Throw the Theft of Essence proc into Dark Regen. That thing has made Dark Regen fill both of my bars. It will cost you two villain merits, but it is well worth the cost.
You can do fine on SOs alone, but if you want to look at higher end expensive builds, I've got a few for you to look at.
Here's my old Dark/Fire build; it's a tank, but it should give you some ideas. The build is pre-i19 as well, so it'll take a bit of tweaking.
There's another thread in this section with my current plan for a Claws/Dark brute. It will give you some good ideas as well.
Out of curiosity, when are you using Dark Regen? Are you waiting until about 20% health every time, or firing it as soon as you get under half? Do you slot endurance reduction in your attacks?
Where to now?
Check out all my guides and fiction pieces on my blog.
The MFing Warshade | The Last Rule of Tanking | The Got Dam Mastermind
Everything Dark Armor | The Softcap
don'T attempt to read tHis mEssaGe, And believe Me, it is not a codE.
When you start putting IO sets into this brute, try to make room for some sets that offer +endurance set bonuses. For example, 5-slotted Weave and Cloak of Darkness with 4 GoTA with 1 LOTG Def/+recharge. Also if you got the budget, put 4 Kinetic Combats into each of your melee attacks for some much need S/L defense. Then there's the standard 3-slotting health with Numina/Miracle procs as well as 4-slotting Stamina with Performance Shifters.
If you start to run short on slots or is unable to get satisfactory endurance reduction for your toggles/attacks, consider going Cardiac line as your Alpha Incarnate. I did that with my FM/DA brute and his endurance problem is all but gone except for the longest of fights. He doesn't even have the body mastery APP. Instead he went with Soul Mastery PPP for Gloom (great DPA attack), Dark Obliteration (another AoE to complement FSC, with added survivability bonus), Darkest Night (situational use against harder targets).
yeah, i'd prefer not to have to go energy mastery. i don't mind eventually going cardiac on him for the extra resists too. good to know its viable to go soul though with enough +recov.
how much bonus recovery (with 3 slotted stamina assumed) would be feasible after getting a theft of essence proc, if i go with soul mastery/darkest night?
i'm thinking cloak of fear might help me more than oppressive gloom. thoughts?
50: Ill/Kin(A+,R,J)-1047 badges RE/Dark(A) Fire/Elec Warshade BS/Regen Necro/Poison Ice/Fiery(A+) Son/Son Bane(A) FM/DA(A) DM/Nin Grav/Icy
lvling: Inv/EM DM/Sheild Arch/MM Bane NW Elec/Earth Grav/Elec Elec/FA Rad/Ice
Paragon Elite/Rogue Elite Joined Oct 2004
Quote:
i have been looking at the claws/dark thread too, i've just been at work so i can't use mids.|
Originally Posted by Dechs Kaison
There's another thread in this section with my current plan for a Claws/Dark brute. It will give you some good ideas as well.
Out of curiosity, when are you using Dark Regen? Are you waiting until about 20% health every time, or firing it as soon as you get under half? Do you slot endurance reduction in your attacks? |
oh, definitely waiting until 20% HP unless fighting a lone boss, then waiting until 50% or so. i have 1 end SO in all of my attacks as well, and i think 2 in all of my end heavy toggles.
50: Ill/Kin(A+,R,J)-1047 badges RE/Dark(A) Fire/Elec Warshade BS/Regen Necro/Poison Ice/Fiery(A+) Son/Son Bane(A) FM/DA(A) DM/Nin Grav/Icy
lvling: Inv/EM DM/Sheild Arch/MM Bane NW Elec/Earth Grav/Elec Elec/FA Rad/Ice
Paragon Elite/Rogue Elite Joined Oct 2004
Quote:
Call me crazy, but when it comes to an SO build, I put two end redux in every attack. Few people realize this, but your attacks use far more endurance per second than your toggles ever will, with the exception of Death Shroud and Cloak of Fear.|
Originally Posted by Soul_Stormer
oh, definitely waiting until 20% HP unless fighting a lone boss, then waiting until 50% or so. i have 1 end SO in all of my attacks as well, and i think 2 in all of my end heavy toggles.
|
Speaking of that, I do not recommend Cloak of Fear unless you are playing Dark Melee, doubly so when you're on SOs. The power takes too many slots to be useful, and costs too much endurance. Take and use Oppressive Gloom. It costs as much as Combat Jumping (0.07 end/s) and is useful with just a single accuracy SO.
Where to now?
Check out all my guides and fiction pieces on my blog.
The MFing Warshade | The Last Rule of Tanking | The Got Dam Mastermind
Everything Dark Armor | The Softcap
don'T attempt to read tHis mEssaGe, And believe Me, it is not a codE.
Quote:
putting 1 end redux in every attack is already crazy from my build philosophy, but i understand that my attacks might be what is killing my end, at least when you add dark regen to the equation. i guess i'll have to wait it out for now, although i was already thinking end redux is a better focus when choosing particular IOs over recharge on my attacks.|
Originally Posted by Dechs Kaison
Call me crazy, but when it comes to an SO build, I put two end redux in every attack. Few people realize this, but your attacks use far more endurance per second than your toggles ever will, with the exception of Death Shroud and Cloak of Fear.
Speaking of that, I do not recommend Cloak of Fear unless you are playing Dark Melee, doubly so when you're on SOs. The power takes too many slots to be useful, and costs too much endurance. Take and use Oppressive Gloom. It costs as much as Combat Jumping (0.07 end/s) and is useful with just a single accuracy SO. |
good to know with CoF. i'll try oppressive gloom some more and see what i think. btw, does CoF cause running? its been too long for me to remember.
50: Ill/Kin(A+,R,J)-1047 badges RE/Dark(A) Fire/Elec Warshade BS/Regen Necro/Poison Ice/Fiery(A+) Son/Son Bane(A) FM/DA(A) DM/Nin Grav/Icy
lvling: Inv/EM DM/Sheild Arch/MM Bane NW Elec/Earth Grav/Elec Elec/FA Rad/Ice
Paragon Elite/Rogue Elite Joined Oct 2004
Quote:
Well actually I'd 4-slot Stamina with Performance Shifter because one of those slots will be used up by the +end proc. The +recovery % you'd get from the other 3 slots would be around 80% which is good enough. In addition, PS gives some decent set bonuses too.|
Originally Posted by Soul_Stormer
how much bonus recovery (with 3 slotted stamina assumed) would be feasible after getting a theft of essence proc, if i go with soul mastery/darkest night?
|
As for Darkest Night, as I've mentioned already, I only use it for certain situations. It just sucks up too much endurance for it to be used every fight in my opinion.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Soul_Stormer
i'm thinking cloak of fear might help me more than oppressive gloom. thoughts?
|
after trying out mobs both with and without OG, it definitely helps - mainly by keeping them disoriented, i take less damage, and don't run out of end as fast.
i guess scatter is worth the stun and -HP.
50: Ill/Kin(A+,R,J)-1047 badges RE/Dark(A) Fire/Elec Warshade BS/Regen Necro/Poison Ice/Fiery(A+) Son/Son Bane(A) FM/DA(A) DM/Nin Grav/Icy
lvling: Inv/EM DM/Sheild Arch/MM Bane NW Elec/Earth Grav/Elec Elec/FA Rad/Ice
Paragon Elite/Rogue Elite Joined Oct 2004
here is a build i put together. i purposely left out the numina unique to get a better sense of end drain. i'm not sure what else i can do with this build to increase my resists or defense without gimping powers. any ideas?
Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.92
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
obsidian shield: Level 50 Technology Brute
Primary Power Set: Fiery Melee
Secondary Power Set: Dark Armor
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery
Villain Profile:
Level 1: Scorch -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg:35(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:35(7), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx:35(25), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg:35(25)
Level 1: Dark Embrace -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(3), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(13), RctvArm-ResDam:40(15)
Level 2: Cremate -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg:35(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx:35(3), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg:35(5), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:35(7)
Level 4: Murky Cloud -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(5), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(15), RctvArm-ResDam:40(36)
Level 6: Build Up -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(39)
Level 8: Incinerate -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg:50(A), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(9), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx:50(9), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(11)
Level 10: Obsidian Shield -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/EndRdx:30(A), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+:30(11), S'fstPrt-ResKB:30(13), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx:50(34), Aegis-Psi/Status:50(37), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:50(40)
Level 12: Hasten -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(39)
Level 14: Super Speed -- Zephyr-ResKB:50(A)
Level 16: Dark Regeneration -- Theft-+End%:30(A), Theft-Heal/Rchg:30(17), Theft-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:30(17), Nictus-Acc/EndRdx/Heal/HP/Regen:50(19), Nictus-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:50(19), Nictus-Heal/HP/Regen/Rchg:50(21)
Level 18: Death Shroud -- Erad-Acc/Rchg:30(A), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:30(21), Erad-%Dam:30(23), Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:30(23), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(40), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx:50(42)
Level 20: Cloak of Darkness -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:50(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:50(43), LkGmblr-Def:50(46), LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(50)
Level 22: Taunt -- Mocking-Taunt/Rchg:50(A), Mocking-Taunt/Rchg/Rng:50(36), Mocking-Acc/Rchg:50(39), Mocking-Taunt/Rng:50(40), Mocking-Taunt:50(50)
Level 24: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 26: Fire Sword Circle -- Erad-Dmg/Rchg:30(A), Erad-Acc/Rchg:30(27), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:30(27), Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:30(29), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(29), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx:50(46)
Level 28: Tough -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(31), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(31), RctvArm-ResDam:40(37), EndRdx-I:50(43)
Level 30: Weave -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:50(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:50(31), LkGmblr-Def:50(33), LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(37)
Level 32: Greater Fire Sword -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg:50(A), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(33), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(33), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx:50(34)
Level 35: Oppressive Gloom -- Stpfy-Acc/Stun/Rchg:50(A), Stpfy-EndRdx/Stun:50(36), Stpfy-Acc/EndRdx:50(43)
Level 38: Soul Transfer -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(46)
Level 41: Gloom -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(42), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(42), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(50)
Level 44: Darkest Night -- DampS-Rchg/EndRdx:50(A), DampS-ToHitDeb/Rchg:50(45), DampS-ToHitDeb/Rchg/EndRdx:50(45), DampS-ToHitDeb/EndRdx:50(45)
Level 47: Dark Obliteration -- Posi-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(48), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx:50(48), Posi-Dmg/Rchg:50(48)
Level 49: Combat Jumping -- DefBuff-I:50(A)
Level 0: High Pain Threshold
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I:50(A)
Level 2: Health -- Heal-I:50(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I:50(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- EndMod-I:50(A), EndMod-I:50(34)
50: Ill/Kin(A+,R,J)-1047 badges RE/Dark(A) Fire/Elec Warshade BS/Regen Necro/Poison Ice/Fiery(A+) Son/Son Bane(A) FM/DA(A) DM/Nin Grav/Icy
lvling: Inv/EM DM/Sheild Arch/MM Bane NW Elec/Earth Grav/Elec Elec/FA Rad/Ice
Paragon Elite/Rogue Elite Joined Oct 2004
any thoughts? mistakes? extras?
50: Ill/Kin(A+,R,J)-1047 badges RE/Dark(A) Fire/Elec Warshade BS/Regen Necro/Poison Ice/Fiery(A+) Son/Son Bane(A) FM/DA(A) DM/Nin Grav/Icy
lvling: Inv/EM DM/Sheild Arch/MM Bane NW Elec/Earth Grav/Elec Elec/FA Rad/Ice
Paragon Elite/Rogue Elite Joined Oct 2004
Quote:
1-2 End Rdx in your attacks on a straight SO build is pretty much a must have for a Brute.|
Originally Posted by Soul_Stormer
putting 1 end redux in every attack is already crazy from my build philosophy, but i understand that my attacks might be what is killing my end,
|
Let Fury be your Damage enhancement.
If you are willing to go beyond SOs, some cheap frankenslotting is your best bet.
I leveled one of these to 50 a long time ago and fought endurance problems on him for a long time. I slotted IO's for +recovery then added energy mastery when it became available and this made it manageable. When the Alpha slot came out I went with Cardiac and now my endurance bar never ever moves even when I spam Dark Regen. I am thinking now I can go back and maybe switch either my IO's or APP.
long ago, i had leveled a fire melee/dark armor brute and recently logged him in and respeced into inherent fitness, as well as adding in tough/weave and changing from soul mastery to energy mastery for superior conditioning and physical perfection due to very high end costs with all of those toggles. and i do run all of them to stack as much defense as i can too (weave, cj and cloak of darkness).
thing is, since i went fire melee, it means that i do not have a stun to stack with oppressive gloom, a fear to stack with cloak of fear and no endurance management outside of the epic pool, and i know that i could increase his survivability more with darkest night (not to mention gloom would be great for concept). (note: he is designed as an angel of death with this flaming sword). currently, he has little problems fighting +0/x4, and i often grab two mobs to fight, but i end up draining my end anyway, mainly due to dark regen (which i do have 2 end redux in). so i either die by not using dark regen early enough (my fault), or bottoming out end-wise (which i can't always do anything about).
what are my best options considering the above? please consider SO/IO lite options as well as a heavier IO options. what should i shoot for too, as i could build him with more recovery, HP, defense and recharge?
current build:
scorch
cremate
BU
incinerate
taunt
FSC
GFS
dark embrace
death shroud
murky cloud
obsidian shield
dark regen
cloak of darkness
oppressive gloom
soul transfer
physical perfection
superior conditioning
laser beam eyes
hasten
SS
CJ
boxing
tough
weave
50: Ill/Kin(A+,R,J)-1047 badges RE/Dark(A) Fire/Elec Warshade BS/Regen Necro/Poison Ice/Fiery(A+) Son/Son Bane(A) FM/DA(A) DM/Nin Grav/Icy
lvling: Inv/EM DM/Sheild Arch/MM Bane NW Elec/Earth Grav/Elec Elec/FA Rad/Ice
Paragon Elite/Rogue Elite Joined Oct 2004