Build Request Battle Axe / Bio Armor

[Radeon]

Hi folks, 

 

i have been searching and went back 10 pages of search results without a single hit on the above power combination. Is it that bad? Am i really the only one running ist? 

 

I really like to run it but would kindly request and appreciate if anyone could share a decent build for this. Money it not a limitation, my target would be a kinda tankish brute who is able to smash hard.  Flight is required, but thats basically it, the rest is open for optimization. 

 

Is there anyone willing to share a build?

 

Thanks a lot in advance, 

N I K E 🙂

 

[Uun]

I'm leveling one, but only lvl 38 at the moment. I put together the attached build, but a number of the sets are placeholders. Much of it hasn't been slotted yet and will need to be tweaked depending on how sturdy it feels fully built. Will also need to move some slots to improve endurance, as I'm currently having issues outside of Efficient Adaptation. Still working out the timing on DNA Siphon, as it's easy to end up dead while it's animating if you wait too long to use it. I originally slotted the Cupid set in Axe Cyclone as a goof and intended to replace it later, but the confuse proc fires a ton and I may keep it.

Uuncut - Brute (Battle Axe - Bio Armor).mbd

[Radeon]

Thank you, will have a look at it 🙂

 

[WuTang]

I gave this set a go. It's not bad, and maybe it's my build, but it doesn't feel strong. I did go as far as getting most of his incarnates T4'd. 

 

Sav/Bio is more my speed.

Brute (Battle Axe - Bio)-Final-shared.mbd

[Radeon]

I have just completed my adaption to the first proposal. A quick comparison with your (WuTang) version looks like you have more defense, which i like, mine has more (capped) resistance. Your recovery and regen is less than mine. Your ToHit is higher, which i also like. 

 

I chose different pools, Nike has to be able to fly and hasten. Additionally i added some LotG + Recharge (even one more that WuTang did compared to the first version ). 

 

Did i miss anything or did i make any big mistake to be corrected? 

 

 

N I K E.mbd

Edited March 5 by Radeon
updated file

[WuTang]

3 hours ago, Radeon said:

I have just completed my adaption to the first proposal. A quick comparison with your (WuTang) version looks like you have more defense, which i like, mine has more (capped) resistance. Your recovery and regen is less than mine. Your ToHit is higher, which i also like. 

 

I chose different pools, Nike has to be able to fly and hasten. Additionally i added some LotG + Recharge (even one more that WuTang did compared to the first version ). 

 

Did i miss anything or did i make any big mistake to be corrected? 

 

 

N I K E.mbd 42.74 kB · 0 downloads

Only thing about your build that may be an issue is the slow resist level not being high enough. Bio relies heavily on its click powers and if their recharge suddenly takes longer you could come up short. Also, with my build Darkest Night helps boost survivability.

 

The other tiny knock would be the Power Transfer proc, it's superfluous, Bio's regen is through the rough already.

 

The reason my hit is higher, and your recovery is higher is because you have Efficiency Adaptation toggled, and I have Offensive. Once you select Offensive, which is what I recommend you running in, your resistances and defenses take a hit, but you do more damage. Efficiency is good when leveling though, especially if you are dealing with sappers.

 

Barrier is great, definitely a good choice, I use it alot on many toons, Brutes included. But with Bio I tend to lean Ageless Radial for the recharge boost and debuff resists. Bio truly loves recharge.

 

Edit:

Cleave.... I'm still on the fence about this power. My slotting is tech subpar, but it is because in game I accidentally added an additional slot to Stamina so in the build I just robbed it from Cleave, but then I've found that I might've needed the additional recovery due to Darkest Night's heavy drain. Cleave is very situational for me.

Edited March 5 by WuTang

[Soulsifter]

I'll throw my build for Saint-Exmin ( love the cult classic movie! ) just for a different take. Don't let the 121 global fool you, this thing is an absolute blender.

 

Saint-Exmin - Brute (Battle Axe - Bio Armor).mbd

 

 

 

Edited March 6 by Soulsifter

[Uun]

• There's no reason to take both Chop and Beheader. Pick one. 
• All the Battle Axe powers do knockdown, not knockback, and don't require kb>kd IOs.
• Inexhaustible is an auto power and doesn't require recharge or end reduction. Two +5 heal IOs give you all you need. Ablative Carapace wants more recharge to make it perma. The +hp/+end unique needs to be slotted in a toggle or auto power. One option would be to put the Preventative Medicine set in Ablative and the Panacea set in Inexhaustible. Recommend adding a 5th piece to Panacea for the recharge bonus.
• DNA Siphon has a tohit check and requires accuracy.  The %end proc isn't really needed, but I recommend adding slots for acc and recharge.
• Add 1-2 slots to Parasitic Aura.
• Genetic Contamination is a damage aura and doesn't need 6 slots. Recommend dropping to 3-4 slots and moving the ATO to a power that would benefit from the recharge.

[Soulsifter]

2 hours ago, Uun said:

• There's no reason to take both Chop and Beheader. Pick one. 
• All the Battle Axe powers do knockdown, not knockback, and don't require kb>kd IOs.
• Inexhaustible is an auto power and doesn't require recharge or end reduction. Two +5 heal IOs give you all you need. Ablative Carapace wants more recharge to make it perma. The +hp/+end unique needs to be slotted in a toggle or auto power. One option would be to put the Preventative Medicine set in Ablative and the Panacea set in Inexhaustible. Recommend adding a 5th piece to Panacea for the recharge bonus.
• DNA Siphon has a tohit check and requires accuracy.  The %end proc isn't really needed, but I recommend adding slots for acc and recharge.
• Add 1-2 slots to Parasitic Aura.
• Genetic Contamination is a damage aura and doesn't need 6 slots. Recommend dropping to 3-4 slots and moving the ATO to a power that would benefit from the recharge.

 

I like both. They are single target -def attacks. I like having them up as soon as I switch targets, at least one is good to go and my rotation is seamless. 

 

I am typing this after watching entire missions worth of enemies fly backwards, almost comically. The comment that it does knockdown instead of knockback is simply untrue. I am in game as I type this doing the frostfire mission solo and am knocking people into the next room, seemingly. 

 

Inex is a set mule with an absorb chance. 

 

DNA - this is cracking me up a little 🙂  I took that slotting from you 😉

 

Para - I really am still looking for ways to get some slots in there. I want to use the -dam aspect, but in reality it's only 1 source and not a great one compared to other needs/power choices. It's just a slight bump in health and endo, not much more to say really. I try to use it just after build up, if needed, when my chance to hit is @99% ( mobs @+3)

 

I might rob Peter to pay Paul ( the power above ) with this suggestion. I'll see what I can do. Thanks Uun. 

[Nemu]

1 hour ago, Soulsifter said:

I am typing this after watching entire missions worth of enemies fly backwards

Enemies below your level will cause normal KD attacks to turn into knockback. Even level enemies, unless they are clockwork robots, will be knocked down/up by axe attacks, and against those or lower level mobs, jump up and attack at the peak of your jump.

 

Inex is not worth 6 slots. You are better off investing that slotting into ablative carapace, which is a cornerstone of bio survival. You also have DNA siphon at 2 slots. DNA siphon is another cornerstone of bio survival and endurance sustain, and you would want that to be available more with more slots enhancing recharge at the very least. Survival for bio comes from layering all these clicks, DNA siphon, Ablative, Parasitic aura. These click powers with decent slot investment will do far more for your build than 6 slotting a passive power. 

 

In general there are very few passive powers that warrant 6 slots. Set mule or not, consider slotting efficiency and how your investment contributes to overall build effectiveness/synergy. That last part requires some knowledge of how a build should operate and which powers are cornerstones of the build. Here is a post where I broke down what makes a bio build work

 

 

[WuTang]

A thing about DNA Siphon that I didn't realize for a while. You only get a recovery boost from dead baddies. You'll get heals and endurance back from either, but the endurance recovery comes from sampling downed critters.

Edited Friday at 12:07 PM by WuTang

[Uun]

14 hours ago, Soulsifter said:

I am typing this after watching entire missions worth of enemies fly backwards, almost comically. The comment that it does knockdown instead of knockback is simply untrue. I am in game as I type this doing the frostfire mission solo and am knocking people into the next room, seemingly. 

Every power in Battle Axe (except Swoop) has mag 0.67 knockback. Knockback with a value of less than 1.0 is knockdown. If you're fighting below your level or fighting foes weak to knockback (i.e., Clockwork), it's possible for the knockdown to be converted to knockback. 

 

14 hours ago, Soulsifter said:

DNA - this is cracking me up a little 🙂  I took that slotting from you 😉

No you didn't. I have it 6-slotted with Touch of the Nictus.

[Maelwys]

4 hours ago, WuTang said:

A thing about DNA Siphon that I didn't realize for a while. You only get a recovery boost from dead baddies. You'll get heals and endurance back from either, but the endurance recovery comes from sampling downed critters.

DNA Siphon gives you +Regen and +Recovery for every dead baddie around you; and +HP and +Endurance for every alive baddie around you.
Parasitic Aura gives you +Regen and +Recovery for every alive baddie around you.

So in practice; you generally want to start by surrounding yourself with enemies and hitting Parasitic Aura; then kill everything; and then use DNA Siphon.
That'll keep your +Regen and +Recovery as high as possible; and activating Ablative Carapace on cooldown handles the rest.

 

13 hours ago, Nemu said:

Inex is not worth 6 slots.

...



_{...I mean, it's a useful place for Health/Endurance procs... 🙈 😜}

[Soulsifter]

8 hours ago, Uun said:

Every power in Battle Axe (except Swoop) has mag 0.67 knockback. Knockback with a value of less than 1.0 is knockdown. If you're fighting below your level or fighting foes weak to knockback (i.e., Clockwork), it's possible for the knockdown to be converted to knockback. 

 

No you didn't. I have it 6-slotted with Touch of the Nictus.

 

So yes then, there is knockback involved, conditional or not. 

 

Not from this posting. 

 

Don't appreciate the implication I'm lying. I'd dig up the post(s) where you gave that slotting but honestly, kinda done with you. 

 

 

 

[Camel]

On 3/7/2025 at 7:01 PM, Soulsifter said:

 

So yes then, there is knockback involved, conditional or not. 

 

Not from this posting. 

 

Don't appreciate the implication I'm lying. I'd dig up the post(s) where you gave that slotting but honestly, kinda done with you. 

 

 

 

Conditional or not, it doesn't matter. Battle Axe absolutely does not do knockback, generally. I have 6 fully accoladed and fully IOd Battle Axe characters, 3 Tanks, 2 Scrappers and 1 Brute. I even have multiple Battle Axe/Bio. 

You aren't lying, no doubt. But you are misinformed. The knockback you are seeing is a result of what others have stated above. You are either fighting KB weak enemies (Clockwork), or you are fighting enemies that are a lower level than you. Both of these instances will magnify the effects of any effect. Holds, debuffs, stuns, knockback and knockdown, etc. 

Furthermore, even if you did have the KB-KD IO slotted in these instances, it wouldn't stop them from being knocked back. It would only stop them from being knocked back farther. But you will always be knocking back enemies that are lower level or weak to KB in the first place. Every single attack in my Energy Blast Corrs, Blasters, etc has the KB-KD IO and enemies that are weak to KB or lower level than me will STILL go flying. Although.. that's a poor comparison because without those KB-KD IOs, I would be knocking dang near everything in the game away when using those powers.

So in general, your build is suffering from having all those KB-KD IOs in your attacks. 99% of the game is not being affected by those IOs... and the 1% of the game that those IOs are helping in, they will still get knocked back (albeit, not as far) regardless. So yes, they are 'useful', but only for 1% of the game or less... and in general, your build would be much better if you slotted procs, had better slotting (you're missing the 5th piece of Armageddon in Pendulum, so that's 10% global recharge you don't have for almost no benefit because you slotted the KB-KD IO instead), etc. 

The general consensus is going to be that you are gimping your build quite a bit for a very, very marginal benefit... and the community that has been around for almost two decades like myself, is going to notice that and make a point to try and mention something about it.  

[Camel]

On 3/5/2025 at 3:43 AM, Radeon said:

I have just completed my adaption to the first proposal. A quick comparison with your (WuTang) version looks like you have more defense, which i like, mine has more (capped) resistance. Your recovery and regen is less than mine. Your ToHit is higher, which i also like. 

 

I chose different pools, Nike has to be able to fly and hasten. Additionally i added some LotG + Recharge (even one more that WuTang did compared to the first version ). 

 

Did i miss anything or did i make any big mistake to be corrected? 

 

 

N I K E.mbd 42.74 kB · 8 downloads

Heyo! Before I say anything, I would recommend making this a Tank instead of a Brute. They're just... better! 😄

Anyways, I swapped some things around and this is what I came up with. 

Some things off the top of my head that I noticed. Some of your slotting is a bit funky, you put a End/Res Hami-O in Tough when you could have just put a 4th slot of Unbreakable Guard, you're missing out on 3.13% Melee Defense for... less than 1% S/L resist? You should definitely just put the 4th UG in there, the Res/Endurance/Recharge one. 

You didn't put any Force Feedback +recharge procs in any of your powers... Those are HUGE for almost any build that can slot them, but even more important for something like Bio that has so much reliance on having your powers quickly recharge. Slot them, abuse them... whatever you do, try to put them in your build. It's incredibly easy to do in Battle Axe and you can almost have that +100% recharge proc up at all times with proper play and positioning. The empty slots in the build I'm going to share are what those are intended for.

I always take Build Up... I think it's criminal to not take it on almost any build that offers a "Aim/Build Up" style power. I would personally swap it out for Taunt since you aren't a Tank. Having Taunt is nice, but just roll a Tank then if you're trying to be a Taunter. Even then, with proper aggro management and positioning, you don't necessarily need Taunt on Tanks or Brutes, although, the utility is VERY nice to have. 

I would also take Hover instead of Combat Jumping.. same defense values but it also stacks with Fly to give you more aerial control and -fly resistance and all that jazz. Definitely Hover > Combat Jumping if you are flying anyways. Also, if you didn't want to take Hover, drop Combat Jumping for Maneuvers. It has a higher defense value and also buffs your teammates.

Here's a tweaked version of the build you shared with some of those power swaps!

 

Cheers!

Brute (Battle Axe - Bio Armor).mbd

Edited Monday at 09:10 PM by Camel