Dark/Dark/Soul Tactics

[Snarky]

I am exploring ideas for running a squishy over the next year.  I know it will be a Dark/Dark something....  CoH gives good choices there.

 

For a Blaster I have a few questions.  Dark/Dark is obviously a near range set, with PBAoE and wanting to spam Touch of the Beyond often.

 

Does it make sense to pursue Abyssal Gaze and Soul Storm Hold for ST?  

 

Does it make sense to pursue Dark Pit and Oppressive Gloom Stun for AoE?

 

The thinking here would be toggle on Oppressive Gloom, go in and hit Blackstar, then have Dark Pit available to stack stuns if things are still not good.

 

I realize all these strategies will depend on content.  Each Incarnate Trial is different.  But running hard 50 teams is any of this valid thinking or am I chasing shiny objects for no reason?

 

I am relatively certain Death Shroud is a useless agro magnet.  I see nothing to mule into it and it does not provide -tohit which would be the one reason I might consider it seriously.  

 

Thank you for any replies.

 

[tidge]

I wish I could offer concrete advice, because I enjoy my Dark/Time Blaster, but I have taken more powers from the Temporal Manipulation secondary than I did the Dark primary!

 

I can write: On PUGs, I play this character exclusively as a ranged attacker. This may seem like a throwback to another era, but I mostly use Blackstar to clean up large spawns, and only when it is "my turn". Aside from the "build up", "sustain" and "auto",  the secondary gets used mostly for extra control against hard targets, plus some close-combat attacks (when necessary).

 

It is possible you can make a Dark/Dark 'blapper' work for you; I haven't put any thought into it. If you REALLY want to be in close quarters as a Dark/Dark, I have seen many builds in the various Melee-oriented AT sub-forums that can probably serve (assuming the Endurance consumption of toggles is under control).

[Snarky]

On 4/20/2021 at 4:39 AM, tidge said:

I wish I could offer concrete advice, because I enjoy my Dark/Time Blaster, but I have taken more powers from the Temporal Manipulation secondary than I did the Dark primary!

 

I can write: On PUGs, I play this character exclusively as a ranged attacker. This may seem like a throwback to another era, but I mostly use Blackstar to clean up large spawns, and only when it is "my turn". Aside from the "build up", "sustain" and "auto",  the secondary gets used mostly for extra control against hard targets, plus some close-combat attacks (when necessary).

 

It is possible you can make a Dark/Dark 'blapper' work for you; I haven't put any thought into it. If you REALLY want to be in close quarters as a Dark/Dark, I have seen many builds in the various Melee-oriented AT sub-forums that can probably serve (assuming the Endurance consumption of toggles is under control).

I am finding myself at the 30-40 range pretty regularly.  This allows me to use the 4 cones well and lets me bop in for Blackstar.  I need to get used to the combat teleport.  Not part of my skill set yet.  I had no idea the Dark Manipulations Touch of the Beyond was basically a Ranged version of Drain Psyche from Mental Manipulation.  Woot!

[PluckySidekick]

On 4/20/2021 at 4:39 AM, tidge said:

It is possible you can make a Dark/Dark 'blapper' work for you; I haven't put any thought into it.

 

I did!

 

This is a build I'm currently running. Do with it what you will.

 

Dark/Dark/Soul

Blaster/Blapper.

 

I currently have her at 50+1 and she's a hard worker. Lot's of DoT in there so things don't die immediately but I do love to see those piles of orange numbers flying high to the sky. 

Def numbers in game are slightly higher than in Mid's but that just makes it even better. You'll see a lot of weird slotting but that's to crank the S/L and AoE through Siphon Insight. Also, Musculature Alpha does a lot of work for you post 50 which makes it really shine lvl 45+.

My favorite thing at the moment is to pop Aim, Combat TP into a crowd, nuke, then blap whatever's left. I'll let you know how well Mighty Judgement does when I get there. That way I can do a second hop through another group for the same general thing.

 

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[Vulpoid]

How good is Touch From Beyond?

Specifically... As a Dark/Dark Blaster, we have access to Life Drain for Health recovery and Dark Consumption for Endurance recovery.
Can these powers be skipped with an aggressive well slotted Touch From Beyond? What would those slots be?

Do you find yourselves taking all three powers?
Thank you in advance, glorious Hive Mind!

[Snarky]

You might be able to skip Dark Consumption.  I wouldnt.  It is an incredible End Rec power and while not needed often when you do need it you NEED it.  Also a nice ghetto PBAoE to follow up Blackstar if crap aint dead yet.  I would never skip Life Drain.  A hard hitting ST attack that gives you health...

[PluckySidekick]

9 hours ago, Vulpoid said:

How good is Touch From Beyond?

 

Touch of the beyond is great. I use as a mid level No-Damage Hold.  Great on Minions and Lt.s but not so good on bosses. 

 

I have two Efficacy Adapters in it which boosts my Recovery from 2.25 End/Sec to 3.3End/Sec.

 

Without any health slotted into it at all, it still pushes my regen from 12.2 HP/Sec to 25.4 HP/Sec, or 200+% from base level.

 

Conclusion: Great utility power that helps keep you moving while you're busy murdering everything else that moves.

 

The only problem I have with it: It won't stack with itself if you hit twice.

[Spectre7878]

I really like my dark/dark/soul build but I am finding my three PBAoE power to be my biggest weakness. I go in to try and use dark Consumption, soul drain and black star and my little body can’t take it and I die offer. Only in melee do I die. Not sure what to. Kind of wish that change some of the powers that force dark to go into melee

 

touch of beyond doesn’t feel that I am getting the recovery buff

[tidge]

On 6/12/2021 at 9:58 PM, Spectre7878 said:

I really like my dark/dark/soul build but I am finding my three PBAoE power to be my biggest weakness. I go in to try and use dark Consumption, soul drain and black star and my little body can’t take it and I die offer. Only in melee do I die. Not sure what to. Kind of wish that change some of the powers that force dark to go into melee

 

I find my Dark/Time Blaster very rarely using Blackstar on teams, and I never use it as an opening move against large spawns. On teams, I will move in to use it if someone else in the group has grabbed the aggro, but often the faster cycling AoE Umbral Torrent (with the -ToHit effect) helps teams more against harder targets. solo (or in team situations where aggro is not under control) I use Blackstar (and the PBAoE End of Time) for when I'm getting swarmed.