Dual Blades Stalker or Scrapper
By
Capa_Devans,
Posted on: 2010-10-25 12:53 in Archetypes and Powers General Discussion
It's my understanding that Stalker DB is somewhat screwed up with regards to the combo system, since you normally start a fight with Assassin's Strike instead of picking whichever attack begins the combo you want. I've never played it myself, but I see that there's a recent discussion here in the stalker forums.
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I've got a lvl 50 DN/Nin and frankly it was a blast to play. Yeah, the combo system was more restricted as a stalker, since placate and AS were part of some chains and you kind of had to plan it out, lest you waste a move. But, i tend to recall never really being bothered by it. I tended to play in teams more then solo, so, i scrapped with him alot, so, I'd open on a hard boss with an AS, then placate - heavy attack, then aoe/combos till the mob was done, then move on. Maybe that's why the combo restrictions didn't bother me as much, since i relied a little less on AS then most stalkers prolly do.|
Originally Posted by Obscure Blade
It's my understanding that Stalker DB is somewhat screwed up with regards to the combo system, since you normally start a fight with Assassin's Strike instead of picking whichever attack begins the combo you want. I've never played it myself, but I see that there's a recent discussion here in the stalker forums.
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I found a system that worked, allowed me to use both my combos and stalker skills in tandom, and allowed me to lay out some pretty impressive AoE damage for a stalker. Considering most stalkers only have one, or NO aoe attacks, having... 3? (maybe 2... havent played him in a while.) was really nice.
All i can say is, I had ALOT of fun playing Tangleweb. More fun then i did leveling up my other stalker a BS/SR. The BS/SR is MUCH stronger, but not as fun. (softcapped and insane single target dmg... he's a beast...)
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My main is a DB/WP stalker and I've no idea why the DB stalker set would be considered gimped. The combos are different to brute/scrapper and tanks see here but I admit I prefer the Stalker versions. YMMV.
I rarely if ever Assassin Strike in the middle of a fight; the only exception being AVs because most other stuff doesn't live long enough to make it worth the effort.
I never use the Empower combo because a) it's hard to AS mid fight and b) I find the Sweep combo a more effective opener. It puts a cone of mobs on their backs mitigating any potential damage. By the time they're up, they're in the midst of 1000 cuts followed by being back on their rears. If I want +damage or +to hit (well acc) I can use insps. Again YMMV.
My attack pattern is start off with Build Up, Assassin Strike and Ablating Strike (Sweep combo). Follow up with Weaken combo, Ablate and then Vital Strike combo or Weaken Combo until the mobs are dead. I like to use Ablating in between each combo because I feel the -def debuff is useful. Plus I've got a couple of procs in mine.
Admittedly I scrap a lot with my stalker; the whole hit and run thing never appealed to me.
Personally I'd say try it and see. If you like it great, if not ... move on.
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A couple things to keep in mind: For all Dual Blade characters, the highest damage attack chain uses no combos. This is another way to say, combos aren't necessary. But they are cool.
Second, as far as stalkers specifically if you want to use combos, you learn to kill someone with AB, then start your combo on the second guy. Typically the advice is to ignore weaken and empower, just use sweep as a combo, and Attack Vitals only from time to time.
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I personally like scrappers since you can do your combos and not worry bout ding so fast. Plus combos come very early
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As far as I remember the earliest Scrapper Combo is at level 6, Th e earliest Stalker combo is at level 8 so there isn't much difference there.|
Originally Posted by Vexen777
I personally like scrappers since you can do your combos and not worry bout ding so fast. Plus combos come very early
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As for not dying, wouldn't a Brute be better? Since they would get combos at the same speed as a Scrapper but have more starting HP.
Everything I've heard about Stalker DB matches what Gavin said.
Although for Empower, I woul;d think depending on the situation you may want to use Empower->1K Cuts, if i remember correctly the timing is just right so that you would get the benefits of Build up and Empower on the attack which should be some serious damage for the crits you get.
The problem is that the empower buff is tiny. It's not really worth worrying about.
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I actually REALLY like the empower combo/buff on my Stalker. I think there is a time and place to use either the empower combo or the sweep combo. Sure, people may say that the empower buff is "so weak" but combined with Build Up you DO have a 100% +dmg bonus, something that other Stalkers cannot get outside of IO's or outside buffs. That 100% damage buff lasts me long enough to get off a chain with Attack Vitals and an attack or two after that. Then the extra 20% that Empower is adding to me lingers around for at least 1 more chain of Attack Vitals. To me, it all adds up, and actually makes the Empower combo useful on a Stalker.| Although for Empower, I woul;d think depending on the situation you may want to use Empower->1K Cuts, if i remember correctly the timing is just right so that you would get the benefits of Build up and Empower on the attack which should be some serious damage for the crits you get. |
I'm with others though, I think DB is awesome on a Stalker! Very fun! I actually enjoy it more on my Stalker than my Brutes/Scrappers! Sometimes Stalkers have to think, DB makes you do that to when deciding combos which will help you out most. When paired, there is rarely a "dull" moment
I've played DB on a Scrapper up to level 26 or so, but that was a long time ago and she's been deleted. I'm gonna take anther stab at DB but I'm wondering what the pros and cons of the combos are for each AT.