Are or Mace?

[00Troy00]

I'm aware there are better primaries, but a weapon-wielding brute fits my concept. Out of those two, which would you choose (and why)? 

 

*I'm thinking of going for Inv in terms of a secondary, but I'm open to suggestions*

[biostem]

2 minutes ago, 00Troy00 said:

I'm aware there are better primaries, but a weapon-wielding brute fits my concept. Out of those two, which would you choose (and why)? 

There are really 3 questions you need to ask yourself, with regard to your question:

 

1. Do you prefer dealing smashing or lethal damage.

 

2. Do you prefer knock up/down or disorient effects as your primary form of "control" with your attacks.

 

3. Do you prefer the various axe or mace models more.

[00Troy00]

5 hours ago, biostem said:

There are really 3 questions you need to ask yourself, with regard to your question:

 

1. Do you prefer dealing smashing or lethal damage.

 

2. Do you prefer knock up/down or disorient effects as your primary form of "control" with your attacks.

 

3. Do you prefer the various axe or mace models more.

1. No preference unless there's a practical difference.

 

2. Whichever occupies the enemy more

 

3. I'm sure I can find something I like with either once I get 1 and 2 figured out. 

[biostem]

My responses are in YELLOW below:

 

3 minutes ago, 00Troy00 said:

1. No preference unless there's a practical difference.

IIRC, smashing damage is resisted slightly less than lethal.

 

2. Whichever occupies the enemy more

I tend to prefer the various knockups/knockdowns over stuns, but those stuns can stack to affect even knock-resistant enemies.

 

3. I'm sure I can find something I like with either once I get 1 and 2 figured out. 

No doubt!

 

[PyroNugget]

can't really lose with either.the axe cyclone is worth building a toon just for that

 

but after a hard, frustrating day at work, WAR MACE makes me feel better

 

hits so hard you *almost* feel bad for the enemy sometimes.smiles for miles playing them

[Spaghetti Betty]

Both are excellent choices for a Brute!

 

It's hard to argue against Battle Axe since it got a shiny new update not too long ago. It's now become a damage powerhouse that really commands it's space thanks to Axe Cyclone. You'll feel like a monster in both AoE and ST thanks to how heavy each attack feels when it's delivered. This comes at the cost of horrid recharge and endurance management. This is best offset with IOs and a secondary that provides some sort of Endurance recovery, but can cause one to feel restricted in their choice of pairings.

 

War Mace is more of a free spirit in comparison, if that free spirit was a boulder being dropped off a very high cliff. While not quite as intense as Battle Axe, War Mace still boasts extreme ST damage. Build Up + Clobber will outright kill most things that aren't bosses. Anything that doesn't die to it has Shatter and Jawbreaker waiting right behind it. It's AoE isn't too shabby either. Whirling Mace is one of the most efficient versions of it's sister moves in terms of end vs damage (Whirling Sword, The Lotus Drops). It's overall endurance cost and recharge times aren't nearly as volatile as Battle Axe, so you do get a bit more freedom choosing an armor pairing.

Edited April 29, 2023 by Spaghetti Betty

[00Troy00]

30 minutes ago, Spaghetti Betty said:

Both are excellent choices for a Brute!

 

It's hard to argue against Battle Axe since it got a shiny new update not too long ago. It's now become a damage powerhouse that really commands it's space thanks to Axe Cyclone. You'll feel like a monster in both AoE and ST thanks to how heavy each attack feels when it's delivered. This comes at the cost of horrid recharge and endurance management. This is best offset with IOs and a secondary that provides some sort of Endurance recovery, but can cause one to feel restricted in their choice of pairings.

 

War Mace is more of a free spirit in comparison, if that free spirit was a boulder being dropped off a very high cliff. While not quite as intense as Battle Axe, War Mace still boasts extreme ST damage. Build + Clobber will outright kill most things that aren't bosses. Anything that doesn't die to it has Shatter and Jawbreaker waiting right behind it. It's AoE isn't too shabby either. Whirling Mace is one of the most efficient versions of it's sister moves in terms of end vs damage (Whirling Sword, The Lotus Drops). It's overall endurance cost and recharge times aren't nearly as volatile as Battle Axe, so you do get a bit more freedom choosing an armor pairing.

What do you think pair's best with Axe?

[Spaghetti Betty]

6 minutes ago, 00Troy00 said:

What do you think pair's best with Axe?

Anything that provides a handy End recovery tool. Here's a list of armor sets that provide one in the order that I think are the most effective pairings with Axe:

 

Radiation Armor

Bio Armor

Fiery Aura

Energy Aura

Ice Armor

Regeneration**

Electric Armor

 

 

**-Requires a skilled hand at IO building

[00Troy00]

2 hours ago, Spaghetti Betty said:

Anything that provides a handy End recovery tool. Here's a list of armor sets that provide one in the order that I think are the most effective pairings with Axe:

 

Radiation Armor

Bio Armor

Fiery Aura

Energy Aura

Ice Armor

Regeneration**

Electric Armor

 

 

**-Requires a skilled hand at IO building

"A skilled hand," sounds expensive...and very intensive to play

[Uun]

6 hours ago, Spaghetti Betty said:

Here's a list of armor sets that provide one in the order that I think are the most effective pairings with Axe:

You left out Willpower.

[TheOtherTed]

8 hours ago, 00Troy00 said:

3. I'm sure I can find something I like with either once I get 1 and 2 figured out.

With Mace, you can wield a pipe wrench.  Honestly not sure why that isn't FOTM.

[Spaghetti Betty]

5 hours ago, Uun said:

You left out Willpower.

Stick it at the bottom!

[nihilii]

Throwing a vote for Axe. I think everyone should try Cleave, Axe Cyclone and Sweep once. For me it feels close to the targeting ease of playing a ranged character, packed with melee survivability.

[Panache]

They’re Scrappers, but I have tricked out 50s of Mace (/Ice) and Axe (/Stone), and I find Axe much more fun, mostly because of exactly what @nihilii said. Both sets can have a full AoE [edit: well, multi-target] cycle, but Axe just feels better at it. 

Edited May 7, 2023 by Panache