If you're just using Single Origin enhancements: Stone, Invuln, and Willpower.
Stone is a really late bloomer since you don't get granite until 38, so unless you're group is packing a cold dom, therm rad, sonic, or something of the sort, you'll be hurting until you get granite.
Invuln will get you really close to Smashing / Lethal hardcap resist caps if you take the fighting power pool. However, Invuln gets some really strong resists early in it's life, so I view it as the best "scaling-level" set.
Willpower is another semi-late bloomer. Willpowers biggest advantage is it's sky-high regen rate, and brute's get a high default HP. It'll be several levels before the base HP really shows up on your regen rate though. Also, the taunt aura does not build against gauntlet, and is rather weak... so a dominator or corruptor with strong AOE's might be yanking aggro off you on a regular basis.
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If you've got some infamy or merits to spare, Shield, Super Reflexes, and Energy would also be good choices. If you can soft-cap their defenses you'll have an easier time living.
If you want to have the highest survivability and be the closest to the Tank AT, then you will want Stone Armor as your secondary.
However, other sets can come awfully close without suffering the penalities associated with Granite and Rooted. Sets like WP, INV and SR can be turned into monsters with the right slotting and power selection (I can't comment on SD since I have yet to create one past 20).
I know I prefer my SR brute to my WP brute in overall survivability but I think my claws/inv brute might be my new favorite. I just need to start getting some IOs into his build.
Quote:
It depends on what the rest of your static group looks like.|
Originally Posted by ShawnVW
I want to play a Brute in my new static group. I want to play like a Tanker. I want to run ahead of everyone and grab aggro.
What're the best powersets for something like this? |
If you have a /kin, then /stone will be a great choice though I don't enjoy playing /stone personally.
/Invuln is a very solid choice as well, and it doesn't require a pocket /kin.
/WP is excellent, but you'll be hard pressed to actually tank for the group without a fast recharging PBAoE or Taunt (I use footstomp on my SS/WP to maintain aggro as I didn't take Taunt itself).
As /WP you'll have some trouble with alpha strikes until you can get HP accolades or IO sets for Def & HP or you have a a buffer that can shore up your defenses, for example /cold or /force field.
If you have the resources to soft-cap a Shield Defense Brute, then you basically have a Tank with Fury. Beyond the soft cap there is basicallly no difference.
Except for that whole Health thingy.
If you aren't getting hit, what difference does it make that you have a few less HP than a Tank?
My SS/Shield Brute plays basically the same as my Shield/SS Tank. Since they are both at soft cap and rarely get hit, HP is almost irrelevant. With a team backing them, they are both unstoppable.
Quote:
You're right. HP is almost irrelevant, but it's not totally irrelevant. You will be hit eventually, and you'll most likely be hit by Boss, EB, AV or GM. Once that happens, HP is definitely not irrelevant. That's why +HP and regen are very potent on a defense character. |
Originally Posted by Antigonus
HP is almost irrelevant.
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Lastly, I have yet to build a shield tank or brute but due to defense scaling...can't a SD Tank hit the softcap much easier (i.e. without weave, etc) than a SD Brute?
My Dark Melee/Invl seems very solid so far, my Elec/SR is a great 'tank' as well.
I want to play a Brute in my new static group. I want to play like a Tanker. I want to run ahead of everyone and grab aggro.
What're the best powersets for something like this?