Dark Armor Substitute
By
Blue_Centurion,
Posted on: 2012-02-21 07:25 in Archetypes and Powers General Discussion
Hello again, everyone!
Thank you for the awesome suggestions so far.
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Originally Posted by Valorin
Hi Stormmistress!
*Disclaimer* I'm a Dark Armor fan. I'm also a fan of "misfit toys" so, take that for what it's worth. Just finished leveling my TW/DA brute and figured I'd copy/paste a list of ways I used to combat her endurance drain while leveling her up. Some of these have been mentioned before, but they're worth mentioning again. #1) Slot el-cheapo set IOs with end reduction (Frankenslot) #2) Every time I log on her, I put up a bid for medium blue inspirations for whatever cheap price (500 inf each? 1000 inf each?) in a stack of 10. Collect whatever I bought from the last time. #3) Keep a Recovery Serum power (really helped in the low levels, 18-25 I was sucking wind, it got better) handy. Buy these in stock too- lowball bids allowed to sit overnight. Buy the low level version or the high level version as the salvage is dirt cheap. #4) First two alignment merits went to a Miracle +Recovery for Health. #5) Get the Atlas Medallion. #6) Theft of Essence +End Proc for Dark Regen. |
I agree with everything you are saying. I plan on Frankenslotting a few powers where set bonuses won't work for me. I have seen these Recovery Serums drop, but frankly never thought I'd have time in combat to use them. Maybe they are useful after all.
I am presently running a few alignment missions to build up my A-merits, but I will be able to get the Uniques I need by leveraging my total bank of characters. The Atlas Medallion is a very good idea: I have it on my first 50 as I/O's didn't exist then.
I have slotted the Theft of Essence Proc and it does indeed help.
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Just a few ways to help mitigate your endurance burn. I don't think broadsword is any worse than titan weapons. A few tactical tips, if I may (no offense intended, but I sometimes overlook them when I come back to a DA character after playing something that doesn't rely on endurance as heavily)- 1) Your blue bar is also your green bar, thanks to dark regeneration. The more blue you have, the better off you will be as you can convert it to green every 30 seconds or so. The rest of your defenses exist to buy you those 30 seconds, that's it. 2) Treat your blue bar with care. No need to use Headsplitter to finish off a low-health baddie, pick something with a lower endurance cost. 3) Death shroud works for you in crowds, no need to keep it running in between groups. I set up a quick bind to turn it on and off. Kind of a pain in the butt, but might be worth it. 4) Oppresive Gloom (when you get that far) is a big helper. Those crowds of minions are wandering around drunk and not smacking you. Target one as it wanders away, makes a great way to aim cone powers like slice. 5) Dark Regeneration will bring you to full hitpoints from 2-3 minions. HOWEVER, as you know it costs at TON of endurance. So, what makes Dark Armor an exciting set to me, is that there is a "skill" factor. Learn when you need to hit the button at the last possible moment. The lower you let your health go, the bigger the heal. In other words, let's assume my offense lets me obliterate a spawn in 45 seconds. If I trigger the heal 15 seconds in, I have to last 30 seconds before my offense takes me to the end of the fight. However, If I know my own strengths/weaknesses vs. the damage coming in, and I judge it better, I can time it so maybe I don't have to trigger it for 25 seconds into the fight, leaving me with 20 seconds to finish it. Triggering it early may be necessary if I'm starting the fight low on hitpoints (or endurance- the theft of essence proc checks once per target dark regen hits, which means more targets= more chances for it to trigger)- but it also means I have to survive the full recharge time of dark regen. If I wait until the last possible moment, I can effectively take "more" damage. Of course, wait too long and you're dead. But that's why the devs gave us Soul Transfer, right? OK, I wrote a lot more than I intended to. Hopefully, some of these tips will help you out. |
Absolutely solid points here. Now that I am past level-25 it is much easier to combine inspirations to keep two or three blues at the ready. I have Dark Regen fully slotted and use a combination of Build-up, Whirling Sword, Spring Attack, and Slice. I try to lead off with Parry first, but don't always have that option. Usually, my Health bar is down 75% with a combined attack like that at this level (presently lvl-28), and I will cue Dark Regen right after Spring Attack or Slice animates (depending on where my health is). Its extremely satisfying to go from near death to full health in a heartbeat.
The mix of enemies does affect my play style with smashing/lethal types being my favorite as I get the best defense/resistance to them. Any enemy that lowers my accuracy can be a major challenge to fight, but then it is always that way regardless of the powersets.
So, I presently do not have Death Shroud, but will add it to the build at level-30. I don't expect to use it much until I have it slotted (late 30's). I'm sure that after level-40 it will become very useful again. (That's when I get my last row of inspirations.) I have elected to take Cloak of Darkness instead of Weave as they have the same Defense with CD using less END. I am adjusting the FX of CD to cloud the character as little as possible.
Overall, I am finding the fun has returned to this character. I am able to street sweep Terra Volta fairly well, and I have been able to increase my difficulty from X3 to X4. I will try X5 after level-30.
I find that I must indeed develop a talent to managing Dark Regen. I'm getting better at it, and am amazed what I can do sometimes.
I have planned a couple of I/O sets to boost my Accuracy, and presently have plus-9. It is absolutely vital that Dark Regen hits when its activated. Its annoying when it doesn't, but I don't blame the DA set for that. Certain enemies are just challenging due to their ability to floor your to-hit numbers.
Stormistress
'Mirage on Infinity
Stormistress on Infinity
Dragonspawn on Protector
Plasmacore on Liberty
Hello, everyone
I thought some of you might find it useful to look at my build. Here is my planned build to level-50. Note that I rarely equip purple I/O sets.
Note that the effect from Parry does not show up is the defense data. Mids is showing the following defense/resistance numbers at level-50, but these will most likely be a bit lower as I don't go back to update my sets to their max-level. (These include a single application of Parry.)
Defense:
Smashing - 20.2
Lethal - 40.8
Fire - 10.8
Cold - 10.8
Energy - 33.9
Negative - 33.9
Psionic - 10.8
Melee - 38.9
Ranged - 31.7
AOE - 10.8
Resistance:
Smashing - 49.4
Lethal - 49.4
Fire - 29.6
Cold - 29.6
Energy - 18.9
Negative - 45.5
Toxic - 23.5
Psionic - 47.3
Regen - 197
Max HP - 108.2
EndRec - 3.11/sec.
END Use - .75/sec. (w/o Death Shroud active)
Max END - 111.7
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.953
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Ariel Darkblade: Level 50 Magic Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Broad Sword
Secondary Power Set: Dark Armor
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Presence
Ancillary Pool: Darkness Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Hack
- (A) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance
- (3) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Recharge
- (5) Kinetic Combat - Accuracy/Damage
- (7) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
- (A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%
- (5) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/Endurance
- (13) Steadfast Protection - Knockback Protection
- (15) Reactive Armor - Endurance
- (39) Reactive Armor - Resistance
- (39) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Endurance
- (A) Eradication - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
- (3) Eradication - Damage
- (7) Eradication - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
- (9) Eradication - Damage/Recharge
- (A) Karma - Knockback Protection
- (A) Jumping
- (A) Kinetic Combat - Accuracy/Damage
- (9) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance
- (11) Serendipity - Defense
- (11) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance
- (13) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Recharge
- (15) Kinetic Combat - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
- (A) Impervium Armor - Resistance/Endurance
- (50) Impervium Armor - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge
- (A) Recharge Reduction
- (A) Accuracy
- (A) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Endurance
- (17) Harmonized Healing - Heal/Endurance
- (17) Harmonized Healing - Heal/Endurance/Recharge
- (19) Theft of Essence - Healing/Recharge
- (21) Theft of Essence - Accuracy/Endurance/Healing
- (21) Theft of Essence - Chance for +Endurance
- (A) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Recharge
- (19) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Damage
- (23) Scirocco's Dervish - Damage/Recharge
- (27) Scirocco's Dervish - Damage/Endurance
- (A) Reactive Armor - Endurance
- (50) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Endurance
- (50) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge
- (A) Accuracy
- (A) Reactive Armor - Endurance
- (25) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Endurance
- (27) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge
- (A) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage
- (33) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
- (33) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
- (33) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance
- (34) Touch of Death - Damage/Recharge
- (34) Touch of Death - Chance of Damage(Negative)
- (A) Red Fortune - Endurance
- (29) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance
- (29) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
- (31) Red Fortune - Defense
- (31) Red Fortune - Defense/Recharge
- (31) Red Fortune - Endurance/Recharge
- (A) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
- (36) Cleaving Blow - Damage/Endurance
- (36) Scirocco's Dervish - Damage/Endurance
- (36) Eradication - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
- (37) Eradication - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
- (37) Eradication - Accuracy/Recharge
- (A) Eradication - Accuracy/Recharge
- (37) Eradication - Damage/Recharge
- (39) Eradication - Damage
- (40) Cleaving Blow - Accuracy/Damage
- (40) Cleaving Blow - Damage/Endurance
- (40) Cleaving Blow - Accuracy/Recharge
- (A) Cloud Senses - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge
- (42) Cloud Senses - Accuracy/Recharge
- (42) Cloud Senses - ToHit Debuff/Endurance/Recharge
- (43) Cloud Senses - Accuracy/ToHitDebuff
- (43) Cloud Senses - ToHit Debuff
- (43) Cloud Senses - Chance for Negative Energy Damage
- (A) Recharge Reduction
- (A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage
- (42) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
- (45) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
- (46) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
- (46) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance
- (48) Thunderstrike - Damage/Recharge
- (A) Cloud Senses - Accuracy/ToHitDebuff
- (45) Cloud Senses - Accuracy/Recharge
- (45) Cloud Senses - ToHit Debuff/Endurance/Recharge
- (46) Cloud Senses - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge
- (48) Cloud Senses - ToHit Debuff
- (48) Cloud Senses - Chance for Negative Energy Damage
- (A) Accuracy
- (A) Taunt Duration
Level 2: Swift
- (A) Empty
- (A) Healing
- (34) Numina's Convalescence - +Regeneration/+Recovery
- (A) Empty
- (A) Endurance Modification
- (23) Endurance Modification
- (25) Endurance Modification
- (A) Empty
Level 1: Sprint
- (A) Empty
- (A) Empty
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Set Bonus Totals:
- 4.5% DamageBuff(Smashing)
- 4.5% DamageBuff(Lethal)
- 4.5% DamageBuff(Fire)
- 4.5% DamageBuff(Cold)
- 4.5% DamageBuff(Energy)
- 4.5% DamageBuff(Negative)
- 4.5% DamageBuff(Toxic)
- 4.5% DamageBuff(Psionic)
- 12.38% Defense(Smashing)
- 12.38% Defense(Lethal)
- 3% Defense(Fire)
- 3% Defense(Cold)
- 26.13% Defense(Energy)
- 26.13% Defense(Negative)
- 3% Defense(Psionic)
- 10.5% Defense(Melee)
- 23.94% Defense(Ranged)
- 3% Defense(AoE)
- 11.7% Max End
- 17.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
- 16% Enhancement(Accuracy)
- 14% FlySpeed
- 110.4 HP (8.25%) HitPoints
- 14% JumpHeight
- 14% JumpSpeed
- Knockback (Mag -8)
- Knockup (Mag -8)
- MezResist(Confused) 5%
- MezResist(Held) 7.75%
- MezResist(Immobilize) 18.75%
- MezResist(Sleep) 5%
- MezResist(Stun) 5%
- MezResist(Terrorized) 5%
- 8.5% (0.14 End/sec) Recovery
- 24% (1.34 HP/sec) Regeneration
- 1.26% Resistance(Fire)
- 1.26% Resistance(Cold)
- 3.13% Resistance(Negative)
- 14% RunSpeed
Stormistress
'Mirage on Infinity
Stormistress on Infinity
Dragonspawn on Protector
Plasmacore on Liberty
Glad to see that the fun has returned to your character. Dark Armor is a challenge, but if you look at it as a challenge rather than a drawback, it's a lot more fun. My TW/Dark is just getting started incarnating, but endurance is already a non-issue (of course, she has Superior Conditioning, Physical Perfection, Miracle unique, and cardiac alpha slot all working for her, but I exemp down to level 30 and don't have much endurance problems there either). My build is in the build workshop forum, for what it's worth. It's a brute and a different primary, so probably wouldn't translate all that well. Good luck with your DA scrapper!
Edit:
And yeah, it's a rush trying to figure out if that last little 15% of your health bar will let you animate another attack or if you need to hit dark regen right away. Have fun!
This is my Kat/Dark brute some of it should translate...
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.953
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Level 50 Mutation Brute
Primary Power Set: Katana
Secondary Power Set: Dark Armor
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Gambler's Cut -- Mako-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx:50(5), Mako-Dmg/Rchg:50(5), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:50(7), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(7), Mako-Dam%:50(9)
Level 1: Dark Embrace -- Aegis-ResDam:50(A), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx:50(9), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg:50(11), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:50(11), Aegis-Psi/Status:50(13), S'fstPrt-ResKB:30(21)
Level 2: Death Shroud -- M'Strk-Acc/Dmg:50(A), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx:50(13), M'Strk-Dmg/Rchg:50(15), M'Strk-Acc/EndRdx:50(15), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(17), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(17)
Level 4: Murky Cloud -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+:30(A), Aegis-ResDam:50(19), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx:50(19), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg:50(21), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:50(23), Aegis-EndRdx/Rchg:50(23)
Level 6: Build Up -- GSFC-ToHit:50(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg:50(25), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx:50(25), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx:50(27), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx:50(27), GSFC-Build%:50(29)
Level 8: Divine Avalanche -- Mako-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx:50(29), Mako-Dmg/Rchg:50(31), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:50(31), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(31), Mako-Dam%:50(33)
Level 10: Obsidian Shield -- Aegis-ResDam:50(A), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx:50(33), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg:50(33), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:50(34), Aegis-EndRdx/Rchg:50(34)
Level 12: Dragon's Roar -- Empty(A)
Level 14: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 16: Tough -- GA-3defTpProc:50(A), ImpArm-ResDam:40(34), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(36), Aegis-ResDam:50(36)
Level 18: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), LkGmblr-Def:50(36), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:50(37), SW-ResDam/Re TP:50(37)
Level 20: Dark Regeneration -- Theft-+End%:30(A), Theft-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:30(37), Theft-Acc/EndRdx/Heal:30(39), Nictus-Acc/Heal:50(39), Nictus-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:50(39), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:50(40)
Level 22: Cloak of Darkness -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), LkGmblr-Def:50(50)
Level 24: The Lotus Drops -- Erad-Acc/Rchg:30(A), Erad-Dmg/Rchg:30(40), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:30(40), C'ngBlow-Acc/Dmg:50(42), C'ngBlow-Dmg/EndRdx:50(42), C'ngBlow-Acc/Rchg:50(45)
Level 26: Soaring Dragon -- Mako-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx:50(42), Mako-Dmg/Rchg:50(43), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:50(43), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(43), Mako-Dam%:50(45)
Level 28: Cloak of Fear -- N'mare-Acc/EndRdx:50(A), N'mare-EndRdx/Fear:50(45), N'mare-Acc/Fear:50(46)
Level 30: Hasten -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(46)
Level 32: Golden Dragonfly -- Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:30(A), Erad-Acc/Rchg:30(46), Erad-Dmg/Rchg:30(48), C'ngBlow-Acc/Dmg:50(48), C'ngBlow-Dmg/EndRdx:50(48), C'ngBlow-Acc/Rchg:50(50)
Level 35: Super Jump -- Zephyr-ResKB:50(A)
Level 38: Soul Transfer -- RechRdx-I:50(A)
Level 41: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A)
Level 44: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:50(50)
Level 47: Superior Conditioning -- EndMod-I:50(A)
Level 49: Physical Perfection -- EndMod-I:50(A)
Level 50: Agility Core Paragon
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Level 2: Swift -- Run-I:50(A)
Level 2: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+:50(A), Mrcl-Rcvry+:40(3)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I:50(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- EndMod-I:50(A), EndMod-I:50(3)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury
Level 1: Sprint -- ULeap-Stlth:50(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Currently Playing:
Rage King - SS/Regen Brute (50+3)
Soulfire Darkness - Dark/Fire Tank (50+2)
Deaths Final Embrace - Kat/Dark Brute (50+3)
ULTIMATE REGEN GUIDE I22