It's not really about the best leveling build, or the best end game build.
It's about what you want to play!
The unique thing about this game is that everything works. If you want to make a petless MM, you can. If you want to take a ranged glass cannon and make it a melee powerhouse that never dies, you can. A character could reach level 50 and still spend the entire time in Ouro Flashbacks where it doesn't matter about half it's power choices
If you don't like playing melee, and he(i assume) gives you a scrapper build what good does that do? And even then, Scrapper is a wide berth. I can't stomach Martial Arts, lord knows I've tried, but Broadsword is my GOAT.
"What's the best at all levels forever with no recommendation as to anything?" "Brawl and Sprint, good luck!"
He can't play the game for you, give him something