Scrappers vs Blasters

[wyrmclaw892]

Hello all. Have primarily run blasters for damage dealing toons in this game but am thinking of finally dipping my toe into scrapper world. I like that scrappers have a protective secondary so they don't seem like they would be as much of a glass cannon as blasters but do scrappers have any other advantages over blasters that I'm overlooking?

[FFTMime]

Scrappers were always THE solo class. Which, yes, gives them a suspicious location in the game meta. Well, there's something to be said for a top shelf damage dealer that won't wilt if they get the attention of a single stray enemy. Reliability is a worthwhile trait itself. Evergreen. Always relevant. Tankers know they don't have to worry about you too much, and a melee free to nip at the trouble spots up and close is a tactical advantage. But if you can survive? Blasters simply do more damage. No arguing with it. I've been in situations I wished I was a blaster rather than a grav/kin controller or a MA/regen scrapper. Doing one thing VERY WELL speaks for itself. 

A dead man tells no tales, after all. Nor can he wub wub wub wub at you and make your brain hurt. 

[venetiasilver]

Scrappers Critical Hits add a large pecentage of damage variance that Blasters don't have access to.
To compare with Metaphors. Blasters are Dynamite, Scrappers are Jackhammers.

[tidge]

10 hours ago, wyrmclaw892 said:

Hello all. Have primarily run blasters for damage dealing toons in this game but am thinking of finally dipping my toe into scrapper world. I like that scrappers have a protective secondary so they don't seem like they would be as much of a glass cannon as blasters but do scrappers have any other advantages over blasters that I'm overlooking?

 

As Homecoming has made it rather straightforward to improve Defenses across the board for all ATs (easy access to enhancements) and Resistances(*1), the places where I see an obvious difference between Blasters and Scrappers depends a LOT on the content being played. For solo:

• At high difficulty settings (+N), an average Scrapper will probably do better than a Blaster, because of the survival tools common to Scrapper secondaries.
• At high spawn sizes (x8), an average Blaster will probably do better than a Scrapper, because of the AoE (both ranged and PBAoE) common in both Blaster primaries and secondaries.

There are a few niche circumstances where I think an average Scrapper will have better performance than a Blaster. I'm thinking specifically about solo play in content that will include several bosses, elite bosses, and/or AVs, when the Blaster may not have access to everything she needs to survive and fight... so things like lower level TFs where global recharge bonuses may not be available and lower level content where extra power picks needed for a Blaster's survival may not be available because the character hasn't yet picked them, or because they have exemplared down past them. I'm not saying that Blasters (especially full-kit level 50s) will struggle with such content, my sentiment is that it is more straightforward to build a Scrapper that can both survive and defeat lower level content at whatever difficultly level than for a Blaster.

 

(*1) q.v.  the lamentations about the "nerf" to Rune of Protection. Rune of Protection, pre-adjustment was effectively giving Blasters reliable and highly available levels of Protection and Resistance similar to multiple power picks from the 'armor' ATs.

[wyrmclaw892]

On 3/29/2025 at 8:22 AM, tidge said:

 

As Homecoming has made it rather straightforward to improve Defenses across the board for all ATs (easy access to enhancements) and Resistances(*1), the places where I see an obvious difference between Blasters and Scrappers depends a LOT on the content being played. For solo:

• At high difficulty settings (+N), an average Scrapper will probably do better than a Blaster, because of the survival tools common to Scrapper secondaries.
• At high spawn sizes (x8), an average Blaster will probably do better than a Scrapper, because of the AoE (both ranged and PBAoE) common in both Blaster primaries and secondaries.

There are a few niche circumstances where I think an average Scrapper will have better performance than a Blaster. I'm thinking specifically about solo play in content that will include several bosses, elite bosses, and/or AVs, when the Blaster may not have access to everything she needs to survive and fight... so things like lower level TFs where global recharge bonuses may not be available and lower level content where extra power picks needed for a Blaster's survival may not be available because the character hasn't yet picked them, or because they have exemplared down past them. I'm not saying that Blasters (especially full-kit level 50s) will struggle with such content, my sentiment is that it is more straightforward to build a Scrapper that can both survive and defeat lower level content at whatever difficultly level than for a Blaster.

 

(*1) q.v.  the lamentations about the "nerf" to Rune of Protection. Rune of Protection, pre-adjustment was effectively giving Blasters reliable and highly available levels of Protection and Resistance similar to multiple power picks from the 'armor' ATs.

Oh snap! Yeah, I do notice this with my blasters all the time! I hit large mobs and I'm fine. I hit bosses and most times I have to take a couple runs at them to put them down. Interesting. I like that the Scrapper & Blaster arch types don't play the same and seem to require different combat strategies to win. That's so cool!

On 3/29/2025 at 3:57 AM, venetiasilver said:

Scrappers Critical Hits add a large pecentage of damage variance that Blasters don't have access to.
To compare with Metaphors. Blasters are Dynamite, Scrappers are Jackhammers.

I think I'm picking up what your dropping here. The difference between Scrapper & Blaster damage sets seems to be more centered on the method of damage dealing in combat and not the amount. Kind of like comparing apples and oranges essentially right?

[FFTMime]

I'll be honest.

I never liked scrapper criticals as a thing. They aren't that rare, but they are rare enough to not be something worth considering in how you build or approach. It's like.. getting an inspiration drop. 

[twozerofoxtrot]

49 minutes ago, FFTMime said:

They aren't that rare, but they are rare enough to not be something worth considering in how you build or approach. It's like.. getting an inspiration drop. 

 

You can significantly unfluence the reliability of Scrapper crits through their ATOs; strategic placement of the Critical Strikes proc in particular. 

 

Onces you have both Superior ATOs (the 6th one in the set) slotted properly, Crits should feel far less rare, and in particular melee sets can become nearly guaranteed.

 

11 hours ago, wyrmclaw892 said:

The difference between Scrapper & Blaster damage sets seems to be more centered on the method of damage dealing in combat and not the amount.

 

This is a good way of framing the discussion (though Blasters will always objectively do more so long as they are able to attack).

 

Another way of looking at it is what tools particular sets bring to the table. Scrappers can't affect AV regen like a /Mental Blaster can with Drain Psyche. And no Blaster gets a Taunt Aura to stymie runners. These things all have their place in the time to kill calculus.

[tidge]

I can offer a few 'tricks' for dealing with runners... because some things are going to run no matter what.

 

1) There are Epic snipes of course, These can also critical! If the Primary contains a Build Up, the Snipe canbe a potent ST attack.

 

2) Combat Teleport, with a targeting macro is wonderful for melee.

 

3) Placate (Presence pool) should stop most runners when playing solo, but I haven't tested this with Scrapper variants. The AT-specific version does stop runners, and I know the pool variation is slightly different so I can't promise this one works as well.

[Jacke]

3 hours ago, tidge said:

I can offer a few 'tricks' for dealing with runners... because some things are going to run no matter what.

 

4)  Call the Sandmen to take care of the runners for you?  😺

[wyrmclaw892]

11 hours ago, tidge said:

I can offer a few 'tricks' for dealing with runners... because some things are going to run no matter what.

 

1) There are Epic snipes of course, These can also critical! If the Primary contains a Build Up, the Snipe canbe a potent ST attack.

 

2) Combat Teleport, with a targeting macro is wonderful for melee.

 

3) Placate (Presence pool) should stop most runners when playing solo, but I haven't tested this with Scrapper variants. The AT-specific version does stop runners, and I know the pool variation is slightly different so I can't promise this one works as well.

Nice tip about the combat teleport!

 

17 hours ago, twozerofoxtrot said:

 

You can significantly unfluence the reliability of Scrapper crits through their ATOs; strategic placement of the Critical Strikes proc in particular. 

 

Onces you have both Superior ATOs (the 6th one in the set) slotted properly, Crits should feel far less rare, and in particular melee sets can become nearly guaranteed.

 

 

This is a good way of framing the discussion (though Blasters will always objectively do more so long as they are able to attack).

 

Another way of looking at it is what tools particular sets bring to the table. Scrappers can't affect AV regen like a /Mental Blaster can with Drain Psyche. And no Blaster gets a Taunt Aura to stymie runners. These things all have their place in the time to kill calculus.

This is a bit off topic but can you tell me more about what you meant by 'strategic placement' for Critical Strike procs? Thanks!

[tidge]

2 hours ago, wyrmclaw892 said:

This is a bit off topic but can you tell me more about what you meant by 'strategic placement' for Critical Strike procs? Thanks!

 

@Yomo Kimyata care to explain? It isn't exactly straightforward to specify the "best spot" for all primaries, but there are two major considerations that Yomo explained.