Advice needed: Dark Armour

For me, Dark Armor builds are a little like fixer-upper homes in nice neighborhoods. They have a huge upside, but require investment and time to realize that upside.

You'll have to figure out how to deal with the absurd endurance costs of the set, for instance (ToE +End & Cardiac Alpha are a good start). You'll want to shell out the influence or merits for the expensive +Defense IO sets and +Defense Uniques, somehow without skimping on recharge. Don't forget the -KB IOs, either. Slotting can get tight, so it'll require a good eye for bargains and occasionally compromising in other areas to maximize survivability.

If you're okay with all of that, then you can create a character with really impressive survivability. You'll have resists, defenses and healing working together in a way that few other sets can claim. You won't be as great against S/L as an Invuln, but you'll be above average to good against everything and you'll have a few tricks that others don't (end drain resist, psi resist, etc.).

This thread definitely makes me want to make a Dark Armor tanker. I already have the high end scrapper version. This thread and the other DA thread also make me think I should form an All DA TF soon...