Human form WS - iTrial viability

This is definitely an AT forum I thought I'd never be posting in! I play pretty much redside only so have skipped over Kheldians but I like the idea of playing a Nictus (in concept) and figure I can betray to red once I hit 20. I also like the idea of a ranged character with great defenses so found my way here.

That said, how would a human form shade hold up in iTrials? I've read the guides here and was drawn to the idea of being able to have high resists and use things like inky aspect to help solo doors and bunkers. The problem is that I hate nova form with a passion - graphically and for the fact that I can't even use pool-based defenses. I could potentially take dwarf to get another mire, but is the overall idea viable? My iTrial experience so far comes from an ill/rad controller and while I love debuffs and being able to solo all of the DA arcs as a fresh 50 without NPC help due to the savage utility of perma PA, I was looking for a character with a bit more oomph. I thought about a crab, but pets seem to get annihilated in iTrials (except PA obviously) so that and my like of the Nictus concept made me come here.

As stated, the goal of this character would be almost entirely end game iTrial or SF focused. Could I take on the crates, bunkers, etc. as a human shade (preferably without shadow cloak as I like seeing costumes) or am I tossing away so much of the AT that I'd be better off Footstomping my way to victory?

You'd do pretty well, with a decent build and clarion. I'd keep shadow cloak myself, as the defense will help, but it isn't strictly neccessary.

I have a newly redone WS at the S/L def softcap (45%; which yes I know it's not the itrial softcap but... ). Eclipse and Hasten are perma (or very close to it; need the newest Kheldian ATOs to be 'done' with this build/toon).


I got the build from another person on Liberty...I'll see if he's good with me sharing it or not. It is an expensive build but...*shrugs*


I like the toon (always did) and he survives easily enough. Only 'issue' I have is endurance issues when in certain iTrials and there's only 1 mob (the AV) that we're fighting...just to have remember to turn off a few of the toggles that he has on sometimes

Despite my triformedness, I tend to find myself sticking to mostly human in the trials.

I go back and forth. In all of the trials, there are reasons to use various forms. Let's examine, for instance, the BAF trial (which you'll be doing a lot, believe me):

Human: Single target DPS, you kill the AVs in this form.
Nova: AOE DPS, you burn down the prisoners in this form and you fight off the reinforcements using this form's attacks (if necessary, typically not an issue)
Dwarf: You pull and (if necessary) tank the AVs in this form, not so much for survival as for threat. When doing this, I tend to toggle back to human form to fire heals or long-term buffs, then shift back into Dwarf for threat.

That's just suggestions based on one Trial, and of course your role will depend largely on the needs of your League. I've tanked more often at times (did Avatar of the Hamidon once, that was nuts) and I've also done a lot of Nova doing something like the Magisterium startup. Needs must as the devil drives.

Thanks all, Dechs and Stone, I have read both of your guides (as well as AIB's).

Follow-up question - is perma-Eclipse still the way to go for iTrials? I'd assume so, but is it still worth getting the various shields? I ask because there are plenty of situations where there aren't 5+ things in range to hit with Eclipse and such. In those case (fighting just AVs) is it worth it to run shields and such to bring up resists or just truck along with a one target Eclipse?

I don't mean to steal EI's thunder but the build he mentioned earlier is this one:

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