Two Sentinel DP/Dark Armor builds

[StoneKarma]

The first builds caps S/L RES, and PSI RES, other RES are decent, from 32%-54%, defenses are from 23%-33%. RECH is nothing special, the rest of the build just tries to generate DMG with the set selection. 

 

The second build has S/L RES at 69%, the others are slightly higher. DEF is lower from 20% up to 24%. RECH is much higher, I put Force Feedback in all five powers that would take it. Hasten is almost Perma without the FF proc. With the FF proc it gets very fast. If two of them proc, +RECH is 360%. This build is certainly not up to "proc monster" standards, but it does rely on them quite a bit.

 

What I've noticed from playing my Sentinel so far, I tend to always be in a group. I have so many other builds that are so much better solo, there's just no point in trying to shoe-horn soloing into this role. 

 

Jane Wick - DEFensive build:

 

Hero Plan by Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer 2.7.2.10
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Level 50 Magic Sentinel
Primary Power Set: Dual Pistols
Secondary Power Set: Dark Armor
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Dual Wield -- FrcFdb-Rechg%(A), Thn-Acc/Dmg(3), Thn-Dmg/EndRdx(3), Thn-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(5)
Level 1: Dark Embrace -- Ags-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Ags-ResDam/Rchg(5), Ags-EndRdx/Rchg(7), Ags-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(7), Ags-ResDam(9), Ags-Psi/Status(9)
Level 2: Empty Clips -- Artl-Acc/Dam(A), Artl-Dam/End(11), Artl-Dam/Rech(11), Artl-Acc/Dam/Rech(13), Artl-Acc/Rech/Rng(13), Artl-End/Rech/Rng(15)
Level 4: Tenebrous Regeneration -- Prv-Heal(A), Prv-Absorb%(17)
Level 6: Suppressive Fire -- Apc-Dam%(A), Apc-Dmg/Rchg(19), Apc-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(19), Apc-Acc/Rchg(21), Apc-Dmg/EndRdx(21), Lck-%Hold(23)
Level 8: Swap Ammo 
Level 10: Obsidian Shield -- Ags-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Ags-ResDam/Rchg(15), Ags-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(17), Ags-ResDam(23), StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(29)
Level 12: Bullet Rain -- Rgn-Dmg/Rchg(A), Rgn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(25), Rgn-Acc/Rchg(25), Rgn-Dmg/EndRdx(27), Rgn-Knock%(27), Ann-ResDeb%(29)
Level 14: Fly -- BlsoftheZ-ResKB(A)
Level 16: Obscure Sustenance -- TchoftheN-Acc/Heal(A), TchoftheN-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(31), TchoftheN-%Dam(31), ThfofEss-+End%(31)
Level 18: Executioner's Shot -- SprOppStr-Acc/Dmg(A), SprOppStr-Dmg/Rchg(33), SprOppStr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), SprOppStr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(33), SprOppStr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34), SprOppStr-Rchg/+Opportunity(34)
Level 20: Murky Cloud -- Ags-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Ags-ResDam/Rchg(34), Ags-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(36), Ags-ResDam(36), GldArm-3defTpProc(36), ImpArm-ResPsi(37)
Level 22: Cloak of Darkness -- LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(A), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg(37), LucoftheG-EndRdx/Rchg(37), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(39), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(39), Rct-ResDam%(39)
Level 24: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(40)
Level 26: Piercing Rounds -- Artl-Acc/Dam(A), Artl-Dam/End(40), Artl-Dam/Rech(40), Artl-Acc/Dam/Rech(42), Artl-Acc/Rech/Rng(42), Artl-End/Rech/Rng(42)
Level 28: Kick -- Empty(A)
Level 30: Tough -- UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(43), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(43), UnbGrd-Max HP%(43)
Level 32: Hail of Bullets -- SprSntWar-Acc/Dmg(A), SprSntWar-Dmg/Rchg(45), SprSntWar-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(45), SprSntWar-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(45), SprSntWar-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(46), SprSntWar-Rchg/+Absorb(46)
Level 35: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(A), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg(46), LucoftheG-EndRdx/Rchg(48), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(50), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(50), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(50)
Level 38: Hover -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 41: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 44: Afterburner -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 47: Soul Transfer -- Heal-I(A)
Level 49: Super Speed -- BlsoftheZ-ResKB(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Opportunity 
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 -- Clr-Stlth(A), Clr-EndRdx(48)
Level 2: Rest -- IntRdx-I(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run 
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Pnc-Heal/+End(48)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A)
Level 8: Chemical Ammunition 
Level 8: Cryo Ammunition 
Level 8: Incendiary Ammunition 
------------

 

 

[StoneKarma]

Well, it's not letting me post the second build, I'll try it as an attachment. Looks like a minor bug in the new forum software? 

Sentinel - Jane Wick - Dual Pistols - Dark Armor.mxd

[oldskool]

8 hours ago, StoneKarma said:

With the FF proc it gets very fast. If two of them proc, +RECH is 360%.

FF doesn't stack. (You can keep refreshing it, but it doesn't apply +100% recharge each time even if Mid's lets you toggle it on)

Since you're not asking for feedback, I'll refrain from further commentary too. 

Edited August 30, 2020 by oldskool

[StoneKarma]

*Please* give any feedback. This is the only Sentinel I've built, I ran it up to 50 with no real plan, so now I'm trying to back into something good for the 50+ content. Right now, I do a lot less damage than my blasters and the survivability is worse since I'm not slotted.

 

@oldskool Specifically to you, I'd like to say thanks. A lot of your posts convinced me to give Sentinel another shot.

[oldskool]

1 hour ago, StoneKarma said:

*Please* give any feedback. This is the only Sentinel I've built, I ran it up to 50 with no real plan, so now I'm trying to back into something good for the 50+ content. Right now, I do a lot less damage than my blasters and the survivability is worse since I'm not slotted.

 

@oldskool Specifically to you, I'd like to say thanks. A lot of your posts convinced me to give Sentinel another shot.

OK then.  

 

I think the Defense build is trying too hard and the Offense build isn't doing enough.  In the spoiler below is an approach to merge both ideas into one character.  No, it doesn't cap the resistances but 71% S/L is pretty close.  Cardiac Alpha slot would hard cap that and raise the others up a little.  

In the build below, I do what I normally don't do, and that's bring in both Cloak of Fear and Oppressive Gloom.  These two effects actually can work together.  Enemies not feared can be stunned and vice versa.  It can remove an awful lot of incoming damage when you're in melee range.  Oh, you should be in fair close quarters.  I saw hover.  Dual Pistols is not a great set for playing it safe from a distance.  Dark Armor is actually decent at neutering minion damage in melee.  I'd say give it a whirl on a test server before burning a respec.  Normally, I'd prefer to have Maneuvers but you're only missing like 2% defense without it.  Since DA doesn't exactly soft-cap all positions or types, who cares?  

Jack-of-all-trades defense.  Something to think about here... I kept much of the plan similar to yours.  It's not a bad plan at it's heart.  However, you can make a choice to push melee/smash/lethal or not.  By this I mean you could sub out Aegis (AoE focus) for Unbreakable Guard (melee focus).  Also, Hail of Bullets grants about 10% for several seconds during the opener.  Cloak of Darkness + a Stealth IO can let you do that fairly safe.  

Nitpicks... 

 

Obscure Sustenance kinda blows for procs.  It's effectively a single target power that doesn't really need to be targeted because it has this weird sphere-like range going for it.  Basically, it has all of the drawbacks of being an AoE and really none of the perks.  The damage procs don't go off against multiple targets.  Just one.  I've tried it with Theft of Essence, and I pulled that thing right out.  Wasn't happy with the results.  One nice thing it has going for it though is the really high native accuracy.  You can just use a regular heal set and you'll be OK.  I like Preventative Medicine here but you can go a different route with it.  You had some accuracy IOs in your other versions.  The power doesn't need it.  Just push that recharge down so it can be available every 20 seconds or less.  This is a maintenance buff and not an oh shit button.  

 

Dual Wield is pretty much garbage.  In your "Offense" build DW looks better until you turn on Incendiary Ammo.  Then the DPA of Pistols actually equals DW despite your proc slotting.  In the build below my Pistols set up, and it isn't even maximized on procs, is adding an average +40 DPA to the power (over your offensive build's DW that is).  That's before you account for the damage increase from Achilles' Heel.  Pistols is the better of the two powers and it also gives you Offensive Opportunity.  You shouldn't need Defensive Opportunity if you're on top of Obscure Sustenance refreshing and have Health/Stamina slotted well.  Get your Accolades too because it just helps. 

 

Piercing Rounds is also garbage.  The power can have its niche and all depending on what one was doing.  However for doing "good" damage it is pretty much a dead power.  In teams enemies will be dead long before the animation finishes and hits its 3 target cap.  In single target Suppressive Fire outclasses it in every way.  Sentinel Dual Pistols is the kind of combat archetype of lots of rapid fire hits and not really the big chunky ones.  You can effectively chain cast multiple powers with less than a 2 second animation and reap benefits from multi-proccing.  Piercing Rounds can do some interesting things on Defenders and Corruptors but for Sentinels and Blaster's it's kind of a let down.  

You're definitely chasing the FF:Recharge gimmick a lot.  It's not always a bad idea.  However, I think the initial implementations you had aren't nearly as mindful of why it is powerful.  It's a strong IO for lowering the cooldown of really big effects.  DP/DA doesn't really have any big flashy "save my bacon" or "destroy the world" kinds of things.  You'd lower the cool down on Hail of Bullets by a few seconds (which does have value) and likely increase your casting of Bullet Rain (again, value).  However, against a boss this isn't nearly that amazing and that's why Pistols/Suppressive/Executioner get the slotting they do.  So the question becomes do you want to shave a few seconds off being able to cast an AoE or do more meaningful damage against targets that can take you down?  Either way is a battle of attrition but Cloak of Fear/Oppressive Gloom reduce a significant bit of that for the lower tier enemies.  

You'll never beat a Blaster in AoE.  You're not even going to get all that close either on a Sentinel with Dual Pistols.  This has a lot to do with Blasters getting Build-Up in their secondary plus their target caps and general damage through Defiance.  However, the single-target damage shouldn't be so night and day if you run some procs.  So the build below tries to make that up.  

I'd suggest one of two Alpha slots to work on first.  Either Cardiac or Musculature.  You give up damage with Cardiac but you get some resistances plus endurance reduction which is nice quality of life.  You can always invest in the T1 Cardiac and then work towards Musculature as you go to get that one up to T4.  

Play your cards right and you shouldn't need Ageless for endurance despite having Cloak of Fear.  Obscure Sustenance will set your end recovery to 5 per second for 10 seconds and then scale down for the next 10 seconds, and then again for 10 seconds, and then drop off.  This is why getting this activated every 20 seconds or less is ideal.  It's to keep your endurance recovery high enough to offset the toggle use.  On the plus side your regeneration rate will spike to over 1,000% for several seconds and it's final drop off doesn't happen until a full minute.  

An alternative idea to the entire Flight pool (fly/hover/afterburner) is Sorcery (Mystic Flight/filler/Rune of Protection).  Rune of Protection gives you a pseudo resistance T9 power which Dark Armor lacks.  You don't need it, but it can be a nice to have.  Same goes for Unleash Potential in Experimentation.  
 

Spoiler

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Edited August 30, 2020 by oldskool

[StoneKarma]

A lot of good ideas here.

 

I looked at the Sorcery route, but felt that the Rune of Protection recharge gap was too long.

 

Looks like I'll be spending some time on the test server!

 

Good advice on the incarnates, I haven't unlocked all of them yet, so still early. I was wondering where to go with it. 

 

The build you have here gets me much closer to what I want to do with it. I never solo with it, it's always in groups when I feel like a change of pace. 

 

Thank you for the help, much appreciated!