New Brute creation, some advice would be helpful.

[Wolfboy1]

So, as the title suggests I am new to the whole Brute AT as it never really interested me but I wanted a change of pace lately so decided to make on.  I want a Battle Axe brute for sure but I am having some issues deciding on the secondary.  There are two issues at play though:

 

1. Toggle Mex protection vs Click = I prefer toggles.

2. Are resistance based sets better on Brutes then defensive?

 

I tried /Stone and immediately didn't like the graphical depictions (even with minimal) so that set is out.  I tried Super Reflexes and realized that the mez protection is click based which immediately put me off (Sentinel version spoiled me).

 

I also don't really know what to do in terms of a build for Brutes.  I assume (probably wrongly) that they kind of are built like scrappers?  I don't team often so I would mostly be going at it solo for the most part but teaming up is not out of the question...another thing I think about when Brutes are in play is the GO GO GO mentality...is this common and if so...should I play into that mentality? 

Any help is appreciated.

[Warshades]

2 hours ago, Wolfboy1 said:

another thing I think about when Brutes are in play is the GO GO GO mentality...is this common and if so...should I play into that mentality?

 

Kind of, but not really required. Transitioning quickly from mob to mob helps to maintain fury at a high level, but it also slows down the rate at which it falls as it gets lower so I wouldn't say you have to try hard to rush from mob to mob. It also builds up fairly quickly.

 

2 hours ago, Wolfboy1 said:

2. Are resistance based sets better on Brutes then defensive?

 

I prefer defensive or a mix of defensive/resist on everything as it simply helps to avoid debuffs when you don't get hit in the first place. Having said that, resist sets are most effective on tanks and brutes because of the 90% resist caps as opposed to the 75% on scrappers/stalkers/sentinels. 

 

Low click armor sets include Invincibility (mix of defense/resist), Dark Armor, and Willpower. I wouldn't really count sets like SR or Shield as being a very clicky set, they literally only have the mez protection that you need to click and you can put it on auto. Most armors with the exception of Willpower have at least some click powers that provide sustainability and/or heals.

[Wolfboy1]

9 minutes ago, Warshades said:

 

Kind of, but not really required. Transitioning quickly from mob to mob helps to maintain fury at a high level, but it also slows down the rate at which it falls as it gets lower so I wouldn't say you have to try hard to rush from mob to mob. It also builds up fairly quickly.

 

Yeah, ive noticed that it builds up pretty fast.

 

10 minutes ago, Warshades said:

I prefer defensive or a mix of defensive/resist on everything as it simply helps to avoid debuffs when you don't get hit in the first place. Having said that, resist sets are most effective on tanks and brutes because of the 90% resist caps as opposed to the 75% on scrappers/stalkers/sentinels. 

 

Low click armor sets include Invincibility (mix of defense/resist), Dark Armor, and Willpower. I wouldn't really count sets like SR or Shield as being a very clicky set, they literally only have the mez protection that you need to click and you can put it on auto. Most armors with the exception of Willpower have at least some click powers that provide sustainability and/or heals.

 

I understand the mentality you have here...its something that I can jive with for sure.  Putting the mez on auto is of course doable, though I have found that it has delays sometimes and knowing my luck thats when the hold gets though. 😞  Hence why toggles are my go too for mez protection.  Invincibility seems nice but Dark also looks good and even if Dark doesnt have Knockback protection I remember there is an IO that lets you have a decent resistance to it...though Dark from what I am told is END HEAVY and pairing it with Battle Axe...is unwise?

[Psyonico]

4 hours ago, Wolfboy1 said:

2. Are resistance based sets better on Brutes then defensive?

Just to reply to this bit...

 

Resistance is better on tanks/brute than it is on Scrappers/Stalkers/Sentinels.  This is because tanks and brutes have a 90% resistance cap while the others have a 75% resistance cap.

 

Comparing Resistance to Defense, generally not getting hit (defense) is better than getting hit for less damage (resistance), but really, combining the two is better than relying on only one or the other.

 

Energy Aura is an awesome set that combines good defense with moderate resistance and also has endurance covered between Energy Drain and Energize.  The latter is also a heal.

[Wolfboy1]

33 minutes ago, Psyonico said:

Energy Aura is an awesome set that combines good defense with moderate resistance and also has endurance covered between Energy Drain and Energize.  The latter is also a heal.

I had thought about Energy Aura...as one aspect of the character would make that viable in both lore and practicality.  I will have to take a look at it.

[evetsleep]

In defense of click mez protection and defense sets, most mez requires a hit.  If they have a hard time hitting you then won't get mezzed.  What I normally do with super reflexes and shield is put it on auto and forget about it.

 

Pretty much any armor set would work based on what's been said.  I personally like axe/electric.  Axe can be slow to recharge and endurance thirsty and it kind of helps with all axes issues.

[Wolfboy1]

4 minutes ago, evetsleep said:

In defense of click mez protection and defense sets, most mez requires a hit.  If they have a hard time hitting you then won't get mezzed.  What I normally do with super reflexes and shield is put it on auto and forget about it.

 

Pretty much any armor set would work based on what's been said.  I personally like axe/electric.  Axe can be slow to recharge and endurance thirsty and it kind of helps with all axes issues.

Yeah, I know a lot of people swear by the sets they like and I am not saying they are not good sets.  Me, personally, I hate the click mez ones since I usually have Hasten on Auto.

 

Yeah, the slow recharge is whats hampering me right now.  Mostly since I don't have enough levels to get any of the LotG's that would help a bit with that.  I will need to slot in some recharge on these powers I suspect until the IO sets bonuses creep in.

[Warshades]

3 hours ago, Wolfboy1 said:

Dark also looks good and even if Dark doesnt have Knockback protection I remember there is an IO that lets you have a decent resistance to it...though Dark from what I am told is END HEAVY and pairing it with Battle Axe...is unwise?

 

It is endurance heavy, but it did get a revamp and adjustment to it that can help with endurance. There are 2 mutually exclusive powers that you can pick from, the original Dark Regeneration which is end heavy but heals a significant amount for each enemy that is hit with it, and the new Obscure Sustenance which provides a regen and recovery bonus that can help with the high endurance cost of DA. Additionally, Cloak of Fear was revamped and now provides KB protection when you're surrounded by enemies and it's endurance cost was also halved (used to be 0.52 end/sec, now 0.26 end/sec). 

[Wolfboy1]

3 minutes ago, Warshades said:

 

It is endurance heavy, but it did get a revamp and adjustment to it that can help with endurance. There are 2 mutually exclusive powers that you can pick from, the original Dark Regeneration which is end heavy but heals a significant amount for each enemy that is hit with it, and the new Obscure Sustenance which provides a regen and recovery bonus that can help with the high endurance cost of DA. Additionally, Cloak of Fear was revamped and now provides KB protection when you're surrounded by enemies and it's endurance cost was also halved (used to be 0.52 end/sec, now 0.26 end/sec). 

Oh...sounds like Dark may be something I want to look into then as well.  Never played Dark Armor before but the concept has always intrigued me.

[evetsleep]

9 hours ago, Warshades said:

 

It is endurance heavy, but it did get a revamp and adjustment to it that can help with endurance. There are 2 mutually exclusive powers that you can pick from, the original Dark Regeneration which is end heavy but heals a significant amount for each enemy that is hit with it, and the new Obscure Sustenance which provides a regen and recovery bonus that can help with the high endurance cost of DA. Additionally, Cloak of Fear was revamped and now provides KB protection when you're surrounded by enemies and it's endurance cost was also halved (used to be 0.52 end/sec, now 0.26 end/sec). 

I really like Obscure Sustenance on new dark armor toons to help with the heavy endurance demands (even post revamp) to keep things goin until endurance usage/recovery is addressed later and then respecing out of it late game.  It's been a real life saver on my endurance heavy dark armor toons like one I'm leveling now (super strength).

[aethereal]

I'll never change anyone's mind on click mez, but I swear to you all that it's not some huge problem.  You don't need to set it on auto.

 

The duration vs recharge on the clicky mez powers is very generous.  It's not like Hasten where you're going to just barely get it to perma, it'll be recharged before the duration is even half expired.  So you don't need to watch like a hawk for when it comes off recharge.  You've got time.

 

What I do is try to check it right before I dive into a new spawn.  If it's off recharge, I click it, then ignore it for the duration of fighting that spawn.

 

If you do end up with a gap in your mez protection and you get mezzed, it's NBD!  These powers can be clicked through mezzes which breaks you free.

 

For Shield, you plausibly want to set the power on auto because it drives your DDR.  For SR and Ninjutsu it's fine to just click it between spawns.

[Uun]

If Battle Axe is your primary, you want a secondary with end management/recovery tools. That would rule out Invul, Shield, SR and Dark (w/o Obscure Sustenance). I would also avoid Regen and Willpower as their end drain resistance is much lower and they don't have a click +end power. Electric and Energy both have very good end management tools once you get Energize (60% end discount) and Power Sink/Energy Drain (PBAoE +end per foe), plus Electric is the gold standard for end drain protection.

 

I recently leveled a BA/Bio brute and I still found myself shifting to Efficient Adaptation pretty often. Bio also has +end built into its heal, so you can also use that. That said, if you don't like Stone's graphics, you probably won't like Bio either. 

[Maelwys]

FWIW, I've found a BA/FieryAura Brute to be pretty decent.
Axe Cyclone pulling things into Burn Patches lends a bit of synergy; and Consume meets my Recovery requirements (although just barely when fighting a big Single Target!)
There's no minimal effect option on the flame auras, but you can tone it down a LOT by opting for darker shades - one of my cossies just has a very faint grey glow.