Dark Melee

Overview

Dark Melee is a standard power set that is a primary set for Brutes, Scrappers, and Stalkers, and a secondary set for Tankers.

"Dark Melee allows you to focus the powers of the Netherworld to defeat your foes. The draining effect of most of these powers can reduce the target's Accuracy."

Power Tables

Brute

Dark Melee is available as a primary set for Brutes. The following table shows the level at which each power is available:

Power	Level	Effect
Shadow Punch	1	Melee, Minor DMG(Smash/Neg), Foe -To Hit
Smite	1	Melee, Moderate DMG(Smash/Neg), Foe -To Hit
Shadow Maul	2	Melee (Cone), High DoT(Smash/Neg), Foe -To Hit
Touch of Fear	6	Melee (Targeted AoE), Moderate DMG(Neg), Foe Fear, -To Hit
Siphon Life	8	Melee, Superior DMG(Neg), Foe -To Hit, Self +HP
Taunt	12	Ranged (Targeted AoE), Foe Taunt
Dark Consumption	18	PBAoE, Moderate DMG(Neg), Self +End
Soul Drain	22	PBAoE, Moderate DMG(Neg), Self +DMG, +To Hit
Midnight Grasp	26	Melee, Superior DMG(Neg), Foe Immob, -To Hit

Scrapper

Dark Melee is available as a primary set for Scrappers. The following table shows the level at which each power is available:

Power	Level	Effect
Shadow Punch	1	Melee, Minor DMG(Smash/Neg), Foe -To Hit
Smite	1	Melee, Moderate DMG(Smash/Neg), Foe -To Hit
Shadow Maul	2	Melee (Cone), High DoT(Smash/Neg), Foe -To Hit
Touch of Fear	6	Melee (Targeted AoE), Moderate DMG(Neg), Foe Fear, -To Hit
Siphon Life	8	Melee, Superior DMG(Neg), Foe -To Hit, Self Heal
Confront	12	Ranged, Foe Taunt
Dark Consumption	18	PBAoE, Moderate DMG(Neg), Self +End
Soul Drain	22	PBAoE, Moderate DMG(Neg), Self +DMG, +To Hit
Midnight Grasp	26	Melee, Superior DMG(Neg), Foe Immob, -To Hit

Stalker

Dark Melee is available as a primary set for Stalkers. The following table shows the level at which each power is available:

Power	Level	Effect
Shadow Punch	1	Melee, Minor DMG(Smash/Neg), Foe -To Hit
Smite	1	Melee, Moderate DMG(Smash/Neg), Foe -To Hit
Shadow Maul	2	Melee (Cone), High DoT(Smash/Neg), Foe -To Hit
Assassin's Eclipse	6	Melee, Special Damage(Smash/Neg)
Build Up	8	Self +DMG, +To Hit
Placate	12	Ranged, Foe Placate, Self Stealth/Hide
Siphon Life	18	Melee, Superior DMG(Neg), Foe -To Hit, Self +HP
Touch of Fear	22	Melee(Targeted AoE), Moderate DMG(Neg), Foe Fear, -To Hit
Midnight Grasp	26	Melee, Superior DMG(Neg), Foe Immob, -To Hit

Tanker

Dark Melee is available as a secondary set for Tankers. The following table shows which powers are available and at what level:

Power	Level	Effect
Shadow Punch	1	Melee, Minor DMG(Smash/Neg), Foe -To Hit
Smite	1	Melee, Light DMG(Smash/Neg), Foe -To Hit
Shadow Maul	4	Melee (Cone), High DoT(Smash/Neg), Foe -To Hit
Taunt	10	Ranged, Foe Taunt
Siphon Life	16	Melee, High DMG(Neg), Foe -To Hit, Self +HP
Touch of Fear	20	Melee(Targeted AoE), Light DMG(Neg), Foe Fear, -To Hit
Soul Drain	24	PBAoE, Moderate DMG(Neg), Self +DMG, +To Hit
Dark Consumption	28	PBAoE, Moderate DMG(Neg), Self +End
Midnight Grasp	30	Melee, Superior DMG(Neg), Foe Immob, -To Hit

Powers

Assassin's Eclipse

A signature Stalker attack. This attack does superior smashing and negative energy damage on its own as a frontal attack and cannot be interrupted. However, if it is executed while you are Hidden, this attack will do tremendous damage, as you waylay your unsuspecting foe. This attack may be interrupted if you move or are attacked while executing this power and ar hidden. Using this power while not hidden has a chance to critically hit equal to 33.3% time the number of stacks of Assassin's Focus. Using Assassin's Eclipse when not hidden will remove all stacks of Assassin's Focus regardless if you critically hit or not.

Damage Special(Smashing/Negative) Recharge Slow Minimum Level 6 (Stalker) Effects Melee Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage Reduce Endurance Cost Increase Attack Rate Set Categories Melee Damage Universal Damage

Build Up

Greatly increases the amount of damage you deal for a few seconds, as well as slightly increasing your chance to hit.

Recharge Long Minimum Level 8 (Stalker) Effects Self +Damage, +To Hit Enhancements Reduce Endurance Cost Increase Attack Rate Enhance ToHit Buff Set Categories To Hit Buff

Confront

Challenges a foe to attack you. Useful to pull a villain off an ally who finds themselves in over their head. A To Hit check is required to Taunt enemy players, but is not needed against critter targets.

Recharge Fast Minimum Level 12 (Scrapper) Effects Ranged Foe Taunt Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Range Increase Attack Rate Enhance Taunt Effectiveness Set Categories Taunt

Dark Consumption

The dark power of the Netherworld allows you to tap the essence of your foe's soul and transfer it to yourself. This will drain the Hit Points of your enemy and add to your Endurance.

Damage Moderate(Negative) Recharge Very Long Tankers only: Long Minimum Level 18 (Brute) 18 (Scrapper) 28 (Tanker) Effects Point Blank Area of Effect Self +Endurance Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage Enhance Endurance Modification Increase Attack Rate Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (except Scrappers) Set Categories Melee AoE Damage Endurance Modification Taunt (except Scrappers) Universal Damage

Midnight Grasp

Mastery over the forces of the Netherworld allows you to create dark tentacles that can Immobilize a foe, reduce their chance to hit (except Tankers) and continuously drain their life force.

Damage Superior Damage over Time(Negative) Recharge Slow Minimum Level 26 (Brute) 26 (Scrapper) 26 (Stalker) 30 (Tanker) Effects Melee Foe Immobilize, -To Hit Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage Reduce Endurance Cost Enhance Immobilization Duration Increase Attack Rate Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brutes/Tankers only) Enhance ToHit Debuff Set Categories Melee Damage Immobilize Taunt (Brutes/Tankers only) ToHit Debuff Accurate ToHit Debuff Universal Damage

Placate

Allows you to trick a foe to no longer attack you. A Successful Placate will also Hide you. This Hide is very brief, and offers no Defense bonus, but it will allow you to deliver a critical hit or Assassin's Blow. However, if you attack a Placated Foe, he will be able to attack you back.

Recharge Long Minimum Level 12 (Stalker) Effects Ranged Foe Placate Self Stealth/Hide Enhancements Enhance Range Increase Attack Rate Enhance Taunt Effectiveness Set Categories Taunt

Shadow Maul

You wrap your entire arms with Negative Energy channeled from the Netherworlds, then perform a series of blows that deal a lot of damage over a short period of time to multiple targets in front of you. These blows cloud your target's vision, lowering his chance to hit for a short time.

Damage High Damage over Time(Smashing/Negative) Recharge Moderate Tankers only: Slow Minimum Level 2 (Brute) 2 (Scrapper) 2 (Stalker) 4 (Tanker) Effects Melee (Cone) Foe -To Hit Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage Reduce Endurance Cost Increase Attack Rate Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brutes/Tankers only) Enhance ToHit Debuff Set Categories Melee AoE Damage Taunt (Brutes/Tankers only) ToHit Debuff Accurate ToHit Debuff Universal Damage

Shadow Punch

You wrap your fists with Negative Energy channeled from the Netherworlds, then perform a quick punch that deals minor damage. Shadow Punches cloud the target's vision, lowering his chance to hit for a short time.

Damage Minor(Smashing/Negative) Recharge Fast Tanker only: Very Fast Minimum Level 1 (Brute) 1 (Scrapper) 1 (Stalker) 1 (Tanker) Effects Melee Foe -To Hit Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage Reduce Endurance Cost Increase Attack Rate Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brutes/Tankers only) Enhance ToHit Debuff Set Categories Melee Damage Taunt (Brutes/Tankers only) ToHit Debuff Accurate ToHit Debuff Universal Damage

Siphon Life

You tap the power of the Netherworld and create a life transferring conduit between a foe and yourself. This will transfer Hit Points from your enemy to yourself. Foes siphoned in this manner have their chance to hit reduced.

Damage Superior(Negative) Tankers only: High(Negative) Recharge Slow Tankers only: Moderate Minimum Level 8 (Brute) 8 (Scrapper) 18 (Stalker) 16 (Tanker) Effects Melee Foe -To Hit Self Heal Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage Reduce Endurance Cost Enhance Heal Increase Attack Rate Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brutes/Tankers only) Enhance ToHit Debuff Set Categories Melee Damage Healing/Absorb Accurate Healing Taunt (Brutes/Tankers only) ToHit Debuff Accurate ToHit Debuff Universal Damage

Smite

You wrap your fists with Negative Energy channeled from the Netherworlds, then perform a Smite that deals more damage than Shadow Punch, but has a longer recharge time. Smite clouds the target's vision, lowering his chance to hit for a short time.

Damage Moderate(Smashing/Negative) Tankers only: Light(Smashing/Negative) Recharge Moderate Tankers only: Fast Minimum Level 1 (Brute) 1 (Scrapper) 1 (Stalker) 1 (Tanker) Effects Melee Foe -To Hit Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage Reduce Endurance Cost Increase Attack Rate Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brutes/Tankers only) Enhance ToHit Debuff Set Categories Melee Damage Taunt (Brutes/Tankers only) ToHit Debuff Accurate ToHit Debuff Universal Damage

Soul Drain

Using this power, you can drain the essence of all nearby foes' souls, thus increasing your own strength. Each affected foe will lose some Hit Points and add to your Damage and chance to hit.

Editor's Note:

Soul Drain does not benefit from an increased target cap for Tankers.

Damage Moderate(Negative) Recharge Very Long Minimum Level 22 (Brute) 22 (Scrapper) 24 (Tanker) Effects Point Blank Area of Effect Self +Damage, +To Hit Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage Reduce Endurance Cost Increase Attack Rate Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (except Scrappers) Enhance ToHit Buff Set Categories Melee AoE Damage Taunt (except Scrappers) To Hit Buff Universal Damage

Taunt

Taunts foes to attack you. Useful to pull enemies off allies and keep them attacking you to raise your Fury. A To Hit check is required to Taunt enemy players, but is not needed against critter targets.

Editor's Note:

Tankers: Taunts a foe, and some nearby foes, to attack you. Useful for pulling villains off an ally who find themselves in over their head. Taunted foes tend to ignore other Heroes and focus on you for quite a while, so use this power cautiously. A To Hit check is required to Taunt enemy players, but is not needed against critter targets.

Recharge Fast Tankers only: Slow Minimum Level 12 (Brute) 10 (Tanker) Effects Ranged(Targeted Area of Effect) Tankers only: Ranged Foe Taunt Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Range Increase Attack Rate Enhance Taunt Effectiveness Set Categories Taunt

Touch of Fear

The Netherworld is one scary place, and with but a touch, you can give your enemy a glimpse into this dark world. This will cause them to helplessly tremble in Fear. Foes in this state of panic have reduced chance to hit.

Damage Moderate(Negative) Tankers only: Light(Negative) Recharge Moderate Minimum Level 6 (Brute) 6 (Scrapper) 22 (Stalker) 20 (Tanker) Effects Melee(Targeted Area of Effect) Foe Fear, -To Hit Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Damage (except Stalkers) Reduce Endurance Cost Enhance Fear Duration Increase Attack Rate Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (except Scrappers) Enhance ToHit Debuff Set Categories Melee AoE Damage Fear Taunt (Brutes/Tankers only) ToHit Debuff Accurate ToHit Debuff Universal Damage

Historical

This section contains information about changes that took place in City of Heroes/Villains. It is provided for historical purposes.

• This set has been in the game for Scrappers since Issue 0.
• This set was included with the original release of Brutes in Issue 6.
• This set was proliferated to Stalkers in Issue 7.
• This set was proliferated to Tankers in Issue 12.

External Links

• Dark Melee for Brutes at City of Data v2.0
• Dark Melee for Scrappers at City of Data v2.0
• Dark Melee for Stalkers at City of Data v2.0
• Dark Melee for Tankers at City of Data v2.0