Claws/SR: general Alpha thoughts

Hey,

So I've got a Claws/SR/Body Scrapper I play sporadically and she's actually within sight of 50 now. It occurs to me that I have no idea what I want to do with her Alpha slot. On most characters one of the combos is an obvious benefit to enough different powers to make it a slam-dunk, but not here. Also, she doesn't seem to need Alpha to fill any glaring holes in the build (like taking Cardiac on an end-bleeder).

In that context, any thoughts on where to take her? My "punt" option would probably be Musculature Core; barring anything else, just shoehorn some +Dmg in for bigger orange numbers. I'm away from my home PC, so I don't have her build available to post, so for now this discussion would just have to be in the broadly general sense.

As ever, thanks for your time.

Later on,
Gate

Assuming that perma-Hasten isn't an issue and that you don't need any more recharge to get the attack chain you want, then Musculature is a great way to go. If you want and don't yet have perma-Hasten or need more recharge for a better attack chain, then Spiritual is the better option.

I've been considering the benefits of Hasten-less builds for a little while now. A perma-Hasten Musculature build will outdamage a no-Hasten Musculature build, obviously, based on attack chain options alone. It'll cost a bundle, but the benefits are clear.

The more interesting question for me is: can a no-Hasten Musculature build compete with a perma-Hasten Spiritual build? With Quickness from SR, five LotG 7.5s and a few set bonuses, I believe you could craft an attack chain with Musculature alpha that is competitive with a perma-Hasten Spiritual chain. Fast-activating & fast-recharging sets like Claws, Dark and Katana would seem to offer the best shot at pulling it off.

I'm using the Musculature Core Paragon for my Claws/SR Scrapper. I've never tested what my DPS is without it, or any other incarnate power for that matter, so I can't say how much it adds to my attacks. (Reactive Interface probably does more.) I believe the Tier 4 Spiritual allows for triple stacking Follow Up supposedly, I may be mistaken though. I can say that the Musculature Alpha Slot does add to your Judgement damage and Lore pets damage, whereas Spiritual adds nothing to your other incarnate powers.

Hey folks,

Thanks for the feedback so far. Regarding Hasten, I tend to avoid it unless I have a specific need for it, and I certainly haven't felt like she needs it, so I'm passing. Musculature is seeming more and more the way to go.

If anyone cares, her build is below (no laughing). Thanks again for taking the time.

Later on,
Gate

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.942
http://www.cohplanner.com/

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Steel Sparrowhawk: Level 50 Science Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Claws
Secondary Power Set: Super Reflexes
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Concealment
Ancillary Pool: Body Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Strike -- T'Death-Acc/Dmg:40(A), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx:40(3), T'Death-Dmg/Rchg:40(3), T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:40(5), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:40(5), T'Death-Dam%:40(7)
Level 1: Focused Fighting -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx:50(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg:50(7), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:50(9), RedFtn-Def:50(9), RedFtn-EndRdx:50(42)
Level 2: Slash -- T'Death-Acc/Dmg:40(A), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx:40(11), T'Death-Dmg/Rchg:40(11), T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:40(13), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:40(13), T'Death-Dam%:40(15)
Level 4: Focused Senses -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx:50(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg:50(15), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:50(17), RedFtn-Def:50(17), RedFtn-EndRdx:50(43)
Level 6: Boxing -- Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(A)
Level 8: Follow Up -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg:50(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx:50(19), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg:50(19), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg:50(21), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx:50(21), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx:50(23)
Level 10: Practiced Brawler -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(23)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- Jump-I:50(A)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Jump-I:50(A)
Level 16: Tough -- ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(A), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(43), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+:30(45)
Level 18: Focus -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:50(27), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:50(27), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(29), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(29), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(31)
Level 20: Weave -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:50(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:50(45)
Level 22: Quickness -- Run-I:50(A)
Level 24: Dodge -- GftotA-Def/EndRdx:40(A), GftotA-Def:40(33)
Level 26: Eviscerate -- Sciroc-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx:50(33), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg:50(33), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg:50(34), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(34), Sciroc-Dam%:50(34)
Level 28: Lucky -- GftotA-Def/EndRdx:40(A), GftotA-Def:40(36)
Level 30: Agile -- GftotA-Def/EndRdx:40(A), GftotA-Def:40(36)
Level 32: Shockwave -- Posi-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx:50(36), Posi-Dmg/Rchg:50(37), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(37), Posi-Dam%:50(37), RechRdx-I:50(39)
Level 35: Evasion -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:50(A), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg:50(39), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:50(39), LkGmblr-Def:50(40), LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(43)
Level 38: Elude -- LkGmblr-Def/Rchg:50(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:50(40), LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(40)
Level 41: Focused Accuracy -- GSFC-ToHit:50(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg:50(42), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx:50(42), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx:50(46), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx:50(50), GSFC-Build%:50(50)
Level 44: Physical Perfection -- Numna-Heal:30(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+:30(45), P'Shift-EndMod:30(46), P'Shift-End%:30(46)
Level 47: Spin -- C'ngBlow-Acc/Dmg:50(A), C'ngBlow-Dmg/EndRdx:50(48), C'ngBlow-Dmg/Rchg:50(48), C'ngBlow-Acc/Rchg:50(48), Erad-%Dam:30(50)
Level 49: Stealth -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Acc-I:50(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Run-I:50(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I:50(A)
Level 1: Critical Hit
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I:50(A)
Level 2: Health -- RgnTis-Regen+:30(A), Mrcl-Rcvry+:20(25), Mrcl-Heal:40(31)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I:50(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- Efficacy-EndMod:50(A), Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg:50(25), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc:50(31)

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I have tier 4 musculature for my claws/sr and it adds about 40 points of damage per attack, unbuffed.

For a scrapper, it's possible musculature would be better.

I think when we discussed this before we concluded that for a Brute, spiritual was better to have enough recharge to run FU-Focus-Slash. As the Brute already was +dmg buffed through Fury, the addition from musculature wasn't as big a deal (and lower modifier on a brute).

Is musculature a damage increase to your base damage or is it added on the end?

If it's a base damage increase, I think it would be pretty good for a scrapper due to crits.