Ill/Dark suggestions

So after finally managing to get an Illusion Controller up high enough that I might actually make it to 50, it becomes time to look into builds.

And I'm having a bit of trouble.

I've heard all sorts of nummy things about Ill/ and soloing various AVs, etc, and would like a build that is able to do this as well.

Below is what I've been working on so far.
Perma-PA, Hasten, Fade, SA.

I still have a slot to place.
I'd like to keep Superior Invis.
I can do without a travel power.
I was thinking of going Agility, Ion, Reactive (unless the numbers on Degenerative are worth it). Don't know what kind of pet to take, or if it even really matters. I'm stuck between Ageless and Clarion: on the one hand, recharge; on the other hand, everything's perma that needs to be and if I have enough endurance/recovery, Ageless will be giving me a bit of a buffer (how important is that buffer?). Hybrid; all I know is I'm pretty sure I don't want to be taunting baddies off my pets.

A couple questions:

1. Is this enough defense? From what I can tell, I'm almost softcapped to smash/lethal, and "softcapped" to all with Darkest Night.
2. Is this enough KB protection? For some reason I seem to recall seeing mag 12 protection being tossed around at one point. Should I be gunning for 12 or is 4 enough?
3. Is Will of the Controller better off in something other than Spectral Terror? I've been leveling with the set in him, and I kind of like that he (sometimes) does damage.
4. Is 54% global accuracy enough such that things like Soul Absorption and Phantasm will be hitting fairly often (if not, I'm going to have to rework a lot of the build, I think).
5. Phantasm feels under-slotted. Thoughts on giving him the leftover slot and giving him the Overwhelming Force Proc (not such a big deal when fighting AVs; this would be for when fighting normal mobs), or slotting him with something else, or is the slot better off elsewhere?
6. Will I have enough recovery? On paper it looks fine, but I have a hard time getting a feel for how much end I need/am using until I actually try it out.

• 17% DamageBuff(Smashing)
• 17% DamageBuff(Lethal)
• 17% DamageBuff(Fire)
• 17% DamageBuff(Cold)
• 17% DamageBuff(Energy)
• 17% DamageBuff(Negative)
• 17% DamageBuff(Toxic)
• 17% DamageBuff(Psionic)
• 2.5% Defense(Energy)
• 2.5% Defense(Negative)
• 1.25% Defense(Ranged)
• 5.4% Max End
• 4% Enhancement(Held)
• 1.5% Enhancement(SpeedRunning)
• 4.4% Enhancement(Terrorized)
• 1.5% Enhancement(SpeedFlying)
• 8% Enhancement(Sleep)
• 8% Enhancement(Immobilized)
• 54% Enhancement(Accuracy)
• 8% Enhancement(Confused)
• 1.5% Enhancement(JumpHeight)
• 148.8% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
• 4% Enhancement(Stunned)
• 1.5% Enhancement(SpeedJumping)
• 4% Enhancement(Heal)
• 110.6 HP (10.88%) HitPoints
• Knockback (Mag -4)
• Knockup (Mag -4)
• MezResist(Confused) 2.5%
• MezResist(Held) 2.5%
• MezResist(Immobilized) 10.2%
• MezResist(Sleep) 2.5%
• MezResist(Stunned) 2.5%
• MezResist(Terrorized) 4.7%
• 25.5% (0.43 End/sec) Recovery
• 26% (1.1 HP/sec) Regeneration
• 9.13% Resistance(Fire)
• 9.13% Resistance(Cold)

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I have had an ill/dark for quite a while and re worked his build about 5 times before i finally got happy with the one i currently use....granted, in order for it to work as best as its ability barrier is required... however, i have mitigated it so end use is not high, and he is highly survivable without the sacrafice of recharge, so perma hasten and perma pa... its very click heavy, you have to be on your game with barrier, and fade, but it makes it more fun in the end i think.....

a few things to note...

1. Superior invisibility is only used as a LOTG proc mule, and used only when i want to stealth to the end of a mission, otherwise its off

2. I took hibernate but i realize now that i never use it with this new build, so last powers optional....

3. I have had great luck with the will of controller set in Flash.....

4. Apocalypse in spectral wounds is AMAZING!!

Its pricey, but i can solo av's am highly surivable in all situations, i did take hybrid assault because i didnt know what else to take.... the only real mandatory powers incarnate wise for this build to work beautifully is Barrier for destiny, also intuition alpha works great too but its your call.

So the only toggles i run in combat are Shadow fall, combat jumping, shark skin and maneuvers.... and click fade and barrier when they are up.... hope this helps you out!

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

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Illusion of DaSlaya: Level 50 Magic Controller
Primary Power Set: Illusion Control
Secondary Power Set: Darkness Affinity
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Leviathan Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Spectral Wounds -- Apoc-Dmg/EndRdx(A), Apoc-Dmg(7), Apoc-Dmg/Rchg(9), Apoc-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(9), Apoc-Dam%(11)
Level 1: Twilight Grasp -- Dct'dW-Rchg(A), Dct'dW-Heal(34), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(34), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(36), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(36)
Level 2: Blind -- BasGaze-Acc/Hold(A), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(11), BasGaze-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(13), BasGaze-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(13)
Level 4: Tar Patch -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(5)
Level 6: Flash -- SWotController-Rchg/Dmg%(A), SWotController-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx(7), SWotController-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx/Rchg(15), SWotController-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear(15), SWotController-Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/Rchg(17), SWotController-EndRdx/Rchg(17)
Level 8: Darkest Night -- DarkWD-ToHitDeb(A), DarkWD-ToHitDeb/Rchg(39), DarkWD-ToHitdeb/Rchg/EndRdx(39), DarkWD-ToHitDeb/EndRdx(39)
Level 10: Howling Twilight -- Stpfy-Acc/Stun/Rchg(A), Stpfy-Acc/Rchg(36), Stpfy-EndRdx/Stun(37), Stpfy-Acc/EndRdx(37), Stpfy-Stun/Rng(37)
Level 12: Deceive -- CoPers-Conf%(A), CoPers-Conf/EndRdx(23), CoPers-Conf(27), CoPers-Conf/Rchg(27), CoPers-Acc/Conf/Rchg(29), CoPers-Acc/Rchg(34)
Level 14: Superior Invisibility -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 16: Shadow Fall -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(42)
Level 18: Phantom Army -- ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg(A), ExRmnt-Dmg/EndRdx(19), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(19), ExRmnt-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(21), S'bndAl-Build%(21), S'bndAl-Dmg/Rchg(23)
Level 20: Fade -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), RechRdx-I(25), LkGmblr-Def(48)
Level 22: Super Speed -- Winter-ResSlow(A)
Level 24: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(25)
Level 26: Spectral Terror -- Abys-Dam%(A), Abys-Acc/Fear/Rchg(29), Abys-EndRdx/Fear(31), Abys-Fear/Rng(31), Abys-Acc/Rchg(31)
Level 28: Soul Absorption -- Dct'dW-Rchg(A), Dct'dW-Heal(42), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(46), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(46), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(46)
Level 30: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 32: Phantasm -- ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg(A), ExRmnt-Dmg/EndRdx(33), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), ExRmnt-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(33), OvForce-Dam/KB(48)
Level 35: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(50)
Level 38: Dark Servant -- BasGaze-Acc/Hold(A), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(40), BasGaze-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(40), BasGaze-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(40)
Level 41: Water Spout -- Amaze-ToHitDeb%(A), Amaze-Stun(42), Amaze-Stun/Rchg(43), Amaze-Acc/Stun/Rchg(43), Amaze-EndRdx/Stun(43)
Level 44: Shark Skin -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), GA-3defTpProc(45), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(45), Aegis-ResDam(45)
Level 47: Summon Coralax -- ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg(A), ExRmnt-Dmg/EndRdx(48), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(50), ExRmnt-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(50)
Level 49: Hibernate -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(5)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), EndMod-I(3), EndMod-I(3)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Containment
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: Sprint -- Clrty-Stlth(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 50: Barrier Invocation
Level 50: Intuition Radial Paragon
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That's the exact reason I want to keep Superior Invis: I like having the option of stealthing mishes when necessary.

I forgot that Soulbound Allegiance had a Dam/Rech enhancement. I've removed the rech and the dam from Phantom Army, put it back down to five slots, and used the SA dam/rech instead freeing up another slot:
Level 18: Phantom Army -- ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(A), ExRmnt-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(19), ExRmnt-Acc/Rchg(19), ExRmnt-Dmg/EndRdx(21), S'bndAl-Dmg/Rchg(31)

With two extra slots now, I can either get another Expedient Reinforcement recharge bonus in Phantasm or throw the Overwhelming Force Proc in there (still leaving me with an extra slot to put somewhere):
Level 32: Phantasm -- ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg(A), ExRmnt-Dmg/EndRdx(40), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(46), ExRmnt-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(50)
Level 32: Phantasm -- Dmg-I(A), Dmg-I(40), OvForce-Dam/KB(46)

IIRC, attack chain should be Blind->SW->Ice Blast->SW. Thoughts on slotting Blind for Hold vs. Damage?

Shadow Fall > Sup Invis.

Shadow Fall + Super Speed = Invisible.


With no defense debuffs with Dark Affinity, you really want PA to have ED cap of Acc, Dam and Rech.

I believe I made an Ill/Dark on this forum recently. You can soft cap all defense and cap S/L resistance if you use Primal Mastery.

i personally like superior invis because its available from a very low level

on another note, if you plan to have perma PA then defense building should not be necessary really, my ill/cold only has superior invis,hover, and frozen shield (ice APP) for personal protection (it amounts to about 15% smash lethal def, and 5% def on everything else)

because he has perma PA i rarely have to worry about baddies focusing on him

Perma PA is not as binary as many on this forum suggest.

It is very possible to die even when PA is out. When you are plowing content, you can get ahead of them, sometimes they get stuck on three minions and let the AV bee line for you. I strongly suggest getting soft capped. It is an extra layer of protection. It will let you start setting up your hazards (Spec Terror, Tar patch or Sleet) before the PA catch up to you and gather aggro. Also, there is always a brief 1-3 seconds where you are summoning them, and the whole entire mob's focus shifts to you. It REALLY sucks when you die AS you are summoning them.

Just like having a tank on the team does not always guarantee you from avoiding aggro, so is having PA out.

Don't get me wrong. PA is AMAZING, and lets you do some pretty cool stuff. But it is not an 'I WINZ' button.

Now, I don't know how other people play their Illusionists. But I play mine like a scrapper. Perhaps other people are different. Staying well out of range, and playing safe. That is just not my cup of tea.