Elec/Dark questions

All,

I've got an Elec/Dark scrapper I've been working on, and I'm level 31 currently. I'll post my build below. However, I've discovered that I really hate Jacob's Ladder. Well, it's OK but I've fallen entirely out of habit of using it since I got Chain Induction. I know from my Elec/Fire scrapper, who never had Jacob's Ladder, that I dont think I really need it.

So my questions are: Should I replace it with Air Superiority for the damage and soft control? Should I shift everything and pick up Energy Torrent? What about Cloak of Fear? Is there any point to running it at the same time as Oppressive Gloom?

Also, is ET knockback or knockdown for scrappers? I've not tried it.

Thanks,

Lewis

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.707
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Mega Shock: Level 50 Science Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Electrical Melee
Secondary Power Set: Dark Armor
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Body Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Charged Brawl -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(7), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(7), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(23), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(23)
Level 1: Dark Embrace -- ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(11), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(11), Aegis-ResDam(25)
Level 2: Havoc Punch -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(3), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(3), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(19), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(19)
Level 4: Jacobs Ladder -- Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(5), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(5), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(17), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(17)
Level 6: Murky Cloud -- ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(13), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(13), Aegis-ResDam(25)
Level 8: Thunder Strike -- Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(9), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(9), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(15), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(15), RechRdx-I(43)
Level 10: Obsidian Shield -- ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(42), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(42), Aegis-ResDam(42)
Level 12: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(34), RechRdx-I(36)
Level 14: Super Speed -- QckFt-EndRdx/RunSpd(A)
Level 16: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 18: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(50)
Level 20: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), P'Shift-EndMod(21), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(21), P'Shift-End%(48)
Level 22: Dark Regeneration -- Acc-I(A), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(31), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(31), Numna-Heal/Rchg(37), Numna-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(37), Theft-+End%(40)
Level 24: Cloak of Darkness -- EndRdx-I(A), Krma-ResKB(31), Ksmt-ToHit+(48)
Level 26: Chain Induction -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(27), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(27), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(29), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(29), RechRdx-I(43)
Level 28: Build Up -- AdjTgt-ToHit/Rchg(A), AdjTgt-ToHit/EndRdx/Rchg(37), AdjTgt-EndRdx/Rchg(40), AdjTgt-ToHit/EndRdx(43), AdjTgt-Rchg(48)
Level 30: Lightning Clap -- Stpfy-Acc/Rchg(A), Stpfy-EndRdx/Stun(45), Stpfy-Acc/EndRdx(46), Stpfy-Stun/Rng(46), Stpfy-Acc/Stun/Rchg(46)
Level 32: Lightning Rod -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(33), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(33), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34), Oblit-%Dam(34)
Level 35: Oppressive Gloom -- HO:Endo(A), HO:Endo(36), HO:Endo(36)
Level 38: Death Shroud -- C'ngBlow-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngBlow-Dmg/EndRdx(39), M'Strk-Acc/EndRdx(39), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(39), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(40)
Level 41: Focused Accuracy -- EndRdx-I(A), EndRdx-I(45)
Level 44: Physical Perfection -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(45)
Level 47: Boxing -- Acc-I(A)
Level 49: Tough -- ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(50), ResDam-I(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Acc-I(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- ULeap-Stlth(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Critical Hit
Level 6: Ninja Run

| Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Hero Designer to view the build |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
|MxDz;1426;715;1430;HEX;|
|78DA9D93DB4F134114C667DB4269E9857211289772B59496A54D8CF1F2605430C15|
|8432CE149ADCB32C286D236BB0D525F447DF5C9077D32DE12FF07E3DFA56200EB99|
|F30D0DFAE826FBFD7667CE7C7366CE4C717F2922C4C13561C46E562CCF2B976CD7A|
|AD7A51B2CD98EACDA325C945BD64469BB66EF048510A9D3FE725156A434972BD26E|
|B88E6D55D030D2EE5F928F65D593E692E5EE94AFBBBB3537B152DD96AEAC36CCD38|
|FF06AAD56314B75293723FC79CB6954A5E745F5CFD676C3A96E25F86FA5BAE778CE|
|8653711ACDC472DDB1CD1BB5CD66B968790DE9368728B70CBDDFA3423FAD8078442|
|8884E0BB019E73601C9C8A835191CEE1733F49116E134903754C0D005C68FA80E23|
|5B03B63ED8FA60DB0BDB5ED8FEA470BF0EF7EF7153E009B0CFE869024F1959CAA24|
|367D1812C22C822F25716BFC83608DB8E206CBB60DB05DB186C63B09DCF32723424|
|A4DD4370CFC03D03F70CDCA728AE1BEEBE6E0C9D04A6352800DBDB12D14E1F6F2A3|
|5C5E12DE2731C15A4A6049A8CC46D9EA7B0CE1374514F9F4EA46F8283FB5FB34DFF|
|1BC6E25BC602C50DF076B73A06921C375E6487F1BB8C9912B0C648F7D2568F09934|
|60DC2DD373889518742F52C9E308E28F761BD7BC3A86112354CA286A3A8E1A83CBB|
|7B87346A449772E43DE737F38191FEC898FF84DC3F338EA36A2A848F3DE3FC72078|
|C85E7C00BE025E384C2533AA7D4113B4C1C0327C06FC6640B50A7AA20F2B4D429BD|
|D4A98B84805F4CFFC3798A99454C60B6C24B39BF0B78408391C6595923E3392462C|
|C61F772C0174A31ABEB9945D57280415398FA3C98A8939F9AF23AB33CCE5A0167AD|
|90C3E606DAF753088CB973B6C9CFEB5C0DB4AF9B30508754A07D535BA11EBA2FE8F|
|EDFE76BE474D2D0BD30E99A925525EB4AEE2B79A0E4A1124BC986125B49EB5B7B74|
|FC92CAEBB2922B4AAE2A19A0FCC42B15195417AA5B49444954494C495C498F923E2|
|54925EF94B4FE00AA1AF265|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

Energy Torrent is knockDown, and, of course, a great opener at least when Lightning Rod is down. Only drawback is that its cone doesn't quite match with the spheres of your other AoEs. (I would take it over JL.)

I'd suggest more endredux (in lieu of heal, do you ever fight only one critter?) in Dark Regeneration, and a +end proc in PP, since it's on average worth more than a regular endmod IO in that power.

ET on scrappers is knockdown. Problem is, with this build, you're really best benefitting constantly from being right in the middle of the mob at all times (why I always suggest spines/fire instead of spines/dark to my friend who keeps asking about the combos). I understand you can use it in your build up chain before L-Rod though, but jacobs ladder is a fine power. Especially on teams when you're dealing with multiple bosses, having it hit a couple of them really shines it through (as it does for most cones of course).

For how "bad of a ST set" elec melee is, this fact actually helps my elec melee'r take down a couple bosses faster than my fire melee scrapper.

As to the OG + CoF issue. At any rate the mez usually won't work together, but while stunned enemies will never hit back, at least CoF will be debuffing the lts/bosses to hit a little bit, but the end cost is so high, I'd not bother unless you REALLY have enough extra slots to use as a bonus mule. Don't forget about procs for DA. Makes them into decent damage auras as a possibility. More-so on a tank, having both also gives you more taunting options.

As to the build, I'm really not sure what you're going for with it. You have some defense bonuses, but as a defense build are leaving out easy key sets/slotting with minimal loss of anything else. (like the damage proc in obliteration, which at any rate, since for most of the build you're not making a "defense" build, would be FAR better off used in death shroud)

I'd ditch the HOs in OG as well. It tics pretty fast, and its actually odd, but its a power that can get more use out of less stun slotting. Because when they stun longer, they wander further. When they stun short, they don't go far, and stay by you better, but are still stunned for the majority of the time. If you're slotting the power, do so with more stupefies, at least for the first 2.5% recovery bonus, allowing you to ditch some of the expensive impervium armors.

Death Shroud, I think you're getting far too late. Also, I like not to miss as well, but you're paying some extra influence for a small bit more accuracy by using the Scirocco Dervish acc/dam/end in it. You'd be better off using a multistrike dam/end, and getting the .95% resistance to fire/cold bonus. You have a lot of end in this build, which understandably you want with dark armor, but elec melee isn't that bad on endurance. You don't have your accolades turned on either. With those on, you're at 2.74 end/sec, which should be more than enough. My Elec/shield, is at 1.83 end/sec, and I almost can't ever run out of endurance. With the Theft of the Essense proc in dark regen, helping reducing that drain, the only small difference, is you have hasten. But the animations on elec melee are sluggish for your main aoes, and some proc back end to you. So I woudln't worry so much.

Thanks for the replies. I've got a lot to mull over, I suppose.

As for the build itself, I was trying to avoid paying for any of the expensive smashing/lethal defense items mainly. Otherwise, I'm just messing around. Its a character concept / side project kinda thing.

Thanks,

Lewis

I do have ninja run, but I cant live without Super Speed. It is my favorite power in the game.

As for the wonky defense bonuses, they were just hanging around for no particular reason.

I've been playing with Lightning Clap, and it is fun, but it sorta makes things more dangerous. I wish it were knockdown. Too bad. I've decided to drop it.

I also decided to take your advice and keep Jacob's Ladder, just to see how it works out. I like the slotting for it too, and I'm going to use it on Thunderstrike as well.

I just can't really find the slots to get a third one in Physical Perfection. I could pull it from the 5th slot in Lightning Rod, but I like my level up build to be the same as my final build in terms of power placement and number of slots. Its a weird quirk but it means that I "have" to keep 6 slots in lightning rod. That's why I had the damage proc in there, because I gotta use the slot for something.

I added Energy Torrent to the build, since I don't like Lightning Clap that much. Its possible I wont like Energy Torrent, I'll have to just keep playing to see. I wish I didn't like it, I sure could use the slots on PP and Death Shroud. I will see how it meshes with the build.

As for the Imperviums, I'm keeping them simply because I already have them sitting around from an old character I hated and deleted. So, I might as well. I already have a miracle and a numina waiting as well. So, a lot of my expensive bits on this build are done.

Finally, I guess I probably should take Death Shroud sooner, but I find the endurance use on this character to already be crippling. I'm looking forward to hitting 37 so I can slot my Miracle. I just don't want any more endurance cost at this point.

Anyway, I'm level 34 now and moving onward! I appreciate the advice. Sorry if I only used parts of it. Oh and thanks to Repltbrain also. I did increase my dark regen end cost. Its nasty!

Thanks,

Lewis

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.707
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

| Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Hero Designer to view the build |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
|MxDz;1426;712;1424;HEX;|
|78DA9D93C96E134110867B6C27133B5EE2ECBBB3278E9DC1961062392020410AC2C|
|8C2514E80994C9A6414C7B6662C8839F1009C38C009B149BC009B10CFC5A6104C75|
|FD1D8B70C492FF6FA6A7FAEFEAAAEEC2C16A548847178511BF52B17DBF5C723CBB5|
|E979E59725C597564A42077ECA9D26ECDD9338510A9E3EFE582AC4869AD55A4D3F0|
|5CC7AE6060ACFD7D55DE93555F5AABB6B757BEE4EDD7BCE47A75577AB2DAB08E1F2|
|2C55AAD6295EA526E47F9F1AADBA84ADF8FE9979DDD865BDD49F2DB7AF5BEEBBB5B|
|6EC56D34936B75D7B12ED7B69BE582ED37A4D71CA6DCD2F4FF1A13FAD70A89BB84B|
|CE8B4018731B80D48465AEDC9D0E173F4B028228B40CE5001C3A71993C384B8F816|
|D3D1146EC03D00F700DC7BE1DE0BF7EF141E447847709F874235E001A3E70068329|
|61F3232945307720A7620A728728A9EC8E927B99BDADD847B17DCBBE01E877BFC84|
|7B96A684B57B18EE69B8A7E19E86FB0CC575C33DD09DE1A98B27304B0128764BC43|
|A035C621A4AC05B249638CAA4A124868CE4355E67659317E8A22F7D3A91BE290EEE|
|7FC236FD4F192BCF008A1B300CDEE600F63779034DD960CCF5528D27C4DC6090DF8|
|61816CD1AD2EB0E4DF3AC9523A1E20E29E9115DB611F470740B400FC7D1C371F470|
|D965FCA05963BAF3632F38B1E9978CD9578CEC6BE00DC330D552A8C4C4283B1C914|
|34AAF9B3AE4A8A95FC011F01BB62D005BCD91D18C6EC3CC1942282866FFE132C5CC|
|EBDCE62B3C6D01E761C1071A681C4EC006156849E7B684D2BCA5DC32BA5A19F4220|
|B6C52B0A5BDAD773C74EA3DF001F8C8C87F620429951C8C02399CAE3C4E573E8BAA|
|86DAF7530814E6FADF4341DE7C31D4BE67C2C0714B85DA37B515EEA11B82CFFFFBF|
|B1C3D5E347C3342BAA1A4A86453C92D25B795DC51622BD952E228697D69CF4E9C55|
|799D53725EC9052503949F78AC224D7585BA954495C494C4952494F428E95332AAE|
|4B992D61FEA1FF2D6|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

Well, again as my mention of how ET will work when you'll want to be in melee all the time. With SS and cloak of darkness, I'd also ditch the stealth IO in sprint. Its not needed if you have the other two, since you'll be invisible to normal enemies, and snipers/pvp it won't be enough to invis from them anyways, at least in any meaningful enough way.

Also, on the Imperviums, just because you have them laying around, doesn't mean you should use them. At best, sell them and use the money for other IOs to make your build better.

I'd still suggest the slotting for OG as I showed. For one saving you money, two getting 2.5% recovery and very importantly that 1.88% max hp, and as mentioned, actually being better with less stun slotted.

If you're skipping l-clap, and ditch energy torrent, the build is opened up just whats needed for rounding a couple things, and also, as it stands, with unslotted FA, its pretty pointless to even pick up, you'd be better off with just taking CP for those AV battle situations.

And to be honest, with the way you keep slotting CoD, unless for pure concept/to make you a puffball with no figure, you'd be much better off just picking up combat jumping, and using the stealth IO in sprint. You can still slot the kimset in CJ, its a much much lower end cost, and most importantly grants the combat movement you'll want as a scrapper.

So if you're dropping L-Clap, outside of moving SS sooner and pushing something to its 38 spot in my build, move the 2 slots to cj, and health, to put the numina unique, and the kimset in CJ.

Say what you want about the end cost now, I'm just saying see how it is when the final build is near completion. I have a DA/Energy tank, which easily uses more endurance than an elec/dark would, and he has no PP, no miracle slotted yet,(or numina, hes not going to either), no theft of the essense IO in dark regen, and no p-shifter proc. And he is not that bad on endurance overall. (no imperviums, same slotting on attacks I'm suggesting to you here).

When you figure those main 4 things I suggested, there's no way I can see having problems with end (or easily at least enough to worry about) with this finalized build I'm suggesting.