Dark/Dark or Dark/Rad Build - Help for new player

[aob13]

Hi all,

 

I used to play CoH back in the day, and I've recently just become interested in playing it again. I'm hoping to find more of a social group EU/UK wise, so I'm open to suggestions as to which server I should play on, any groups that may be actively looking to recruit, etc.

 

However, in terms of a build I find myself a bit lost. I used to play a MA/Regen Scrapper called Captain Myotis. I was thinking of going back to that as I was fairly familiar, but I thought I should venture out and try some builds. I was thinking Blaster/Corruptor, or even Arachnos Soldier (mostly for RP purposes too), however I was recommended by a friend to look at Sentinel for both mid-range and armour (Or melee?).

 

I was looking around and I'm not quite digging some of the builds. I was hoping I could get some guidance or build ideas to go off of. I'm ideally looking to stay a bit traditional, so Dark/Dark, Dark/Rad, Fire/Fiery, Fire/ice, Electric/Electric, Electric/Rad, etc. Stuff that kinda jive together in an RP sense but also in a gameplay sense. I'll admit, not too fussed about the RP stuff, I just don't like Plants or Stone very much ahah.

 

Could I get some opinions on builds (As in, pick this power at level 1, this at 3, etc, this enhancement or IO, etc, or maybe even picking a different AT if it doesn't quite suit my style? I guess I'd say I'm not one for pets, I think I want something that hits hard and doesn't die as fast haha. 

 

Thanks for the help, really appreciate it. x

Edited July 13, 2023 by aob13

[drbuzzard]

As I am lazy, and don't want to type a bunch, 

 

 

You mentioned liking regeneration, and have fond memories of it back in the day. Thus I'd suggest trying sentinel regen since it's the most like old times regeneration that exists. Pick a primary you like (I like electric, but YMMV). Both electric initial blasts are good DPAS wise (damage per activation second) so grab what you like. 

[aob13]

23 minutes ago, drbuzzard said:

As I am lazy, and don't want to type a bunch, 

 

 

You mentioned liking regeneration, and have fond memories of it back in the day. Thus I'd suggest trying sentinel regen since it's the most like old times regeneration that exists. Pick a primary you like (I like electric, but YMMV). Both electric initial blasts are good DPAS wise (damage per activation second) so grab what you like. 

Thank you kindly, I didn't see this, I'll have an nosy now.

[Nyghtmaire]

I have experience with a dark/dark/psy. The linked threads above (thank you @drbuzzard) highlight the challenges to the combo pre-improvement. The primary does more damage now AND continues to benefit from lots of proccing. 
 

(as an aside, don’t slot recharge in powers you wish to proc. Global recharge or bust)

 

The combo shines with combat teleport so you can get into PBAoE range for Blackstar and Psychic Shockwave, then BAMF back out to mid range for blasting. Psychic Shockwave’s chance to stun stacks with Oppressive Gloom to stun bosses. Unlike other sentinel pairings, dark/dark does not lend itself to hover blasting (although can do it with sorcery’s flight power since it also can teleport, but I find it lacks maneuverability in the air compared to hover). 

 

For the primary, I skip dark blast. For the secondary, skipped cloak of fear and soul transfer. Aimed for close to capped s/l/n/psi resistances and high 20s defenses, both to be above 32.5 with either mind link or -ToHit debuffs from attacks. That way, a small purple softcaps. For pool powers, I took fighting for tough/weave, leaping for combat jumping, combat teleport, and leadership for maneuvers. Skipped hasten since I could perma the recovery portion of obscure sustenance without it (maxing the slotted recharge accomplishes this - bringing it down to ~30 seconds - while global recharge will get you closer to the ~ 20 second mark). Also, Umbral Torrent can slot the FF +recharge proc, so I’ve found that to be plenty enough recharge for when engaged with an enemy group along with at least ~60 global recharge. More global is better of course.

 

In short, it’s a fun albeit active (and thematic) pairing. 

[biostem]

I have a lot of experience with dark blast and both a dark armor and rad armor sentinel at 50.  I really like dark blast, and find it to be extremely versatile.  The only thing I don't like about it is that I frequently find myself skipping the use of autumnal beam whilst in combat due to its longer animation, favoring to instead use it as an opener.  Also, even if 3-slotted for heal, life drain heals for a pittance;  It's best either used to top off your health, or skip slotting it for health altogether and just use it as a regular attack.

 

Onto the armors;  Outside of its more specialized resistances and fear/disorient toggles, I find it to be rather end hungry and not as fun to play.  It's not necessarily bad, just requires you to be more attentive to what you're fighting and keeping an eye on dark sustenance's timer to top you back off as needed.  Rad armor, OTOH, is basically a "set it and forget it" kind of set.  The only adjustment I tend to make with that set is to slot particle shielding for recharge and put it on autofire, (it's not too difficult to make it permanent and the extra +rec is great).  Dark armor does have the stealth power, which can be handy, and gives you a LotG mule without needing an extra power pool pick.

 

If you want to try something that I've had great success with, try dark blast and super reflexes - the SR that sentinels get has some really nice differences from the melee AT versions, as it grants extra recovery and you can opt to take an absorb shield.  The -tohit and bit of healing from dark blast mesh nicely with all that defense from SR!