Power Crash or Cross Punch?

[KC4800]

Which one is better? Power Crash is the Tier 8 from Energy Melee, Cross Punch is the Tier 5 Power Pool attack in the Fighting Pool. Both are cones. Power Crash replaced Stun.

 

I asked this in General Forum and didn't get a response, so I though my fellow Brutes could answer it.

 

Why am I asking? Because I still have not respec'd my EM/Inv Brute after the changes were made to EM and frankly I'm not sure its necessary. I took Cross Punch, never took Stun, so I could replace Cross  Punch with Power Crash, but don't really see a benefit, am I missing something?

[Bopper]

If you want to hit for more damage but less targets, use Cross Punch. If you want to hit more targets for less damage, use Power Crash. CP is great, but I find the cone can feel a bit narrow at times. Luckily you're a brute so your taunt aura can keep packs tight and you can still hit numerous targets with some ease. Power Crash covers a lot of area so reaching its 5 tgt cap is simple. 

[KC4800]

Ah, so CP is a narrow cone, but PC is a wider cone? Is it as wide as, say, Crowd Control from War Mace?

[Bopper]

6 minutes ago, KC4800 said:

Ah, so CP is a narrow cone, but PC is a wider cone? Is it as wide as, say, Crowd Control from War Mace?

It's as wide as the Titan Weapon cones, 10ft radius and 120 degree arc. Cross Punch is a 7ft radius and 50 degree cone.

[Oysterhead]

120 degree cones are so nice, so I'd struggle to not take Power Crash. It's really fun when you hit stuff essentially standing to your side when attacking something in front of you (because of the way hit boxes overlap with the cones). 

[JAMMan0000]

I have used both and I like both. But, I tend to prefer Power Crash for same reason as Oysterhead. I usually try to fit a FF +rech proc it them. I havent done the math, but feel I get a better chance at procing with PC. 

[brasilgringo]

I think there's a hidden benefit to Cross Punch in that it ups your Recharge Rate after using it, if you've also taken Kick and Boxing?  Someone better than me can say for sure.  @Bopper?

 

[Bopper]

2 hours ago, brasilgringo said:

I think there's a hidden benefit to Cross Punch in that it ups your Recharge Rate after using it, if you've also taken Kick and Boxing?  Someone better than me can say for sure.  @Bopper?

 

That is correct. Cross Punch will give you a 5% recharge buff and 5% to-hit buff for 6s for each enemy you hit. If you have both Kick and Boxing, double those numbers.