"Best" Single-Target Primary?

I'm trying to make a lowbie brute (that will stay lowbie; level-locking at either 20 or 22), who is intended to handle a limited number of targets. For single-target damage, which primary should I be looking at?

I've had fire-melee, dark-melee and energy-melee suggested in-game. I have no personal preference outside of a smooth single-target attack chain and the mostest damage.

I'd say that Kinetic Melee is probably the highest single target damage set now. I'm not certain when you start comparing lows, averages, and highs though. (Forget if brutes can get this or not. Exited my game, so not certain)

Energy has always been a pretty good single target set as well.

With enough work, dark melee can be incredibely powerful as a single target set as well. I know midnight grasp is one of the highest damage single target attacks.

Midnight grasp is a lvl38 power, being locked at 22 you wont be able to get that.

Still, dark has 3 nice abilities from the start wich do pretty ok damage (shadow maul, smite and something), 1 being semi-aoe thus quite usefull.

Best? I don't know, probably not. But this SS/Shield build gets you just under 30% def to all at level 22 (a single small Luck will get you close enough to the softcap for low-level content). Rage and Active Defense are perma, with a bit of overlap to help deal with slows. You should be able to run a Punch->Jab->Brawl->Jab attack chain with only tiny gaps, with KO Blow coming up fairly often. With Rage active, Assault and Against All Odds running, and 60% Fury, you're looking at a 226% Damage bonus at all times, except during Rage crashes. Only 1 enemy is counted in AAO; adding more will boost your +Damage.

There is a small fortune invested in IOs for this build, and it's assumed that you have all the +HP and +End accolades, which could take some effort while level-locked (at least one will require side-switching, since you can't do a LRSF at 22), but should be possible.

Endurance will probably be an issue, but keeping blues handy, or relying on team buffs, should alleviate that.

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Fiery Melee would be a good choice, you'll have Incinerate, Cremate, Fire Sword, and Scorch at that level.

Completely overlooked the level-locked qualifier. >_<

Looking like Broad Sword or Dark Melee might be your buddy.

I'll second Fiery Melee. Incinerate, Scorch, Cremate, Scorch is a solid, DPE efficient attack chain, requires a minimal amount of recharge and isn't resisted much.

Taking a look at other primaries at level 22:

Claws - all ST attacks are available, and Claws is efficient on end. Another great choice.

Dual Blades - Sweeping Strike makes the set, and it's at level 26. Avoid.

Elec Melee - not really a ST set. Avoid.

Super Strength - all ST attacks and Rage are available, and the tohit + damage can be especially nice at those levels ; however, lacking Gloom and with limited recharge, as well as with limited end management, getting good ST damage out of it might be too difficult. Meh.

Stone Melee - all ST attacks are available, but it's going to be fairly end heavy at this level. Meh.

Battle Axe - lacks Cleave. Not a great ST damage set anyway. Avoid.

War Mace - about the same as Stone Melee, with slightly lower damage and redraw. Avoid.

Kinetic Melee - while this set matures early, due to Power Siphon mechanics it's still terrible on brutes. Lacking Concentrated Strike and having much lower recharge won't help. Avoid.

Energy Melee - Energy Transfer is the only power that makes EM decent in ST damage, and it's not available at 22. Avoid.

Dark Melee - lacks Soul Drain, which isn't too big of a deal on brutes, and Midnight's Grasp, which is much, much more important. Avoid.

Katana/BS - the two best ST attacks aren't available. Avoid.

Thanks for all the advice. I'll put some more thought into it and make something later this week.

if you have not selected a secondary, dont forget their effect on your primary. AoE damage toggles, against all odds from the shield set, or that kind of thing. Shield might be nice, cant you get against all odds at level 20?

Lewis