Axe/Ice questions

[Wolfboy1]

So my itch to create a concept character based on the Axe power-set finally hit.  Originally I was going to do a Axe/SR but then I realized that scrappers version of SR doesn't get Master Brawler (thank you Sentinels for spoiling me).  I hate click mez protection powers even when they can be put to Auto...there is sometimes a delay I've noticed and that's when the damn holds always get me.  Yes, its petty and probably not really something I should worry about but there it is.

 

That being said, is there a way to:

1. Plug the Psi def (or res) in Ice without gimping everything else? 

2. Where should the Scrapper ATO's be slotted?

3. The ST chain...is Gash not something that should be used (keep in mind im leveling with this currently).

 

I've attached a build that has some psi res and def but not nearly enough I think...but this might just be something that I have to live with on this powerset.

 

I didn't take Gash in the build but...im kinda wanting it but not sure if thats a good idea?

Antorius (Axe-Ice).mbd

[Rokkeb]

Crit strikes goes in swoop. The main two st chains people use with axe are swoop chop gash , or swoop chop cleave .

 

My chain goes like this though swoop cleave chop. That way I don't have to sacrifice a slot on swoop to have it knockdown instead of up, cleave hits them in the air, chop hits them on the ground.

 

Ice armor is pretty dire on scrappers thiugh, you're going to be relying on energy absorption, and icy bastion for your survival. It's fun it's just overall got a lot more weaknesses than it probably should. I guess slow immunity comes with a hefty price.

Edited September 27 by Rokkeb

[Wolfboy1]

Yeah, I've noticed that it is an end nightmare.  Slow as well...im in a team and I am just going around trying to hit anything I can but its usually gone before I get there.  Solo its fine though, and as for Crit Strikes...the proc is in Swoop.  Though someone who has played this set before says it probably should go into Pendulum.  I would think the other way around.

[Warshades]

On 9/24/2025 at 4:31 PM, Wolfboy1 said:

I've attached a build that has some psi res and def but not nearly enough I think...but this might just be something that I have to live with on this powerset.

 

Psi isn't extremely common and most mobs that do have some psi damage don't hit extremely hard.

 

Psi defense is not something that's practical to chase after because there aren't a lot of useful sets that have it as a high % bonus. Psi resist, if you have the extra slots, can be easy to get.

 

Impervium armor psi resist IOs can be used up to 5 times so slot them into any power that takes resist enhancements. Rime or Hoarfrost, Permafrost, Icy Bastion, and Tough will provide 4 spots where you can put them in which is 24% psi resist. Aegis unique can be slotted once and will be another 5%. Any full 6 piece purple sets other than Apocalypse will give you another 6% psi/tox resist. Between the 4 impervium armor, aegis, shield wall/reactive defense uniques, and slotting Permafrost for resist, you should be hitting ~43% psi resist before any set bonuses. 2 full purple sets would net you another 12%. If you go for T4 barrier core destiny incarnate, that's another 5% and you'd be hitting ~60% psi resist at 50.

[Wolfboy1]

4 minutes ago, Warshades said:

 

Impervium armor psi resist IOs can be used up to 5 times so slot them into any power that takes resist enhancements. Rime or Hoarfrost, Permafrost, Icy Bastion, and Tough will provide 4 spots where you can put them in which is 24% psi resist. Aegis unique can be slotted once and will be another 5%. Any full 6 piece purple sets other than Apocalypse will give you another 6% psi/tox resist. Between the 4 impervium armor, aegis, shield wall/reactive defense uniques, and slotting Permafrost for resist, you should be hitting ~43% psi resist before any set bonuses. 2 full purple sets would net you another 12%. If you go for T4 barrier core destiny incarnate, that's another 5% and you'd be hitting ~60% psi resist at 50.

Oh very much thank you for this!  I shall try to work that in to this and yeah i think I need to do a full respec and really decide on where things should be allocated.  As it is right now I think I slotted a lot of these powers wrong and probably should go back and rework this.  I will keep the suggestions in mind.

[Warshades]

16 minutes ago, Wolfboy1 said:

Oh very much thank you for this!  I shall try to work that in to this and yeah i think I need to do a full respec and really decide on where things should be allocated.  As it is right now I think I slotted a lot of these powers wrong and probably should go back and rework this.  I will keep the suggestions in mind.

 

Here's a quick rework. I'll defer to others on best places to slot the Scrapper ATO procs/sets, I don't play scrappers often to really know which powers they're best used in. Some general suggestions, avoid recharge boosting alpha incarnates as that will hurt your proc chances. You'll normally be using Energy Absorption in a full mob and the power can be stacked, that will add a decent chunk more defense to where you won't need a defense boosting incarnate alpha. Go for musculature alpha, it buffs damage and end mod which will help boost the end recovered from Energy Absorption (along with that, no need to slot EA for end mod, using it in a mob will completely fill your endurance bar). 

 

5 slotting Panacea in Hoarfrost allows you to fit in the Impervium psi resist and still get a global recharge bonus. I went for more Shield Wall pieces to increase your e/n resist. There's no need to slot Winter's Gift in your travel power, Ice Armor caps slow resist without any additional help and a 2 piece Launch will boost your s/l resist. Kismet isn't something you need to slot on every build, only if your accuracy to +3 enemies is below 95%. With the addition of FA, you won't have accuracy issues and don't need Kismet. Wet Ice is an interesting power. It provides a very minor defense boost but doesn't accept defense enhancements. You don't really need to slot a Cytoskeleton HO into it, but since the HO buffs defense, it will slightly boost the small amount of defense that Wet Ice offers. Can easily replace it with a 50 end reduction IO to save influence (similarly, can replace the HO in FA to a 50 end reduction to save influence). 

 

The build below does factor in the minimum 5% resist/def from T4 barrier.

 

Antorius (Axe-Ice).mbd

[Wolfboy1]

Interesting...just a quick question regarding Hecatomb...what would its Non-purple analogy be?  This is still leveling of course and I have the inf to just put in something there while I wait to be able to switch it to the purple set.  Trouble is...not sure which one is its "counterpart".

[Warshades]

Crushing Impact would be my suggestion. It provides recharge, accuracy, tox/psi resist, and some s/l resist.

[Wolfboy1]

Thanks for that.  I know that psi is not a very common damage type but those mobs that have it usually end up hitting like trucks so I think I would much like to have a high resist to it.  Now if only I can figure out how to solve the end issues with him.  ED I wish was up more often...but it is what it is.  I do question though if chilling embrace should have more slow in it to keep the mobs slowed or is this aspect not really viable in order to have everything else?

[Warshades]

Do what you need to while leveling, for end game there's no real need to use slots on it and the build I posted is for end game.

 

I have my own opinion regarding Chilling Embrace. I find that for end game, you will kill through mobs far to quickly for the slow to actually do anything significantly useful. It may potentially be helpful while leveling. A lot of your endurance issues should be remedied once you get Energy Absorption and and some recharge on it and global recharge on the build. While leveling, I would probably pick up Gash as you'd want more attacks, particularly with the global recharge not being there yet. 

[Yomo Kimyata]

Looking at this thread, I pulled out an old lvl 50 scrapper that pre-dated both the upgrades to Ice Armor and Battle Axe named, imaginatively enough, Ice Axe.  I'm in the process of running her through the paces in this newer gentler world, but here are some thoughts so far:

 

On 9/24/2025 at 4:31 PM, Wolfboy1 said:

1. Plug the Psi def (or res) in Ice without gimping everything else? 

 

I'm generally not a fan of non-positional typed defense, but frankly I don't worry too much about this to be honest.  Since I'm running through all sorts of content, I won't make a specific "psi enemy" build and I'll just make up the difference with healing/regeneration and oh shit buttons.  I've got three builds on this one:  a Force of Will build, an Experimentation build, and I'm working on the Sorcery build now.  Lots of oh shit buttons out there!

 

On 9/24/2025 at 4:31 PM, Wolfboy1 said:

3. The ST chain...is Gash not something that should be used (keep in mind im leveling with this currently).

 

I try to have both a ST chain and an AoE chain.  For Axe, I usually find that Cleave, Chop, and Swoop are sufficient because I'll have a ranged attack from an epic pool, I'll have a Force Feedback proc in Cleave that helps, and there are other buttons to push for Ice Armor that keep me upright.  If I were going for pylon times, I'd focus more on ST options.  As a leveling build, yeah, it's tough at first and I'd consider taking another attack or two at lower levels that you respec out of later.  Honestly, I pick up Kick pretty early and use it until about level 12 or so.

 

On 9/24/2025 at 4:31 PM, Wolfboy1 said:

2. Where should the Scrapper ATO's be slotted?

 

My basic ST chain is Cleave, Chop, Swoop, +.  My basic AoE chain (and AoE is glorious on this alt) is Cleave, Axe Whirlpool, Pendulum.  As such, I go against the grain and put the Crit Strikes proc in Cleave.  It has a good chance of activation for a small AoE, and since I spend 95% of my time fighting x8 hordes, it activates a ton.  I'll put a FF +rech in Axe Black Hole and/or Pendulum as well, and I generally skip out of Hasten because that proc is going to be dinging like crazy.  

 

Normally for a non-defense based scrapper, I'll split the Scrapper's Strike 3-3 for the extra defense bonus, but I'll probably 5 or 6 slot the set in Swoop since I don't really need it.