Anyone have a dual blades guide?

Snakebit · August 29, 2019

Made a db/wp yesterday and I kinda like it.

Looking for a good old school guide on primary and comparisons of secondaries. Found a guide on way back, but it was just numbers.

Keilis · September 1, 2019

I don't have a guide, but I do have some advice. The discussion of the non-combo chains is based on my memories from live, and while I think the ideas are still valid, I don't remember the numbers and I haven't explored how the PPM system or ATOs affect them.

At low levels, Empower -> PS -> Weaken -> PS is a very comfortable and effective attack chain without any recharge slotting.

Once you get to 26, you can start using the Attack Vitals combo, and Empower and Weaken aren't nearly so useful. I suggest a respec at 27 to drop one of your first two attacks and Typhoon's Edge. It's also a convenient time to equip level 30 IOs. At this point, with a little bit of recharge slotting, you can run BF -> AV -> PS. Here's a skeleton of a build, but please note that this is just to see what degree of recharge reduction you need, assuming global bonuses.

Spoiler

Hero Plan by Hero Hero Designer 2.23
https://github.com/ImaginaryDevelopment/imaginary-hero-designer

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 49 Magic Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Dual Blades
Secondary Power Set: Willpower
Level 1: Power Slice

(A) Empty

Level 1: High Pain Tolerance

(A) Empty

Level 2: Ablating Strike

(A) Empty

Level 8: Blinding Feint

(A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 40
(9) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 35

Level 18: Vengeful Slice

(A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 45

Level 26: Sweeping Strike

(A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 25
(27) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 25

------------

Here's an example of one way you could go that is both cheap and effective. This build has SS six-slotted at 27 because, when respeccing, you pick your powers by level but you allocate your slots all at once. There is an infinitesimal gap before SS, but seriously, it's less than a twentieth of a second. The smallest possible recharge bonus will make that gap go away, and if the Multistrikes with Recharge are attuned, gaining a level will make the chain gapless, too. 😛

Spoiler

Hero Plan by Hero Hero Designer 2.23
https://github.com/ImaginaryDevelopment/imaginary-hero-designer

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 49 Magic Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Dual Blades
Secondary Power Set: Willpower
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Level 1: Power Slice

(A) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage: Level 30
(3) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance: Level 30
(3) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 30
(5) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 30
(5) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 30
(7) Touch of Death - Chance of Damage(Negative): Level 25

Level 1: High Pain Tolerance

(A) Empty

Level 2: Ablating Strike

(A) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage: Level 30
(7) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance: Level 30
(9) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 30
(9) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 30
(11) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 30
(11) Achilles' Heel - Chance for Res Debuff: Level 10

Level 4: Mind Over Body

(A) Empty

Level 6: Fast Healing

(A) Empty

Level 8: Blinding Feint

(A) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage: Level 30
(13) Crushing Impact - Damage/Recharge: Level 30
(13) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 30
(15) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 30
(15) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 30
(17) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up: Level 21

Level 10: Indomitable Will

(A) Empty

Level 12: Super Jump

(A) Empty

Level 14: Boxing

(A) Empty

Level 16: Rise to the Challenge

(A) Empty

Level 18: Vengeful Slice

(A) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage: Level 30
(19) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance: Level 30
(19) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 30
(21) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 30
(21) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 30
(23) Explosive Strike - Chance for Smashing Damage: Level 20

Level 20: Quick Recovery

(A) Empty

Level 22: Tough

(A) Empty

Level 24: Weave

(A) Empty

Level 26: Sweeping Strike

(A) Multi-Strike - Accuracy/Damage: Level 30
(27) Multi-Strike - Damage/Endurance: Level 30
(27) Multi-Strike - Damage/Recharge: Level 30
(29) Multi-Strike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 30
(29) Multi-Strike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 30
(31) Eradication - Chance for Energy Damage: Level 10

Going forward, it's pretty common to skip One Thousand Cuts, and the Sweep combo isn't a popular one for Scrappers. Instead, as the build matures, you'll be able to shift to BF -> AV. This is more than enough DPS for most players. That said, if you can muster the recharge bonuses for it, there are two even stronger attack chains that eschew combos entirely.

The two top-end attack chains are BF -> AS -> SS and BF -> AS -> SS -> AS. It takes a whole lotta recharge to make the second AS worth it, but it does do more single-target DPS. The first attack chain also requires a ton of recharge, but not the ridiculous amount needed for the second. Anyway, BF -> AS -> SS has higher AoE DPS but lower ST DPS, but it responds positively to external buffs, such as Speed Boost, Accelerate Metabolism, Chrono Shift, and a bunch more. I don't know how much recharge it needs to overtake the longer chain in single-target DPS, but there are plenty of those kinds of buffs floating around. That said, the gap which makes it able to benefit from those buffs is also a deal-breaker to some. It just feels too clunky to some. I found that it can be a handy time for using clicky powers, but /WP has little need for that.

Snakebit · September 1, 2019

Thanks very much for that 🙂

hejtmane · September 18, 2019

On 9/1/2019 at 9:47 AM, Keilis said:

I don't have a guide, but I do have some advice. The discussion of the non-combo chains is based on my memories from live, and while I think the ideas are still valid, I don't remember the numbers and I haven't explored how the PPM system or ATOs affect them.

At low levels, Empower -> PS -> Weaken -> PS is a very comfortable and effective attack chain without any recharge slotting.

Once you get to 26, you can start using the Attack Vitals combo, and Empower and Weaken aren't nearly so useful. I suggest a respec at 27 to drop one of your first two attacks and Typhoon's Edge. It's also a convenient time to equip level 30 IOs. At this point, with a little bit of recharge slotting, you can run BF -> AV -> PS. Here's a skeleton of a build, but please note that this is just to see what degree of recharge reduction you need, assuming global bonuses.

Reveal hidden contents

Hero Plan by Hero Hero Designer 2.23
https://github.com/ImaginaryDevelopment/imaginary-hero-designer

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 49 Magic Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Dual Blades
Secondary Power Set: Willpower
Level 1: Power Slice

(A) Empty

Level 1: High Pain Tolerance

(A) Empty

Level 2: Ablating Strike

(A) Empty

Level 8: Blinding Feint

(A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 40

(9) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 35

Level 18: Vengeful Slice

(A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 45

Level 26: Sweeping Strike

(A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 25

(27) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 25

------------

Here's an example of one way you could go that is both cheap and effective. This build has SS six-slotted at 27 because, when respeccing, you pick your powers by level but you allocate your slots all at once. There is an infinitesimal gap before SS, but seriously, it's less than a twentieth of a second. The smallest possible recharge bonus will make that gap go away, and if the Multistrikes with Recharge are attuned, gaining a level will make the chain gapless, too. 😛

Reveal hidden contents

Hero Plan by Hero Hero Designer 2.23
https://github.com/ImaginaryDevelopment/imaginary-hero-designer

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 49 Magic Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Dual Blades
Secondary Power Set: Willpower
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Level 1: Power Slice

(A) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage: Level 30

(3) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance: Level 30

(3) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 30

(5) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 30

(5) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 30

(7) Touch of Death - Chance of Damage(Negative): Level 25

Level 1: High Pain Tolerance

(A) Empty

Level 2: Ablating Strike

(A) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage: Level 30

(7) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance: Level 30

(9) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 30

(9) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 30

(11) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 30

(11) Achilles' Heel - Chance for Res Debuff: Level 10

Level 4: Mind Over Body

(A) Empty

Level 6: Fast Healing

(A) Empty

Level 8: Blinding Feint

(A) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage: Level 30

(13) Crushing Impact - Damage/Recharge: Level 30

(13) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 30

(15) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 30

(15) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 30

(17) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up: Level 21

Level 10: Indomitable Will

(A) Empty

Level 12: Super Jump

(A) Empty

Level 14: Boxing

(A) Empty

Level 16: Rise to the Challenge

(A) Empty

Level 18: Vengeful Slice

(A) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage: Level 30

(19) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance: Level 30

(19) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 30

(21) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 30

(21) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 30

(23) Explosive Strike - Chance for Smashing Damage: Level 20

Level 20: Quick Recovery

(A) Empty

Level 22: Tough

(A) Empty

Level 24: Weave

(A) Empty

Level 26: Sweeping Strike

(A) Multi-Strike - Accuracy/Damage: Level 30

(27) Multi-Strike - Damage/Endurance: Level 30

(27) Multi-Strike - Damage/Recharge: Level 30

(29) Multi-Strike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 30

(29) Multi-Strike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 30

(31) Eradication - Chance for Energy Damage: Level 10

Going forward, it's pretty common to skip One Thousand Cuts, and the Sweep combo isn't a popular one for Scrappers. Instead, as the build matures, you'll be able to shift to BF -> AV. This is more than enough DPS for most players. That said, if you can muster the recharge bonuses for it, there are two even stronger attack chains that eschew combos entirely.

The two top-end attack chains are BF -> AS -> SS and BF -> AS -> SS -> AS. It takes a whole lotta recharge to make the second AS worth it, but it does do more single-target DPS. The first attack chain also requires a ton of recharge, but not the ridiculous amount needed for the second. Anyway, BF -> AS -> SS has higher AoE DPS but lower ST DPS, but it responds positively to external buffs, such as Speed Boost, Accelerate Metabolism, Chrono Shift, and a bunch more. I don't know how much recharge it needs to overtake the longer chain in single-target DPS, but there are plenty of those kinds of buffs floating around. That said, the gap which makes it able to benefit from those buffs is also a deal-breaker to some. It just feels too clunky to some. I found that it can be a handy time for using clicky powers, but /WP has little need for that.

I loved the 1k and sweep combo when soloing and taking out minions it is fun. I could never run attack vitals combo I hate the vengeful slice animation with a vengeance so I ran sub optimal back in the day and will do so again since I plan on my next toon to revive db/ea but I do love the DB overall feel and play alot.

Keilis · September 20, 2019

On 9/18/2019 at 7:12 PM, hejtmane said:

I hate the vengeful slice animation with a vengeance so I ran sub optimal

Playing what you enjoy is always optimal 😄

BrandX · September 20, 2019

Love the Vengeful Slice animation myself, it's the 1k Cuts I didn't care for.

BF > Attack Vitals > Repeat worked very well for me on live and when I was looking it over, I believe it could be made to do even better now.

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