Working with pistols energy builder and two-gun mojo to start, looking to make this first main character, before this spent entirely too much time making different characters. Want to be a hybrid pistols/kicks build with things like thunderbolt lunge, bullet ballet, lead tempest using DEX/EGO superstats. Just a few questions

Should I stat DEX/CON to level or just stick with DEX/EGO?

Which passive (defensive/offensive) ability would be most beneficial for an in close pistol wielding kicker?
How much should I infest in Defense?

Any other abilities you suggest?

Thanks for the time.

It depends on which passive you want to use. With a high DEX, you'll crit often which will give you energy via Killer Instinct (on your munitions attacks anyway).... if you go Lightning Reflexes, your Dodge will be FURTHER increased, which is good. If you prefer to use Regeneration or Defiance or something then your second Superstat should be REC or CON.

For melee, Bullet Ballet is a great looking power. You might also consider getting Inexorable Tides from martial arts --- it is a legsweep that knocks foes down. For a split second, anyway, it'll keep them from moving away from you. I -think- it has a snare advantage you could get, but I never HAVE --- things rarely last long enough to worry about them walking away.

Thunderclap from the Might set is another one you might consider ---- it's PBAOE stun would give you yet more time to beat on foes in melee range.

It may not be in character, but I like the new Howl power from the Supernatural-Bestial set.... Enrages you AND fears foes, so they cower and attack less often.

When I used Bullet Ballet, I used it as a single target hard-hitting attack, but you might consider getting the advantage that turns it into an AoE (100% chance when you are Enraged, which you can be after a full maintain of Two Gun Mojo). Ironically, that's one reason I DON'T rank up Two-Gun Mojo ---- I was killing foes before the maintain finished, so I wasn't getting my buff! So I dropped the extra damage ranks so foes would last longer and I could get my Enrage on.

Make sure to get Lead Tempest----- it's not melee, but it's awesome beyond measure. Throw a Sonic Device charge on it, and you'll be amazed at the devastation you cause.

You might check into it, but it's POSSIBLE one of the various Martial Arts FORM Toggle Powers could be useful... I suspect, though, that they only boost melee attacks. The Unarmed one, for example, gives you a stack of Focus whenever you dodge (I believe) so if you got a high DEX and Lightning Reflexes, you could get and keep stacks of Focus easily. Of course, they may not do you any GOOD if you're going to use Gunslinger, Two Gun Mojo and so on. Not sure if Bullet Ballet would be considered melee or not for that purpose.