Savage Melee
Overview
Savage Melee is a primary power set for Scrappers, Brutes, and Stalkers, and a secondary power set for Tankers.
"Tear at your foes with deadly animalistic attacks that primarily inflict Lethal damage and cause additional damage over time. Savage Strike, Maiming Slash, Vicious Slash and Savage Leap all grant stacks of Blood Frenzy. Each stack of this buff grants a small damage buff and endurance cost discount. You may have up to 5 stacks of Blood Frenzy active at a time. Blood Frenzy can be maintained, or it can be consumed to empower Shred, Rending Flurry, Blood Thirst and Hemorrhage. Using one of these consumers while you have 5 stacks of Blood Frenzy offers an additional benefit to these powers, but will also leave you Exhausted for a short time. While Exhausted you cannot build Blood Frenzy."
Power Tables
Brute
The Savage Melee power set is a primary set for Brutes. The following table shows the level at which each power is available:
| Power | Level | Effect | |
|
Savage Strike | 1 | Melee, Minor DMG(Lethal), Foe Minor DoT(Lethal), Self +1 Blood Frenzy |
|
Maiming Slash | 1 | Melee, Moderate DMG(Lethal), Minor DoT(Lethal), Foe -Speed, +1 Blood Frenzy |
|
Shred | 2 | Melee (Cone), Moderate DMG(Lethal), Foe Minor DoT(Lethal), -Def(All), Self -Blood Frenzy +Special |
|
Vicious Slash | 6 | Melee, High DMG(Lethal), Foe Minor DoT(Lethal), Knockdown, Self +2 Blood Frenzy |
|
Rending Flurry | 8 | PBAoE, Moderate DMG(Lethal), Foe Minor DoT(Lethal), -Blood Frenzy |
|
Taunt | 12 | Ranged (Targeted AoE), Foe Taunt |
|
Blood Thirst | 18 | Self, +HP, +Health over Time, -Blood Frenzy |
|
Hemorrhage | 26 | Melee, Light DMG(Lethal), Foe Special DoT(Lethal), -Blood Frenzy |
|
Savage Leap | 32 | PBAoE, Superior DMG(Lethal), Foe Minor DoT(Lethal), +3 Blood Frenzy, Self Teleport |
Scrapper
The Savage Melee power set is a primary set for Scrappers. The following table shows the level at which each power is available:
| Power | Level | Effect | |
|
|
Savage Strike | 1 | Melee, Minor DMG(Lethal), Foe Minor DoT(Lethal), Self +1 Blood Frenzy |
|
|
Maiming Slash | 1 | Melee, Moderate DMG(Lethal), Minor DoT(Lethal), Foe -Speed, +1 Blood Frenzy |
|
|
Shred | 2 | Melee (Cone), Moderate DMG(Lethal), Foe Minor DoT(Lethal), -Def(All), Self -Blood Frenzy +Special |
|
|
Vicious Slash | 6 | Melee, High DMG(Lethal), Foe Minor DoT(Lethal), Knockdown, Self +2 Blood Frenzy |
|
|
Rending Flurry | 8 | PBAoE, Moderate DMG(Lethal), Foe Minor DoT(Lethal), -Blood Frenzy |
|
Confront | 12 | Ranged, Foe Taunt |
|
|
Blood Thirst | 18 | Self, +HP, +Health over Time, -Blood Frenzy |
|
|
Hemorrhage | 26 | Melee, Light DMG(Lethal), Foe Special DoT(Lethal), -Blood Frenzy |
|
|
Savage Leap | 32 | PBAoE, Superior DMG(Lethal), Foe Minor DoT(Lethal), +3 Blood Frenzy, Self Teleport |
Stalker
The Savage Melee power set is a primary set for Stalkers. The following table shows the level at which each power is available:
| Power | Level | Effect | |
|
|
Savage Strike | 1 | Melee, Minor DMG(Lethal), Foe Minor DoT(Lethal), Self +1 Blood Frenzy |
|
|
Maiming Slash | 1 | Melee, Moderate DMG(Lethal), Minor DoT(Lethal), Foe -Speed, +1 Blood Frenzy |
|
|
Shred | 2 | Melee (Cone), Moderate DMG(Lethal), Foe Minor DoT(Lethal), -Def(All), Self -Blood Frenzy +Special |
|
Assassin's Frenzy | 6 | Melee, Special DMG(Lethal), +Blood Frenzy |
|
Build Up | 8 | Self +DMG, +To Hit |
|
Placate | 12 | Ranged, Foe Placate, Self Stealth/Hide |
|
|
Blood Thirst | 18 | Self, +HP, +Health over Time, -Blood Frenzy |
|
|
Hemorrhage | 26 | Melee, Light DMG(Lethal), Foe Special DoT(Lethal), -Blood Frenzy |
|
|
Savage Leap | 32 | PBAoE, Superior DMG(Lethal), Foe Minor DoT(Lethal), +3 Blood Frenzy, Self Teleport |
Tanker
The Savage Melee power set is a secondary set for Tankers. The following table shows the level at which each power is available:
| Power | Level | Effect | |
|
|
Savage Strike | 1 | Melee, Minor DMG(Lethal), Foe Minor DoT(Lethal), -RES(All), Self +1 Blood Frenzy |
|
|
Maiming Slash | 2 | Melee, Moderate DMG(Lethal), Minor DoT(Lethal), Foe -Speed, +1 Blood Frenzy |
|
|
Shred | 4 | Melee (Cone), Moderate DMG(Lethal), Foe Minor DoT(Lethal), -Def(All), Self -Blood Frenzy +Special |
|
|
Taunt | 10 | Ranged (Targeted AoE), Foe Taunt |
|
|
Vicious Slash | 16 | Melee, High DMG(Lethal), Foe Minor DoT(Lethal), Knockdown, Self +2 Blood Frenzy |
|
|
Rending Flurry | 20 | PBAoE, Moderate DMG(Lethal), Foe Minor DoT(Lethal), -Blood Frenzy |
|
|
Blood Thirst | 28 | Self, +HP, +Health over Time, -Blood Frenzy |
|
|
Hemorrhage | 35 | Melee, Light DMG(Lethal), Foe Special DoT(Lethal), -Blood Frenzy |
|
|
Savage Leap | 38 | PBAoE, Superior DMG(Lethal), Foe Minor DoT(Lethal), +3 Blood Frenzy, Self Teleport |
Powers
Assassin's Frenzy
A signature Stalker attack. This attack does superior lethal damage on its own as a frontal attack and cannot be interrupted. However, if it is executed while you are Hidden, this attack will do tremendous damage, as you waylay your unsuspecting foe. This attack may be interrupted if you move or are attacked while executing this power and are hidden. Using this power while not hidden has a chance to critically hit equal to 33.3% times the number of stacks of Assassin's Focus. Using Assassin's Frenzy will grant 2 stacks of Blood Frenzy if used while not hidden and will grant 3 stacks if hidden. Using Assassin's Strike when not hidden will remove all stacks of Assassin's Focus regardless if you critically hit or not.
| Damage | Special (Lethal) |
| Recharge | Slow |
| Minimum Level |  6 (Stalker)
|
| Effects | Melee |
| Self +Blood Frenzy | |
| Enhancements |  Enhance Accuracy
|
 Enhance Damage
| |
 Increase Attack Rate
| |
 Reduce Endurance Cost
| |
| Set Categories |  Melee Damage
|
Blood Thirst
You focus for a moment and clear your head to take a moment to recover from your wounds. Blood Thirst will immediately heal you for a small amount and cause you to heal for a moderate amount of health over a short time seconds. Blood Thirst consumes all stacks of Blood Frenzy. This power's heal over time effect grows with each stack of Blood Frenzy. Using this power with 5 stacks of Blood Frenzy causes you to become Exhausted for a short time, but the duration of the heal over time effect is increased. While exhausted you cannot gain Blood Frenzy.
| Recharge | Very Long |
| Minimum Level |  18 (Brute)
|
 18 (Scrapper)
| |
| 18 (Stalker)
| |
 28 (Tanker)
| |
| Effects | Self, +HP, +Health over Time, -Blood Frenzy |
| Enhancements |  Enhance Heal
|
| Increase Attack Rate
| |
| Reduce Endurance Cost
| |
| Set Categories |  Healing/Absorb
|
Build Up
Greatly increases the amount of damage you deal for a few seconds, as well as slightly increasing your chance to hit.
| Recharge | Long |
| Minimum Level | 8 (Stalker)
|
| Effects | Self +DMG, +To Hit |
| Enhancements |  Enhance ToHit Buff
|
| Increase Attack Rate
| |
| Reduce Endurance Cost
| |
| Set Categories |  To Hit Buff
|
Confront
Challenges a foe to attack you. Useful to pull a villain off an ally who finds themselves in over their head. A To Hit check required to Taunt enemy players, but is not needed against critter targets.
| Recharge | Fast |
| Minimum Level | 12 (Scrapper)
|
| Effects | Ranged |
| Foe Taunt | |
| Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy
|
| Increase Attack Rate
| |
 Enhance Range
| |
 Enhance Taunt Effectiveness
| |
| Set Categories | Enhance Taunt Effectiveness
|
Hemorrhage
You viciously tear at your foe causing a light amount of lethal damage. Additionally, the target will suffer from lethal damage over time. Hemorrhage consumes all stacks of Blood Frenzy. This power's damage over time effect will scale with the number of stacks of Blood Frenzy. Using this power with 5 stacks of Blood Frenzy causes you to become Exhausted for a short time, but the duration of Hemorrhage's damage over time effect is increased. While exhausted you cannot gain Blood Frenzy.
| Damage | Light (Lethal) |
| Special (Lethal Damage Over Time) | |
| Recharge | Slow |
| Minimum Level | 26 (Brute)
|
| 26 (Scrapper)
| |
| 26 (Stalker)
| |
| 35 (Tanker)
| |
| Effects | Melee |
| Self -Blood Frenzy | |
| Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy
|
| Enhance Damage
| |
| Increase Attack Rate
| |
| Reduce Endurance Cost
| |
| Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute and Tanker only)
| |
| Set Categories | Melee Damage
|
 Taunt (Brute and Tanker only)
|
Maiming Slash
You execute a savage slash at your foe's lower body causing moderate lethal damage and minor damage over time. The foe will also have their movement speed reduced moderately. Maiming Slash grants 1 stack of Blood Frenzy.
| Damage | Moderate (Lethal) |
| Minor (Lethal Damage Over Time) | |
| Recharge | Fast |
| Minimum Level | 1 (Brute)
|
| 1 (Scrapper)
| |
| 1 (Stalker)
| |
| 2 (Tanker)
| |
| Effects | Melee |
| Foe -Speed | |
| Self +1 Blood Frenzy | |
| Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy
|
| Enhance Damage
| |
| Increase Attack Rate
| |
| Reduce Endurance Cost
| |
 Enhance Slow
| |
| Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute and Tanker only)
| |
| Set Categories | Melee Damage
|
 Slow Movement
| |
 Universal Debuff
| |
| Taunt (Brute and Tanker only)
|
Placate
Allows you to trick a foe to no longer attack you. A Successful Placate will also Hide you. This Hide is very brief, and offers no Defense bonus, but it will allow you to deliver a Critical Hit or an Assassins Claw. However, if you attack a Placated Foe, he will be able to attack you back.
| Recharge | Long |
| Minimum Level | 12 (Stalker)
|
| Effects | Ranged |
| Foe Placate | |
| Self Stealth/Hide | |
| Enhancements | Increase Attack Rate
|
| Enhance Range
| |
| Set Categories | None |
Rending Flurry
You wildly slash at nearby foes to deal moderate lethal damage and cause minor lethal damage over time. This power consumes all Blood Frenzy and will deal additional damage per stack of Blood Frenzy consumed. If you have 5 stacks of Blood Frenzy while activating this power, its radius is greatly increased, but causes you to become Exhausted for a short time. While exhausted you cannot gain Blood Frenzy.
| Damage | Moderate (Lethal) |
| Minor (Lethal Damage Over Time) | |
| Recharge | Long |
| Minimum Level | 8 (Brute)
|
| 8 (Scrapper)
| |
| 20 (Tanker)
| |
| Effects | Point Blank Area of Effect |
| Self -Blood Frenzy | |
| Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy
|
| Enhance Damage
| |
| Increase Attack Rate
| |
| Reduce Endurance Cost
| |
| Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute and Tanker only)
| |
| Set Categories |  PBAoE Damage
|
| Taunt (Brute and Tanker only)
|
Savage Leap
You throw yourself at your distant foes while slashing and tearing wildly dealing superior lethal damage and causing your foes to suffer from additional minor lethal damage over time. Savage Leap build 3 stacks of Blood Frenzy.
| Damage | Superior (Lethal) |
| Minor (Lethal Damage Over Time) | |
| Minimum Level | 32 (Brute)
|
| 32 (Scrapper)
| |
| 32 (Stalker)
| |
| 38 (Tanker)
| |
| Effects | Point Blank Area of Effect |
| Self +3 Blood Frenzy, Self Teleport | |
| Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy
|
| Enhance Damage
| |
| Increase Attack Rate
| |
| Reduce Endurance Cost
| |
| Enhance Range
| |
| Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute and Tanker only)
| |
| Set Categories | PBAoE Damage
|
| Taunt (Brute and Tanker only)
|
Savage Strike
You quickly tear at your foe dealing minor lethal damage and causing minor lethal damage over time. This power can bruise an enemy, making them more vulnerable to damage. Savage Strikes grants you 1 stack of Blood Frenzy.
| Damage | Minor (Lethal) |
| Minor (Lethal Damage Over Time) | |
| Recharge | Very Fast |
| Minimum Level | 1 (Brute)
|
| 1 (Scrapper)
| |
| 1 (Stalker)
| |
| 1 (Tanker)
| |
| Effects | Melee |
| Foe -RES(All) (Tanker only) | |
| Self +1 Blood Frenzy | |
| Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy
|
| Enhance Damage
| |
| Increase Attack Rate
| |
| Reduce Endurance Cost
| |
| Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute and Tanker only)
| |
| Set Categories | Melee Damage
|
| Taunt (Brute and Tanker only)
|
Shred
You rapidly slash at your foes several times causing a moderate amount of damage to all enemies in front of you and reduce their defense. Shred also causes minor lethal damage over time. This power consumes all stacks of Blood Frenzy and will deal slightly more damage per stack. Additionally, Shred has a 20% chance to immediately recharge itself for each stack of Blood Frenzy. Using this power with 5 stacks of Blood Frenzy causes you to become Exhausted for a short time. While exhausted you cannot gain Blood Frenzy.
| Damage | Moderate (Lethal) |
| Minor (Lethal Damage Over Time) | |
| Recharge | Moderate |
| Minimum Level | 2 (Brute)
|
| 2 (Scrapper)
| |
| 2 (Stalker)
| |
| 4 (Tanker)
| |
| Effects | Melee (Cone) |
| Foe -Def(All) | |
| Self -Blood Frenzy, +Special | |
| Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy
|
| Enhance Damage
| |
| Increase Attack Rate
| |
| Reduce Endurance Cost
| |
 Enhance Defense Debuff
| |
| Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute and Tanker only)
| |
| Set Categories |  Targeted AoE Damage
|
 Defense Debuff
| |
 Accurate Defense Debuff
| |
| Universal Debuff
| |
| Taunt (Brute and Tanker only)
|
Taunt
Taunts a foe, and some nearby foes, to attack you. Useful for pulling villains off an ally who find themselves in over their head. Taunted foes tend to ignore other Heroes and focus on you for quite a while, so use this power cautiously. A To Hit check is required to Taunt enemy players, but is not needed against critter targets.
| Recharge | Slow |
| Minimum Level | 12 (Brute)
|
| 10 (Tanker)
| |
| Effects | Ranged (Targeted Area of Effect) |
| Foe Taunt | |
| Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy
|
| Increase Attack Rate
| |
| Enhance Range
| |
| Enhance Taunt Effectiveness
| |
| Set Categories | Enhance Taunt Effectiveness
|
Vicious Slash
You tear at your foe with both hands dealing high lethal damage and causing minor lethal damage over time. Foes struck by this attack have a high chance to be knocked down.
| Damage | High (Lethal) |
| Minor (Lethal Damage Over Time) | |
| Recharge | Moderate |
| Minimum Level | 6 (Brute)
|
| 6 (Scrapper)
| |
| 16 (Tanker)
| |
| Effects | Melee |
| Foe Knockdown | |
| Self +2 Blood Frenzy | |
| Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy
|
| Enhance Damage
| |
| Increase Attack Rate
| |
| Reduce Endurance Cost
| |
 Enhance Knockback Distance
| |
| Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute and Tanker only)
| |
| Set Categories | Melee Damage
|
 Knockback
| |
| Taunt (Brute and Tanker only)
|
Cadwin's Note
Taken from a discussion in the Character Builds channel of the discord. Thank you to Kismet.
Savage Melee being all lethal means that it already struggles in the 40+ game where more enemies are lethal resistant (damn you robots and power armor suits!). I'm not saying that I'd necessarily like Blood Frenzy more if the set it was in wasn't all lethal damage, but trying to maximize Blood Frenzy in that context is really about trying to rise above the mediocre net damage I'm inflicting (at least on a Brute/Tanker. I can't imagine it's a much better situation on a Scrapper relative to some of the other powersets). The options for where you spend those Blood Frenzy stacks aren't all that great, either. Shred gives you a guaranteed re-use of the power, but I'd argue the power is better with 3 or 4 stacks because it has a good chance of instant recharging, you can build more stacks and thus have a chance of using it again in short order. With 5 stacks you're locked out, period. Using 5 stacks shouldn't be a WORSE result, IMHO. Blood Thirst takes ten seconds to heal you. Spending all five stacks nets you a marginal increase and one more stack. If I really needed a heal, I'd be long dead by the time the 10 seconds had passed. Hemorrhage is only significantly better DPA than Vicious Slash if you burn all 5 stacks, thus locking yourself out. It has no secondary effect, unlike the pretty good KD of Vicious Slash. Now, this power might be better on a Stalker, but I don't see it being worthwhile on a Brute/Tanker... maybe it's better on a Scrapper? Rending Flurry is the only place I feel good about spending the stacks, and even then it's only when enemies are scattered. If they're all clustered, I'd much rather burn 3-4 stacks on it, single target melee, and then burn it again under 5 stacks. I don't feel that most of the spenders are significantly better with 5 Stacks in context of the price paid for being locked out from building stacks. That's complex, but I'm playing a mini-game to avoid my character being effectively debuffed.