Darkness/DPS/heal

markhawkman

Here's what I've thrown together so far.

Darkness/DPS/heal
EGO/pre/rec

Spec:
Ego
Aggression 2
Insight 3
sixth sense 3
follow through 2

Sentinel
Sentinel Aura 3
caregiver 2
Moment of need 1

Powers:(forgot to write down what the ads are.)
Shadow Bolt
Shadow Blast
Lifedrain
Shadow Embrace
Shade Storm
conviction
seraphim
Shadow Manifestation
Ebon Void

Talents:
The Midnight
Lasting impression
Jack of all trades
showmanship
command training
sniper training
worldly

how's that so far?

flowcyto

Next time, I'd suggest using the HeroCreator, as that also makes editing the build easier for others:
https://aesica.net/co/herocreator.htm

Anyways, here's how I'd tweak the build for a Darkness dps/healer (you can swap between Hybrid or Support role if you want to focus more on dps or on healing):

(Unnamed Build) - Freeform (Any / Multiple)
v3.34:32

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

Talents
Level 1: The Witch (Con: 10, Int: 8, Pre: 10, Rec: 10)
Level 6: Lasting Impression (Pre: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 9: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 12: Shrug It Off (Con: 5, Pre: 5)
Level 15: Amazing Stamina (Rec: 5, End: 5)
Level 18: Prodigy (Pre: 5, End: 5)
Level 21: Boundless Reserves (Con: 5, End: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Shadow Bolt
Level 1: Shadow Blast (Psychotic Break, Devoid)
Level 6: Shadow Manifestation
Level 8: Seraphim (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Spirit Reverberation
Level 14: Shadow Embrace (Rank 2, Draining Shadows)
Level 17: Lifedrain (Rank 2, Vampiric Sympathy)
Level 20: Ebon Ruin (Rank 2, Nyctophobia)
Level 23: Iniquity (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Grasping Shadows (Unyielding Agony, Consumption)
Level 29: Ebon Void (Rank 2)
Level 32: Death's Embrace (Pact)
Level 35: Masterful Dodge
Level 38: Rebirth
Adv. Points: 32/36

Travel Powers
Level 6:
Level 35:

Specializations
Presence: Repurpose (3/3)
Presence: Selfless Ally (2/2)
Presence: Moment of Glory (2/3)
Presence: Force of Will (1/2)
Presence: Vulnerability (2/2)
Sentinel: Caregiver (3/3)
Sentinel: Sentinel Aura (3/3)
Sentinel: Moment of Need (2/3)
Sentinel: Wither (2/2)
Overseer: Administer (3/3)
Overseer: Ruthless (2/2)
Overseer: Impact (2/2)
Overseer: Trapped (3/3)
Mastery: Sentinel Mastery (1/1)

For single-target dps, alternates between SBlast and ERuin, while SEmbrace is the main AoE. Grasping Shadows can proc spec debuffs (Vuln, Wither, Trapped, Sent Mastery) and can AoE heal in either case. Lifedrain is good as a filler AoE heal, though I'd still get a normal ally heal like Iniquity that doesn't take an enemy target and proximity to allies. Gears mostly for Pres, w/ some Con and Rec.

markhawkman

Hmm so why not Ego primary? is it because it does more healing with Pre primary?

ares

Actually I imagine that would be because of shadow manifestation. It's a form that scales with presence and applies itself upon application of a fear. So you could in doing so stack more damage by way of 1) Your superstat bonus damage, 2) Seraphim (which also increases healing as well as damage, 3) Your form, which will scale with presence. Only problem would be crit and severity, however

markhawkman

Ah, that makes sense I guess.

flowcyto

Yup, Shadow Manifest is a ranged dps toggle/form that scales w/ Pres. So it can be pretty good for builds that can work around the Mental State proc condition (Fear, and other debuffs from TK and TP) and that want to dabble in both dps and support.

markhawkman

Ah, ok then. So it sort of worked with Ego as primary, just not as well?

flowcyto

Yea, Ego PSS can be fine- as long as Pres is SS'd and the gear focus is still w/ Pres when using Shadow Manifest as the toggle/form (and then you'd want 3/3 in 6th Sense for Ego PSS).

koutaguele

Just a question what change had to be made to the build to be used just like healer/suport build.

flowcyto

koutaguele wrote: »

Just a question what change had to be made to the build to be used just like healer/suport build.

Well, my build already has most of the basic tools to fill being a healer. Assuming you're using the Support role, you could maybe change the passive to one of the auras that's stronger for allies (since Seraphim is more of a dps-support passive). Else, I'd prob change the toggle to Compassion so you can just focus on healing to manage your toggle (can still focus on Pres, regardless). Imo, much of the shift would rest on changing the playstyle to focus more on healing than dps-ing w/ your combat time (since there's natural limits to doing both, ofc).

markhawkman

Did the recent changes affect this at all?

flowcyto

For Darkness? No not in particular, but the general AO and AD changes did affect it for those options. Now R1 MD doesn't boost you past 100% dodge anymore (that takes R3 w/ base dodge values), so for non-tanks that want a decent R1 mitigation AD then you'll prob want to get Might's new AD (Indestructible) instead. The last two good general AOs for dps (Imbue and Ice Sheath) were nerfed for general use (Ice Sheath is now tied to Chill, and Imbue's base crit bonuses are much weaker when used at high health), but since the builds didn't have either AO that doesn't matter much here.

markhawkman

Ah, ok thanks