Oh no, another combo goes splat at level 45+ content

I thought my dark/dark controller was solid until we started Praetorian arcs in Peregrine. Nothing stuns, nothing fears, and the tohit debuff seems worthless.

Praetorian arcs, praetorian warrrior world, black swan, couldn't debuff, stun, or fear much of any thing

Praetorian arcs aren't the only arcs in the game. Some things you just have to team up for: you can't really expect to solo EVERYTHING as a support type character.

Though, for the record, my Dark/Time soloed all of dark astoria's content and only had trouble on one mission. So Dark Control/Dark Affinity isn't weak, it's just that specific group of enemies.

Why do I know Dark/Dark isn't weak? One, I'm playing a Dark/Time who had no issues ever. Two, my main defender is Dark Miasma, which is pretty much Dark Affinity with a few tweeks, and she's one of my stronger characters.

I have a dark/dark troller and I soloed the whole preatorian arc as AVs with no problem. I think I had perma hasten though and was 50. If you want I can post my build here, if you think it will help. At work atm though, but can post it when I come back to RL :]

This is why I'm so picky with control sets. Many sets get shut down nearly 100% by some groups/enemies. Ice Control is still king to me. Followed by Earth Control easily.

Nooo I've been loving my Dark/Dark! Ah well still playing her as best I can.

Well, this is close to being a necro-post. But it does point out the OP never posted their build so we could see why it wasn't performing the way we all expect Dark to outperform.

Honestly, I had no problem running the Praetorian arcs on my Fire/Dark/Fire, and it has less in terms of control than Dark/Dark. More damage, sure, but I relies on purple insps and break frees. Wasn't too bad, and I found that placing plenty of recharge into the ST hold helped stave off the enemies immune to stun.

I never had any problems with Praetorians on my Dark/Dark, and can solo all the x8 incarnate arcs without any difficulties, especially with a level shift advantage.

If you're having difficulties you can remedy them with a shift in tactics and the appropriate power and IO bonus selections in your build.

Dark generally works better if you draw them into your clutches, rather than charge in, but once you've got the complete toolkit you can do it either way. I went for high S/L defense on my Dark/Dark because I'd never had a character with Stone Mastery and mix it up in melee a lot, but I've typically gone for Ranged defense on my other /Dark/ defenders and corruptors.

Current build, not min/maxed yet. My complaint is all the unaffected, misses, and resisted I get in the level 45+ content, sk'd up.


Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.96
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Dark Vorteces: Level 49 Magic Controller
Primary Power Set: Darkness Control
Secondary Power Set: Darkness Affinity
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Teleportation
Ancillary Pool: Psionic Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Dark Grasp -- Acc-I(A), Acc-I(3), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(3), EndRdx-I(5)
Level 1: Twilight Grasp -- Acc-I(A), Acc-I(5), Heal-I(7), Heal-I(7), RgnTis-Heal/Rchg(9)
Level 2: Tar Patch -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(9)
Level 4: Living Shadows -- Acc-I(A), Enf'dOp-Immob/Rng(11)
Level 6: Possess -- Acc-I(A), Acc-I(11), Conf-I(13), Conf-I(13), Conf-I(15)
Level 8: Darkest Night -- EndRdx-I(A), EndRdx-I(15), ToHitDeb-I(17), ToHitDeb-I(17), DampS-ToHitDeb/EndRdx(19)
Level 10: Howling Twilight -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(19), RechRdx-I(21)
Level 12: Fearsome Stare -- Acc-I(A), Acc-I(21), Range-I(23), ToHitDeb-I(23), ToHitDeb-I(25)
Level 14: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(25), RechRdx-I(27)
Level 16: Shadow Fall -- EndRdx-I(A), ResDam-I(27), ResDam-I(29)
Level 18: Haunt -- Acc-I(A), Acc-I(29), Dmg-I(31), Dmg-I(31), RechRdx-I(31), RechRdx-I(33)
Level 20: Fade -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(33), DefBuff-I(33), DefBuff-I(34), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(34)
Level 22: Heart of Darkness -- Acc-I(A), Acc-I(34), RechRdx-I(36), Stpfy-Acc/EndRdx(36)
Level 24: Recall Friend -- IntRdx-I(A)
Level 26: Shadow Field -- RechRdx-I(A), BasGaze-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(36), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(37), RechRdx-I(37)
Level 28: Soul Absorption -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(37), RechRdx-I(39)
Level 30: Super Speed -- Run-I(A)
Level 32: Umbra Beast -- ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg(A), ExRmnt-Dmg/EndRdx(39), Acc-I(39), Dmg-I(40), Dmg-I(40), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40)
Level 35: Indomitable Will -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 38: Dark Servant -- Acc-I(A), RechRdx-I(42), RechRdx-I(42), ToHitDeb-I(42), Acc-I(43), ToHitDeb-I(43)
Level 41: Mind Over Body -- ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(A), ImpArm-ResPsi(43), EndRdx-I(45), ImpArm-ResDam/Rchg(45), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(45)
Level 44: Psionic Tornado -- Posi-Dmg/Rchg(A), Posi-Dmg/Rng(46), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(46), Posi-Acc/Dmg(46), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(48)
Level 47: Burnout -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 49: [Empty]
Level 1: Brawl -- Dmg-I(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 2: Swift -- Run(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Heal-I(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(48), EndMod-I(48)
Level 1: Containment
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
------------

Look I'm not gonna tell you how to make a build Psylenz. You have been here long enough and I know you know what your doing. The only thing I can tell you is at 47 you can slot IOs for lvl 50. I would go range defense cap and use Darkest night for Melee and AOE defense cap. Your lucky in the sense you have Fade as a back up if Darkest Night anchor drops or runs off. I hate the recharge on Darkest night. Waiting those few seconds for me on my Dark Electric feels like forever sometimes and sadly it is as I face plant sometimes because it dropped.

But you are so lucky to have Fade and you can have it perma if you want. Your almost perma now with just Plain IOs. Add in Dark Servant with its debuffs. Your really, really killing your enemy with hit debuffs on this build.

I have no clue what Umbra Beast offers you. But I would image yet more hit debuffs.

Again I am pretty darn positive that going Range defense cap with Darkest night finishing off Melee and AOE you will be super solid. Again as I mentioned above I have it on my Dark Electric and I can solo 4/8 assuming the anchor stays around and alive long enough. Usually the Twilight Grasp keeps me alive until I can DN another mob. You are much, much more set up then I am with this power set.

Just stand back and take a look with a new pair of eyes.

Tonight I tried to duo on my level 49 dark/dark controller with a SG member the daily 'Phram'. The dark/dark combo is a total wreck, completely ineffective with the new content. I really dislike the upper level play, and I am leaning towards this being the highest level character I have deleted. I really resent the time I put into this character it was fun until about level 45 with all the miss, resist, and unaffected b.s.

I rerolled my main to a dark/dark (from a mind/rad) and I can't attest to any rough spots. In fact, I'd rate the experience as better than average; with layers of controls, debuffs, defense and resist buffs, and healing I was usually fairly safe.

I'm quite befuddled by your problems with the Praetorian warrior world as none of Battle Maiden's minions have special protection to fear, stun, or to hit debuff or powers that would grant them such protections and resistances. They should be a fairly straight forward affair, easier even, thanks to your build having some reasonable smashing/lethal resistances. Fearsome Stare followed by Darkest Night should pretty well neuter these mobs.

IDF, on the other hand, will resist your stuns and to hit debuffs thanks to the Battle Orbs. I've found it best to eliminate or confuse the orbs as soon as possible when solo. In groups, they tend to get wiped out with AoEs, but if you notice them building up it's time to utilize Possess. Overall though, while IDF are more difficult than the average mobs, they didn't pose a particular risk when I played my own dark/dark.

I wouldn't mind seeing another perspective. It's the miss, resisted, unaffected stuff that is aggroing big AoEs and getting my troller killed before Barky and Fluffy move in. The shades go splat so fast.