Looking for advice regarding a Mixed Bleed build.

ogremindes

So, I've just come up with a costume I'm real happy with, so now I'm tinkering with a build to match.
My parameters are:
- DPS or Tank
- Uses Single Blade and (some) Bestial (has fingertip claws)
- Also uses pistols and/or gadgets
- Isn't crit-based melee DPS ('cause the character I've been playing recently is that)
- Is a night-avenger-ish type (costume is more Moon Knight than Batman)

Even though I'd rather avoid it, it looks like using Single Blade without focus is a non-starter, especially with AoE Bleed being handled by Bullet Hail or Throwing Blades.

Following is my my first draft:

Night Fox (dex) - Freeform
v2.3.2-28

Super Stats
Level 6: Endurance (Primary)
Level 10: Dexterity (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)

Powers
Level 1: Bestial Fury
Level 1: Reaper's Caress (Rank 2, Cleaving Strikes)
Level 6: Night Warrior (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Trip Wire (Stim Pack, Open Wound) (or Holdout Shot)
Level 11: Form of the Swordsman
Level 14: Pounce (Furious Rush)
Level 17: Wild Thing
Level 20: Throwing Blades (Rank 2, Aggression) (or Bullet Hail)
Level 23: Antagonize (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Dragon's Bite (Rank 2, Cull the Weak)
Level 29: Lock N Load
Level 32: Eviscerate (Rank 2, Messy)
Level 35: Masterful Dodge
Level 38: Vorpal Blade (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Adv. Points: 35/36

Nothin' really goin' on beyond stacking bleeds and rupturing them. I also did an alternate draft with Aspect of the Bestial (here), which I like better in some ways, but it ends up with only one sword power that doesn't even work at 100%.

Anyway, if anyone has any ideas they can shoot my way, it'd be appreciated.

flowcyto

Slash can work a bit better than Reaper's Caress if you you want to use AotB over an MA form (ofc, Shred is best w/ AotB, and you'd lose Rush). The build can work as is, though End PSS may not be ideal if you can't keep energy above 90% consistently.

ogremindes

Yeah, Slash.... Slash is a bit too "feather duster" for a sword guy. But the real problem is that with AoE and Rupture being handled by other sets it'd be the only single blade power here, and at that point why bother with the sword at all?

PSS End is pretty much by default. I'm specifically avoiding the crit-monkey build so Dex is out, and I haven't built as a tank so Con doesn't bring much to the table. I'm hoping that between three separate energy powers and cost discount gear it works out, but I haven't tested.

Looking at specs, Warden seems like a clear choice, which of course lends itself to the boring but practical Wardicator. Brawler has some fun stuff, though. Setup and Flanking both appeal to me.

So with that said, this is what I'm thinking:
Night Fox - Freeform
v2.3.2-28

Super Stats
Level 6: Endurance (Primary)
Level 10: Dexterity (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)

Talents
Level 1: The Chiller (Dex: 10, Con: 10, Rec: 8, End: 10)
Level 6: Acrobat (Dex: 5, Con: 5)
Level 9: Accurate (Dex: 5, End: 5)
Level 12: Boundless Reserves (Con: 5, End: 5)
Level 15: Paramilitary Training (Str: 3, Con: 3, Rec: 3, End: 3)
Level 18: Covert Ops Training (Str: 3, Dex: 3, Con: 3, Int: 3)
Level 21: Survival Training (Dex: 3, Con: 3, Pre: 3, Rec: 2, End: 2)

Powers
Level 1: Bestial Fury
Level 1: Reaper's Caress (Rank 2, Cleaving Strikes)
Level 6: Night Warrior (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Bullet Hail (Rank 2, Aggression, Extra Bullets)
Level 11: Form of the Swordsman
Level 14: Pounce (Furious Rush)
Level 17: Wild Thing
Level 20: Holdout Shot (Stim Pack, Open Wound)
Level 23: Antagonize (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Dragon's Bite (Rank 2, Cull the Weak)
Level 29: Lock N Load
Level 32: Eviscerate (Rank 2, Messy)
Level 35: Masterful Dodge
Level 38: Vorpal Blade (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Adv. Points: 36/36

Travel Powers
Level 6: Athletics (Rank 2)
Level 35: Cape Glide

Specializations
Endurance: Readiness (3/3)
Endurance: Gear Utilization (3/3)
Endurance: Kickback (1/2)
Endurance: Outburst (3/3)
Warden: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Warden: Slaughter (3/3)
Warden: Ruthless (1/2)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Brawler: The Glory of Battle (3/3)
Brawler: Penetrating Strikes (2/2)
Brawler: Setup (2/2)
Brawler: Flanking (3/3)
Mastery: Warden Mastery (1/1)

flowcyto

Well, you could try an AotB + Shred + Reaper's Embrace + Brawler build where you alternate between them. For ex:

(Unnamed Build) - Freeform
v2.3.2-28

Super Stats
Level 6: Strength (Primary)
Level 10: Endurance (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)

Talents
Level 1: The Devastator (Str: 10, Con: 10, Rec: 10, End: 8)
Level 6: Paramilitary Training (Str: 3, Con: 3, Rec: 3, End: 3)
Level 9: Physical Conditioning (Str: 5, Con: 5)
Level 12: Boundless Reserves (Con: 5, End: 5)
Level 15: Bodybuilder (Str: 5, End: 5)
Level 18: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 21: Relentless (Str: 5, Rec: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Gunslinger
Level 1: Shred (Rank 2, Penetrating Strikes)
Level 6: Aspect of the Bestial
Level 8: Night Warrior (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Wild Thing
Level 14: Bullet Hail (Rank 2, Aggression, Extra Bullets)
Level 17: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Reaper's Embrace (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Holdout Shot (Stim Pack, Open Wound)
Level 26: Masterful Dodge
Level 29: Throwing Blades (Rank 2, Aggression)
Level 32: Antagonize (Rank 2)
Level 35: Smoke Bomb
Level 38: Vorpal Blade (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Adv. Points: 35/36

Travel Powers
Level 6:
Level 35:

Specializations
Strength: Swole (2/3)
Strength: Physical Peak (3/3)
Strength: Brutality (2/2)
Strength: Juggernaut (2/3)
Strength: Overpower (1/3)
Brawler: The Glory of Battle (1/3)
Brawler: Penetrating Strikes (2/2)
Brawler: Ruthless (2/2)
Brawler: Setup (2/2)
Brawler: Flanking (3/3)
Warden: Slaughter (3/3)
Warden: Ruthless (2/2)
Warden: Upper Hand (2/3)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Mastery: Warden Mastery (1/1)

Playstyle is a bit diff than the usual bleed + rupture one, and it should still be able to hit pretty hard.

ogremindes

I think I want to keep Eviscerate as a key part of my build, as it was one of the things that inspired the character in the first place. I'd like to know why you changed up the utility powers, though. Why Conviction and Smoke Bomb over Pounce and Lock N Load? 'cause playing my melee crit-monkey I've been hitting my lunge and AO a lot.

flowcyto

A self-heal isn't really 'utility' power, imo (and an AO being one is also a bit arguable); its more like 'do you want more self-healing or more burst dps?' Which is ultimately up to you. Regardless, if you find yourself using a lunge frequently, then go for it. I wasn't given that info when I edited my build, so I didn't know if it was a priority or not. Smoke Bomb I took cause free adv points were low, and a threat wipe that takes no adv points can be nice. But ofc threat wipes aren't essential either; again, up to you.

If you want to avoid Focus/Dex and Slash, and already have AoE to not need Scything Blade, and are not using Focus to have Rush, and want to rupture w/ Evis instead of Embrace.. then you've kinda negated most of the reasons to use SB overall. You may be best off disregarding SB powers and saving them for a diff concept, but the theme is up to you.

ogremindes

Focus/Dex SSS isn't a dealbreaker, and is the way I think I'll go. What I want out of my build doesn't quite fit in a Str-shaped hole. It was close enough that I wanted to consider the possibilities, but it just doesn't click.