Effective Endgame DPS Build = Damage Output > Contribution to scaling DPS checks(as of right now we estimate this to mean having an output of roughly 3,000 DPS*** vs the unkillable test dummies in the Powerhouse)
What this guide is going to provide:- a set of loose guidelines for most easily making an effective DPS build (see definition above)
- templates that give you a starting point with enough flexibility to support many themes, concepts, and playstyles.
What this guide is *not* going to provide:- a way to min-max up to the top of the scoreboard by dealing maximum damage.
- exhaustive coverage of the many different possible ways to deal decent damage. Not even close. This will just be one easy path out of many, many....many.
Who this guide is for:- players for whom concept and theme are of critical importance
- players who are just starting to or considering doing endgame content with their DPS characters and want to ensure that their participation will be helpful
- have rank 5 mods, mercenary gear, and are level 40
A Little Bit of TheoryYour damage is calculated by multiplying base damage with the bonus from each damage layer. If you're interested in understanding the details of how this works, check out this thread by
@aqa:
LINK. TLDR....
Damage = General Bonus X Severity Bonus X Role Bonus X Base DamageBelow are the basics of getting more out of each bonus layer....so that when multiplied together they result in the biggest bonus to your base damage.
General BonusOffensive passive that buffs your primary damage power. Damage form that buffs your primary damage power and is scaled by one of your superstats. Most of your mods and gear should focus on scaling up your damage form. So for example if your damage form is Enrage one of your superstats should be STR and most of you gear should maximize STR.
Severity BonusHave between 20% and 40% critical chance and between 80% and 120% critical severity. You can most easily get increased critical chance with crit strike bonuses from gear, stats, and some specs. You can most easily get increased critical severity from specs.
Role BonusChoose either Melee or Ranged damage role based on what will buff your primary damage power. This is the easiest way to increase your damage.
Build Guidelines:So how do you get started? Think of your concept, theme, or desired playstyle and choose your primary damage power first based on what you want to do. The rest of the build then is all about making your primary damage power do more damage every time it's used and enabling you to use it more often. Decide on the following:
1. Primary Damage Power- Take either the highest damage maintain or the highest damage charge attack from a given powerset. This will maximize your base damage.
- Either you're looking to do lots of small+fast hits. Or fewer big+slow hits.
- Usually this is a single target power
2. Stats- Primary superstat (
damage, make each hit count):
DEX, STR, EGO- Secondary superstat (
energy, do lots of hits):
REC, END, INT- Secondary superstat (
defense, afford mistakes):
CON3. Offense- Melee or Ranged damage role...whichever buffs your primary damage power
- Offensive Passive that buffs your primary damage power
- Damage form that buffs your primary damage power
- Energy unlock that is triggered by your primary damage power
- Secondary damage power, usually an AoE or a Debuff, that refreshes and stacks your damage form. If your primary damage power already stacks your damage form then you don't need this.
- 1 Debuff that lowers the targets resistance to your primary damage power
4. Spike Damage (
this is what you use during DPS checks)
- 1 Ultimate buffed by passive, role, and damage form
- 1 Active Offense
5. Defense- Block enhancer at rank 3. This is easily the best way to increase your defense. A DPS player that knows when to block is tougher than a Tank who doesn't. Learn more about blocking in
@pantagruel's guide here:
LINK.
- 1 Active Defense
- 1-2 Heals
By this point you will have
2 to 4 power slots remaining to take whatever else you want. Some players use one of these slots to take a defensive passive so that they can tank when the need arises.
Spec Templates:Use these as starting points and fill them in with the powers you want by following steps 1 through 5 above.
Melee DEX - Freeform - Click MeSuper StatsLevel 6: Dexterity (Primary)
Level 10: Recovery (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)SpecializationsDexterity: Gear Utilization (3/3)
Dexterity: Brush It Off (2/2)
Dexterity: Deadly Aim (3/3)
Dexterity: Expose Weakness (2/2)Vindicator:
Aggressive Stance (2/2)Vindicator:
Merciless (3/3)Vindicator:
Focused Strikes (3/3)Vindicator:
Mass Destruction (2/3)Warden:
Fortified Gear (3/3)Warden:
Ruthless (2/2)Warden:
Elusive (2/2)Warden:
The Best Defense (3/3)Mastery: Dexterity Mastery (1/1)Melee STR - Freeform - Click MeSuper StatsLevel 6: Strength (Primary)
Level 10: Recovery (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)SpecializationsStrength: Swole (3/3)
Strength: Aggression (2/2)
Strength: Brutality (2/2)
Strength: Overpower (3/3)Vindicator:
Aggressive Stance (2/2)Vindicator:
Merciless (3/3)Vindicator:
Focused Strikes (3/3)Vindicator:
Mass Destruction (2/3)Warden:
Fortified Gear (3/3)Warden:
Ruthless (2/2)Warden:
Elusive (2/2)Warden:
The Best Defense (3/3)Mastery: Strength Mastery (1/1)Ranged DEX - Freeform - Click MeSuper StatsLevel 6: Dexterity (Primary)
Level 10: Recovery (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)SpecializationsDexterity: Gear Utilization (3/3)
Dexterity: Brush It Off (2/2)
Dexterity: Deadly Aim (3/3)
Dexterity: Expose Weakness (2/2)Vindicator:
Aggressive Stance (2/2)Vindicator:
Merciless (3/3)Vindicator:
Focused Strikes (3/3)Vindicator:
Mass Destruction (2/3)Guardian:
Fortified Gear (3/3)Guardian:
Ruthless (2/2)Guardian:
Find the Mark (2/3)Guardian:
The Best Defense (3/3)Mastery: Dexterity Mastery (1/1)Ranged EGO - Freeform - Click MeSuper StatsLevel 6: Ego (Primary)
Level 10: Recovery (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)SpecializationsEgo: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Follow Through (3/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (2/3)Vindicator:
Aggressive Stance (2/2)Vindicator:
Merciless (3/3)Vindicator:
Focused Strikes (3/3)Vindicator:
Mass Destruction (2/3)Guardian:
Fortified Gear (3/3)Guardian:
Ruthless (2/2)Guardian:
Find the Mark (2/3)Guardian:
The Best Defense (3/3)Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Note on Gear- most mods should scale your damage form
- you can use one mod slot to scale your energy unlock or just get more REC without losing much dps
- this guide assumes entry level gear of Merc+r5 mods
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Attack Rotations:Once you've got your build made, it's time to try it out on a test dummy. Below are some example rotations and notes for each of the updated powersets. Thanks
@aiqa for the writeup!
FireIceLightningMunitions 1Munitions 2Power ArmorLaser Sword 1Laser Sword 2TK RangedTK MeleeHeavy WeaponsSorceryBestial_______________________________
Footnotes:***
This figure is based on Dino's DPS check of ~10k damage over 5 seconds...so 2,000 DPS. Dino's mitigation of your damage depends on the # of players there and the debuffs being used. Based on lots of logs of Dino fights over the past year, the resistance can range from ~20% to ~40%. To be conservative I chose 40%. Which gives us a base DPS output of 3,333. Test Dummy mitigation being at 16% without any debuffs or defense penetration.....gives us a base DPS output of 2,800. With a debuff in your build you can break past 3,000 DPS vs. the Test Dummy.
Comments
This section is for those who:
- have read the above guide in the first post
- are looking to take their builds into the 4k - 6k DPS range*** - it's normally what the top 10 players on the scorecard are running
- willing to somewhat restrict their concepts to attain higher DPS
- are curious about INT and PRE primary builds
CONTENTS:
1. Damage Layers - tattoo this on your body
2. High Base Damage Powers - start here for your build
3. Spec Templates - here we go again
4. Make Your High DPS Build - step by step
APPENDIX:
5. Stuff We Skipped - useful, but not critical
6. The Best Gear - maximize your build's potential
7. Sources of Defense Penetration - critical for Cosmics
8. INT and PRE primary Spec Templates - be you, be weird...but still good
1. DAMAGE LAYERS
Damage = General Bonus X Severity Bonus X Role Bonus X Base Damage
Remember this? If you are serious about your build's performance, then you need to internalize this formula. Read this thread LINK. Did you do it? Good, now read it one more time.
The goal is to maximize the bonus from each layer. Here's how.
*General Layer*
Biggest buff sources: Damage Form, Passive, most Active Offenses
Damage Form scaled by:
Primary SS + Secondary SS
Passive scaled by:
Primary SS + Secondary SS
*Severity Layer*
Biggest buff sources: Spec Trees, some Active Offenses
Critical Severity
EGO spec tree, Follow Through: Primary SS
STR spec tree, Brutality: Secondary SS
DEX spec tree, Deadly Aim: Secondary SS
Critical Chance
EGO spec tree, Sixth Sense: Secondary SS
STR spec tree, Overpower: Primary SS
Let's pause here for a moment. Note that the most common buff sources are your Superstats (SS). Assuming you have R7 mods and Legion Gear, you have a total of 537 stat points to allocate among your SS via mods for gear. [55x3 (secondaries) + 124x3 (primaries), not including stat/growth cores]
Pick out a single SS that will buff both the General Layer and the Severity Layer and allocate all 537 stat points towards that SINGLE stat. What this SS can be is largely driven by your Damage Form.
Let's walk through an example. You're making a Munitions build with DEX, INT, and CON as your superstats. And using Concentration for your damage form. INT buffs your General Layer via Concentration. You can also get it to buff the Severity Layer via DEX spec tree's Deadly Aim. So now INT is buffing both severity and the bonus from Concentration. It's your biggest source of damage buffs so put all 537 stat points towards INT.
That's the working theory behind it all. Set up your SS + Damage Form in such a way that a SINGLE stat will buff both the General Layer and the Severity Layer. This way you can mod everything towards that one stat so that all 537 points buff both layers.
*Role Layer*
Just by choosing either Melee or Ranged damage role you get a 25% boost.
*Base Damage*
Biggest buff sources: charge time reduction, some advantages, some specs
This "layer" is the hardest to find buffs for. Many primary damage powers have advantages that buff base damage when certain conditions are met. For example, Massacre adv used on targets with Bleeding. Some specs also buff base damage such as Flanking from the Brawler spec tree. Another way to buff base DPS is by hitting faster...this comes from charge time reduction provided by Night Warrior and Aura of Arcane Clarity.
2. HIGH BASE DAMAGE POWERS
This is a list of primary damage powers that I have already tested to do more than 4k DPS vs. test dummies in the powerhouse by using the principles outlined in this guide along with R7 mods + Legion Gear. There may be others that I have not come around to...if you know of more please add them in the comments.
- - - - - - - - - - - - *RANGED* - - - - - - - - - - - -
Lightning Arc, Conflagration, Incinerate, Cascade, Typhoon, Icicle Spear
Pulse Beam Rifle, Assault Rifle, Two-Gun Mojo, Any 2 Power Armor Toggles
Telekinetic Assault, Telekinetic Lance
Ebon Ruin, Shade Storm, Soul Beam, Defile
- - - - - - - - - - - - *MELEE* - - - - - - - - - - - -
Gauntlet Chainsaw, Bullet Ballet, Luminescent Slash
Dragon's Wrath, Sword Cyclone, Dragon's Claws, Tiger's Bite, Dragon's Bite, Reaper's Embrace, Dragon Uppercut, Burning Chi Fist, One Hundred Hands
Ego Weaponry, Ego Blade Breach, Ego Blade Annihilation
Annihilate, Skewer, Haymaker, Demolish
Massacre, Thrash, Devour Essence
3. SPEC TREE TEMPLATES
- - - - - - - - - - - - *RANGED* - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dex primary - Gear for INT - Click Me
Possible Damage Forms: Concentration, Spellcaster
Super Stats
Level 6: Dexterity (Primary)
Level 10: Constitution (Secondary)
Level 15: Intelligence (Secondary)
Specializations
Dexterity: Gear Utilization (3/3)
Dexterity: Brush It Off (2/2)
Dexterity: Deadly Aim (3/3)
Dexterity: Expose Weakness (2/2)
Dex primary - Gear for EGO - Click Me
Possible Damage Forms: Concentration, Chilled Form
Super Stats
Level 6: Dexterity (Primary)
Level 10: Constitution (Secondary)
Level 15: Ego (Secondary)
Specializations
Dexterity: Gear Utilization (3/3)
Dexterity: Brush It Off (2/2)
Dexterity: Deadly Aim (3/3)
Dexterity: Expose Weakness (2/2)
Ego primary - Gear for DEX - Click Me
Possible Damage Forms: Sharp Shooter, Chilled Form
Super Stats
Level 6: Ego (Primary)
Level 10: Recovery (Secondary)
Level 15: Dexterity (Secondary)
Specializations
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (1/3)
Ego: Aggression (2/2)
Ego: Follow Through (2/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (3/3)
Ego primary - Gear for INT - Click Me
Possible Damage Forms: Concentration, Spellcaster
Super Stats
Level 6: Ego (Primary)
Level 10: Recovery (Secondary)
Level 15: Intelligence (Secondary)
Specializations
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (1/3)
Ego: Aggression (2/2)
Ego: Follow Through (2/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (3/3)
Ego primary - Gear for EGO - Click Me
Possible Damage Forms: Concentration, Chilled Form
Super Stats
Level 6: Ego (Primary)
Level 10: Recovery (Secondary)
Level 15: Dexterity (Secondary)
Specializations
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Aggression (2/2)
Ego: Follow Through (3/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (2/3)
- - - - - - - - - - - - *MELEE* - - - - - - - - - - - -
Str primary - Gear for STR - Click Me
Possible Damage Forms: Enrage
Super Stats
Level 6: Strength (Primary)
Level 10: Recovery (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)
Specializations
Strength: Physical Peak (3/3)
Strength: Aggression (2/2)
Strength: Brutality (2/2)
Strength: Overpower (3/3)
Str primary - Gear for DEX - Click Me
Possible Damage Forms: Martial Arts Forms
Super Stats
Level 6: Strength (Primary)
Level 10: Recovery (Secondary)
Level 15: Dexterity (Secondary)
Specializations
Strength: Physical Peak (3/3)
Strength: Aggression (2/2)
Strength: Brutality (2/2)
Strength: Overpower (3/3)
Dex primary - Gear for STR - Click Me
Possible Damage Forms: Enrage
Super Stats
Level 6: Dexterity (Primary)
Level 10: Recovery (Secondary)
Level 15: Strength (Secondary)
Specializations
Dexterity: Gear Utilization (3/3)
Dexterity: Brush It Off (2/2)
Dexterity: Deadly Aim (3/3)
Dexterity: Expose Weakness (2/2)
Dex primary - Gear for INT - Click Me
Possible Damage Forms: Particle Accelerator
Super Stats
Level 6: Dexterity (Primary)
Level 10: Recovery (Secondary)
Level 15: Intelligence (Secondary)
Specializations
Dexterity: Gear Utilization (3/3)
Dexterity: Brush It Off (2/2)
Dexterity: Deadly Aim (3/3)
Dexterity: Expose Weakness (2/2)
Ego primary - Gear for DEX - Click Me
Possible Damage Forms: Martial Arts Forms
Super Stats
Level 6: Ego (Primary)
Level 10: Recovery (Secondary)
Level 15: Dexterity (Secondary)
Specializations
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (1/3)
Ego: Aggression (2/2)
Ego: Follow Through (2/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (3/3)
Ego primary - Gear for INT - Click Me
Possible Damage Forms: Particle Accelerator
Super Stats
Level 6: Ego (Primary)
Level 10: Recovery (Secondary)
Level 15: Intelligence (Secondary)
Specializations
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (1/3)
Ego: Aggression (2/2)
Ego: Follow Through (2/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (3/3)
PARSER USAGE GUIDE: click here for an easy how-to ٩(๑・ิᴗ・ิ)۶٩(・ิᴗ・ิ๑)۶
Spectre beats Eido in an SG run: VIDEO HERE
1. Pick out your primary damage power from the list in Section 2
2. Pick out a Spec Template with a damage form that buffs your primary damage power from Section 3
3. Click on a Spec Template and fill it in with the same types of powers as those listed in the basic version of this guide.
- 1 Offensive Passive (if relevant, choose ones that can buff multiple damage layers)
- rank 3 Block
- 1-2 heals
- 1 Active Defense
- 1-2 Active Offenses (choose ones that can buff multiple damage layers)
- Ultimate
- 1-2 debuffs that reduce the target's resistance to your primary damage power
- energy unlock that procs frequently in your damage rotation
Let's walk through an example.
1. I choose Icicle Spear for my primary damage power
2. I choose the following spec tree because I really like the cost discount that the Insight spec provides.
Possible Damage Forms: Concentration, Chilled Form
Super Stats
Level 6: Ego (Primary)
Level 10: Recovery (Secondary)
Level 15: Dexterity (Secondary)
Specializations
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Aggression (2/2)
Ego: Follow Through (3/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (2/3)
3. I click the Spec Template and fill it in with the following powers:
- I take Eldricht Shield rank 3, because I'm ranged DPS and most ranged damage is non-physical
- I take Conviction because it's a fast heal
- I take Masterful Dodge so that I won't worry as much about taking damage during DPS checks
- I take Ice Sheath and Lock N Load since they buff multiple damage layers.
- I take my primary damage power: Icicle Spear rank 3.
- I take Ice Blast + advs to debuff my target's damage resistance to my primary damage power: Icicle Spear
- I take the Gravity Driver ultimate which is buffed by Chilled Form, Stormbringer, and ranged damage role.
- I take the energy unlock Icy Embrace which is procced by my debuff power, Ice Blast
- I take Resurgence rank 2 so that I can have a nice "OH SNAP!" button
- I take Rebirth because I'm going to die sometimes and I don't want to wait on healers
AND WE'RE DONE.
Here's the build itself:
Icicle Spear Example - Freeform
Follow steps 1, 2, and 3 from this section to make your own high DPS build!
--------------------
***This 4k-6k DPS is vs. the test dummies in the Powerhouse using R7 mods + Legion Gear.
--------------------
APPENDIX
5. STUFF WE SKIPPED
Below is a quick rundown of what we skipped.
Offense - it's on your character info sheet. This damage buff is in the Severity Layer. Generally not worth specifically gearing for it.
Other great DPS spec tress to combine with Vindicator that are not Guardian or Warden:
Avenger - has specs that may make it better for your ranged DPS build than Guradian. Especially look at Preemptive Strike.
Brawler - has specs that may make it better for your melee DPS build than Warden. Especially look at Flanking.
Overseer - has specs that may make it best for some specialized DPS builds. Especially look at Trapped.
6. THE BEST GEAR
Ok so you've got your high dps build with your R7 mods and Legion Gear. What gear should you get next if you want to further increase your damage output? Here's the list of DPS gear ordered based on how much of an impact it would usually have on your damage output in the endgame.
1. Depleted Uranium Core
Drops from Warlord in the Harmon Alert. Allows you to ignore 15% of the target's damage resistance.
2. Onslaugh Gloves of the Slicer (only if you're melee DPS)
Sold by the Onslaught Vendor in MC.
3. +Damage Utility Core
At rank 9, these cores add 10% to damage for powers from specific powersets. This buff is in the
Severity Layer along with Offense and Crit Sev.
Cores sold by the GCR Vendor:
Gadgeteering: Teleio's Gadget
Ice: Kigatilik's Wrath
Fire: Qwyjibo's Fury
Bestial: Teleiosaurus's Rage
Infernal: Venomous
Darkness: Shadow Destroyer's Contempt
Might: Ripper's Rage
Sorcery: Spell of Takofanes
Power Armor: Calrence's Machinery
Heavy Weapons: Ironclad's Willpower
Cores dropped in the world:
Munitions: Ascii's Precision Get during the High Noon event & from Ascii's Open Mission in the Desert.
Electricity: Right Eye of the Sapphire Dragon Get from the Hi-Pan alert.
Claws: Nighthawk's Talons Get during the Nighthawk event.
Unarmed: Left Eye of the Ruby Dragon Get from the Red Snake Green Dragon alert.
Single Blade: Jack Fool's Blade Get directly from Jack Fool in his alert and Adventure Pack.
Dual Blade: Dragon's Fangs Get as a global drop from Red Banner enemies.
Cores are not yet sold by the GCR Vendor in MC, but can be bought on the AH or traded for:
Laser Sword: Cybermind's Impression
Telekinesis: Medusa's Presence
4. All 3 Justice Primaries
Sold by the GCR Vendor in MC.
5. Cosmic Fang of Wrath or Cosmic Fang of Rage slotted with a r5 Crit Strike Core.
BoE versions are dropped by Cosmics. BoP versions sold by the GCR Vendor in MC. The r3 Crit Cores are sold by the GCR Vendor as well. The Onslaught Gloves of the Sniper can also be as good if you are ranged.
6. Rank 9 Mods
Replacing your rank 7s with rank 9s.
7. SOURCES OF DEFENSE PENETRATION
Most of this guide has been focused on increasing damage by buffing various damage layers.
The other two major ways to increase your damage output are:
- Resistance Debuffs: found among Powers, like Firesnake, and Spec Trees, like Trapped from Overseer
- Defense Penetration: Gear, Powers, Spec Trees
Debuffs reduce your target's resistance to your attacks. They can even make the target have negative resistance! If you've been following the guide then you should already have some debuffs in your build.
Defense Penetration enables your attacks to *ignore* the target's resistance. So if the target has no resistance then defense penetration is useless. If the target has high resistance then defense penetration can be amazing.
Endgame bosses and Cosmics all have resistances usually ranging from 20% to over 40% so it's worth adding some Defense Penetration to your arsenal.
Sources of Defense Penetration include:
Depleted Uranium Core - a must-have for every min-maxer, this core allows your attacks to ignore 15% of the targets damage resistance. So if your target's damage resistance is 20% and you use the core then your attacks damage them as if they had 5% resistance.
Night Warrior passive - allows your attacks to ignore 10% of the target's resistance.. So if your target's damage resistance is 20% then with Night Warrior slotted, your attacks damage them as if they had 10% resistance.
Detect Vulnerability (INT Primary SS Spec Tree) - the highest possible scaling source of defense penetration. This is *the* spec that makes INT primary SS great for Endgame DPS. You get ~0.83% added defense penetration for every 10 points of INT in your build. So if you have 25% defense penetration, which takes 300 INT, and your target's damage resistance is 20% then your attacks damage them as if they had 0% resistance. If your target's damage resistance was 40%, then your attacks damage them as if they had 15% resistance.
Some attack powers & advantages have defense penetration as well, but are too specific to be included here.
8. INT AND PRE PRIMARY SPEC TEMPLATES
The INT and PRE spec trees do not come close to EGO, DEX, or STR trees' buffs to the various damage layers,
however both spec trees can be effective for an endgame DPS build. Here's why.
Why INT?
Because the Detect Vulnerability spec provides defense penetration for all of your attacks.
The amount of defense penetration provided scales with your INT. The INT spec tree also contains a spec called Expertise, which buffs the innate bonus of your secondary SS. So as long as your secondary SS is Dex then the spec also increases your crit chance in a roundabout but significant way.
- - - - - - - - - - - - *RANGED* - - - - - - - - - - - -
Int primary - Gear for INT - Click Me
Possible Damage Forms: Concentration, Spellcaster
Super Stats
Level 6: Intelligence (Primary)
Level 10: Constitution (Secondary)
Level 15: Dexterity (Secondary)
Specializations
Intelligence: Enlightened (3/3)
Intelligence: Tactician (2/2)
Intelligence: Detect Vulnerability (3/3)
Intelligence: Expertise (2/2)
- - - - - - - - - - - - *MELEE* - - - - - - - - - - - -
Int primary - Gear for INT - Click Me
Possible Damage Forms: Particle Accelerator
Super Stats
Level 6: Intelligence (Primary)
Level 10: Constitution (Secondary)
Level 15: Dexterity (Secondary)
Specializations
Intelligence: Enlightened (3/3)
Intelligence: Tactician (2/2)
Intelligence: Detect Vulnerability (3/3)
Intelligence: Expertise (2/2)
Why PRE?
Because the Moment of Glory spec provides a buff to crit chance that is similar to Sixth Sense (from the Ego spec tree).
So we'd use it in similar builds. By making Dex a secondary SS and having it scale Moment of Glory, we'll be able to allocate all of our gear to Dex & vastly increase our crit chance. Use this in builds that have damage forms scaled by Dex. The PRE spec tree also contains a spec called Vulnerability, which is a great debuff for all damage types. It's procced by Paralyze type holds so we should ensure to have some in our PRE primary DPS build.
- - - - - - - - - - - - *RANGED* - - - - - - - - - - - -
Pre primary - Gear for DEX - Click Me
Possible Damage Forms: Sharp Shooter, Chilled Form
Super Stats
Level 6: Presence (Primary)
Level 10: Recovery (Secondary)
Level 15: Dexterity (Secondary)
Specializations
Presence: Repurpose (2/3)
Presence: Grandeur (3/3)
Presence: Moment of Glory (3/3)
Presence: Vulnerability (2/2)
- - - - - - - - - - - - *MELEE* - - - - - - - - - - - -
Pre primary - Gear for DEX - Click Me
Possible Damage Forms: Martial Arts Forms
Super Stats
Level 6: Presence (Primary)
Level 10: Recovery (Secondary)
Level 15: Dexterity (Secondary)
Specializations
Presence: Repurpose (2/3)
Presence: Grandeur (3/3)
Presence: Moment of Glory (3/3)
Presence: Vulnerability (2/2)
To make your high DPS INT and PRE primary builds follow the same steps as before.
1. Pick out your primary damage power from the list in Section 2
2. Pick out a Spec Template with a damage form that buffs your primary damage power from this section
3. Click on your chosen Spec Template and fill it in with the same types of powers as those listed in the basic version of this guide
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you take just one thing away from reading this guide, it should be that buffing mutiple damage layers at the same time is the most powerful way to ensure your DPS reaches its maximum potetial, regardless of theme. The method of accomplishing this might change, but the concept itself has stayed this way for years and is future proof.
The current method is to set up your build so that the same stat which buffs your damage form also buffs either (or both) your crit chance or severity. And then invest all mods + gear into that stat.
MORE WAYS TO IMPROVE DPS:
Parse your builds: LINK
Know the fights: LINK
Good luck and see you in the endgame!!! [O_O]/
PARSER USAGE GUIDE: click here for an easy how-to ٩(๑・ิᴗ・ิ)۶٩(・ิᴗ・ิ๑)۶
Spectre beats Eido in an SG run: VIDEO HERE
Other than that, great guide that probably warrants a sticky.
You should consider adding a bit about int pss builds in the future. In particular, it'd be good to know why one might choose int pss over the more traditional str/dex/ego pss options, as well as what sss pair would be a good matchup. (pss int, sss con/???)
- Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
Epic Stronghold
Block timing explained
- Take your time to properly position yourself at the start of the fight. Find a spot where you can get the most Auras from healers.
- If you have a hard time surviving the passive DoT during last bar, stay close to a Healer. You will get more than enough heals from Runes/tap CoRP
Ape
- After Knock AoE don't use lunges. Seriously don't. Not only do you risk screwing up the timing and dropping a pool right in melee range, but also because you run the risk of getting Fireballed midway through, which is one of the most common deaths in Qwyjibo. Qwyjibo tends to use the Fireball that prioritizes low health right after Knock, something that you will probably have due to taking 1 tick of damage when lunging out of your pool, and Block has a delayed activation during lunge animation (not to mention blocking midway through lunge can rubberband you back to your pool).
Dino
- After mom summons hatchling, if healers are having trouble keeping up with heals on DPS, or if you are having trouble blocking the AoEs, hold down block during no check parts. It is a lot more important for you to be alive during checks, than to keep up DPS during offchecks and die right before it.
Eido
- Due to the randomness of where Green Orbs can spawn, pay attention to which orbs failed (closest or farthest away) and head to that orb the next time they spawn.
- Do not waste your AOs, Ultimates or Debuffs like Gravity Driver during Red Orb Phase. Eido gains huge Damage Resistance and purges debuffs off him.
In general:
- Despite what a lot of people might say, Bountiful Chi Resurgence is a good self heal. Just make sure not to use it during Checks (Dino Check, Eido Green Orbs) since it penalties your damage by 10%.
- A good replacement for Lunges are Acrobatics' advantage Versatility, or Antagonize block skill. They both allow you to rapidly reposition yourself without letting go of your block skill.
- Night Warrior is a good passive to take when taking multiple across the trees skills, buffing them all equally.
Bind the camera distance macro so you can have full view of the battle
/bind numpad6 "camdist 150", you can replace Numpad6 with any other keyboard button, as well as change the value but 100 to 150 are recommended
This will help you
1. See Kiga's Frozen Tombs
2. See the Qwyjibo's Hearts, so you WON'T hit them, as well as meteors wireframes
3. See Teleiosarus Aoe and Regenaration TELL, which will help you be prepared
4. See the Eidolon orbs locations
5. Block AoEs, avoid Geysers, vortrex e.t.c
To Reduce the lag and the action going on in the screen
Turn players' names and HP bars off, they are not used for nothing more than taking useful Memory resources
ESC->HUB->OTHER PLAYERS->Show Player name and player life->Uncheck always
- make sure you have enough energy generation to not need your energy builder because using it cuts down on your DPS a lot
- see the whole fight from a new perspective: /bind numpad6 "camdist 150"
- do not waste your AOs, Ultimates or Debuffs like Gravity Driver during Red Orb Phase. Eido gains huge Damage Resistance and purges debuffs off him
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Spectre beats Eido in an SG run: VIDEO HERE
Another thing to know: it's useful to have a 1/sec DoT that you can drop on bosses. A lot of support (and some tanks) use sentinel mastery, and that heals you when you to damage, but never more than once per second. A DoT will get you that healing whenever it comes up.
Epic Stronghold
Block timing explained
Epic Stronghold
Block timing explained
Second, I like charge powers and the dev's focus ever since On Alert has been maintains, maintains, freaking maintains.
IMHO, maintains and full charges should be equivalent over a large scale of time, a choice between sustained DPS or spike DPS. A choice of playstyle, and not just because it's required for top-tier acceptable DPS in teamplay.
Third, my favorite powerset in this game, Force, leaves much to be desired and buffed in terms of EncounterDPS (EncDPS)...
Force Cascade sucks with its damage cap (versus Archetypes with "Dragon's" martial arts powers) and that it consumes energy forms (such as your slotted passive!).
And to make matters worse Force only has a knock-away powers for AoE, nothing that will suck in a group of enemies (like Field Inversion on Energy Wave, but remotely like Force Detonation). Could even be an advantage on force detonation... When EA does a better job with this with the Force Mage in Dragon Age II than a game like this dedicated to powers and it's simple 1 pt advantage point thing to code for, then you know you're doing it wrong.
But force is just... fun. Would be more fun for teammates if you were knocking mobs into a cluster with force detonation instead of scattering them away from the melee teammates.
Fourth, I'd like to share my electric build that I've used on my main for cosmics a lot. It usually puts me in the top 10, sometimes top 3. Alternatively can use Quantum Stabilizer for a slotted passive, or Avalanche instead of Lightning Storm
I am using a Right Eye of the Sapphire Dragon (from Hi Pan Alert), DUC (from Warlord Alert), Justice Gear, and a mix of Onslaught and Cosmic Wrath secondaries. EGO, CON & REC secondaries.
Kali Q'Uzixola - Freeform
Super Stats
Level 6: Ego (Primary)
Level 10: Constitution (Secondary)
Level 15: Recovery (Secondary)
Talents
Level 1: The Scourge (Con: 10, End: 8, Ego: 10, Rec: 10)
Level 6: Field Ops Training (Con: 3, Int: 3, Ego: 3, Rec: 2, End: 2)
Level 9: Ascetic (Con: 5, Ego: 5)
Level 12: Wordly (Ego: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 15: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 18: Impresario (Dex: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 21: Amazing Stamina (Rec: 5, End: 5)
Powers
Level 1: Electric Bolt
Level 1: Gravity Driver (Rank 2, Rank 3) (resistance debuff and alpha strike AoE)
Level 6: Ionic Reverberation (needs negative ion synergies)
Level 8: Lightning Arc (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Thunderstrike (100% chance to apply negative ions)
Level 14: Neuroelectric Pulse (Recharge) (HoT + EoT for self AND teammates both!)
Level 17: Ego Surge (Rank 2, Nimble Mind) (CON stat synergy)
Level 20: Masterful Dodge
Level 23: Force Shield (Rank 2, Rank 3, Force Sheathe) (looks pretty in primary colors)
Level 26: Nanobot Swarm (because you don't always have a teammate with AoAC around)
Level 29: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 32: Lightning Storm (Rank 2, Rank 3) (can use Avalanche instead)
Level 35: Chilled Form (Rank 2, Rank 3) (can put these points elsewhere if you wish)
Level 38: Stormbringer (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Adv. Points: 36/36
Travel Powers
Level 6: Athletics
Level 35: Teleportation (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: Focused Strikes (3/3)
Vindicator: Modified Gear (2/2)
Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)
Consolidate the currencies! (Please!)
Does your Champion have a theme song? (share it!)
Got a funny in-game screenshot? (share it!)
Please fix the Overdrive energy unlock! (Should help promote thematic build diversity!)
- Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
Is DPS really a problem in end game? I would have thought that'd be the easiest to build for.
[at]riviania Member since Aug 2009
Epic Stronghold
Block timing explained
No one is going to miss me not showing up to this content. It just seems like there are other issues beyond people not knowing how to make a dps toon for end game things.
[at]riviania Member since Aug 2009
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Spectre beats Eido in an SG run: VIDEO HERE
CO cosmics, however, are not like that. We can, and frequently do, fail fights due to low DPS. This guide is indeed needed and welcome. Thanks.
Storms: If you cannot survive the storm with your own self heals use your block. The storms are increasingly damaging once he enters his last health bar. No DPS in this game can compensate the healing that Kiga would get from them dieing, so remember to always block if you can't stay up. Masterful Dodge is one of the best ways to weather the storm without blocking and with enough cooldown and AoAC in the raid you can have it up for each storm.
Tombs:These always happen, normally during the storm. Kiga will face his palms to the sky and raise up both his arms when using this attack. Remember always attack these, do not think someone else is going to do it for you. It is hard for melee to get around when so many are up on the platform but it is important none the less that these die.
Ape:
AoE Knock: Block for this attack, after you are knocked you have a moment to pop Conviction or another instant self heal then get back on your block. Also once Ape hits his second health bar he will spawn the hearts after the first knock, then a new set of hearts every other knock.
Fireballs: Almost impossible to avoid, but Ape usually tosses one after his knock. The animation for this attack is a single arm lob. So if you see that hit your block and maybe you will get lucky and not die from it.
DPS should always be sure to keep an eye on positioning, each fight needs something a little different.
Teleiosaurus:
As you are DPSing make the best use of your effective range. This is either 10ft, 50ft or 100ft depending on your build and powers (i.e. Melee DPS/Mid-Range DPS/Ranged DPS). Position yourself away from the tail arc and away from the mouth.
If you are repeatedly dying in the same position, check to see where those who AREN'T dying are stood and group up with them (this will also likely net you some nice passive buffs to help the whole encounter).
Kigatillik:
I've seen some people standing at max range from Kiga and attacking and then dying horribly to the extreme conditions he produces during his storm.
It is best to group up on Kiga with everyone else and take a break from DPSing the boss when you see an ice tomb and destroy the ice tomb as fast as possible. This is your other job aside from melting the boss' face.
Qwyjibo:
Try not to stand directly behind someone when the boss is about to use the very large (orangey wire frame tell) attack which knocks everyone back and creates temporary but dangerous fire pits.
Where possible position yourself in a place where only a few heroes are close by so that when you block and get repelled, you have free room to move and not either entrap others who are contributing to the fight in lava pits or get caught yourself.
Eidolon:
I lack the necessary experience to give DPS tips (or any tips) on this fight, I've only bothered with it twice.
My Characters on PRIMUS
[#]WeNeedHeroicFashion - <Aura Suggestions> - <CO Wiki (WIP)> - <Crowd Control Discussion> - <Telepathy in Champions Online> - How to review The Force Power Set - Join the Champions Online: On Alert Discord!
I am @RavenForce in game
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PARSER USAGE GUIDE: click here for an easy how-to ٩(๑・ิᴗ・ิ)۶٩(・ิᴗ・ิ๑)۶
Spectre beats Eido in an SG run: VIDEO HERE
*Advanced Section*
- how to build for high end DPS
- some theory
- walkthrough examples
- Spec Templates to get you started
*Appendix*
- more info on other ways to increase DPS
- what gear to get first
- INT and PRE primary spec templates and explanations
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Spectre beats Eido in an SG run: VIDEO HERE
Separately, I'm always shocked by the number of DPS who show up for cosmics who don't have an active dps passive or a buff form. Cosmics appear to differ from end-game content in a lot of other games in that more people can actually make the fights more difficult rather than easier if they aren't meaningfully contributing.
-Judgenought
You could consider clarifying in the -resist vs. defense pen section that Dex PSS's Expose Weakness, iirc, is a -resist type (ie. can take resist past 0%), since its relevant to some dps builds. Also, on a similar topic, you may also want to note that Dex Mastery's severity rating is on the same DR as that obtained from gear.
Few nitpicks aside, the expansion and overall layout is great, and good at boiling down more complex topics simply. Very nice work!
- Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
I could work it into the original post which is a bit shorter atm. I believe that Detect Vulnerability might be the only defense pen granting spec around. A possible exception might be Penetrating Strikes from Brawler though I am going off of the tooltip wording and have not tested this myself. All the rest are debuffs that can take damage resistance below 0%. Thanks!
PARSER USAGE GUIDE: click here for an easy how-to ٩(๑・ิᴗ・ิ)۶٩(・ิᴗ・ิ๑)۶
Spectre beats Eido in an SG run: VIDEO HERE
PARSER USAGE GUIDE: click here for an easy how-to ٩(๑・ิᴗ・ิ)۶٩(・ิᴗ・ิ๑)۶
Spectre beats Eido in an SG run: VIDEO HERE
This is one of the most useful posts in the history of these forums. I learned a few things that I'll be incorporating (and I already do pretty good dps). The tips everyone gave for the cosmics are spot on (and things yelled in chat at most of them all the time LOL)
I ask because I currently have an R5 Dex mod in that slot.
I say stuff and I say things, sometimes together but only when I'm feeling adventurous.
I'm @blu8 in game!
You can not change a dex mod to a crit mod. Those do not fit in the same mod slots.
Assuming those r5 mods mean you're talking about secondary gear. You'll have to change your secondary offense gear from determination to cosmic gear to make that modding change. And cosmic gear has build in stats (pSS or sSS/sSS) and can be modded with crit strike/heal bonus/offense/etc, while determination gear has build in crit strike/heal bonus/offense/etc and can be modded with stat mods.
All in all, for most build, a cosmic secondary offense + crit strike mod does better dps than a crit strike determination secondary offense. The stat bonus is a bit lower, but the crit strike bonus is more significantly higher. In particular for builds without dex this makes a significant difference. For builds with dex, the difference is a bit smaller.
Crit % = 52/(1 + (0.005*[Crit rating + DEX value])^(-0.851))
just fyi
- Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
So with that new information, for a build like my current one, it really wouldn't matter if I went crit strike or dex?
Also thank you so much for both of your in depth answers!
I say stuff and I say things, sometimes together but only when I'm feeling adventurous.
I'm @blu8 in game!
- Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
did you miss the massive yellow announcement tag on it?
EDIT: I actually think you've answered my question. Thanks!
I say stuff and I say things, sometimes together but only when I'm feeling adventurous.
I'm @blu8 in game!
(Unnamed Build) - The Disciple
Super Stats
Level 6: Ego (Primary)
Level 10: Recovery (Secondary)
Level 15: Dexterity (Secondary)
Talents
Level 1: The Disciple (Dex: 10, Int: 8, Ego: 10, Rec: 10)
Level 7: Wordly (Ego: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 12: Impresario (Dex: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 15: Shooter (Dex: 5, Ego: 5)
Level 20: Ascetic (Con: 5, Ego: 5)
Level 25: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 30: Acrobat (Dex: 5, Con: 5)
Powers
Level 1: Ego Blade
Level 1: Ego Weaponry (Rank 2, Thought Sever)
Level 6: Ego Blade Frenzy (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Id Mastery (Rank 2, Rank 3, Id Blades)
Level 11: Ego Blade Dash
Level 14: Mental Discipline (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 17: Ego Blade Breach (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 21: Telekinetic Shield (Rank 2, Rank 3, Telekinetic Reinforcement)
Level 25: Ego Reverberation
Level 30: Ego Surge (Nimble Mind)
Level 35: Telekinetic Maelstrom (Rank 2, Inner Peace)
Level 40: Ego Blade Annihilation (Rank 2, Mental Acuity)
Adv. Points: 34/36
Travel Powers
Level 6:
Level 35:
Specializations
Ego: Mental Endurance (3/3)
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Follow Through (3/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (2/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (3/3)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (2/3)
Brawler: The Glory of Battle (1/3)
Brawler: Penetrating Strikes (2/2)
Brawler: Ruthless (2/2)
Brawler: Setup (2/2)
Brawler: Flanking (3/3)
Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)
Siphoning on the basic combo is a notable dps loss, but you gain a ton of self-healing from it once you get decent gear. Gears mostly for Ego and +maxHP on gear (since it doesn't have Con SS'd). Rec can help w/ end building a bit, and Dex w/ crit%. Basic rotation is to build up 5x Ego Leech, then charge EBA. EBB can be tapped 3x to put up its debuff, and tapped after every rotation thereafter to refresh its debuff. AoE is mostly a mix of TK Maelstrom and EBF.
- Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
Fire DPS and PA DPS, how would they be built for / look and function in an endgame dps required environment?
I ask because I am not too familiar with those sets and would like to improve existing builds!
My Characters on PRIMUS
[#]WeNeedHeroicFashion - <Aura Suggestions> - <CO Wiki (WIP)> - <Crowd Control Discussion> - <Telepathy in Champions Online> - How to review The Force Power Set - Join the Champions Online: On Alert Discord!
I am @RavenForce in game
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For maxing out PA, you'll want to be able to run 3 toggles at the same time. Take a look at which ones deal the highest base damage and start from there. I would recommend EGO primary, geared for EGO with the Cost Discount spec ranked to r3+ Cost Discount gear.
For maxing out Fire, it's all about Conflag and stacking/timing the debuffs correctly in your rotation. You can also mix in Rimefire or Strafing Run for spikes during DPS checks.
Try following along with the advanced section of the guide to make the updates, post up your Fire and PA builds, and I'll be happy to help you tune them.
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Spectre beats Eido in an SG run: VIDEO HERE
I'd be interested to know your thoughts on the dual-role tank/dps. There is no form that scales with CON unless I have missed it all this time (which is very possible) Yet tanks need pretty much almost all CON. I can get ~3800 dps (dummies) on my dual-role tanks in dps role but am interested in getting more. There are lots of tanks around and cosmics don't need 6 of them. Switching to dps means I can play that toon even when tanks-a-plenty.
Example - STR primary (DEX/CON), Juggernaut Wardicator/Enrage using might or heavy weapon with CON scores ~550 or so and STR 130-160 (in tank role - gear swap down to ~200 CON and ~400 STR for dps role) tend to get the above dps # and I am wondering how to tweak that a little higher. This is with Legion/Heroic primaries but without onslaught dps gloves so that would help, as would DUC which I also don't have (Harmon hates me). It does include utility cores at R7 and R8 tho. Is it just gear at this point? Justice instead of Distinguished (given the choice) for the dps when I get the resources?
Epic Stronghold
Block timing explained