Empathy/Dark Defender - new 50 on HC - need some build help please

[RayOfHope]

Could someone post an Empath/Dark build for me please?

 

Looking for bread-and-butter middle-of-the road build that's not gonna break the bank.

 

Looking at Doctored Wounds maybe for Healing Aura/Heal Other and the rest are probably going to be S/O unless there's better options available for my budget.

 

This is for a fresh 50.

 

For Dark I use mostly Dark Blast, Gloom, Dark Pit and Tenebrous Tentacles during task forces and such.

 

Also want Teleport/ATT as well as Stealth and Hover/Fly. Anything else is entirely up for grabs.

 

This is for a support toon ONLY (TFs, missions and such).

 

I last played this combo on Legacy and am completely lost on Homecoming with it.

 

I'm ready to respec and have about 24M in the bank. Willing to hear any and all suggestions.

[Psyonico]

Not on my computer, so I can’t really put something together at the moment, but just some food for thought on your power pools:

 

 you want TP and Fly and concealment, which could work, but I’m a firm believer that Empathy works best with Hasten (to get your RAs and AB down) and I also feel at least Assault and Tactics are great powers for empaths. (Maneuvers and Vengeance are pretty solid too)

 

so, that’s 5 power pools and you can have a maximum of 4, so which one gives?

 

now, if you don’t care about having stealth on 100% of the time, you could drop Stealth for Super Speed with a stealth IO in it, giving you the same stealth level but for a higher endurance cost, so you won’t want to run it full time.  That drops you to 4 power pools, Speed, Flight, Teleport, and Leadership.

 

As for sets, Doctored Wounds is not a terrible set, and it’s relatively cheap (I think each IO costs between 500-750k) so for 5 IOs (where you get the global recharge buff) you’re looking at between 2.5 and 4 million inf per power.  If costs are closer to 1mil per IO, you might be better off buying a couple of LotG def/global recharge IOs (which usually sell around 5mil each) which will give you more global recharge for the same price. Drop 1 in hover and 1 in fortitude 

[Psyonico]

Also, I haven’t bought level 50 SOs in quite some time, so I may be wrong about this, but I suspect you’ll get level 30 common IOs cheaper than a level 50 SO.  I never spend more than 50k per level 30 common IO and they provide slightly more benefit than an even level SO.

[RayOfHope]

33 minutes ago, Psyonico said:

Also, I haven’t bought level 50 SOs in quite some time, so I may be wrong about this, but I suspect you’ll get level 30 common IOs cheaper than a level 50 SO.  I never spend more than 50k per level 30 common IO and they provide slightly more benefit than an even level SO.

 

First of all I appreciate your response and you've given me some food for thought.

 

I'm still completely lost when it comes to IOs because I can't get my head around the maths. 

 

You're saying that at 50 it makes more sense to buy lvl 30 IO sets than lvl 50 SOs?

 

Could you point me toward a guide that helps break the concept of it down for a non min/maxer to get my tiny brain around? 

 

What is a "common" IO? Where in the AH or in the world do I find these things? I only ever see the purple/orange/yellow stuff when I look at the auction so off to Youtube I go I guess ... 

[Frozen Burn]

4 hours ago, RayOfHope said:

Could someone post an Empath/Dark build for me please?

 

Looking for bread-and-butter middle-of-the road build that's not gonna break the bank.

 

Looking at Doctored Wounds maybe for Healing Aura/Heal Other and the rest are probably going to be S/O unless there's better options available for my budget.

 

This is for a fresh 50.

 

For Dark I use mostly Dark Blast, Gloom, Dark Pit and Tenebrous Tentacles during task forces and such.

 

Also want Teleport/ATT as well as Stealth and Hover/Fly. Anything else is entirely up for grabs.

 

This is for a support toon ONLY (TFs, missions and such).

 

I last played this combo on Legacy and am completely lost on Homecoming with it.

 

I'm ready to respec and have about 24M in the bank. Willing to hear any and all suggestions.

 

Hiya.  Here is my build for my Emp/Dark Defender.  It's probably more than what you are looking for, but may give you some ideas.  Any sets are better than SOs.  So, do what you can until you earn the moolah / reward merits to get what you want.

 

 

Emerald Touch - Defender (Empathy).mbd

[Psyonico]

Common IOs are non-set “white” IOs, they don’t give set bonuses.  In the /ah you can find the under Crafted Enhancements, they’re the first category there.

 

I’m going to try and keep the math to a minimum here, but basically, SO strength is based on the level difference between you and the SO.  If you are level 50, a level 50 damage SO (for example) provides a 33.33% boost.  IOs work differently.  Instead of based on relative level, the level of the IO determines its effectiveness.  A level 30 damage IO provides a 34.8% boost, regardless of your level.  You just have to be at least level 27 to slot a level 30 IO.

 

IOs never “expire”.  That is to say, as long as you are at least the minimum level required to slot the IO (3 levels below the IO level) you can slot the IO and continue to use it as you level up.  For me, I slot SOs until level 27, then I buy level 30 common IOS until I’m ready to buy set IOs.  A level 30 IO continues to work all the way to level 50.

 

So, what I was suggesting in my first post is if a given level 50 SO costs at least 50k inf, just go on the /ah and purchase a level 30 common IO.  I never bid more than 50k per common IO and usually purchase it instantly, but in the worst case, it takes a day or so to purchase.

[Jacke]

17 hours ago, Psyonico said:

now, if you don’t care about having stealth on 100% of the time, you could drop Stealth for Super Speed with a stealth IO in it, giving you the same stealth level but for a higher endurance cost, so you won’t want to run it full time.  That drops you to 4 power pools, Speed, Flight, Teleport, and Leadership.

 

As the stealth expert, I have to point out while Super Speed does provide stealth, it only provides it in PvE.  Super Speed itself contributes no PvP stealth.

https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=pool.speed.super_speed

 

I don't know if the mobs in PvP Zones are affected by this.

 

 

[RayOfHope]

9 hours ago, Psyonico said:

Common IOs are non-set “white” IOs, they don’t give set bonuses.  In the /ah you can find the under Crafted Enhancements, they’re the first category there.

 

I’m going to try and keep the math to a minimum here, but basically, SO strength is based on the level difference between you and the SO.  If you are level 50, a level 50 damage SO (for example) provides a 33.33% boost.  IOs work differently.  Instead of based on relative level, the level of the IO determines its effectiveness.  A level 30 damage IO provides a 34.8% boost, regardless of your level.  You just have to be at least level 27 to slot a level 30 IO.

 

IOs never “expire”.  That is to say, as long as you are at least the minimum level required to slot the IO (3 levels below the IO level) you can slot the IO and continue to use it as you level up.  For me, I slot SOs until level 27, then I buy level 30 common IOS until I’m ready to buy set IOs.  A level 30 IO continues to work all the way to level 50.

 

So, what I was suggesting in my first post is if a given level 50 SO costs at least 50k inf, just go on the /ah and purchase a level 30 common IO.  I never bid more than 50k per common IO and usually purchase it instantly, but in the worst case, it takes a day or so to purchase.

 

Okay are those the crafted Invention enhancements you can buy at auction?

 

I generally switch to those at level 22 (start with 25) and then upgrade them along the way. 

 

So those are still considered IOs, just non-set IOs? Got it. 

 

And SO is just the stuff you buy out at the store/vendor, right? I've gotten away from them because constantly upgrading those gets expensive, and I'm an alt-o-holic lol.

Edited May 27 by RayOfHope

[RayOfHope]

21 hours ago, Frozen Burn said:

 

Hiya.  Here is my build for my Emp/Dark Defender.  It's probably more than what you are looking for, but may give you some ideas.  Any sets are better than SOs.  So, do what you can until you earn the moolah / reward merits to get what you want.

 

 

Emerald Touch - Defender (Empathy).mbd 48.19 kB · 1 download

 

Appreciate it! I just wanted to look at some builds and couldn't find any when I searched here. 

 

I'll end up building my own anyway, just needed an idea of where to begin really.

[Psyonico]

Yeah, the generics are still considered IOs because they’re made the same way and function the same as all of the set IOs.  They were also released as part of the invention system update many years ago.

 

yes, SO stands for Single Origin, those have a specific origin tied to them (natural, magic, etc) and can be purchased through regular vendors.

 

also, level 25 common IOs aren’t quite as powerful as an even level SO (they provide 32% instead of 33.33% bonus for schedule A) but it’s close enough that it doesn’t really matter for most content.

[Doomguide2005]

@RayOfHope

You can pretty much use any Empathy build as a base to look at for giving you ideas on how to slot your build.  The primary and how it's put together is fairly independent of the secondary blast set you are using on any given build.  I am usually looking for recharge ... and then some more recharge.  It's why Doctored Wounds is such a common thing to use as a set (for the 5 slot +5% recharge set bonus).  However, the real goal in most cases is to get the recharge on your Auras (Recovery and Regen) down as much as possible (generally until perma-Hasten is reached, or nearly so).  I usually skip 2 powers in Empathy:  Resurrect and Absorb Pain.  I dislike not taking Clear Mind or taking it post Posi 1 + 2 levels.  But it does not need anything beyond the base slot.  It doesn't really matter what get slotted in that base slot, but I often drop a range IO in there to get that one guy way over there.  Absorb Pain I would probably include in your build as a very support-oriented build.  Nothing will get the Tanker or other high health character out of the deep red as quickly as Absorb Pain.  I tend to skip it because I tend to play very aggressive Empaths, and I also solo a lot compared to most other players I suspect (just added my 5th level 50 Empath out of about 40 level 50's total).  Resurrect I don't generally take at all, ever.  Power choices are too precious and there are about a gazillion alternatives to taking the power.  Both Day Jobs and temporary powers include a Resurrect power.  You can combine or provide an inspire to give them an Awaken type inspire, etc.  That said if you take it there is very little point in taking anything beyond the base slot.  I'd personally slot it with an Endred because Murphy being involved says you'll need it most when the battle is going sideways, Your Auras are down and the Tanker just went splat.  Vigilance might make it cheap enough or maybe not.  I do not currently have a Emp/Dark (even though it was my first on Live) but I'll see what I can post in a bit.

EDIT:  Hope this is still useful for you and not too late, but here it goes if for nothing else than readers down the line.  First pass at an Empathy/Dark/Dark.

RayOfHope EmpathyDarkDark (v1.00 i28.1) - build request.mbd

 

There are some changes to the request.  All IOs that are not PvP or Very Rare (Purple sets) should be considered Attuned versions.
If you use Flip All to Alternates you can see a very basic IO version including only a handful of set IOs (Slots and Enhancements -> Slots -> Flip All to Alternates)
I kept everything at lvl 30 in the basic IO version just to be consistent with the above postings.  
Like Psyonico I have a hard time not employing Leadership to a dedicated support defender (hell any support character) and Concealment/Stealth was by far the easiest to swap out.  Put a Celerity Stealth IO in Sprint.  I believe I got all the other requests in the build (pools, some individual pool powers missing).  Would have liked Dark Pit earlier (before Oppressive Gloom) but wanted the other choices more.  Having Dark Pit really pushed for Oppressive Gloom to stack stuns and make life easier in melee ranges for things like Blackstar nukes or even just using Healing Aura.  

Edited June 10 by Doomguide2005
Added build and brief notes on build

[RayOfHope]

I appreciate you! 

 

Here's what I went with as a cheap-o 50 starter build, and it seems to be working out. I'm gonna take a hard look at your suggestions and tweak things around once my alt-itis doesn't demand so much of my time (ha!).

 

I'm actually deleting my 2nd emp/dark Defender and exploring some different options since a pure "healer" build seems to be lacking ... something. She was my OG that I had transferred to Excelsior, only to realize I already had an Emp/Dark here lol. So she's been parked.

 

 

Edited June 14 by RayOfHope

[MoonSheep]

On 6/14/2025 at 5:55 PM, RayOfHope said:

I appreciate you! 

 

Here's what I went with as a cheap-o 50 starter build, and it seems to be working out. I'm gonna take a hard look at your suggestions and tweak things around once my alt-itis doesn't demand so much of my time (ha!).

 

I'm actually deleting my 2nd emp/dark Defender and exploring some different options since a pure "healer" build seems to be lacking ... something. She was my OG that I had transferred to Excelsior, only to realize I already had an Emp/Dark here lol. So she's been parked.

 

 

 

i quite like it! there's something refreshing about seeing a good value build

 

you'll find that you will have more spare slots once you start getting more IOs and similar. for example in fortitude you could use just two or three Membrane hami O's to get the same result. if you'd like a couple of them DM me your global and i'll send a few over

[RayOfHope]

On 6/19/2025 at 3:07 AM, MoonSheep said:

 

i quite like it! there's something refreshing about seeing a good value build

 

you'll find that you will have more spare slots once you start getting more IOs and similar. for example in fortitude you could use just two or three Membrane hami O's to get the same result. if you'd like a couple of them DM me your global and i'll send a few over

 

Thank you! I've gotten to 50 with a few more toons and am a lil more flush on cash so I'm gonna be replacing the white IOs with some sets here in the near future.

 

Although I must confess my MMO pattern of - get to max level, outfit and park the toon, and then go level more alts - continues unabashed here lol