For players diving into the world of Masterminds in City of Heroes, particularly those drawn to the primal power of Beast Mastery combined with the shadowy control of the Dark powerset, the journey can sometimes feel challenging. It’s a path that demands understanding and strategic gameplay to truly unleash the Best In Pets potential this unique combination offers. If you’ve found yourself wondering how to make this build truly shine, you’re in the right place.
Beast Mastery: More Than Just Claws and Fangs
Let’s dispel a common misconception right away: Beast Masterminds are far from fragile. In fact, they are designed to be surprisingly resilient. From the outset, your loyal animal companions boast inherent resistances to Smashing and Lethal damage, coupled with a respectable 11% Defense against all attack types. This inherent toughness positions Beasts as one of the sturdier pet sets available, a stark contrast to the more delicate nature of sets like Ninjas. Embrace the fact that you’re commanding a force built to withstand punishment while dishing it out.
Dark Control: Your Secret Weapon for Pet Empowerment
The Dark powerset is equally robust, but its effectiveness hinges on understanding its nuances and employing it strategically. While you might miss out on Fearsome Stare, Darkest Night becomes your crucial opening move. Instead of waiting for enemies to overwhelm you, initiate combat by casting Darkest Night. This powerful debuff significantly reduces enemy Hit Chance and damage output even before they can launch a full assault. When paired with your pets’ inherent defenses, Darkest Night becomes a cornerstone of survivability and control, allowing your pets to thrive in the fray.
Don’t underestimate Twilight Grasp either. While its casting time might seem a touch deliberate, this ability is a potent heal that can even bring you or your pets back from the brink. Recent updates have boosted its base accuracy, making it a reliable lifeline. Investing in some accuracy enhancements, even a single Single Origin accuracy slotted enhancement, especially at lower levels, can further ensure its effectiveness against tougher foes. For those early levels, consider a Kismat +Accuracy unique Invention Origin enhancement in a travel power like Hover to boost your hit chance.
Leveling the Mastermind: Patience and Strategic Growth
It’s true that levels 12 to 26 can present a bit of a hurdle for Masterminds. At level 18, your wolves are still developing their full potential. The real turning point arrives at level 26 with the acquisition of the Dire Wolf, a significant upgrade to your animal entourage. However, the true transformation occurs at level 32 when you unlock the final upgrade slot. Push through this mid-level phase, and you’ll witness a dramatic surge in your pets’ capabilities.
Masterminds, alongside Stalkers, are the archetypes that gain the most from their unique Invention Origin enhancements (IOs). While Stalkers can function effectively without them, Masterminds truly unlock their pet’s potential by leveraging these specialized enhancements. For maximizing the best in pets build, prioritize obtaining the six unique pet Defense/Resist IOs. These aren’t prohibitively expensive and are considered essential for enhancing pet survivability in challenging content. At a minimum, aim for the three Defense IOs and the +15% Resist IO if budget is a concern, especially for pet sets outside of Demons, Thugs, or Necromancy.
Your wolves can also benefit immensely from a variety of unique IOs and procs. Enhancements like Shield Breaker and Lady Grey are excellent choices to amplify their damage output and accelerate enemy takedowns, contributing to a more efficient and powerful pet force.
Mastering the Art of Debuffing for Pet Dominance
Remember, a Dark Mastermind’s strength lies in their ability to debuff enemies, paving the way for their pets to dominate. Strategic use of Tar Patch is key. Position a Tar Patch at a choke point or corner. Then, carefully expose yourself to cast Darkest Night on a Lieutenant or Boss within a group of enemies. Retreat behind cover and allow the enemies to advance into your Tar Patch, becoming ensnared and vulnerable. This tactical approach allows your pets to engage on your terms, maximizing their damage output while minimizing incoming threats.
Don’t forget to build Pack Mentality using your Beast Mastery powers. Call Hawk is a particularly effective choice, inflicting -ToHit, -Fly, and Knockdown on enemies. If you selected Fortify Pack, you can convert stacks of Pack Mentality, generated by both your attacks and your pets’, into valuable Defense stacks when needed. Alternatively, allowing Pack Mentality to accumulate enhances your critical hit chance and damage, further accelerating enemy annihilation and showcasing the best in pets offensive potential.
By understanding these core principles and employing strategic gameplay, you can transform your Beast/Dark Mastermind into a formidable force, truly achieving the best in pets experience within City of Heroes.
