Build help - Dark/Dark

[Chebeck]

So I'm usually in controller/defender-land, and wanted to make a foray into the wonderful world of mass destruction. My original character on Live was a D3 (Dark/Dark Def) (before the nerf which made them worse at controlling than most controllers) so Dark holds a special place in my heart.

 

Hence, THIS MONSTROSITY

 

I'm comfortable with the level of defensiveness for everything but Psi, and even then it's just not widespread enough for me to be overly concerned. 

 

I've made some weird IO choices that may not be smart, so any advice from longer-term weapons of mass destruction would be helpful.

 

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

Chebi's Shadow: Level 50 Mutation Blaster
Primary Power Set: Dark Blast
Secondary Power Set: Darkness Manipulation
Power Pool: Concealment
Power Pool: Sorcery
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Mace Mastery

Hero Profile:
------------
Level 1:    Dark Blast    
 (A) Superior Defiant Barrage - Damage/RechargeTime
 (45) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime

Level 1:    Penumbral Grasp    
 (A) Apocalypse - Chance of Damage(Negative)
 (37) Apocalypse - Damage
 (37) Apocalypse - Damage/Recharge
 (37) Apocalypse - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
 (40) Apocalypse - Accuracy/Recharge

Level 2:    Umbral Torrent    
 (A) Overwhelming Force - Damage/Chance for Knockdown/Knockback to Knockdown
 (9) Overwhelming Force - Accuracy/Damage
 (9) Overwhelming Force - Damage/Endurance/Recharge

Level 4:    Stealth    
 (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
 (5) Kismet - Accuracy +6%
 (7) Shield Wall - +Res (Teleportation), +5% Res (All)
 (7) Reactive Defenses - Scaling Resist Damage
 (46) Reactive Defenses - Defense
 (46) Reactive Defenses - Defense/Endurance

Level 6:    Death Shroud    
 (A) Fury of the Gladiator - Chance for Res Debuff
 (11) Fury of the Gladiator - Accuracy/Damage/End/Rech

Level 8:    Moonbeam    
 (A) Sting of the Manticore - Accuracy/Damage
 (11) Sting of the Manticore - Damage/Endurance
 (13) Sting of the Manticore - Accuracy/Interrupt/Range
 (13) Sting of the Manticore - Damage/Interrupt/Recharge
 (15) Sting of the Manticore - Damage/Endurance/Recharge

Level 10:    Mystic Flight    
 (A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Knockback Reduction (4 points)

Level 12:    Tenebrous Tentacles    
 (A) Ragnarok - Chance for Knockdown
 (15) Ragnarok - Damage
 (29) Ragnarok - Damage/Recharge
 (29) Ragnarok - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
 (31) Ragnarok - Accuracy/Recharge

Level 14:    Kick    
 (A) Force Feedback - Chance for +Recharge

Level 16:    Soul Drain    
 (A) Rectified Reticle - Increased Perception
 (17) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up
 (17) Obliteration - Accuracy/Recharge
 (27) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
 (46) Obliteration - Chance for Smashing Damage

Level 18:    Tough    
 (A) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All)
 (19) Aegis - Psionic/Status Resistance
 (19) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance
 (21) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance
 (21) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance/RechargeTime
 (25) Unbreakable Guard - Endurance/RechargeTime

Level 20:    Touch of the Beyond    
 (A) Cloud Senses - Chance for Negative Energy Damage
 (31) Cloud Senses - Accuracy/ToHitDebuff
 (31) Cloud Senses - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge
 (34) Cloud Senses - ToHit Debuff/Endurance/Recharge

Level 22:    Weave    
 (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
 (23) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
 (23) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
 (27) Luck of the Gambler - Defense

Level 24:    Hasten    
 (A) Recharge Reduction IO
 (25) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 26:    Life Drain    
 (A) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
 (45) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime

Level 28:    Dark Consumption    
 (A) Obliteration - Damage
 (43) Obliteration - Accuracy/Recharge
 (43) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
 (43) Superior Defiant Barrage - RechargeTime/+Status
 (45) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage

Level 30:    Invisibility    
 (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed

Level 32:    Blackstar    
 (A) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Recharge/Chance for Fire Damage
 (33) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage
 (33) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Damage/Recharge
 (33) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
 (34) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
 (34) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge

Level 35:    Scorpion Shield    
 (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
 (36) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
 (36) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
 (36) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance/Recharge

Level 38:    Midnight Grasp    
 (A) Superior Blistering Cold - Recharge/Chance for Hold
 (39) Superior Blistering Cold - Damage/Endurance/Accuracy/RechargeTime
 (39) Superior Blistering Cold - Accuracy/Damage
 (39) Superior Blistering Cold - Damage/Endurance
 (40) Superior Blistering Cold - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
 (40) Superior Blistering Cold - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge

Level 41:    Shadow Maul    
 (A) Superior Avalanche - Recharge/Chance for Knockdown
 (42) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage
 (42) Superior Avalanche - Damage/Endurance
 (42) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
 (50) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
 (50) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge

Level 44:    Arcane Bolt    
 (A) Force Feedback - Chance for +Recharge

Level 47:    Rune of Protection    
 (A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%
 (48) Unbreakable Guard - +Max HP
 (48) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance
 (48) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance/RechargeTime
 (50) Unbreakable Guard - Endurance/RechargeTime

Level 49:    Grant Invisibility    
 (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed

Level 1:    Brawl    
 (A) Empty

Level 1:    Defiance    
Level 1:    Quick Form    
Level 1:    Prestige Power Dash    
 (A) Empty

Level 1:    Prestige Power Slide    
 (A) Empty

Level 1:    Prestige Power Quick    
 (A) Empty

Level 1:    Prestige Power Rush    
 (A) Empty

Level 1:    Prestige Power Surge    
 (A) Empty

Level 1:    Sprint    
 (A) Celerity - +Stealth

Level 2:    Rest    
 (A) Empty

Level 4:    Ninja Run    
Level 2:    Swift    
 (A) Empty

Level 2:    Health    
 (A) Panacea - +Hit Points/Endurance
 (3) Numina's Convalesence - +Regeneration/+Recovery
 (3) Miracle - +Recovery

Level 2:    Hurdle    
 (A) Empty

Level 2:    Stamina    
 (A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End
 (5) Performance Shifter - EndMod

Level 0:    Freedom Phalanx Reserve    
Level 0:    Portal Jockey    
Level 0:    Task Force Commander    
Level 0:    The Atlas Medallion    
Level 50:    Musculature Core Paragon    
Level 50:    Ion Core Final Judgement    
Level 50:    Reactive Core Flawless Interface    
Level 50:    Banished Pantheon Core Superior Ally    
Level 50:    Barrier Core Epiphany    
Level 50:    Assault Radial Embodiment    
------------
------------
Set Bonus Totals:
32% DamageBuff(Smashing)
32% DamageBuff(Lethal)
32% DamageBuff(Fire)
32% DamageBuff(Cold)
32% DamageBuff(Energy)
32% DamageBuff(Negative)
32% DamageBuff(Toxic)
32% DamageBuff(Psionic)
19.75% Defense(Melee)
16.63% Defense(Smashing)
16.63% Defense(Lethal)
16% Defense(Fire)
16% Defense(Cold)
9.75% Defense(Energy)
9.75% Defense(Negative)
6% Defense(Psionic)
13.5% Defense(Ranged)
11% Defense(AoE)
2.25% Max End
10% Enhancement(Range)
81.25% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
48% Enhancement(Accuracy)
5% Enhancement(Max EnduranceDiscount)
7.5% SpeedFlying
176.2 HP (14.62%) HitPoints
7.5% JumpHeight
7.5% SpeedJumping
Knockback (Mag -4)
Knockup (Mag -4)
MezResist(Confused) 57.5%
MezResist(Held) 57.5%
MezResist(Immobilized) 57.5%
MezResist(Sleep) 57.5%
MezResist(Stunned) 57.5%
MezResist(Terrorized) 57.5%
MezResist(Teleport) 100% (20% chance)
20% PerceptionRadius
12% (0.2 End/sec) Recovery
60% (3.01 HP/sec) Regeneration
30% ResEffect(SpeedFlying)
30% ResEffect(RechargeTime)
30% ResEffect(SpeedRunning)
14% Resistance(Smashing)
29.75% Resistance(Fire)
29.75% Resistance(Cold)
14.75% Resistance(Energy)
14.75% Resistance(Negative)
8% Resistance(Toxic)
13% Resistance(Psionic)
14% Resistance(Lethal)
7.5% SpeedRunning

------------
Set Bonuses:
Superior Defiant Barrage
(Dark Blast)
  4% DamageBuff(All)

Apocalypse
(Penumbral Grasp)
  16% (0.8 HP/sec) Regeneration
  36.14 HP (3%) HitPoints
  4% DamageBuff(All)
  10% Enhancement(RechargeTime)

Overwhelming Force
(Umbral Torrent)
  12% (0.6 HP/sec) Regeneration
  3% DamageBuff(All)

Luck of the Gambler
(Stealth)
  7.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)

Shield Wall
(Stealth)
  5% Resistance(Lethal), 5% Resistance(Smashing), 5% Resistance(Fire), 5% Resistance(Cold), 5% Resistance(Energy), 5% Resistance(Negative), 5% Resistance(Psionic), 5% Resistance(Toxic)

Reactive Defenses
(Stealth)
  1.5% Resistance(Smashing,Lethal), MezResist(Immobilized) 2.5%, MezResist(Held) 2.5%, MezResist(Stunned) 2.5%, MezResist(Sleep) 2.5%, MezResist(Terrorized) 2.5%, MezResist(Confused) 2.5%
  22.59 HP (1.87%) HitPoints
  3% Resistance(All)

Fury of the Gladiator
(Death Shroud)
  3.75% Resistance(Fire,Cold), MezResist(Immobilized) 6.25%, MezResist(Held) 6.25%, MezResist(Stunned) 6.25%, MezResist(Sleep) 6.25%, MezResist(Terrorized) 6.25%, MezResist(Confused) 6.25%

Sting of the Manticore
(Moonbeam)
  12% (0.6 HP/sec) Regeneration
  2.5% Defense(Ranged), 1.25% Defense(Energy), 1.25% Defense(Negative)
  3% DamageBuff(All)
  7.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)

Blessing of the Zephyr
(Mystic Flight)
  Knockback (Mag -4), Knockup (Mag -4)

Ragnarok
(Tenebrous Tentacles)
  4% (0.07 End/sec) Recovery
  6% Resistance(Fire,Cold), MezResist(Immobilized) 10%, MezResist(Held) 10%, MezResist(Stunned) 10%, MezResist(Sleep) 10%, MezResist(Terrorized) 10%, MezResist(Confused) 10%
  15% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  10% Enhancement(RechargeTime)

Rectified Reticle
(Soul Drain)
  20% PerceptionRadius

Obliteration
(Soul Drain)
  2.25% Resistance(Smashing,Lethal), MezResist(Immobilized) 3.75%, MezResist(Held) 3.75%, MezResist(Stunned) 3.75%, MezResist(Sleep) 3.75%, MezResist(Terrorized) 3.75%, MezResist(Confused) 3.75%
  3% DamageBuff(All)

Gladiator's Armor
(Tough)
  3% Defense(Melee), 3% Defense(AoE), 3% Defense(Ranged), 3% Defense(Smashing), 3% Defense(Lethal), 3% Defense(Fire), 3% Defense(Cold), 3% Defense(Energy), 3% Defense(Negative), 3% Defense(Psionic), MezResist(Teleport) 100% (20% chance)

Aegis
(Tough)
  5% Resistance(Psionic)

Unbreakable Guard
(Tough)
  2.5% Enhancement(EnduranceDiscount)
  2.25% Resistance(Energy,Negative), MezResist(Immobilized) 3.75%, MezResist(Held) 3.75%, MezResist(Stunned) 3.75%, MezResist(Sleep) 3.75%, MezResist(Terrorized) 3.75%, MezResist(Confused) 3.75%
  3.13% Defense(Melee), 1.56% Defense(Lethal), 1.56% Defense(Smashing)

Cloud Senses
(Touch of the Beyond)
  2.25% Resistance(Energy,Negative), MezResist(Immobilized) 3.75%, MezResist(Held) 3.75%, MezResist(Stunned) 3.75%, MezResist(Sleep) 3.75%, MezResist(Terrorized) 3.75%, MezResist(Confused) 3.75%
  2.25% Max End
  6.25% Enhancement(RechargeTime)

Luck of the Gambler
(Weave)
  10% (0.5 HP/sec) Regeneration
  13.55 HP (1.12%) HitPoints
  9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  7.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)

Superior Defiant Barrage
(Life Drain)
  4% DamageBuff(All)

Obliteration
(Dark Consumption)
  2.25% Resistance(Smashing,Lethal), MezResist(Immobilized) 3.75%, MezResist(Held) 3.75%, MezResist(Stunned) 3.75%, MezResist(Sleep) 3.75%, MezResist(Terrorized) 3.75%, MezResist(Confused) 3.75%
  3% DamageBuff(All)

Superior Defiant Barrage
(Dark Consumption)
  4% DamageBuff(All)

Luck of the Gambler
(Invisibility)
  7.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)

Superior Blaster's Wrath
(Blackstar)
  15% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  10% Enhancement(Range)
  4% DamageBuff(All)
  10% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  5% Defense(Ranged), 2.5% Defense(Energy), 2.5% Defense(Negative)

Luck of the Gambler
(Scorpion Shield)
  10% (0.5 HP/sec) Regeneration
  13.55 HP (1.12%) HitPoints
  9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  7.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)

Superior Blistering Cold
(Midnight Grasp)
  15% ResEffect(SpeedRunning), 15% ResEffect(RechargeTime), 15% ResEffect(SpeedFlying)
  4% (0.07 End/sec) Recovery
  6% Resistance(Fire,Cold), MezResist(Immobilized) 10%, MezResist(Held) 10%, MezResist(Stunned) 10%, MezResist(Sleep) 10%, MezResist(Terrorized) 10%, MezResist(Confused) 10%
  5% Defense(Smashing,Lethal), 2.5% Defense(Melee)
  5% Defense(Fire,Cold), 2.5% Defense(AoE)

Superior Avalanche
(Shadow Maul)
  15% ResEffect(SpeedRunning), 15% ResEffect(RechargeTime), 15% ResEffect(SpeedFlying)
  6% Resistance(Fire,Cold), MezResist(Immobilized) 10%, MezResist(Held) 10%, MezResist(Stunned) 10%, MezResist(Sleep) 10%, MezResist(Terrorized) 10%, MezResist(Confused) 10%
  4% (0.07 End/sec) Recovery
  5% Defense(Melee), 2.5% Defense(Lethal), 2.5% Defense(Smashing)
  5% Defense(Fire,Cold), 2.5% Defense(AoE)

Steadfast Protection
(Rune of Protection)
  3% Defense(Melee), 3% Defense(AoE), 3% Defense(Ranged), 3% Defense(Smashing), 3% Defense(Lethal), 3% Defense(Fire), 3% Defense(Cold), 3% Defense(Energy), 3% Defense(Negative), 3% Defense(Psionic)

Unbreakable Guard
(Rune of Protection)
  2.5% Enhancement(EnduranceDiscount)
  2.25% Resistance(Energy,Negative), MezResist(Immobilized) 3.75%, MezResist(Held) 3.75%, MezResist(Stunned) 3.75%, MezResist(Sleep) 3.75%, MezResist(Terrorized) 3.75%, MezResist(Confused) 3.75%
  3.13% Defense(Melee), 1.56% Defense(Lethal), 1.56% Defense(Smashing)
  90.36 HP (7.5%) HitPoints

Luck of the Gambler
(Grant Invisibility)
  7.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)

Performance Shifter
(Stamina)
  7.5% SpeedJumping, 7.5% JumpHeight, 7.5% SpeedFlying, 7.5% SpeedRunning

[eknudson]

Personally I've never loved the dark/dark blaster because of its (IMO) lack of synergy. You have a primary with some effective cones that you need to be at range to use properly (particularly the narrow umbral torrent cone, where I've had better luck with the Sudden Acceleration IO), then a secondary that really demands you be in melee range for virtually everything. 

 

With the defense you have, you can survive in melee range, but Tentacles and Torrent will be hard to use.  No Aim? You're chasing +damage set bonuses a lot and giving up a 62% damage bonus that's up half the time with your build. I also think Life Drain deserves more slotting, it's a useful power. 

[Chebeck]

3 hours ago, eknudson said:

Personally I've never loved the dark/dark blaster because of its (IMO) lack of synergy. You have a primary with some effective cones that you need to be at range to use properly (particularly the narrow umbral torrent cone, where I've had better luck with the Sudden Acceleration IO), then a secondary that really demands you be in melee range for virtually everything. 

 

With the defense you have, you can survive in melee range, but Tentacles and Torrent will be hard to use.  No Aim? You're chasing +damage set bonuses a lot and giving up a 62% damage bonus that's up half the time with your build. I also think Life Drain deserves more slotting, it's a useful power. 

Yeah, I think I loved it more conceptually than in practice, and made this build without trying anything. The open with Umbral to jump into Blackstar works, but then there's not enough time to get off the Dark Consumption & Soul Drain before everything is nuked down generally.

 

At this point, I'll probably drop tentacles and shadow maul to pick up Aim and something else. Was also thinking I could drop Hasten and Dark Consumption (36s cd is a bit too long for every group, and I don't find myself needing the +end currently) to grab Fold Space (+pre-req's) but I haven't worked that up yet.

 

Life drain hasn't seen a lot of use except in ST fight rotations, and that would probably be replaced by Midnight Grasp, except I only just got to 37.

 

Gonna take it to 50 as-is and try to figure out some preferences, but any other advice would be welcome. As stated, I'm not really in the blasting business normally, so some choices might be questionable!

[eknudson]

If you mostly team, life drain as a middling attack and OK self-heal probably isn't as helpful. I found it very handy soloing.  I don't have enough recharge to have a solid single target attack chain without it, and solo the little self heal is nice to have.  Dark/TA so I don't really have any melee single target attacks. 

[GhostDawg]

Personally I see a couple of huge gaps. Your ranged defenses are way too low not to have a reliable status protection method. You could add clarion which can be made perma at the expense of barrier. Sure you can debuff enemy accuracy, but that means you should probably drop reactive for diagmetric. I'm trying to build out a dark/dark blaster myself on the test server and so far I gotta say I'm underwhelmed. But then, I might just be doing it wrong.