New to Bruiser, so here's my first stupid question

[Kryussius]

<p>I've been using fist weapons so far as I just like the effect of having them as opposed to bo staffs, but in looking at my AA lines, the STR line has alot of "if primary slot is empty" and "if secondary slot is empty".</p><p>Do fist weapons count as empty slot or no?  I'm pretty sure it's still considered unarmed melee, is why I'm asking.</p><p>Be merciful.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Novusod]

Fists do not account as an empty slot. Both slots need to be completely empty to benifit from the STR line. If you want to keep your fist weapons then you should go down the int line.

[Kryussius]

Is there a benefit to one over the other?

[Bobbette]

The strength line will give you damage that is "near fabled" while you level up.  It scales each time you level (unlike weapons).  So unless you can continuously replace your weapons with fableds each tier, really the strength line is the best line for leveling up a brawler. There's always a catch though right?  The drawlback is that you lose the stats and adornments that equipping weapons will give you. Otoh, with no weapon costs each tier you can spend more on armor & jewelry & adornments to make up for that fact. If I was leveling up a brand new bruiser I would go strength line until I hit t7 and could start looking for weapons that beat empty-hands.  (Do a search, there's plenty of posts analyzing the minimum DR you need to beat empty hand).

[Kryussius]

<p>Okay I gotcha.</p><p>I'll probably go STR then.  For the time being (until I outgrow them at least) I'll stick with the knuckles I have due to stats (+5 str, +4 agi each) but they're not going to last me much longer.  I've had them since 12, and the toon is 21 now.</p><p>- actually just checked and while my stats drop, my attack rating actually goes up with bare fists now.  Going to give that a shot and see how it goes.</p><p>Thanks for the tip!</p>

[Sir_Halbarad]

While I hesitated myself with my Baby Bruiser, once I specced to STR 4/4/8 I was a happy slapper <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I just recently respecced when I got a leftover fabled from HoS - my dps dropped a bit since I don't have an off hand weapon of that quality. STR Line is the way to go when you level up - cheap and deadly <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />