Tough, Weave or Shadowmeld, Widow

So do you think its worth dropping Boxing, Tough and Weave at 41, 44 and 47 in favor of DB, Shadowmeld and a Widow? I would lose 17% resist and 6% Def in favor of a modified 32% Def with a 15 second duration on a 32 second recharge. hrm ( oh and I get a 6 slotted Expediant Widow )

I could take tough at 47 but the with Shadowmeld soft capping everything every 32 seconds not sure if I need it. Plus a Scrapper with a pet!

Before

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.803
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Technology Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Katana
Secondary Power Set: Willpower
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Speed

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Gambler's Cut -- C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(3), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(13), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(15), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(21), Achilles-ResDeb%(23)
Level 1: High Pain Tolerance -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), S'fstPrt-ResDam/EndRdx(37), Heal-I(37), Heal-I(37)
Level 2: Flashing Steel -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(3), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(13), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(15), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(23), Oblit-%Dam(39)
Level 4: Mind Over Body -- RctvArm-ResDam(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(5), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(5), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(11), RctvArm-EndRdx(11)
Level 6: Fast Healing -- RgnTis-Regen+(A), Heal-I(7), Heal-I(7)
Level 8: Divine Avalanche -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(9), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(9), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(19), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(19), Mako-Dam%(39)
Level 10: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 12: Indomitable Will -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(42), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg(42), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(42), RedFtn-Def(43), RedFtn-EndRdx(46)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Jump-I(A)
Level 16: Rise to the Challenge -- Heal-I(A), Heal-I(17), Heal-I(17)
Level 18: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 20: Quick Recovery -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(21)
Level 22: Health -- Numna-Heal(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(25), Heal-I(46)
Level 24: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(25)
Level 26: The Lotus Drops -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(27), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(27), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(29), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(29), Oblit-%Dam(36)
Level 28: Heightened Senses -- RedFtn-EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def(40), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(40), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg(40), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(43), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(43)
Level 30: Soaring Dragon -- Mako-Dam%(A), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(31), Mako-Acc/Dmg(31), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(31), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(34), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(34)
Level 32: Golden Dragonfly -- Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(A), Oblit-Dmg(33), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(33), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(33), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34), Oblit-%Dam(36)
Level 35: Build Up -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(36)
Level 38: Strength of Will -- ResDam-I(A), ResDam-I(39)
Level 41: Kick -- Acc-I(A)
Level 44: Tough -- RctvArm-EndRdx(A), RctvArm-ResDam(45), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(45), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(45), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(46)
Level 47: Weave -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(48), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg(48), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(48), RedFtn-Def(50), RedFtn-EndRdx(50)
Level 49: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Critical Hit
Level 0: Ninja Run



After

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.803
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Technology Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Katana
Secondary Power Set: Willpower
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Gambler's Cut -- C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(3), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(13), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(15), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(21), Achilles-ResDeb%(23)
Level 1: High Pain Tolerance -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), S'fstPrt-ResDam/EndRdx(37), Heal-I(37), Heal-I(37)
Level 2: Flashing Steel -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(3), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(13), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(15), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(23), Oblit-%Dam(39)
Level 4: Mind Over Body -- RctvArm-ResDam(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(5), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(5), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(11), RctvArm-EndRdx(11)
Level 6: Fast Healing -- RgnTis-Regen+(A), Heal-I(7), Heal-I(7)
Level 8: Divine Avalanche -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(9), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(9), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(19), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(19), Mako-Dam%(39)
Level 10: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 12: Indomitable Will -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(42), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg(42), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(42), RedFtn-Def(43), RedFtn-EndRdx(46)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Jump-I(A)
Level 16: Rise to the Challenge -- Heal-I(A), Heal-I(17), Heal-I(17)
Level 18: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 20: Quick Recovery -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(21)
Level 22: Health -- Numna-Heal(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(25), Heal-I(25)
Level 24: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(34)
Level 26: The Lotus Drops -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(27), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(27), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(29), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(29), Oblit-%Dam(36)
Level 28: Heightened Senses -- RedFtn-EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def(40), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(40), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg(40), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(43), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(43)
Level 30: Soaring Dragon -- Mako-Dam%(A), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(31), Mako-Acc/Dmg(31), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(31), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(34), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(36)
Level 32: Golden Dragonfly -- Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(A), Oblit-Dmg(33), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(33), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(33), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34), Oblit-%Dam(36)
Level 35: Build Up -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 38: Strength of Will -- ResDam-I(A), ResDam-I(39)
Level 41: Dark Blast -- Acc-I(A)
Level 44: Shadow Meld -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(45), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg(45), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(45), RedFtn-Def(46), RedFtn-EndRdx(46)
Level 47: Summon Widow -- ExRmnt-Acc/Rchg(A), ExRmnt-Dmg/EndRdx(48), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg(48), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(48), ExRmnt-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(50), ExRmnt-+Res(Pets)(50)
Level 49: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Critical Hit
Level 0: Ninja Run

The PP pets are beyond useless, with the possible exception of the Dom Mu one, which occasionally heals you.

If you want Shadowmeld go for it, but I'd get Tough rather than the pet. The pets are TERRIBLE.

If it was me, I'd say "not worth it" ; for someone else, I'll go with "depends of your playstyle".

Shadow Meld has a 3 second animation. In a long fight, against say an AV, or soloing a group of +4 with bosses, it's going to cut significantly into your DPS. If you just stick to situations where you have a 3 second "break" (i.e. travel times from defeated spawn to new victims) every ~30 seconds or so, then it might be a good choice.

Even at softcapped defense some hits still get in occasionally, and you might find yourself missing the extra S/L resistance sometimes. Shadow Meld is a good power, but so are Tough and Weave. So it really depends.

I like the pet on my brute, though I wouldn't call it an 'optimal' choice. Its fun enough.