INTRO:
I started to write this guide a while ago but I put it on hold to wait for more hands on experience with the build and polish off level 50. Well I've done it, I've jogged around the block a couple times and have my EM/ELA t-shirt. I think I'm ready to make my guide.
Without further ado...
So you want to be [or are considering] an Energy Melee/Electric Armor Brute, are you? Me too! when I started mine there were no guides so I really had no choice but to do research on basic Brute information, read up on powers and abilities, grab the latest version of CoX builder, and have at it. I writing this guide up to share my build, strategies, attack chains and what I've learned in general of EM/ELA. By no means what so ever will I suggest in this guide the way I've chosen to build my Brute is the only way, or best way...but simply my way and the way I think is best for me. If you're opinions differ from mine that's cool, make a guide of your own and submit it, variety is the spice of life and i think the community would appreciate the options. If this guide works for you, or gives you your own ideas then this was worth my time.
This guide is my take on, what is in my opinion, an extremely strong, consistent, single target avatar well equipped for both PVE & PVP. The idea behind this build and offered strategies within are to minimize the risk of injury and danger to youself and maximize injury and danger to your target.
THE BUILD:
01) --> Barrage==> Acc Acc EndRdx Dmg Dmg Dmg
01) --> Charged Armor==> EndRdx DmgRes DmgRes DmgRes
02) --> Energy Punch==> Acc Acc EndRdx Dmg Dmg Dmg
04) --> Bone Smasher==> Acc Acc Rechg Dmg Dmg Dmg
06) --> Air Superiority==> Acc Acc EndRdx Dmg Dmg Dmg
08) --> Swift==> Run
10) --> Static Shield==> EndRdx DmgRes DmgRes DmgRes
12) --> Combat Jumping==> EndRdx
14) --> Super Jump==> Jump
16) --> Health==> Heal Heal Heal
18) --> Total Focus==> Acc Acc Rechg Dmg Dmg Dmg
20) --> Stamina==> EndMod EndMod EndMod
22) --> Lightning Reflexes==> Run
24) --> Grounded==> DmgRes
26) --> Conductive Shield==> EndRdx DmgRes DmgRes DmgRes
28) --> Stimulant==> IntRdx
30) --> Lightning Field==> Acc Acc Dmg Dmg Dmg
32) --> Energy Transfer==> Acc Acc Rechg Dmg Dmg Dmg
35) --> Power Sink==> Rechg Rechg Rechg EndMod EndMod EndMod
38) --> Power Surge==> Rechg Rechg Rechg
41) --> Aid Self==> IntRdx IntRdx Heal Heal Heal Rechg
44) --> Electrifying Fences==> Acc Acc Acc EndMod EndMod EndMod
47) --> Build Up==> Rechg Rechg Rechg
49) --> Taunt==> Acc Acc
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT MY CHOSEN POWERS:
[u]Barrage:[u] It's a fast recycling, low damage, rage filler. Some may opt to omit this and substitute it with the Brawl power to make room for another power. I chose not to do this. The damage per hit of Barrage is slightly superior to Brawl with an added stun component. All in all, it is superior to Brawl and the chain it will play into is airtight with it included.
[u]Charged Armor:[u] You have no choice on this one, and it's fine. You want it anyways. this is your core shield vs. smashing and lethal. From the day you start till the day you're 50 it will see you safe the vast majority of the time.
[u]Energy Punch:[u] Your 4th strongest attack in the Energy Melee line. The only way you can omit this attack is to go for Barrage and bypass this one. I would not recommend doing that. Grab this one.
[u]Bone Smasher:[u] Your 3rd strongest attack. You do not want to skip this power. This will be your standard issue heavy attack in your basic chain.
Special Note: While you are grinding 1-50 I will highly suggest to you to slot this power with 2acc, 2rechg, 2dmg. You're going to forsake some damage in doing this, but you will close all gaps in your attack chain completely [no waiting for powers to recharge, non-stop action with the pom poms of facial reconstruction]. Once you've reached level 50 I would then suggest my original listing in the above skill list of 2acc, 1rechg, 3dmg.
[u]Air Sup:[u] Identical damage to Energy Punch, just pure smashing, and a key power in PVE as well as handy in PVP. As will be discussed further in the guide Air Sup will provide damage control via putting your target on his back a good portion of the time. In PVP it isn't as effective but still useful vs. flying or unprotected targets, and the damage is acceptable.
[u]Swift:[u] I chose Swift over Hurdle as any and all passive ground based movement speed buffs available to you is going to play into your favor. The EM line is a pure bread melee monster, the ability to catch your targets quickly [especially in PVP] is going to make or break you. You cannot ram your pom poms down the throat of a target you cannot catch.
[u]Static Shield:[u] In my opinion your second most valuable shield in over all importance, in PVP arguably your single most important shield. You must know that you live and die by your toggles, and if you get shut down via holds or disorients you can pretty much kiss it good-bye. Some opt to get this shield later then sooner, it is all personal preference, but you absolutely want to get it no later then your early 20s or you will start to feel the burden of vulnerability.
Special Note: In the later levels [late 30s early 40s] you're going to want to slot this for resistance to pump up that psi protection. Psi protection though may seem kind of blah on the surface is good stuff both PVE and PVP.
[u]Combat Jumping:[u] The suggested prerequisite to select for Super Jump, in my opinion the best travel power available. The +def values are trivial, however it does offer additional immobilization protection as well as a very much welcome increase in basic jump height and airborne maneuverability.
[u]Super Jump:[u] Not as fast as Super Speed, but you can go anywhere. Not as versatile as Fly, but you can go much faster. Opinions vary, but this is the travel power to have in mine. It is simply too practical and versatile.
[u]Health:[u] Any melee will benefit from this ability. The more HPs you have available, no matter how small, means the longer you will remain standing. If you prefer you can substitute Health for Hurdle, however since in this build I am an advocate of Super Jump, Hurdle becomes slightly redundant.
[u]Total Focus:[u] Mmm, now we are talking. This is where you get your first taste of who it is you will become in the days ahead of you. TF packs great damage and a virtually guaranteed stun vs. nearly any NPC, and an unprotected/shielded player in PVP. It does, however come with some minor drawbacks. The animation time is quite long and is a big endurance hog. With a little practice you will learn to manage these side effects. Get it. Learn to use it. Live it. Love it.
[u]Stamina:[u] You cannot, repeat, you simply cannot enjoy a fast paced EM/ELA Brute career to its full potential without Stamina. There will undoubtedly be some masochistic freaks that can say you can do without it, and its true that you technically can, but you can also strip down buck naked and run through an acre of rose bushes and live to tell the tale too in both cases it is not advised. Get stamina, and get it as soon as it is available; level 20.
[u]Lightning Reflexes:[u] Getting stronger... Oh yah, Lightning Reflexes, and now that you have Stamina you have the endurance capacity to actually enjoy it. LR will increase your run speed and recharge timers on everything. 22 is when you will really start to bloom. Stamina, innate haste and oh ya...you have access to SO's now, baby. If you're tight on cash, always get your Stamina slotted and your attacks enhanced with ACC first, then slap two recharge SOs in your Bone Smasher the rest of your slotting is up to you.
Guess what? You're attack chain [discussed below] has been dialed in with Stamina, LR, and your shinny new SOs. You're ready to rock now boy [or lady]!
[u]Grounded:[u] Knock backs are such an annoyance, and undoubtedly by now you've been KBed so many times you're probably twitching in your seat to get some sort of protection do it!
Special Note: There is a lot of debate on Grounded vs. Acrobatics and I whole heartedly feel Grounded is a better alternative to us. It's free [more endurance to use for enemy nose jobs], it's not a toggle [ELA alone in all its glory uses four toggles as it is!], and the only time Grounded will ever fail you is during a freak shot in the air that will KD you, to which you will simply just get up and go again. I have never had an issue with this power on hills, catwalks, telephone poles, during a Total Focus animation, rooftops, phone booths, blah, blah, blah...
[u]Conductive Shield:[u] Now I'm speaking from experience when I say this; If you think you can live without this shield, you're in for a hard life. You really do want this shield, especially if you have any intent on doing PVP. Not only will it protect you from some very critical and frequently experienced damage types, but also the energy protection of Conductive Shield stacks with Charged Armor. Your defenses will be solid from all types [save toxic] and when it comes to energy damage you are the man [or woman]. Do yourself a favor, don't be cheep, get it. You'll be glad you did.
[u]Stimulant:[u] EM/ELA has no means of healing itself as one of its biggest weaknesses. Aid Self is going to be very useful and significant to your power line as you mature. I took Stimulant as it is excellent at what it does right out of the box so it requires no additional slotting [you'll be surprised how often you get to use it on teams to boot].
[u]Lightning Field:[u] Absolutely awesome for PVE agro management and passive damage, its usefulness is iffy in PVP. This is your AE damage shield that ticks on all nearby foes. I think it's a useful tool for any Brute to have and would recommend to any power type to grab it. It is, however, eclectic.
[u]Energy Transfer:[u] AKA: The Money Shot. Get it, slot it up, build a little fury somewhere and let the bad boy loose. It is absolutely guaranteed to make you cackle maniacally the first two or three times you use it, and bring about at the very least a very devious, villainous, grin for all the rest. This power is pretty much the signature EM love tap.
[u]Power Sink:[u] Get it, Get It, GET IT!!! Get it right now. Slot that puppy for three recharges ASAP then three endurance when you can. Once you have this sucker fully slotted two NPCS will restore you to virtually full endurance, and you will be able to pop it once every 30 seconds. Congratulations, your endurance issues are now virtually completely eliminated. You are an untiring killing machine. This is also a key power into suckering scrappers and tanks in PVP, but we will go into that detail later in the guide. Get it!
[u]Power Surge:[u] AKA: "Don't you know who I am?!". Three minutes of nearly care free devastation. Such a great power and will provoke so many people to be either frustrated or running away from you in PVP. Get ready to hear crying about your "Tier 9 power". It's good stuff. Be advised however; Watch the crash, it's rough. Do not count on the final EMP blast to save your skin. It's just not going to happen.
[u]Aid Self:[u] The final power to your self-recovery spectrum. Endurance with Power Sink, health with Aid Self. Ready to rock.
Special Note: I've tried both three interrupt and two interrupt with one recharge SOs. After extensive PVP testing I've noticed virtually no difference from 3 interrupt to two. I would recommend only using two.
[u]Electrifying Fences:[u] OK, here is the deal on this one. Electro Fences are awesome in PVE and has a lot of theme synergy with EM/ELA, but it's borderline useless in PVP save during longer matches [vs. Tanks and some tough Scrappers]. Knowing what I know now, and purely founded on PVP, I should have gone with Black Scorpion Web Envelope. Coulda, shoulda, woulda, really... I have made due with what I have now, however, and I've slotted it for ACC and endurance drain which does make an impact on enemy endurance bars. Not nearly as useful as the immobilizations offered in Web Envelope, of course, but it does have a function keeping it form complete uselessness. Know you won't be caging anyone down in PVP, ever, but you will love it in PVE if you go this route. If you're big on PVP, go with Web Envelope.
[u]Build Up:[u] Some folks talk about Build Up like it is the single defining skill of your character and without it you're a complete gimp. Don't listen to extremists. If having 80% damage and a side of ACC for 10 seconds out of a best case scenario of roughly 42 seconds, un-hasted, makes or break you...well you're seriously dong something very, very wrong somewhere else. Now that I've gotten that tangent out of the way, I will concur with its overall value as a tool to use. No EM/ELA Brute should be ever without it at 50, but it certainly isn't going to redefine how you play your character sub 50. I find its most significant use is in PVP by enabling you to drop some serious burst damage bombs on opponents. Much like Power Surge it is an invaluable tool, but certainly nothing part of a regular attack protocol.
Special Note: I would not recommend slotting for ACC as it will hardly miss for you anyways, and if some ones defenses are that high that you are missing with Build Up activated you're likely not going to be killing them anyways.
[u]Taunt:[u] Save the squishies, they will love you for it. An eclectic power.
ATTACK CHAINS:
Note: All chains are designed to be optimal at level 22, lightning reflexed and SOed. They will work sub 22, however, not at optimal performance.
[u]Run of the mill, attack chain:[u]
Bone Smasher => Energy Punch => Air Superiority => Barrage (REPEATE)
This is your standard, run of the mill, endless, no gaps attack chain. It's beautiful really... Frequently Bone Smasher will leave your targets dazed right off the bat, you will clobber them with Energy Punch, knock them flat on their butt with Air Sup, give em the ol 1-2 with Barrage, then go right back into your Bone Smasher to do it all over again. The chain is relatively low endurance cost, excellent in single target control with lots of stuns and knockdown, good damage sub fury, great damage post fury, just lots of all round butt kicking. Took me a try or two to get this chain right and have come to love it.
[u]I need you to die, attack chain:[u]
Total Focus => Bone Smasher => Energy Punch => Air Superiority => Barrage => Energy Transfer => Bone Smasher => Energy Punch => Air superiority => Barrage => (REPEATE)
Stepping it up a notch this time. Another endless smack down fest consisting of your basic chain throwing in a steady mix of your big guns. By the time you've completed your base chain after Energy Transfer, Total Focus will be ready to repeat the pain train. This chain can be endurance pig so mind yourself.
[u]I insist you die now, attack chain:[u]
Build Up => Energy Transfer => Bone Smasher => Energy Punch => Air Superiority => Barrage => Total Focus (END)
You must be quick, but in that order you will be able to lay out everything you got all under the effects of your Build Up. This is the standard chain I use when I'm wanting a big spike in my damage, right here, right now. Most commonly used in PVP after I've sapped my target of endurance and killed his/her shield, but certainly a show stopper in PVE for groups when the fury is boiling.
PVP TIPS, TRICKS AND WARNINGS:
- Tip] Inspirations, bring them! They are 50 infamy each, don't be cheep. My standard load out is 12 Heal 8 Break Free's. Any time I get low or run out I leave [I usually dance in RV] go see my Patron, load up and head back out. You need to know that you [u]will[u] get beat down, and you [u]will[u] get held and feared like there is no tomorrow. Be ready for it! Some folks are going to cry you a river for using inspirations out there, bring a raincoat.
- Tip] Do not ignore your Aid Self. When youre down 30-40% of your HPs, stop a moment and Aid Self. This is neglected so many folks out in PVP when they get hopped up in the moment. Don't let this be you
- Trick] When you enter fights, Power Sink your targets as often as possible. To death on soft targets, on hard targets let up on your Power Sink when they are in the 50% endurance range. One of the beautiful points to EM/ELA is we are in it for the long haul. We can trade blows with both tanks and scrappers all day long. Heal ourselves and steal endurance to replenish our own. Play that advantage! When your opponents start getting low endurance hold that power sink till they are in the roughly 15-20% range and nail them with it. Power Sink is auto hit and you will likely sap them dry of endurance. You know what that means? NO SHIELDS! That buff invuln tank is now a big old slab of beef and you are the butcher. Assuming you didn't waste youre your Build Up, now would be a good time to hit it and unleash the "I insist you die now, attack chain" on your newly unprotected target. 9/10 you will have them on the brink of extinction, stunned, and awaiting your final kiss goodbye.
- Warning] Be advised of good Defenders and Controllers. Your weakness is you are the king of melee, melee removed from the equation you become the king of cursing while chasing people under the influence of slows, ice, webs. Recommendations: consider Black Scorpion Web Envelope to help ground opponents. Bring a lot of Break Frees.
- Warning] Be advised of good Katana & Broad Sword/Regen Scrappers. You get placed into a unique circumstance fighting these guys. Undoubtedly, if they are worth their salt, they will chain parry you which plays directly into what is my opinion one of the biggest flaws of villains, lack of accuracy options. Their instant heal is going to make them neigh unkillable using traditional long haul EM/ELA attrition [sap end] tactics. Recommendations: ACC inspirations [I don't use them them, but I can think of a few times they would have come in handy]. Do your best to ride out their IH buff then turn up the heat.
- Warning] You are completely vulnerable to Terror/Fear. Tactics option is insignificant to counter this problem so I would not recommend it. This is going to make Dark/Presence powers particularly annoying to you. Pack Break Free's as your only counteraction to this [stupid] power.
- Warning] People will run, a lot, and perhaps even you too if that is your style. It is the nature of PVP, get accustom to it. It's ok to not get the kill, it's ok to not die.
- Warning] You are your toggles, mind your endurance levels. Do not be caught in the exact predicament you are trying to set up your tougher opponents with.
Well, that's all for now folks, I hope this guide is of use to at least someone out there looking into the EM/ELA build. Have fun, keep the pom poms primed, and smash some heads in!
]. any time you use your kinetics line you put your weapon away, and to use your attack line you pause for a moment to draw your weapon again. since your core attack is DoT based, every moment counts to put the pain out. it's a fraction of a second, but surprisingly annoying.