BS/SD - What is its high points

I was just wondering what points does this combination excelled at?

DPS, Tank, what?

If you know and have a build please share, I got a BS/SD up to 50 and would like to optimize it.

Thank you

P.S. I was sort of thinking about skipping a transportation power, shield other, and one with shield; and going the Presence power tree. On the other hand IF it is best at DPS I would be very happy as that is my favorite. These are just thoughts. In the end I want to be the best I can at something appropriate for the combination. Inf is of no concern I am rich.

Why are you going into presence with your brute? Concept?

If you are looking for function, just grab taunt and call it a day.

Shields for brutes is capable of a lot- tanking is easy because you will be the center of attention with one of the strongest taunt auras in the whole game. You will pretty much always be the elephant in the room.

DPS is also easy because of the taunt aura. I don't have any experience with BS, but I can tell you that if your primary were dual sunflowers, against all odds would make your enemies instantly terrified of sunflowers. AAO is simply a sexy power. The more enemies surround you, the more your damage is buffed. The more enemies attack you as a brute, the more your damage is buffed. You see where this is going, right?

As far as the build goes, why not post a build you have started on? This will probably get you better results. Plus, you seem to have some specific things you want to fit in and skip, so posting a build you have mocked up is better.

You might want to head to the scrapper forums too. BS is a relatively new import for brutes, but I am sure you can probably find a scrapper build over there.

Thanks, I hadn't started a build yet because I wanted to know what the highest focus for them was. So tank/taunting is the biggest draw, cycling parry probably is a big boon to that.

As to my P.S. Yeah the presence abilities was mostly just concept.

Thank You, I will give a build a try when I get the time.

MCM

I started up a BS/Shield over Double XP weekend and I am stuck in the low 40's. I really like it but have a few nitpicks and trying to decide if I should go further or start on something new.

Somehow BS seems a bit slow to me hits hard and I like it but just a bit slow on the final 2 powers. Along with Active Defense when it activates is having to redraw the sword. Not a big deal I am just looking for my next big favorite brute to invest in the late game with.

So now I am trying to decide if either Kinetic Melee or street fighting works good with it. I have played pretty much all the melee power sets to 50 or close before, and already have a elec/sheild and have so many ss might try the other 2 out.

I heard that- concept is king! I don't know much of the details, but Presence is apparently getting a revamp soon, so there may be more to like.

The only downside to tanking with a shield defense character are your basic defensive RNG rules apply and that you are a bright pink elephant. Everything will be taking a swing at you.

Without capped DDR, tanking in ITF or other defense debuff heavy situations can be harrowing at times, but you normally put things down before they put you down. Thanks to True Grit and other things like Tough, you can still have decent dmg resistance though.

BS/SD specialize in big and slow hits. You might see that you can't kill as fast as other powersets but where katana might take 2-3 hits to kill something BS does it in one.

Some IOs that I put into my BS/SD scrapper that I fell are important or makes things easier was the Steadfast +3% Defence IO and the pvp IO Gladiator's Armor +3%

Now with shield you can shoot for two things set wise espcially with i24 adding resistance bonuses. The luck of the gambler sets obviously have the always nice +7.5% global recharge and help with building for regeneration.

With i24 on the horizon the other option is to plan for the future. Sets like Red Fortune are supposedly adding resistance as well as Doctored Wounds which may be a boon for Regeneration characters.

Don't think that BS/SD is bad because it's slow, because once you pick up a judgement from incarnates you will often find shield charge and a judgement are often enough to wipe out an entire mob, more-so if you pickup spring jump. Whatever is left standing is then usually withing one shotting with a a headsplitter.

These are just things I've noticed on my scrapper. It should perform close to Scrappers with a little more survivability.

Something you need to try to break yourself is City doesn't really carry the holy trinity of mmos in Healer/Tank/DPS. Archetypes generally can carry multiple roles, such as a time defender standing in melee range to tank or take an alpha. It's personally why this game always drags me back in as the possible play styles are ginormous.

Here is my scrapper....but I haven't touched it in a long time, and I'd try to build much differently now then what I did then. I 6 slotted things I probably shouldn't have, and I still have powers looking for sets. But he has been decent for me in the past.

And stick with it! There's a lot to learn about IOing in general and even people that think they know everything about IOs learn new things every now and again. Just look at the min/maxing that goes on in the Rikti Pylon Thread.

EDIT! On top of the resistance bonuses coming soon, Brutes have a big advantage in survivabilty as well since they have access to Darkest Night in the patron power pool which can stack with the -damage Against All Odds and - to hit in Darkest night adds a pseudo defense

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.957
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Skyway Defender: Level 50 Natural Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Broad Sword
Secondary Power Set: Shield Defense
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Ancillary Pool: Body Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Hack -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(3), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(3), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(5), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), Mako-Dam%(7)
Level 1: Deflection -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(A), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg(7), LkGmblr-EndRdx/Rchg(9), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(9), LkGmblr-Def(11), LkGmblr-Rchg+(11)
Level 2: Battle Agility -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(13), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg(13), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(15), RedFtn-Def(15), RedFtn-EndRdx(17)
Level 4: True Grit -- Heal-I(A), Heal-I(17), Heal-I(19), ResDam(19), ResDam(21)
Level 6: Slice -- M'Strk-Acc/Dmg(A), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx(21), M'Strk-Dmg/Rchg(23), M'Strk-Acc/EndRdx(23), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(25), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(25)
Level 8: Build Up -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(27), RechRdx(27)
Level 10: Active Defense -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(29), RechRdx(29)
Level 12: Parry -- SScrappersS-Rchg/+Crit(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+(31), Acc(31)
Level 14: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 16: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A)
Level 18: Weave -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(31), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg(33), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(33), RedFtn-Def(33), RedFtn-EndRdx(34)
Level 20: Against All Odds -- EndRdx-I(A), EndRdx-I(34), EndRdx-I(34)
Level 22: Phalanx Fighting -- DefBuff(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(36), LkGmblr-Rchg+(36)
Level 24: Whirling Sword -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(36), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(37), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(37), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(37), Oblit-%Dam(39)
Level 26: Disembowel -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(39), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(39), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(40), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(40)
Level 28: Grant Cover -- LkGmblr-Def/Rchg(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(42), LkGmblr-Rchg+(42)
Level 30: Hasten -- RechRdx(A)
Level 32: Head Splitter -- Dmg(A), Dmg(42), Dmg(43), EndRdx(43), Acc(43), Acc(45)
Level 35: Shield Charge -- Dmg(A), Dmg(45), Dmg(45), RechRdx(46), RechRdx(46), Acc(46)
Level 38: One with the Shield -- EndMod-I(A), ResDam(48), GA-3defTpProc(48)
Level 41: Conserve Power -- RechRdx(A)
Level 44: Physical Perfection -- EndMod-I(A)
Level 47: Super Speed -- Clrty-Stlth(A)
Level 49: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx(A)
Level 2: Swift -- Run(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Heal-I(A), Heal-I(48), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(50)
Level 2: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(50), P'Shift-End%(50)
Level 1: Critical Hit
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
------------




After searching around the Brute Forums I found what should be a decent Brute BS/SD build, that looks much better than what I offered here.
Kudos to Captain_XM http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showp...86&postcount=5

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tater Todd "My Thugs/Pancake can solo Breast Cancer!"

Here, I made this for you.


Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.956
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: Broad Sword
Secondary Power Set: Shield Defense
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Hack -- Mako-Dam%(A), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(3), Mako-Acc/Dmg(5), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(7), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(15), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(31)
Level 1: Deflection -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(11), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(13), TtmC'tng-ResDam(37), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx(43), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(43)
Level 2: Slice -- M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(3), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg(5), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx(7), M'Strk-Dmg/Rchg(15), M'Strk-Acc/EndRdx(31)
Level 4: Battle Agility -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(11), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(34), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(39)
Level 6: True Grit -- Numna-Heal(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(13), RctvArm-ResDam(42), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(45), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(45), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(45)
Level 8: Parry -- Mako-Dam%(A), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(9), Mako-Acc/Dmg(9), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(17), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(17), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(40)
Level 10: Active Defense -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(40), Ksmt-ToHit+(50)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Winter-ResSlow(A)
Level 16: Against All Odds -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 18: Whirling Sword -- M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(19), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg(19), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx(21), M'Strk-Dmg/Rchg(21), M'Strk-Acc/EndRdx(39)
Level 20: Boxing -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(A)
Level 22: Tough -- Aegis-ResDam(A), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(23), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(23), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg(42), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(43)
Level 24: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(25), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(25)
Level 26: Disembowel -- SBrutesF-Rech/Fury(A), SBrutesF-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(27), SBrutesF-Acc/Dmg(27), SBrutesF-Dmg/Rchg(29), SBrutesF-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(29), SBrutesF-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(39)
Level 28: Taunt -- Mocking-Taunt/Rchg/Rng(A)
Level 30: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(31)
Level 32: Head Splitter -- Armgdn-Dam%(A), Armgdn-Dmg/EndRdx(33), Armgdn-Dmg/Rchg(33), Armgdn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), Armgdn-Acc/Rchg(34), Oblit-%Dam(34)
Level 35: Shield Charge -- Sciroc-Dam%(A), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(36), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(36), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(36), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(37), FotG-Acc/Dmg/End/Rech(37)
Level 38: Phalanx Fighting -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(46)
Level 41: Grant Cover -- SW-ResDam/Re TP(A), SW-Def/EndRdx(46)
Level 44: Superior Conditioning -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(46)
Level 47: Build Up -- GSFC-Build%(A), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(48), GSFC-ToHit(48), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(48), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(50), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx(50)
Level 49: One with the Shield -- TtmC'tng-ResDam/Rchg(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury
Level 1: Sprint -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 4: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 4: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(40)
Level 4: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 4: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(42)
Level 0: High Pain Threshold
Level 0: Invader
Level 0: Marshal
Level 0: Born In Battle
Level 50: Agility Radial Paragon
Level 50: Reactive Radial Flawless Interface
------------

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As I sort of hinted at above, Hack is (for some reason) decidedly better than Slash. It's very hard-hitting for a Tier 1 (or Tier 2, for that matter) attack. The only advantage Slash has is the shorter recharge -- they have the same animation time.

If you were skipping a lot of attacks, a short recharge might be attractive. But you don't want to skip Headsplitter and Disembowel, your other two (even-better) single-target attacks (I'm calling Headsplitter single-target because it's such a narrow cone it's hard to line up, and I don't hesitate to hit one guy with it). And since you'll chain the other two attacks with it, Hack has time to recharge anyway, so it literally doesn't matter that Slash is faster. So choosing Hack over Slash is all profit and no loss for you.