From what I've heard (Never played DM or FA to 50, so do not take what I say as gospel) FA does crazy damage, but it's a bit on the squishy side until you slot in Defense. If you can get S/L Defense softcapped, or even near softcapped it's liable to be a real beast. Until then you do have two self heals and endurance recovery moves (One from FA, one from DM) to rely on.
DM meanwhile has a lot of -To Hit in it, meaning any defense you get becomes more effective, and Touch of Fear can be used as a form of soft control.
You big issues will be a lack of Knockback and Immobilize protection (Outside Burn) but these can be mitigated easily. Combat Jumping takes care of Immobilize issues and gives you a defense boost, and you can set the Blessing of the Zephyr -KB proc into your travel power. If you can't afford it you can slot one of the other -KB procs into your powers.
I am also interested in answers to this question from those with level 50 (or higher) DM/FA Brutes. And for those who answer, what is your level of S/L defense?
DM/FA was my 1st villain when CoV came out. It is definitely a fun build and can do well in post 50 contents. My current build has ~36.5% S/L defense. I can take this up to ~41%, but I haven't had the urgent need to do it yet...it does require that I use the Gladiator's Armor +3 def that I have saved up, and changing 2 slots to different IOs.
I have two /FA brutes at 50, neither is DM, but instead SS and Claws. The Claws/FA has 28.5% S/L and 34% E/NE defense and handles quite well against most things. I think the only thing that has really given him trouble is large numbers of Arachnos' mobs. The SS/FA only has 12% S/L and 20% E/NE defense, but sits just over 2200 HP instead. He's rarely struggled in high level content, as I focused on recharge and +HP as a bit of an experiment, instead of the typical high defense builds everyone uses. I honestly prefer the extra recharge and HP, as its easy to carry Lucks around for when you need to avoid getting hit as much as possible. He's tanked and held aggro during the final mish of the LRSF without much trouble, so something must be working for him.
So, with that being said, I think a DM/FA could fare just fine in the end game content. The key is to pick a focus or two and build around it, and don't get caught in trying to build for several things, as you'll end up with a mediocre build at the end of the day. Hmmm, I might try a +rech and +HP build for this combo myself. :P
Don't I know you???
I have a 50 DM/FA/Pyre. I haven't done much with IOs or gotten the Alpha Incarnate past the common, though.
I think DM and FA play pretty well together. The damage in FA helps make up for DM's lack of AoE, while the survivability tools in DM (Siphon Life and Touch of Fear) help with FA's relative squishiness.
I recommend picking up Tough at least, and Weave if you're going to build for defense. I went with the Spiritual Alpha, since more Healing Flames is good and I had my endurance problems under control with Consume and Miracle/Numina's uniques.
I farm pretty well if I set out to do so, and haven't had any trouble with any of the enemy groups solo, but I certainly wouldn't want to be the main tank. I'd need to put in quite a lot of work to build up my survivability before I was comfortable playing in the Incarnate trails, for instance.
Here's my current live build for my 50 DM/FA/Soul:
Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.92
http://www.cohplanner.com/
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Demoniacal: Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: Dark Melee
Secondary Power Set: Fiery Aura
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Leaping
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery
Villain Profile:
Level 1: Shadow Punch -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(3), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(9), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(19)
Level 1: Fire Shield -- RctvArm-EndRdx(A), RctvArm-ResDam(17), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(27), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(42)
Level 2: Smite -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(3), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(5), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(15), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(39)
Level 4: Healing Flames -- Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(A), Numna-EndRdx/Rchg(5), Numna-Heal/Rchg(9), Numna-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(15), Numna-Heal(40)
Level 6: Shadow Maul -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(7), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(7), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(13), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(40), Oblit-%Dam(43)
Level 8: Boxing -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A)
Level 10: Siphon Life -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(11), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(11), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(13), Heal-I(50)
Level 12: Hover -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(48)
Level 14: Fly -- Zephyr-ResKB(A)
Level 16: Plasma Shield -- RctvArm-EndRdx(A), RctvArm-ResDam(17), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(29), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(42)
Level 18: Dark Consumption -- Efficacy-EndMod(A), Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg(21), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(23), Efficacy-Acc/Rchg(33), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc(34)
Level 20: Consume -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(21), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(23), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34), Oblit-%Dam(46)
Level 22: Tough -- RctvArm-EndRdx(A), RctvArm-ResDam(25), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(29), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(42)
Level 24: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(25)
Level 26: Soul Drain -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(27), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(33), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(43), Oblit-%Dam(45)
Level 28: Burn -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(31), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(34), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39), Oblit-%Dam(43)
Level 30: Blazing Aura -- M'Strk-Acc/Dmg(A), M'Strk-Acc/EndRdx(31), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(31), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx(37)
Level 32: Midnight Grasp -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(36), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(37), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(37)
Level 35: Fiery Embrace -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(39)
Level 38: Rise of the Phoenix -- Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(A), M'Strk-Dmg/Rchg(50)
Level 41: Gloom -- Decim-Acc/Dmg(A), Decim-Dmg/EndRdx(45), Decim-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(46), Decim-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(46), Decim-Dmg/Rchg(48)
Level 44: Darkest Night -- DarkWD-ToHitdeb/Rchg/EndRdx(A), DarkWD-ToHitDeb/EndRdx(45)
Level 47: Temperature Protection -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A)
Level 49: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Clrty-Stlth(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Fury
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Mrcl-Rcvry+(40), RgnTis-Regen+(48)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(19)
Code:
Went with the Spiritual Alpha. Hits like a ton of bricks. I'm only at 22% (ish) Def, but 2 small purples brings me to the cap. Honestly I've found that the 22% is more than enough for 90% of the mobs I encounter, running at +0/x4. And the small purps cover the other 10% easily. Fire farms are a bit of a joke. +0/x8 and you don't need to worry about getting hit at all, although lack of a hard hitting AoE (a la Foot Stomp from SS) can make farming a bit slower than a SS/Fire. I don't farm a lot so it's fine for me.| Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Hero Designer to view the build | |-------------------------------------------------------------------| |MxDz;1368;671;1342;HEX;| |78DA6D945B6F124114C7676191722BD0964B2F506E2D086581E8B346C5269A92345| |67DC5958E4044C05D48F4CD0FE02DBED4CBE7506BD56F62E207D07A7DB4753D7BCE| |700B6EC2FC66CEFC67CE393367A8DC2BBB197B709649AE0B2D55D7ABE7B57E8FDB2| |A6ABD597396F99D4EBBA9D6D4969D3116C4A96A85B73857CAAA769BBA613297F92D| |DED6B9B2D9E4DAFDEAB9BEA6FA2FB51B5CE3ED9E32E878B63B9D1628EA8D5EB35D7| |7D1A8650EDDD8DFE26A1726BC83C12ED7F446B31BBAD86DD61472B3D3E9B7AA1555| |EF81973004B506BF2F6CF0195676035062961A626617317713F1DA94484297844E9| |AF91288A528E2641CF1752063862C89FD54844C1BCDD2EEEBB4FB5B68AD426EAD48| |A8BB8298D941CC5E45A4AF210E416823B9CDF6C7629A4E1C118E11EEBF88B481C89| |A7B9798043760A755CC4E317D87D621FC3AC8E4A4F89C149F9B234A29840396BB28| |7BC915C0500A3E4084B960C623F6F67C42AFEF60E01547E59D38AA9589A3FA090A3| |F1E9621FB1FE2D2854788E06344EC0922FE147100C27992DBE629F705CA3D48B9C7| |28F738E59EA7DCAD105F400413A060C2FF0B46065D486418A20CC33EC42FB02D0AB| |F8BE47789FCC6C86F92FC66C9EF06F97D0FFA657153CBB42A4AF2F8D1F8AAF5899B| |7A03FA888836D2C5A38FEA841E227517F11BDA5551B5AB747D492AA814155B8AAEE| |F03B409D249891C151EE1A3A87F73668D022B693853834832A234327BCC3C9C8DE7| |88FC2BC24B44E185192CFB0C7F0139B1516E9F8EE000B10F368592614A08AB2508A| |75C14E262004D25AAA31579F80E9978875BF2F0C941B1E296DBF2F075318912D91C| |2D341CBEE16B320E9D2015ABA53C4ABF8D9B32F40E46268B749D9EDA652C88C2198| |CEBC74820497B18C4DC3344713C62033E969DB294A62CA7A72CA7A62CFF00C196DC| |EB| |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
I'm going to look into rearranging some things to get Hasten worked into the build, but overall I'm really pleased with how well this toon just steamrolls along.
I have been running DM/FA/Soul Brute for a while. My favorite brute. End game he is not a challenge. You want to focus first on SL def and then recharge reduction. I have two builds on my. One with a capped S/L and another with def 39 s/l but 5 purple sets for additional recharge. I normally use the 39 Def version. In most groups you are capped and for those rare times your not and need to be you have purples.
I do exceptionally well in high end content. Damage with is oustanding, You have two damage boosts between soul drain and the new Fiery embrace in great. FA balances out DM lack of a pure PBAE nicely, with burn. You drop in to a large spawn, pop FE, soul drain, burn, dark obilteration, DC....everthing dies.
The major upside with DM/FA is all the tools you get. 2 damage boosts, two heals, two end boosts and ton of AEs.
The down side is all those AEs can be cumbersome. Its not as simple as Spamming Footstomp and Patron/epic AE repeatedly. Which has a beauty all its own.
Its a great combo but very squishy until you build you S/L, get KB protection, and Combat jumping for Immb.
I keep bringing myself to making a DM/FA brute and am wondering how they are at around level 50. Anyone with advice/opinions?
thanks!