Any Vets can give their opinion on brawler build?

[Simple Tora]

Decided to run with this for the first time in my new A20 world and have had some pretty neat moments but at the same time I can't tell if this is worth it or not. It saves a ton on ammo usage since I just punch but despite having nearly maxed out fortitude and brawler I don't really see a point to ever punching over using a pipe weapon despite having no points into any weapon type other than fist.

Just wondering if i'm missing some op combo or certain way to use brawler that maybe I've not noticed. My plan is to go down Fortitude and Agility while my friend I play with goes down Perception and Strength (it's just how we like to play)

[aY227]

One of my favorites - you can't go wrong with it.
Remember that your character should be an alcoholic - beer gives amazing bonus to brawling.
Also you just have been nominated to party farmer - congratulations! :)

No idea what you are doing wrong if pipe is still better - do you have steel knuckles? Or at least iron ones? Modded?

[JimmyIowa]

Brawler is a very fun playstyle that requires a fast, high hand-eye pro-active and highly mobile combat style. The main caveat is that it pretty much requires beer to be equal to sledgehammer or really any other good build. Without beer it is pretty weak for POI clearing and not usable at all as a primary weapon on horde night. Which also means that it pretty much requires the magazine that removes blurry vision from beer.

If you like constant fast paced mobility, dodging in and out during a fight (because knucks are the shortest range weapon in the game, along with knife and it DOESN'T knock down entire crowds like the sledge or do tons of bleed damage while kiting like blades do, so with knucks you gotta be just a hair faster than very fast), and chugging more beer than a 12 steps dropout, then it might be for you.

Don't even bother with leather knucks (the tier 1 weapon). Just don't. Stone sledge (with no skills or stamina for it) is better than leather knucks for levels 1-40. By level 40 you have the skill points to make brawling worth it and have maybe found the blur remover magazine.

Keep a watch out all all traders for the blur remover issue of brawler magazine. It is the key to unlocking the power of the build.

[00 Critical]

It sounds like to focused on just one tree or skill ... there are several skills that can help that build. Flurry of blows increases your attack speed:

Flurry of Blows increases the attack speed of items that are tagged as both melee and light. This includes the Bone Knife, Hunting Knife, Machete, Flashlight, Claw Hammer, Stone Axe, Wooden Club, Baseball Bat, Steel Club, Torch, Wrench, and the player character's own bare hands.

If you provide more information on your all the skills you took, armor and fist weapons your using it might help narrow down your issue.

[Niuq]

I may be doing it wrong but brawler for me is the fishing for head pops melee.
It feels weak to me early game, when it is least supported.
As you get more perks into brawling, collect the books, mug all your friends and the trader for beers it get a ton better.

Heavy armor with perks and custom fittings, Trex , pain tolerance. I forget if fury of blows works. Iron or Steel knuckles with and ergo grip.

I find it harder to play than most other melee weapons. My aim isnt what it used to be, old hands can be slow hands.

[aY227]

(my bet is that you thought you have to fight bare handed ;p )

[Simple Tora]

Originally posted by aY227:

One of my favorites - you can't go wrong with it.
Remember that your character should be an alcoholic - beer gives amazing bonus to brawling.
Also you just have been nominated to party farmer - congratulations! :)

No idea what you are doing wrong if pipe is still better - do you have steel knuckles? Or at least iron ones? Modded?

I only have the leather wrap thingies, we haven't got the materials/found steel or iron things yet we're also really early in i'm not even on day 7 yet

[aY227]

So I lost a bet :)
You will way sooner get something better from quest reward than craft it.

[00 Critical]

Ok now I see your problem... This build is better suited to start a bit later (if you are new to the game). I would stick to clubs as you build out your skills and maybe around lvl 15-25 push hard for brawler. You can play this from day one but as you get really close to the zedheads to hit them they get to hit you back as well. Once you do switch you need the best heavy armor you can get your hands on, a good set of nucks (with good mods installed) and remember to aim for the head.

[tazman1]

honestly I try to avoid brawler and archer. a proper built brawler is almost immune to most effects (because zombies can't infect with 1 perk)

and archers hell even before they got buffed this alpha were just to OP to be fun for me

that being said remember you have all the damage reduction perks and with a single point is Trex from Str and going up Agility for armor you can just Ali dance around them

with a quality 4 leather knuckles and just enough points in brawling to make them I was ususally in 2 hits decapitating them.

[KellyR]

Brawler is my favorite build tbh. Fast hits, that almost always stagger zombies, and knockdown every 2nd or 3rd hit. Once you're using steel knuckles, the weapon doubles as both a butchering tool and a knife (I believe knife perks apply to it, and you can give it the jagged mod for bleed).

It's like all the good things about blades (Speed of attacks, bleed, wide area for glancing hits) plus the good things about clubs (Stagger and knockdown) all in one!

On top of that, enemies almost never give you infection, and with the bar brawler books you're gaining 1hp every time you punch something.

What's not to love?