Trying to make a magical DPS build without darkness

rb74

I've been trying to put off such a build for a while now but I'm tired of waiting for the Hexslinger AT to come along and I really just want to make a magical DPS toon. So the idea behind her is basically a powerful witch. With the exception of Shadow Form, I'm trying to avoid using any darkness powers. I'm having a very hard time finding good DPS powers among the Sorcery trees. I also want this to handle end game well when it comes to rampages and cosmics. The power for level 29 is supposed to be Entrancing (with no adv points spend) since it's nice for theme, but I think it only wipes threat form one target. Here's my first draft.

PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Archetype: Freeform

Super Stats:
Level 6: Intelligence (Primary)
Level 10: Ego (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)

Talents:
Level 1: The Glacier
Level 6: Healthy Mind
Level 9: Ascetic
Level 12: Academics
Level 15: Quick Recovery
Level 18: Negotiator
Level 21: Wordly

Powers:
Level 1: Eldritch Bolts
Level 1: Eldritch Blast (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Concentration
Level 8: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 11: Shadow Form (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Pyromancer's Blades (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 17: Sigils of the Primal Storm (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Skarn's Bane (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Hex of Suffering (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Resurgence
Level 29:
Level 32: Eldritch Shield (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Ego Surge (Nimble Mind)
Level 38: Redemption (Salvation)

Travel Powers:
Level 6: Mystic Flight (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Teleportation (Rank 2, Rank 3)

Specializations:
Intelligence: Enlightened (3/3)
Intelligence: Tactician (2/2)
Intelligence: Detect Vulnerability (3/3)
Intelligence: Expertise (2/2)
Avenger: Ruthless (2/2)
Avenger: Anguish (2/2)
Avenger: Round 'em Up (3/3)
Avenger: Preemptive Strike (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (3/3)
Vindicator: Modified Gear (2/2)
Mastery: Avenger Mastery (1/1)

Is there room for Conviction in there? I might not need Resurgence in such a case. However, I would have no active defense in such a case. I like Redemption to be able to revive players but it does mean one less slot elsewhere.​​

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flowcyto

Prob the best dps for pure Sorcery is either a pet master build w/ AoED (though pet builds don't jive well w/ most high end content, and it's a very diff playstyle) or Skarn's spam w/ Hex's debuff. W/o using AoPM, I'd prob throw in CoAP to help w/ Skarn's energy if that's the route ur going for. If ya wanted Conviction instead, then I'd prob drop Pyro Blades for it; the blades aren't worth too much dps on their own here.

Could also consider going for INT/Con/Dex w/ some Rec for equilibrium (and CoAP energy)- Dex SS interacts well w/ Expertise, and would also get Mass Destruction if Skarn's spamming as well (instead of modified gear).

rb74

Hmm... I'll consider an elementalist especially since I haven't done such a build yet. I know there's supposed to be some cross element support with buffs and passives. I wonder if Rimefire Burst could be put to good use. For an elementalist I can see fire, ice, and electricity being good. Can wind fit in or is that just spreading myself too thin?

The pet master build doesn't sound very appealing to me due to some extra management and the nature of pets getting destroyed by cosmic AoEs. Is Skarn w/ Hex good enough DPS or would I probably be better off with an elemental set up? What's an example of a good multi element DPS build? I hardly know where to start.​​

flowcyto

Skarn's is good dps if ya can manage the energy for it, and ofc it doubles as good AoE dps. However, something like an LArc build is more straightforward for dps.

The problem w/ mixing all Elemental sets is that you get much redundancy in attacks. Since you have so many to choose from, and many can be good, it'll prob come down to ur own prefs in what attacks ya like.

rb74

It might be easier if I stick with sorcery for now and save the elementalist for another build. It seems rather complex right now for deciding which direction I want to take it in. This will be new in that I only have two "actual" attacks in this build not counting Hex or the EB. Skarn seemed pretty good at least when I was using Justice gear so I don't know how that would really reflect Live play with Merc gear. The empty power slot is still Entrancing although I might change my mind on a threat wipe if it indeed only clears threat from one target. Is Sigils of the Primal Storm worth having? I removed it from my current draft below:

PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Archetype: Freeform

Super Stats:
Level 6: Intelligence (Primary)
Level 10: Dexterity (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)

Talents:
Level 1: The Glacier
Level 6: Healthy Mind
Level 9: Acrobat
Level 12: Coordinated
Level 15: Quick Recovery
Level 18: Negotiator
Level 21: Impresario

Powers:
Level 1: Eldritch Bolts
Level 1: Eldritch Blast (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Eldritch Shield (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Shadow Form (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Concentration
Level 14: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 17: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Skarn's Bane (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Hex of Suffering (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Circle of Arcane Power (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 29:
Level 32: Ego Surge (Nimble Mind)
Level 35: Masterful Dodge
Level 38: Redemption (Salvation)

Travel Powers:
Level 6: Teleportation (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Mystic Flight (Rank 2, Rank 3)

Specializations:
Intelligence: Enlightened (3/3)
Intelligence: Tactician (2/2)
Intelligence: Detect Vulnerability (3/3)
Intelligence: Expertise (2/2)
Avenger: Ruthless (2/2)
Avenger: Anguish (2/2)
Avenger: Round 'em Up (3/3)
Avenger: Preemptive Strike (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Offensive Expertise (2/2)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (3/3)
Mastery: Avenger Mastery (1/1)


I replaced Focused Strikes with Offensive Expertise. Is 14% less AO cooldown any good compared to 4% more Eldritch Blast crit chance? Masterful Dodge is supposed to be my character making herself into a ghostly form that's harder to hit than her being agile. Is there a way to set up my leveling powers so I can take Skarn's Bane sooner than level 20?

How should I gear once I hit level 40? A single r7 REC seems to work wonders.​​

flowcyto

The changes to Vind won't mean as much for dps overall, since they both increase it in diff ways- Offensive Expertise based on how often ya use ES/NM, and Focused Strikes more on how often ya use Eld Blast.

Sadly, the only way to get Skarn's earlier than lvl 20 is to make all ur early powers from Sorcery, which means ur not using an optimal toggle (Compassion, or no toggle) and have to use Hybrid role + AoPM or AoED for dps.

Its pretty cheap to re-train by lvl 20, though, so for really early leveling I'd just get an earlier, cheap AoE from a diff powerset temporarily, and then retrain at 20 (or latter) to get the normal build w/ Skarn's. Prob something like this:

Powers:
Level 1: Power Bolts
Level 1: Eldritch Blast (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Concentration
Level 8: Shadow Form (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Shadow Embrace (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 17: Molecular Self-Assembly

Getting a Ranged Tech end builder so ya can unlock Conc earlier as well. Its not as thematic for you, ofc, but it is more practical early on, and is only a temporary build.

kamokami

There is a new AT coming out soon of the magical variety. And, as with any new AT, we are likely to get a lot of changes to the power sets that the AT is based in.

I would hold off on making any magic based builds until we see what's going to change.