Dominator Gravity Singularity lack of pet controls

[QArkhan]

Asking on behalf of my brother.  Does the Dominator's gravity Singularity not have pet controls?  

 

My Phantasm has pet controls but there don't seem to be any on the Singularity, and it's default behavior is lack luster

Edited August 13 by QArkhan

[BasiliskXVIII]

31 minutes ago, QArkhan said:

Asking on behalf of my brother.  Does the Dominator's gravity Singularity not have pet controls?  

 

My Phantasm has pet controls but there don't seem to be any on the Singularity, and it's default behavior is lack luster

 

Quote

Archetype Inherent Changes

 Controllers

• Controllers inherent now allows them to command their Tier 9 pets.

Dominator pets should not have pet controls. This was only added to Controllers.

[EnjoyTheJourney]

It's not the end of the world either way, of course. But, hopefully pet controls proliferate from controllers to dominators at some point. Even better would be if players can choose the default stance for their T9 pets. Some may prefer their pets always default to aggressive, some may prefer defensive. 

 

There's a cost in development and testing time for any change and that needs to be weighed against what else can be done instead. But, in terms of game balance there doesn't seem to be any harm in offering both controllers and dominators a choice about the default stance of their T9 pets. 

Edited August 13 by EnjoyTheJourney

[Clave Dark 5]

On 8/12/2025 at 7:17 PM, EnjoyTheJourney said:

It's not the end of the world either way, of course. But, hopefully pet controls proliferate from controllers to dominators at some point. Even better would be if players can choose the default stance for their T9 pets. Some may prefer their pets always default to aggressive, some may prefer defensive. 

 

There's a cost in development and testing time for any change and that needs to be weighed against what else can be done instead. But, in terms of game balance there doesn't seem to be any harm in offering both controllers and dominators a choice about the default stance of their T9 pets. 

I asked about why Controllers got it but Dominators didn't during beta and they basically said "because we said so" so I wouldn't hold my breath, ha ha

[JediDave]

On 8/31/2025 at 9:45 AM, Clave Dark 5 said:

I asked about why Controllers got it but Dominators didn't during beta and they basically said "because we said so" so I wouldn't hold my breath, ha ha

Keeping in mind that the balance of the game is intended to be focused on basic SO level builds, I believe the pet change was only on controllers because they are much more pet dependent than dominators. Yes, a proc'd out controller can clear all but the bosses in a group pretty quickly without pets, but base level controllers really need the pets in order to do much damage. And solo they have a whole secondary set that is usually very team oriented and can benefit their pets. It made more sense to give them some control over such an important aspect of their AT. Meanwhile, most dominators will do just fine with or without their pets, since they have a whole secondary to deal damage as well as higher base damage on their primary. 

 

Really, my controllers with pets use them as a key part of their game plan, but my dominators use the pets more like my crabbermind does, just drop 'em and start blasting.

 

[Clave Dark 5]

8 hours ago, JediDave said:

Keeping in mind that the balance of the game is intended to be focused on basic SO level builds, I believe the pet change was only on controllers because they are much more pet dependent than dominators. Yes, a proc'd out controller can clear all but the bosses in a group pretty quickly without pets, but base level controllers really need the pets in order to do much damage. And solo they have a whole secondary set that is usually very team oriented and can benefit their pets. It made more sense to give them some control over such an important aspect of their AT. Meanwhile, most dominators will do just fine with or without their pets, since they have a whole secondary to deal damage as well as higher base damage on their primary. 

 

Really, my controllers with pets use them as a key part of their game plan, but my dominators use the pets more like my crabbermind does, just drop 'em and start blasting.

 

All nice theorizing, but not what was shared with us, IIRC.  If anything it's just another bit of power creep.  Also, yes, both ATs used to "drop and start blasting" (or holding) because they didn't have these controls.

[JediDave]

11 hours ago, Clave Dark 5 said:

All nice theorizing, but not what was shared with us, IIRC.  If anything it's just another bit of power creep.  Also, yes, both ATs used to "drop and start blasting" (or holding) because they didn't have these controls.

I don't think "power creep" is the right term here, since the change to containment damage was unrelated to the change in pet control, and still leaves controllers behind doms in damage.

 

I also would argue your italicized point here implies that instead of using powers to lock down enemies, controllers are not constantly commanding pets, which I don't believe is the case. Or you misinterpreted what I was trying to say. I meant "drop and start blasting" as in if the pet dies, my dominator keeps shooting things, and doesn't care that the pet is down, (like a crabbermind) but if a controller pet dies, I will try to resummon them asap because I need a meat shield and damage source (this was still the case pre patch). The dom pets have always felt like a nice bonus, but controller pets felt like a key part of their strategy before and after the patch. That is what I meant, that a controller feels significantly weaker without a pet, and a dominator feels like a complete character without the pet, and can still keep "blasting." By which I meant blasting, not holding, since one aoe at the start of a group is all the controlling a dom needs to lock them down until they drop.

 

Honestly, the only time I or people I've chatted with in game regularly use the pet commands is when a pet runs off after a low hp enemy that wasn't locked down and risks aggroing another group. Maybe focusing attacks on an AV for some, but by and large, it's 90% the same controller strategy that was there pre patch. I can see a few pets, like singy, being able to benefit more from movement commands, but even then the old tp target strat probably still works better. I think the exception for me, and when I use the pet commands most, is with my arsenal controller to have the gun drone run in before me to grab aggro when solo, and that takes one click per group. Still able to keep tossing holds and debuffs just as much as pre patch.