Yoo,

I was wondering wether a Claws build is still viable. If so: I'd gladly be presented by your input in the form of possible builds. I've already been doing a bit of research on the Claws build, and it seemed to me that with Dragon Claws it can deal some severe damage. What I'm not sure of is wether I should go with Lightning Reflexes or with Way o/t Enlightened Warrior... I want to kick ass in PvP. Laying the axis on the huge Critical Damage that Claws can bring (WotEW) or improving survivability in PvP with stacking plainly stacking Dex for Lightning Reflexes...

I hope that the other Melee builds are significantly better than the Claws tree, because I really like the slashing thingy.

Help me out please!

Complete ChampionBuilder builds are welcome, but do attach reasoning to your build as well please :)

EDIT: I was thinking of something like this (with WotEW, for more offense and booming crits)

Build by championBuilder 0.4.1

Download this Build here.

Potential DEX EGO Claw build: Level 40 Champion

Superstats:
Level 5: Super Dexterity
Level 13: Super Ego

Powers:
Level 1: Hawk's Talons -- Peerless Predation
Level 1: Thunderbolt Lunge -- Nailed to the Ground, Crippling Challenge
Level 5: Form Of The Unleashed Tempest -- Rank 2
Level 5: Teleport -- Rank 2, Rank 3
Level 8: Way of the Enlightened Warrior -- Rank 2, Rank 3
Level 11: Dragon's Claws -- Rank 2, Rank 3
Level 14: Energy Shield -- Laser Knight, Rank 2
Level 17: Dragon Kick -- Lashing Dragon Tail, Rank 2
Level 20: Ego Hold
Level 23: Bountiful Chi Resurgence -- Resurgent Reiki, Rank 2
Level 26: Masterful Dodge
Level 29: Bionic Shielding -- Rank 2, Rank 3
Level 32: Evasive Maneuvers
Level 35: Smoke Grenade
Level 35: Acrobatics
Level 38: Ice Sheath

Talents:
Level 1: Quick Trigger
Level 6: Agile
Level 9: Shooter
Level 12: Indomitable
Level 15: Martial Focus
Level 18: Professional Athlete
Level 21: Mighty

It's built around Dragon's Claw of course, with Dragon's Kick as Henchmen grinder (for leveling) + Dodge advantage to increase BCR healing. Also Evasive Manoeuvers for enhancing the healing on BCR and Bionic Shielding as second healing, without making me unable to act (both heal over time).

Ego Hold, strong hold (ranged). Energy Shield - Laser Knight, what more do I need to say for this one? :D
Ice Sheath to empower Dragon's Claw crit severity (Dragon's Claw is fundamented with strong critting).

That build should work well. Take note of what it takes to proc the Rush buff, it helps a lot.

You may not be able to go toe-to-toe with the most common T2 melee builds (Dragon's Wraith and Uppercut spams). Getting Essence Assault on TBL may help, and works well with Evasive - though that means finding another crippling challenge power. A knock-up might help too - claws has it's own, and there's always inex tides.

Yeah for the Lunge: I'm a bigger fan of Pounce, but that will screw up my power pick-up development...
I will end up not having Dragon's Kick (which already is my stun) and I couldn't put Essence Assault on TBL because I haven't got another Crippling Challenge vacancy open. Well I can't put it in my Dragon's Claws at least, because that power needs rank 3.

I was thinking of replacing Smoke Grenade with Inexorable Tides (+ adv.) but Smoke Grenade is part of my theme. Also Smoke Grenade is a perfect get-away power when Teleport is temporarily disabled.
Current CC abilites are: Ego Hold (primary Hold, combat opener), Dragon's Kick (fully charged for stun). Wouldn't this be enough? I mean it's quick and concise combat. I agree on that a Knockback (Rend & Tear is a knockback not -up) would improve my viability in PvP, but since it would screw up my whole power tree, I might as well keep it like this, right?

Well, one can never have ''enough'' CC in regard of PvP, but a build has to be balanced with heals and other counterparts too. I also want to have another Knockback but it seems rather impossible to fit in.

Thanks for your input and possible modifications to the build.

EDIT: one possible (and viable) solution in the power pick-up tree would be getting Rend & Tear at level 1, and then pass every power on 1 level until Smoke Grenade. So replacing a get-away power for a knockback. This is the most plausible option, I think. (Or Inexorable Tides, instead of Rend & Tear)

P.S.: another off-topic question; does improving Energy Shield's rank also improve the lingering Laser Knight's block?

I'm not sure about the LK rank.

One side note for future toons or anyone else reading this is that claws works very well with Archery, Munitions and other ranged/mix builds. Basically, any ranged build with DEX SS or CON/Imbue can get a lot out of FotUM + Dragon's Claws.

All right, but what do you think about the replacement of Smoke Grenade for either Inexorable Tides or Rend & Tear (Knockback)?

Keep Smoke Grenade, especially since it's in your theme.

Hmmmm, I'm leaning towards Rend & Tear now, damnit... :(
It seems like a Knock-up is awesome in PvP to give me a moment to apply an Ego Hold or so. Also functions properly as interruption power.

What to do what to do...

Evasive Maneuvers has an adv to put you into stealth for a few seconds. I'm not sure, but you might be able to charge the Ego Hold during that.

All right, I'll invent that.
Thanks!