BS/Dark Build for a newbie

[BigBubbalu]

Starting to play again after finding out that CoH servers have come back, I made a BS/Dark brute and am just totally lost on how to build him. I read some threads saying that /dark can really benefit from the increases in defense from BS, and I like my character conceptually. Does anyone have any builds for levelling? I am mostly playing solo on this guy.

 

Keep in mind I haven't played in over a decade, so I am pretty lost on what to prioritize in regards to slotting.

[Meknomancer]

Not sure about a levelling build and it looks really expensive and end heavy. I don't have one of these so its pure guesswork as to where the best place to slot the goodies is. You'd probably need ageless or cardiac or both to run it from incarnate powers and have to rely on P2W recovery serums while levelling and slot a theft of essence proc into dark regen as soon as you can and use it in big mobs to top up the blue and green bars. You may be able to skip winter bits and chuck in kinetic combats and touch of death and obliteration sets and still get decent def numbers. Not sure how to hit the higher res numbers and still keep def up while not giving up decent damage. Threw this together, power picks in no particular order, only has 10 points kb protection its enough to scrape by on. If you haven't played in a decade don't worry about costs, nothing on HC can't be bought with merits you'll rack up by running a few arcs/grabbing explore badges in zones and even stuff that looks pricey isn't anywhere near the 4 bill you'd need on live (most expensive stuff in this probably won't cost more than 10 mill/piece ) and welcome back to CoH 🙂   :

 

This Villain build was built using Mids Reborn 3.2.17
https://github.com/LoadedCamel/MidsReborn

BS DARK: Level 49 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: Broad Sword
Secondary Power Set: Dark Armor
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery

Villain Profile:
------------
Level 1:    Hack                SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg(A), SprBrtFur-Dmg/Rchg(3), SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(3), SprBrtFur-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), SprBrtFur-Rech/Fury%(7)
Level 1:    Dark Embrace            UnbGrd-Max HP%(A), UnbGrd-ResDam(7), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(9), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(9)
Level 2:    Slice                SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(A), SprAvl-Dmg/EndRdx(15), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(15), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(17), SprAvl-Rchg/KDProc(17), TchofLadG-%Dam(19)
Level 4:    Death Shroud            SprUnrFur-Rchg/+Regen/+End(A), SprUnrFur-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(19), SprUnrFur-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(21), SprUnrFur-Dmg/Rchg(21), SprUnrFur-Acc/Dmg(23), SprUnrFur-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(23)
Level 6:    Build Up            GssSynFr--Build%(A), RechRdx-I(25)
Level 8:    Parry                LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg(25), SprBlsCol-Dmg/EndRdx(27), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(27), SprBlsCol-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg(29), SprBlsCol-Rchg/HoldProc(29)
Level 10:    Murky Cloud            UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam(A), UnbGrd-ResDam(31), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(31), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(31)
Level 12:    Obsidian Shield            GldArm-End/Res(A), GldArm-ResDam(33), GldArm-3defTpProc(33), StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(33)
Level 14:    Boxing                Empty(A)
Level 16:    Dark Regeneration        ThfofEss-+End%(A), FuroftheG-Acc/Dmg(34), FuroftheG-Acc/End/Rech(34), FuroftheG-Acc/Dmg/End/Rech(34), Prv-Heal/Rchg(36), Prv-Heal(36)
Level 18:    Whirling Sword            Obl-%Dam(A), Obl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(36), ScrDrv-Dam%(37), ScrDrv-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(37), ScrDrv-Dmg/EndRdx(37), AchHee-ResDeb%(39)
Level 20:    Cloak of Darkness        LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(39), ShlWal-Def(39), ShlWal-Def/EndRdx(40)
Level 22:    Tough                UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam(40), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(40), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(42)
Level 24:    Weave                LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), Rct-ResDam%(42), Rct-Def(42), Rct-Def/EndRdx(43)
Level 26:    Disembowel            FrcFdb-Rechg%(A), Hct-Dam%(43), Hct-Dmg/EndRdx(43), Hct-Acc/Rchg(45), Hct-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(45), Hct-Dmg/Rchg(45)
Level 28:    Cloak of Fear            GlmoftheA-Acc/EndRdx(A), Ngh-Acc/EndRdx(46), SphIns-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(46)
Level 30:    Super Speed            WntGif-ResSlow(A)
Level 32:    Head Splitter            FuroftheG-ResDeb%(A), Arm-Dam%(46), Arm-Dmg/EndRdx(47), Arm-Dmg/Rchg(47), Arm-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(47), Arm-Acc/Rchg(48)
Level 35:    Oppressive Gloom        HO:Endo(A)
Level 38:    Hasten                RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(48)
Level 41:    Combat Jumping            LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), Krm-ResKB(48)
Level 44:    Focused Accuracy        EndRdx-I(A)
Level 47:    Superior Conditioning        PrfShf-End%(A)
Level 49:    Physical Perfection        PrfShf-End%(A)
Level 1:    Brawl                Empty(A)
Level 1:    Fury    
Level 1:    Sprint                Empty(A)
Level 2:    Rest                Empty(A)
Level 1:    Swift                Empty(A)
Level 1:    Health                Pnc-Heal/+End(A), Mrc-Rcvry+(11), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(11), Prv-Absorb%(13)
Level 1:    Hurdle                Empty(A)
Level 1:    Stamina                PrfShf-End%(A), PrfShf-EndMod(13)
Level 30:    Speed Phase    
Level 50:    Cardiac Core Paragon    
------------

| Copy & Paste this data into Mids Reborn : Hero Designer to view the build |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
|MxDz;1409;694;1388;HEX;|
|78DA6594CF4F135110C767BB5B2BFD412905DA5A7E1581FE922D78301145044B138|
|1264412AF4D03AFA5B1B6645B83E8D1A0512F4A34262A50FC71F0CF309E397BF26E|
|62001335E2691D76E60512366D3F6FBF33F366DEB7DB66EFA6DD8542E62A28AE6BE|
|57CAD969B34EED4853D9B2F96165400704CCEF7A6276ECC38701DB062B9AC280BA1|
|4F1AD5FC626E7EA56A2C06494F8B82A8D4849ECE1BB77213C6EDAAE1BB5E591286A|
|8D475B9F0CC55AB653D532A2ED54B95A2D3BA9B5F1662D16D2D67457E1975176595|
|0FD34253CBA5057DAA228CE26A2E9BAFD585B14A430671A408BE1FB4E1870287976|
|987064E3DA2816D9BF98EA8BD677E209EFA487C0D47C52AFCE3E06FE2E93FCC03E2|
|1A765214853A299B9A25366F30B7882D0DE636B175C706E0D7E00D56A9724CD5C74|
|12FB1AD99E92176B8992DC487D8D94E739A8AFD93CD128349B0F808830EB0E632ED|
|8E768582CFA8F2CC73E63AB1F305F325F12D563549039AFED241BBD9806E36A09B0|
|DD8C02C974C768D90D89B629E670630A34B03059F190F5032784CBC6013D75EF2DB|
|B47B5B552B2F324A759131E615E2D91FCCEFC4C7784C9F74DF071C34C98BFEFBE44|
|5FF3DE60A71F033B9BF85B77E39B99F3D1A9CA14D06A789D10C51C5C9DB65723B7B|
|11656FA2EC499C3DD13039209303BC73FC1727ED1113FBC4277886903C43688D664|
|B24E90C8904F15C9C196346890DAC0A73275BF81B751AFACA74B121384E17274157|
|98C4A7D8B647B6ED1957ADB64363B4AD7E997991394A4C5D226E63559FDCB1EF024|
|253A10FDB0CB0A80CF0839862766030268331B6247500D6D7EDF40124E576C90855|
|34A1A84B517F458DDD280E4B7198C54E0DE465E2EBF0A9CA6847BF6173F6647C4E9|
|36194144BDA751E9570D6BEF3F83F41848C734EA31245DEA443B87749DF3B59FFF3|
|98A4803CC23AF14B02CFCE2398E37ED4E4BCFF015C06D745|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

[Meknomancer]

Slightly cheaper but even more end heavy,

 

 

This Villain build was built using Mids Reborn 3.2.17
https://github.com/LoadedCamel/MidsReborn

BS DARK: Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: Broad Sword
Secondary Power Set: Dark Armor
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery

Villain Profile:
------------
Level 1:    Hack                KntCmb-Acc/Dmg(A), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx(3), KntCmb-Dmg/Rchg(3), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), CrsImp-Acc/Dmg(5), CrsImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(7)
Level 1:    Dark Embrace            UnbGrd-Max HP%(A), UnbGrd-ResDam(7), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(9), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(9)
Level 2:    Slice                Obl-%Dam(A), Obl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(15), Obl-Dmg(15), Obl-Acc/Rchg(17), Obl-Dmg/Rchg(17), Obl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(19)
Level 4:    Death Shroud            ScrDrv-Dam%(A), ScrDrv-Dmg/EndRdx(19), ScrDrv-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(21), MckBrt-Acc/Rchg(21), MckBrt-Taunt(23), MckBrt-Taunt/Rng(23)
Level 6:    Build Up            GssSynFr--Build%(A), RechRdx-I(25)
Level 8:    Parry                KntCmb-Acc/Dmg(A), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx(25), KntCmb-Dmg/Rchg(27), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(27), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(29), CrsImp-Acc/Dmg(29)
Level 10:    Murky Cloud            UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam(A), UnbGrd-ResDam(31), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(31), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(31)
Level 12:    Obsidian Shield            GldArm-End/Res(A), GldArm-ResDam(33), GldArm-3defTpProc(33), StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(33)
Level 14:    Boxing                Empty(A)
Level 16:    Dark Regeneration        ThfofEss-+End%(A), FuroftheG-Acc/Dmg(34), FuroftheG-Acc/End/Rech(34), FuroftheG-Acc/Dmg/End/Rech(34), Prv-Heal/Rchg(36), Prv-Heal(36)
Level 18:    Whirling Sword            Obl-%Dam(A), Obl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(36), Obl-Dmg(37), Obl-Acc/Rchg(37), Obl-Dmg/Rchg(37), Obl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(39)
Level 20:    Cloak of Darkness        LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(39), ShlWal-Def(39), ShlWal-Def/EndRdx(40)
Level 22:    Tough                UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam(40), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(40), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(42)
Level 24:    Weave                LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), Rct-ResDam%(42), Rct-Def(42), Rct-Def/EndRdx(43)
Level 26:    Disembowel            TchofDth-Dam%(A), TchofDth-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(43), TchofDth-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(43), TchofDth-Dmg/Rchg(45), TchofDth-Dmg/EndRdx(45), TchofDth-Acc/Dmg(45)
Level 28:    Cloak of Fear            GlmoftheA-Acc/EndRdx(A), Ngh-Acc/EndRdx(46), SphIns-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(46)
Level 30:    Super Speed            WntGif-ResSlow(A)
Level 32:    Head Splitter            Obl-%Dam(A), Obl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(46), Obl-Dmg(47), Obl-Acc/Rchg(47), Obl-Dmg/Rchg(47), Obl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(48)
Level 35:    Oppressive Gloom        Stp-Acc/EndRdx(A)
Level 38:    Hasten                RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(48)
Level 41:    Combat Jumping            LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), Krm-ResKB(48)
Level 44:    Focused Accuracy        EndRdx-I(A)
Level 47:    Superior Conditioning        PrfShf-End%(A)
Level 49:    Physical Perfection        PrfShf-End%(A)
Level 1:    Brawl                Empty(A)
Level 1:    Fury    
Level 1:    Sprint                Empty(A)
Level 2:    Rest                Empty(A)
Level 1:    Swift                Empty(A)
Level 1:    Health                Pnc-Heal/+End(A), Mrc-Rcvry+(11), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(11), Prv-Absorb%(13)
Level 1:    Hurdle                Empty(A)
Level 1:    Stamina                PrfShf-End%(A), PrfShf-EndMod(13)
Level 30:    Speed Phase    
Level 50:    Cardiac Core Paragon    
------------

| Copy & Paste this data into Mids Reborn : Hero Designer to view the build |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
|MxDz;1409;680;1360;HEX;|
|78DA6594CB6F125114C6EF308358A0D6B6B4D0172D94963EECD0BA34F1D14A496C4|
|B524BE2C21792720BA408CD80A9D595316AD49D1B13DF2EFD3BFC235CB937317D24|
|6AACF1311EE67C3734E904F85DBE7BCE3DE77C3390BE9DF4AFADA5CE09CD77BE9CA|
|BD5B273D6ADBA74A77385D2AA2E84F0CC658692B32B8B1E5A079DBD6C5A96A534E7|
|AC6A2E9FCD6C56AD7C88F5A45C93959A3493396B3D3B6BDDAC5AED172A4569C94AD|
|D548BD6E56AB56CA64A8562BD5429789D6F990D29F37E67B924731BA4FB38AADC08|
|EB99DF28AD9AF3156915B6B2E95CAD2EAD2D6E32442D45E87D3F401F9A685CB65B2|
|C13A286705D0457984606BC419C31C4913CF3856826EBE297CE9BDF99477F80FBCC|
|0701154B9534C1E231DBC5FCCD3CFE07FCCBECF8C77C4959BA4AD6EF72F98E4D66E|
|00EB8CEC1DD45B0CC7C4895DD5CDBD6DC1F580C4D72D223DAF47067B6DB03034230|
|A01706F4C280FE2ECD49EA8711AF082DCA80969F3C5318068461401806BCA6289F0|
|AF6CDB03894004F82418A183084463DB56260D16AD325DED0BA4D75DAD6A13B7191|
|539C17390D9E610E7F05BF301FD398EDCAC076B83F0CF763703F06F763707F14EEB|
|FA5AC4ED579273C185DE443461798F11453A7CEBB547017BC88C39B383C19872706|
|0507557010278F7F43D00E736297F98466E85133F4640971DABC0E5E639EB80A5E0|
|12F33DF11FA50C9D5F7992B4D7D027D3084DA19409018E863F129951D54650761DD|
|14AC33619D09EB4C58978075EF1B0F8E3A317A8FCB45A9CC08446D040F6202ECA6C|
|D31B539064B12FBC2B9DD5EBA8793EAB8C90867B490682AD17CCE85FD244E2B711A|
|62BF21D465D3ABF154A58CE66FD85E3ABCBF6C347FB64273A46D6F330551BBDE83F|
|F0411F6C8BBA039D67B2FF110FE6DD6770EE7EF1D9034A14678C6FC3841B3A305FB|
|6C2769AADFFF23C2DDBD|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

[Snarky]

Dark Armor is incredibly end heavy when run well (which means using its Fear and Stun toggles to mitigate damage due to lack of traditional defense.  This is normally overcome by pairing it with something like Dark melee which has an end recovery power

 

there is a pay to win end management power.  get it.

 

keep blue inspirations on hand.

 

As soon as possible get your endurance accolades.  every bit helps

 

 

 

 

[Doomguide2005]

@Snarky is talking about a Survival Amplifier (I believe) available from the p2w vendors.  You can also craft a base empowerment buff for Increased Recovery.  AFAIK those benefits stack.  In addition to endurance usage Dark Armor has a knock hole.  The easiest fix is any of the -kb protection IOs.  I'd slot at least one to start and plan to add probably 2 more as you level (a total of 12 pts of Protection).  And a big welcome home!!

[Snarky]

Yes the P2W endurance discount temp is an often overlooked lifesaver

 

I slot 4pts of KB prot on my Dark Brute.  That is sufficient 95% of time. 8 pts is good 97%, and 12pts is good 99.5%.  I am a min maxer, 4 does the bulk of the work

[Doomguide2005]

6 hours ago, Snarky said:

Yes the P2W endurance discount temp is an often overlooked lifesaver

 

I slot 4pts of KB prot on my Dark Brute.  That is sufficient 95% of time. 8 pts is good 97%, and 12pts is good 99.5%.  I am a min maxer, 4 does the bulk of the work

     Makes sense.  Haven't run DA on a Brute (at least any time recently) and would consider 4 on a Scrapper sufficient, as you say, in 95% of cases.  I would be concerned if trying to be the tank/off-tank you'd draw enough aggro to be problematic.  And, of course, being defense capped (plus the other mitigation DA has) makes a huge difference in the need overall as those larger kb/kd attacks have to hit first.

 

Edit:  Knockback protection is also available as a base empowerment buff giving you 10pts protection.  Which if you keep the salvage etc. handy should certainly be more than sufficient to cover that other 5%.  PS: Yes i think base empowerment buffs are often forgotten about or overlooked.

Edited June 23, 2022 by Doomguide2005

[BigBubbalu]

Thanks everyone! I'll give this build a shot and try to build towards good end recovery/reductions then. Appreciate it!

[Snarky]

10 hours ago, Doomguide2005 said:

 I would be concerned if trying to be the tank/off-tank you'd draw enough aggro to be problematic. 

Dark Armor has more problems than KB on a tank.  I have a 50d Dark Dark Tank i never run.  My main is a Dark Dark Brute…with no taunt. No room.  
 

Dark has the issue of a non suppressed stealth.  Which works GREAT for the Brute.  No defense?   Not as much of an issue when you can kill everyone in your general area while everyone outside that circle ignores you.  Not great for Tanking

[Doomguide2005]

     Definitely would seem to hamper things.  But if I'm a Tanker (or Brute) your Taunt should bring them to you i.e. aggro them.  That should bring them within the 10 to 24ft distance at which point they will see you (assuming typical perception values).  Never ran a DA Tanker but it just seems like range attacks (Taunt and epics in particular) should bring them to you and within perception range.  So certainly makes it easier to aggro what you wish and if you want to tank or off-tank make taking your taunt power more important to take while leveling.

     Once aggro'd the foe remains aware of the "exact location" of the foe it is aggro'd on.  This is a paraphrase from the hcwiki article on Stealth and Perception.  The lawyer thinking in me (or maybe the pedantic) will point out that knowing the exact location isn't the same as being able to target them.

[Snarky]

It still is a pain even with taunt because you have to actively get everyone’s attention (except Rikti drones, Rularuu eyes,etc).  It is just plain more work, and has to be done every room.  Where a regular Tank or Brute just meeds to waltz in before the team and is immediately the life of the party