Scrapper vs Brute?

Hello folks.

I have a lvl 39 fire/shield scrapper but after taking a long break I am thinking of starting a new character and would go with a similar fire/shield brute.

Which would I rather have at end-game? I hear that the fury bonus affecting burn damage is worthwhile, and that critical hits not affecting it makes that a little less effective.
What about the bonus damage cap? Thanks to the mechanics of fury doesnt a Brute get a much higher cap and therefore more effective with the right SOs?

Then again, a Scrapper doesn't need to build up fury and can hit for higher numbers right away.

What about Ancillary/Patron powers? Which one has better and while I am asking which are the best for each?

Thanks if you have read this far!

Take your pick, can't go wrong with either.

The only time you'll really see a difference with the higher damage cap is through buffs; if you have a kin the brute will outshine the scrapper, otherwise they are pretty similar. Brute probably has a slight edge with better survivability and maybe slightly better damage overall. maintaining full fury is easy on a brute past level 30 or so.

The trip to 50 is probably more fun on a scrapper, since you can actually find IOs on the market before level 50 and you will have an easier time finding teams if you're into that.

I would recommend SS/Shield if you are really looking to max out AOE goodness on a brute though.

For a /SD character I'd always go with a Scrapper over a Brute. While the higher Brute damage cap is awesome, in this case Scrappers get the nod for a two reasons.

Against All Odds buffs base damage, base damage for Scrappers is high, base damage for Brutes is low. Add into that Fury giving you upwards of 150% damage and AAO just doesn't benefit a Brute as much as it does a Scrapper.

The second reason is that Shield Charge, (and Lightning Rod but that's irrelevant in this case), use pseudopets that do the damage and so use the pet damage cap (400%). So once you factor in enhancements and Fury, you hit the pet damage cap really easily. Meaning one of the biggest advantages a Brute has over a Scrapper, namely the stupidly high damage cap, doesn't factor in unfortunately.

Scrappers arguably have better epics for a Fire/Shield, with either Body or Blaze compared to Soul or Mu. Not a big deal given GR on the horizon, but worth noting.

I'd say stick with the Scrapper, especially since you've already got one leveled up.

Thanks guys!

Will tag this on here....

Can I tint ancillary powers? If I took Blaze mastery could I make the fireballs green?

Ah well. I'll just use the default colors for fire melee so it looks right.

One more Q: with multiple builds can I have two different ancillary sets? Still, that does sound expensive to get enhancements for both.

And. can I change ancillaries with a respec?

ty!

Yes and yes.

You should make a scrapper because they're awesome.

Scrapper it is!

Thankyou very much you just saved me 39 levels of catching up!

While I am here my next question is about ancillaries. Either Blaze or Body. Body has end mod powers which would help as I run out of end with all toggles on. Still, Blaze has fireballs!

If I take Blaze am I better off with Char or Ring of Fire?

Thanks!

EDIT: also, the wiki says that Body Mastery's Energy Torrent is minor damage. The blaster version is moderate damage? Are they that different or is the an inconsistency?

According to MIDS, the Scrapper version does slightly more (69.3 VS 60.1).

RoF can't take 4 basilisk's gaze though...

I prefer Brutes.

I think the major determining factor in a Brute vs Scrapper debate is whether or not the person in question:

1. Likes the Fury Mechanic
2. Can efficiently utilize the Fury Mechanic.

Assuming these two prerequisites are met Brutes do 'nearly equal' damage to Scrappers, and have the capability to have much more powerful mitigation.

The other major thing Brutes have in their favor is an Epic Power called 'Darkest Night', which can effectively add 16% defense and 21% damage resistance to all enemies near an anchor of 25 feet. Being a debuff, it is applicable to your entire team, but it is also subject to the Purple Patch, and is less effective against AV's. It is therefore much easier for Brutes to build for high levels of mitigation regardless of what their Primary/Secondary is.

*Edit* - The other "point" in Brute's favor is that they can enjoy a particularly more powerful damage cap of 850% vs Scrappers' 500%. I consider it a "point", rather than a point, because such numbers are only typically achieved in a team setting or very briefly if you just chugged a bunch of red inspirations. Furthermore, every Archetype as their respective damage cap, be they a Brute, Scrapper, or Gently Rolling Breeze finds it is capable of completely obliterating anything and everything, and you can only begin to imagine what kind of calamity occurs when you have an entire team like this.

Sure, the Brute will be doing more damage than the scrapper, but when everyone is at the cap only the mathematically sound are going to be 'aware' of this, and attempting to point it out during the fact is akin to trying to find your car in a Tornado. While you're in it. And you're trying to dodge cows.