Is DB better for Brute or Scrapper?

[drgantz]

I plan to use either WP or SR for a Secondary because it will be Natural Origin.

I plan to mostly group, and sometimes solo.  PVE only.

[Hyperstrike]

Generally, Scrappers have a SLIGHT edge in Damage output.
However, fully tricked out, the differential isn't "make or break".

[ZorkNemesis]

So if we're looking at just DB and damage, Scrappers will have an edge in damage due to not needing to build up Fury to reach high levels of damage and occasional Scrapper crits for double damage are a significant bonus.  When built and Fury is at decent levels the damage outputs tend to be close enough that it might not matter.

 

Brutes do have a pretty good advantage however and that's taunt effects.  Every attack a Brute delivers will taunt the target it hits meaning they are much less likely to flee in prolonged combat.  While Willpower is one of the rare armors with a taunt aura for Scrapper too, Reflexes offers no such benefit for a Scrapper but the Brute version does have a taunt aura in Evasion at level 20 which will help keep aggroed mobs nearby.  Brute's actual Taunt power is also AoE and works on up to 5 mobs, while Scrapper's Taunt is only 1 mob.  DB tends to be a little light on damage at times and suffers the usual "everything resists lethal" problem at times so if you're concerned about mobs running away from you Brute may help that department if you decide on Reflexes over Willpower.

 

Brutes also have a higher resistance cap if you're worried about that (90% vs Scrapper 75%).  Both Reflexes and Willpower lean on defense over resistance though so this probably won't come into play, though I could imagine with some work you could maybe break 75% S/L with Willpower.

 

My personal take: theming.  I picture Scrappers as being nimble, having speed, finesse, and the precision to land deadly strikes.  Meanwhile I see Brutes as the big guy who charges in and wrecks everything in their path.  To me, Dual Blades leans more toward a Scrapper theme than a Brute theme, especially paired with Reflexes.  DB on a Brute isn't out though, an unstoppable big mother hubbard brandishing two giant swords could also be terrifiying and maybe thanks to his Willpower he presses forward with no consideration for his own safety, maybe even too angry to die.  Something to consider when you get around to your character creation, obviously you don't have to worry about that if you don't want.

 

Edited June 3, 2021 by ZorkNemesis

[oldskool]

Here are some additional thoughts.  

Dual Blades lacks a burst damage component like Build-Up (except on Stalkers).  Blinding Feint is a sustained damage improvement.  Fury on Brutes is a sustained damage improvement.  

Scrapper critical hits are more bursty and it brings that quality into Dual Blades which it would otherwise lack.   

If you want a constant stream of building up damage over time, then go Brute.  If you like to see the occasional big number, then go Scrapper.  

In the end, neither AT has an innate advantage when it comes to how the combo system works.  Both of these ATs will either go for Blinding Feint -> Attack Vitals combo *or* completely ignore the combo system for high recharge spam of Blinding Feint -> Ablative -> Sweeping -> Ablative spam.   

Super Reflexes is a set that can accomplish the absurdly high recharge requirements for the latter build goal.  Willpower will not be nearly as easy, but it can be fantastic for ease of play.  Willpower has no trouble with Blinding Feint -> Attack Vitals as the recharge requirements are not within the same extremes as the highest possible potential DPS option.  Also, you don't even need to build that much damage into Dual Blades in order for it to be functional.  

[SomeGuy]

Depends on what is "best" to you. Damage? Scrapper. By leaps and bounds. It isn't "slightly". It is measurable AND noticeable. There aren't many damage sets that favor one AT over another, DB isn't any different. You just have to decide what you value more. Damage? Survive? Or a blend of both?

 

And to get the most damage out of DB, you actually want to ignore the combo system. Until you can run that chain, attack vitals.