To Battle Axe or not to Battle Axe?

[Crowcus Pocus]

Long story short, my altitis hit me again and now I need to roll two new Scrappers. One will be Claws/EA because I love claws and never played Energy Aura before.

The other one I'm thinking of is BAxe/BIO. The set seems pretty similar to War Mace, so I was wondering if I'm missing something obvious since I don't think I've came across many BA players before.

 

What says you?

[marcussmythe]

BA suffers a couple of mechanical drawback compared to War Mace - notably that War Mace has one -very- high damage per animation attack (a result of an old tweak, one which axe did not recieve) that really strengthens its single target performance, a slightly greater variety of CC in WM than BA, and finally that BA does Lethal - which is slightly more resisted than Bashing, and by mobs one encounters more often (in my play experience, at least).

Battle Axe offers a few things in return - primarily uniqueness, inasmuch as one avoids Meta/FOTM.  Also, by carrying KB on every attack, it has plentiful slotting opportunities for the Force Feedback +RCHG Proc.  As such, I would be tempted to pair Axe with sets that feature long cooldown, high value powers - low or no crash T9s, powerful attacks in secondary, etc.

 

As such, perhaps Axe/Shield.  Use FF to lower recharge time on shield charge for AE bombing and with OWTS for high difficulty content.  Ive also heard of very successful Axe/Ice combinations.   While Bio is a powerhouse set, I would be more inclined to pair Bioarmor with sets with massive built in damage (TW, Natch), very fast animations - as Bio can be 'click now to not die', and/or defensive bonuses (Katana!) as Bio can be a little squishy as armor sets go - espc if your running in offense mode (and you chose Bio to get the insane damage buff that is offense mode - don't lie)

 

With either of the above, and particularly with Axe/Ice, you get to go forth knowing that people will look at you and go 'Do WHAT now?' when they look at your powers - something that is simply impossible if your power-sets involve the words fire, rad, bio, or titan. 🙂

 

Edited June 30, 2020 by marcussmythe

[Giocondi]

I run an Ice/BA Tanker for a Viking theme and it is a blast to play. Try it out and see if you are enjoying yourself! The animations and sound effects are very satisfying to play.

[Yomo Kimyata]

Do it!  On paper, WM is slightly better, which is why most people run with it instead.  One of my 50s is an Axe/Shield brute who is wonderful, and probably would have played slightly better as a scrapper.

[Sailboat]

I really like Shield/Axe on a Tanker.

[Sir Myshkin]

Ooh, no one ever talks about Battle Axe! I have the perfect build here somewhere...

 

Rummages around in build folders...

 

Yup, Battle Axe/Radiation Armor Mad King Scrapper!

Spoiler

Hero Plan by Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer 2.6.0.7
https://github.com/ImaginaryDevelopment/imaginary-hero-designer

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Battle Axe
Secondary Power Set: Radiation Armor
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Blaze Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Chop -- Hct-Dmg(A), Hct-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(7), Hct-Acc/Rchg(15), Hct-Dmg/EndRdx(15), Hct-Dam%(17), Mk'Bit-Dam%(17)
Level 1: Alpha Barrier -- UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(37), UnbGrd-EndRdx/Rchg(39), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam(39), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(39), UnbGrd-Max HP%(40)
Level 2: Gash -- CrsImp-Acc/Dmg(A), CrsImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(3), TchofDth-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(3), TchofDth-Dam%(5), GldStr-%Dam(5), FrcFdb-Rechg%(7)
Level 4: Gamma Boost -- NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(A)
Level 6: Proton Armor -- TtnCtn-ResDam(A), TtnCtn-ResDam/EndRdx(40), TtnCtn-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(40), TtnCtn-ResDam/Rchg(42)
Level 8: Swoop -- CrsImp-Acc/Dmg(A), CrsImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(9), TchofDth-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(9), TchofDth-Dam%(11), GldStr-%Dam(11), FrcFdb-Rechg%(13)
Level 10: Fallout Shelter -- UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(42)
Level 12: Build Up -- RechRdx-I(A), GssSynFr--Build%(13)
Level 14: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 16: Radiation Therapy -- TchoftheN-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Erd-%Dam(23), TchoftheN-%Dam(25), Obl-%Dam(25), ScrDrv-Dam%(31), FuroftheG-ResDeb%(31)
Level 18: Whirling Axe -- Arm-Dmg(A), Arm-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(19), Arm-Acc/Rchg(19), Arm-Dmg/EndRdx(21), Arm-Dam%(21), Obl-%Dam(23)
Level 20: Beta Decay -- AnlWkn-Acc/Rchg/EndRdx(A), AchHee-ResDeb%(34)
Level 22: Super Speed -- Clr-Stlth(A)
Level 24: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(45), Rct-ResDam%(45)
Level 26: Cleave -- ScrDrv-Acc/Dmg(A), ScrDrv-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(27), ScrDrv-Dam%(27), Obl-%Dam(29), SprCrtStr-Rchg/+50% Crit(29), Obl-Dmg(31)
Level 28: Particle Shielding -- Prv-Heal(A), Prv-Heal/EndRdx(42), Prv-EndRdx/Rchg(43), Prv-Heal/Rchg(43), Prv-Heal/Rchg/EndRdx(43), Prv-Absorb%(45)
Level 30: Assault -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 32: Pendulum -- SprScrStr-Dmg/Rchg(A), SprScrStr-Acc/Dmg(33), SprScrStr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), SprScrStr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(33), SprScrStr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34), SprScrStr-Rchg/+Crit(34)
Level 35: Ground Zero -- ScrDrv-Acc/Dmg(A), ScrDrv-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(36), ScrDrv-Dam%(36), Obl-%Dam(36), ShlBrk-%Dam(37), TchofLadG-%Dam(37)
Level 38: Char -- SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg(A), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(48), Apc-Dam%(48), GhsWdwEmb-Dam%(48), UnbCns-Dam%(50), GldNet-Dam%(50)
Level 41: Melt Armor -- AnlWkn-Acc/Rchg/EndRdx(A), AnlWkn-Acc/Rchg(46)
Level 44: Tactics -- HO:Cyto(A)
Level 47: Boxing -- Acc-I(A)
Level 49: Tough -- HO:Ribo(A), HO:Ribo(50)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Critical Hit
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Pnc-Heal/+End(A), Mrc-Rcvry+(46)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-EndMod(A), PrfShf-End%(46)
Level 50: Musculature Radial Paragon
Level 50: Reactive Radial Flawless Interface
Level 50: Assault Core Embodiment
Level 50: Barrier Core Epiphany
Level 1: Quick Form
------------

 

| Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer to view the build |
		|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
		|MxDz;1522;740;1480;HEX;|
		|78DA65934B4F135114C7CF65A694963E28A5A5BC690B74DAD281464D8C2F028206A|
		|10991C49DA9137A8589A56DA68D415CB9F00BB8716B8C89E8C2EFE056458D2B3F82|
		|2FD0C4775CD4D3398742D2499BDFDC73EFB9FFFF39776E6E6BDEF3ECE29D1910BEF|
		|345A35ACDAFAE5946A5222D47CE5837D7A0F138F1DF7710CFE764514A7DCEA8D58A|
		|323FBB25479B33F3F2BA2C55A57ED9289846CD2C97F2B3D666D90A2C9636A4254B3|
		|5FDE0C5BD522E17F5D58A94058FFDBA2C8D8A595AF71F0C0AD2AA6E9815AF3DBE60|
		|AE6FD470B67BA162AEE97345635BE67346B526AD5B117496C2BF2F0CFCD41D30D10|
		|69055A15D23FA92CC14B12BCDBC81CBB34E88259082737F28F6DCD84FE2C42FE66F|
		|E61F62E22FD11FE654CC15D7C08EB5159857910915D43C53536CBDF6BBA4FF3809A|
		|0902E285704E9A21707C514874EB1448A992126D3C4006A3BD9B793B53B58BB83B5|
		|DDACEDD6C8AF87B5C751C745B9C2C5B526B9B62EDCB7936A129DE9C67E2EF03CA1B|
		|C187E0A5EF6ECE5B909DCCB6F77A1EEF0F7528DE17D5C3FA44224427B4680387C9B|
		|FC0DCFD038885A01EE5FE02469749F629E26F69C619E2586813412A81B14B6AE08B|
		|EA3B9E87364508538FA0CD1BE1072711EC67AC97B5B6F887A38B9443E26BF137BD0|
		|4F1FFBE9BB495EFBB799EC7D906B19942AD5F28FF6D7D0CF009FC7C007EEE94762E|
		|A13F333F30BEBEE11BBD1DB10F775284A3A21F432C25E465ED2BAD117CC57CC5D62|
		|F435F30DEBA29718E7C6B88E38D711E73AE25CC758BB629FD5D82ED5F1D00B30CEB|
		|9E33B54E3D4536696D64C6D52FFB28B34CE2ED05E8F3057E36F47B3CFC40599B7C4|
		|20D698E61AD32710AA0202633A9F93DE4FF751C1D8347F9BD3E7685DB641A702836|
		|AF39EE30F1F18519BB7B79E6A999D6E89645B22C75A22C75B22CB2D9115B579F341|
		|D8115717343A6A3BD973E32CD72A32D4EFAF873121A2D4AFCC2561DFCFFDA3EB355|
		|AFFEDE8FA7BD4E7CC7DE27210C155BF6FBCB3EE4EEC30FEE0487C29D5F45FFF0FCC|
		|41EE5F|
		|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

 

So much damage packed into such a tiny little axe!

[Heraclea]

14 hours ago, Sailboat said:

I really like Shield/Axe on a Tanker.

The combo works well enough, but if you are taking Taunt don't roll a female character.