Regen Brute Build

[VoidSpawn]

EDIT 20250119:

 

In response to a query in Help last night, I posted this build to show how to optimize a Regen Brute.

 

The concept is based upon building to certain requirements, then implementing a phased approach to using powers (powers, accolades, incarnate powers, etc.) to maintain a viable level of hardiness. (A tip of the hat again to @Spaghetti Betty for their most excellent demonstrations of Brute Regen; and, in other places, Battle Axe.)  

 

First, build the Regen Brute out to have the highest level of HP possible. I settled for just over 3,000 HP, which is close to the cap, and high enough to serve as a strong basis for leveraging some of the HP-based powers.    

 

Second, invest in +Recharge. We want this as high as possible, while not sacrificing everything to the stat, as some things will never be made practically permanent (such as Instant Healing). Here, we're basically looking at Dull Pain, Moment of Glory, Reconstruction, and Instant Healing. We're resolving this one, for this specific build, by adding Force Feedback: Chance for +Recharge to all applicable Battle Axe attacks. Doing this will effectively boost our +Recharge up to 300%, which is great. 

 

Third, Boost every possible IO you can logically boost. This is a min-max option, and is not required, though it is strongly suggested if you want to totally optimize the build by adding a few precious percentiles to your overall Personal Power Rating (which is a conveniently nonexistent stat at this time).  

 

Fourth, learn and implement how to Time Phase your powers in order to create a smoother, more well-rounded overall defense. There are many different combinations of usage during a Time Phase. We'll show one example below. 

Regen Brute Time Phase, Example (sans Incarnates): 

 

Phase 0: Brute is just outside combat range with a mob of multiple villains. Brute sets up combat by activating Dull Pain, which will last for 120 seconds, then MOG, which will last for 15 seconds. 

 

Phase 1: Brute closes to combat range with mob, takes Alpha. Brute and villains exchange attacks until MOG ticks down after approximately 15 seconds. Dull Pain is still in effect. 

 

Phase 2: Brute activates Rune of Protection after MOG expires. ROP lasts for 60 seconds. It also adds some Status Protections.  

 

Phase 3: Brute may activate Instant Healing at any time. It lasts for 90 seconds. Brute may also activate Reconstruction at will. It is, at this point of the character's development that we are chronicling, up once every 12 seconds. 

 

Phase 4: Brute may activate Eye of the Magus/Demonic accolade power, which lasts for 60 seconds, at will, to cover for any possible Resistance or Defense issues.    
 
The Time Phase is all about coverage and overlapping coverage (Defense in Depth) over combat time. Our goal is to weave all of our powers into a web, or matrix, that optimizes our overall combat defense over time. While there are a few that are mostly First Come, First Serve (viz., Reconstruction) where we fire them at will and/or when needed, the others mostly may be woven into a reliable matrix of defense, based upon their attributes, coverage, and durations. 
 
We won't cover Incarnates here, but several of them are applicable to the Time Phase. Barrier, Ageless, and several others count here. Some might prefer Barrier for generic defense and resistance over time, while others might select Ageless for excellent Debuff Resistance. Melee Core Embodiment is another choice to augment Resistance. It's possible to earn multiple incarnate powers per incarnate slot, too, so please keep that in mind. 

 

Questions? 

 

A very powerful min-maxed Regen Brute:

 

 Void0084Battle Axe Regeneration Brute 004.mbd

Edited January 19 by VoidSpawn

[WuTang]

I do like the regen, that's an amazing job. My only concern is your accuracy and +toHit being so low. Without Build up and the extremely low proc chance (9%) of Build up from Arcane bolt you are floating in the ~63%-91% range and that might give you some problems.

[Spaghetti Betty]

Great write up! I'm glad to hear others trying to break out in playing Regen! It is a very strong set when played well.

 

That being said, I took a look at your build! It's definitely a lot more defensive-leaning than my normal approach, and I do have some notes for you to mull over!

 

-The big one, your Slow RES is extremely low! It won't be very noticeable if you team a lot (there are plenty of support sets that offer Slow RES to teammates), but for Regen I really like to emphasize "cap or bust". It's a good thing Rune and Melee are on fixed timers!

 

-Keep in mind that the only cumulative aspect of the Force Feedback proc is the duration! It will only ever add +100% global recharge. It will still be a consistent buff since you're running Battle Axe!

 

-Your accuracy across the board is a tad low! This is due to a couple of aspects: lack of +acc set bonuses and not much slotted in your attacks! Personally, I would switch out Obliteration (sans proc) and Armageddon (sans proc) in Pendulum and Cleave for some 53 acc/dams and run Vigor Core as your alpha. It should patch that up and also supercharge your healing! I don't feel like Resilient Core is adding much to your overall kit!

 

-It kind of hurts not seeing Swoop in your build! It's your best DPA ST attack by far. I have a feeling you're using Cleave in your typical rotation, right? It has pretty poor DPA against a single target. If it were me, I would drop Physical Perfection for it. That isn't doing much for you overall except acting as a set mule, and I feel like you'd benefit from having another strong attack in your arsenal!

 

-I can understand if you added the Decimation proc in Arcane Bolt as a "why not", just keep in mind it has a pitifully low chance of firing! This proc usually serves better in something like an Epic Hold (All Epic Holds were normalized to 24s, giving Decimation a high chance to fire), so maybe consider that as well!

 

-Drop the two +DEF uniques! They are doing next to nothing for you and those 2 slots can go to much better use elsewhere! As a quick and easy example, you can put one in brawl and the other in boxing to mule a 2-piece Blistering Cold in each, giving you +30% Slow RES!

 

Hope this helps!

[VoidSpawn]

Thank you very much for your review and analysis, @Spaghetti Betty! 

 

While it is certainly true that I built it with defense in mind, the build doubtless will become much stronger once I take into account both your and @WuTang's advice. I think I'll go "all in" with the offered advice and see how things turn out. 

 

Thank you! 

 

-void 

[Harlequin565]

Interesting build. My first regen was a claws scrapper which wasn't great - and like many comments I've read, cost a fortune to just get halfway decent, but I loved regen and ended up rerolling as a Savage/Regen Brute.

 

I don't think there's a single build that I've made more versions of, or sat staring at 2 builds trying to eke out a bit more, but it's really interesting to see a completely different slotted build. Also, the primary is different which doesn't help.

 

The only other minor thing I'd say would be to lose the Heal/Rech from Integration and drop the Numina unique (from Health) in there instead which will save you another slot.

 

My build is so different to yours it's not worth posting. I like Burnout just for the double IH fun, but I like the idea of dropping the hunt for +Def and going for +Res. Makes more sense given the Regen tools available. Time to make yet another bloody build!

[Story Archer]

Solid theory crafting... Personally, I just can't get into a defensive power set that requires so much management. Different strokes, though.

[Maelwys]

Nice to see another mitigation-focussed /regen!

Last I poked at my old Kat/Regen Scrapper (who admittedly tends to prioritise a more offensive form of mitigation since they can fall back on Divine Avalanche to situationally softcap their melee defence in a pinch) they were just about hitting ~72 HP/Sec passive and ~50% S/L res before Incarnate Clickies. Betty's earlier point about RechargeTime Debuff resistance is well put; but personally I'll often settle for 50% or a smidge less on my builds in the name of chasing higher red numbers; and my /Regen is no different. If you do choose to go that route, then equipping the right Incarnate Clickies (and certain Radial Lore Pets!) can be lifesavers. And keep the Geas and Magus accolades handy "just in case"... 😉
 

[Thraxen]

Soooooooo much work/effort to do something other sets do so easily.  I've never even taken rune of protection on a non-squishy.  Much less relied on accolade powers.  If its fun though that is all that matters.

[VoidSpawn]

To summarize what I discern as the erudite views of those who responded to this thesis: Building a solid Regen Brute may indeed be done; however, a lot of conditional ellipses shall follow...

 

That's a bit of snark. Because Snarky is needed. Please return to the boards, Snarky! 

[Troo]

On 2/4/2025 at 11:26 AM, Harlequin565 said:

but I like the idea of dropping the hunt for +Def and going for +Res.

 

bingo

[Spaghetti Betty]

2 hours ago, VoidSpawn said:

To summarize what I discern as the erudite views of those who responded to this thesis: Building a solid Regen Brute may indeed be done; however, a lot of conditional ellipses shall follow...

 

That's a bit of snark. Because Snarky is needed. Please return to the boards, Snarky! 

 

That's a very nice way of saying it's a skill issue!

Edited February 8 by Spaghetti Betty
Syntax

[Thraxen]

Yes. I lack skill. Thats it  so nice of you all to make fun of me.  

[Maelwys]

3 hours ago, Thraxen said:

Yes. I lack skill. Thats it  so nice of you all to make fun of me.  

 

[Enamel_32]

With all the click powers, regen really does make you work for it. I'd say it makes you work a little too hard, out of the box.

[Troo]

22 hours ago, Enamel_32 said:

With all the click powers, regen really does make you work for it.

 

I get that some folks prefer toggles, I won't call them lazy, it's simply a preference.

 

But please @Enamel_32, explain to me where are all the powers this set forces a user to click soooo much as to be noteworthy or burdensome? 

Realistically there are only two I use somewhat regularly. One (Dull Pain) is a once every ~2 minutes power.

 

Regeneration (Brutes / Scrappers)

Power	Level	Effect
Fast Healing	1	Auto: Self +Regen
Reconstruction	1	Self Heal, +Res(Toxic) [Click 60 sec (higher recharge builds ~19 sec)]
Quick Recovery	4	Auto: Self +Rec
Dull Pain	10	Self +Max HP [Click 120 sec]
Integration	16	Toggle: Self +Res(Knockback, Disorient, Hold, Sleep, Immob), +Regen, Taunt (except Scrappers)
Resilience	20	Auto: Self +Res(Disorient, All DMG)
Instant Healing	24	Click: Self +Regen [Click 650 sec]
Revive	28	Self Rez [Click 300 sec]
Moment of Glory	30	Self +DEF(All DMG but Psionics), +Res(All DMG but Psionics, Disorient, Hold, Sleep, Immob, Knockback, Repel), +Rec [Click 240 sec]

 

Same number of potential clicks as Fiery.

Bio Armor = 3/4

Dark Armor = 2

Electric Armor = 3

Energy Aura = 3

Fiery Aura = 5

Ice Armor = 2

Invulnerability = 2

Radiation Armor = 4

Regeneration = 5

Shield Defense = 4

Stone Armor = 1

Super Reflexes = 2

Willpower = 2

 

Edited February 10 by Troo

[Enamel_32]

9 hours ago, Troo said:

I get that some folks prefer toggles, I won't call them lazy, it's simply a preference.

 

I'm flattered that you went to the trouble of tallying the click power counts, but I was trying to say what you opened with, much more clumsily: it's a preference thing and some prefer to not be so closely involved in damage mitigation. I wouldn't call somebody lazy for not liking that either, but it IS more work.

 

7 hours ago, Troo said:

But please @Enamel_32, explain to me where are all the powers this set forces a user to click soooo much as to be noteworthy or burdensome? 

Realistically there are only two I use somewhat regularly. One (Dull Pain) is a once every ~2 minutes power.

 

I'll try my best. I'm not thinking as much about level 50 and endgame builds. Maybe this is where our perspectives differ? It's hard to forget how rough leveling pre-40-ish was, and needing to use whatever powers I had unlocked (rune of protection too) with urgency. Sometimes followed by revive. I probably would have shelved the character without being able to reliably join teams. That changed pretty quickly as powers could be fully slotted, and even more with IOs.

 

While not burdensome, it is noteworthy that 4 of the 9 powers are clicks that are defensive in nature. I don't think many people consider them optional, and they don't provide additional utility beyond not dying. It's a different experience with different motivations than using something like fiery embrace, shield charge, or power sink.

 

With a "completed" level 50 brute, I also don't need to constantly click the powers, but I wouldn't attribute that to regeneration itself. Don't get me wrong: I'm a regen enjoyer and do a lot of challenge mode stuff with my brute, where I actually use more of the set than usual. But the gap between a finished level 50 and a "just got my T9" level 30-something character is huge for regen. More than any other build I've, uh, built.