Jedi Shadow. Where to put my last 10 skill points.

[Vranux]

So, I've been jogging this around in my head for quite a bit...and well I'm at a stale mate it seems.

This is my PVE Build with 31 points (obviously opinions greatly appreciated)

(Put www . torhead . com/ in front of these, it's my first post so I cannot post links)

skill-calc#601ZGG0RkhMrtz.1

Now, I know I didn't pick Security Breach. Reason for that, Force Breach usually reset long before I hit 5 stacks of Exit Strategy...so kinda pointless. Other than that, it's a straight forward DPS build.

My main stats right now are Willpower and Crit.

So now here's my question for you guys... which tree should I put my 10 points in?

Should I work towards 3 points into Upheaval since Infiltration utilizes Project alot? Or should I put 2-3 points into expertise and 2-3 points into Force Synergy?

It really comes down to this...

skill-calc#601Mc0MZGG0RkhMrtzZc.1

or

skill-calc#6010MZGG0RkhMrtzZf0c.1

What's your thoughts on this?

Thanks!
-Vranux

[Vanor]

There's someone on the TOR boards who's done a lot of theorycrafting for Shadows.

She? It's a female avatar... Said that expertise is a waste of points, because it only effects the damage done by your technique which isn't very much. Maybe a couple hundred points, so 6% on top of that...

Myself I think I'd go with the 2nd build option.

[Vranux]

Alright, I was thinking that too. Seems like the Shadow Technique isn't as good as it should be. Perhaps a future patch will buff it. Either way, it clears up the choices for me! thank you very much.

Though just one last question.

2 points in Technique Mastery

3 points in Force Synergy

2 points in Jedi Reslience

3 points in Upheaval

or

Skip Upheaval and max:

Applied Force, Technique Mastery, Force Synergy and Jedi Resilence (or Kinetic Field)

[Vanor]

Most of the shadow builds I've seen, go 31 in the primary tree and 10 in the other... This is based on what I have read and not my own personal experience.

Most of the builds I've seen that take some balance skills, like to max out upheaval, but they also put 2 points in Psychokinesis, because it improves project which is a useful skill, and already improved with upheaval.

So what I'd do is

3 points in Force Synergy

2 points in Jedi Resilience

2 points in Psychokinesis

3 points in Upheaval

[Vranux]

Most of the shadow builds I've seen, go 31 in the primary tree and 10 in the other... This is based on what I have read and not my own personal experience.

Most of the builds I've seen that take some balance skills, like to max out upheaval, but they also put 2 points in Psychokinesis, because it improves project which is a useful skill, and already improved with upheaval.

So what I'd do is

3 points in Force Synergy

2 points in Jedi Resilience

2 points in Psychokinesis

3 points in Upheaval

I agree with utilizing Psychokinesis due to the fact after circling shadows, it goes from 22 force to 20. But I almost feel like 6% armor penetration from the defense skill tree would be more beneficial. Instead of only working on the dps of a single ability, Technique Mastery effects everything. I wish we had some theory crafting on this...I just don't know the math.

Mainly I want to know is a project that costs 2 less force more dps gain than a 6% armor penetration.

[Vanor]

Mainly I want to know is a project that costs 2 less force more dps gain than a 6% armor penetration.

As I understand it... Technique Mastery only effects the bonus damage done by your technique, I'm guessing you're using shadow, which according to TORHead, has a 25% chance to do 229 damage. Not sure how much you'd do, but it's a good working number.

Now I'm not completely sure how often that will proc, because I read that the chance is actually a bit higher because of our weapon type, you get a 25% chance with each end, so it works out to be higher then a flat 25%.

That 6% increase in armor pen, is going to have a variable effect depending on what you're fighting, something with heavy armor is going to have a bigger effect then light armor, because light armor has other forms of mitigation.

So not really looking at a big increase in DPS over all from that 6%, but how that compares to 2 points cheaper Project I'm not sure. I suppose it would depend in part on how often you use Project. My guess is the cheaper project would be better, but I can't back that up with real math.

The Shadow forms on the SWTOR site has some pretty good theorycrafters though, if you posted that question there you would likely get a better answer then I can give.

[Vranux]

See, I figured it was a passive ability when one of the 3 techniques were present. Gotta admit, some of the tool tips in this game are really confusing.

[Vanor]

See, I figured it was a passive ability when one of the 3 techniques were present. Gotta admit, some of the tool tips in this game are really confusing.

Like Guard. I found out that Guard which you use on either a companion or another player who's part of your team, it gives them 5% damage reduction 25% less threat, but 50% of all damage done by players goes to you. The mob's you fight in PvE are not players so you take no extra damage.

That means if you have it, there's little reason not to use it, unless your companion is doing the tanking and has trouble holding threat.

[Vranux]

See, I didn't notice that about Guard...go figure...But that stupid Technique Mastery still bothers me.

Technique Mastery
Improves the effect of your techniques while they're active:
Force Technique: Increases the critical hit chance by [1 / 2 / 3]% and the duration of Force Technique's Force Breach by [1 second / 2 seconds / 3 seconds].
Combat Technique: Increases internal and elemental resistance by [3 / 6 / 9]%.
Shadow Technique: Increases your armor penetration by [3 / 6 / 9]%.

If this didn't increase your abilities passively like I originally said...wouldn't that part for tanking be rendered useless? There's isn't a way for a offensive ability to give a defensive buff.

Combat Technique
Instant
Force: 50

Assumes a combat technique, giving your attacks a 50% chance to deal 179 internal damage and heal you for 130. This effect cannot occur more than once every 1.5 seconds. Increases your armor rating by 150%, shield chance by 15% and threat generation by 50%. While active, melee bonus damage is reduced by 5%. Requires a double-bladed lightsaber. Does not break Stealth.

So it leaves me to believe it gives a passive bonus to your resistances when combat technique is active. Wouldn't that pertain to the other two techniques and be passive like the defensive one is? The only of the three that is finite is the force technique one which states which ability is getting a buff.

[dodgerfn]

Like Guard. I found out that Guard which you use on either a companion or another player who's part of your team, it gives them 5% damage reduction 25% less threat, but 50% of all damage done by players goes to you. The mob's you fight in PvE are not players so you take no extra damage.

That means if you have it, there's little reason not to use it, unless your companion is doing the tanking and has trouble holding threat.

Hey thanks for explaining this a little better, I was confused on this spell. It just didn't make sense to me I would want to take all that extra damage. Guess I just didn't read it close enough. Now maybe I can keep Theran alive longer