What to pair with Em?

[Gobbledygook]

Tldr: Which would you choose, to pair with Em out of Dark, Elec and Energy, and why?

Mid-level budget.

 

Hi, I'm thinking of rolling up an Energy Melee Brute, but I have a few questions first.

Is Power Crash a skippable power on Brutes like it is on Scrappers? I do have an EM Scrapper, but when I was reading up on EM when the changes were first made, someone on that thread said that Power Crash was only good on Tankers. I would like to have a decent AoE chain that consists of more than Whirling Hands and the Incarnate AoE. If I could avoid taking up power choices with Epic Pools, I'd like to.

Now, I know that the typical response to shoring up that lack of killing multiple mobs at once is to pair it with Rad Armor. Remember that EM Scrapper I mentioned earlier? Yeah, you guessed it folks, Em/Rad.

I typically try to avoid redoing combinations though. I have a few other toons that had armor sets that I enjoyed, but haven't played in a long time. Fire Armor, Invulnerability, Shield, Super Reflexes. Yes, even Regen were all taken and enjoyed.

Yes, even Regen. I have a concept for a Inv and a Wp that would work. I normally don't tank on teams, at least not as the main tank. I like to think of Brutes more like a heavy Scrapper. (side note: my new headcanon is now that the melee toons are split up into weight classes. Stalkers are Lightweights, Scrappers are Middleweights, Brutes are Light Heavyweights, and Tankers are the Superheavyweights.) My goals on characters is to deal enough damage to solo a +1 AV, and stand up to one long enough to do it solo. My secondary goal is to be able to tank for a team, with support.  There are other armor sets that I am interested in trying though. Elec, Dark, and Energy being at the top of my list. I want to save Bio for an Bio/Ice tank concept I have, and Ice for either a Stalker or Scrapper.

 

So what it really boils down to is, would you choose, to pair with Em out of Dark, Elec and Energy, and why?   

[Onlyasandwich]

Power Crash is best on tankers mostly for the increased target cap. It's still pretty decent on brutes though.

 

Dark would be a pretty interesting choice here I think. A few advantages:

• EM is on the light side of end consumption, so doesn't put a lot of extra pressure on your blue bar, giving you more room to feed /Dark.
• Stun stacking. Oppressive gloom is always on, and most of your EM attacks also do stun. This will be impressive mitigation overall.

 

Energy would be good as well, but I like it better on scrappers. This is true of most defensive sets, as it's harder to take advantage of the Brute's higher resist cap, and Stalkers can achieve the same defenses anyhow.

 

Electric is perfectly fine. A very solid resist set, though a notch below Rad armor. I don't think there's anything that combines poorly with it, but there's no specific synergy I can think of. A good choice if you like the theme.

 

 

[Gobbledygook]

If I did go Elec, is it alright to just build for Res only, or do you need to chase the Softcap? The only res set I have ever done both on is Inv, for I think fairly obvious reasons.

[SomeGuy]

You can cap resistance for a a LOT of the different types of damage with Ele for sure (I have a EM/ELE brute). It's a really REALLY strong set for brutes/tankers considering you can get to 90% resistance for SLFCEN pretty easily if built right. Pairing with Electric will also give you the best balance of debuff resistance and AOE/ST DPS out of those three options.

 

This build is defense softcapped to SL and res capped to SLFCEN. It will also do REALLY good AOE/ST DPS.

 

 

 

|MBD;23544;1467;1956;BASE64;|
|G/dbIKyKx/lXLKSkJLigx4yXR0gymyJde1pOpvw0DoRJkv92wEavT5kyJEtXX+uwgHR|
|1yizl0cvSAv2UPmPPzZZWFuXYd5dNEl6QuHKKlXo0lBGaAmT/fu8yhTY1ZKYtEvMCGk|
|IjaZTeYWlFV4Vyy9IK65V2wkO4A2AgHCH9QbeH8kyYjZJwdjAwdUhASDU3FQVerWfFs|
|zls5fSKzO8U4ts+uG+CQ3v+24QbN1MQ+dME93devwtQQ9pA4BLnB+FdwdOMJc5T6506|
|DEpIpxA8DhC3V5GLpzNjFygYUrqEwFEbKaifHTrhRaBhuEudQvLbA9sNmYe7bmPHKS+|
|oJD8vfTgfMOAwmuRWq6l76TuK9EplpzFirqBe7NBlxxtyu9DdYnWx/N5rY/lToIh1Go|
|W4tR3vs7vWNja7tPOTDipeVtIthBaaTIfNuXK3kQubcoS/fszY3i7y3yPzUSX1zyyxU|
|GLaa8Rqt1IyXUK9zVrq+7Z47H4h4PViq1KxzJ6uVPsh44bgUaHQoQBr9nyluW9GVr9c|
|KO38LO1B/z1DzkLnlzpKG2vNhxSDoIV0EJzLQWFfb7BVfqju0a1nId7gFHTn6G1/8Bf|
|S9L7R395kcGt/CXxxWTtBCYzQO3mbealNcc1nDIsPQ4zuhlQnuxcLDE1OD+4iX3xQnC|
|SofACFFEJpiChJqvkSbFJcDq4peSEYSXpPJh+K6OcInMuo2o7Ot/3zLA8YvNQH547Pt|
|JafHCE7QCHdl7mDEfkJ4Y2C4FEtsVM5FrqEtyisf+Ga0u3/1u1gmY9mVfKLDVBIVofY|
|QlaXW+FHQiqcT9pqndedQ55vVzZ/xX/sVYe7Fv/xJjtTxZPr05e4esYXOqcGuif5ZJP|
|tbi0dOtFKT73y4KXNkLuIkzKjgAvv29luinbGhd/ksJ3/9Q0pcOd1aVg1xU7KHYa76N|
|p+Bm9i4u0CR+u//JEaBRSvQyHFO4QVkrh94xaOcQWua1/djN0Fz8ib3aCcc1vziTAnc|
|XGzJFYQPKIGLQDHyFg/egATxVy5fCjYSDPtcNsSvS530S2hZQUwRHvBCO0DY3Qvt3Zr|
|rabB4mPwc8Nzz1vCnA3YKLaxIGSUm4b+10uQ+TDEgXnRRwXKzIQvMeOsDy1uGnxhvAB|
|uFPckqiD9lCzWFms+N0ZiZ5G1srSQleVCvwZeFO+Gjqa/B/RIdWWdrGWw34KfvEiiKK|
|aYBipQrB3NpKsPH8lVoa9IaLgaGXzDxGn4QJ6qy9h1nC3oKm6vm9lfvvMTu2TBfRGYi|
|Mre4VqV2dsPro8KLjDpnbTqau900zvdAJv4SezO79rj2gI3cnaXqWYLSolhAr2twGw6|
|pO1Uo4X8pDDlIa9Ca4f3g5b8bg7ebDGfRuQg44stLUAhXaAERmRgYEwGg66IX6uY7YK|
|8oboKeqyiS7rzmiB3HTnRwBCCkqKYYrxSRI8zXfcLDgjT2DjIQEWxNE2G2UHTLNOPD9|
|ayriTVLZLsIgORCYzIxYhg4nda52eamhX/xKPZWjP3wy3a3aTug3CvJvZ5JyoVpbW0X|
|AZb4kssKIES+kY6s8toOs3FcBtyq2vlg34XkWHWBbzNImmXsq5DkMJgak2m0ChB0Y5k|
|1BjMwtZO4c/DtBAZQjjvFTh7XSfY2QdMGS6xXhm5cCCvLopJxBRQRpf0RvzimP73vwa|
|qazPB9s7wvuMRS3iBlwnw3p0/+MDzwi/kyWkBprbDajDRPvYurh3Dv5GP8q7HwTqO3d|
|kLvfS4/GeeMsDc52m+q1VpH4wh7yYpicXfzFgYDBEDaGHZuEyEs/kpKsaP6VMasqxqx|
|Y899P8HfWu967nnrJ6Z1LP3yBl039ENOztvivuH+079Us3f2RCXBuGcwPef/dxTXZK1|
|/E0MCW/gjAQbqkS4VH+EBroX8lL1JUAtjobMaYpWUipypzQJl8LxJ4n5CRhqWp+sFeA|
|hIaO3qoIVcq9o|
 

 

Edited December 29, 2024 by SomeGuy

[Gobbledygook]

Thank you, I will have a look at this after after I recover from this evenings social engagement.

[Uun]

Power Crash has a base target cap of 5 which increases to 10 when Energy Focus is up. It has a 10 ft radius and 120 degree arc, so it will hit a bunch of stuff if you only use it when the orange circle is up. 

 

I wouldn't chase defense soft cap with Dark or Electric Armor. Both are resist sets and have no defense debuff resistance. Dark is weak to En damage while Electric is weak to Ne and Tx damage. Dark has a better heal, but it requires a target. Electric has better end management and debuff resistance.

[Troo]

Out of "Dark, Elec and Energy"

 

Energy can be more scrappy/brooty

 

Elec might be better on a Tank, a bit squishie on a Broot (it is epic looking but meh at the defeating)

Dark can be build to 'look' like it has good numbers but ranged, debuffs, and the stunning synergy could be considered lackluster..

 

alternately:

EM/SR & EM/INV can provide some interesting proccing & slotting opportunities.

EM/FA can build some good damage

 

 

[Gobbledygook]

I think I am going to go either Elec or Inv as a brute, and save Fire Armor for a tank. Do you still have to take the stealth type power in EA to softcap defenses? I hate having characters I can't see, lol.

[Octogoat]

Hey gobble, I see you like superman. Why not go em/elec and make an eradicator inspired toon?

[Sovera]

On 12/29/2024 at 5:29 PM, Gobbledygook said:

Tldr: Which would you choose, to pair with Em out of Dark, Elec and Energy, and why?

Mid-level budget.

 

Hi, I'm thinking of rolling up an Energy Melee Brute, but I have a few questions first.

Is Power Crash a skippable power on Brutes like it is on Scrappers? I do have an EM Scrapper, but when I was reading up on EM when the changes were first made, someone on that thread said that Power Crash was only good on Tankers. I would like to have a decent AoE chain that consists of more than Whirling Hands and the Incarnate AoE. If I could avoid taking up power choices with Epic Pools, I'd like to.

Now, I know that the typical response to shoring up that lack of killing multiple mobs at once is to pair it with Rad Armor. Remember that EM Scrapper I mentioned earlier? Yeah, you guessed it folks, Em/Rad.

I typically try to avoid redoing combinations though. I have a few other toons that had armor sets that I enjoyed, but haven't played in a long time. Fire Armor, Invulnerability, Shield, Super Reflexes. Yes, even Regen were all taken and enjoyed.

Yes, even Regen. I have a concept for a Inv and a Wp that would work. I normally don't tank on teams, at least not as the main tank. I like to think of Brutes more like a heavy Scrapper. (side note: my new headcanon is now that the melee toons are split up into weight classes. Stalkers are Lightweights, Scrappers are Middleweights, Brutes are Light Heavyweights, and Tankers are the Superheavyweights.) My goals on characters is to deal enough damage to solo a +1 AV, and stand up to one long enough to do it solo. My secondary goal is to be able to tank for a team, with support.  There are other armor sets that I am interested in trying though. Elec, Dark, and Energy being at the top of my list. I want to save Bio for an Bio/Ice tank concept I have, and Ice for either a Stalker or Scrapper.

 

So what it really boils down to is, would you choose, to pair with Em out of Dark, Elec and Energy, and why?   

 

What I still consider my most well rounded character is an EM/Fire. EM's mediocre AoE helped by Burn, EM's already phat damage further helped with Fiery Embrace. I've been pondering a Rad/EM for the same reason since Rad would push EM's mediocre AoE, but after that I usually flail as Rad does nothing for ST which is where Tankers flounder a bit.

 

For the choices you've presented I'd go with EM/EA simply because defense is, IMO, king. Leveling is a breeze if we so much as hit 40% and between IOs and early SOs this is achievable which in turn allows to skip much of the hardship in recouping health when heals don't yet have slots or gasping for endurance when every electric attack lands.

 

Not in the list but EM/Stone works well too for the same reasoning. Neither Stone Armor nor Energy Armor help EM's mediocre AoE though but this is only a consideration if intending to solo a lot.

[Troo]

20 hours ago, Gobbledygook said:

Do you still have to take the stealth type power in EA to softcap defenses?

 

Yes. I don't think there is a mix f/x for it.