A final project, advice needed

It occurred to me that I never really played much in as a Gold or Red character, so I'm going to start a new character later today to get through some of that content over the next couple months. My hope is the game will be saved and the character will continue, but that may not be the case. To account for both possibilities, this character needs to be fun from levels 1-50. So I've done some thinking and have established a few choices I think would work. My question is what's the best choice?

1.) Dark Melee/Invulnerability Scrapper
2.) Dark Melee/Willpower Scrapper
3.) Dark Melee/Invulnerability Brute
4.) Dark Melee/Willpower Brute

I'm not particularly sure whether Invuln or WP is the better secondary for Dark. Both have their advantages. Similarly, I'm not sure whether a Brute or Scrapper would be better. The Scrapper benefits more from Soul Drain, but the Brute has higher hit points and more capacity for improvement from team buffs and IO sets if the game is saved and I get to take the time to create an IO build.

Which would you pick?

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@Rorn ---- Blue Baron ---- Guardian

Any of those will be good, but I find WP gives a smoother ride from 1-50, while Inv feels lacking for much of the early levels.

Because WP is mostly Resistance and Regen, and those function best when paired with higher HP, I prefer to use it with Brutes.

So my vote would be Dark/WP brute. For what it's worth, I have a level 50 DM/WP/Leviathan Brute, and I found it great fun from 1-50. It's a little light on AoE though, if that matters to you.

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@Roderick

I made a stealth, hide-mode Dual Blades/Ninjitsu Stalker the other day for a similar purpose. I don't have any Stalkers, and I've never played either of those sets. I have the reverse problem of you since I never play Blueside... But I plan to solo this guy through Paragon before the doors shut.

Good luck to you- Doesn't seem like you have much variety in mind, so I would just go with the Inv Brute. It's as easy mode as you'll probably get with those choices.. Shrug.

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Well, from your choices, go with the DM/WP Brute.

In my experience, Invuln is great against particular enemies, but blows against non-smashing/lethal damage until you get a bunch of IO sets to plug the holes.

Willpower is great if you can keep the critters hugging you, and Brutes get the full Taunt whereas Scrappers only get Confront, so Brutes have a better time convincing the spawn to snuggle up and boost your regen. You might not need Dark Consumption (except as a panic button), and you can take Air Superiority or Jump Kick and Spring Attack to fill out the attack chain.

BUT, if you want to go Full Awesome, go DM/SR Scrapper. Easy to soft-cap, and then you never get hit, so you're effectively as tough as WP or Invuln with Siphon Life keeping you topped off. DM is mostly single-target so there's no benefit to herding; you just bounce around punching and crit'ing everything to death. Everything is equally unlikely to hit you, so you don't need to worry about sappers or carnies or clockwork kings... only stupid nasty critters like those eyeballs in the Shard or certain glittery Devouring Earth.

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TW/Bio brutes are very easy to level up.

But for Dark Melee. Make sure you have enough recharge for Smite->MG->Smite->SL

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Your character does not have capped defense. Depending on your AT the cap is between 175% - 225%. Your defense is not teal in the combat window, it can go higher. STOP SAYING IT IS CAPPED! The correct term is Soft Cap.
I enjoy playing in Mids. I specialize in Melee Characters, other AT's usually bore me.

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If you're set on Dark Melee, go Brute instead of Scrap. The first two attacks have very fast animations and good recharge, building Fury very fast.

I haven't taken either to 50, but Invul and WP are both generally good. Invul has a big PSI hole but otherwise makes you godly; it's rough on the END bar, but DM has Dark Consumption to fix that. WP falls to alpha strikes and isn't great against lone AVs, but it's still fine overall.

An alternate choice is a Defence based set, Energy Melee or Super Reflexes. Since Dark Melee debuffs tohit, this synergizes well. Take Touch of Fear (-15% tohit) and add some tohit debuff boosters, and even AVs will be whiffing nonstop.

Or, go onto Beta and do Bio Armor. It has a PSI hole as well, but covers all the other bases well and keeps your END bar full. Plus double XP and free amplifiers!

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