Claws4Brutes: Me and my desire for a Claw/SR Toon

Originally I was going to Roll a Claws/SR Scrapper. When the proliferation notes for I:16 came out, however, I remembered how Much fun I had with My first Villain, my lvl 50 Elec/Elec Brute. It was at that point that I decided that the fast paced, frenzied world of bruting was calling me back.

So, this is where the wider community of brute players comes in. Would a Claw/SR Brute be a fun, effective, and interesting toon to play? Or, should I skip it altogether? Opinions and thoughts are more than welcome!

Might be interested in this...

http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showt...38#post2184938

Also, to your OP...ask Billz. I'm pretty sure Claws/SR is a very good choice.

/SR is on my short list for what to pair with Claws. I monkeyed with a build in the new Mid's, and it looks pretty solid.

That is pretty much my big dilemma, I tried claws out on test, can't wait for it to go live now. I just can't make up my mind between /WP, /Inv and /SR. All of them would be good choices.

Claws/SR is just a ridiculous combo...



Check down here...

Just realize that early on SR is going to feel squishier than builds that are a mix of resistance and defense like Willpower. My SR scrapper was pretty "meh" until the early 40s when a combination of being able to layer on some pool +Def powers and slotting for defense started to pay off. At that point you go from mild underperforming to nigh unkillable.

I love my claws/sr scrapper and can easily see it working great as a brute due to its quick recharge and low endo usage on attacks. The issue you'll run into is that SR doesn't really reach its full potential until much later in the game, before that you're very squishy and claws lack the big dmg attacks until eviscerate so you won't be one shotting very many opponents.

Here's my take on claws/sr on a brute:

Because of the way claws works (end/recharge discount as the secondary effect,) you won't need to rest much from level 1 to level 18.

You're a blender. Get into melee quick, chew 'em up.

Since you'll be in melee, work on your melee defense. People say TOs are worthless. That's not really true. 3 TOs in Focused Fighting will add about 4% more melee defense. It's better than not slotting it at all. So get 4 slots in FF early since you'll need 4 in there anyway. 1end-red/3def.

Same goes for FS. Agile is the start point for your passive scaling dam-res. You NEED all three passives. Worry about slotting them later. Take them for the dam-res which will get more use on a brute due to higher base HP.

It will be a rough road with SR until SOs. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. However, you'll be killing so quickly that it won't hurt too much.

Consider CombatJumping early. It's a nice little bump of defense for very little defense and the extra mobility is nice as well.

Okay, i messed around in the experimental I:16 Version of Mid's and I think I may have come up with a build that I like.

Not a fan of hasten at all, because there's no reason for my claws to be on fire XD

Take a look and see what you think. One word, however. "Pricey."

Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.401
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Potential Claw Brute: Level 50 Mutation Brute
Primary Power Set: Claws
Secondary Power Set: Super Reflexes
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Strike -- T'Death-Acc/Dmg:40(A), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx:40(7), T'Death-Dmg/Rchg:40(13), T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:40(15), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:40(15), T'Death-Dam%:40(17)
Level 1: Focused Fighting -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:50(A), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg:50(37), LkGmblr-EndRdx/Rchg:50(42), LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(42)
Level 2: Slash -- T'Death-Acc/Dmg:40(A), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx:40(3), T'Death-Dmg/Rchg:40(3), T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:40(5), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:40(5), T'Death-Dam%:40(7)
Level 4: Agile -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:50(A), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg:50(42), LkGmblr-EndRdx/Rchg:50(43), LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(43)
Level 6: Spin -- Oblit-Dmg:50(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg:50(17), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg:50(19), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(19), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(21), Oblit-%Dam:50(21)
Level 8: Follow Up -- Mako-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx:50(9), Mako-Dmg/Rchg:50(9), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:50(11), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(11), Mako-Dam%:50(13)
Level 10: Swift -- Run-I:50(A)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- Zephyr-Travel:50(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx:50(43), Zephyr-ResKB:50(45)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Zephyr-Travel:50(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx:50(45), Zephyr-ResKB:50(46)
Level 16: Taunt -- Taunt-I:50(A)
Level 18: Health -- Mrcl-Heal/EndRdx:40(A), Mrcl-EndRdx/Rchg:40(25), Mrcl-Heal/Rchg:40(36), Mrcl-Rcvry+:40(46)
Level 20: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod:50(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg:50(36), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc:50(40), P'Shift-End%:50(46)
Level 22: Focused Senses -- GftotA-Def/EndRdx:40(A), GftotA-Def/Rchg:40(23), GftotA-EndRdx/Rchg:40(23), GftotA-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:40(45)
Level 24: Practiced Brawler -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(25)
Level 26: Eviscerate -- Oblit-Dmg:50(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg:50(27), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg:50(27), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(29), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(29), Oblit-%Dam:50(31)
Level 28: Evasion -- GftotA-Def/EndRdx:40(A), GftotA-Def/Rchg:40(36), GftotA-EndRdx/Rchg:40(37), GftotA-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:40(37)
Level 30: Lucky -- GftotA-Def/EndRdx:40(A), GftotA-Def/Rchg:40(31), GftotA-EndRdx/Rchg:40(31), GftotA-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:40(34)
Level 32: Shockwave -- Posi-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx:50(33), Posi-Dmg/Rchg:50(33), Posi-Dmg/Rng:50(33), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(34), Posi-Dam%:50(34)
Level 35: Quickness -- Run-I:50(A)
Level 38: Focus -- Dev'n-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Dev'n-Dmg/EndRdx:50(39), Dev'n-Dmg/Rchg:50(39), Dev'n-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(39), Dev'n-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(40), Dev'n-Hold%:50(40)
Level 41: Boxing -- Acc-I:50(A)
Level 44: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+:30(A)
Level 47: Weave -- GftotA-Def/EndRdx:40(A), GftotA-Def/Rchg:40(48), GftotA-EndRdx/Rchg:40(48), GftotA-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:40(48)
Level 49: Dodge -- GftotA-Def/EndRdx:40(A), GftotA-Def/Rchg:40(50), GftotA-EndRdx/Rchg:40(50), GftotA-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:40(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury



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This is what I am looking at for my Claws/SR.

Skipped Spin as Evisc and SW both have a pretty wide arc. Skipped taunt cus, well, I'm not rolling a tank.

I built in as much recharge as I could squeeze in without Hasten.


Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.401
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

claws sr: Level 50 Science Brute
Primary Power Set: Claws
Secondary Power Set: Super Reflexes
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Fitness

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Strike -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg:35(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx:35(3), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:35(21), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg:35(21), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:40(34), T'Death-Dam%:40(34)
Level 1: Focused Fighting -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), LkGmblr-Def:50(7), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:50(48)
Level 2: Slash -- C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx:35(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg:40(3), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:40(5), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:40(5), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:35(13), T'Death-Dam%:35(33)
Level 4: Agile -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:30(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:50(48)
Level 6: Focused Senses -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), LkGmblr-Def:50(11)
Level 8: Follow Up -- C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:35(A), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:35(9), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg:35(9), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx:35(15), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg:40(15), T'Death-Dam%:40(34)
Level 10: Combat Jumping -- Zephyr-Travel:50(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx:50(11), Zephyr-ResKB:50(17), GftotA-Def:40(27), GftotA-Def/EndRdx:40(36)
Level 12: Assault -- EndRdx-I:50(A), EndRdx-I:50(13)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Zephyr-Travel:50(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx:50(31), Zephyr-ResKB:50(36)
Level 16: Dodge -- GftotA-Def:30(A), GftotA-Def/EndRdx:40(17), GftotA-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:40(43), GftotA-Run+:30(46)
Level 18: Focus -- Decim-Acc/Dmg:40(A), Decim-Dmg/EndRdx:40(19), Decim-Dmg/Rchg:40(19), Decim-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:40(23), Decim-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:40(23), ExStrk-Dam%:20(29)
Level 20: Kick -- Acc-I:50(A)
Level 22: Swift -- Run-I:50(A)
Level 24: Health -- RgnTis-Regen+:30(A), Numna-Heal:40(25), Numna-Heal/EndRdx:50(25), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+:50(27), Mrcl-Rcvry+:40(40), Numna-Heal/Rchg:50(48)
Level 26: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod:50(A), P'Shift-End%:50(29), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc:50(33), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg:50(39), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc/Rchg:50(39), P'Shift-Acc/Rchg:50(45)
Level 28: Lucky -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), LkGmblr-Def:50(36)
Level 30: Eviscerate -- Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:30(A), Oblit-Dmg:30(31), Oblit-%Dam:30(31), Oblit-Acc/Rchg:30(37), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg:50(37), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(40)
Level 32: Shockwave -- Posi-Dam%:50(A), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(33), Posi-Acc/Dmg:50(37), Posi-Dmg/Rng:50(39), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx:50(40), FrcFbk-Rechg%:50(43)
Level 35: Quickness -- Run-I:50(A)
Level 38: Practiced Brawler -- EndRdx-I:50(A)
Level 41: Tactics -- GSFC-ToHit:50(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg:50(42), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx:50(42), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx:50(42), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx:50(43), GSFC-Build%:50(46)
Level 44: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+:30(A), S'fstPrt-ResDam/EndRdx:30(46)
Level 47: Evasion -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:40(A)
Level 49: Weave -- HO:Cyto(A), HO:Cyto(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Hectmb-Dam%:50(A), Mako-Dam%:50(7), KntkC'bat-Knock%:35(45), T'Death-Dam%:40(45), P'ngS'Fest-Stun%:30(50), HO:Nucle(50)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury

Deth... you might want to rethink spin. I would MUCH rather lose SW or Evis (in my case evis) than spin. A lot of times my attack chain is nothing but FU, Slash, Focus, Spin, repeat. Spawns melt and no reposition for cones needed.

Fair enough, I haven't got far enough into claws yet to know which of those I would pass on, I do like Spin a lot though. I generally don't have too hard a time keeping things positioned, between CC from mace and Shadow Maul I have a lot of practice, but, I will admit that Spin is probably a better choice than both cones.

I changed by build up to remove Shockwave and add Spin. My main attack chain is a single target killer FU, Swipe, Slash, Focus, Gloom....but even with it's longer animation and long pause at the end, Spin just does so much more damage than Shockwave and without the setting up of a cone or dealing with the KB. I'm still trying to come to terms with not having Shockwave in my build, but I know when I need to blend large mobs, Spin is just way better.

I might have to drop Gloom and get Shockwave also...my DPS will suffer, but Shockwave is too fun to skip.

As much as I love gloom on my dm/wp brute, I think it would drive me insane going back to a claws build that has more redraw than practiced brawler causes on my scrapper.

Redrawing before every single followup? I'd snap.

yeah, I hadn't even thought of the redraw issue, not that I was planning on taking a patron pool anyway.

Right now, I am considering dropping tactics for spin. That or SW. That or I'm gonna go Inv. Or ElA, was playin my elec/elec on test today, that dark elec looks sick.

I'm set on a claws Brute for I-16 (will be my first go at a villain), but like others I'm torn on whether to chose /WP or /SR. I've played both to 50 as a scrapper, so I know /SR is tough at first but matures nicely later in game, while /WP starts off fast out of the block but lacks that true uber feel late game.

My main concerns in what to chose is twofold. Price, because this will be my first toon redside. I know you don't need alot to make /SR shine when fully slotted. But likewise, /WP didn't seem that expensive either as I never really tried to hit the defense softcap. And second, jumping in to huge spawns with the new difficulty slider. I'd almost give the /WP the nod here, as I know with my scrapper the regen from RTTC kept my health bar (and stamina bar as well) pegged no matter how many opponents I faced and how much damage I took. I'm not as confident with /SR in those huge battles.

Just curious, if you bothered to check both scenarios... Which is tougher for your claws/SR, +4/x8 or +3/x8 ? Shockwave turning to KD and all.

Alright, I've taken a look at soft capping for super reflexes and invulnerability. (On invulnerability I went for Smashing/Lethal cap)

It seems SR can be soft capped for alot less than invulnerability.

As far as making a decission on a secondary for my Claws brute, I'm still undecided. I've thrown out stone armor, just because the sheer money it would take to cancel out the -speed and -recharge. The meantion of invulnerability in this thread peaked my interest, so I added it to the list, so this is where I stand:

-Super Reflexes
-Electric Armor
-Invulnerability
-Energy Armor (I haven't looked at this as a real possibility yet, but it sounds interesting, is it still gimp?)

I decided to go claws/ea. I'll be able to focus more on damage thanks to EA's energy drain and I'll have claws' great mitigation to help EA.

Plus the concept I have going kicks ***.