both primaries are fairly strong, the bots are prolly a tad stronger with their bubbles and they do mostly energy/fire dmg while thugs do mostly lethal with some smash and fire dmg
if i have to choose i say bots are stronger due to using a not highly resisted dmg + having debuffs (a good bit of the bots attacks have a chance to do -regen)
I would go with Thugs for these reasons:
1. The damage output on Thugs is superior. Yes it is S/L and highly resisted but this is totally overcome by slotting an achilles heel - res proc in the enforcers and of course using Tar Patch.
2. Thugs do NOT do knockback, they do knockdown. Having mobs knocked OUT of your tar patch killing zone by the bots is incredibly frustrating.
3. Thugs are smaller and less disruptive in team environments.
4. Yes, they are softer but with some careful looking after, they kill much quicker. Most notably, the Arsonist has to be pulled out of melee range but you will have the same issue with the bots. It is the bugged MM AI to blame.
5. The bruiser pet at 26 is a TANK. Yes, a TANK. You send him in first and then lay down the debuffs while he takes the hits. Pop a purple or 2 on him before you send him in and do your own thing.
This makes Thugs incredibly versatile, a good mix of ranged and the one melee pet. Yes, you have to tell him to GOTO after 32, that is a glitch in the pet AI.
All in all, Thugs are higher in DPS than bots, in my opinion.
@Boerewors
The -tohit from dark will stack with the Bot bubbles, but then again enforcers have stacking defense too. Tar Patch and burn patches mix well, but both sets do that, it's just that assault bot stays alive longer to do more damage, longer than the Suicidal Arsonist.
Bots look cooler.
Quote:
Yes if you like the *clank, clank, PEW PEW, blinding light show, "GET OUT OF THE DOORWAY!"* type of cool. If you do, might I suggest Demon Summoning? With that you get *stomp, stomp, COW SCREAM, blinding light show, "GET OUT OF THE DOORWAY!"* kind of cool as well.|
Originally Posted by beyeajus
Bots look cooler.
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I really don't know why the developers had to make the two most survivable MM sets such a showoff, flashy eyesore.
@Boerewors
Quote:
Tar patch is definitely the most useful tool in /Dark to get things to stay in the burn patch. Pity the flashy bots keep knocking things out of it while the modest thugs keep knocking things down on their backs to burn some more in it.
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Originally Posted by beyeajus
Tar Patch and burn patches mix well, but both sets do that.
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@Boerewors
Quote:
Demons are way too big (especially tier 2) and are annoying, BUT I personally do highly suggest them.|
Originally Posted by Boerewors
might I suggest Demon Summoning?
I really don't know why the developers had to make the two most survivable MM sets such a showoff, flashy eyesore. |
They have -RES which will stack with tar patch.
They do a lot of damage, and varied damage (and you'll be debuffing all damage types), and a lot of AoE at 32.
Shadow Fall + Ember Shield = RES to all standard damage types, and DEF. Add in maneuvers for more DEF. Then pet aura uniques slotted into Hell on Earth... Yes, your pets become very survivable.
You have an AoE heal. Ember Demon (at 32) has an AoE pulsing heal (same strength as most PBAoE heals, 25 seconds between pulses). Your Dark servant has an AoE heal... You're debuffing tohit, you have resistances and defenses raised... Survival.
The Demon Prince has a ton of -recharge, the only thing except -DEF (none of that in DS sadly) /dark can't consistently debuff. He also has AOE slow, keeping enemies even more likely to stay inside of tar patch, unlike the other survivor pets, bots, which as has been stated, knock them out.
Stack holds with the demon prince, allowing you to hold things neither sets could on their own.
It seems like an obvious combo to me, especially for someone new to MMs (the arsonist in thugs is great but a pain in the *** to babysit)
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Boerewors
2. Thugs do NOT do knockback, they do knockdown. Having mobs knocked OUT of your tar patch killing zone by the bots is incredibly frustrating.
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Quote:
I'd put Howling Twilight as the most useful tool in /Dark, followed by Tar Patch. Oh and Bot knockback can be overcome with Electric Fences from Mu Mastery |
Originally Posted by Boerewors
Tar patch is definitely the most useful tool in /Dark to get things to stay in the burn patch. Pity the flashy bots keep knocking things out of it while the modest thugs keep knocking things down on their backs to burn some more in it.
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http://www.scene-and-heard.com/cov/covsig.jpg
I read but didnt see it mentioned. The 2 protector bots along with casting stacking bubbles, also heal the other bots. Very useful between battles when there are no enemies to pull heal from. Also bots being machines have a nice resistance to psi attacks.
Also remember to think balance when selecting pets, thugs, and demons hit harder yes, but they die off more quickly than bots cuz bots are tougher and have better resistances.
Quote:
lol, they wouldn't cow scream so much if you just stop trying to milk them |
Originally Posted by Boerewors
Yes if you like the *clank, clank, PEW PEW, blinding light show, "GET OUT OF THE DOORWAY!"* type of cool. If you do, might I suggest Demon Summoning? With that you get *stomp, stomp, COW SCREAM, blinding light show, "GET OUT OF THE DOORWAY!"* kind of cool as well.
I really don't know why the developers had to make the two most survivable MM sets such a showoff, flashy eyesore. |
I've returned to the game and decided to try out a MM. I rolled at first a robots/dark then tried a thugs/dark.
I'm just curious any thoughts on what is a better primary between the two? Just looking for some input.
At least the Thugs are quieter and don't make so much noise when following me around.