What are the actual mechanical benefits of Domination?

[Story Archer]

Unenhanced Duration & Recharge, Damage bonus, etc.? Mids has it wrong. TIA.

[Snokle]

Domination power as per the wiki:

 

Domination protects the villain from Knockback/Knockup, Repel, Disorient, Hold, Sleep, Immobilize, Fear, and Confuse effects, and can be activated even while suffering from them to break the villain free.

Domination doubles the magnitude of the villain's own Disorient, Hold, Sleep, Immobilize, Fear, and Confuse effects for their normal durations, then keeps them going at normal magnitude for half that amount of time longer. Debuffs and other secondary effects are not improved.

 

Also I think for the first 10-20 secs you get a to-hit bonus to all your power as well which MIDS does show when you toggle Domination On.

 

So, 10-20 sec to-hit buff, double magnitude for control powers for 90 seconds, and for 90 seconds have mez protection, which can be activate while under an effect.

[Uun]

Other than the longer mezz duration and increased magnitude, which is listed individually in each power that benefits from it, CoD breaks up the other effects of Domination into 6 entries. The meaningful ones are listed in the first entry. I think the other 5 relate to tracking and filling the Domination bar.

 

Note, Domination hasn't provided a damage bonus since i15 (2009).

 

https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=inherent.inherent.domination&at=dominator - mezz protection, +100% endurance, +15% tohit for 15s

https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=inherent.inherent.domination_boost&at=dominator 

https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=inherent.inherent.domination_dampen&at=dominator

https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=inherent.inherent.domination_meter&at=dominator 

https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=inherent.inherent.domination_mode&at=dominator

https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=inherent.inherent.domination_rage&at=dominator

[Story Archer]

2 hours ago, Uun said:

 

Note, Domination hasn't provided a damage bonus since i15 (2009).

 

 

Thank you - the text describing it as granting a damage bonus was one of the things that was confusing me.

 

The ToHit bonus seems like a non-factor with its relatively limited duration, so basically it's the increased duration and magnitude of your mez effects as well as protection from mez effects yourself.

 

Does anyone know its duration/recharge? It seems a little bit confusing, the fact that the bar empties when it does and needs to be refilled, but the power also needs +recharge. From what I can tell, it needs about 100% recharge to stay perma, but you really need Hasten to be perma for that to be consistent - is that right? And if there's nothing to attack/mez, then there's nothing to refill it regardless of whether it's up or not, correct?

[Captain Fabulous]

Increased mez MAG, mez protection, and +100 end are the main effects . You don't need perma Hasten, but IIRC you need about 135% recharge, which you can get from set bonuses. You are correct, you can't fill the bar unless you attack. But if you have enough recharge for perma Dom the bar never empties.

[Uun]

1 hour ago, Story Archer said:

Does anyone know its duration/recharge? It seems a little bit confusing, the fact that the bar empties when it does and needs to be refilled, but the power also needs +recharge. From what I can tell, it needs about 100% recharge to stay perma, but you really need Hasten to be perma for that to be consistent - is that right? And if there's nothing to attack/mez, then there's nothing to refill it regardless of whether it's up or not, correct?

Duration is 90s. Recharge is 200s, which can be reduced via Hasten and global recharge buffs (but can't be slotted with recharge enhancements). With sufficient recharge it can be put on auto and refreshed before the bar empties (aka "permadom"). As stated above, perma-Hasten isn't required and there are permadom builds that skip Hasten entirely.

 

The villain alignment power (Frenzy) grants 100% Domination without needing to fill the bar.

[Championess]

Domination used to boost your damage but the old devs on live didnt think that was fair across all dominators so they just boosted dominator damage at all times and took it out of domination.

 

The main aspects of domination immediately noticeable is the mez protection you gain.  Its seriously tanker level protection, maybe better.  Then your controls are almost all doubled in mag meaning you can control boss level baddies in one shot, unless if they have some kind if mez protection active themselves like shout from the cimerorans or vengeance.  There's still a few controls that arent boosted but they are rare and typically something hard to boost mag on separate like I believe Ice Slick, usually it can be target location powers since I believe they have some kind of pet flag.

 

Another big one is full endurance bar refill which is big since doms can run hot.  A good one also that I found most useful lately with the implement of hardmodes is you'll get a 25% tohitt boost for the first 15s when you activate domination again.  You'll be extremely accurate during this time so I look to get out aoe controls just after.

 

Think that should cover it.  Once you go permadom its hard to go back.

[Story Archer]

4 minutes ago, Uun said:

Duration is 90s. Recharge is 200s, which can be reduced via Hasten and global recharge buffs (but can't be slotted with recharge enhancements). With sufficient recharge it can be put on auto and refreshed before the bar empties (aka "permadom"). As stated above, perma-Hasten isn't required and there are permadom builds that skip Hasten entirely.

 

The villain alignment power (Frenzy) grants 100% Domination without needing to fill the bar.

 

If you don't take Hasten, what amount of global recharge do you need to make Domination perma?

[Uun]

5 minutes ago, Story Archer said:

If you don't take Hasten, what amount of global recharge do you need to make Domination perma?

You need a minimum of 123% (223% including the 100% base), but you'd want a little extra to provide a cushion. With Hasten you need about 90% to keep it perma comfortably.

[Story Archer]

On 4/3/2025 at 2:16 PM, Uun said:

You need a minimum of 123% (223% including the 100% base), but you'd want a little extra to provide a cushion. With Hasten you need about 90% to keep it perma comfortably.

 

This is, of course, discounting the benefits of the Ageless Incarnate. I'll have to experiment with Ageless to see what it would need to be if I wanted to use it in place of Hasten. 

 

I'm building a Fire/Plant/Fire, and the version of my post-50 build without Hasten has 117.5% global recharge. Wanting Seeds and Rain of Fire available as often as possible and Creepers perma'ed, the instinct was to go with perma-Hasten, but Ageless does the trick to close those gaps and offers more besides. Presumably between the Endurance bar refilling when Domination pops and the +Recovery from Ageless, I shouldn't have any Endurance issues.

 

On a side note - do you know anything about Fiery Orb? I was thinking about putting it in my sixth Creepers slot, but I'm not sure if the proc fires when I use the ability or if it procs like the other damage procs do, continuously throughout its activation...

[Lady Wormwood].mbd

This is the build, just to put it out there. It's looking like it'll be my most expensive build ever, with 6 purple sets plus, but hey - it's only influence, right?

 

Note: Build updated 04/17 to reflect actual in-game post-50 build.

 

 

Edited April 17 by Story Archer

[Uun]

21 minutes ago, Story Archer said:

On a side note - do you know anything about Fiery Orb? The only place I can really put it is in my sixth Creepers slot, but I'm not sure if the proc fires when I use the ability or if it procs like the other damage procs do, continuously throughout its activation.

Fiery Orb isn't a traditional proc. It summons a pseudo pet with a 20s duration (if not defeated sooner) that has a 15 ft radius damage aura and a chance for a mag 2 stun. I've never tried it in Creepers. I have it slotted in Seeds on my Plant, Stone Cages on my Earth and skipped it on other 3 doms.

[Championess]

1 hour ago, Story Archer said:

On a side note - do you know anything about Fiery Orb?

 

That ATO is all terrible, the bonuses and the pet proc.  Its a chance to fire out the pet every so often.  If you put it in an aoe ability yeah it'll always summon but its such a paltry thing.  You're going to do lots better if you slotted a dmg proc instead.

 

Though it is good to dabble in all kinds of things to see for yourself what does better for you.  I tried that ATO and quickly respec'd.

Edited April 3 by Championess

[Snokle]

As others said the Fiery Orb ATO is nothing to go home about. For creepers the best thing to slot would just be procs, primarly the AOE dam procs as those go off the most for for it. Then others after to fill out what ya need.

[FFTMime]

The real purpose of Domination appears to be saving it for the final fight against the strongest guy in which you surpass your limitations just long enough to win. In which you are either the shounen protag, a pro wrestler, or in your own cape comic serialization. Some say these are all the same thing, though. 

[Uun]

5 minutes ago, FFTMime said:

The real purpose of Domination appears to be saving it for the final fight against the strongest guy in which you surpass your limitations just long enough to win. In which you are either the shounen protag, a pro wrestler, or in your own cape comic serialization. Some say these are all the same thing, though. 

Maybe at low levels before you can make it perma. Once you get permadom, t's on all the time and there's no need to save it.

[FFTMime]

Then how can you have your cool pro wrestling moment where everyone thought you were defeated, and you win by busting out your signature move? To defeaning cheers despite everyone being fully aware you haven't actually used your special move once yet. 

[Warshades]

9 hours ago, FFTMime said:

Then how can you have your cool pro wrestling moment where everyone thought you were defeated, and you win by busting out your signature move? To defeaning cheers despite everyone being fully aware you haven't actually used your special move once yet. 

 

The best won fight is not one that is close to being lost, it is one of utter domination where the opponent has no delusions of the possibility of winning.

[UltraAlt]

On 4/2/2025 at 11:54 PM, Story Archer said:

Unenhanced Duration & Recharge, Damage bonus, etc.?

 

Other people define what it is.

A good number of people try to make domination permanent.

 

The most important trait of domination - for my characters (I play the game and not the end-game) - is that it instantly fills your endurance bar.

So I wait until I'm a big fight and get almost down to no end before kicking it in - which means now the character has a full end bar and gets all the rest of the domination bonus through the rest of that fight (in most cases). This can make the difference in a battle with an EB or AV - in my opinion.

[Snokle]

21 hours ago, FFTMime said:

Then how can you have your cool pro wrestling moment where everyone thought you were defeated, and you win by busting out your signature move? To defeaning cheers despite everyone being fully aware you haven't actually used your special move once yet. 

 

I mean as a wrestling fan in real life MMOs do not really have that unless you are going one on one with an AV, then you want perma dom anyway as it still is quite a tussle. While certain builds can do it easily, it is not just a walk in the park. Also since we cannot control the number and rolled for you and against you like how it is planned in wrestling the moment for your signature move does not match that fully.

 

The best you can do usually is to take advantage of the mechanics of the game and work best to leverage to what you desire and want.

[Snokle]

8 hours ago, UltraAlt said:

 

Other people define what it is.

A good number of people try to make domination permanent.

 

The most important trait of domination - for my characters (I play the game and not the end-game) - is that it instantly fills your endurance bar.

So I wait until I'm a big fight and get almost down to no end before kicking it in - which means now the character has a full end bar and gets all the rest of the domination bonus through the rest of that fight (in most cases). This can make the difference in a battle with an EB or AV - in my opinion.

 

Majority of people try to make domination permanent, as it is easily achievable and it has a very clear upside aside from just more endurance but improved holds and Mez protection. Even minor min/maxing people will try and get that. It is not needed but people will always go for it as it is just clear mechanical improvements. It turns the tied in all field of combat, while not always needed and people do not need it, there is an advantage with it when going against tougher encounters or increasing difficulty

 

Also I play the game and the end game. I plot and plan out my character from 1-50 and then redefine them at 50+ if I want more out of them. For my dominators, and most other ATs as I have seen other commentators on this sub-forum say, I play the character to understand the combo I picked, which powers work and what doesn't work. Once I know what I like and do not like I will make a build and refine it over and over again, getting peer reviews until I get something I am happy with.

[UltraAlt]

19 hours ago, Snokle said:

Majority of people try to make domination permanent

 

If they are level 50, I can see a majority.

Some of us don't play level 50s and enjoy the game itself versus the end-game.

 

19 hours ago, Snokle said:

Even minor min/maxing people will try and get that. It is not needed but people will always go for it

 

I don't.

I know other people that don't.

 

19 hours ago, Snokle said:

there is an advantage with it when going against tougher encounters

 

On 4/17/2025 at 1:00 AM, UltraAlt said:

This can make the difference in a battle with an EB or AV - in my opinion.

 

 

19 hours ago, Snokle said:

Once I know what I like and do not like I will make a build and refine it over and over again, getting peer reviews until I get something I am happy with.

 

We all play different ways. Have fun.

 

I like the differences in my characters. I rarely respec less than 5 times - but most probably less than 3 respecs total - since joining Homecoming.

If I make something that I think is a mistake, I figure that is just something that is part of that character.

[normalperson]

So, it's not an official benefit, but one of the unofficial benefits of having Domination going is you see the word "Dominate" over the heads of all the enemies you hit with your power -- which makes it easy to see which ones your attacks actually hit, so you know which ones are still not going to be mezzed.     And so they stand out better and you can easily count them. 

 

No specific function value there, but definitely convenient. 

[tidge]

On 4/3/2025 at 7:03 PM, Story Archer said:

If you don't take Hasten, what amount of global recharge do you need to make Domination perma?

 

This can be a slightly tricky question to answer, considering:

• The Dominator can get caught using a somewhat long animation,
• Slow effects

On one Dominator with several long-ish animations, I was most comfortable with +130% recharge. The final build is actually at +136, but the last bit is coming from a set bonus from a level 30 enhancement set. I try to avoid taking Hasten for perma-dom... this means that I typically won't have it until the level 50 build, but I find this to be a fun build challenge and the character becomes that much more rewarding to play after the level 50 respec.

[Jacke]

On 4/3/2025 at 7:03 PM, Story Archer said:

If you don't take Hasten, what amount of global recharge do you need to make Domination perma?

 

= ( ( Base_Recharge_of_Power / Desired_Recharge_of_Power ) - 1 ) x 100   [ to get a % value ]

 

= ( ( Base_Recharge_of_Domination / ( Duration_of_Domination - Arcanatime_Cast_Time_of_Domination ) ) - 1 ) x 100

 

= ( ( 200s / ( 90s - 1.32s ) ) - 1 ) x 100

 

= ( ( 200s / 88.68s ) - 1 ) x 100

 

= ( 2.255... - 1 ) x 100

 

= ( 1.255... ) x 100

 

= 126%  [ rounded up to be sure ]

 

 

[Story Archer]

At the moment my final build has +117.5% global recharge, and I generally try to pop the Ageless Incarnate (topped out) whenever it is up. I haven't had any problems maintaining perma-Dom, but that sounds about right, doesn't it? That should be enough to reliably maintain it barring extraordinary circumstances?