Notes on version 2.0: Ive incorporated much of the criticism I received on the original version of my guide, as well as my own ongoing experience with Warshades, into this new version of the guide. Ive added some more detailed explanations where it seemed necessary and tried to make the guide clearer. This version of the guide is current as of Issue 8.
Further notes: I've made minor updates and changes to the guide both to correct funky errors I've noticed after the forum port and amend information that's no longer current. Call it version 2.1. I'm hoping to have time to finally deliver on a 3.0 version of the guide over the holidays, but we'll see if RL lets me keep that promise.
So you've decided to make a Kheldian, or maybe you've played a Peacebringer and you're looking for a change now. There are several valid ways to build a Kheldian, but the tactics and slotting suggested in this guide are geared towards a tri-form approach, one utilizing both Nova and Dwarf from as well as the default human form.
You should realize that human form powers (including pool powers) cannot be used while in the forms. It works like this: Toggle powers (Gravity Shield, Tactics, Inky Aspect) cannot be used while in the forms. They toggle off. Passive powers (Stamina, Absorption) do not work in the forms. They decay for a few seconds after you shift and then take a few seconds to kick back in when you return to human form. One notable exception is the inherent: Dark Sustenance, which does work in the forms. Click powers (Hasten, Sunless Mire, Eclipse) must be used in human form but confer a buff on you which remains after you shift. Another notable exception to these general rules are Accolade powers (powers received from getting Accolades, a certain specific set of badges). Accolade powers do work in the forms both the passive and the active ones.
A quick note on binds: If youre going to switch between the forms in battle, youre not going to want to go hunting for your powers. I recommend you place all your Dark Nova powers in tray 3, your Black Dwarf powers in tray 4, and use trays 1 and 2 for your human powers. You can then use binds to shift your form and your active power trays at the same time. Example:
/bind NUMPAD2 "powexec_toggle_on Dark Nova$$goto_tray 3"
/bind NUMPAD3 "powexec_toggle_on Black Dwarf$$goto_tray 4"
/bind NUMPAD1 "powexec_toggle_off Dark Nova$$powexec_toggle_off Black Dwarf$$powexec_name Gravity Shield$$goto_tray 1"
Some players drop one or both of the forms, which relieves the "slot-crunch" many Kheldian players feel. The slot crunch refers to the fact that a tri-form player has many more powers than a standard AT hero but the same number of slots to spread around.
"Human-only" and "Forms specialist" Warshade builds do exist and can be successful, but I don't have the experience with those variants to comment in-depth. In my opinion, tri-form grants the greatest power and versatility, and is a lot of fun to play. Now, on to the powers.
Dark Sustenance the Warshade version of the Kheldian teamlink inherent, Dark Sustenance grants a damage bonus for every blaster and scrapper, a resistance bonus for every defender and tanker, and a mez resistance for every controller. The bonus is small, but noticeable when you have multiple heroes of the right type on the team. For example, on a team with five blasters you will notice youre doing decidedly more damage.
Triform Rating: 5/5
Available at level: Inherent
Recommended Slotting: N/A
Other Notes: Dark Sustenance can make a significant difference, so don't discount the effect it can have. It's especially noticeable on early level sewer runes, for instance, when it makes you quite a bit stronger than your lowbie companions.
Shadow Step Teleport
Triform Rating: 3/5
Available at level: 1 (automatic, you dont choose to take this power)
Recommended Slotting: 1-2 End Redux
Other Notes: Some people dont enjoy using TP for travel, but using a bind to help chain the TPs together can make it much easier. One such bind is /bind SHIFT+LBUTTON powexec_name Shadow Step.
Shadow Recall Recall Friend
Triform Rating: 4/5
Available at level: 10 (automatic, you dont choose to take this power)
Recommended Slotting: 1 Interrupt Reduction
Other Notes: Thisll make you especially popular between levels 10-14, when you have two travel powers (counting Nova form) and Recall Friend, while your teammates have
sprint.
Umbral Blast
Shadow Bolt One of the two starting blast powers, following the standard fast/light vs slow/heavy setup seen in most other powersets. This power is the quick, light damage one. Ultimately you wont use either of these much later on, so its more personal preference than anything else.
Triform Rating: 2/5
Available at level: 1
Recommended Slotting: 1 Acc
Other Notes: None
Ebon Eye - One of the two starting blast powers, following the standard fast/light vs slow/heavy setup seen in most other powersets. This power is the slower, slightly more damaging one. Ultimately you wont use either of these much later on, so its more personal preference than anything else.
Triform Rating: 2/5
Available at level: 1
Recommended Slotting: 1 Acc
Other Notes: Shoot death from your eyes! My personal preference of the two.
Gravimetric Snare This power is a single-target immobilize. Recall that immobilize powers do not stop enemies from shooting at you, but can force them into using ranged attacks.
Triform Rating: 3/5
Available at level: 2
Recommended Slotting: 1 Acc, 1 Immob
Other Notes: This is a good early power for dealing with Quantums and Voids, as it allows you to separate out a group with some practice. However, once you get powers like Gravitic Emanation & Gravity Well, you no longer need to use this for that purpose. It can also be handy in the late game for use against AVs, since most Archvillains resist all mez types except Immobilizes very well. This will keep AVs from running off, but you may not always want to spam Snare still, it can be handy against certain AVs who are prone to running away.
Dark Nova Your first form power, granting you four more blast powers free.
Triform Rating: 5/5
Available at level: 6
Recommended Slotting: 1-2 ToHit Buff, 2-3 Endurance Modification
Other Notes: This is your primary damage-dealing form as a tri-former and will grant you a great deal of destructive power early-on. You are a glass cannon while in this form and should play as though you were a blaster while in Nova form. Those used to a Hover/Fly bind may have some trouble getting used to Nova form, which is all-Fly, all the time.
Shadow Blast A more powerful blast power than those first available
Triform Rating: 1/5
Available at level: 6
Recommended Slotting: If you take it, 1 Acc, 2-3 Damage, 2-3 Recharge
Other Notes: If youre playing a tri-form shade, this power is somewhat redundant since youre better served slotting Dark Nova Blast.
Starless Step Teleport Foe
Triform Rating: 5/5
Available at level: 8
Recommended Slotting: 1-2 Acc
Other Notes: This power is an excellent way to pull Quantums/Voids out and away from their friends so that you can finish them off fast, sometimes without even giving them a chance to fire a shot. It has excellent synergy with Gravity Well.
Sunless Mire A point-blank AOE that buffs your Accuracy and Damage based on the number of foes hit.
Triform Rating: 5/5
Available at level: 12
Recommended Slotting: 1 Acc, 2-3 Recharge
Other Notes: This power is essentially identical to the Dark Scrapper power Soul Drain. Stacked with Black Dwarf Mire, you can gain a very strong damage and accuracy buff for a few seconds. Called double-Mire, this is a common tactic among tri-form shades, though not as often used now that the BD Mire's duration has been shortened. Mire lasts for 30 seconds.
Dark Matter Detonation A targeted AOE blast power
Triform Rating: 1/5
Available at level: 12
Recommended Slotting: If you take it, 1 Acc, 2-3 Damage, 2-3 Recharge
Other Notes: Like Shadow Blast, this is a power that is also represented in Nova form. Since Nova form has an inherent bonus to accuracy as well as several other damage powers, it makes more sense for the tri-former to spend slots there rather than here.
Gravity Well A powerful melee attack and hold
Triform Rating: 5/5
Available at level: 18
Recommended Slotting: 1 Acc, 1-2 Hold Duration, 2-3 Recharge, 2-3 Damage
Other Notes: Play with the power and work out the slotting that fits your playstyle best. Having a hold power gives you a great solution for Quantums/Voids, allowing you to neutralize them while you take them out. Great with Starless Step.
Essence Drain A health drain attack (self- healing power + attack)
Triform Rating: 1/5
Available at level: 18
Recommended Slotting: If you take it, 1 Acc, 2-3 Heal
Other Notes: Generally, if youre taking enough damage to use this power, youd be better off switching to Dwarf form or falling back its a melee power and though human-form Warshades use it to good effect, in my experience your survivability is greater going right into Dwarf form.
Gravitic Emanation A cone-attack with minor damage and strong disorient
Triform Rating: 4/5
Available at level: 26
Recommended Slotting: 1 Acc, 1-2 Disorient Duration
Other Notes: This is another good control power, useful if Gravity Well misses or if you have multiple foes you want to neutralize (such as a Quantum and a Sapper, for example)
Unchain Essence Targets a fallen (dead) enemy for an AOE damage attack
Triform Rating: 2/5
Available at level: 26
Recommended Slotting: 1 Acc, 2-3 Damage, 2-3 Recharge
Other Notes: Unchain Essence is fun, but rather situational. Firstly, you have to either set up a bind or manually target the fallen enemy in order to use the power, and you must throw the power before the body fades. The damage is significant, but not in my opinion worth the trouble. If you have some way of keeping your foes clustered, the utility of the power goes up significantly.
Dark Extraction Summons a pet (Extracted Essence) from a fallen (dead) enemy
Triform Rating: 5/5
Available at level: 32
Recommended Slotting: 1 Acc, 2 Damage, 3 Recharge
Other Notes: This is currently the only pet in the game which can exist in multiple. You can usually have two out at all times if you have at least two recharges in the power. The EEs are like mini-Nova forms, using three of the four Nova form powers (not the AOE). They are not much tougher than you are in Nova form and should not be thought of as controller-type pets (which are usually quite tough). They do provide excellent supplementary damage, which is especially handy when youre brawling it out in Dwarf form.
Quasar A blaster-style nuke power with typical endurance crash afterwards
Triform Rating: 4/5
Available at level: 32
Recommended Slotting: 1 Acc, 3-4 Damage, 2-3 Recharge
Other Notes: This power, like all nuke powers, does a great deal of damage its generally best to double-Mire before using it to get the most bang for your buck. Also, using Quasar is much safer after you have Eclipse to protect you from any retaliation, as you cannot shift forms without at least a small amount of endurance.
Umbral Aura
Absorption Passive Energy/Negative Energy damage resistance
Triform Rating: 2/5
Available at level: 1
Recommended Slotting: 1 Damage Resistance
Other Notes: Absorption doesnt provide much resistance and generally isnt worth spending slots on, given its low base protection.
Gravity Shield The first of the three toggle shields, resistance to Smasing/Lethal
Triform Rating: 4/5
Available at level: 2
Recommended Slotting: 1 End Redux, 3-4 Damage Resistance
Other Notes: I recommend setting up your form-shifting binds so that you always toggle on Gravity Shield when you shift into human form. S/L is the most common damage type in the game and keeping this on while in human form will help out quite a bit.
Orbiting Death A constant Damage-over-Time PbAOE toggle
Triform Rating: 3/5
Available at level: 4
Recommended Slotting: 0-1 Acc, 2-4 Damage
Other Notes: Also known as Orbiting Debt among Warshades, Orbiting Death is not especially useful when it first becomes available. In the late game, once you have shields, Eclipse, double-Mire and other tools at your disposal, however, OD begins to come into its own and can be useful more useful than your other level 4 choice, Gravimetric Snare. Its also useful as a DoT curtain in PvP to interrupt Stalkers Assasin Strikes.
Penumbral Shield Second of the toggle shields, resistance to Fire/Cold/Toxic
Triform Rating: 2/5
Available at level: 10
Recommended Slotting: If you take it, same as Gravity Shield
Other Notes: Fire, Cold and Toxic damage arent that common in the game as of now, and ultimately you can gain better resistance by switching into Dwarf form. It is worth noting that this power is your Toxic resistance, but in the long term this isnt a power I would keep as a tri-former.
Shadow Cloak - Stealth
Triform Rating: 4/5
Available at level: 14
Recommended Slotting: 1-2 Defense
Other Notes: This power grants stealth. Combine it with Super Speed, Stealth or Nebulous Form to gain true invisibility for slipping past enemies during TFs or just when youre rather not fight that particular spawn. Shadow Cloak provides Immobilization protection and gives a bonus to Perception, which makes this power a must if you want to PvP.
Twilight Shield The final toggle shield, resistance to Energy/Negative Energy
Triform Rating: 2/5
Available at level: 16
Recommended Slotting: If you take it, same as Gravity Shield
Other Notes: While Energy/Negative Energy is a more common damage type, I still recommend using Dwarf form to take damage thats what its there for. Those Warshades who choose not to take Dwarf form will probably want all three shields.
Black Dwarf Your second form, granting six powers for free
Triform Rating: 5/5
Available at level: 20
Recommended Slotting: 3-5 Damage Resistance, 1-3 Endurance Modification
Other Notes: This is your tank form, but you should realize that this damage resistance does NOT extent to the Nictus damage of Quantums and Voids. Still, you should be able to soak up damage from most other enemies without much trouble. While you can fulfill the survive damage requirement for tanking, be aware that you do not have Gauntlet and will probably have trouble holding large amounts of aggro for a team.
Stygian Circle A PbAOE which restores your health and endurance based on the number of fallen (dead) enemies in range around you.
Triform Rating: 6/5
Available at level: 22
Recommended Slotting: 1-2 Recharge, 1 End Redux, 1-2 End Mod
Other Notes: You can also enhance the heal if you have slots to spare, but in my experience you gain enough HP just from the base values. Once you get the hang of dropping into the middle of battle and using Circle, itll change your gameplay dramatically. I still find myself reaching for Stygian Circle on all my other characters its one of the defining powers of the Warshade. Take it, love it.
Nebulous Form Phase shift and the equivalent of six-slotted Combat Jumping, shuts off automatically after 60 seconds.
Triform Rating: 3/5
Available at level: 24
Recommended Slotting: 1 End Redux
Other Notes: Combined with Shadow Cloak, this power will allow you to stealth past most obstacles, a useful ability on TFs or when soloing certain missions. You cannot interact with glowies while NebForm is active, but if you drop it and keep Shadow Cloak up you can still probably stealth an interaction. NebForm has a rather long activation time, so its not ideal as a panic button. If you survive past the activation, youve got 60 seconds of intangibility to bolt, but usually the only threats thatll merit that are Q/Vs, wholl probably have killed you by then. I recommend you think of this as a situational uber-stealth power.
Inky Aspect A toggle PbAOE aura which disorients foes near you, costing you ticks from your health.
Triform Rating: 4/5
Available at level: 28
Recommended Slotting: 1-2 Acc, 1-2 Disorient Duration
Other Notes: Inky Aspects health drain can be counteracted completely by the Health power from the Fitness pool. A single health SO in Health will allow you to break even two will give you modest health regeneration while Inky is up. Inky Aspect makes a nice backup when pulling a Q/V in case your first attacks miss it can also be stacked (albeit a bit unreliably) with Gravitic Emanation to disorient bosses.
Stygian Return A self-rez power which draws on living enemies near your body.
Triform Rating: 3/5
Available at level: 35
Recommended Slotting: 1 Health
Other Notes: This is in my experience a very situational rez power, even more so than most. A large group around you can rez you to full, but now youre in the middle of a large group whereas a single pull doesnt give you much back, but supplies a relative safety. Ive used this once or twice to recover in the middle of a frantic battle, but it requires some very quick moves to get back in the game before youre defeated again. This can be a great quality of life power, especially when youre on a great team, but since it aggroes enemies to you and doesnt mez them or give you any kind of protection, it can be a judgment call whether to use it or not. And it probably goes without saying, but if theres a Q/V aggroed, just stay down.
Eclipse A PbAOE power similar to Mire, except that it buffs Damage Resistance rather than Damage/Accuracy. This buff carries over to your Nova and Dwarf forms once applied.
Triform Rating: 5/5
Available at level: 38
Recommended Slotting: 1 Acc, 2-3 Damage Resistance, 2-3 Recharge
Other Notes: With Eclipse up, you can fight in Nova form while shrugging off blows from your enemies, or fight in Dwarf form and stand toe to toe with pretty much anything. Its worth noting that Eclipse does not provide mez protection, so if youre fighting mezzers, use it and then go into Dwarf. Eclipse lasts for 90 seconds.
Dark Nova
Dark Nova Bolt A quick, light damage attack
Triform Rating: 4/5
Available at level: 6
Recommended Slotting: 1 Acc, 1-2 Damage
Other Notes: A decent attack to pull with early-on, though I prefer using Starless Step later in the game.
Dark Nova Blast The more powerful single-target blast
Triform Rating: 4/5
Available at level: 6
Recommended Slotting: 1 Acc, 2-3 Damage
Other Notes: None
Dark Nova Emanation A cone attack and your highest-damaging blast
Triform Rating: 4/5
Available at level: 6
Recommended Slotting: 1 Acc, 2-3 Damage, 2-3 Recharge
Other Notes: Not everyone is used to using cone powers if youre not familiar with them, take some time and focus on getting the most enemies in the cone as possible. It makes quite a difference.
Dark Nova Detonation Targeted AOE blast
Triform Rating: 4/5
Available at level: 6
Recommended Slotting: 1 Acc, 2-3 Damage, 2-3 Recharge
Other Notes: None
Black Dwarf
Black Dwarf Strike The quick, light melee attack
Triform Rating: 3/5
Available at level: 20
Recommended Slotting: 1 Acc, 1-2 Damage
Other Notes: All the Dwarf attacks are rather slow to recharge, so you may also want to consider slotting them for recharge and/or picking up Hasten if you plan to spend a great deal of time in Dwarf form. It takes many slots to make Dwarf form damage per second really effective I personally just try to get to a point where I can switch to human or nova form where I already have damage slotted up.
Black Dwarf Smite The slower, heavier melee attack
Triform Rating: 4/5
Available at level: 20
Recommended Slotting: 1 Acc, 2 Damage
Other Notes: See Black Dwarf Strike
Black Dwarf Mire Exactly the same as the power Sunless Mire
Triform Rating: 5/5
Available at level: 20
Recommended Slotting: 1 Acc, 2-3 Recharge
Other Notes: In prolonged battles in Dwarf form, this will help you keep aggro and will increase your DPS. Black Dwarf Mire lasts for 10 seconds. While this can be stacked with Sunless Mire for the double-Mire effect, the new short duration of BD Mire makes this tactic less attractive than it once was (though still fun). You'll want to make the BD Mire the second of the two if you attempt to double-Mire, for obvious reasons.
Black Dwarf Drain Exactly the same as the power Essence Drain
Triform Rating: 3/5
Available at level: 20
Recommended Slotting: 1 Acc, 1-2 Recharge, 3 Heal (if slots available)
Other Notes: Drain can be helpful in protracted battles, but isnt an especially impressive self-healing power if circumstances allow, its nearly always better to drop into human form and use Stygian Circle and then shift back. Exceptions include times when you have too much aggro to drop Dwarf form for even a moment and battles with Arch Villains in which there are no fallen enemies to fuel Stygian Circle. Since the heal isnt that powerful, its best in my experience to slot for recharge first and Heal only later if you have the slots to spare. Its better to have this power up more often rather than healing for more, though its best to have both if you can spare the slots.
Black Dwarf Step - Teleport
Triform Rating: 4/5
Available at level: 20
Recommended Slotting: 1 End Redux, 0-1 Range
Other Notes: Useful for tele-tanking, setting yourself up an ideal position for using Mire or human form powers such as Quasar. Also, Step can be used to set up a transformation, such as teleporting straight up and then triggering the change to Nova form. Enemies will generally follow you rather than firing from range, though this is a tricky tactic and takes practice.
Black Dwarf Antagonize Taunt
Triform Rating: 4/5
Available at level: 20
Recommended Slotting: 1-2 Acc, 2-3 Recharge, 2-3 Taunt Duration
Other Notes: Unlike Tanker taunts, Antagonize has a to-hit check. This, combined with your lack of Gauntlet and its rather slow recharge time, make it difficult for a Warshade alone to manage a teams aggro. Difficult, but not impossible.
That's a rundown of the Warshade powers, with my opinions as to how each of them stacks up in a tri-form build. If you decide not to play using one or both of the forms, then naturally your playstyle would differ and powers I've rated poorly here might be essential in that context. Take it for what it is.
This is already a long guide, but I'll say a few quick things on Pool Powers. First off, as a Kheldian you can't take Flight or Teleportation anyway. Those two pools are locked out for Kheldians this means no Air Superiority, no Hover. As a Warshade, you can get TP Foe in Starless Step, Teleport in Shadow Step and Recall Friend in Shadow Recall.
What about Hasten and Stamina? Hasten is useful, of course, but you must be in human form to activate it. Many times it'll be back up before you remember/get a chance to switch forms, so you can keep the slotting low (1-2 Recharges). Stamina, like all passives, does not work in the forms, making its utility questionable at best with a tri-form build. Would it help? A little, but between Stygian Circle and the build-in Endurance Recovery in the forms, you can do without it just fine. Even if you do decide to work in Fitness, you do not need to work it in by/around level 20 as you might for other characters.
Super Speed and Health both have direct synergy with Warshade powers - other than those, I'd say pretty much just take something with the object of having fun with it. The power pool Stealth is mutually exclusive with Shadow Cloak, so dont take Stealth. In fact, with the advent of PvP zone temp stealth powers, theres not much reason to touch Concealment as a Warshade.
Being many things at once is sort of at the center of Kheldians - not just in terms of their symbiosis, but also in the design of their powers. They're generalists rather than specialists like the other ATs, "jacks of all trades" if you will, able to fill multiple roles within a team as the need arises.