Personally I am running a SS/Inv Brute. I find that i can keep up a constant stream of attacks with jab/punch/haymaker/knockout blow and build fury quickly.
Defensively all I have at the moment is Temp invun and resist damage (smash/lethal). But my tactic is to wade in and take out the enermy before they have a chance to really damage me.
Hope this helps
i've got to agree... i'm just starting CoH but whilst beta testing CoV i found i could slam just about any mission solo with SS/invuln, i now intend to make a copy of my character here in CoH and kick some more butt!! look out.. here comes Brixun!!
SS/Inv = SMASH!
DA/DM for the win!!!
Although I've got no end most of the time
Oh well SMASH!!!
I got a Stone/Stone Brute and it's got amazing dmg but i run out of end lots :P
I have a stone/energy alt, amazing damage, energies endurance powers cant come soon enough though 
Heavy Mallet, Superior dmg at Lvl4 rocks 
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DA/DM for the win!!!
Although I've got no end most of the time
Oh well SMASH!!!
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Very effective it is too...especially with a corruptor to buff/debuff and heal
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DA/DM for the win!!!
Although I've got no end most of the time
Oh well SMASH!!!
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Very effective it is too...especially with a corruptor to buff/debuff and heal
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Oh yes
DM/DA all the way baby
I've just created a Energy/Energy Brute seeing as how my EM tanker has been destroyed by ED....
Interesting set of powers in the secondary, though I've heard they are a bit squishy....oh well
i'm running a SS/Inv and a DM/Fire at the mo. I've found that the SS/Inv builds rage at a quick rate, whilst the DM/Fire tends to never to be able to get above 1/2 way. I'm enjoying both but the end usage is insane. They are both pretty much knackered after every major battle. End Rec will be a major requirement on both, with stamina probably 4 slotted as well.
"Will someone nerf the nerfbat?"
@Byrne
Debtmeister General of The Plastic Army & Empire
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with stamina probably 4 slotted as well.
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Don't bother. You'll get 5% out of it at the most (Will probably be nearer 3% if your ++'ing).
I'm running with DM/Fire at the moment. The theory is that 2 Endurance Rec powers, along with Stamina, should create an unstoppable Fury machine. Only level 20 atm, so not in full effect, but seems pretty effective so far. The trick has been avoiding too many toggles early on (learnt that one in beta ) and slotting heavily for End Red. 2 Heals means Health's not an issue while Endurance is available. Still working towards some vital powers... Dark Consumption, Consume, Acrobatics, Blazing Aura and Shadow Maul. By that reckoning the build should really start rocking by level 30.
Super Strength: It's big and clever!
Garg SMASH!
IN MEMORIUM OF GAYBABY
CRUELY TAKEN FROM THIS WORLD WHILE SO YOUNG
SS = Smash damage = widely resisted. I'd go with EM/Inv or EM/DA.
DON'T eat muffins while I'm developing you.
Pants! Turkey Magnates! A man in a box! Rogue AI! Come one, come all, to arc ID 10107 - It's [i]'Not as long as some other arcs'[/i]!
Yeah!!!
Super Strength good for brute!!
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SS = Smash damage = widely resisted. I'd go with EM/Inv or EM/DA.
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But does it look as cool, or make as much noise?
NO!
IN MEMORIUM OF GAYBABY
CRUELY TAKEN FROM THIS WORLD WHILE SO YOUNG
Yep im very happy so far with my own DM/DA Brute 
Class
SS is quite a good overall set. It has the ability to be good for both pvp battles and pve battle, unfortunately not both at the same time 
PVP SS powers: Haymaker, KOBlow, Hand Clap, Hurl and Rage
PVE SS Powers: Punch, Haymaker, KOBlow, Foot Stomp and Rage
Rage is what makes the set. I read somewhere recently that someone thought rage sucked! said they would much prefer build up..
Well rage is a build up that lasts for two minutes as opposed to 10 seconds. It is also possible to almost make rage perma. The only downside to rage is after the two mins run out you cannot attack for ten seconds and you lose some end.
My rage was slotted 1 rech,3 Acc buffs. It was so good i never needed focussed acc.
Rage vs Build Up = No brainer.
oh and as for best then tough choice but i have narrowed it down to the following;
Primary;
EM - high damage, good for pvp ( detoggling )
Fire - High AOE damage, ie good for teams
Secondary
Stone-Best mix of def+res, psi res, downside slow when rooted on.
Fire-Now the best overall res set ( unstoppable on inv doesnt count as its not perma ) and mobile, downside - no knockdown resistance, therefore acrobatics is a must.
Fire/Fire is a great combo as you get TWO build ups in Firey Embrace and Build Up 
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SS = Smash damage = widely resisted. I'd go with EM/Inv or EM/DA.
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But does it look as cool, or make as much noise?
NO!
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YES! Whirling Hands! Jump and spin looks so cool especially if you time it to kill an enemy to level up glowing hands and level up fireworks and its good for getting aggro to build up fury.
And as Wilf said EN is doing EN/S damage so less resists than SS
Im loving my SS brute ! Pure smash power with great sound efects
I have a lvl7 EM/Fire Brute there atm. So far the attacks recharge at a resonable rate. I look forward to getting up a few more levels hopefully in the near future.
@Captain Solaris
Guild of Extreme Heroes "Strength is in Unity"
Playing a DM/DA brute, Smite and Shadow Maul are awesome powers and combined with Death Shroud he can smash through minions and get that fury bar up.
The only draw back so far is that he eats up endurance quickly, even with and end. reduction in each power, due to having toggle powers on most of the time. Stamina should take the bite outta the end usage.
OT On the subject of Stamina, when I was creating a re-gen stalker i had to think for a minute what power hide replaced, then it clicked it was quick recovery. guess re-gen stalkers will need stamina too.
Now @Eskimo-Spy
I'm not evil.
I'm Running a DM/EA brute and I'm having no problems, well apart from pesky end running out, but that can be fixed.
So then what do you reckon the best combination of a primary and secondry power set is for the brute?
Either in terms of damage output, defence or a combination thereof...
Defiant
Proud Member of the Liberty Legion
Venture - Emp/En Defender
Seph - Kat/SR Scrapper
Blizzard - Ice/Storm Controller
Legionelosis - Rad/Rad Defender