OMNI'S GUIDE TO THE AVERAGE SPINES/REGENERATION SCRAPPER!
By Omniplex
Version History
Version .5/1-22-07 - Guide Submitted
So you wanna join in on the fun that is the Spines/Regen Scrapper huh? They can be masters of PvP if used properly and be fairly good at PvE also. This guide will tell you whats good and what isnt. First, however a few words of advice on gameplay.
General Gameplay
Being a Spine/Regen Scrapper in general can be a lot of different things. At later levels, you really wont be needing Rest as much, since your natural healing abilities nurture your wounds at an astounding rate. It also offers a bit more freedom, since you really wont need Swift/Hurdle/Health/Stamina. You are also amazingly versatile. At times you can be part Brute or part Blaster. You can do pulls very effectively and renovate whole mobs thanks to your regenerative abilities. And, after using many of your Spine attacks on a single opponent, the residual Toxic damage will begin to eat the from the inside. However, Spines is Lethal damage primarily, which is highly resisted later on. It also doesnt have an appropriate Alpha Strike, so Ripper is the closest you will get. Below, each section will go more in depth on each aspect of gameplay.
PvP
While you may be a scrapper, at low levels you are more of a combination of stalker/scrapper. You arent hit and run, but you cant take as much as all the other scrappers can. In PvP, this isnt really a problem, since usually you are fighting one opponent. You should only engage multiple opponents if its two controllers, dominators, defenders, corruptors, or any combination. Blasters and Stalkers are a maybe, but they can deal lots of damage really quick. Brutes and other Scrappers should be dealt with in a team of two usually. Masterminds can be easy if they arent using Bodyguard mode. Tanks are a big no-no. With your little defense and resistances, they can put the smack down on you instantly and you wont have even scuffed them. This applies to levels 1-25 mostly.
Once you get Ripper, the game can ease up a bit. You should be able to take on two Blasters and the occasional Mastermind. Brutes are still avoided. Scrappers shouldnt be too hard either. Tanks are still a big, fat NO. Instant Healing is where you really shine. This is a base 800% boost to your heal rate. You can handle just about anything, but the question is, can you damage them? Throw Spines can be good too, as it adds to your impressive ranged arsenal. The damage isnt the greatest, but BU+Impale+Throw Spines is your main ranged combo. If you can get close enough, try to use Ripper before BU wears off also.
PvE
For levels 1-18 PvE is a snap. However, beyond that point and you start to become considered slightly squishy. First of all, rushing into a battle can end your life quickly. Your best bet is to, again, BU+Impale+Throw Spines. If they still arent dead, go in and hit them with Spine Burst and finish off the survivors with Lunge and Ripper. If you do manage to fall in battle and you already have Revive, wait a bit to see if they all leave or most of them do. If they all do or most at least, use revive and be ready to attack with Impale, Ripper, and Throw Spines. Unfortunately, they usually dont leave unless they were pulled from their spawn location or they are a patrol.
My Build
I originally made my scrapper, Cry of Thorns, as a mainstream PvPer. However, I quickly realized his potential as a PvEer and expanded the possibilities. *Note* If you follow my build, my enhancements go for 3 slots on an attack 2 acc, one dmg. I value acc more over dmg. Do NOT have 3 slots and use them all for acc.
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Exported from Ver: 1.7.6.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder - (
http://sherksilver.coldfront.net/index.php)
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Name: Cry of Thorns
Level: 50
Archetype: Scrapper
Primary: Spines
Secondary: Regeneration
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01) --> Barb Swipe==> Acc(1) Acc(3) Acc(3) Dmg(42) Dmg(43) Dmg(43)
01) --> Fast Healing==> Heal(1) Heal(9) Heal(13)
02) --> Lunge==> Acc(2) Acc(5) Acc(5) Dmg(34) Dmg(36) Dmg(37)
04) --> Spine Burst==> Acc(4) Acc(7) Acc(7) Dmg(40) Dmg(40) Dmg(40)
06) --> Reconstruction==> Heal(6) Heal(17) Heal(17) Rechg(43) Rechg(46) Rechg(48)
08) --> Quick Recovery==> EndMod(8) EndMod(9) EndMod(13)
10) --> Impale==> Acc(10) Acc(11) Acc(11) Dmg(25) Dmg(25) Dmg(31)
12) --> Combat Jumping==> EndRdx(12)
14) --> Super Jump==> Jump(14) Jump(15) Jump(15)
16) --> Dull Pain==> Rechg(16) Rechg(19) Rechg(19)
18) --> Integration==> Heal(18) Heal(21) Heal(21)
20) --> Resilience==> DmgRes(20)
22) --> Build Up==> Rechg(22) Rechg(23) Rechg(23)
24) --> Stealth==> EndRdx(24)
26) --> Ripper==> Acc(26) Acc(27) Acc(27) Dmg(37) Dmg(37) Dmg(39)
28) --> Instant Healing==> Heal(28) Heal(29) Heal(29) Rechg(48) Rechg(48) Rechg(50)
30) --> Swift==> Run(30) Run(31) Run(31)
32) --> Throw Spines==> Acc(32) Acc(33) Acc(33) Dmg(33) Dmg(34) Dmg(34)
35) --> Revive==> Rechg(35) Rechg(36) Rechg(36)
38) --> Health==> Heal(38) Heal(39) Heal(39)
41) --> Stamina==> EndMod(41) EndMod(42) EndMod(42)
44) --> Laser Beam Eyes==> Acc(44) Acc(45) Acc(45) Dmg(45) Dmg(46) Dmg(46)
47) --> Conserve Power==> Rechg(47)
49) --> Hurdle==> Jump(49) Jump(50) Jump(50)
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01) --> Sprint==> Empty(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Empty(1)
01) --> Critical Hit==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Empty(2)
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Spines
Now I will go over each power of the Spines primary. I will give the games description, the type of power, the damage (If Any), the effects, the required level, and then my own description, with a rating on a scale of 1/5.
Barb Swipe
Shred your opponent with several quick swipes from your spines. Barb Swipe deals minor damage over time. Spine poison deals additional Toxic damage and slows affected foes.
Click
Melee, Minor DMG(Lethal) and DoT(Toxic)
Very Fast Recharge
-Recharge -Speed
Level 1
Not the greatest of all attacks, but if you feel you need more attacks then take it. At least take it at level 1 and respec it out at level 24. If you decide to keep it, it will become one of your basic Bread and Butter attacks.
2/5
Lunge
Lunge forward, stabbing and poisoning a foe with a large Spine on your arm. Lunge deals moderate damage. Spine poison deals additional Toxic damage and slows affected foes.
Click
Melee, Moderate DMG(Lethal) and DoT(Toxic)
Fast Recharge
-Recharge -Speed
Level 1
Another one of your Bread and Butter attacks. This will usually be your first or second primary power and the one that you use the most. This is definitely a keeper.
4/5
Spine Burst
You can fling dozens of Spines in all directions. These Spines only travel a short distance, but they can deal moderate damage and poison any target close to you. Spine poison deals additional Toxic damage and slows affected foes.
Click
PBAoE Melee, Moderate DMG(Lethal) and DoT(Toxic)
Slow Recharge
-Recharge -Speed
Level 2
Basically the power of Lunge, but an AoE version. Useful in both PvE and PvP.
3/5
Build Up
Greatly increases the amount of damage you deal for a few seconds, as well as slightly increasing your accuracy.
Click
Long Recharge
Self +DMG and +ACC
Level 6
Useful in PvE, awesome in PvP. This provides a base 100% increase to your damage and a 20% increase to your accuracy. Use this before Impale and Ripper for some real power.
4/5
Impale
You can throw a single large Spine at a targeted foe. This Spine does only moderate damage, but carries a large amount of the Spine toxin. A successful attack can completely Immobilize most foes, as well as slowing them and doing Toxic poison damage. Impale can also bring down flying entities.
Click
Ranged, High DMG(Lethal) and DoT(Toxic)
Moderate Recharge
Immobilize -Recharge -Speed -Fly
Level 8
The boom in your box, Impale is your second most powerful attack in the whole set. It has fairly good range and in PvP that Immobilize can really help out. Even if they resist it, it slows them a bit from the Immobilize effect, couples with the slow effect, and keeps them from flying. This is a must-have attack.
5/5
Confront
Challenges a foe to attack you. Useful to pull a villain off an ally who finds himself in over his head. An accuracy check is needed to taunt enemy players, but is not needed against critter targets.
Click
Ranged
Fast Recharge
Foe Taunt
Level 12
I was never really fond of this since you really dont want foes to target you only. The only real pratical use it could have is for pulling, and it isnt even very good at that.
2/5
Quills
When you activate this power, you will constantly fire dozens of Quills in all directions. These Quills do minor damage, but can poison all foes in close range. Spine poison slows affected foes.
Toggle
PBAoE, Minor DoT(Lethal)
Moderate Recharge
-Recharge -Speed
Level 18
The absolute worst power in the set. It does barely any damage and doesnt have very good accuracy. The only thing I could see using this power for is the -Speed effect, and that isnt even worth it due to the end cost.
1/5
Ripper
You can unleash a spectacular slashing maneuver that attacks all villains in a wide arc in front of yourself. Ripper deals massive damage and poisons multiple targets. It can even knockdown foes. Spine poison deals additional Toxic damage and slows affected foes.
Click
Melee(Cone), High DMG(Lethal) and DoT(Toxic)
Moderate Recharge
Knockback -Recharge -Speed
Level 26
The most powerful attack in your arsenal and the closest you will get to an Alpha Strike, Ripper can deal a good amount more of damage than Impale. It will hurt enemies in a cone, which is really nice for PvE and sometimes PvP.
4/5
Throw Spines
You can throw dozens of Spines in a wide cone in front of you, impaling foes caught within the range. Spine throwing deals moderate damage, and poisons any targets it hits. Spine poison deals additional Toxic damage and slows affected foes.
Click
Ranged(Cone), Moderate DMG(Lethal) and DoT(Toxic)
-Recharge -Speed
Level 32
Awesome PvE attack and can be good for assaulting teams in PvP. Its power is somewhere in between Lunge and Impale. Not that bad of an attack.
4/5
Regeneration
Now I will go over each power of the Regeneration secondary. I will give the games description, the type of power, the damage (If Any), the effects, the required level, and then my own description, with a rating on a scale of 1/5.
Fast Healing
You heal Hit Points at a faster rate than normal. This power is always on and costs no endurance.
Auto
Self +Regeneration
Level 1(Required)
You have to take this power and Im not complaining. It is the basis for your regenerative structure. It has a 35% greater healing rate than Health. Still skeptical? 3 slotted for heal with SOs means a 147.92% increase in heal rate.
5/5
Reconstruction
Through perfect control of your body, you can concentrate for a few moments and heal yourself. The effects of Reconstruction also leaves you resistant to Toxic damage for a while.
Click
Self Heal(25%) and Resist(Toxic, 25%)
Level 2
Your primary heal and a great one no doubt.
