on your character. How do you want to excel?

Maximum safety for you and your team - I built for this. My Dark/Dark/Psy is a master of debuffing and crowd control. Cone Fear, AoE sleep, multiple holds and enough tohit debuff make AVs cry, and that's before the pet gets involved. Not the fastest damage dealer, but those cone DoTs do add up. If I'm playing her right, she's about as tough as tank to bring down (though with a lot less margin of error if I screw up, obviously). Possibly tougher than some tanks against psy foes.

Big game hunter - Sonic is the weapon of choice here, I'd think. Dark gives you the -regen you need and a little -res. The extra -Res in sonic will help to wear down GMs and AVs faster. Perhaps a Power Epic for Power Build Up and Conserve Power for the long fights?

Mass destruction - Ice or Psy, prob, depending on personal preference. Ice's AoEs are begging to be corrected one of these days, but I admit that I've enjoyed them on my Rad/Ice while they've lasted. Power or Dark Epic here, depending on if going into thick melee to really leverage the Dark buffs makes you squeamish.

Not too sure - Rad. I've never played it. Sorry.

Not recommended - Energy or AR. Too much knockback that you just don't want or need.
Elec. Endurance drain is the worst secondary effect in the game in my opinion. You either devote your whole character to it or it's worthless. Elec has the extra hold, but if you want that, go Ice or Psy Epic instead.
Archery. It's not bad, but doesn't really stand out either. Besides, you said you don't want redraw.
Elec Epic - You've got plenty of immobilize available and I don't like Total Focus or Thunder Strike on a Defender. Too little return for too much animation time. Unless you're just really craving Energy Resistance, you'll probably do better elsewhere.


 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Predatoric View Post
just a general query, but how does archery and assault rifle play with dark miasma? rain of arrows and full auto i can see been good, just no aim on assault rifle
Dark goes well with everything.

Archery is a little lighter on end use which works well, but you have to contend with the whole lethal resistance that mobs have. Fearsome Stare + Tar Patch keep most spawns in place for Fistful of Arrows and Rain of Arrows. (side note - *still loves me my first 50, Dark/Archery/Dark*)

Except the end usage, the same goes for Assault Rifle; FS + TP + Flamethrower and Full Auto.


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Chernozem-50 (Ice/MM, Emp/Ice, MA/Regen) - KGB SS8
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Posted

Thanks for the info guys, although I went a completly different direction and went traps/ice lol, figured would be a great soloer due to high defences from FFG and you have a lot of stacked slows because of ice and caltrops.

Then you have the mass AoE powers like ice storm/blizzard/trip mines. Pretty much win alround as I can see ^^


 

Posted

The only good Defenders in my opinion are Dark/Dark/Mind and Dark/Dual/Mind.

Dark/Dark/??? is basically the only build on the game that I think is basically unkillable, and Dark/Dual has great damage output for a Defender. It's not quite a Fire/Dark Corruptor, but then again comparing Defender and Corruptors is pointless in my opinion since they are more like Blasters.

Good luck to you.


"People love to talk, but hate to listen." Alice Duer Miller, American Author (1874-1942)

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Novella View Post
The only good Defenders in my opinion are Dark/Dark/Mind and Dark/Dual/Mind.

Dark/Dark/??? is basically the only build on the game that I think is basically unkillable, and Dark/Dual has great damage output for a Defender. It's not quite a Fire/Dark Corruptor, but then again comparing Defender and Corruptors is pointless in my opinion since they are more like Blasters.

Good luck to you.
Saying a Dark/DP has not quite the damage of a Fire/Dark is like saying an obese man on a bicycle is not quite as fast as a Ferrari Enzo.

OP, I think you'd be best off with a Fire/Dark Corr. Or at least going Corr over Defender. My personal bias towards Corrs aside, Dark Miasma is an incredibly powerful defensive set. It'll give you pretty much all you need to keep yourself and/or a team alive, especially once you've got the Dark Servant.

So because of that, I don't feel it's worthwhile to make a Dark Defender because you pay for higher defensive capabilities with significantly lower offense. Having played a D3 and a Fire/Dark, I hugely prefer the Fire/Dark. The D3 is just way overkill on the debuffs. Sure, it's safe as houses but it doesn't matter if for all intents and purposes a /Dark Corr is just as safe, if not safer because it kills so much faster.

I personally feel a Fire/Dark Corr is the best way to take advantage of Dark Miasma. This is because Dark is such a defensive powerhouse but lacks offense and Fire is such an offensive powerhouse but lacks defense. Match made in heaven.


Support Guides for all Corruptor secondaries and Fortunatas
The Melee Teaming Guide for Melee Mans

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Myriad View Post
Why not Dark/Dark/Dark ... the classic D3? Crowd control, a nice heal (two if you count the pet), AoE rez and other goodies.
Hmm... maybe I should reroll mine and get her out to play again.
Just because I see it mentioned, and not sure if it's known, but I've known alot of 50 Dark Miasma users who didn't know, so a reminder is always good...

Howling Twilight is WAY MORE than an AOE REZ.

It's a huge -Regen Debuff! For those AV/GM encounters, you should be using it on the AV everytime it's up.

It's also an AOE auto hit stun.


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Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Silas View Post
Saying a Dark/DP has not quite the damage of a Fire/Dark is like saying an obese man on a bicycle is not quite as fast as a Ferrari Enzo.
True, but the two should not be compared in first place because Corruptors are more akin to Blasters than they are Defenders. Sure a person could play their core just like a Defender, but then they would be negating a huge chunk of what the character does well, hence why so many people play them like Blasters that have soft controls.

Having played both a Fire/Dark and Dark/Dark Defender, I personally prefer my Dark/Dark/Mind over the Corruptor because being unkillable outweighs being able to kill fast. The Fire/Dark is great fun and I still enjoy playing her, but she is nothing like my Dark/Dark/Mind.

Even if the Dark/Dual isn't the same damage output as the Fire/Dark, the damage output of that character is excellent nevertheless and if the OP solos a lot then another 30% damage buff will only make it that much more dangerous.


"People love to talk, but hate to listen." Alice Duer Miller, American Author (1874-1942)

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Novella View Post
True, but the two should not be compared in first place because Corruptors are more akin to Blasters than they are Defenders. Sure a person could play their core just like a Defender, but then they would be negating a huge chunk of what the character does well, hence why so many people play them like Blasters that have soft controls.

Having played both a Fire/Dark and Dark/Dark Defender, I personally prefer my Dark/Dark/Mind over the Corruptor because being unkillable outweighs being able to kill fast. The Fire/Dark is great fun and I still enjoy playing her, but she is nothing like my Dark/Dark/Mind.

Even if the Dark/Dual isn't the same damage output as the Fire/Dark, the damage output of that character is excellent nevertheless and if the OP solos a lot then another 30% damage buff will only make it that much more dangerous.
lol@DP doing damage

that aside, you're basically arguing play style. you can easily build a fire/dark and a dark/dark to have the same level of survivability.


Positron's i13 letter: We are trying to make PvP more accessible to new players, while giving experienced PvP'ers the advantage that comes with formulating tactics around the new systems we're putting in place. PvP from now on will be on our priority list. If something isn't working out, we'll be in there tweaking it and making it work, for the entire future of the product, not just Issue 13.

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by PC_guy View Post
[...]you can easily build a fire/dark and a dark/dark to have the same level of survivability.
This. If I can build a Fire/Dark Corr to be essentially unkillable as well, (which is very possible given how tanky DM is), then it's all about the damage output difference.

A D3 is always going to have more and stronger debuffs than a Fire/Dark, but there is no practical difference between unkillable and even more unkillable. I'm not willing to pay for superfluous survivability in poor damage.

Edit: Plus the faster you can kill stuff the less survivability you need. You only need as much survivability as is required to kill the dudes before the dudes kill you.


Support Guides for all Corruptor secondaries and Fortunatas
The Melee Teaming Guide for Melee Mans

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by PC_guy View Post
lol@DP doing damage

that aside, you're basically arguing play style. you can easily build a fire/dark and a dark/dark to have the same level of survivability.
I'm not arguing anything and I never questioned the level of survivability of comparing either.

Not sure why you are laughing at Dual Pistols damage output, I have found the damage to be exceptional.


"People love to talk, but hate to listen." Alice Duer Miller, American Author (1874-1942)

 

Posted

Compared to other blast sets, dual pistols is above average in both single target and area damage as long as you're using fire ammo. If you're using another ammo type, you're below average. It's far from the worst no matter the ammo though.


 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Silas View Post
faster you can kill stuff the less survivability you need. You only need as much survivability as is required to kill the dudes before the dudes kill you.
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1. Why Soft Cap is Important : http://dechskaison.blogspot.com/2011...important.html
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Posted

wait. DP does damage? o.0


most recent 50 - psy/mm blaster

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Silas View Post
Haha, cool, thanks. Srsly though, it's for that reason I vastly prefer Corrs to Defenders and Brutes/Scrappers to Tankers.

as soon as i can get corrs blueside, same.


Positron's i13 letter: We are trying to make PvP more accessible to new players, while giving experienced PvP'ers the advantage that comes with formulating tactics around the new systems we're putting in place. PvP from now on will be on our priority list. If something isn't working out, we'll be in there tweaking it and making it work, for the entire future of the product, not just Issue 13.

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bench View Post
wait. DP does damage? o.0
Yes, in fact, it does above average damage if you're using fire ammo.