Poison / Dark Blast -- Defence, -ToHit, and Theme

[bigfashizzel]

Hi folks,

 

Boy have I been surprised by the recent popularity of Poison posts; when I made my Poison defender in January there were so few resources out there!  I'd like to take advantage of the moment to ask for some help with the following.  Currently, I'm most focused on my Poison/Dark, but I also have a Poison/Ice and Poison/Water if anyone has winning builds for those combinations.  It would also be foolish not to acknowledge @Frosticuswhose poison guide was immensely helpful.

 

W/R/T my Poison/Dark, Squalor:

I think the biggest question for me is whether to take:

1. Combat Jumping, Vengeance, Empty Power (Victory Rush?) -- +4%ish defense, +15% global recharge, Kismet's +6% Acc
2. Mystic Flight, Spirit Ward, Rune of Protection -- 50% uptime Mez immunity, Preventative Medicine's Absorb in Spirit Ward.
3. Speed of Sound (replaces Super Speed), Vengeance, Empty Power (Victory Rush?), Empty Power (Alkaloid?) -- gain some extra slots, Jaunt brings Venomous Gas into melee instantly and is a major thematic win

 

I have a few other questions which I'd love some feedback on;

1. What balance of Melee Def + Venemous Gas's -ToHit makes sense to you?  Currently I'm running -19% ToHit from VG and 25.6% Melee Defense.  How can I interpret the -ToHit from VG? Or the Dark Blast powers?  Are they half as powerful as defense?  Is -ToHit resisted differently by level?
2. How do you make the most of Dark Blast as a set?  I've heavily indexed into recharge in order to leverage Soul Drain.  Should Blackstar be a proc vehicle?  Or does the 5 slot Armageddon work well?
3. Is it worthwhile to frankenslot Tenebrous Tentacles to bring in the Annihilation -Res proc?  It seems like it would proc irregularly.  Would the Gravitational Anchor chance to hold (if put in Tenebrous Tentacles) interact well with Poison Trap?
4. Is Theft of Essence worthwhile in Life Drain?  With the amount of recharge in the build and the power, I'm not sure about having any procs in it at all!
5. 3.56e/s recovery vs. 1.84e/s drain feels bad man, can Theft of Essence counterbalance this?

 

Thank you for reading!

 

Here's my build for v3, which is currently my favorite,  33.1% def to Ranged, 25.6% to Melee, 20% to AoE. 178% recharge.

Spoiler

Hero Plan by Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer 2.6.1.25
https://github.com/Crytilis/mids-reborn-hero-designer

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Defender
Primary Power Set: Poison
Secondary Power Set: Dark Blast
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Experimentation
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Dark Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Envenom -- AchHee-ResDeb%(A)
Level 1: Dark Blast -- SprVglAss-Acc/Dmg(A), SprVglAss-Dmg/Rchg(5), SprVglAss-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(7)
Level 2: Gloom -- SprDfnBst-Acc/Dmg(A), SprDfnBst-Dmg/Rchg(7), SprDfnBst-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11), SprDfnBst-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(11), SprDfnBst-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(15), SprDfnBst-Rchg/Heal%(31)
Level 4: Moonbeam -- StnoftheM-Acc/Dmg(A), StnoftheM-Dmg/EndRdx(17), StnoftheM-Dmg/ActRdx/Rchg(17), StnoftheM-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(19), StnoftheM-Dam%(19)
Level 6: Weaken -- CldSns-ToHitDeb/EndRdx/Rchg(A), CldSns-Acc/ToHitDeb(13), CldSns-Acc/Rchg(13), CldSns-ToHitDeb(15), CldSns-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(29), CldSns-%Dam(33)
Level 8: Maneuvers -- RedFrt-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFrt-EndRdx/Rchg(9), RedFrt-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(9), RedFrt-Def(37), RedFrt-EndRdx(40), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(40)
Level 10: Dark Pit -- AbsAmz-Stun/Rchg(A), AbsAmz-Acc/Stun/Rchg(34), AbsAmz-Acc/Rchg(42), AbsAmz-EndRdx/Stun(43), AbsAmz-ToHitDeb%(43)
Level 12: Boxing -- Acc-I(A)
Level 14: Speed of Sound -- BlsoftheZ-ResKB(A), BlsoftheZ-Travel/EndRdx(25)
Level 16: Tenebrous Tentacles -- Rgn-Dmg/Rchg(A), Rgn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(27), Rgn-Acc/Rchg(31), Rgn-Dmg/EndRdx(31), Rgn-Knock%(33)
Level 18: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(37)
Level 20: Tough -- UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(21), StdPrt-ResKB(21), StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(23), GldArm-3defTpProc(25)
Level 22: Weave -- RedFrt-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFrt-EndRdx/Rchg(23), RedFrt-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(34), RedFrt-Def(42), RedFrt-EndRdx(42), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(43)
Level 24: Tactics -- AdjTrg-ToHit(A), AdjTrg-ToHit/Rchg(46), AdjTrg-ToHit/EndRdx/Rchg(46), AdjTrg-EndRdx/Rchg(46), AdjTrg-ToHit/EndRdx(50)
Level 26: Poison Trap -- FuroftheG-ResDeb%(A), UnbCns-Dam%(27), UnbCns-Acc/Rchg(29), GldNet-Dam%(34), NrnSht-Dam%(37), GhsWdwEmb-Dam%(45)
Level 28: Alkaloid -- Prv-Heal/EndRdx(A)
Level 30: Vengeance -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 32: Venomous Gas -- DarWtcDsp-ToHitDeb(A), DarWtcDsp-ToHitDeb/EndRdx(33), DarWtcDsp-Slow%(45), DarWtcDsp-ToHitdeb/Rchg/EndRdx(50)
Level 35: Life Drain -- SprVglAss-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(A), SprVglAss-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(36), SprVglAss-Rchg/+Absorb(36), ThfofEss-+End%(36)
Level 38: Blackstar -- Arm-Dmg/Rchg(A), Arm-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(39), Arm-Acc/Rchg(39), Arm-Dmg/EndRdx(39), Arm-Dam%(40)
Level 41: Oppressive Gloom -- Acc-I(A)
Level 44: Dark Embrace -- UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(45)
Level 47: Soul Drain -- SprAvl-Dmg/EndRdx(A), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(48), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(48), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(48), SprAvl-Rchg/KDProc(50)
Level 49: Victory Rush -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Quick Form 
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Vigilance 
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run 
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Pnc-Heal/+End(3), Mrc-Rcvry+(5)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-EndMod(A), PrfShf-End%(3)
Level 50: Agility Core Paragon 
------------
------------
Set Bonus Totals:

• 9% DamageBuff(Smashing)
• 9% DamageBuff(Lethal)
• 9% DamageBuff(Fire)
• 9% DamageBuff(Cold)
• 9% DamageBuff(Energy)
• 9% DamageBuff(Negative)
• 9% DamageBuff(Toxic)
• 9% DamageBuff(Psionic)
• 11% Defense(Melee)
• 8.5% Defense(Smashing)
• 8.5% Defense(Lethal)
• 6% Defense(Fire)
• 6% Defense(Cold)
• 12.25% Defense(Energy)
• 12.25% Defense(Negative)
• 6% Defense(Psionic)
• 18.5% Defense(Ranged)
• 6% Defense(AoE)
• 9.45% Max End
• 8% Enhancement(Heal)
• 10% Enhancement(Range)
• 106.3% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
• 5% Enhancement(Max EnduranceDiscount)
• 54% Enhancement(Accuracy)
• 15% SpeedFlying
• 45.78 HP (4.5%) HitPoints
• 15% JumpHeight
• 15% SpeedJumping
• Knockback (Mag -8)
• Knockup (Mag -8)
• MezResist(Confused) 58.75%
• MezResist(Held) 58.75%
• MezResist(Immobilized) 58.75%
• MezResist(Sleep) 58.75%
• MezResist(Stunned) 58.75%
• MezResist(Terrorized) 58.75%
• MezResist(Teleport) 100% (20% chance)
• 24% (0.4 End/sec) Recovery
• 12% (0.51 HP/sec) Regeneration
• 15% ResEffect(SpeedFlying)
• 15% ResEffect(RechargeTime)
• 15% ResEffect(SpeedRunning)
• 3% Resistance(Smashing)
• 3% Resistance(Lethal)
• 27% Resistance(Fire)
• 27% Resistance(Cold)
• 5.25% Resistance(Energy)
• 5.25% Resistance(Negative)
• 15% SpeedRunning

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Edited August 20, 2020 by bigfashizzel

[Uun]

18 hours ago, bigfashizzel said:

Is it worthwhile to frankenslot Tenebrous Tentacles to bring in the Annihilation -Res proc?  It seems like it would proc irregularly. 

On my dark blaster, I have TT slotted with the Annihilation -res proc, and the Cloud Senses, Positron's Blast and Bombardment damage procs (plus 1 acc IO & 1 range IO). The procs go off every time I use the power. Much more effective than enhancing for damage.

[Dahkness]

I'm still learning poison and theory crafting what works. I've ran soft cap melee at 32% with VG and i was still getting hit as much as 22%.

What ive learned so far with posion IMO you can go two ways.

1. Spec for 45% S/L/E/N/R with okay sustain. I cant get as many procs with this set up but I feel Its a good balance

2. Spec heavy on procs & good recharge: This set up is great against AV's. 

I'm currently rocking the 45%. But...
I hate toggles on posion im really tempted to drop fighting and go for recharge on my guy. All the toggles just eat away at your END. 
@Frosticus has a good understanding of poison. I tried to make what he had and take everything else 

Edited August 24, 2020 by Hops

[bigfashizzel]

Thank you both for your feedback!

 

Ive been playing the build I posted (Although incomplete) and, so far, both of your sets of feedback feel spot on.

 

i have more than enough recharge and the extra defense and damage would be great.

 

When my def is softcapped through teaming, the build is insane.  I’m expecting to migrate towards soft capping defense, which I suspect will be a balancing act w/r/t recharge.
 

I’ve been surprised by how little Poison Trap actually matters. For a long time it felt extremely impressive. But now, it’s just worse than black star and Void judgement  While it may be due to MISSing with the power, it just doesn’t have that significant of an impact.  Blackstar + void judgement only leaves bosses, even without soul drain.

 

PTrap remains my third most-damaging AoE power but I don’t really encounter circumstances where I need a third AoE bomb.

 

to that end, I don’t even use Tenebrous, nor Envenom the majority of the time.

 

the challenge is in surviving the alpha.  
 

I haven’t completed the build but wanted to share and thank you for your responses.  Probably 40% complete thus far.