Trying to make my Spine/Fire Scrapper survivable

Hi! I have a Spine/Fire at 29 and am dying constantly while solo with +1/2 difficulty settings. That doesn't seem like it should be that difficult (my blaster does more than that), so in an effort to stop the face-planting, I'm looking to fast-track adding in some Set IOs (which I don't normally do until late 30s at the earliest). But before I did that, I wanted you lovely people to take a look and tell me if you see something I'm doing wrong, have a different idea or can suggest a more effective slotting arrangements.

Thanks!

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Panic Epidemic: Level 50 Natural Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Spines
Secondary Power Set: Fiery Aura
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Body Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Lunge

• (A) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage
• (3) Mako's Bite - Damage/Endurance
• (3) Mako's Bite - Damage/Recharge
• (7) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge
• (29) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge

• (A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/Endurance
• (11) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%
• (15) Steadfast Protection - Knockback Protection
• (17) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance
• (17) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge

• (A) Obliteration - Damage
• (21) Obliteration - Accuracy/Recharge
• (39) Obliteration - Damage/Recharge
• (40) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (42) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (42) Obliteration - Chance for Smashing Damage

• (A) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Recharge
• (5) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Endurance/Recharge
• (5) Numina's Convalescence - Heal
• (7) Numina's Convalescence - Endurance/Recharge
• (19) Miracle - Heal/Recharge
• (19) Miracle - Heal/Endurance/Recharge

• (A) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Recharge
• (13) Adjusted Targeting - Recharge
• (50) Rectified Reticle - To Hit Buff
• (50) Rectified Reticle - To Hit Buff/Recharge

• (A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage
• (9) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance
• (9) Thunderstrike - Damage/Recharge
• (11) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (13) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (15) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO

• (A) Jumping IO

• (A) Run Speed IO

• (A) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance
• (23) Aegis - Resistance/Recharge
• (23) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge
• (25) Aegis - Resistance
• (25) Aegis - Psionic/Status Resistance

• (A) Numina's Convalescence - Heal
• (46) Numina's Convalescence - +Regeneration/+Recovery

• (A) Endurance Modification IO
• (21) Endurance Modification IO

• (A) Performance Shifter - EndMod
• (31) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Recharge
• (37) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Accuracy/Recharge
• (37) Performance Shifter - Accuracy/Recharge
• (43) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Accuracy
• (45) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End

• (A) Obliteration - Damage
• (39) Obliteration - Accuracy/Recharge
• (40) Obliteration - Damage/Recharge
• (40) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (45) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (45) Obliteration - Chance for Smashing Damage

• (A) Obliteration - Damage
• (27) Obliteration - Accuracy/Recharge
• (27) Obliteration - Damage/Recharge
• (29) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (31) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (31) Obliteration - Chance for Smashing Damage

• (A) Obliteration - Damage
• (33) Obliteration - Accuracy/Recharge
• (34) Obliteration - Damage/Recharge
• (34) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (34) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (39) Obliteration - Chance for Smashing Damage

• (A) Accuracy IO

• (A) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage
• (33) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance
• (33) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge
• (36) Positron's Blast - Damage/Range
• (36) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (37) Recharge Reduction IO

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO
• (36) Recharge Reduction IO

• (A) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance
• (43) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge
• (43) Aegis - Resistance

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO
• (42) Recharge Reduction IO

• (A) Miracle - Heal
• (46) Miracle - +Recovery
• (46) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod
• (48) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Endurance

• (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
• (48) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
• (48) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
• (50) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO

• (A) Accuracy IO

• (A) Run Speed IO

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO

• 19.5% DamageBuff(Smashing)
• 19.5% DamageBuff(Lethal)
• 19.5% DamageBuff(Fire)
• 19.5% DamageBuff(Cold)
• 19.5% DamageBuff(Energy)
• 19.5% DamageBuff(Negative)
• 19.5% DamageBuff(Toxic)
• 19.5% DamageBuff(Psionic)
• 12.4% Defense(Smashing)
• 12.4% Defense(Lethal)
• 12.4% Defense(Fire)
• 12.4% Defense(Cold)
• 6.75% Defense(Energy)
• 6.75% Defense(Negative)
• 3% Defense(Psionic)
• 18.9% Defense(Melee)
• 6.75% Defense(Ranged)
• 12.4% Defense(AoE)
• 52% Enhancement(Accuracy)
• 6% Enhancement(Heal)
• 33.8% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
• 9% FlySpeed
• 120.5 HP (9%) HitPoints
• 9% JumpHeight
• 9% JumpSpeed
• Knockback (Mag -4)
• Knockup (Mag -4)
• MezResist(Held) 3.3%
• MezResist(Immobilize) 3.3%
• MezResist(Stun) 8.8%
• 13.5% (0.23 End/sec) Recovery
• 34% (1.9 HP/sec) Regeneration
• 1.58% Resistance(Fire)
• 1.58% Resistance(Cold)
• 3% Resistance(Psionic)
• 24% RunSpeed
• 2.5% XPDebtProtection

• MezResist(Immobilize) 3.3%
• 20.1 HP (1.5%) HitPoints
• 3% DamageBuff(All)
• MezResist(Held) 3.3%

• 1.5% (0.03 End/sec) Recovery
• 20.1 HP (1.5%) HitPoints
• 3% Defense(All)
• Knockback Protection (Mag -4)

• 5% RunSpeed

• MezResist(Stun) 2.2%
• 3% DamageBuff(All)
• 9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
• 5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
• 3.75% Defense(Melee), 1.88% Defense(Lethal), 1.88% Defense(Smashing)

• 12% (0.67 HP/sec) Regeneration
• 25.1 HP (1.87%) HitPoints
• 6% Enhancement(Heal)

• 2.5% (0.04 End/sec) Recovery

• 2% DamageBuff(All)

• 1.88% Defense(Smashing,Lethal), 0.94% Defense(Melee)

• 2% (0.03 End/sec) Recovery
• 2.5% Defense(Energy,Negative), 1.25% Defense(Ranged)
• 7% Enhancement(Accuracy)
• 4% RunSpeed, 4% FlySpeed, 4% JumpSpeed, 4% JumpHeight
• 2.5% Defense(Ranged), 1.25% Defense(Energy), 1.25% Defense(Negative)

• 5% RunSpeed
• 3.13% Defense(Fire,Cold), 1.56% Defense(AoE)
• 2.5% XPDebtProtection
• 3.13% Defense(AoE), 1.56% Defense(Fire), 1.56% Defense(Cold)
• 3% Resistance(Psionic)

• 12% (0.67 HP/sec) Regeneration

• 5% JumpSpeed, 5% JumpHeight, 5% FlySpeed, 5% RunSpeed
• 25.1 HP (1.87%) HitPoints
• 2.5% (0.04 End/sec) Recovery
• 2.5% DamageBuff(All)
• 3.13% Defense(AoE), 1.56% Defense(Fire), 1.56% Defense(Cold)

• MezResist(Stun) 2.2%
• 3% DamageBuff(All)
• 9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
• 5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
• 3.75% Defense(Melee), 1.88% Defense(Lethal), 1.88% Defense(Smashing)

• MezResist(Stun) 2.2%
• 3% DamageBuff(All)
• 9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
• 5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
• 3.75% Defense(Melee), 1.88% Defense(Lethal), 1.88% Defense(Smashing)

• MezResist(Stun) 2.2%
• 3% DamageBuff(All)
• 9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
• 5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
• 3.75% Defense(Melee), 1.88% Defense(Lethal), 1.88% Defense(Smashing)

• 2.5% (0.04 End/sec) Recovery
• 1.58% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
• 9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
• 6.25% Enhancement(RechargeTime)

• 5% RunSpeed
• 3.13% Defense(Fire,Cold), 1.56% Defense(AoE)

• 2.5% (0.04 End/sec) Recovery

• 15.1 HP (1.12%) HitPoints

• 10% (0.56 HP/sec) Regeneration
• 15.1 HP (1.12%) HitPoints
• 9% Enhancement(Accuracy) (Exceeded 5 Bonus Cap)
• 7.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)

Well, the issue for me is that this is a lvl 50 build, but you said you were having trouble at lower levels, so kinda need to know what level range you are looking at, and what build you have right now.

Spines/fire is an AE monster. You would be better off running at 0/x3 or x4 or even -1/x4 or x5. You would get more xp, and kill almost as fast I would guess. Basically I look at my scrappers 2 ways. They are either AE or single target. For AE focused scrappers and brutes, and other ATs really, I boost the number of players, but leave the level low, 0 or -1 a lot of the time. For single target I do the reverse, I boost the level, but leave player count low.

Spines/Fire is absolutely an AoE character. So I would suggest boosting player count, but leaving level low. Looking at your proposed build, you don't take tough until 38. If your current build is similar, then I would suggest that might be part of the issue, Fire needs all extra toughness it can get, and tough is one of the easier methods. So I would try to fit tough in earlier.

Weave is good, but really isn't worth taking unless you are working on getting defense in your build. If you are, then you want weave and combat jumping early as well, but generally I don't see it being worth the effort to work on defense on a /fire build until you are nearing endgame. You just don't have enough slots to get defense and recharge at lower levels, and recharge is generally more important for a /fire, or at least it's easier to get enough +recharge to make a difference then it is to get enough defense to make a difference.

From looking at the build, I can tell you don't have enough defense to really feel survivable at level 50. Try to get either Melee or Smashing/Lethal to 45%.

The other thing you can do is fight fire-based enemies. Make an AE mission with all fire enemies to fight and farm that to level up until you can fight tougher things.

After playing characters at 50 with fully slotted IO sets, every character I play feels squishy until they hit 50 and get IOed out. Don't get discouraged if you die a lot. That's just how the game is at those levels for many power sets. The end-result is worth it.

Thanks for the advice.

Vysires, I was writing off my current build as moot at this point, since I'm looking for a complete overhaul. Do you see anything in that build that would not make it viable while leveling up? My current build is just a mess; Blazing Aura and Quills without the endurance to consistently run them or Hasten, a Healing Flames that seems to recharge 15 seconds of when I absolutely need it, and a somewhat lackluster attackchain.

The 0/x3 is good advice, I'll work that in.

Regarding the Architect mission with fire characters - I was under the impression that custom critters had an XP penalty. Is that not true?

In another recent forum post, it was pointed out to me that the Obliteration set has horrible Endurance reduction. For a Fire Controller's Hot Feet, it was recommended switching to Multistrike; would you recommend that for Quills and Blazing Aura as well?

Also, is there a better method of slotting shields that I don't know of? I haven't really found what I feel is an ideal slotting of resistance toggles. I like my defensive slotting, however, with the 4 LotG's - That's fine, right?

Once the inherent fitness happens, this build will be so much easier to work out, but as it is, I don't see what I can completely delay to fit Tough/Weave in earlier. Blazing Aura has to be taken that early because at level 2 my only options are it, Barb Swipe (ew) or Spine Burst, which, from what I can remember from my old Spine/Invuln, doesn't have the damage to justify it's long animation.

I could put off Quills for sure... Maybe just rely on Ninja Run to get around everywhere and skip/delay the travel power...

Is there a more eloquent suggestion for slotting Throw Spines? I've never been particularly fond of Positron's Blast due to it's low recharge enhancing.

Any other recommendations for the Epic power? I went with Body Mastery for more alleviation in the endurance department, but is there anything better worth considering?

Probably not the best build, just threw it together quick but 30% Melee defense to start then shadowmeld for when things get rough. With the recharge it'll be up around half the time just about softcapping your scrapper to everything.

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My suggestion would be to go for around 35% S/L defense instead of melee defense.

Mix in a few sets of Kinetic Combats in those melee attacks, maybe even mule out kick and/or brawl.

You definitely want to slot Blazing Aura and Quills for Accuracy, Damage and Endurance, recharge doesn't help you and those Oblits are really going to hurt you with endurance management. I usually go with a mix of Sciroccos and cleaving blow and generally only 4 or 5 slot them.

Slot those resistance toggles with 4 pieces of Reactive Armor.

Get tough and weave, and combat jumping, the earlier the better.

And for those tough lower levels, keep eating purples and oranges as fast as you get them, keeping both your resistances and defenses boosted is going to keep you alive longer. Healing Flames and Consume will manage all your other troubles. And yea, your going to die...alot, Rise of the Phoenix, again and again. If you had really wanted to be more sturdy you woulda picked Shields or Invuln!

I understand I'm gonna die if I get into some sort of massive mobs, but I expected to be fairly survivable solo.

Ahh, so that's why Kinetic Combat and Reactive Armor goes for so much...

Thanks.

The thing is, if you combine Kinetic combats with Oblits you end up with good S/L and Melee. My SS/Fire brute has 2 kinetic combats, 3 oblits, 3 reactive armor, a mocking beratement in taunt, plus the steadfast +def IO. With CJ, and Weave, this gets her up to about 31% vs S/L and melee, and it helps alot. You don't have to get capped on Def to get benefits from it. Especially for a resist set like /fire. However I generally don't find it viable to try to go for positional. So that is why I went for S/L, and Melee. They boost each other, and S/L covers a lot of stuff.

About Obliteration, it does have crappy end reduction, and that hurts in some powers. The reason for slotting it is that it gives 5% recharge, and 3.75% melee. Multistrike isn't bad, it gives good end reduction, and gives some melee and aoe def, but you do loose out on the recharge. If you have kinetic combats in your melee attacks, you often can't get 5% recharge in many other places. So it's a tradeoff. Spines/fire is going to be more of an end hog then my SS/fire, so I could see skipping the Oblits in Blazing Aura and Quills. Another option if you don't want to slot Oblit is to slot 4 Eradications, and then some extra end reduction and damage say. This doesn't get melee or S/L def, but gives some ranged def, and also +1.8% max end and 2.25% hps, all nice bonuses.

Some comments about the build in the OP, You don't need that many slots in physical perfection, better to put them in stamina. The Mako's bite in Lunge is somewhat pointless, if you don't get 6, it doesn't have any bonuses I would want. I would put either a Crushing impact or 4 kinectic combats and then a Acc/Dam/Rech or the Mako quint. Thunderstike in Impale is nice, but if you decide to go for S/L and Melee as I suggest, then it's somewhat wasted, decimation is a great ranged set and only takes 5 slots, freeing up one for whatever. If you are going for any defense, you want to 6 slot buildup with Gausian's, ya, it's only half value for typed, but it's pretty good overall.

edit: thought of one other thing about the difficulty setting. I think you will see a definitely improvement by dropping the level, and increasing the mob size. One benefit to that, is besides getting more out of all your AEs, you also get more inspiration drops.

I made a Spines/Fire Issue 19 build that is ~45% S/L Defense and ~33% Melee Defense. It's kind of sketchy though, Accuracy is the absolute lowest I'd tolerate it at. Leaning on Consume, but probably not Conserve Power. Has barely any global Recharge bonuses. Not too terribly interested in Spines/Fire. Would like to make my Spines/Ice some day though. I can give you the I19 build if you still want to see it, but as said it does give a lot to get to the softcap.

Alright, I need to get to 32 before I respec... But getting there will be painful. A tip mission with Arachnos in it was brutal, in which I died three to five times. Then I retreated to Architect Entertainment to try a mission against Fire enemies. I found something on the King's Row map (I think) against Firebugs... And died pretty quickly on that as well.

SIGH

I never had this kind of trouble with my Fire Tank... I need to get Tough/Weave, but I'm too cheap to respec before 32. I'll have to do some specialized teaming in the meanwhile I suppose.

I run a spines/fire and put Oblit's in my Damage toggles. It's murder on your end bar so if you go that route make sure you slot for as much end recovery as you can squeeze in also.

Just a quick suggestion to make things easier on you before getting to lvl 32, use the dual build option to respec your toon. You will need new IO's for the other build but it will give you options on how to set it up and SO's are cheaper and a higher % at lvl 30 as well.

Just a thought.