Quote:
Dual Blades is fairly fun to play in the lower levels, although it really opens up in the higher levels, once you start getting multiple combos available. The combo system is something you will either love or despise. |
Originally Posted by AnElfCalledMack
I'm thinking of rolling up a Dual Blades tanker. I'm something of an altoholic, and have yet to get a character to 50. As such, I have two questions:
1) Is /DB still fun to play in the lower levels, or does it really need a mature build and possibly IOs to shine? 2) What primaries would work well with /DB? I'd quite like to try Inv or DA on something, but I'm suspicious that DA would be far to Endurance-hungry. Is Inv/DB a good idea? |
Because of the combo system, I think Dual Blades works best with defense sets that have a lot of skippable powers. Fire/DB, DA/DB, Stone/DB, and Inv/DB will be more fun to build than, say, WP/DB, Ice/DB, or DB/SR.
<《 New Colchis / Guides / Mission Architect 》>
"At what point do we say, 'You're mucking with our myths'?" - Harlan Ellison
Mack, I've got a Willpower/Dual Blades tanker currently sitting at level 30. Like you, I didn't have any real idea what to expect from the build, but I wanted a secondary that was a bit flashier than those I had been using in other builds.
Unfortunately, there are no guides to the use of Dual Blades in the tanker forums. There are a couple in the scrapper guides and two in the brute guides. Those in the scrapper guides are less than desireable for tanker useage but do offer some useful information. The brute guides are better for your purposes. The one I used when I first started my build was this one:
http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showt...449#post614449
Knowing which combos offer the best measure of damage and control for our uses is the real trick of building a Dual Blades tank. I used the Weaken combo exclusively until I hit level 30. This consists of three attacks: Nimble Slash, Ablating Strike, and Typhoon's Edge. Typhoon's Edge is a PBAoE that hits multiple targets. With one taunt enhancement it helps to compensate quite a bit for Willpower's relatively weak taunt aura. I put two accuracy enhancements into each of these attacks, with one recharge, one endurance reduction, and a damage enhancement.
I picked Willpower for my primary because Dual Blades cycles through its attacks quickly and tends to use quite a bit of endurance. Willpower compensates for this by offering Quick Recovery and Stamina.
I've got to go to work now....but I'll add another post this afternoon when I have time. My build has been a blast to play so far.
Regards, Shuckins
Mack....I didn't start slotting for IO enhancements until I got to level 30. There were some recommendations about slotting for WP in some other threads that I decided to try out with my DB build. The easiest approach seemed to be to go for a regeneration build.
Another build of mine on Freedom had reached level 50 and had amassed about 45 million in influence. Not a great amount by CoH standards, but enough to experiment with. Obviously, purple sets were out of the question...but there are several sets in the level 12-30ish levels that offer nice regeneration bonuses. So, I started with two Freebird enhancements for Fly, which gave me an 8% regenration bonus. There was an immediate improvement in the character's (Godwinson) survival ability.
Then I picked up a taunt set that offered 12% regeneration improvement with the use of three enhancement slots. It was Mocking Beratement I believe, although my aging brain cells aren't what they used to be. I then acquired a couple of Numena's Convalesence enhancements, which gave another 10% boost to regeneration.
Now, Godwin has an over all 30% boost to regeneration....with the potential, if I purchase more Numena's Convalesence sets to gain even more. That 30% regeneration bonus makes a huge difference. Against most mobs, the health bar barely moves.
The first chance I get I intend to pick up another attack combo....for as much as I like the Weaken combo it's about run its course in terms of effectiveness. Better alternatives are available....
More later.
I have an Inv/DB in the forties and it's a lot of fun, if a little different from most of my other tanks. Very fun to play. It's enjoyable enough in the low-levels, although it's like most tankers in that it matures late.
They ALL float down here. When you're down here with us, you'll float too!
@Starflier
Dual Blades relies on hitting targets to be very effective. Given that Invuln is a very good idea.
He will honor his words; he will definitely carry out his actions. What he promises he will fulfill. He does not care about his bodily self, putting his life and death aside to come forward for another's troubled besiegement. He does not boast about his ability, or shamelessly extol his own virtues. - Sima Qian.
Quote:
As do most attack sets.|
Originally Posted by New Dawn
Dual Blades relies on hitting targets to be very effective.
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/em sagenod
They ALL float down here. When you're down here with us, you'll float too!
@Starflier
Wow. Thanks for all your help, everyone. I hadn't even thought of the to-hit buff Inv gives you.
Quote:
You have to chain DB to get its secondary effects out. Invincible offers +tohit and so it'll be better. Nothing sage about it just didn't think anyone brought it up is all.
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Originally Posted by Starflier
As do most attack sets.
/em sagenod |
He will honor his words; he will definitely carry out his actions. What he promises he will fulfill. He does not care about his bodily self, putting his life and death aside to come forward for another's troubled besiegement. He does not boast about his ability, or shamelessly extol his own virtues. - Sima Qian.
I have a badass WP/DB tanker...
listen... DB is more for show then damage. don't get me wrong, i love that tanker to death. and she's awesome at all levels both solo and in teams. but there are stronger offensive sets.
The trick is you want the sweep and lethal combos, which means you'll basically take all the db attack powers (with one exception); since WP requires you to take tough and weave and most of it's powerset to be godly... you're going to be slot starved and will have to be very careful about balancing the slotting and io'ing.
the advantage of WP/DB is WP has massive end recovery... which means even while running all those WP toggles, plus tough/weave you'll never really harm your end, and basically never run out even cycling your attack string over and over again (i just cycle those two chains over and over again... do a lot of good damage, with a lot of PBAOE)
Dual Blades is fun if you like micro-managing. Its extremely greedy -> unless you just ignore one or two of the combo sets you're going to need every power except confront.
You actually turn out decent AoE damage and control (knockdown) if you leverage the combo system, but if you miss your chains a fight can go south on you.
As someone else mentioned, accuracy is particularly important to DB as a broken chain can really throw off your rythym and effectiveness.
I like Willpower w/ DB for the go go go and toggle and forget factor, but it definitely is a very tight build and requires tough choices.
Invul might work past Invincible as noted, but honestly the first 20 levels will require patience and slotting for END. I wouldn't be willing to suffer thru it personally to see if it matures.
Invulnerability/Dual Blades is no worse than any other Tanker set, Before SOs, you're not fully capable, but your Capable Enough. Endurance is an issue and you have to manage it (I slot my attacks with 2 Acc, 1 EndRed First, and worry about damage/recharge later), but that's true of All Tankers (except Willpower, of course). Once you get SOs (and Stamina helps too!) then the whole thing smooths out. Mine is only level 19, but I'm having a blast.
I also have Fire/DB and Will/DB Tankers in the 30s, and my main is Inv/EM, at 50. Dual Blades is not about micro-managing, it's more like 'dancing the pattern' of the combos, and only slightly more complicated than a regular attack-chain. Only, with Dual Blades, your attack-chain has Extra Effects! Dance the combo correctly and you get a prize! All you have to do is follow the bouncing ba... er, orange ring-thing.
Again, it's no harder than any other Tanker, and Tankers aren't any harder than other ATs, you just have to adopt an effective playstyle and learn to manage.
Be Well!
Fireheart
I'm thinking of rolling up a Dual Blades tanker. I'm something of an altoholic, and have yet to get a character to 50. As such, I have two questions:
1) Is /DB still fun to play in the lower levels, or does it really need a mature build and possibly IOs to shine?
2) What primaries would work well with /DB? I'd quite like to try Inv or DA on something, but I'm suspicious that DA would be far to Endurance-hungry. Is Inv/DB a good idea?