AV soloing questions...

So, planning out a new toon, trying to set it out to solo AVs, because, well, some people like to farm, I like to take down the hard targets!

And looking over the Primaries, doing the math, figuring out the best DPS I can possibly get, and I wonder how much DPS would one consider enough to solo AVs?

Of course the more the better, but that leaves some things to think about, like NUMBERS! Here's the best DPS strings I could think of for each set with each attack slotted with three lvl 50 Generic IOs.

KINETIC MELEE

BB - BS - FB - BB - BS - CS
10.824 - 114.26

BB - BS - QS - BB - BS - CS
9.636 - 118.24


MARTIAL ARTS

SK - CK/CS - SK - CAK
5.808 - 140.90


CLAWS

SW - FO - SL - EV
6.468 - 109.64
(*SW - FO - SW - EV = 110.?? DPS, but lacks the -Defense of Slash*)


ELECTRIC MELEE

CB - JL - CB - CI
5.148 - 106.44


NINJA BLADE

GC - SD - GC - GD
5.412 - 129.60


DUAL BLADES (*Unsure of Attack Vitals Combo*)

NS - AS - NS - SS
5.016 - 114.10

PS - NS - VS
5.412 - 81.25

PS - NS - VS - AS
6.6 - 90.98

PS - NS - VS - SS
6.864 - 94.22


DARK MELEE

SM - SL - SM - MG
6.732 - 133.14


SPINES

LU - IM - TS - RI
8.712 - 100.30
(*Note: Replacing LU with TS equals better DPS, but I couldn't make that chain possible...maybe others could)


ENERGY MELEE

EP - BS - ET - EP - BS - TF
11.88 - 130.72



...All sets have BU, so that should add to the DPS equally to all sets, except for Claws and Kin Melee, as they both have it recharge faster.

Martial Arts seems to win out on ST DPS, but it's all Smashing Damage. Dark Melee however hits the enemy with -ToHit and gives a Self Heal.

Energy Melee doesn't look to bad either, while a little less DPS than Dark Melee, not to mention the -Life of ET, the set is going to do some Stun Stacking! I figure Mag 6 - Mag 9 Stun on the target at all times.

Ninja Blade comes up next, and while the DPS is lower than MA and EM, it has the ability to slot TWO -Resist Procs! Which may help it over come Dark Melee in terms of DPS (not quite sure).

The rest of the sets seem to take a big hit in DPS after those sets. And mind you, my numbers just show Lvl 50 Generic IO slotting for the damage numbers, so this isn't including Procs into the numbers and this doesn't take into account missing, which you're going to do.

I wonder if Dual Blades can pull farther up with the Attack Vitals combo (NS - PS - VS) + Sweeping Strike, but I don't know the exact damage ticks that AV adds at the end.

I also haven't included any of the ST blasts from the Epics, as I don't know their exact numbers (as last I knew, Mids was wrong on them).

But before I roll one up (and I admit some of the Primaries, like Dark Melee, are already out of the option as it doesn't fit the concept I have) I know the DPS can be increased a bit more past these numbers, but I'd like ideas on what DPS number I should be aiming for.

Also, if anyone can answer my question on Epic Blasts and which sets would benefit that would be helpful too!

Well, looking over Claws with IOs in the mix, I'm finding...

Swipe - Focus - Swipe - Slash

...pulls ahead, since you're basically getting more chances for the procs to go off.

Be careful about claws, swords and MA as Sm/Le resistances tend to be high...

Dark melee may be the best, also you have to remember that with DM you get free health every 10s through siphon life and a decreased chance of being hit, so it is the safest as well as possibly the hardest hitting in real terms...

No love for BS What is this, I don't even...

I would say Dark Melee is the best choice only because 1. you have a little self heal 2. it's a mix of dark/smashing damage (this is quite important depending on which AV you try to solo) 3. tohit debuffs helps a little. Not much..but little.

MA looks decent. You may be able to stun AVs for a while when Purple protection is down. This goes the same for Energy Melee. Actually, I am pretty sure EM can stack enough stuns on the same target.


I have a lvl 50 Dual Blade. It's too bad that they put a cool-down timer on combos so you can't chain Attack Vital consecutively. If you can, Dual Blade's attack chain could be quite good and very cheap on endurance cost.

I would give my vote for Energy Melee on soloing AVs due to my experience with it. Energy Transfer and Total Focus can lay on a surprising amount of damage, and the stuns stack up during their down phase.

A question, though. I notice no mention of using placate + assassin strike on the AVs. Is this tactic supposed to be a given or are you avoiding it?

Hm... the placate + AS combo can take anywhere from 4.17 seconds to 5.17 seconds. Unless your KM or BS, it'll take 4.5 seconds.

From critical, an AS does 2.8 times it's listed damage, meaning it has a DPAT and a DPCC 2.8 times higher than what is listed, then only 2/3rds of that except for KM and BS. To be frank, I'm not sure how they calculate DPCC, so I'm just going to say that it does 389 damage in 4.5 seconds prior to slotting (DPAT of 85.63 for all but KM and BS). In my franken-slotted AS, I have 96.7% bonus before musculature, coming to a base damage of 273.45 with a resulting critical hit of 765.7 before resistances are factored in. Since I don't have all stalker sets to 50, I'll have to use the unboosted statistic for these following numbers. Top 3 DPAT for each of the following sets. I will leave out Dual Blades since I don't have the whole combo system memorized.

In BS:
Placate + AS= 75.24
Hack = 68.57
Head Splitter = 62.05
Disembowl = 60.55

Claws:
Slash= 55.19
Shockwave= 57.83
Focus= 66.07

Dark Melee:
Midnight Grasp= 74.15
Siphon Life= 56.47
Smite= 75.63

EM:
Lightning Rod= 69.13
Chain Lightning= 229.11 (?)
Charged Brawl= 56.28

Energy Melee:
Energy Transfer= 94.97
Energy Punch= 67.00
Total Focus/Bone Smasher= 60

Kinetic Melee:
Placate + AS = 93.28
Concnetrated Strike = 69.95
Smashing Blow= 68.59
Body Blow= 60.29

Martial Arts:
Storm Kick = 88.74
Crippling Axe Kick =73.68
Cobra Strike/Crane Kick= 65.27

Ninja Blade:
Soaring Dragon= 75.26
Gamblers Cut= 69.72
Golden Dragonfly= 69.28

Spines:
Ripper = 57.35
Throw Spines =46.36
everything else is less than AS before the critical...


For boosted DPAC just multiply it by 1.95 to get the numbers, but the ratio's all stay the same. This isn't fully comprehensive of attack deliveries and their resulting effects, but it seems the only two attacks that have a higher DPAT than Placate + AS is Energy Transfer from Energy Melee and Storm Kick from Martial Arts. Though AS is quite expensive at 14.35 endurance each use. The only attacks that cost noticeably more endurance are Total Focus, Concentrated Strike, and Eagle Claw.

Seems like the placate + AS combo not only does big beefy numbers of 700+, but is also rather time efficient and is accessible to all sets/ delivery types. According to the game, placate costs no endurance, so each time it's charged I would consider the combo as at least "worth a shot".


Also interesting I think, by these standards, Dark Melee would probably be the best bet for soloing AVs. Good damage type, nice effects, and good DPAT.

I as well like Placate + AS. Mainly because out the gate 3 dmg and 3 acc in AS more often than not will land. The only issue is it's speed, it's by no means fast as opposed to the other chains you could use but sometimes it's a good lead up to or follow up of a normal chain.


Also kind of new with Kinetic but what's BS stand for in that chain you listed Brand?

One thing I've noticed with Placate + AS on hard targets is that after placate, they sometimes run away or fly away and I have to chase the target again. It is a bit annoying. Have you noticed that?


And to be honest, I think I am more worried about Stalker's survival against a real AV than damage. Because with low health, you may get one shot.

By the way, instead of using Placate + AS, which Placate + Attack is more worth it? I am thinking for MA DM, Placate + Eagle Claw or Midnight is better because 1. you don't need to set up 2. no fear of placate bug.

For sets like Ninja Blade and Broadsword may not be worth it because the heaviest hitter only has 50% chance to critical.