Powersets that work well with SOs/Standard IOs?

Hi there

I IOed out several chars but now I don't have that much playtime anymore and I wondered what powersets would work with just SOs/Standard IOs or minimal IO investment in normal PvE content. (I am usually more of an Controller/Defender player but started to enjoy melee a lot). I just recently rolled a Kat/SR Scrapper and a BA/WP Brute. Both are working very well for me with just SOs, but my 33 spines/fire Scrapper don't.

So I guess anything paired with willpower would work? I was also looking at DM/SR. How would that work with SOs? Since I enjoy both Scrappers and Brutes is there a powersets that works better for Brutes or vice versa for Scrappers (I'm looking especially at DM/SR).

Thanks for your help!

DM/SR should be OK, though I don't think it's particularly good, as on just SOs you're probably not going to soft cap it. That's where Katana/SR beats it because of Divine Avalanche. Still, even 32.5% is pretty good since a single purple puts you at the soft cap, so you can have a tray full of god mode. And you have Siphon Life for the heal. It won't suck.

I haven't done the math, but I'd probably do Dark Melee/Super Reflexes on a Scrapper. Soul Drain can be a big buff that's up a lot of the time, and Scrappers get more out of damage buffs than Brutes. But I just like scrappers, so maybe I'm the wrong person to ask.

Normally, I'd recommend Katana/Willpower, but you already have Katana and you already have Willpower, and you might not want to repeat. But you said you rolled them recently, so maybe that isn't a factor. And to reduce the overlap, maybe Broad Sword/Willpower, which will play pretty much the same.

I really enjoyed leveling my Broad Sword/Shield Defense. It was probably my favorite combination to level, and I only use a handful of IOs while leveling. Shield Defense has a reputation for being squishy on just SOs, but I personally think the reputation is largely undeserved, plus Broad Sword will let you cap your melee defense easily, and your lethal defense as well with a bit more of a stretch. Shield Defense then buffs your damage and gives you a big AoE, so you'll power through content pretty well.

Electric Armor! You still get a nice self heal, although it's on a longish timer...but it boosts your regen for 30secs after you fire it off, and reduces the endurance cost of all your powers. You get Power Sink at lvl 35 which eliminates any endurance issues you'd ever have (plus it's auto hit, no acc needed). You still get a handy damage aura with LF, and a base +20% rech from an auto power...which is freaking amazing. You also have an integrated mag 12.5 kb protection power with Grounded. You can get over 40+ Psi Resist too, and full Teleport Protection from Static Shield (which is quite handy if you PvP). The set is amazing with SO's or Common IO's as you have all those goodies you build for integrated into your lineup off the bat.

Willpower is also a really nice set that can do some impressive things with SO/Common IO's, but you already know that.

I did a Kat/Elec and it was pretty easy leveling thanks to DA. Spines/Elec is my current favorite toon for good ole SO farmy goodness.

Thanks Werner for the reply. I really was thinking of BS/Wp too, when I am done with my current scrappers. Especially since BS is a bit heavy on end I think and will work very well with /WP. I do have a 50 softcapped SD/WM Tanker, so I wanted someting different and trying out combinations I haven't done so far (I have a fire/regen and claw/regen IOed out already).

It's not that I do not plan to use any sets, just not those freaking expensive ones that you have to farm for. And I usually do only standard PvE content so I doubt I really need softcapped defense. I plan to take tough/weave on my scrappers though.

@TheXor
Thanks, I wasn't aware that Electric Armor is performing that good. I thought it would be similiar to /fiery aura. And I absolutely hate my spines/fire with SOs.

Could also give BS/regen or Kat/regen a go I suppose.