In my opinion, Burn and Fiery Embrace outweigh anything that Dark Armor can bring to bear. 
I quite enjoy making a joke out of multiple x8 spawns at a time with my Spines/Fire.
I'm not sure if this is my precise build at the moment or if I'd tweaked something else mid-respec, but it's very close. I was aiming to reach the softcap with a small Luck.
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.92
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Level 50 Magic Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Spines
Secondary Power Set: Fiery Aura
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Concealment
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Weapon Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Lunge -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(25), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(40), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(43), Mako-Dam%(43)
Level 1: Fire Shield -- Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(3), Aegis-ResDam(3)
Level 2: Spine Burst -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(9), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(9), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(11), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11), Oblit-%Dam(27)
Level 4: Healing Flames -- Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(A), Numna-Heal/Rchg(5)
Level 6: Blazing Aura -- M'Strk-Acc/Dmg(A), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx(7), M'Strk-Dmg/Rchg(7), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(13), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(25), M'Strk-Acc/EndRdx(36)
Level 8: Impale -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(29), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(29), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(31), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(31), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(31)
Level 10: Temperature Protection -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), S'fstPrt-ResKB(15)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), Ksmt-ToHit+(13)
Level 14: Build Up -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(15)
Level 16: Plasma Shield -- Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Aegis-ResDam(17), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(17)
Level 18: Quills -- M'Strk-Acc/Dmg(A), M'Strk-Dmg/Rchg(19), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx(19), M'Strk-Acc/EndRdx(34), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(36), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(36)
Level 20: Consume -- P'Shift-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(21), P'Shift-Acc/Rchg(21)
Level 22: Stealth -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(23), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(23)
Level 24: Boxing -- Acc-I(A)
Level 26: Ripper -- Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40), Erad-Dmg/Rchg(40)
Level 28: Burn -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(33), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(33), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34), Oblit-%Dam(34)
Level 30: Tough -- Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Aegis-ResDam(37), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(37)
Level 32: Throw Spines -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/Rng(37), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(39), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(42), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(42)
Level 35: Fiery Embrace -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(42)
Level 38: Invisibility -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(39), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(39)
Level 41: Web Grenade -- Acc-I(A)
Level 44: Targeting Drone -- GSFC-ToHit(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(45), GSFC-Build%(45), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(46), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx(46), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(46)
Level 47: Exploding Shuriken -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(48), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(48), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(48), Posi-Dmg/Rng(50)
Level 49: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(50), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(50)
Level 50: Cardiac Boost
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Level 1: Brawl -- Acc-I(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Critical Hit
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(45)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(27), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(43)
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Spines/Fire is superior in AoE damage out of the damage toggle scrapper options. Spine/Elec and Spines/Dark rank about even.
Blazing Aura does higher base damage than Death Shroud or Lightening Field, which puts Spines/Fire ahead before factoring in Burn and Fiery Embrace.
Before factoring in IOs, Spines/Fire = more damage, Spines/Elec = Easy Endurance, Spines/Dark = better survivability. Once you factor in IOs, the lines do start the blur. IMHO, Spines/Dark and Spines/Elec are about dead even in damage and survivability. Spines/Fire pulls ahead in the damage but never really catches up in survivability. This all depends on what you will be doing with your scrapper. AE, for example, seems fire wielding mobs are very popular, in which case Spines/Fire would be the most survivable.
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Spines/fire is still definitely the AoE king, and in my opinion it -still- beats out some of the newfangled builds like elec/shield and fire/shield. We just bring too much to the table, especially with as Desmodos mentioned, burn (which is now incredible) and fiery embrace, which is also a fantastic thing to have. There isn't much that can give a spines/fire competition for killing power except, perhaps, an SS/Fire brute.
I'm setting aside some time to update my Spines/Fire guide for I20 this coming weekend (really!). I'd been saying that I was going to get around to updating it for a while now, but I'm definitely going to set aside some time this weekend to do it and have it posted! If anyone wants to make any contributions to the guide itself, in the form a nice build, or a specialty build, such as one built specifically for farming AE or the like, feel free to PM me and I'll put it in if I like the looks of it (and of course, give credit where it is due!).
@Kalen on Virtue
Quote:
AE can be set up to do your desired damage type. You don't have to farm other people's missions. You can customize your critters' powers to the point where all they have are energy or negative attacks, if you want. That would put Dark slightly ahead for survivability due to the heal and defense toggle.
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Originally Posted by Desmodos
AE, for example, seems fire wielding mobs are very popular, in which case Spines/Fire would be the most survivable.
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I do wish that there was a taunt in scrapper's version of Blazing Aura
"...well I have wrestled with reality for thirty-five years, Doctor and I am happy to state I finally won out over it." Elwood P Dowd (from the movie Harvey)
Quote:
^^^ Mobs scatter a lot on spines/fire. It's still the best ambush farmer out there but it can be a little annoying. You also have to work a lot more on a spines/fire than on for example, a SS/fire brute. The brute's just easymode and pressing 3 buttons. The scrap you have to pay attention, but it does pull ahead by a bit in the damage category.
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Originally Posted by DreamsRazor
I do wish that there was a taunt in scrapper's version of Blazing Aura
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Fire/shield/pyre should be doing about the same aoe if not more and offers way more in the area of single target. It is really my most devastating toon.
Spines/Fire is far superior to Spines/Dark in damage. Burn, Fiery Embrace, and a better damage aura make this an easy decision.
Also, Spines/Elec is better than Spines/Dark in damage potential(though just how significantly is debatable, see this thread).
Mains (Freedom) @Auroxis
Auroxis - Emp/Rad/Power Defender Pylon Video Soloing an AV
Pelvic Thunder - SS/Elec/Mu Brute
Sorajin - Elec/Nin Stalker
Neuropain - Sonic/Mental/Elec Blaster
Quote:
Spines/fire far outdamages a fire/shield in ambush farms. Burn is just that good.
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Originally Posted by BL00DBATH
Fire/shield/pyre should be doing about the same aoe if not more and offers way more in the area of single target. It is really my most devastating toon.
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Fire is good, but FSC doesn't recharge fast enough to outdamage thow spines, spine burst, and another damage aura
I was considering making a spines/fire scrapper, mostly because i like the idea of everything around me melting and dying without so much as needing to be my primary target, but I haven't found any up to date guides on Spines/Fire. So the main question i had for the boards is, Is spines/fire still a viable AoE build? or is spines/dark the new king?
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