RAAAAA!!!! A guide to the DM/FA Brute
By
Big_Bitterman,
Posted on: 2005-10-27 11:21 in Player Guides
I've done the Hurdle+CJ thing with my Fire/EM tank on Justice, and I got to agree, that the LOOK of H+CJ is cool as hell, it's more of what you feel like is better, if you like Swift, do it, if you like having a bind for Target_Nearest$$Follow, and hitting jump, do it.
I'm a HUGE proponant of picking what makes you happy. No power in this game is useless. If you like how it feels, or what it does, DO IT!!!
Jump Kick is really not great for a brute, it's a long animation, and looses more fury than say using AS does. But I like how it LOOKS on Chatterer. It's INSANELY cool to see him do, and it's vaguely utilitarian. I use it, I'll continue to use it.
I like the build above. It's strong, good fury good SMASH!, good bute. It's not completely cookie cutter, and it's happy for teh SMASH!
So, what's interesting with this particular build is you're damn near unstoppable at 30, and you're downtime is ziltch. At the same time, you're not standing there taking everything coming at you like pre I5 tankers herding whole maps of uber badness. You'll ALWAYS be doing something. there will be close calls. MANY close calls. The key will be knowing when the fecal matter has hit the rotery ocillator and BUG OUT!!!
oh, and SMASH!
ok i will try this build just to see it in action
I'm still in the early levels of my Brute (and lovin' it!), but I'm wondering if the End problems that I'm experiencing now will ever alleviate themselves, or if it's pretty much always going to be like this until I get Dark Consumption?
oh hell no.
DO's will make a BIG difference, in fact if you only slot EndRedux's pre 12 (not a HORRIBLE idea, just not a GOOD idea) then you'll have an easier time. DO's not only make endurance less of a constant worry, but when SO's become available, Consume and DC will be ALL you need for your end issues.
I STILL recomend at least TAKING Stamina (slot if you feel the need). You'll find that just that extra UMPH! extends your fighting capabilities when not faced with multiple foes or missing Consume/DC's. In Beta at level 30 with 1 Slot in Stamina, I could fight to my hearts content with sprint, both shields, acrobatics, and BA turned on, using the 3 dark attacks, jump kick, brawl and siphon life as an attack chain, and still coming up with enough end for Healing Flames when things got extra sticky and Siphon Life missed/didn't keep up with the damage.
End issues WILL resolve themselves, you just got to fight to SO level to have them ALL gone, and DO level to feel better.
Other note here, Rest is only like 5 min recharge time now. Use it, you SHOULD be able to go about that long before running completely out of Endurance with SMASHFEST tactics. If you turn off your toggles, your end will recharge to 100 before your fury goes under 20% or so. Don't be afraid to take a break every now and again, make your team wait, or do some killing without you, don't get killed just cause you're impatient....and stuff.
Good guide, one question though:
[ QUOTE ]
LEVEL 12 Taunt
DESCRIPTION Challenges a foe to attack you. Useful to pull a villain off an ally who finds himself in over his head. I dont usually recommend this power for Brutes. Youre not a CoH Tank, youre a Brute. You dont save your team mates, if they cant hack it, TOUGH, more for you to SMASH!
RECOMMENDED SLOTTING 1 or 2 acc would be sufficient for this power, possibly a range or 2 as well.
[/ QUOTE ]
Why ACC ? Isn't it autohit like the Tanker version ? I don't have it yet on my Brute, but I am curious if its autohit or not.
AFAIK The Brute Version of Taunt is NOT autohit. at least, I missed in beta with it at least 5 times or so before I respec'd out of it.
BUT, I do remember something about PVP Brute Taunt not being autohit, so that's why you'd put the acc in Taunt. For MOST Brute powers, think of what the effects are for a scrapper. Attack powers do have taunts, but GENERALLY only if they hit (blazing aura for example).
Alright. Yeah, I was figuring it'd take care of itself in time.
My previous toon was a I3 DM/Regen scrapper, so up until know I don't think I've ever taken a knee, so that's a new experience for me XD.
I was wondering where a good place in my build to stick Stamina would be? Almost everything on you'r min/max build fits my concept, so it's essentially the same thing (I pick up rise of the pheonix instead of fiery embrace). I can't see much of anything that I'd like to drop in favor of it for concept reasons, at least not until the level cap is raised.
[ QUOTE ]
AFAIK The Brute Version of Taunt is NOT autohit. at least, I missed in beta with it at least 5 times or so before I respec'd out of it.
BUT, I do remember something about PVP Brute Taunt not being autohit, so that's why you'd put the acc in Taunt. For MOST Brute powers, think of what the effects are for a scrapper. Attack powers do have taunts, but GENERALLY only if they hit (blazing aura for example).
[/ QUOTE ]
I just logged in to double check before I posted this. Brute's taunt IS auto it. It doesn't even accept +ACC enhancements. You just have to deal with the max number of targets since it is an AoE power. (I forget the exact number) I knew I had never missed with it yet. 
Then I stand corrected.
I went with kick earlier to save a spot and didnt use Shadow Punch. What is the earliest that Tough would be useful?
I started a Brute following the Min/ Max build and it rocks. My def may not be as solid as I would like but no complaints going by your build of powers and most times enhcancement placement I find that it works very well, I have teamed with other DM/FA brutes not following this guide or lack of knowledge of it and I see them sucking up inspiration after inspiration to maintain. I admit I may use a few blues and greens but not like I see them. I solo rather well with this build too. Most teams that don't know me go [censored] when I have full fury and low end and jump in a pack of mobs. Gotta love consumption/dark consumption to keep fury up YEAH BABY. Do you have a post 40 build or ideas in place yet would love some insight especially when they extend our levels. Keep up the great work hope to see more on this.
Until we know that the epic power pools are going to be like it's not easy to write a guide that goes past 40 unless you don't plan on using the epic pools at all.
I'm not sure, but I have to say I LOVE THIS POWER!!!! 
I've used it to great effect on my 37 DM/Inv scrapper. While PvPing I was able to pretty much lock up a Brute as he whiffed at me and I was able to SMASH him.
I find it's best used in groups where you may have a mob that you don't want to deal with. I have been able to effect Mins and LTs but never bosses. Not sure if it's a magnatude thing or if it just never effects bosses.
You really shouldn't notice a loss of Fury from using it. But I do miss taking damage. 
Entropy: Not just a fad, it's the future!
To YOU I'm an atheist. To God, I'm the Loyal Opposition.
Photons have mass!? I didn't even know they were Catholic...
nice
Pollution, Thank you BRO!!! I just found my love! Man, I built this model after your design and I have to tell you it rocks!! I took down five bad boys in one setting! two yellows and three oranges. This baby builds fury like no other!
My toon is only at lvl 4, but check this, I got there in around 20 mins, and that was due to running now that the jet packs are gone. I have a total of ten toons, but the damage builder on this one just melts my heart!!
I have been around since the CoH went live, left for about 6 months and came back about two weeks ago, and i must say, no build i have ever played has been this much fun. This is so awesome I have goose bumps!
I have been digging and scrounging trying to find a build that would make me feel villainously vicious, and this is my baby! She kicks astroturf like it's supposed to be kicked, runs to the next mob and even though fury disapates rather rapidly imo, she builds it right back up in like four swings, and i can go toe to toe with oranges.
I have yet to test her against reds, that may be a bit much at my still weak lvl, but she rocks hard in the paint, and I KNOW, i will finally have a character i will truly enjoy.
Thank for ALL of your hard work running all those tests and trials bro, you have rekindled my love for the game, and given me a character that is perfect for my playstyle.
Thanks Again.
sounds nice.. im gona try it out
G'Damn.
I am fairly new to CoX, being around only two months and my main toon a BS/Regen getting to level 20... but I tried a DM/Fire after reading this profile, and I absolutely love it.
This is absolutely my favorite build as all I do is go around and SMASH! things. DM/Fire FTW!
Well a little bit of work later I made 40 with my Brute, I took stamina and Rise of the Pheonix as my options not sure if it is something I will stick with them for now. Except for the last 2 power choices I followed the min/max build to the letter. I found out in Warburg last night that this build that I can stand tough without sucking up inspirations. I was getting terrorized and debuffed but the Spine scrapper could not take me down fast at all. I could not hit him for jack a lvl 48 tuned to 38. Regardless this build and powerset is awesome not the strongest for taking the big hits but it sure can hurt em and support ya in a pinch. RoP was a great thing when a dark/dark scrapper was doing his deed to my group and I had the pleasure of detoggling him to end his reign. LOL he puled the same thing on us a short time earlier. Looking for the parton powers and how it will utilize the build to be more effective in the upper lvls. Just gotta figure out how to beat those blasted dm/da scrappers... 
Im already almost 10 - so cant keep the same system you have for min-max - but I wanted to work in Stamina - and replace Firey Embrace with Phoenix
here is what I have
Exported from version 1.5C of CoH Planner
http://joechott.com/coh
Archetype: Brute
Primary Powers - Ranged : Dark Melee
Secondary Powers - Support : Fiery Aura
01 : Fire Shield endred(01) damres(3) damres(3) damres(11)
01 : Smite acc(01) endred(5) dam(7) dam(9) dam(34) acc(37)
02 : Shadow Maul acc(02) endred(5) dam(9) dam(29) dam(31) acc(37)
04 : Blazing Aura acc(04) endred(7) dam(39) dam(40) dam(40)
06 : Healing Flames recred(06) recred(15) recred(15) hel(17) hel(17) hel(19)
08 : Siphon Life acc(08) endred(11) hel(13) hel(13) hel(29) recred(39)
10 : Combat Jumping endred(10)
12 : Swift runspd(12)
14 : Super Jump jmp(14)
16 : Plasma Shield endred(16) damres(19) damres(21) damres(21)
18 : Dark Consumption acc(18) recred(23) recred(23) recred(25)
20 : Consume acc(20) recred(25) recred(27) recred(27)
22 : Acrobatics endred(22)
24 : Health hel(24) hel(39)
26 : Stamina endrec(26) endrec(40)
28 : Soul Drain acc(28) recred(31) recred(31) recred(33)
30 : Boxing acc(30) dam(37)
32 : Midnight Grasp acc(32) endred(33) dam(33) dam(34) dam(34)
35 : Tough endred(35) damres(36) damres(36) damres(36)
38 : Rise of the Phoenix hel(38)
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Any problems you see with this?
To get Stamina - I skipped Shadow Punch in the begining
Will that hurt?
I just built a toon with this powerset combo off-hand, and now I'm hooked. As soon as I snagged a good name and hit "Enter Rogue Isles" I was instantly obsessed with the tremendous amount of SMASH! readily available to me.
Good post, Pollution. And of couse, the subsequent notes from everyone helped a great deal. I look forward to SMASH!-ing everything in sight.
Thanks for your hard work on this Guide.
I built a character based on this guide many months ago.
I quickly levelled him to 22ish following the guide pretty closely. I have since re-specced him out to better fit my play style - most notably I got Stamina earlier - and I still love him.
I likely would not have begun this character w/o having read this guide so thanks again. You have contributed to many hours of SMASHING for me and I'm sure for other players.
Glad to be of service. I'll probably update this guide come Issue 9 (with the invention system, this has ALOT of potential). So keep a lookout.
Love the guide - any thoughts on the new DM changes?
Arc #6015 - Coming Unglued
"A good n00b-sauce is based on a good n00b-roux." - The Masque
One of the best guides I've ever read, for any game, I love it!
One thing I'd like to see though is an update for changes, but most importantly, a Level 50 build of this.
Keep up the great work!
Oh, I'm getting the old Scrapper itch again; anyone talking about "brute lock" yet? Or maybe "Smash Lock" setting in
With my old DM/Regen scrap I used CJ+hurdle for really fast smashing in a crowd. Just hit your target nearest+follow bind button (mines mouse shoulder) and hit jump as needed. It's really fast and looks cool as hell. 