Seeking advice for Chainsaw build

pugdaddy

I'm not very experienced on making melee builds. This toon is a chainsaw wielding zombie hero. I originally had Dex as Primary SS but had such great energy issues. I retconned to Int Primary and the energy seems to work better in the PH training room at least.
PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Name: Wixom Lake Walker

Archetype: Freeform

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

Talents:
Level 1:
Level 6: Boundless Reserves
Level 9: Healthy Mind
Level 12: Investigator
Level 15: Field Ops Training
Level 18: Accurate
Level 21: Acrobat

Powers:
Level 1: Shadow Bolt
Level 1: Shadow Embrace
Level 6: Shadow Shroud
Level 8: Gauntlet Chainsaw
Level 11: Defiance
Level 14: Parry
Level 17: Overdrive
Level 20: Form of the Tempest
Level 23: Resurgence
Level 26:
Level 29:
Level 32:
Level 35:
Level 38:

Travel Powers:
Level 6:
Level 35:

Specializations:
Intelligence: Preparation (2/2)
Intelligence: Enlightened (3/3)
Intelligence: Detect Vulnerability (1/3)
Intelligence: Tinkering (2/2)
Intelligence: Expertise (2/2)
Protector: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Protector: Bulwark (2/2)
Protector: Exhausting Strikes (1/2)

mysticfloater

I am a little confused regarding your build:

First, form of the Tempest scales with Dex so using it made sense prior to your retcon (ie when Dex was a SS) If you wish to keep the super stats you have then I recommend:

1. On your primary offense gear slot get something that boosts your crit chance.
2. Take Ego Surge with advantage and/or Lock'n Load with advantage.

Regarding energy issues in general, by level 40 they are rarely an issue if you find the right gear. Taking INT as a SS helps but there are other options such as:
1. Add some REC and take Force Shield with advantage (instead of Parry)
2. Take Dark Transfusion
3. Take Circle of Arcane Power
4. Take an Energy unlock that is generic. MSA or Overdrive are likely the best choices for you.
5. If you can make it work with your build then take a "Dragon's " power. These trigger energy return over time if you are using a martial arts form.

By the way, using form of the Tempest will return energy to you when you crit based on your Dex. With a low Dex at low levels this energy is fairly low. At higher levels (which will have much higher Dex) it is more effective.

If you wish to level using Gauntlet Chainsaw then using INT (or REC) makes sense. When you get close to level 40 switch to a better damage oriented stat.

Best of luck

bluhman

Primaries are a finnicky thing; the specializations associated with a primary superstat are often very key to your playstyle. This said, the Dex spec tree has a lot to fuel an offensive/defensive mix via powerful criticals and frequent dodges. The Int spec tree is largely used for builds that use a lot of very frequent recharge abilities, as well as control moves and moderate ranged attack powers. All this said, a melee chainsaw murderer would not be using the Int spec tree at all; what recharges would he be using, aside from active abilities?

Because of the inherent energy cost of using Gauntlet Chainsaw, you're going to need a lot of energy support for this. A stat combo such as STR/End/Rec is probably the most energy support you can get; both secondaries play into Overdrive's power, while Strength can use its spec tree to increase the efficiency of your melee attacks.

The other way to do it would be to stick with a DEX primary. If you use focus, and take a Dragon Attack (Dragon Claw/Dragon Kick/Dragon's Wrath/Dragon's Bite) you can turn your stacks of Focus into a Rush, which provides constant energy for as long as how many stacks of Focus you have (8 stacks of focus = 8 seconds of energy gain). Build up focus, fire off a dragon attack, and follow it up with Gauntlet Chainsaw. With this in mind, you likely won't have to resort to an INT primary.

I feel like you could build some very powerful and deadly builds using Gauntlet Chainsaw: yes, it does eat up a lot of energy, but once you get past that, there's a huge number of synnergies and specializations that it can work with to make you super deadly. I highly recommend looking at the Avenger tree, as it has tools to make AoE maintains very powerful (which Gauntlet Chainsaw is.)