The never ending question, Your opinions please?

So, if I were to look for a strong middle-of-the road kind of scrapper or brute I should build a <insert>.

My DM/WP scrapper does not bring enough AoE and adding blaze mastery just got me out of my element. My SS/Inv brute just seems visually boring. I also have a level 50 kat/wp, which was gutted last summer to help build my DM/WP scrapper’s strength. I need a change.

I am debating over these power sets and could use some advice. Honestly, I want to just enjoy a well rounded hero. I don’t need to be the best, but I want to feel like a hero and just enjoy the fun. Oh, I should add in that I mostly solo.

I’m looking for good damage (ST and AoE), strong def and I MUST be able to build a concept around him or I just can’t play him.

Here are some options I am considering:

Kat/WP – I already have him at level 50, but would need some love. With the incarnate powers I could add damage, which is what I felt he was lacking.

DM/DA – Maybe a very underused armor set and something I could make a concept around. Would death shroud give me enough extra damage to make me feel like I’m moving a bit faster? There is something about the ability to add Absolute Amazement into Soul Transfer that just adds to the survivability of this combo.

BS/Inv – I like katana and the debate on which is better, but BS has a nice balance and inv is … well Inv.

Claws/Inv or WP (scrapper or Brute) – I have a level 20 claws/inv already… nice combo, but I got distracted with the real word and when I returned I just never moved forward, but that could change.

Some more babbling – I can’t get into shield unless it’s with a sword. I’ve tried DM/SD a couple times, but for some reason I lose interest… a concept gap for me.

So, the never ending question…. “Your opinions please?”

Thanks in advance!

Only gonna answer for the ones I've played.

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Originally Posted by AF_Bill DM/DA – Maybe a very underused armor set and something I could make a concept around. Would death shroud give me enough extra damage to make me feel like I’m moving a bit faster? There is something about the ability to add Absolute Amazement into Soul Transfer that just adds to the survivability of this combo.

The damage aura does help with your AOE, but it's still slow enough to notice a difference. I prefer the brute version of this combo: The quick ST attacks, plus taunt in the various auras to keep things attacking you rather than running, keeps your Fury high, which makes the damage aura do significantly more damage. When you get higher level, you can add gloom for a STRONG ST attack and Dark Obliteration for more AoE, and you still stay with your Dark theme. On top of that, at Incarnate levels, you can add Void Judgement for more Dark damage. Even though it would break theme, consider Pyronic Interface - the damage proc version in a damage aura is a nice bonus.

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BS/Inv – I like katana and the debate on which is better, but BS has a nice balance and inv is well Inv.

Very slow to start. Then again, I solo a lot. If you team or TF more than I do, you should breeze through the low levels. Parry adds an extra layer of defense to stack with your resistances.

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Claws/Inv or WP (scrapper or Brute) – I have a level 20 claws/inv already nice combo, but I got distracted with the real word and when I returned I just never moved forward, but that could change.

Claws/Inv is fun. I liked it better on a brute. Spin was modified so that it has higher base damage (and higher recharge to compensate), which is a nice bonus once you get your Fury up. And of course, the resists and +HP/heal powers work better with the brute's higher HP and caps.

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Some more babbling – I can’t get into shield unless it’s with a sword. I’ve tried DM/SD a couple times, but for some reason I lose interest a concept gap for me.

Agreed. They're supposed to be incredible, but I didn't start one until I was already starting to burn out on shields, so it never got far.

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So, the never ending question . “Your opinions please?” Thanks in advance!

One not on your list: Dark/Fire Scrapper or Brute. Again, I prefer the brute version, but both work well. Having Siphon Life, Healing Flames, Consume, Dark Consumption and Rise of the Phoenix makes a very clicky character, but also a very hard to stop one. And with the recent change to Burn, the AoE goodness is even better. Add Soul Mastery to a brute, or Pyre to a scrapper or brute for even more damage.

All of the characters you mentioned are more focused towards single-target damage and are not optimal for extreme DPS. The highest DPS powersets have some sort of permanent damage buff. Shield Defense is popular for Against All Odds, but requires you to have enemies in melee range or your damage drops off. Claws has a decent damage buff but then it lacks enough base damage to compete with sets like Dark Melee.

So, some decent options for your primary set are Dark Melee, Claws, or Super Strength. Combine any of those with Fiery Aura and you will have a well-rounded character for DPS. Survivability can come from set bonuses and pool powers. Burn makes your AoE DPS useful. Fiery Embrace makes your damage go nuts on characters with near-permanent damage buffs. I would suggest Scrapper for Dark Melee or Claws.

SS/Shield is boring and silly. Martial Arts/Shield is good, bouncy fun and visually more in keeping with the Captain America concept.

I can relate, I only like playing characters that have some kind of theme going.


I'm having a blast on my elec/elec/mu scrapper. I feel it has less burst damage than some other primary's but the DPS is amazing. Especially with the Reactive proc and build up. AoE is fantastic through ball lightning, thunder strike, lighting field, and lightning rod. Elec armor does a great job of keeping me alive through resists. I also can keep going mob after mob with power sink and the +recharge +spd passive stacked with IOs. Mob's usually cannot last after a well placed power sink and -end from lightning field.


I had a katana/SR four years ago I really enjoyed too. *shrug*


I think a fire/fire/fire scrapper would be a lot of fun but definitely more of a team based dps.

I'd say Fire/sd. You get the psuedo weapon attacks to kinda fit your theme and its great for both single target and AOE damage. I have one thats Fire/SD/Pyre plays great solo or on teams. Its just missing a heal but thats only a power pool or a dozen or so incarnate trials away.

I would second either Claws/Invul or MA/Shield. Both are very hardy with a nice variety of attacks. Good defense, good AOE attacks, good ST attacks and very fun.

Electric Melee has lots of AoE if that's what you are after. Get the Reactive Interface slot to get extra DoT damage, go with Void or Pyronic Judgement; Void for extra damage, and Pyronic for extra DoT.

Kinetic also has AoE and with Power Siphon can do decent damage.

But still, this is why I want Super Strength as a Scrapper. I just love Foot Stomp that much. Well, that and Rage.

Roll a SS/FA Brute and never look back....