Advice on WM/SR

After three and a half years I've finally gotten myself a melee toon to 50 and it was the above build. It took me a few incarnations, but none of those worked for me. (I even tried WM/EnA but it was too strong and pretty for me to cope with )

I've enjoyed the survivability - my CoX career thus far has been squishy to say the least, mostly blasters and trollers - but I'm not sure I'm getting the best out of it.

I've not taken an patron powers, I haven't done the arc and do not intend to and my initial build was all the Mace set, all the SR, 3 of the Leaping and three from Fitness.

I'm not hugely kitted out with IOs or sets, but following on from a couple of conversations it was suggested I drop Acrobatics in place of Weave, and possibly lose Elude.

I can see the point of losing acrobatics - I've already got 10pts of KB protection and I need to reduce my End consumption but not sure I'm ready to junk Elude.

I've tried using Mids but frankly I've never really gotten my head around that so I'll be glad to know what you guys think.

Cheers

"You got to dig it to dig it, you dig?"
Thelonious Monk

i never really liked wm/ because the activation times and the animations on the heavy hitting powers are all pretty long. /sr on the other hand is one of my favorites, and i was super pleased when it was finally ported over to villains. defensive sets are uber in my opinion. especially in the pve game.

i have a dm/sr brute that is fully IOed. i played it 1-50 (no PLing) and had a blast. i often out tanked every other brute i teamed with, and that is when i was playing with just regular ol' SOs.

now, my main pve build (*tips hat to dual builds*) is well above the soft cap in melee, ranged and AoE defense. i also have a global recharge of 87% and was able to leave hasten out of my final build as a result. i was kinda dissapointed about that only 'cause i wanted SS in there too, but it wasn't a "must have" by any means.

i would suggest leaving elude out too. i don't use it. i'm biased though, as i never liked those tier 9s that were only good for 2 mins and then left you screwed after they wore off. i don't like having to break in the middle of a scrum and go rest. or pop a third of a tray of insperations just to stay in the action. that's just me though. some people live and die by it, literally.

alternatly, i have demonic aura. it's a great accolade and totally worth the trouble. and basically, it's elude without the horrible side effect of losing all your HP and endo.

as far as acrobatics is concerned, you don't need it. not with practiced brawler. in my build, the fact that i don't have hasten allowns me to keep that on auto-fire. most of the time it's double stacked so i am KBed in extreme cases only, such as numina and/or sister psych on the RSF.

my suggestion as far as power pools are concerned are as follows: fitness, leaping and fighting. fitness with hurdle, health and stamina. leaping with combat jumping and super jumping. fighting with kick (you could put the forced feedback proc in there), tough and weave.

and ghost widow. i love ghost widow's power choices for brutes. it's basically the only one i ever choose for brutes. it's all dark powers which was doubly great for my build cause i had dm/ as my primary and it fit so nicely. and because it has a great secondary effect that works well with /sr. -tohit.

good luck and have fun. hope i helped.

What are you looking to add or change in your build? I'm surprised you had Acro to begin with, SR certainly doesn't need it, so that can go. As for what to drop from WM, if you have all nine powers I'd recommend dropping either Bash or Pulverize and Taunt, if you need three slots.

Weave is a good pick--you *can* soft-cap SR without it, but it takes pretty extensive investment in IO sets with defense bonuses. If you don't have any Fighting Pool powers now, dropping, say, Acro, Bash and Taunt will give you room to get them, which will significantly improve your survivability, especially if you make a point of soft-capping.

Here's something I slapped together on Mids'. Feel free to replace hasten/SS with CJ/SJ. It's a matter of personal preference.

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

Click this DataLink to open the build!

My Spoon Is Too Big: Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: War Mace
Secondary Power Set: Super Reflexes
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Fighting

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Pulverize

• (A) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage
• (13) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (13) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (17) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance
• (37) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance/Recharge

• (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
• (3) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
• (5) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
• (31) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed

• (A) Gift of the Ancients - Defense
• (3) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance
• (5) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
• (31) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Recharge

• (A) Defense Buff IO
• (7) Defense Buff IO

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO
• (7) Recharge Reduction IO

• (A) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage
• (9) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (9) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge
• (11) Mako's Bite - Damage/Endurance
• (37) Mako's Bite - Damage/Recharge
• (43) Mako's Bite - Chance of Damage(Lethal)

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO
• (11) Recharge Reduction IO

• (A) Jumping IO

• (A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range
• (15) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range/Endurance
• (15) Blessing of the Zephyr - Knockback Reduction (4 points)

• (A) Defense Buff IO
• (17) Defense Buff IO

• (A) Numina's Convalescence - Heal
• (19) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Recharge
• (19) Numina's Convalescence - +Regeneration/+Recovery

• (A) Performance Shifter - EndMod
• (21) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Accuracy
• (21) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Recharge
• (29) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End

• (A) Gift of the Ancients - Defense
• (23) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance
• (23) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
• (31) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Recharge

• (A) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (25) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (25) Obliteration - Accuracy/Recharge
• (40) Obliteration - Damage
• (46) Obliteration - Damage/Recharge
• (50) Obliteration - Chance for Smashing Damage

• (A) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Damage
• (27) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (27) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Recharge
• (34) Scirocco's Dervish - Damage/Endurance
• (37) Scirocco's Dervish - Damage/Recharge
• (43) Scirocco's Dervish - Chance of Damage(Lethal)

• (A) Defense Buff IO
• (29) Defense Buff IO

• (A) Accuracy IO

• (A) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (33) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (33) Obliteration - Accuracy/Recharge
• (33) Obliteration - Damage
• (34) Obliteration - Damage/Recharge
• (34) Obliteration - Chance for Smashing Damage

• (A) Titanium Coating - Endurance
• (36) Titanium Coating - Resistance/Endurance
• (36) Titanium Coating - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge
• (36) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%

• (A) Red Fortune - Defense
• (39) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance
• (39) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
• (39) Red Fortune - Defense/Recharge
• (40) Red Fortune - Endurance
• (40) Red Fortune - Endurance/Recharge

• (A) Serendipity - Defense
• (42) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance
• (42) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
• (42) Serendipity - Defense/Recharge
• (43) Serendipity - Endurance

• (A) Mocking Beratement - Recharge
• (45) Mocking Beratement - Accuracy/Recharge
• (45) Mocking Beratement - Taunt
• (45) Mocking Beratement - Taunt/Range
• (46) Mocking Beratement - Taunt/Recharge
• (46) Mocking Beratement - Taunt/Recharge/Range

• (A) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Recharge/Endurance
• (48) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff
• (48) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Endurance
• (48) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge
• (50) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge/Endurance
• (50) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up

• (A) Run Speed IO

• (A) Empty

• (A) Empty

• (A) Empty

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Seems like overkill, and very expensive overkill at that.

With CJ, (which I think the OP was planning to keep) Weave, the SP +Def and a full set of Gaussian's, all SR needs to softcap is a 3% set bonus in each position. A full set of Touch of Death, 5 Scirocco's Dervish and two Blessing of the Zephyr will do that handily.

I really don't see the point in the BotZ -KB. SR doesn't need the KB protection, the build is soft-capped to AoE without it, and that single IO runs about 50 million last time I checked. Granted some ToD and Scirocco's are rather expensive, too, but why recommend a build that's so much more expensive than the OP needs?

Try this for a build on a budget. As much as possible I've avoided any rare or expensive IOs, in favour of good enhancement numbers and defence bonuses to boost you to the magic 45% soft cap. Costs could be lowered further if you substituted the crushing impact sets for frankenslotting in the melee attacks, in which case look to lower endurance costs as much as possible primarily, as I see that as being the main issue with this build. The common IOs could be replaced with SOs to bring the costs down further, hence the overslotting of the defensive passive powers.

Reaching the soft defense cap rests on the 3 sets of multi strike and the 2 pieces of blessing of the zephyr, as well as the 3% steadfast protection in Tough. This would give you lots of flexibilty in the allocation of slots, as well as the final 2 power picks if you wanted to incorporate Hasten, for instance. I added slots to tough, to give it extra utility which might be handy against Cimerorans especially, and slotted up taunt. In both cases slots could be reassigned from these if you wanted to go for set bonuses elsewhere.

Hopefully this should give you an achievable build within a reasonable budget, as all the IOs are relatively cheap. The only expensive items in there are the steadfast IO, which can be rolled for with AE tickets (bronze roll between levels 10-30) and the performance shifter proc in stamina, which could be removed from the build at the cost of a little extra endurance management. Other than these, the remaining recipes can be bought quite easily on the black market for pretty low costs, especially at lower than maximum level.

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

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: War Mace
Secondary Power Set: Super Reflexes
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Bash -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(3), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(7), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(17), F'dSmite-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(19)
Level 1: Focused Fighting -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx(15), Ksmt-Def/EndRdx(17), DefBuff-I(36)
Level 2: Jawbreaker -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(3), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(5), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(7), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(13), F'dSmite-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(19)
Level 4: Agile -- DefBuff-I(A), DefBuff-I(39), DefBuff-I(42)
Level 6: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 8: Clobber -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(9), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(9), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(11), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(13), F'dSmite-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(39)
Level 10: Practiced Brawler -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(11), EndRdx-I(40)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(40), DefBuff-I(40)
Level 14: Health -- Heal-I(A), Heal-I(15)
Level 16: Dodge -- DefBuff-I(A), DefBuff-I(37), DefBuff-I(42)
Level 18: Super Jump -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(46)
Level 20: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(21), P'Shift-End%(21)
Level 22: Focused Senses -- Ksmt-Def/EndRdx(A), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx(23), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(23), DefBuff-I(37)
Level 24: Whirling Mace -- M'Strk-Acc/Dmg(A), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx(25), M'Strk-Dmg/Rchg(25), M'Strk-Acc/EndRdx(29), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(31), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(36)
Level 26: Shatter -- M'Strk-Acc/Dmg(A), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx(27), M'Strk-Dmg/Rchg(27), M'Strk-Acc/EndRdx(29), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(34), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(36)
Level 28: Lucky -- DefBuff-I(A), DefBuff-I(39), DefBuff-I(42)
Level 30: Evasion -- Ksmt-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(31), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx(31), DefBuff-I(37)
Level 32: Crowd Control -- M'Strk-Acc/Dmg(A), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx(33), M'Strk-Dmg/Rchg(33), M'Strk-Acc/EndRdx(33), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(34), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34)
Level 35: Quickness -- Run-I(A)
Level 38: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 41: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx(43), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(43), ResDam-I(43), EndRdx-I(46)
Level 44: Weave -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx(45), Ksmt-Def/EndRdx(45), DefBuff-I(45), EndRdx-I(46)
Level 47: Taunt -- Mocking-Taunt(A), Mocking-Taunt/Rchg(48), Mocking-Taunt/Rchg/Rng(48), Mocking-Acc/Rchg(48), Mocking-Taunt/Rng(50), Mocking-Rchg(50)
Level 49: Build Up -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury

| Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Hero Designer to view the build |
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Thanks for the advice so far.

I don't have a mass of infamy to spend on this guy initially but I am enjoying playing him, so I guess I will get him to where he's good and then work on making him uber.

Finduilas, can you explain your thoughts behind dropping Taunt? (it's one of teh few powers I've got with IOs in, 4 Mocking Beratements IIRC)


*(edited to add I went here to browse some possible builds and neither set seems to be available... so I'm guessing it's not terribly up to date.)

"You got to dig it to dig it, you dig?"
Thelonious Monk

Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1,401
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: War Mace
Secondary Power Set: Super Reflexes
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Medicine
Power Pool: Fighting

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Pulverize

• (A) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (3) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (7) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (9) Crushing Impact - Damage/Recharge
• (9) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance
• (11) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge

• (A) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance
• (3) Red Fortune - Defense
• (5) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
• (5) Red Fortune - Endurance
• (7) Red Fortune - Defense/Recharge

• (A) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance
• (27) Serendipity - Defense
• (29) Serendipity - Defense/Recharge
• (29) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance

• (A) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance
• (25) Serendipity - Defense
• (25) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
• (27) Defense Buff IO

• (A) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff
• (17) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge
• (17) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge/Endurance
• (19) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Recharge/Endurance
• (19) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Endurance
• (21) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up

• (A) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (11) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (13) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (13) Crushing Impact - Damage/Recharge
• (15) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance
• (15) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO

• (A) Jumping IO

• (A) Healing IO
• (48) Healing IO
• (48) Healing IO

• (A) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance
• (40) Serendipity - Defense
• (40) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
• (40) Defense Buff IO

• (A) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Recharge
• (37) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (37) Scirocco's Dervish - Damage/Endurance
• (39) Scirocco's Dervish - Damage/Recharge
• (39) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Endurance
• (39) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance

• (A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End
• (21) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Accuracy
• (23) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Recharge
• (23) Performance Shifter - EndMod

• (A) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance
• (42) Red Fortune - Defense
• (42) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
• (43) Red Fortune - Defense/Recharge
• (46) Red Fortune - Endurance

• (A) Defense Buff IO
• (42) Defense Buff IO

• (A) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (31) Scirocco's Dervish - Damage/Endurance
• (31) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Recharge
• (31) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (33) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Endurance
• (33) Scirocco's Dervish - Damage/Recharge

• (A) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance
• (36) Serendipity - Defense
• (36) Serendipity - Defense/Recharge
• (37) Defense Buff IO

• (A) Jumping IO

• (A) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Recharge
• (33) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (34) Scirocco's Dervish - Damage/Endurance
• (34) Scirocco's Dervish - Damage/Recharge
• (34) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (36) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Endurance

• (A) Empty

• (A) Empty

• (A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%
• (43) Titanium Coating - Resistance/Endurance
• (43) Titanium Coating - Resistance
• (46) Titanium Coating - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge

• (A) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance
• (45) Red Fortune - Defense
• (45) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
• (45) Red Fortune - Endurance
• (46) Red Fortune - Defense/Recharge

• (A) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Endurance/Recharge
• (48) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Recharge
• (50) Doctored Wounds - Heal
• (50) Harmonized Healing - Heal/Recharge
• (50) Interrupt Reduction IO

• (A) Run Speed IO

• (A) Empty

• (A) Empty

• (A) Empty

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Since everyone else is posting their idea of a WM/SR build, here's mine. I consider this a pretty bare-bones build, the three uniques are fairly expensive (Kismet +Acc, SP +Def, PF +End) but everything else is pretty reasonable. It's actually a bit of overkill; you could leave out the Gaussian's set and still be soft-capped for everything except ranged even without CJ toggled.

I picked Serendipity for the defense toggles, it's expensive and has pretty good bonuses, but 4 of any defense set (minus the End & End/Rchg) will give you adequate defense & end reduction, so pick what you like and can afford. Same goes for Tough--pick any set you like, or for a really cheap alternative, 3 ResDam and 1 EndRed IOs.

I left the 6th slot open on the three ST attacks, they are basically free slots to do with as you please.

Hope that helps!

Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.401
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: War Mace
Secondary Power Set: Super Reflexes
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Fighting
Villain Profile:
Level 1: Bash

• (A) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 50
• (3) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
• (7) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 50
• (9) Crushing Impact - Damage/Recharge: Level 50
• (9) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance: Level 50
• (11) Empty

Just for fun, I decided to slap this together to address any infamy and end cost concerns. Darkest night and elude generally are just there to handle any conceivable amount of debuff and adversarial +tohit that gets thrown at you because in some situations, the defense soft cap is not. Replace with medicine line if that suits you better. Don't mind the SOs, that's just my sense of humor responding to the overkill comment. Replace those with generic IOs if you like. But as you can see, building a toon is like skinning cats, there's more than one way to do it and sometimes it's just too much fun to stop with just one.

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

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: War Mace
Secondary Power Set: Super Reflexes
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Pulverize

• (A) Accuracy

• (A) Defense Buff
• (7) Defense Buff
• (11) Defense Buff
• (17) Endurance Reduction

• (A) Defense Buff
• (3) Defense Buff
• (3) Defense Buff
• (5) Defense Buff
• (43) Endurance Reduction

• (A) Defense Buff
• (5) Defense Buff
• (17) Defense Buff

• (A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range
• (7) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range/Endurance
• (15) Defense Buff

• (A) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage
• (9) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (9) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (13) Crushing Impact - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (13) Crushing Impact - Damage/Recharge

• (A) Recharge Reduction
• (11) Recharge Reduction

• (A) Jumping

• (A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range
• (15) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range/Endurance

• (A) Defense Buff

• (A) Healing
• (19) Healing
• (19) Healing

• (A) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod
• (21) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Accuracy
• (21) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Endurance
• (31) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Recharge

• (A) Defense Buff
• (23) Defense Buff
• (23) Defense Buff
• (50) Endurance Reduction

• (A) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage
• (25) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (25) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Endurance
• (34) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance
• (37) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (40) Multi Strike - Damage/Recharge

• (A) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage
• (27) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (27) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Endurance
• (29) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance
• (46) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (46) Multi Strike - Damage/Recharge

• (A) Defense Buff
• (29) Defense Buff

• (A) Defense Buff
• (31) Defense Buff
• (31) Endurance Reduction

• (A) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage
• (33) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (33) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Endurance
• (33) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance
• (34) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (34) Multi Strike - Damage/Recharge

• (A) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Recharge/Endurance
• (36) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff
• (36) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Endurance
• (36) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge
• (37) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge/Endurance
• (37) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up

• (A) Serendipity - Defense
• (39) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance
• (39) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
• (39) Serendipity - Defense/Recharge
• (40) Serendipity - Endurance/Recharge
• (40) Recharge Reduction

• (A) Enfeebled Operation - Accuracy/Immobilize/Recharge
• (42) Enfeebled Operation - Accuracy/Recharge
• (42) Enfeebled Operation - Endurance/Immobilize
• (42) Enfeebled Operation - Accuracy/Endurance
• (43) Enfeebled Operation - Immobilize/Range
• (43) Enfeebled Operation - Accuracy/Immobilize

• (A) Dampened Spirits - Recharge/Endurance
• (45) Dampened Spirits - To Hit Debuff
• (45) Dampened Spirits - To Hit Debuff/Endurance
• (45) Dampened Spirits - To Hit Debuff/Recharge
• (46) Dampened Spirits - To Hit Debuff/Recharge/Endurance

• (A) Mocking Beratement - Recharge
• (48) Mocking Beratement - Accuracy/Recharge
• (48) Mocking Beratement - Taunt
• (48) Mocking Beratement - Taunt/Range
• (50) Mocking Beratement - Taunt/Recharge
• (50) Mocking Beratement - Taunt/Recharge/Range

• (A) Run Speed

• (A) Empty

• (A) Empty

• (A) Empty

| Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Hero Designer to view the build |
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Apologies for the long post here but having seen what others have posted, I thought I might see just how cheaply I could get this to the defence soft-cap, while still being playable (I hope) without dipping into patron pools.

Single target melee attacks are slotted with no damage SOs to allow for extra recharge and end reduction, relying on Fury for damage output. Multi Strike recipes are generally available for less than 50k each, salvage is all commons or uncommons so can be gained through regular play or bought with AE tickets or on the black market. Add in crafting costs and the 3 sets should be less than 5 million at a conservative estimate. They are regularly available crafted on the BM for lower than crafting cost too.

Blessing of the Zephyr can probably be bought for about 1-3 million each, possibly much less, although they use a couple of rare salvage items, again these can be bought on the BM or with AE tickets. I'll say 10 million at a guess for those, bought and crafted.

The remainder of the build is slotted with SOs, which probably adds about 3 million to the cost (at a very rough guesstimate) making the total cost somewhere less than 20 million.
I don't like having to use maneuvers to get the defence up, but it will do until a Steadfast Protection +3% defence IO is put in Tough, or of course it could be turned off in teams with other defence buffs.

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

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: War Mace
Secondary Power Set: Super Reflexes
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leadership

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Pulverize

• (A) Accuracy
• (3) Accuracy
• (5) Endurance Reduction
• (7) Endurance Reduction
• (17) Recharge Reduction
• (19) Recharge Reduction

• (A) Defense Buff
• (15) Defense Buff
• (17) Defense Buff
• (36) Endurance Reduction
• (46) Endurance Reduction

• (A) Accuracy
• (3) Accuracy
• (5) Endurance Reduction
• (7) Endurance Reduction
• (13) Recharge Reduction
• (19) Recharge Reduction

• (A) Defense Buff
• (39) Defense Buff
• (40) Defense Buff

• (A) Jumping

• (A) Accuracy
• (9) Accuracy
• (9) Endurance Reduction
• (11) Endurance Reduction
• (13) Endurance Reduction
• (39) Recharge Reduction

• (A) Recharge Reduction
• (11) Recharge Reduction
• (40) Endurance Reduction
• (43) Endurance Reduction

• (A) Defense Buff
• (40) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range/Endurance
• (43) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range

• (A) Healing
• (15) Healing
• (43) Healing

• (A) Defense Buff
• (37) Defense Buff
• (42) Defense Buff

• (A) Jumping

• (A) Endurance Modification
• (21) Endurance Modification
• (21) Endurance Modification

• (A) Defense Buff
• (23) Defense Buff
• (23) Defense Buff
• (37) Defense Buff
• (42) Endurance Reduction
• (50) Endurance Reduction

• (A) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage
• (25) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance
• (25) Multi Strike - Damage/Recharge
• (29) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Endurance
• (31) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (36) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge

• (A) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage
• (27) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance
• (27) Multi Strike - Damage/Recharge
• (29) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Endurance
• (34) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (36) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge

• (A) Defense Buff
• (39) Defense Buff
• (42) Defense Buff

• (A) Defense Buff
• (31) Defense Buff
• (31) Defense Buff
• (37) Endurance Reduction
• (48) Endurance Reduction

• (A) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage
• (33) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance
• (33) Multi Strike - Damage/Recharge
• (33) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Endurance
• (34) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (34) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge

• (A) Flight Speed

• (A) Empty

• (A) Empty

• (A) Defense Buff
• (45) Defense Buff
• (45) Defense Buff
• (45) Endurance Reduction
• (46) Endurance Reduction
• (46) Endurance Reduction

• (A) Endurance Reduction
• (48) Endurance Reduction
• (48) Endurance Reduction
• (50) Defense Buff
• (50) Defense Buff

• (A) Recharge Reduction

• (A) Empty

• (A) Empty

• (A) Empty

• 3.13% Defense(Ranged), 1.56% Defense(Energy), 1.56% Defense(Negative)

• MezResist(Sleep) 1.65%
• 0.95% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
• MezResist(Stun) 1.65%
• 1.88% Defense(AoE), 0.94% Defense(Fire), 0.94% Defense(Cold)
• 1.88% Defense(Melee), 0.94% Defense(Lethal), 0.94% Defense(Smashing)

• MezResist(Sleep) 1.65%
• 0.95% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
• MezResist(Stun) 1.65%
• 1.88% Defense(AoE), 0.94% Defense(Fire), 0.94% Defense(Cold)
• 1.88% Defense(Melee), 0.94% Defense(Lethal), 0.94% Defense(Smashing)

• MezResist(Sleep) 1.65%
• 0.95% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
• MezResist(Stun) 1.65%
• 1.88% Defense(AoE), 0.94% Defense(Fire), 0.94% Defense(Cold)
• 1.88% Defense(Melee), 0.94% Defense(Lethal), 0.94% Defense(Smashing)

roflmao nice!

If you really want to nitpick, you can shift 1 slot from CJ to SJ, put 2 def into CJ and move the BotZ into SJ to squeeze another .4% defense out of this. Then once the steadfast 3% is in, replace maneuvers with assault with 3 end redux and the 2 extra slots can go to squeeze out more defense, or slot tough or even boxing up some.

Thanks to all for your advice.

I've got some additional info for you if you want to take it a stage further.

I mostly followed Kidengineer's basic power pattern, with a few tweaks on slotting. I'm now looking at slotting. I got a BoZ KB prot that I've used and I already had 4 Force Feebacks that I've slotted in Pulverise

"You got to dig it to dig it, you dig?"
Thelonious Monk

Thanks kidengineer, and nice suggestions for moving slots around, although i have to point out it was fun as a "how cheap could I do this" exercise, but I don't think as it stands that build would be too much fun to play. Really, it just takes advantage of the fact I can slot 3 sets of Multi Strike in War Mace, which is a really underappreciated set for defence builds. Putting the fourth defence SO in Focused Senses felt like a truly inelegant solution to getting the ranged def up too.
The first build I put up is a bit more realistic, and is quite close to how i put my first SR brute together, when i had very limited funds to work with. I used maneuvers in that build to cover a few holes, and was delighted to get rid of it eventually.

Scarlet Shocker, having spoken to you in-game about this, I'm not sure how much I can add except to say that the main aim for you should be to get to 45% or a little over on melee defence primarily, and then work on both ranged and AOE. If you get to that point any more defence becomes overkill for most purposes. Instead look toward max health or regen bonuses, max endurance or recovery, or +recharge. The KB set you've got does give a nice regen bonus for 4 pieces, but it's not something i would slot myself i think. The effects however could be pretty amusing, i'd just worry that enhancing the KB aspects of a power that does knockdown or knockup might turn it into knockback which might be irritating for you. Experimenting with these things for yourself is never a bad thing though.

Why would you want to spend your infamy on a BotZ -KB when, as was already mentioned, SR doesn't *need* any additional KB protection? If you're looking for AoE defense, there are much, much cheaper ways to do that.

And putting Force Feedbacks into Pulverize makes my tanker soul cringe. You have no idea how how hard WM tankers worked to get the KB OUT of the set!

But why "experiment" with an expensive IO that is completely redundant; i.e. duplicates a power that you already get in one of your sets?

Put it on another toon; sell it for lots of infamy, but it's just a complete waste for a set that already has KB protection.

Talking of Knockback sets, when the dual build feature first came out, I decided to take advantage of it on my SS/SR brute, slotting all attacks for knockback and taunt primarily, just to se what the effects would be. I had high hopes of knocking enemies across rooms and having them come running back for more. In practise this proved to be a little less amusing than i had envisaged unfortunately. Knockout Blow slotted with knockback enhancements did have its merits though, as it would smack targets up so high I had to zoom out to see the full effects

Just sayin' that since you don't need the KB protection, you could sell that BotZ -KB for 75-100 million on the BM instead, (that's the going price, I checked) which would help pay for a heck of a lot of other IOs.

Two full sets of Multi-Strike, for instance, would cost a fraction of that, fully slot two of your PBAoE attacks, and get you defense bonuses of 3.75% Melee and 3.75% AoE, in contrast to the 3.13% AoE you get with slotting the third BotZ.

Granted, I'm very goal-oriented when it comes to my builds; I decide what I want and go out and get it. I know not everyone works that way, but in this particular case slotting that IO seems like a lost opportunity to fund the rest of your build.

I think we should concede to Finduilas that the BotZ +4 SHOULD be sold, before his head spontaneously explodes.

Hers.

Or Scarlet Shocker could just give it to me and *I'll* sell it. Seems like a reasonable alternative.

Just a follow up guys: I've got him almost fully IO'd now, and I'm loving playing him. Loads of fun... in fact I would go as far to say he's my 2nd favourite toon ever.

Thanks a lot for everyone's help and input

"You got to dig it to dig it, you dig?"
Thelonious Monk