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3.0 Bruiser Methods & Techniques
This section will give you
advice for your bruiser career. Do keep in mind that it is all
subjective. Each of us plays our bruiser differently, and have developed
our own play styles. It's important with any class that you play, that you
take the time to get to know your character, and the spells and combat arts that
you receive.
And above all else, have
fun!
3.1 Combat Methods
Do Bruisers make
good tanks?
This question is asked a lot and the answer is yes, we
do. With a high avoidance and excellent DPS combined with taunts and stances, we
do pretty well as a main tank. With a decent healer backing you up, you can be
almost, but not quite, as good as a plate tank.
Can Bruisers Main
Tank Epic level or Raid Mob’s?
This question is debated and complex. As a Bruiser, your
avoidance drops when you go up against higher level mobs. This means that the
advantage which balances Bruisers out with their plate wearing cousins isn’t
as much of a factor anymore. It makes it difficult to justify being a MT in a
Raid environment, but there are a few out there that do it and do it
effectively. As always, in a situation like this, a good healer is the best
armor you can have.
Are Bruisers
effective in a PvP environment?
They are extremely effective at the lower to mid levels.
The amount of damage you can put out combined with your stuns makes for quick
work of your opponent. As you reach the higher levels though, you begin to even
out. Against a Berserker you may not fare as well, due to their high mitigation
and high DPS where as against a Wizard you might be awesome due to his low
mitigation, as long as you can keep him stunned and interrupted.
Do Fist Wraps
count as weapons or just fist only?
Fist wraps count as weapons. They have stat buffs and
an attack speed that differs from just straight fists.
2 Handed Weapons
vs. Duel wielding. Which is better?
As with a lot of classes this has a lot to do with your
play style. There are many Bruisers who prefer the slower hitting, higher damage
2 handed weapons, but when you crunch the numbers, duel wield weapons will do
just about as much damage, if not more, because
they hit more often. Also, it will depend on how you decide to choose your
AA’s now as they are dependent on weapon usage. Wielding a Bo Staff (2H) while
spending points into your Strength line of AA’s (bare handed) won’t do you
much good.
Is there a class
that Bruisers duo with better than others?
There are a couple of trains of thought on this. As always,
duoing with a healer class is your best bet. Defilers probably have the most to
offer as a partner, but Furies can be a great class to duo with as a Bruiser
too. Oddly enough, Monk’s are a good class for a Bruiser to duo with as well.
What CA’s are the most useful as I go up in levels?
If you plan to go solo or play the role of the DPS in groups, then the Rapid
Swings line for more damage, the Jolting Fists line for extra damage for up to 5
hits, and your offensive stances line will be your bread and butter. These will
allow you to do extra damage during a fight. If you plan to play the MT role,
then you’ll want to upgrade your Defensives Stances, your group buffs like the
Intimidating Orders line which will increase the group’s attack damage, and
your Taunting Slap/Jeer taunt lines for keeping single/group aggro on yourself.
All Bruisers should look to upgrade your Ignore Pain line, Roughhouse line, any
stuns/knockdowns like the Haymaker line, and at lvl 65 your Knockout Combination
as this spell will allow you to stun your opponent every time you hit him with a
CA for 20 seconds. A great way to grab or maintain aggro.
3.2 - Combat Abilities Progression
This gives you a break down of your combat arts, what they do, and when
they are upgraded. It's a good format to see what line of skills you may
wish to upgrade, and which are of less use to you.
Self Buffs & Stances
|
Greatly increases
defense, deflection, physical and poison damage mitigation at the cost of offensive melee skills and combat attack damage. This is the bruiser's primary defensive stance |
Brawler's Stance
(4) |
Bouncer's Stance
(16) |
Stance: Bouncer
(30) |
Stance: Retaliation |
Stance:
Retribution (58) |
Bodyguard (72)
|
|
Increases
the bruiser's offensive melee skills and engulfs the bruiser's hand in flames, granting a chance to deal heat damage with every successful melee hit, at the cost of decreased defense skill. This is the bruiser's primary offensive stance |
Heated Fists (4)
|
Stance: Fiery Fists |
Stance: Lava Fists |
Stance: Magmatic Fists |
Stance: Blistering
Fists (63) |
Smoldering Fists (75) |
|
Increases the |
Bruising Spirit (26) |
Strapping Spirit (40) |
Deadly Spirit (54) |
Vigorous Spirit (68) |
Resistant Spirit (78)
|
|
|
Stuns the bruiser in |
Heavy Scarring (40) |
Calloused Skin (54) |
Rock Skin (78)
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This stance |
Stance: Fire Stance (44) |
Stance: Provoking |
Bruising (71)
|
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Increases the |
Dodge and Strike (12) |
Bob and Weave (26)
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Battle Fury (40) |
Battle Lust (54) |
Battle Frenzy (68)
|
Battle Ready (79) |
Group Buffs and Protective CAs
|
Allows
the fighter to protect an ally from taking damage, by absorbing some of the damage an ally would otherwise take |
Intervene (6) |
Intercept (20) |
Intercede (34) |
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Increases
the non-combat art attack damage of the bruiser's group |
Brutality (9) |
Intimidating Orders (23) |
Rousing Cry (37) |
Stirring Cry (51) |
Rabid Cry (65)
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Grants the bruiser a |
Staggering Stance (18) |
Overtaking Blows (32) |
Shrug Off (46) |
Shake Off (60) |
Taunts & Taunt-Attack Abilities
|
Increases the |
Taunt (1) |
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Interrupts and |
Impose (8) |
Jeer (22) |
Boast (36) |
Abuse (50) |
Oppress (64)
|
Vilify (76) |
|
Increases the |
Brag (9) |
Taunting Slap (17) |
Slurred Insult (31) |
Instigate (45) |
Pressure (59)
|
Boil (72) |
|
Increases your chance |
Roughhouse (22) |
Brawl (36) |
Quarrel (50) |
Rumble (64) |
Manhandle (76)
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Greatly |
Rescue (25) |
Knockdowns, Stuns, and Stifles
|
A melee attack that |
Stamp (10) |
Crash (24) |
Merciless Stomp (38) |
Barbarous Stomp (52) |
Callous Stomp (66)
|
Double Stomp (77) |
|
A melee attack that |
Shoulder Charge (13) |
Fierce Punch (27) |
Hammer Fist (41) |
Uppercut (58) |
Steel Fist (69)
|
Adamantine (79) |
|
Prevents the target |
Intimidate (24) |
Strong Arm (38) |
Unnerve (52) |
Scared Still (66) |
Trepidation (77)
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Launches a punch |
Haymaker (30) |
Crusher (44) |
Iron Fist (55) |
Chin Break (72)
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For a short duration, |
Knockout Combination (65) |
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A powerful |
Sucker Punch (32) |
Dirty Punch (46) |
Kidney Punch (60) |
Gut Punch (73)
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Attacks Plus Debuffs / DoTs / AoEs
|
A melee attack that |
Blazing Strikes (7) |
Whirling Blaze (21) |
Beatdown (35) |
Bone Crusher (49) |
Slap Around (63)
|
Body Flail (75) |
|
A powerful kick attack that deals crushing damage and continues to deal additional heat damage over time |
Burn Through (11) |
Break Through (25) |
Burning Lunge (39) |
Flaming Lunge (53) |
Blazing Lunge (67)
|
Blaze Kick (77) |
|
The bruiser's fists |
Thundering Fists (15) |
Jolting Fists (29) |
Shocking Fists (43) |
Storming Fists (57) |
Lightning Fists (71)
|
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An extra attack |
Eye Gouge (28) |
Eye Rake (41) |
Eye Pluck (56) |
Eye Gash (70) |
Eye Rip (80)
|
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Using this ability |
Instill Doubt (30) |
Instill Panic (50) |
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A high fire damage |
Meteor Punch (45) |
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A series of quick |
Savage Blows (50) |
Savage Bruising (70) |
Savage Assault (80)
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Heals and Feigns
|
Dispels hostile |
Indomitable Will (13) |
Burning Will (27) |
Cerebral Will (41) |
Resolute Will (55) |
Tenacious Will (69)
|
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Replenishes |
Ignore Bruises (3) |
Ignore Wounds (10) |
Ignore Pain (20) |
Ignore Hurt (34) |
Ignore Agony (48)
|
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Allows the brawler to |
Feign Death (14) |
Play Dead (28) |
Stop Heart (42) |
Stilled Life (56) |
Last Breath (70)
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No-Fluff Attack CAs
|
A melee attack that |
Jab (1) |
Knuckle (15) |
Blitz (29) |
Pummel (43) |
Pound (57)
|
Hammer (71) |
|
A high damage melee |
Bruising Fist (2) |
Bruising Strike (17) |
Grapple (31) |
Meteor Fist (59) |
Comet Punch (73)
|
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A kick attack that |
Kick (5) |
Throat Kick (33) |
Roundhouse (47) |
Dropkick (61) |
Front Kick (74)
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Launches a flurry of |
Rapid Swings (19) |
One Hundred Hand Slap (33) |
Crushing Fury (47) |
One Hundred Hand Punch (62) |
One Hundred Hands (74)
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Advice?
Suggestions? I'm always looking to add more useful information to this
guide. If you are a bruiser, and would like to add tips, tricks, or
helpful advice, please drop me a note at [email protected]!
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