I don't have a leveling build because I just wing it. But yeah, Broad Sword/Shield was the most fun I've had 1-50. Great combination for the journey.
From a survivability standpoint, here's my basic plan for cheapo Shield Defense survivability:
- Slot Deflection and Battle Agility with three defense SOs
- Slot Weave with three defense SOs
- Slot Combat Jumping with one defense SO
- Slot Active Defense with three recharge SOs for a nice margin of error
- Slot a Steadfast Protection unique
- Take Phalanx Fighting
- Use a single small purple inspiration at a time as required
Now with Broad Sword, you have Parry. In the early game you might want to put some defense in it, but by late game, the 15% base defense should be enough, since you're stacking it on 30% or higher defense from all your powers and slotting. You just need to use it every ten seconds to keep the buff going. Now you're soft-capped to melee. You should be good for almost anything, even without the purples.
From your primary, I already mentioned Parry. You'll also want at least Hack, Disembowel and Head Splitter. And unless you're going for a pure single target build, you'll want Whirling Sword and probably Slice. I've already put you in the Leaping and Fighting power pools. I'd also take Fitness (until inherent in I19) and either Leadership or Speed. I think I personally went Leadership for some extra defense, and stuck a Gaussian set in Tactics for more defense plus less chance of missing.
Oh, and of course take Shield Charge.
I'm probably missing something.
"That's because Werner can't do maths." - BunnyAnomaly
"Four hours in, and I was no longer making mistakes, no longer detoggling. I was a machine." - Werner
Videos of Other Stupid Scrapper Tricks
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Find a way to run all of those toggles and not have end issues. |
Originally Posted by Werner
I'm probably missing something.
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Careful frankenslotting of your attacks. |
Originally Posted by Amy_Amp
Find a way to run all of those toggles and not have end issues.
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Seriously, frankenslotting resolves SO many problems.
"That's because Werner can't do maths." - BunnyAnomaly
"Four hours in, and I was no longer making mistakes, no longer detoggling. I was a machine." - Werner
Videos of Other Stupid Scrapper Tricks
I'm leveling a DM / SD scrapper right now. With stamina 3-slotted with level 25 IOs and my defensive toggles slotted with just one level 25 endurance reduction IO, I don't have endurance issues. I run the two defensive toggles from SD, combat jumping (doesn't need an end redux), and weave. I may start to run low after extended fights, but the run to the next fight is usually enough to get me back to full. I rarely use Dark Consumption. I mostly save it for mobs that have end drains.
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And once you've matured the build a bit you can easily eliminate end issues with a bit of set IO slotting. My BS/Shield at 50 runs 8 toggles full time and has effectively unlimited endurance... unless a group of Carnies get lucky with their death drain or a Malta Sapper likewise gets lucky my blue never drops below 90%.|
Originally Posted by Werner
Careful frankenslotting of your attacks.
Seriously, frankenslotting resolves SO many problems. |
Gift of the Ancients 4 slotted in defenses does wonders for +end and +recovery.
COH has just been murdered by NCSoft. http://www.change.org/petitions/ncso...city-of-heroes
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Yeah, endgame endurance is typically resolved by throwing tons of influence at the problem, plus sets often have decent endurance reduction. In fact, I've recently started hording Performance Shifter procs and Numina and Miracle uniques. That way, even when I'm too lazy to frankenslot, I can just pop in a few IOs to deal with the problem, at least temporarily.|
Originally Posted by Call Me Awesome
And once you've matured the build a bit you can easily eliminate end issues with a bit of set IO slotting. My BS/Shield at 50 runs 8 toggles full time and has effectively unlimited endurance... unless a group of Carnies get lucky with their death drain or a Malta Sapper likewise gets lucky my blue never drops below 90%.
Gift of the Ancients 4 slotted in defenses does wonders for +end and +recovery. |
My general strategy (up until the hording of expensive IOs for use on leveling characters) looked like this:
- 1-19: slot nothing but accuracy and endurance reduction in attacks
- 20-33: get by with Stamina and whatever endurance slotting is necessary, pick up the Atlas Medallion when convenient
- 34-49: respec into final attack chain, frankenslot to meet needs of attack chain and reduce endurance, pick up Portal Jockey
- 50: sets and expensive IOs if I like the character enough, else retire
"That's because Werner can't do maths." - BunnyAnomaly
"Four hours in, and I was no longer making mistakes, no longer detoggling. I was a machine." - Werner
Videos of Other Stupid Scrapper Tricks
I prefer that all my toons have some way to heal themselves. My BS/SD picked up Aid Self to fill this need. Put two heals and two recharges in it and you should be good to go.
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Frankly by the time my BS/SD hit 30 I found very little need for healing; when it's needed I just pop a green. On a typical mission or TF I'll generally use 1-2 greens every other mission... with that little need I can't see blowing two powers for Aid Self. The few times when extra healing might be useful I'm usually deep enough in trouble that Aid Self wouldn't help.|
Originally Posted by Nicro
I prefer that all my toons have some way to heal themselves. My BS/SD picked up Aid Self to fill this need. Put two heals and two recharges in it and you should be good to go.
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Your mileage may vary of course, but that's been my experience anyway.
COH has just been murdered by NCSoft. http://www.change.org/petitions/ncso...city-of-heroes
I'd want Aid Self on an end game build if I could get it. Healing is an important part of survivability for those no inspiration challenges. For leveling, I'm satisfied with greens. They're faster, and if you're soft capped to melee and one purple from soft cap to ranged and AoE, the incoming damage in most normal missioning is unlikely to exceed the drop rate of greens. But whether it's Aid Self, greens, or something else, I do agree that all my toons need some way to heal themselves.
"That's because Werner can't do maths." - BunnyAnomaly
"Four hours in, and I was no longer making mistakes, no longer detoggling. I was a machine." - Werner
Videos of Other Stupid Scrapper Tricks
I just hit 50 on my BS/SD. She has been around for awhile but started as a once in awhile project while I focused on a few other toons (such as my main). She is an absolute joy to use and I have been neglecting others while trying to finish her build.
Enjoy your toon Swinci and be sure to let us know how things are going.
After making alt after alt after alt. As a joke I made a Tach user hero. So not knowing anything about BS/Shield (first time with either) i made one. AND WOW he's is only lvl 10 but it seems like he's everything i wanted in a character. He has a concept, really good ST damage, good defenses, and he's melee that can solo really well and team. I can only wait till higher levels when I get my AOE's and heavy hitters. I know, he's only 10 but I really haven't been this excited to play a character in a very long time.
I was wondering if someone could post a leveling build. I don't want to screw him up i plan on respecting at like 25ish if needed. I also like suggestions on what powers are needed and what can be skipped.