Which Epic should I choose?

I'm currently running a Grav/earth dom who I've decked out into perma-dom. Thematically Mace would be my preference so I can take Scorpion Shield and PFF, but since she's a hero, It would be a long and tedious task to take her to villain side, do the arc, then take her back to hero. In the mean time, I've been going with RoF and RotP from the fire mastery pool as they're the next closest fit for theme.

I'm finding that right now my survivability is lacking due to the weak AoE mezzing of grav and the melee focus of earth. The added AoE damage from RoF is nice, but the end cost (especially when combined with earth assault) is a bit much to bare. Plus Earth Assault itself already has some solid AoE damage anyways, so the loss wouldn't be -that- bad. As nice as RotP is, it feels a little counter productive as a melee-centric perma dom in that yeah, I can get back up after getting thrashed, but then I need to rebuild domination.

My gut is telling me that the added defenses of Scorpion Shield and PFF would be a much better choice in helping to keep me from getting killed (so easily) in the first place.

So in the opinion of you more experienced dom players, is it worth the time, and effort to go red side temporarily and unlock mace?

if you want to have survivability and dont want to do the long way for scorp shield, i would go ice mastery

with ice mastery you get:

• the frozen shield (same def as scorp shield for smash/lethal, no energy def though)
• hibernate
• sleet (for some awesome aoe debuff)
• and as an option, ice storm for added mass aoe DoT

For melee oriented DOM..I'd go with PPP's

+ Mace Mastery or MU.

With Mace you get defense to smashing, lethal& energy. A nice ST debuff, and an an "oh @##@$ button in PFF.

MU gives you nice endurance refill (with power boost..you can sap too). This can keep some npc's from using their heavy hitting attacks right away. The resistance shield is OK...and the healing pet is pet is pretty effective.

I would go Ice Mastery. Sleet will debuff and add a little bit of mitigation everything else in Ice is a winner as well.

Thanks very much for the replies.

By the sounds of it, and from how I've been performing in large groups, it'll totally be worthwhile to go for Mace Mastery. (heck, I've already sunk how much time, effort, and inf getting to a lvl 50 perma dom, right? What's a little more time and effort?) Another benefit of going for Mace Mastery is that I'll be able to slot those other 2 LotG +rech IO's I've got kicking around.

I have thought about Ice Mastery and it would be a "best of both worlds" choice, but it wouldn't really fit with the character, plus the Ice Armor graphic doesn't do a thing for me at all.

I have an Earth/Icy/Ice and the amount of debuffing, knock down and damage is obscene. I havent added Ice Storm yet but when I do get that it will be the most fun I have had in a while.

I am thinking of taking Hoarfrost and Ice Armor but it will clip and look clumsy with 2 of my costumes, Ill deal with that.


I had Mace Mastry for a week on a Mind/Psi and I wasnt thrilled. Yes PFF was a nice addition but the Poison Ray was worth it on Lts and Bosses. I Rescpe'd to Mind/Psi/Leviathan and I have to tell you that Grav/Earth might benefit well from Water Spout and Immob so the Knockdown from /Earth and the Immobs from Grav/ Should keep your spawns tight and occupied. I had my Water Spout slotted for some -Def and it will help in terms of debuffing. The slight panic from the Water Spout when they are locked down is nice.

I have a Grav/Earth on champ named Drop Soil and he seems to be doing nice.

In short I would go with Leviathan Mastry or Ice Mastry. In Leviathan Mastry you will get a Pet for Dmg and with Singy you will get a pet that spams holds and other wonderful things

With Ice Mastry, you will get 2 AoE debuffs/Dmg, 1 Shield, 1heal/HP increase and Hibernate.

Give it up Shadow. I've dated a theme person before and no matter what they will not listen to you lol.

::Tilts head in shame::


I can't be a theme person but for most cases you have to. I dont see how a Mind/Elec can go with anything other than Psi or Elec (Mu).

I mean, maybe the mace because its a weapon and it can fit but Mind/Elec/Fire?!

I ended up going through the effort to get Mace Mastery. Holy jeez what a difference! I ramped up my difficulty to +2 x2 and am regularly walking right through missions without too much difficulty.