If you are teamed up with a Fire/Kin, you want to be able to hold aggro. Trust me. Your Fire/Kin friend will DETEST you if you don't hold aggro, because Fire/Kin is squishy, and aggros like nothing else.
My recommendation for Primary would be Superstrength, Fire, or Claws. All have top notch single target damage, especially with a Speed boost on them, as well as having excellent AoE.(Because again, your buddy will want to kill you if you don't hold aggro)
For secondary, anything other then Stone or Energy really. I personally like Fire, due to the extreme damage it brings, but all the others are excellent choices as well, depending on taste.
::edit:: If you pick Superstrength, be sure to pair it with a secondary that has a taunt/damage Aura early. Superstrength doesn't get it's AoE till 32.
The most powerful blend for a brute will, of course, be Claws. Can't beat that for a blender!
I played together with my wife in a similar setup. I was ice/kin and she went ss/invul. Invul holds aggro pretty well, at least compared to wp.
By the way, stone/stone is not the most powerful. /stone takes away damage unlike most secondaries.
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Well it depends on what you'll be fighting the most, and how early you want your Brute to 'bloom' to its full potential.
If you wouldn't mind late-blooming sets, Super Reflexes on a Brute is pretty much invincible, ESPECIALLY in one-on-one fights, when soft-capped. So you're looking at a set that blooms at level 47 or so. There is just no way you'll die. If you take Aid Self on top to, I think you could just walk up to AVs and tickle them. Pair that with Dark Melee and you'll just be a monster; all that -ToHit and the heal can stack up really nicely. I have a DB/SR Brute, and she just really never dies.
For general, early-blooming sets, Willpower would be a good choice, along with Invulnerability and Shield Defense.
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Why Dark Melee?|
Originally Posted by Bright Shadow
Well it depends on what you'll be fighting the most, and how early you want your Brute to 'bloom' to its full potential.
If you wouldn't mind late-blooming sets, Super Reflexes on a Brute is pretty much invincible, ESPECIALLY in one-on-one fights, when soft-capped. So you're looking at a set that blooms at level 47 or so. There is just no way you'll die. If you take Aid Self on top to, I think you could just walk up to AVs and tickle them. Pair that with Dark Melee and you'll just be a monster; all that -ToHit and the heal can stack up really nicely. I have a DB/SR Brute, and she just really never dies. For general, early-blooming sets, Willpower would be a good choice, along with Invulnerability and Shield Defense. |
You're making it sound pretty bad while leveling. Is that the case?
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Because Dark Melee gives you another heal that you can use on top of Aid Self, or in conjunction with Aid Self.
Originally Posted by ChrisUlrich84
Why Dark Melee?
You're making it sound pretty bad while leveling. Is that the case?
And regarding the leveling, here's the thing...
SR, on its own, is rather fiddly...until it's softcapped. The difference in performce of a soft-capped and a non-soft-capped SR character is incredibly vast. So your character can go from "squishy" before level 47, to "invincible" after level 47 and a few hundred millions of inf.
Now...if you pair SR with Dark Melee, however, it should help ease the leveling, because of the -ToHit of Dark Melee (-ToHit is essentially +Def).
So it really depends on your playstyle.
I've seen Dark Melee/SR Brutes solo entire TFs. It's pretty darn badass. But as I said...it takes some patience.
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The damage output of Dark really isn't all that special though, right?|
Originally Posted by Bright Shadow
Because Dark Melee gives you another heal that you can use on top of Aid Self, or in conjunction with Aid Self. And regarding the leveling, here's the thing... SR, on its own, is rather fiddly...until it's softcapped. The difference in performce of a soft-capped and a non-soft-capped SR character is incredibly vast. So your character can go from "squishy" before level 47, to "invincible" after level 47 and a few hundred millions of inf. Now...if you pair SR with Dark Melee, however, it should help ease the leveling, because of the -ToHit of Dark Melee (-ToHit is essentially +Def). So it really depends on your playstyle. I've seen Dark Melee/SR Brutes solo entire TFs. It's pretty darn badass. But as I said...it takes some patience. |
What about Super Strength and Willpower? Or super strength/battle axe/war mace and Super Reflexes?
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The single-target damage output of Dark Melee is actually quite intense. I'm not entirely sure, but if I remember correctly, it has the highest damage-per-second attack chain for single-target.
Originally Posted by ChrisUlrich84
The damage output of Dark really isn't all that special though, right?
What about Super Strength and Willpower? Or super strength/battle axe/war mace and Super Reflexes?
Super Strength and Willpower are both very solid "Jack of all trades" sets. I personally dislike them cause they're EVERYWHERE. EVERYONE has an SS/WP or SS/Invul Brute or Tanker; that and I dislike the dependency on Rage. But that usually means it's a good combo.
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I actually like the idea of -ToHit attacks. And I had no idea Dark Melee does so much damage. It also has 2 AoEs. I'm gonna go with DM/SR. I really like the way you're making things sound. haha
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Originally Posted by Bright Shadow
The single-target damage output of Dark Melee is actually quite intense. I'm not entirely sure, but if I remember correctly, it has the highest damage-per-second attack chain for single-target. Super Strength and Willpower are both very solid "Jack of all trades" sets. I personally dislike them cause they're EVERYWHERE. EVERYONE has an SS/WP or SS/Invul Brute or Tanker; that and I dislike the dependency on Rage. But that usually means it's a good combo. |
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I should go apply for a marketing position!
Originally Posted by ChrisUlrich84
I actually like the idea of -ToHit attacks. And I had no idea Dark Melee does so much damage. It also has 2 AoEs. I'm gonna go with DM/SR. I really like the way you're making things sound. haha
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I really like the AoEs and the -ToHit. That in itself can help my brother stay alive longer! Squishy Corruptors die way easy. haha
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Originally Posted by Bright Shadow
I should go apply for a marketing position! |
Dark Melee has AoE's? If you really want AoE damage, you'll be disappointed with DM.
[U][URL="http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=251594"][/URL][/U]
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The only AoEs you're gonna get are Shadow Maul, Dark Consumption, and Soul Drain. The latter two really serve different purposes than raw AoE damage...and Shadow Maul would actually be ineffecient for an optimal attack chain. So...if you want AoE, DM isn't the best route.
Originally Posted by ChrisUlrich84
I really like the AoEs and the -ToHit. That in itself can help my brother stay alive longer! Squishy Corruptors die way easy. haha
You said in the OP that you want to focus on single-targets, which makes sense cause the Fire/Kin is just gonna obliterate all the tiny minions and whatnot to pieces while you have to hold the ground and fight the bosses.
DM has three AoE's (stop laughing!)
Dark Consumption
Soul Drain
Shadow Maul
HOWEVER
DC and SD are on incredibly long timers (3 minutes each ish), and do minimal damage. Dark Consumption is really an end tool, and Soul Drain is really a self buff power.
That leaves Shadow Maul which I like as an AoE but it takes time to line up the melee cone, and it caps out at 5....and it takes FOREVER to animate, and you'll feel like a tool when it misses and you're shadow boxing.
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Dark Melee is not nearly as good as Bright Shadow is making it out to be. Especially not when paired up with a Fire/Kin.
The Heal and the Fear is unnecessary for you, since you got a buddy with Transfusion waiting to go. The set has little to no AoE, while it does have good single target DPS, it DOESN'T have the best. Fire has the best single target DPS, which I believe is followed by Claws.
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This is correct: You have been given bad advice, sorry. Single target DPS, self-heal, and end management are DM's claims to fame, NOT AOE damage.|
Originally Posted by Candlestick
Dark Melee is not nearly as good as Bright Shadow is making it out to be. Especially not when paired up with a Fire/Kin.
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| The set has little to no AoE, while it does have good single target DPS, it DOESN'T have the best. Fire has the best single target DPS, which I believe is followed by Claws. |
For the combo described, nearly the ideal setup would be claws/inv. ?inv on a brute is a tough leveling experience due to endurance issues....which your buddy can help out with enormously.
Claws does excellent damage if you can keep it fed, whcih holds aggro. Once you get invincibility, well, all bets are off.
At the top end, you can take Mu for even more damages, or you can take the new energy APP and not have to rely on your friend for end any longer.
The same can more-or less be said for a fire/shield brute, or even moreso for a ss/fire.
A ss/fire is...fearsome.
It might not hold aggro like an ibvuln, but it should do alright.
I love my DM/SR scrapper, but I have to agree with the above posters - for the pairing you've described you want aoe damage, not a mitigation focused build. Go with a good AoE primary and a secondary that has a damage aura (or Shields).
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A Claws/Inv or Claws/Fire would be awesome. I would recommend Claws/Elec, but since the OP is paired with a Kin, alot of Elec's best stuff(Awesome Endurance management) are not really needed. |
Originally Posted by mauk2
This is correct: You have been given bad advice, sorry. Single target DPS, self-heal, and end management are DM's claims to fame, NOT AOE damage.
For the combo described, nearly the ideal setup would be claws/inv. ?inv on a brute is a tough leveling experience due to endurance issues....which your buddy can help out with enormously. Claws does excellent damage if you can keep it fed, whcih holds aggro. Once you get invincibility, well, all bets are off. At the top end, you can take Mu for even more damages, or you can take the new energy APP and not have to rely on your friend for end any longer. The same can more-or less be said for a fire/shield brute, or even moreso for a ss/fire. A ss/fire is...fearsome. It might not hold aggro like an ibvuln, but it should do alright. |
Fire/Shield would definitely be an excellent choice as well, same with SS/Shield. Aggro aura is pretty early for shield, and is a good one.
SS/Fire is always good, and with Blazing Aura, it holds aggro pretty well early in the game.
Stone for Primary might work out really well to. It has top-notch single target damage, and can keep the Kin buddy alive by using Fault. Kin also solves Stone Melee's issues. AoE damage is lackluster, but Fault allows the Fire/Kin to spend more time blasting, rather then trying to heal.
DM is a fine set. One of my favorites but not the best AE. However, if pair right it can be very nice. FI like DM/Fa myself. The most damaging AE toggle in blazing aura, helps a ton, combine with new burn and Fiery embrace and soul drain it can be a damage machine.
IF you dont go Fire as you secondary, then you want to take a look at the MU patron/Epic. You get 3 aes out of with good recharge timers, Best is lightning ball, then electric Fences and finally static discharge. With good global recharge you can chain AE nicely.
Finally 5 or 6 AE does not equal Footstomp. You can do well with DM and make it work nicely for you. You get alot of nice tools: Heal, End boost, nice damage boost but you have make it work.
/cipher
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From that, I got the following criteria the OP was looking for:
Originally Posted by ChrisUlrich84
Looking for the most powerful setup for a brute! Teaming up with a Fire/Kin Corruptor pretty much every step of the way.
I have a stone/stone so I want to steer clear of that. But if stone/stone is the most powerful, what's next in line?
Looking for taking out single targets as fast as possible. Holding aggro is something i'm not too concerned with right now.
1. Most powerful set up.
2. Protecting a squishy aggro-hog.
3. Not Stone/Stone.
4. High Single Target DPS.
I think DM/SR fits those criteria very well in the later levels...
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DM does very, very little to protect an squishy aggro generator like Fire/Kin. The AoE's are on long timers, and /SR doesn't get their taunt aura until lvl 20. And again, the single target damage is *not* the best. Fire takes the cake there. The main *perks* of Dark Melee is the self heal, Dark Consumption, and touch of fear, all powers that become obsolete when teamed with a Kinetics.
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Originally Posted by Bright Shadow
From that, I got the following criteria the OP was looking for: 1. Most powerful set up. 2. Protecting a squishy aggro-hog. 3. Not Stone/Stone. 4. High Single Target DPS. I think DM/SR fits those criteria very well in the later levels... |
DM/SR looks like a very good combo and I am currently leveling one myself, but I think it fails to take advantage of what the fire/kin corrupter offers. You have to ask yourself which secondary would you play if you had a /kin with you at all times. Since /stone has already been eliminated I would choose /dark myself and pair it with claws, fire, or stone. Dark Armor benefits the most from having that /kin with you at all times. Try a Stone/Dark and watch entire mobs get perma stunned so your bubby can burn them down in complete safety. Of course Stone Melee is also great single target also.
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I beg to differ with everything but the note that Fire Melee has more damage. Dark Melee's ST damage is way more than you seem to believe. And you're INCREDIBLY wrong about the self heal becoming obsolete with a /Kin. Have you seen the damage Siphon Life does? Did you miss the change to that power way back when it happened? A Fulcrum-Shifted DM/SR would be like an untouchable single target buzzsaw. My 50 Dark/Dark/Soul eats AV's alive, and his defenses (at least from what other players have told me in fits of frustration) "shouldn't be able to do that". Please consider all facts and do a little more research before telling someone that a very powerful powerset isn't powerful at all.|
Originally Posted by Candlestick
DM does very, very little to protect an squishy aggro generator like Fire/Kin. The AoE's are on long timers, and /SR doesn't get their taunt aura until lvl 20. And again, the single target damage is *not* the best. Fire takes the cake there. The main *perks* of Dark Melee is the self heal, Dark Consumption, and touch of fear, all powers that become obsolete when teamed with a Kinetics.
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Disclaimer: If you've leveled a Dark Melee Brute to 50, gave him top notch non-purple IO sets, and still believe Dark Melee is cruddy, then I don't know what to tell you other than somehow, somewhere, you did something wrong.
My guides:Dark Melee/Dark Armor/Soul Mastery, Illusion Control/Kinetics/Primal Forces Mastery, Electric Armor
"Dark Armor is a complete waste as a tanking set."
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You can get Taunt from Dark Melee at level 12.
Originally Posted by Candlestick
DM does very, very little to protect an squishy aggro generator like Fire/Kin. The AoE's are on long timers, and /SR doesn't get their taunt aura until lvl 20. ...
Looking for the most powerful setup for a brute! Teaming up with a Fire/Kin Corruptor pretty much every step of the way.
I have a stone/stone so I want to steer clear of that. But if stone/stone is the most powerful, what's next in line?
Looking for taking out single targets as fast as possible. Holding aggro is something i'm not too concerned with right now.