The Martial Arts Blaster - drk/mc a new build

[Gray Scale]

I wanted to experiment with the idea of a blaster that is just a martial artist. So, yes, it's a blapper, but a particularly interesting one in my opinion. The basic idea is that you take everything from Martial Combat, then add everything from Fighting (which makes Cross Punch powerful), and then use Leviathan Mastery as your epic to get Knockout Blow.

 

This toon is reasonably tough, and delivers very solid single target DPS.  It's most useful against elite bosses and higher.  It's not the kind of blaster that disintegrates groups of minions and the like. So, if you're in a standard party and there's a tank and some good AoE DPS you'll probably just get a hit on the boss to kill it - similar to a stalker or scrapper, and that's your only contribution.

 

That being said, this toon is extremely fun in strike force, task force and solo.  There's good ranged defense, as well as S/L and a few extras.

 

You'll be in melee range against your foe, and their friends will be trying hit you with ranged - hence the need for ranged defense. If your enemy is not immune to knock down, you'll win easily - because this build has stupid levels of knock down and knock up. You'll just juggle folks.  If they are immune, then you can still burn them down and have a good chance of surviving with the to hit debuffs, self-heal, etc. 

 

The build only takes 3 powers from the primary set- dark blast.

Gloom

Aim

Life Drain

 

Gloom is your hadouken of darkness, but you won't be using it for damage.  You'll use it for to hit debuff.

I did a 6 slot on this with cloud senses, which gives great ranged defense. In the end, this gives 7.5% to hit debuff, which is significant imo for this build. Also a chance for negative energy damage with the IOs.

 

Aim - speaks for itself.  Gaussian's gives you a chance for build up.

 

Life Drain - 6 slot with theft of essence.  This makes the power recharge nicely, gives a great heal, and with the IOs gives ranged defense, AoE defense and a bunch of other happy things.

 

Now for the Martial Combat. Take everything. I'll go through them all now.

 

Ki Push - this is to own elite bosses while solo. If they don't have immunity to knockback this just wins.  Only 1 slot with an IO accuracy.

 

Storm Kick - in the rotation, knocks down and reliable. 6 slot with Mako's Bite

 

Reach for the Limit - a great power that periodically gives you accuracy and damage on your attacks. No slots needed as it's auto.

 

Burst of Speed - teleports you and does AoE damage. This is a great power for a few reasons. The AoE is a massive area but moderate damage. I slot with the Blaster AT enhancements.

 

Dragon's Tail - more knock down and hits in a small PBAoE. 6 slot. Lots of options here. Armageddon if you're rich. I did Scirocco's Dirvish because it's got some psionic defense, AoE defense and accuracy. This build needs the AoE defense.

 

Reaction Time - your sustain. It gives you period damage shield, but also gives you some endurance. I put in 6 IOs: 3 heal and 3 endurance mod. Works great.

 

Inner will - frees you from CC and heals you slightly. 3 slot with recharge IOs.

 

Throw Sand - I use it as an Oh Shit power. Reduces enemy perception so they stop attacking you. 3 slot with accuracy IOs.

 

Eagle's Claw - in your rotation for single target, 6 slot with Mako's Bite

 

Leviathan Mastery:

 

Bile Spray - moderate damage toxic cone. Fits the theme as a spitting and sand-tossing dirty fighter. I do like it, but I only 3 slot it with IOs - 2 accuracy 1 damage. I might change that.

 

Knockout Blow - in the rotation and my reason for taking leviathan. extreme single target damage and a hold. It's just such a great power. 6 slot mako's bite.

 

Shark Skin - very nice defensive power for S/L and Cold.  I 6 slot with unbreakable guard

 

Fighting:

 

I took everything from fighting for the main reason that getting both Boxing and Kick give passive bonuses to Cross Punch. Those bonuses make it a viable part of your rotation.

 

I then 6 slot cross punch with Mako's bite.

 

Tough and Weave are in lots of builds so I won't bother explaining the slotting.

 

Leaping:

Combat Jumping - only slot with endurance reduction - not a big deal

Super jump - yeah jump.

Acrobatics - important for this build but you don't even need to slot it. Just always run it.  one slot with endurance reduction.

 

Speed:

Hasten - why not? 3 slot with recharge IOs.

 

Main Rotation:

Gloom

Knockout Blow

Eagle's Claw

Cross Punch

Life Drain

Storm Kick

 

If you aren't slowed, and you're hastened, you usually knockout blow again after life drain. It's a fast rotation.

If I have a massive group of mobs I'll start with burst of speed instead of Gloom.

 

 

 

[Samhayne]

I really like this build and have something similar with my Archery/Martial blaster (currently at lvl 36).  Of course, the defenses are no where near a "real" melee character, but if they are mobs I can keep knocked down, I do pretty well.  I wish Martial Combat was an option in there for Scrapper/Stalker/Brute/Tank!

[atletikus]

For the blaps! Bile Spray can be slotted much more efficiently with something like 2x hami-O Nucleus Exposure (33.3% Acc/Dam) and 1 x hami-O Centriole Exposure (33.3% Dam, 20% range). Are you sure about the "massive radius" of Burst of Speed?

[Gray Scale]

For the blaps! Bile Spray can be slotted much more efficiently with something like 2x hami-O Nucleus Exposure (33.3% Acc/Dam) and 1 x hami-O Centriole Exposure (33.3% Dam, 20% range). Are you sure about the "massive radius" of Burst of Speed?

 

Well when I say massive radius of burst of speed, I really mean massive for me. I mean - it just seemed unusually large. Lots of mobs that seem kind of far from the centre of where I appear in the teleport seem to take damage. Since I don't know how to find the actual measurement of the radius this is pretty subjective - and compared to other powers could be normal.

 

[Gray Scale]

I really like this build and have something similar with my Archery/Martial blaster (currently at lvl 36).  Of course, the defenses are no where near a "real" melee character, but if they are mobs I can keep knocked down, I do pretty well.  I wish Martial Combat was an option in there for Scrapper/Stalker/Brute/Tank!

 

Thanks!  While yes the defense is not as good as a real melee character, it is pretty durable at higher levels.  I particularly like how drk does the -to hit and gives a nice heal. These really help.  I thought of archery for mine too but feared I would be lost without life drain. I rely on it pretty heavily.

[jwol2]

Awesome build OP! Only one question - would an AoE power such as tenebrous tentacles be a better choice over Gloom so you are hitting multiple enemies with - To Hit? Or is the set you have in Gloom to essential for the final build to replace?

[CaptainAmazing]

On 7/18/2019 at 3:52 PM, jwol2 said:

Awesome build OP! Only one question - would an AoE power such as tenebrous tentacles be a better choice over Gloom so you are hitting multiple enemies with - To Hit? Or is the set you have in Gloom to essential for the final build to replace?

 

Apologies for the necro but I'm having a go with this build and wondered if anyone else had a view on Tenebrous over Gloom?

[KC4800]

I have a Dark/MC at 40 currently. Fun combo.

[Nemu]

You have to take either gloom or dark blast to start, might as well take gloom.

 

Umbral Torrent is better than tenebrous,, it has longer range can be converted into KD if you wish, and carries a to hit debuff component and it's AoE. Thematically it fits as well because projecting a wave that knocks down/back opponents is more in theme for a martial artist than projecting tentacles. Also slots better because FF +recharge proc.

 

I'd also take blackstar. It's like unleashing your inner fury/chi whatever.

 

This is how I would build it based off the original post:

 

This Hero build was built using Mids Reborn 3.0.4.7
https://github.com/Reborn-Team/MidsReborn

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Natural Blaster
Primary Power Set: Dark Blast
Secondary Power Set: Martial Combat
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Concealment
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Leviathan Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Gloom -- SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg(A), SprDfnBrr-Dmg/Rchg(7), SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(34), SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(37), SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(37), SprDfnBrr-Rchg/+Status Protect(37)
Level 1: Ki Push -- Acc-I(A)
Level 2: Umbral Torrent -- Ann-ResDeb%(A), FrcFdb-Rechg%(3), OvrFrc-Dam/KB(3), SprFrzBls-Acc/Dmg(5), SprFrzBls-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(7)
Level 4: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), Ksm-ToHit+(5), WntGif-ResSlow(15), BlsoftheZ-ResKB(36), BlsoftheZ-Travel(48)
Level 6: Storm Kick -- Mk'Bit-Acc/Dmg(A), Mk'Bit-Dmg/EndRdx(43), Mk'Bit-Dmg/Rchg(45), Mk'Bit-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(45), Mk'Bit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(45), Mk'Bit-Dam%(46)
Level 8: Aim -- RctRtc-ToHit/Rchg(A), RctRtc-Pcptn(9), GssSynFr--Build%(9)
Level 10: Burst of Speed -- FuroftheG-ResDeb%(A), SprAvl-Rchg/KDProc(11), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg(11), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(13), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(13), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(15)
Level 12: Stealth -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), HO:Cyto(49)
Level 14: Kick -- Empty(A)
Level 16: Dragon's Tail -- FrcFdb-Rechg%(A), Erd-Dmg(17), Erd-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(17), Erd-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(19), Mlt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(19)
Level 18: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 20: Reaction Time -- PreOptmz-Acc/Rech(A), PreOptmz-EndMod/End(21), PreOptmz-EndMod/Rech(21), PreOptmz-EndMod/Acc/End(23), PreOptmz-EndMod/Acc/Rech(23), PreOptmz-EndMod/End/Rech(27)
Level 22: Tough -- GldArm-3defTpProc(A), HO:Ribo(48)
Level 24: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), ShlWal-Def/EndRdx(25), ShlWal-Def(25), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(27)
Level 26: Life Drain -- SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg(A), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(29), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), SprWntBit-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg(33), SprWntBit-Rchg/SlowProc(33)
Level 28: Cross Punch -- Erd-Dmg(A), Erd-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(29), Erd-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(47), Mlt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(48)
Level 30: Maneuvers -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), Rct-Def(31), Rct-Def/EndRdx(31), Rct-ResDam%(31)
Level 32: Blackstar -- SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg(A), SprBlsWrt-Dmg/Rchg(34), SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(34), SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(36), SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(36), SprBlsWrt-Rchg/Dmg%(40)
Level 35: Inner Will -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(42)
Level 38: Eagles Claw -- Mk'Bit-Acc/Dmg(A), Mk'Bit-Dmg/EndRdx(39), Mk'Bit-Dmg/Rchg(39), Mk'Bit-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(39), Mk'Bit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(40), Mk'Bit-Dam%(40)
Level 41: Bile Spray -- Empty(A)
Level 44: Knockout Blow -- SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg(A), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(46), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(46), SprBlsCol-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg(49), SprBlsCol-Rchg/HoldProc(50), FrcFdb-Rechg%(50)
Level 47: Shark Skin -- StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), HO:Ribo(47), ResDam-I(49)
Level 49: Reach for the Limit 
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Defiance 
Level 1: Sprint -- UnbLea-Stlth(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Pnc-Heal/+End(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-End%(A)
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[CaptainAmazing]

Thats awesome, thanks guys.