Pyrotic Shadow: A Pryo/Dark Chronology

[Argentae]

I enjoyed playing Pyrotic Sea into late-mid incarnate. Will play her again as it’s an enjoyable play balance with end game content at the highest difficulty soloing. Well, haven’t really tried her against A/Vs, I’d have to shift focus for single hard target play.

I still have to try the shifting of GC slotting to maximize Taunt and -ToHit.

 

In the meantime I’ve been thinking about how her main problem is slight fragility If I’m not on my A game. Which got me thinking about what would provide a bit more mitigation than  /Marine, and that led me to my favorite Seconday: /Dark, I mean of course that’s the answer, isn’t it?

 

So Pyrotic Shadow was born.

 

Yup. That’s what I thought.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate.

 

Sparkers against a dark night sky

 

Synergy.

 

I was a bit worried about losing the buff debuff from /Marine, but it’s not an issue.

 

Just hit 31 so I had to leave my old buddies the Warriors behind for awhile. I’m enjoying the new version of the Warriors. I think the ones at the new 50 zone hit a lot harder. I checked their stats and they dont seeeeeem to have any -Def or anything…

 

Anyway enjoying it enough that I think I’ll chronicle this one. Pyro/…/Soul bring plenty of AoE, Dark brings tankyness. The -ToHit synergy is off the bell curve. I’m running x8 +2/3 pretty handily and I just got Fluffy, he’s not even fully slotted yet. 
 

Not needing to slot out Darkest Night or Pyrotic Aura let me slot out the AoE attacks early. 
 

I also keep forgetting to prioritize 2 range IOs in Darkest Night. I really need that range to do an effective corner pull into Tar Pit with pets hovering about.

 

Once I get the rust blown off I’m quite sure she’ll be in the top tier of AoE damage tankmage Controller builds. Special effects are wonderful against dark backgrounds, lovely. 
 

And I haven’t even customized the power effects. This one is probably well worth the time. I’ve been too busy with renewed focus at work to play much. Actually feels good. Had a nasty cold that’s just breaking, so my head is starting to work again. 

I think I’ll fully dmg proc the three early AoE controls, GC, HL, and BB. Not sure what Ill do with the tier 8 AoE hold, maybe proc, maybe UC purple. Purple the AoE attacks in /Dark and /Soul as feasible, probably Posiblast in attacks where the purple is used already. 
 

With both Soul Absorption and Dark Consumption as a finishing attack that fills my End with just a hit or three…

 

I’ll post a build, hopefully tomorrow as that will mean I got my work project done. 🙂
 

[Argentae]

Ok, I made it! It’s still today! Work project done, and I think, crushed it!

:: snoopy dance ::

 

Uuuuunfortunately I realized I never actual did the whole build in Mids yet. I just have powers to 30 and a few sets from workshopping options of slots.

 

I’ll try tomorrow. 🙂

[Argentae]

Level 35 build

 

|MBD;17456;1242;1656;BASE64;|
|Gy9EAJwFdqPzzRhrNLClkf3noHSLlB/NEbpbSlH680phtZnKR8clwuy9XKZQhqWtMm0|
|Wna6+5lRyWovZs8zdn85CsS+NQJaMpHyah/459rujJiKRtI+3Pv134uBNzIdaskQkin|
|aiSeuiNbKhb+ChEfkJafRIxMZo3sJ1YID4okv/w7CIGBXtufXAWi26jPxa2D2sgeR1W|
|lzzzMhpYIeU3MIrLBDk66Q7El4kS3yQxvE1RJSNu0Hvdo5OOymIyymi4f8U4Y9vlcIP|
|A7TUCaunLYPwBu6rH/MJL+mfkZg8dJzPG6ccJ0lliRcqWz+eRjyjbXsE6yvBicuHNTf|
|mnxbAtll3rWbIJByHmNTTPEGK62acJS5gXToJl/YCr8DhNyBTdlmaL+mP7KDOmLo9QZ|
|A82IBR8jNa2j7hfYvhpeNdyAOhA3zWZDP+fBQtHirGgMXV65W/xXWFzPB+MednF3Zwl|
|KV32FqDshMBq5d65U9iLMfjtROb/MfNZOplCuIrH8r6bLx7MBaFuY+PDD9WDj4Kg74a|
|DD++t4vcGG6+iiufZ+Yd2PaJ5Ea+G4t4GNfx7QH/ESprYTwvkYAJ/yhFbFty9/8Y/WT|
|4neRzD+6goNs2MjuSXlJ5XiUZ2r67S8JA74CupjyEy2P2uT/8horBtpHMfO2UFGnbvk|
|UofKspg3PxX+4+cZSiwnvIVCeRjLSLaJMZqKFx0DH/n6Ahva5cmigBJoD40IyXmk//t|
|SGSDLlYYltG1a9BtuB3OPlPiLuO1zNsVHnzVOyXTPsloQdXACCFQ4WchV6ahiwy8ZdW|
|cBOIkzZvUIX5ABwyFWG5sqlShXATXa/p4BYQ1//T9JQKtyRRziIkjtZJhiKw8DWoAop|
|jhCOcyQKsD2o9ybZa7VnmJR9HW6qFSrgNgzZGPOw0OgGjsPCGY9DpFvHJ7awsRaXfUa|
|leKW45fCiFg9qEy4OGAC830EtJDlToJ8eSthTntThOemWdrhnsgAXEqpwqcyWGvQQm7|
|E8mZ6ovSRDfPzjxuXOMCaNXDAa3fTkCzkPyYEthhuXyQ668m3prnAUTCoATAFIOqxb3|
|glTtZMisAnkyBatuARcQF+m0RWQOX1Hy3BUhExB7HyzwODiL7EfaXvKALsLlWshcxPS|
|Y6UgLOm9Zhw3heAhXcBoH3EDctbZ/S5GBlbUjS2xBk1TzAXg50y4hco/YmUtK87tOTF|
|gDyHuVnUGlyL+h2sox4uOvXkqtXcGatD1uqTnCU+fCyMnTbjkq/YOJ7FsrxbtOlxvnp|
|V9K2NNjlbhNLZKWD52UTzpfQ1pGuU6EGKjTxBCvV4UYVq3sfwtDYEULYofHjRWqdngh|
|urRDEbwQB0ysMFkgOP2NgPwa0acUotmQrmqVzdF9m+Z44xaFBgq4AaCLJ2raaE1NRLz|
|ZpoBdIETs1m08AYHvOp9ukymaW3iCgbHyYCbBxhTAMejV0Ld5uyWRd5BerelKrF+vhb|
|fZghSO4b/gD3ix19elqBKP5t7O8LewQZhUIllP0w8gwbfS2smNxoTY6xiB2Lq37Wzhf|
|IlyoxdyBli4qwL/o+jSIcU6bAvZ+Z7+cWpXDMUkEIK1TrRe0/XlsHEHD2Ea4D2d+y7B|
|XUEqIndevH+vWTzF2MkdktjpVYQUnLSSTbDa1vf9Po6mufh2|

 

I called it a level 35 build, but I actually have a bunch of slots in Twilight Grasp that I just dropped in there to play with procs.
TG can take 2 dmg procs, the +End Theft of Essence, and the -Recharge from Dark Watcher. So with those 4 procs and a pair of Acc/End/Heal it's kinda a single target debuffapalooza. Some disagreement between Mids and City of Data about the Dar watcher -Rech proc. CoD claims it stacks up to 5 times, Mids claims it doesn't stack. If it stacks, this slotting for TG is pretty much a way to keep me and all the pets healed, and it can be spammed for VERY little end cost, basically a way to heal and recover end while totally neutering single dangerous targets in soooo many ways.

-Rech
-Regen
-ToHit

-Dmg

 

All while doing a bit of damage and healing everyone around me for substantial amounts. 
If I work it into my single target chain, I can just up the frequency any time things start getting dicey.

My initial plan for Epic pool is Soul Mastery, still considering other options, but a good corner pull -> Soul Drain will make all the other AOE attacks hit like a Mack truck. Plus the -ToHit secondary effects stack very well with the rest of the build and thematically it's pretty perfect.

Welcome any thoughts or feedback from others that have gone the Pyro/Dark route regarding ANY of the above! 🙂

[Auroxis]

I put some extensive time into testing and playing out this combo at the top-end (+4x8 soloing, pylon DPS min-maxing, GM's, starred TF's, incarnate trials). I greatly enjoy it and personally believe this combo gets the most out of the AT's strengths.

 

 

Here are my suggestions:

 

1. Twilight Grasp is far from your best proc option. Use healing sets in it.

 

2. Hypnotizing Lights works great as a proc bomb, you should focus on procs with it.

 

3. You should invest more slots into Fade and Shadow Fall. Getting Fade uptime high is great and it uses both resistance and defense enhancemnets, Shadow Fall is similar except you need to invest more in endurance reduction.

 

4. Soul Absorption is an amazing recovery tool and I recommend putting more slots into it.

 

5. I don't put much stocks into Sparking Chain over Sparking Cage. The AoE Immob isn't as useful because you're getting rid of minions and lieutenants so fast with this build and have your CC's and taunting pet keeping stuff in place. Sparking Cage can be used as a DPS filler (I like just slotting Apoc +5 Dam IO in it) and maintain containment on hard targets.

 

6. You should decide on a travel Power. I'd replace Hover with Experimentation's Speed of Sound, as you can utilize the Jaunt aspect of it to quickly go from throwing procced CC's from range to entering melee for your Incendiary Aura and Soul Absorption. The lack of Stealth on Speed of Sound (when compared with Super Speed) also doesn't matter because of this combo already having Shadow Fall.

 

Here is my current build (You can replace Maneuvers with Darkest Night for more AV/GM safety, I don't value it that high):

 

Controller (Pyrotechnic Control - Darkness Affinity).mbd

[Argentae]

Totally agreed with most of what you suggested, good list! 🙂 
I really like the idea of the Apoc +5 Dam IO in Sparkling Cage. I may well drop Sparkling chain altogether in the lvl 50 respec. It is somewhat useful though to be able to lock a whole spawn in place when I get them really tight together so I can get a good hit off Soul Drain.

Your Dark Servant might do well with Clouded Senses (though I see why you're using it for a purple set) as a lot of his attacks have -ToHit ( so the clouded senses proc fires pretty well), and that -ToHit and AOE healing is a lot of what he brings to the table for me. Just a different focus in the build, I love how flexible Controllers are that way.

 

This build is designed to put out a lot of -ToHit. I could easily crank it up to absurd levels of -ToHit (and may well do so) as I haven't slotted any -ToHit in Darkest Night, I'm slotting it for range to optimize the corner pull into Tar pit, which is fantastic for clumping a spawn up tight for the Soul brothers hit (Soul Absorption and Soul Drain). Glittering Column also puts out a massive amount of -ToHit when it's not taunting, and Incendiary Aura, plus the plethora of powers in the full build that chip in -7.5 ToHit etc. 

Keep in mind that this is a level 35 leveling version of the build, not the final build.
So that means I use things like PosiBlast in both Glittering Column and Hyp Lights to get me some decent +acc and +rech globals (though both already have 2 dmg procs so they do decent damage already).

I'm still playing around with options for the level 50 build, for instance the proc heavy TG is an experiment I want to run so I have a way to completely neuter a dangerous target or two as needed, plus I want to see if Mids or City of Data is right about the stacking of certain debuffs.  

Here's the current first pass working draft of a level 50 Build:

|MBD;23294;1539;2052;BASE64;|
|G/1aACwKbBuZfSeOBuYtPTK/LkW69sycTHk0DoRJ8vm03Nrt+h0oQ7PodPV1xlbqZM/|
|bgH0pm6L+VPmc1sras8zdT50RsV8uqBgswPnNSfWj/VLnInSE5Pkuzmf274bJQQF4Co|
|CqMrKErnXAzl8dWjOr9o3qP1dZ2cqLunhXG43hLC/MlE6CHbQcTIemWMRKRZ/d+tlaL|
|QwZ+Wvh9LAGlN/QwuudN/0KoIc02YJTck+Qw8QVOS3ysvVgBoe3IWLT8D5A7B5une4h|
|L95MEQ2+TxFDQatsqoECmmuUxHe7CcIbpL7dw/WGl/TXSMw3PeLzwlOPJ6LKI75Q2fr|
|cTbjHzuMW2h4JLtif11x4pe/rOrS7XmXIJLsuMam3uYMp10M5K1jkXToFM3OAl+f4C/|
|B/brdRLukHvO4FXB4k30rdMu38tsHBWezXRIvtEN+1WOtyaJbeD46Aw/Y5wD8/ihYMW|
|+ZDxdXp1VCr072lV3i39sm5lxqcS9Ef2YpHtxsBqy/1yj+JsbyR9kl2MriYZC8ZjPa8|
|qbZ7872D5SG48nfLcOPWwVdh0DuDsRIqmONLMN3QoPstL/U9VPu89V7IB9ZAt87f3xf|
|+B6qshXG/LADH/mNKrM5K3Itj9JPhn6ScZ3AHkXfnzOs4vkzr3iUYDn2XEkFcK0t5SO|
|J5DkkffqCyBjeqkS3vrO/KCEE8Q7dlS5zoWX50ZZaeejHv3FwKt8MUxDPH/ojMraipg|
|nPJt5X7xlXlQN8BqZ5ESDxOK5o5/7f8b9CUXjsplgkcmgqDDBTiCmcaTqhdpJ2+CSIJ|
|aLFsW2w3CfU9SNU+8Ux/LO6OfDmuU2MUq1Tsm1pOCKGHSwCwQKciZ2HbGWRRCwqxwjW|
|I7VqPqEl8AOKpJM1tWipVCHOz654Gt0HcG7vPk2NcQJFIJq5QsO/8BpMVL2X9OYjcEM|
|/Pe3lKhVuSK2dRLq0xYAjiy7v3jpNY26m9y7zkx7hGgHUSd0G0oXnuvmRV2zDIkhtQh|
|lKz8BVVESeaQq8AzPxEJd/qE9x93WyvdC4AJe3Ucl45WFmyvYVRV90pbjmlaIqDGt/L|
|iUTAYc50lJb/Veg3x9I1yffVZT30EEbHprcDE8TculTmSuQpf5Gdb2bKtLQkiZWVnxg|
|6WfXRL+6rkh+ylvTWR+MsmFAANqyyHJZhD3BUVWTIeU39XCKrboEbxM2944TM4Y8qnu|
|eYBjVLUIHHxVmkqFMU8pLx1VPW91ZOFtODWAr62m4dNoTjJdvBcRx4Qbw7bf8tRUBSj|
|o4s6SQnUQcCHMbYECLlSpm57E/16HsvjCMB8bYWMCcFxlTzT81p0BmRe83GUI7klU9p|
|xKmF5aHep2DsXMGatD0uGTni03NhlPJmPnJV/Idh0Q7Bo/5q5IZTyy3RzvRYJW6rTJx|
|9Ets/mu9SeUBdURaGLFon0LytdVgbgAESGBibiNXo7EbBdSN4uq6EpQQE7kITcb86/y|
|0MgRUtiF0eF1YkBRMZ7jCORA4WBywjassfBOTbeARHD+cy6dCSkY202o/1Hc6TizhKC|
|LwA2GlJOlVrb01CPGz/wJp6R6DDU81HMaRg3pYF9t9Q2NEnnCXNdNgE6G+fsX9r3pB3|
|8GM9uFVYF1dEWRZxqK2hfbYhH5dD+nkmlX0SVw13vG0Vm4oKbMTqySdP6KqLCaiT7+K|
|buoT37klAPJK3D296niqFMNFJgJLk/mvFRWVqVaHF38bhf0trZ6vImugwMQADZNWGpD|
|RwFucjWp0W12mutNNUo5j8jTHcBMHZa7pGOmAC2a2RgCUUCCXuOd1IQBhgw2DXDPwiX|
|qAkilsB/dztAoK+nupp7ddSX0kBPCAedoNeT5zJh7Pe+JFs2A8ivbT++XvTsrb5JjwF|
|4n3HGf8M53ituS+pwyU814M/SlVxXDjN/OeQOIphNA+lFWLl7msXcgZMpEr4rxG0U2G|
|MYVduR9/R80xtx1D85c9iL5Y4sC7XgoyNO5jYu9K9HxLcFVwz1uEHfGWt4inGRvZX3U|
|UPMh+FskveDuC3Pq8rezxcvu6R67kv8P0nHyDOfnAH|