1) resistant will give more benefit, the def buff is lower and not beneficial unless your are aiming for Max def for pets, Never the less pets would be better with +res.
2)They buff def and can lower enemy def,that is why.None IMO, the pets IO set are better but i know is a common practice to slot 1 or 2 +def bonus.
3) Is a nice plus but not a must have, if you can get it, perfect ,if you can't then you won't be missing anything.All power can help a lil depending your personal goals.
Maneuvers suck,His +def is 2-3% and can only get to 5-6% making not a significance different to be worth the power slot, there is better powers out there to pick, Assault is better than Maneuver, but that the only good thing it have,Tactics is really good to make your pets hit when there are fighting +3-5 lv enemies.
Thug MM get more benefit from Leadership b/c they want it to stack with enforcer buff so any power you pick that would stack would be good.
I want /Fire stalker. Because nothing says stealth like dumping a can of gasoline on yourself and lighting a match. -Morac
Which non-purple pet set would be the most beneficial then? Something I can shoot for until I reach 50.
Im not fighting +3's so I think maybe Tactics was an unnecessary choice. I'll keep assault and maybe go with provoke so I can get the mobs to attack me and that in turn spreads out the damage and forces my gang to fight.
The only attacks I have currently are gale and Nemmy Staff.
The character just seems like its missing something that would make the missions flow better, be less tedious. I think a provoke might keep things moving. Waiting for Gale and Nemmy Staff to recharge is dragging me down.
-Largo
Founder of A.G.O.N.Y. Supergroup on Victory
Member of Thought Sanctum VG on Victory
Member of St0rm Batallion SG on Guardian
Largo,
IMO do not slot Defense Buffs in Enforcers. Instead, try to get one of the Procs( Achilles' Heel:Chance for Resistance Debuff or Touch of Lady Grey:Chance of Neg. Energy Damage) and slot that in Enforcers.
For the ride to 50, I slotted Regular Inventions Accuracy and Damage in all my pets (with the exception of the above mentioned Procs). Occasionally I would slot Blood Mandate: Accy, Dam, Accy/Dam in my pets. Once you hit level 50(or even level 47) you can then slot out level 50 Inventions and Sets.
See sig for Thugs/Storm guide.
A bunch of 50s and too many alts...
Neo's Guide To Thugs/Storm (need to update it)
www.facebook.com/bbirgephotos
Questions about Fire/Rad? Just ask!
I have the Lady Grey proc in my Freezing Rain, and have a small bid in for an achilles heel for my Enforcers.
Using the Blood Mandate singles, you arn't really concerning yourself with the set bonuses then, just using the singles just like a common IO then, is that right?
That is a good guide. I have a lot of reading to do 
-Largo
Founder of A.G.O.N.Y. Supergroup on Victory
Member of Thought Sanctum VG on Victory
Member of St0rm Batallion SG on Guardian
I normally don't pay much attention to set bonuses while leveling up. Once I get around lvl 30 I might go for a couple of of bonuses, and then when I hit lvl 47 I go for what I really want with IOs and Sets and their bonuses.
Good choice on the Lady Grey Proc in Freezing Rain.Hopefully you will win that bid.That'll help you out some.
And thanks for the compliment on the guide.
A bunch of 50s and too many alts...
Neo's Guide To Thugs/Storm (need to update it)
www.facebook.com/bbirgephotos
Questions about Fire/Rad? Just ask!
If you are going to take scorpion shield, then you should slot for defense in the mist. The resist slotting is also good as your thugs don't really have any decent resists like some of the other mm pets(but they do get two enforcer maneuvers defense buffs and defense has to be high to be worth something). Also, take maneuvers if going for scorpion shield. Assault is...ok but it's definitely a bit lackluster when you start putting in your invention sets, maneuvers offers a lot more in that regard and general cohesion with your set. Definitely take tactics though, too important.
I have a few specific questions about slotting powers I am unfamiliar with. Thank you in advance for reading this and attempting to help me out. I need it. This is my first MM. (Currently lvl 26)
1) Should I slot defense or resistance into Steamy mist?
2) Why do enforcers enable both defense buff and defense debuff enhancers and which one should be used? Is one a mistake?
3) Am I correct in assuming I should be taking leadership? If so, which leadership powers would be most benificial to my build. I currently skipped over maneuvers for assault and tactics, was this smart?
-Largo
Founder of A.G.O.N.Y. Supergroup on Victory
Member of Thought Sanctum VG on Victory
Member of St0rm Batallion SG on Guardian