Darkness Hybrid

nafearian

Hi. I'm looking for any suggestions on how to improve this character, I haven't played him in a while and have come back to a free Retcon token I originally made the build to be able to solo the rifts from the nightmare invasion event but have since found his play style to be quite tedious - it mostly involves sitting behind a shield and occasionally activating some dots etc. Would like to revamp him (still with the same capabilities in mind) with some more active powers/playstyle, any feedback is appreciated!

Muz'Rah Any / Multiple
v3.29:31

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

Talents
Level 1: The Automaton (Con: 10, Int: 10, Ego: 10, End: 8)
Level 6: Ascetic (Con: 5, Ego: 5)
Level 9: Boundless Reserves (Con: 5, End: 5)
Level 12: Daredevil (Ego: 5, End: 5)
Level 15: Enduring (Con: 8)
Level 18: Field Ops Training (Con: 3, Int: 3, Ego: 3, Rec: 2, End: 2)
Level 21: Indomintable (Ego: 8)

Powers
Level 1: Shadow Bolt
Level 1: Ebon Void (Rank 2, Voracious Darkness)
Level 6: Spirit Reverberation
Level 8: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Soul Vortex (Rank 2)
Level 14: Ice Sheath
Level 17: Masterful Dodge
Level 20: Inertial Dampening Field (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Aura of Primal Majesty (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Star Barrage (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 29: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 32: Ego Blade Pandemonium (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Ebon Rift (Rank 2, Vengeful Shadows)
Level 38: Circle of Primal Dominion (Rank 2)
Adv. Points: 36/36

Travel Powers
Level 6: Lightning Flash (Rank 2)
Level 35: Shadow Wings

Specializations
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Follow Through (2/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (3/3)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: Tenacious (2/2)
Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: The Rush of Battle (3/3)
Vindicator: Modified Gear (2/2)
Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)

Devices

flowcyto

For solo, I suppose you'd want to use something like R3 Invuln to be more defensive naturally, hopefully lessening the need to block. You can consider using Darkness's new form/toggle, though that means changing stats to gear for more Pres, as that's what it scales with. Or you could use Mental Precision w/ Dex. If you want to keep Ego w/ Conc or Chilled Form, though, then that's okay too. An example hybrid-dps Darkness build:

https://aesica.net/co/herocreator.htm?v=31&n=Muz'Rah&d=15730bNPWQXa0R30s0L000L10CLB009A037F00L30HK503LE0eLH05DT00ON01L905K6002Q000ckr3BIR1CGA30000000000&e=

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

Talents
Level 1: The Scourge (Con: 10, Ego: 10, Rec: 10, End: 8)
Level 6: Ascetic (Con: 5, Ego: 5)
Level 9: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 12: Worldly (Ego: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 15: Boundless Reserves (Con: 5, End: 5)
Level 18: Daredevil (Ego: 5, End: 5)
Level 21: Amazing Stamina (Rec: 5, End: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Shadow Bolt
Level 1: Shadow Blast (Psychotic Break, Devoid)
Level 6: Spirit Reverberation
Level 8: Invulnerability (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Concentration
Level 14: Shadow Embrace (Rank 2, Draining Shadows)
Level 17: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Dimensional Collapse (Glimpse of the Abyss, Lingering Darkness)
Level 23: Ebon Ruin (Rank 2, Nyctophobia)
Level 26: Masterful Dodge
Level 29: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 32: Ebon Void (Rank 2, Voracious Darkness)
Level 35: Imbue
Level 38: Fiery Embrace
Adv. Points: 33/36

Travel Powers
Level 6: Lightning Flash (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Shadow Wings

Specializations
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Follow Through (3/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (2/3)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: Find the Mark (3/3)
Guardian: The Best Defense (2/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: The Rush of Battle (2/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (2/3)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (1/3)
Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)

Uses SBlast to apply Devoid, and it can also be used to stun enemies w/ Fear on them. SEmbrace is the main AoE, which will heal you for each target hit; you can also get its DD adv instead of Rank2 if you want more AoE CC, though this will lower its dps. ERuin is the main heavy single-target attack, while DCollapse can refresh both Devoid and Fear- while doing a bit of dmg in the background. Last 1-2 powers are more up in the air. Gears mostly for Ego and Con, w/ some Rec.

jaazaniah1

Following on Flow's build, if you can make do without Fiery Embrace and settle for a R2 travel power you could take a 2nd, offensive passive (Shadow Form) for situations where others are taking aggro and you want to put out as much damage as possible.

pantagruel01

Well, the play style you describe is what is to be expected from a hybrid using IDF. Just go full ranged dps, soloing with ranged dps takes paying attention to what you're doing but is totally possible.

nafearian

Okay, so I've tried to implement as much as possible here into a newer build. It's mostly the same as what you've suggested Flow with a couple of changes.

Muz'Rah Any / Multiple
v3.29:31

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

Talents
Level 1: The Scourge (Con: 10, Ego: 10, Rec: 10, End: 8)
Level 6: Ascetic (Con: 5, Ego: 5)
Level 9: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 12: Worldly (Ego: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 15: Amazing Stamina (Rec: 5, End: 5)
Level 18: Boundless Reserves (Con: 5, End: 5)
Level 21: Daredevil (Ego: 5, End: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Shadow Bolt
Level 1: Spirit Reverberation
Level 6: Ebon Void (Rank 2, Voracious Darkness)
Level 8: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Shadow Embrace (Rank 2, Draining Shadows)
Level 14: Masterful Dodge
Level 17: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 20: Concentration
Level 23: Ebon Ruin (Rank 2, Nyctophobia)
Level 26: Invulnerability (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 29: Dimensional Collapse (Glimpse of the Abyss, Lingering Darkness)
Level 32: Imbue
Level 35: Shadow Form (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 38: Shadow Blast (Psychotic Break, Devoid)
Adv. Points: 36/36

Travel Powers
Level 6: Shadow Wings
Level 35: Lightning Flash (Rank 2)

Specializations
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Follow Through (3/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (2/3)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: Find the Mark (2/3)
Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: The Rush of Battle (2/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (2/3)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (1/3)
Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)

Devices


I've organised it so the powers I'm less sure of can be retconned easily. Would generally prefer not to take two blast attacks with both being single target if I can get away without it as they take too long to charge - any possible alternatives?

It's also quite nice having the option to switch to an offensive passive, so I took shadow form as well (replaced the res as I'll use devices).

For the specializations, I've heard a lot of people discussing that Guardicator/Wardicator is not so good anymore - is this true? Pretty much all my characters use this combo, so I'm hoping it's still viable u3u

Thanks for all the help so far

pantagruel01

The offense/defense loop in guardicator/wardicator was removed, but they're still perfectly viable spec trees.

flowcyto

nafearian wrote: »

I've organised it so the powers I'm less sure of can be retconned easily. Would generally prefer not to take two blast attacks with both being single target if I can get away without it as they take too long to charge - any possible alternatives?

Well, my build didn't have two blasts, technically. ERuin is not classed as Blast- its just a standard heavy ranged attack. You'll ideally want both attacks anyways, since ERuin is much higher ST dps, but SBlast is one of the few ways to put up Devoid (and it can be used instead of ERuin if energy is low). Regardless, having a dual passive build is fine, if you plan on getting good mileage from both passives.