Little Bit of Brute Guidance

[Argulus]

Greetings all,

 

It has been awhile.  Glad to be back to Paragon!  I was hoping to get some guidance on creating a Brute (or two).  I played an Elec/Elec Brute back in the day, but that was before Power Proliferation hit.  I really enjoyed him, but was thinking about changing things up a bit.  I also played a Spines/Regen Scrapper up to 50 and enjoyed that, as well.

 

In light of all of that, I was hoping for some guidance as to what you have experienced.  In Homecoming, I was looking at trying a Rad/Rad brute and then maybe building a Spines/ __ brute also.  I have looked through the forums and seen some comments about rad/rad and have seen back and forth regarding spines/fire, spines/dark, and spines/Bio.

 

1)  What can I expect comparison-wise with rad/rad vs. elec/elec?

 

2)  Having ran a spines/regen scrapper, which of the 3 mentioned builds would be most similar and (if applicable) which one(s) would blow it out of the water?

 

Thanks for any and all help.

[Zumberge]

Greetings all,

 

It has been awhile.  Glad to be back to Paragon!  I was hoping to get some guidance on creating a Brute (or two).  I played an Elec/Elec Brute back in the day, but that was before Power Proliferation hit.  I really enjoyed him, but was thinking about changing things up a bit.  I also played a Spines/Regen Scrapper up to 50 and enjoyed that, as well.

 

In light of all of that, I was hoping for some guidance as to what you have experienced.  In Homecoming, I was looking at trying a Rad/Rad brute and then maybe building a Spines/ __ brute also.  I have looked through the forums and seen some comments about rad/rad and have seen back and forth regarding spines/fire, spines/dark, and spines/Bio.

 

1)  What can I expect comparison-wise with rad/rad vs. elec/elec?

 

Lightning Rod aside, Rad Melee's damage is a little bit higher than Elec's, and while they're both smashing/energy, Rad's is more leaning towards the energy side of it.  They both have AoE elements to them, but while Rad's potential is higher, it's also less consistent: When you hit enemies they have a chance to gain the Contaminated effect, and when you hit a Contaminated enemy it creates a small AoE of energy damage.  It's there, but if you're expecting something like Thunder Strike where you bop one guy and all his friends get hit too 100% of the time, not so much.  It's more... single-target with benefits.

 

You know how Elec Armor was resist-based with average S/L/F/C, good Psi, great En, bad Neg and a huge Toxic hole?  Rad is average S/L/F, bad Psi, a huge Cold hole, good En and (get this) Toxic.  Yeah, you actually have a good amount of toxic resist.  Also, you lose the PBAoE damage aura for a +recovery/+regen inherent; your PBAoE endurance leech comes earlier and gives up some of its endurance gain for health gain and a -regen debuff on the enemies it hits; your +recharge is now based on nearby enemies since it's a taunt aura that also gives -To-Hit and -Defense; your heal is a damage-absorbing barrier instead; you have a PBAoE clicky that damages nearby enemies and heals nearby teammates at the same time; and your tier 9 has way milder resist boosts but also a damage boost and the crash doesn't tank your health and endurance.  I really hope you remember a lot about Elec Armor since this is all predicated on on it, but the word people use to talk about Rad Armor is "overtuned," so take that as you will.

 

2)  Having ran a spines/regen scrapper, which of the 3 mentioned builds would be most similar and (if applicable) which one(s) would blow it out of the water?

 

Spines/Fire is similar in the sense that you have below-average defenses (for a Brute) and a button to push to heal you and another button to bring you back to life.  Spines/Dark is not at all similar because Regen gives you a lot of endurance and Dark has seven toggles, but some point between that positively amazing post on the Live boards about how awful Dark Armor is and this point in time it's been buffed so you're fairly well-off in terms of survivability.  Spines/Bio is not like Regen either because it's a set like Willpower with layered resists, defenses, and regeneration (it's the other "overtuned" set).

 

The general consensus seems to be that Regen isn't what it used to be, and that on a Brute you're probably better off with any of those three: Fire if you want to kill things faster, Dark if you want to be a decently durable spooky boi (provided you use IO sets to deal with the whole "endurance" and "lots of energy damage in the endgame" problems), and Bio if you want to be a micromanagement-heavy perpetual motion machine.

[Mr. Vee]

and Bio if you want to be a micromanagement-heavy perpetual motion machine.

 

Once IOd you'll find you rarely need the clickies in bio apart from using them as debuffs. But when you do need them they're great. I'm loving my rad/bio brute - 3 debuffing auras ftw.

[marcussmythe]

and Bio if you want to be a micromanagement-heavy perpetual motion machine.

 

Once IOd you'll find you rarely need the clickies in bio apart from using them as debuffs. But when you do need them they're great. I'm loving my rad/bio brute - 3 debuffing auras ftw.

 

Ive got an IOed Bio, and I lean heavily on my clickies.  May go to target villian groups?

[Mr. Vee]

Might be. Mine's softcapped to all types but psi/toxic. I afk'd for 10 minutes soloing rom/requiem/computer and another 5 with rommy/3 nictii yesterday. Came back to see i still had full health. Will have to try it with some AVs who aren't s/l/neg which are my highest resistances.

[marcussmythe]

Might be. Mine's softcapped to all types but psi/toxic. I afk'd for 10 minutes soloing rom/requiem/computer and another 5 with rommy/3 nictii yesterday. Came back to see i still had full health. Will have to try it with some AVs who aren't s/l/neg which are my highest resistances.

 

*nods*  Its the +3 or 4/x8 Vanguard/Banished/etc. that get me.

[Mr. Vee]

4/8 w/ bosses is what council and CoT are for :D

[Chrome]

On 7/10/2019 at 5:31 PM, Veelectric Boogaloo said:

Might be. Mine's softcapped to all types but psi/toxic. I afk'd for 10 minutes soloing rom/requiem/computer and another 5 with rommy/3 nictii yesterday. Came back to see i still had full health. Will have to try it with some AVs who aren't s/l/neg which are my highest resistances.

would you mind showing your build? I am very interested to see it!

[Kruunch]

Rad melee does the job but I didn't find it very engaging and the Contamination mechanic is not as useful as it reads (imo).

 

Rad Armor is awesome and of all the sets mentioned probably plays the closest to Regen.

 

In its present form, Regen is probably the least impactful secondary of all the Brute secondaries.

 

Try a Spines/Rad Brute.

[Gulbasaur]

2 hours ago, Kruunch said:

Rad melee does the job but I didn't find it very engaging and the Contamination mechanic is not as useful as it reads (imo).

 

Absolutely my experience. It does the job. It's fine. The heal is nice. Contamination is... fine. It's a few bits of occasional AoE damage. 

 

By end-game, my rotation is to drop a lot of AoE DoTs out from Mu and Rad Armour and then use atom smasher and the justice smash thing... then I use rad melee to full time while things are on cooldown. It's fairly run-of-the-mill, but I like the consistency of theme with rad/rad. If you're farting through PI missions or something like that, that playstyle is absolutely more than enough. I've got separated from my group and not noticed before.

[Mr. Vee]

6 hours ago, Chrome said:

would you mind showing your build? I am very interested to see it!

Actually I'd probably change out slow radiation siphon for the crappy cone or the super slow devastating blow if I were making today. But really I wouldn't use either of those any more than I do siphon. I play it like an old school buzzsaw brute with the two quick hitters and gloom being my main attacks apart from the AOE. Devastating is great damage/activation according to Pine's but I just can't stand attacks that take that long.

 

Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 2.22
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

HoofHearted: Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: Radiation Melee
Secondary Power Set: Bio Armor
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Contaminated Strike -- SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg(A), SprBlsCol-Dmg/EndRdx(3), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(7), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(15), SprBlsCol-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg(25), SprBlsCol-Rchg/HoldProc(50)
Level 1: Hardened Carapace -- GldArm-3defTpProc(A), UnbGrd-Max HP%(5), UnbGrd-ResDam(11), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(27), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(46)
Level 2: Radioactive Smash -- SprUnrFur-Acc/Dmg(A), SprUnrFur-Dmg/Rchg(3), SprUnrFur-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(7), SprUnrFur-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(13), SprUnrFur-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(23), SprUnrFur-Rchg/+Regen/+End(45)
Level 4: Environmental Modification -- LucoftheG-Rchg+(A), Rct-Def(5), Rct-Def/EndRdx(13), Rct-ResDam%(21), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(40)
Level 6: Super Speed -- WntGif-ResSlow(A)
Level 8: Radiation Siphon -- KntCmb-Acc/Dmg(A), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx(9), KntCmb-Dmg/Rchg(9), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(17), Hct-Acc/Rchg(37)
Level 10: Fusion -- RctRtc-ToHit/Rchg(A), RctRtc-ToHit(11), RechRdx-I(21)
Level 12: Adaptation 
Level 14: Inexhaustible -- Prv-Heal(A), Prv-Heal/EndRdx(15), Prv-Heal/Rchg(39)
Level 16: Ablative Carapace -- Prv-Heal/Rchg(A), Prv-EndRdx/Rchg(17)
Level 18: Irradiated Ground -- SprAvl-Acc/Dmg(A), SprAvl-Dmg/EndRdx(19), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(19), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(25), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(37), SprAvl-Rchg/KDProc(45)
Level 20: Evolving Armor -- StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(A)
Level 22: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(23)
Level 24: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(50)
Level 26: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 28: DNA Siphon -- ThfofEss-Heal/Rchg(A), ThfofEss-+End%(29), TchoftheN-Acc/Heal(29), TchoftheN-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(40), TchoftheN-Acc/EndRdx/Heal/HP/Regen(40)
Level 30: Tough -- ImpSki-ResDam/Rchg(A), ImpSki-Status(31), ImpSki-ResDam/EndRdx(31)
Level 32: Atom Smasher -- Erd-Acc/Rchg(A), Erd-Dmg/Rchg(33), Erd-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), Erd-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(33), Mlt-Acc/EndRdx(34)
Level 35: Genetic Contamination -- SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg(A), SprBrtFur-Dmg/Rchg(36), SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), SprBrtFur-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(36), SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(37), SprBrtFur-Rech/Fury(46)
Level 38: Weave -- LucoftheG-Rchg+(A), Rct-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(39), Rct-Def(39), Rct-Def/EndRdx(43)
Level 41: Gloom -- SprWntBit-Rchg/SlowProc(A), SprWntBit-Dmg/Rchg(42), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(42), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(42), SprWntBit-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg(43)
Level 44: Maneuvers -- LucoftheG-Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(45)
Level 47: Dark Obliteration -- SphIns-Acc/ToHitDeb(A), SphIns-Acc/Rchg(48), SphIns-ToHitDeb/EndRdx/Rchg(48), SphIns-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(48), SphIns-ToHitDeb(50)
Level 49: Parasitic Aura -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- UnbLea-Stlth(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury 
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run 
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Prv-Heal/EndRdx(31), RgnTss-Regen+(34), Prv-Heal(34), Prv-Absorb%(43), Pnc-Heal/+End(46)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- EffAdp-EndMod(A), EffAdp-EndMod/Acc(27)
Level 0: Marshal 
Level 0: Born In Battle 
Level 0: High Pain Threshold 
Level 0: Invader 
Level 12: Defensive Adaptation 
Level 12: Efficient Adaptation 
Level 12: Offensive Adaptation 
Level 50: Agility Core Paragon 
Level 50: Ion Core Final Judgement 
Level 50: Degenerative Radial Flawless Interface 
Level 50: Banished Pantheon Radial Superior Ally 
Level 50: Ageless Core Epiphany 
Level 50: Assault Radial Embodiment 
------------

[Chrome]

thanks ill check it out!

 

[HelenCarnate]

How are yall posting builds now on the new forum with the link.  With all the different formats I pick it either has no link but the build is readable or it has a giant wall of stuff like this

 

<font color="#489AFF"><b>Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 2.22</b></font><br />
<font color="#489AFF"><b>http://www.cohplanner.com/</b></font><br />
<br />
<font color="#B1C9F5"><u><b><a href="http://www.cohplanner.com/mids/download.php?uc=1539&c=706&a=1412&f=HEX&dc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lick this DataLink to open the build!</a></b></u></font><br />
<br />
<b><font color="#B3CAF7">Level 50 Mutation Blaster</font></b><br />
<b><font color="#489AFF">Primary Power Set: </font><font color="#B3CAF7">Fire Blast</font></b><br />
<b><font color="#489AFF">Secondary Power Set: </font><font color="#B3CAF7">Atomic Manipulation</font></b><br />
<b><font color="#489AFF">Power Pool: </font><font color="#B3CAF7">Leaping</font></b><br />
<b><font color="#489AFF">Power Pool: </font><font color="#B3CAF7">Leadership</font></b><br />
<b><font color="#489AFF">Power Pool: </font><font color="#B3CAF7">Fighting</font></b><br />
<b><font color="#489AFF">Power Pool: </font><font color="#B3CAF7">Speed</font></b><br />
<b><font color="#489AFF">Ancillary Pool: </font><font color="#B3CAF7">Mace Mastery</font></b><br />

[Mr. Vee]

I just used short forum export in pine's with official forum (think that was default) format checked and "export datachunk if creating a datalink isn't possible" checked. I also had "don't export invention levels" checked but I think that was also default.

[Kruunch]

On 7/10/2019 at 12:26 PM, Veelectric Boogaloo said:

 

Once IOd you'll find you rarely need the clickies in bio apart from using them as debuffs. But when you do need them they're great. I'm loving my rad/bio brute - 3 debuffing auras ftw.

Mmmm I'll disagree with this. Bio always plays like a piano. It's a great set, don't get me wrong but you will not go 10 seconds without hitting a Bio clicky in a mission for one reason or another. 

[marcussmythe]

1 hour ago, Kruunch said:

Mmmm I'll disagree with this. Bio always plays like a piano. It's a great set, don't get me wrong but you will not go 10 seconds without hitting a Bio clicky in a mission for one reason or another. 

My Bio Scrapper is a deathgoddess, but she handles like an F1 car or a Jet... unstable and has to be manually managed constantly.

[HelenCarnate]

1 hour ago, Veelectric Boogaloo said:

I just used short forum export in pine's with official forum (think that was default) format checked and "export datachunk if creating a datalink isn't possible" checked. I also had "don't export invention levels" checked but I think that was also default.

Thank you.  I just did the long posts because that is what I was used to but looks like these new forums don't work too well with those.  Glad there is still a way to share.

Edited July 27, 2019 by HelenCarnate

[Vinceq98]

16 hours ago, Kruunch said:

Mmmm I'll disagree with this. Bio always plays like a piano. It's a great set, don't get me wrong but you will not go 10 seconds without hitting a Bio clicky in a mission for one reason or another. 

Sounds like your below 50 or your just playing with SOs. Once you can dump money into a /bio build with all the uniques x5 purple sets including the 2 superior ATO sets /bio is widely considered OP. But then again what do you expect you paid for that OPness after all. My bio stalker has softcapped defenses to ALL ecexpt psi. Psi is only at 25 and frankly I just murder the psi mobs first and if they do damage me I'll just insta heal it all up. Bio has insane regen and recovery along with those defenses I can sit in offensive stance all day and just wreck mobs. The only click I ever use is ablative carapce every 25 secs for the fatty 1100 HP absorb shield that lasts 30 secs and brings along a HUGe regen buff that lasts the same time. 

 

Bio is your set it and forget it secondary. You just go about murdering everything and then when you look and see you took damage you realize oh yeah I can press one of my 3 clickies to either insta refill my hp or end or give myself massive absorb and regen. 

Edited July 27, 2019 by Vinceq98

[Kruunch]

8 hours ago, Vinceq98 said:

Sounds like your below 50 or your just playing with SOs. Once you can dump money into a /bio build with all the uniques x5 purple sets including the 2 superior ATO sets /bio is widely considered OP. But then again what do you expect you paid for that OPness after all. My bio stalker has softcapped defenses to ALL ecexpt psi. Psi is only at 25 and frankly I just murder the psi mobs first and if they do damage me I'll just insta heal it all up. Bio has insane regen and recovery along with those defenses I can sit in offensive stance all day and just wreck mobs. The only click I ever use is ablative carapce every 25 secs for the fatty 1100 HP absorb shield that lasts 30 secs and brings along a HUGe regen buff that lasts the same time. 

 

Bio is your set it and forget it secondary. You just go about murdering everything and then when you look and see you took damage you realize oh yeah I can press one of my 3 clickies to either insta refill my hp or end or give myself massive absorb and regen. 

This is just flat wrong.

 

Sounds to me like you're doing an S/L farm if that's your experience.

 

And my Bio Scrapper is 6x4 Incarnate.

Edited July 28, 2019 by Kruunch

[Doc Ranger]

My Rad/Bio is based on a Med IO build Rylas made but I can say that for your standard radio stuff up to +4 you shouldn't need to worry about your click powers. But at +3 and up doing real arcs with enemies that have abilities beyond punching then you need to start managing your pace. Making sure all three clickies are ready to go before jumping into the next mob. And my Brute isn't built like Voodoo's up there but I can herd a +4 map of your standard stuff very easily on normal to medium expense IO sets.

 

I would like to try a different style of Brute toon to see what the other sets are like though if anyone has a decent combo idea.

 

 

[Mr. Vee]

I finally ran into something my bio couldn't handle without mad clicking and insp use - the hydra heads while trying to solo Apex. Oddly the person with the solo record on the speed tf thread is using bio so it might just be my build.

[marcussmythe]

How the heck did he solo Apex with a melee character?  Cause blue circles of ‘you die’ prevented me from hammering down Battlemaiden.  Maybe pull her out of the blue circle of doom with a taunt?

 

Or was it a bio Sentinel?  Range makes all the difference.

 

Those Hydra Heads were murder.  Massive inspiration use or a ‘get in, do damage, get out before stacks get out of control’ strat was necessary for me.