Which Axe-based Build do you recommend?

All,

I have always wanted to try the Battle Axe set, so I made a Willpower/BattleAxe Tanker. However, I don't really intend to Tank, I just want a solo scrapping type character. So, it occurred to me that I could also make a BattleAxe/Willpower Brute, as well as a BattleAxe/SuperReflexes Brute.

I mention these 3 sets because Willpower makes 2 of them easy to play up, and Super Reflexes, while painful to level, is eventually pretty survivable on the cheap (soft-capping won't break my bank).

So when factoring in fun, ease of play, and end-game cost/affordability, which would you recommend between:

Willpower/BattleAxe Tanker
Axe/Willpower Brute
Axe/SuperReflexes Brute

Thanks!

Lewis

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Is a battle axe/shield defense brute "off the table"? I have one, and it's fun to play. Just curious, because I find that /shield and /sr have alot in common.

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Axe/Invuln Brute

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I don't understand why the first two posts in this thread are completely ignoring the OP's request....


Out of the 3 sets, Axe/WP Brute will meet your criteria the best. High damage, easy to level, easy to play, with large room for end game IO'ing out.

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I do appreciate all replies. Here is a long post on why I was only wanting to consider WP and SR.

I find that I don't like Shield a whole lot. I have a level 50 Shield/Elec tanker, and I like him, but I think once was enough. Tho I've seen the crushing things my friend's Fire/Shield scrapper can do, it just isn't my thing, in terms of style, appearance, and the eventual cost to soft-cap. I'm also not damage obsessed, though I realize that is the whole point of a solo melee character (Brute or otherwise).

I do like Invuln, but only really as a Primary, and usually I only do it in a team with some support to help keep the edge off (endurance mostly). I've also played tons of Invuln.

I'm not a fan of Elec or Dark armor at all. I've tried both extensively, at least as a scrapper, and I've even played them into the late 30 and early 40s but each time, I've deleted the character. Just not my thing.

I'm OK with the new Fire armor. It is better now, but not better enough for me to make a new one. My existing level 40 Fire/Stone tanker and my level 37 Elec/Fire scrapper are enough for me, pretty much forever.

I flat out hate Stone Armor.

That leaves SR, WP, and Energy Aura if I go with a Brute, and only WP if I go for a Tank.

Now I will say that I really *do* want to try Energy Aura. But I'm just not sure if Axe is really the secondary I want to pair with it. I was thinking I might do Dark Melee/Energy Aura to make a spooky invisible assassin concept or whatever. So I ruled out Energy Aura just because I think I'm zeroing in on a better conceptual match for it.

Thanks for any replies!

Lewis

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Random AT Generation!
"I remember... the Alamo." -- Pee-wee Herman
"Oh don't worry. I always leave things to the last moment." -- The Doctor
"Telescopes are time machines." -- Carl Sagan

I have an axe/wp brute, currently up to 48. It's fun but Axe seems end heavy. I have Quick Recovery and Stamina and still get my blue bar dropping. However, I am currently still on SOs, and have all WP toggles, plus fighting. It will likely improve when I start slotting IOs and get better end redux in my attacks.

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I find a Shield Tanker at least as easy and cheap to softcap as an SR Scrapper. Shield also makes Axe's already decent crowd damage even more crunchy.

But that won't make you like something you don't. Between the ones you list, I suggest Axe/SR brute for two reasons:

1) If you are mostly interested in Axe (the other powerset seems to be a secondary consideration to you), SR's Quickness will give you freshly recharged Axe powers to click more often over the character's career.

2) Castle once said he was enjoying an Axe/SR Brute a lot.

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Since you mention soloing, I'll recommend the brute. At least for me, I have more fun solo with a brute because fury is like a mini game. Tanking I have more fun with people to protect (even though I'm not all that good at it).

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I'm going to suggest an Axe/WP Brute. The combo, with Fury in full swing, makes for a great barbarian character. With Quick Recovery on top of Stamina, there are no Endurance problems. Of course picking up Hasten will cure you of that!

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Axe/SR brute. Even without softcapped you'll do fine; I've run +4 missions on all my tanks using no shields before. I'm sure you can handle it with softcapped SR, and it's going to be the cheapest to get super survivable, and of course whenever the free stamina comes it'll be even easier to fit everything into your build.

WP does have an advantage if your'e teaming though; the taunt aura sucks so you won't be tanking all that much with axe even if you want to

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Active (Freedom): Setna (Ice/Psi Dom), Arram (WP/KM Tank), Tesmiel (Elec/SS Tank), Astredax (Robot/Dark Mastermind), Operative Vidali (melee fortunata)

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