Darkness Build Improvements

Comments

• theravenforce Posts: 7,148 Arc User

  November 2018 edited November 2018

  At a glance, I'll list a few things which stood out immediately:
  
  1) Where is your toggle form? (Concentration/IDF/Manipulator/Compassion etc) The only viable one for this build based on your current stats is Compassion Form.
  
  2) Why isn't your Slotted Passive ranked up to Rank 3? Aside from Defiance, you should almost always Rank 3 a slotted passive.
  
  3) No Active Defensive ability on this build, which is typically useful for most.
  
  4) Lifedrain Healing needs ranking up.
  
  --
  
  With those and other points in mind:
  
  Velg - RF Any / Multiple
  v3.12:30
  
  Super Stats
  Level 6: Constitution (Primary)
  Level 10: Endurance (Secondary)
  Level 15: Presence (Secondary)
  
  Talents
  Level 1: Abyssal (Con: 12, End: 12)
  Level 6: Field Ops Training (Con: 3, Int: 3, Ego: 3, Rec: 2, End: 2)
  Level 9: Boundless Reserves (Con: 5, End: 5)
  Level 12: Prodigy (Pre: 5, End: 5)
  Level 15: Jack of All Trades (Str: 2, Dex: 2, Con: 2, Int: 2, Ego: 2, Pre: 2, Rec: 2, End: 2)
  Level 18: Shrug It Off (Con: 5, Pre: 5)
  Level 21: Survival Training (Dex: 3, Con: 3, Pre: 3, Rec: 2, End: 2)
  
  Powers
  Level 1: Shadow Bolt
  Level 1: Shadow Blast (Psychotic Break)
  Level 6: Shadow Form (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  Level 8: Shadow Embrace (Fatal Allure, Nailed to the Ground)
  Level 11: Lifedrain (Rank 2, Vampiric Sympathy)
  Level 14: Spirit Reverberation
  Level 17: Compassion
  Level 20: Summon Shadows (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  Level 23: Shadow Shroud (Rank 2, Terrifying Visage)
  Level 26: Ebon Void (Rank 2)
  Level 29: Ebon Ruin (Rank 2, Nyctophobia, Back to Darkness)
  Level 32: Ebon Rift (Rank 2, Vengeful Shadows)
  Level 35: Grasping Shadows (Unyielding Agony)
  Level 38: Endbringer's Grasp (Rank 2)
  Adv. Points: 36/36
  
  Travel Powers
  Level 6:
  Level 35:
  
  Specializations
  Constitution: Fuel My Fire (1/3)
  Constitution: Tough (3/3)
  Constitution: Resilient (2/2)
  Constitution: Adrenaline Rush (2/2)
  Constitution: Armored (2/2)
  Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
  Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
  Guardian: Find the Mark (2/3)
  Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
  Avenger: Ruthless (2/2)
  Avenger: Anguish (2/2)
  Avenger: Round 'em Up (2/3)
  Avenger: Relentless Assault (2/3)
  Avenger: Offensive Expertise (2/2)
  Mastery: Constitution Mastery (1/1)
  
  Devices
  
  Note: This build still does not have an Active Defensive power, consider grabbing one. Preferably Unbreakable / Masterful Dodge or Resurgence.
  
  I've moved your specs around a tiny bit. I've not made any drastic alterations to your build set up, since I'm not sure if you're wanting an actual Darkness DPS or if you want to make the best of your current selections.
  
  If you want to be Ranged DPS, you're going to have to take either INT or EGO for Concentration/Chilled Form or PRE for Compassion and just super stack Presence gear wise and use your healing to boost your DPS. Take a look at the Endgame DPS build guide on these forums and you'll learn quite a bit.
  
  Personally, I'd switch around your Super Stats, I have a darkness build myself that straddles Damage and Healing roles and I use the same stats in a different order.
  
  Also with decent awareness I've been able to tank Bloodmoon heroes and other things, whilst providing sound healing to myself and others in a small aoe via Lifedrain's Vampiric Sympathy.
  

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• jaazaniah1 Posts: 5,554 Arc User

  November 2018

  I'd go Ego PSS, Con and Dex SSS and take Concentration. That will help a good deal.

  

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• flowcyto Posts: 12,858 Arc User

  November 2018 edited November 2018

  I'd agree w/ much of what Raven said for tweaking the powers. I prob would use Ego, Int, or Dex PSS over Con PSS if its a dps unit, but it does depend on the toggle and what your goals are for the build. Fortunately, Darkness builds can use Spirit Reverb and get both maxHP and energy via Con SS, leaving the 3rd SS slot to be more of a wildcard. It won't be optimal for pure dps, but you could make that 3rd SS Pres if you want the healing boost. The specs in the original build could also be tweaked.
  
  I'm not a huge fan of Fatal Allure on SEmbrace, since it can knock enemies over you and that can mess up the AoE cone, but YMMV. I'd prob axe the Void Horror, and maybe take the heal adv on Grasping Shadows, if you're keen on using it (or maybe consider using ranked Soul Vortex). R3 Ebon Ruin w/ Nytco adv is the best for Darkness single-target dps (using Fear + Devoid debuff from another source, like SBlast), but you don't strictly need Ebon Rift (unless you just want more attack variety).
  
  Here's an example edit of it to make it more of a streamlined dps w/ minor support potential:
  
  https://aesica.net/co/herocreator.htm?v=30&n=&d=15360GNOVPWY000000L000L105L6037F00L305LA00LB05LF07L805LJ05ER00L40CK6002Q000ckr3BIR2MGB500000000&e=
  
  Super Stats
  Level 6: Ego (Primary)
  Level 10: Constitution (Secondary)
  Level 15: Presence (Secondary)
  
  Talents
  Level 1: The Hero (Str: 8, Dex: 8, Con: 8, Int: 8, Ego: 8, Pre: 8, Rec: 6, End: 6)
  Level 6: Ascetic (Con: 5, Ego: 5)
  Level 9: Shrug It Off (Con: 5, Pre: 5)
  Level 12: Showmanship (Ego: 5, Pre: 5)
  Level 15: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
  Level 18: Worldly (Ego: 5, Rec: 5)
  Level 21: Lasting Impression (Pre: 5, Rec: 5)
  
  Powers
  Level 1: Shadow Bolt
  Level 1: Shadow Blast (Rank 2, Psychotic Break)
  Level 6: Shadow Form (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  Level 8: Concentration
  Level 11: Shadow Embrace (Rank 2, Dark Displacement)
  Level 14: Spirit Reverberation
  Level 17: Lifedrain (Rank 2, Vampiric Sympathy)
  Level 20: Ebon Ruin (Rank 2, Rank 3, Nyctophobia)
  Level 23: Ebon Void (Rank 2, Voracious Darkness)
  Level 26: Summon Shadows (Rank 2, Devouring Darkness)
  Level 29: Masterful Dodge
  Level 32: Grasping Shadows (Unyielding Agony, Consumption)
  Level 35: Imbue
  Level 38: Fiery Embrace
  Adv. Points: 34/36
  
  Travel Powers
  Level 6:
  Level 35:
  
  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: Focused Strikes (3/3)
  Vindicator: Mass Destruction (2/3)
  Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)
  
  Dex SS over Pres SS would be better for pure dps here, but its up to you. Uses charged SBlast to put up Devoid and Fear, and ERuin as its main single-target attack. SEmbrace is the main AoE, Grasping Shadows can AoE/CC and heal a bit, and Lifedrain can help heal you and nearby allies. Where pets are fine to use, Summon Shadows can also boost dps and heal you more in the background. Gears mostly for Ego and some Con.

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• citizenzero

  citizenzero#3567

  Posts: 171 Arc User

  November 2018

  Darkness itself isnt one of the harder hitting ranged sets. Its actually one of the lower damage sets..sadly. i believe from my own experience its power armor, fire, then elec/sorcery, tk/munitions/darkness/particle rifle(these last 4 no specific order)

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• citizenzero

  citizenzero#3567

  Posts: 171 Arc User

  November 2018

  Use ego primary stat and use NW as your slotted passive. Will help u with recharge speed to spam ebon and added damage pentration . If u have a depleted uranium core and the darkness damage mod r7 +

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• citizenzero

  citizenzero#3567

  Posts: 171 Arc User

  November 2018

  Ego is better overall and if there is a aopm your ego specilazations will benefit greatly in your damage and critical chance

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• blazer2001 Posts: 109 Arc User

  November 2018

  Thanks for everyone's comments and tips, I managed to make a build based on the one @flowcyto posted here which works quite well .

  I'm the ruler of the fire power.

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