City of Heroes: Live Forum Archive

Sanity check my claws/dark build, please?

Dechs Kaison

By Dechs Kaison,
Posted on: 2012-07-13 23:51 in Brutes

 

Posted

So, this is the first really serious mucking about with mids that I've done. Which is why I'm asking for sanity checking; I would not be at all surprised to find that I've done something stupid with my slotting, or that there was some better way to allocate the brute ATO, or, etc.

Part of why I haven't played much with mids before is that I'm running on a mac - which, until recently, meant no mids at all. This also means I'm an update or two behind, so just imagine that the empty slot in shockwave is really an overwhelming force KB->KD proc.

My basic goal for this build was to get good survivability & damage output (both single target and AoE), and to do so at as wide a level range as possible (subject to some thematic / I'm-slightly-crazy restrictions - for example, I don't really want to push the various flight pool powers much later than I already have). To that end, I'll probably be using some combination of store-bought attuned enhancements and enhancement boosters; in particular, I plan to use SBEs for the eradication & reactive armor sets, and slot Aegis IOs at or near minimum level and +5 them.

I haven't thought too much about incarnate powers yet - I expect I'll want ageless for debuff resistance, and void judgement is just too thematic to pass up. Alpha slot is really where it gets tricky; Spiritual wins if it lets me tighten up my single target chain (but I'm not sure if it does), with Cardiac as a good second choice since - in addition to boosting resistance some - it'd let me drop one or both of the energy mastery powers in favor of... I don't know what, but I'm sure I can do something useful with two extra power slots.

It may also be worth noting that, by my standards, this is a ludicrously expensive build; I expect it'll take me a while to put together even one of the purple sets I plan on using. Still, this character should be taking over the status of main character from my existing EM/WP brute, so it'll be worth the effort in the long run.

Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.956
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Moriadra: Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: Claws
Secondary Power Set: Dark Armor
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Strike -- SBrutesF-Acc/Dmg(A), SBrutesF-Dmg/Rchg(3), SBrutesF-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(3), Hectmb-Dmg/EndRdx(5)
Level 1: Dark Embrace -- Aegis-ResDam(A), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(5), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(7), S'fstPrt-ResDam/EndRdx(7), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(9), S'fstPrt-ResKB(9)
Level 2: Slash -- Achilles-ResDeb%(A), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(11), Mako-Acc/Dmg(13), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(13)
Level 4: Hover -- Winter-RunSpd/Jump/Fly/Rng(A), Winter-ResSlow(15), LkGmblr-Rchg+(15), Ksmt-Def/EndRdx(17), Ksmt-ToHit+(17)
Level 6: Spin -- Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(21), Erad-Dmg/Rchg(23), Erad-%Dam(23), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(25), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(25)
Level 8: Death Shroud -- Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(27), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(27), Armgdn-Dmg/EndRdx(29), Armgdn-Dam%(29), FotG-ResDeb%(43)
Level 10: Obsidian Shield -- RctvArm-ResDam(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(31), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(31), GA-3defTpProc(31)
Level 12: Murky Cloud -- Aegis-ResDam(A), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(33), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(33)
Level 14: Follow Up -- SBrutesF-Rech/Fury(A), SBrutesF-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), SBrutesF-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(34), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(36)
Level 16: Dark Regeneration -- Theft-+End%(A), Theft-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(36), Theft-Acc/EndRdx/Heal(36), Nictus-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(37), Nictus-Acc/EndRdx/Heal/HP/Regen(37), Nictus-Heal/HP/Regen/Rchg(37)
Level 18: Focus -- Apoc-Dmg(A), Apoc-Dmg/Rchg(39), Apoc-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(39), Apoc-Acc/Rchg(39), Apoc-Dmg/EndRdx(40), Apoc-Dam%(40)
Level 20: Cloak of Darkness -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(40), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(42)
Level 22: Fly -- Flight-I(A)
Level 24: Kick -- Empty(A)
Level 26: Tough -- Aegis-ResDam(A), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(42), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(43)
Level 28: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(43), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(45)
Level 30: Afterburner -- Flight-I(A)
Level 32: Shockwave -- Ragnrk-Dmg(A), Ragnrk-Dmg/Rchg(42), Ragnrk-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(45), Ragnrk-Acc/Rchg(45), Ragnrk-Dmg/EndRdx(46), Empty(46)
Level 35: Eviscerate -- Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(46), Erad-Dmg/Rchg(48), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(48), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(48)
Level 38: Soul Transfer -- Amaze-Stun/Rchg(A)
Level 41: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(50)
Level 44: Superior Conditioning -- P'Shift-End%(A)
Level 47: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(50), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(50)
Level 49: Physical Perfection -- P'Shift-End%(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- HO:Nucle(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Clrty-Stlth(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Heal-I(A)
Level 4: Swift -- Flight-I(A)
Level 4: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(19)
Level 4: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), P'Shift-EndMod(19), P'Shift-End%(21)
------------

 

Posted

You want to use reactive armor in all your resist toggles, 4 of them for the S/L/E/N defense bonuses, instead of aegis.

Soul transfer should have an ACC/RECH of some kind...it needs accuracy.

Your primary attack chain should be attempting to get to Follow Up/Focus/Slash, you should really slot slash better.

In eviscerate you could slot an obliteration set, for some recharge and to get some more S/L Defense if you use all 6 slots, you could do the same with spin.

Hover is likely fine with just the Winter's Gift Slow Res and a LotG +7.5% global rech, the rest of the slots are just superfluous.

If you're going to use Armageddon, I would use 5 pieces (all but the damage only piece) and put it in spin or eviscerate and put oblit in the other.

If you're going to use purple sets and spend the influence, you want to get the recharge bonuses from having them 5 slotted...so try to do that when you are going to use them.

You have a lot of travel powers, I would drop hover/fly and take hasten instead, and use Super Jump as a travel power, or drop combat jumping if you want to fly, and take hasten, it increases your recharge, and you want it.

You are shooting for 45% to Smashing and Lethal Defense types...

I will work on this some later and help you with a build.

You may also try Dechs Kaison's guide to Claws/Dark Brutes for assistance as well.

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

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by planet_J View Post
Soul transfer should have an ACC/RECH of some kind...it needs accuracy.
Are you sure? According to both Dechs' guide, and what references I can find, it's auto-hit.

Quote:
Originally Posted by planet_J View Post
Your primary attack chain should be attempting to get to Follow Up/Focus/Slash, you should really slot slash better.
That chain requires (unless I got my math wrong somewhere) follow-up to recharge in 2.94 seconds. Which requires... 305% recharge? Assuming spiritual t4 alpha and hasten, that still needs about another 110% worth of global recharge. Which would require a build that's even more ludicrously expensive than the one I posted. I may look into such as an alternate build eventually, but it's not something I'm going to aim for from the get-go.

Still, I'll consider swapping the crushing impact damage/endurance in slash for a damage/endurance/recharge (and then maybe +5 it); while it's got more than enough recharge for the best attack chain I can currently manage, the low recharge might prove annoying if I'm exemplared down too far for focus.

Quote:
Originally Posted by planet_J View Post
You are shooting for 45% to Smashing and Lethal Defense types...

In eviscerate you could slot an obliteration set, for some recharge and to get some more S/L Defense if you use all 6 slots, you could do the same with spin.
Actually, no, I'm not aiming for soft cap; I aimed quite deliberately for a small purple away from soft cap - see, for example, Dechs' brute build. Yes, capping S/L would mean more survivability against many things, but if I wanted a character that's meant to only fight one kind of damage, I'd just make a /fire farmer and be done with it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by planet_J View Post
Hover is likely fine with just the Winter's Gift Slow Res and a LotG +7.5% global rech, the rest of the slots are just superfluous.
I wanted a kismet proc somewhere, preferably in a power that'll basically always be active. It's particularly important for exemplaring to around level 10, where you're starting to lose the low level to-hit bonuses, but all your enhancement values are still crippled. Thus, it goes in hover. Similarly, the +fly IO is an important quality of life improvement; I like hover, but don't particularly relish the feeling of flying through molasses. Which leaves just the kismet def/end to argue about - and that's worth .06end/s and .25 to all defenses, and is the last little bit pushing me over 32.5% E/N defense. Still, it could easily be dropped if I could make that up somewhere else.

Quote:
Originally Posted by planet_J View Post
If you're going to use Armageddon, I would use 5 pieces (all but the damage only piece) and put it in spin or eviscerate and put oblit in the other.

If you're going to use purple sets and spend the influence, you want to get the recharge bonuses from having them 5 slotted...so try to do that when you are going to use them.

You have a lot of travel powers, I would drop hover/fly and take hasten instead, and use Super Jump as a travel power, or drop combat jumping if you want to fly, and take hasten, it increases your recharge, and you want it.
Where I'm at now, an extra 10% global recharge actually doesn't do much for me; it makes dark regen come up a hair faster... and that's it. Now, if I could find a way to drop combat jumping without losing 32.5% S/L/E/N/F/C, then I could add in hasten, and little bits of extra global recharge would translate to better hasten uptime (but still not improve my attack chain). Until then, I see no particular problem with using a purple here or there as a frankenslotting component; sets of five are expensive (and I'll probably have alternative slotting for focus & shockwave when I first put this together in-game), but I can certainly afford one or two where they're individually useful.

Quote:
Originally Posted by planet_J View Post
I will work on this some later and help you with a build.

You may also try Dechs Kaison's guide to Claws/Dark Brutes for assistance as well.
Dechs' guide & sample build was actually where I started (thanks for the link, Dechs!) - and, for that matter, why I picked dark armor in the first place.

That all said, I would appreciate seeing what a really high-performance build would look like; it's just not what I'm currently aiming for.

 

Posted

A bit of work based on your advice generated the following:

http://www.cohplanner.com/mids/downl...6FFC0F4E77DAE9

It loses both procs that I had in Death Shroud, but manages to (while hasten is up) drop the single target attack chain to only needing one strike instead of two. ...I'm not actually sure if this is an improvement, though, since one of those two procs was the pvp set minus to enemy resists...

 

Posted

Well, if you get permanent hasten, you'll be so close to FU/F/SL attack chain you wouldn't need much more...

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

 

Posted

This is what I would build a claws/dark to look like:

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.958
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Torn to shreds: Level 50 Mutation Brute
Primary Power Set: Claws
Secondary Power Set: Dark Armor
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Leaping
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Strike -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg:35(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:35(3), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx:35(7), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg:35(7)
Level 1: Dark Embrace -- RctvArm-ResDam:40(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(9), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(11), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(11), GA-3defTpProc:50(13)
Level 2: Death Shroud -- FotG-ResDeb%:50(A), FotG-Acc/End/Rech:50(13), FotG-Dam/End/Rech:50(15), Erad-Acc/Rchg:30(15), Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:30(17), Erad-Dmg:30(17)
Level 4: Slash -- Hectmb-Dmg/Rchg:50(A), Hectmb-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(19), Hectmb-Acc/Rchg:50(19), Hectmb-Dmg/EndRdx:50(21), Hectmb-Dam%:50(21), Achilles-ResDeb%:20(23)
Level 6: Murky Cloud -- RctvArm-ResDam:40(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(23), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(25), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(25), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+:30(27), S'fstPrt-ResKB:30(27)
Level 8: Spin -- Armgdn-Dmg/Rchg:50(A), Armgdn-Dam%:50(9), Armgdn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(31), Armgdn-Acc/Rchg:50(31), Armgdn-Dmg/EndRdx:50(31)
Level 10: Obsidian Shield -- RctvArm-ResDam:40(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(33), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(33), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(34)
Level 12: Follow Up -- SBrutesF-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(A), SBrutesF-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(46), SBrutesF-Rech/Fury:50(48), Rec'dRet-ToHit/Rchg:20(48), Rec'dRet-ToHit:20(48)
Level 14: Hasten -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(40)
Level 16: Dark Regeneration -- Theft-+End%:30(A), Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:30(42), Erad-Acc/Rchg:30(43), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:30(43), Nictus-Acc/EndRdx/Heal/HP/Regen:50(43), Nictus-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:50(45)
Level 18: Focus -- Apoc-Dmg/Rchg:50(A), Apoc-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(45), Apoc-Acc/Rchg:50(45), Apoc-Dmg/EndRdx:50(46), Apoc-Dam%:50(46)
Level 20: Cloak of Darkness -- LkGmblr-Def:50(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(36), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:50(36)
Level 22: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 24: Tough -- RctvArm-ResDam:40(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(37), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(37), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(37), S'fstPrt-ResKB:30(50)
Level 26: Eviscerate -- Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:30(A), Erad-Acc/Rchg:30(39), Erad-Dmg:30(39), Erad-Dmg/Rchg:30(39), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(40), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx:50(40)
Level 28: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), LkGmblr-Def:50(29), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:50(29)
Level 30: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), LkGmblr-Def:50(34), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:50(34)
Level 32: Shockwave -- SBrutesF-Acc/Dmg:50(A), SBrutesF-Dmg/Rchg:50(33), SBrutesF-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:50(42), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(42), Posi-Acc/Dmg:50(50)
Level 35: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), LkGmblr-Def:50(36)
Level 38: Soul Transfer -- Amaze-Stun/Rchg:50(A)
Level 41: Oppressive Gloom -- Acc-I:50(A)
Level 44: Tactics -- AdjTgt-ToHit/EndRdx/Rchg:50(A), AdjTgt-ToHit/EndRdx:50(50)
Level 47: Vengeance -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A)
Level 49: Superior Conditioning -- P'Shift-End%:50(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury
Level 1: Sprint -- Clrty-Stlth:50(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
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 -- P'Shift-EndMod:50(A), P'Shift-End%:50(5), EndMod-I:50(5)
Level 0: Freedom Phalanx Reserve
Level 0: Portal Jockey
Level 0: Task Force Commander
Level 0: The Atlas Medallion
Level 50: Agility Core Paragon
Level 50: Ion Core Final Judgement
Level 50: Degenerative Radial Flawless Interface
Level 50: Cimeroran Core Superior Ally
------------



Code: 
| Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Hero Designer to view the build |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
|MxDz;1546;725;1450;HEX;|
|78DA6594CB6F125114C6EF30175B28B4A594571F16B02D140A0575A3B669D43E122|
|D095AE3CE102CB705AD4066686ADDF92FB831B155DBAA5B372E5CFBE7F8A8BA7683|
|87395F818409E477E6F0DD73BE7BEE0CB9E72BAECFEB2F978536707BB7689A855BC|
|65E43F5E7F61AC546A55615740D3EA819D570A31636CB862A997D94F258AA424EED|
|2A95A675FB6690332B6A5B554D955E291A4F0B378D67354338F3B5DA6E7AB3AE54C|
|96D856B959D72A352DD19B2EE3654B1A40CB35CA9BBCEEFEBF46368B55ED94AAF56|
|95B17350C815CD86320ED85B90FAA7E8BBE516B89ABAC813A252D8369917EE81F79|
|96F5A32CDD24A11A5202645FF45A6730A8C305D977521B2521CB696F01ABBB6CC39|
|D712737011FC611362528AE133F03BB344DE74F666D763364B3B1207E798A30930C|
|9F47F237AA538A25576F4B5C3AB1F5E83F01A84D7B18066F51B0B3215F5EDE3BEB2|
|EF1AD7ED5F625EBC0EDE0017996F49EDE07EBA03FDC2E81746BF08FA6D53FD016B2|
|84D39F09167903A652E7C028F781F0B87CC281972737DCD9D14962606BE230C5907|
|D3B40F8DE8D61EE630CB04669BF805FAB9FE7C8059262F1EECD593E2BDCCA7C1056|
|62A036699EF49ED652F36EFA866E52EF9C061A6467E7D5C57F89A74099D32013C3D|
|014C681A139AC684A631A12C4EA242EE42780242D8D12C76348BA764F62733F6025|
|3D9674AEA370E97E3703701B71370E921CD243493D044A08940F3843C4C614253C7|
|3CB5F00973EE03F8957B66BF30FD54378AD38A9E4F06754F293BC3A72566EEF2444|
|FE82ECE7A111FE31A5EAA91E4BE5AF29875D9533CEDF45B1AD34DA3BE838E31831A|
|99D7AC9B90EDB79B3EAD5348F464323D996C4FE64A4FE66A4F664DB6FF1D9A1B9D9|
|85E0BF6929748514EB3563886DBEF77F3CCD9FE9F105A8A27F0A793D3B487BC4BDB|
|1D7E427E77EBE3ACFFDBC9D9B457DC55621232CC9ABCB3558D7B3EEA8A8B5DF1E3A|
|EF89F9F96210E8D76E2F5402776F83AF17F29BFE831|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

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