Ode to Roxstar - A Guide to Stone Tanking

A few random thoughts...

Rock Armor: When I run without granite, its typically solo. I dropped Rock Armor to better fill my attack chain when in granite. With Stone Skin one slotted, Rooted, 3 slotted health, and earth's embrace, combined with the KB element of my attacks, I can solo just fine without it. Easy to test--just try running your tank without it turned on and see how you can do. You can always pop into granite if you need to.

Stone epics:

Stone prison is great. It is ranged, it is -fly, and it stops runners which are harder for you to chase in granite anyway.

Salt Crystals: I did not like it for all the reasons mentioned above. It might have some PvP value I suppose, but only if you can get non-meleers around you in the first place. (Meleers will resist it)

Fossilize: Also great. combined with the now 100% hold of seismic smash you can hold bosses should you be soloing and not feeling like you want to use granite.

Stalagmites: SO disappointing. Great graphics, but the damage if I recall falls very short of my level 35 PBAoE and the recharge time on it is REALLY long. Also, the disorient chance seems minimal, maybe 10% chance?

I just took Salt Crystals to try it before I do my last respec, if I didn't like it I was gonna get rid of it. I like it actually! It has an AoE debuff and it can stop mobs attacking you for a little bit if needed. Out of the box it's not good at all, you'll have to slot this one to make it good. Haven't got to the others yet, I'd assume Fossilize to be the best and as far as Stalagmites goes I know it stinks but I've wanted it ever since I was in the Hollows and the stupid Trolls would hit me with it.

a great guide. I wish anyone making a stone/stone would be forced to read one of the guides out there. Stone is a great set built right, but can be very poor ill-designed.

For awhile I tried to help a lot of the stoners I came across, especially on the importance of TP with rooted/granite, but have mostly given up. My empath recently played with a 32 stone and it was beyond painful, as they didnt have TP, and refused to use Rock Armor, because she insisted it lowered HER ability to hit. (yes this person was 32...)

anyway a few comments and suggestions.

- first, great guide

Questions for Group:
- Build-up. I did take it, primarily from my Scrappi love of the equivalent. I didnt crunch the numbers but they seem decent when fighting in rock armor, which I do as soon as the mob size is decreased. Any other thoughts from others?

as a basic strategy I often TP into +2 mob in granite, whittle it down and then change to stone so I can attack much faster.

- Epics. would love some more posts on direct experience.

Build comments:
- stone skin, get and 3 slot your first few levels. No end, no toggle, all win.
-mudpots. definately echo waiting til you get stamina, and 1-2 slotting end redux
- taunt....your a tank....its a focused way to save someone in trouble....
- I skipped Brimstone and crystal as well.
- thanks for the tip on Granite slotting, I changed mine to resistance. Others concur?
- fault, I skipped.
- hurl boulder I love. Its a great way to pull, without aggroing whole mob like taunt does. A ranged attack is a also perfect when in granite to pick off someone not in aggro range.

Power Pools
- I take tough for many of my alts, its a waste here if you 3 slot stone skin and 4 slot rock armor, asap. I was a great meatshield from early on.
- Jumping/Fly. Frankly I think you should be discouraging these and only talking up Teleport.
- Teleport. Many people hate it as a travel power, your life will be beyond miserable as a SToner if you don't have it. Learn to bind it or put it in power slot 1-10 and its much easier to use - press and click. Put a few slots in it for range, and you have the fastest travel in the game.
- Fitness - one major detail you didn't mention. I highly recommend 3 slotting Swift as soon as you can. (used to six slot). It helps overcome rooted nicely, and then when rooted is off, you have a mini travel power right there.
Hasten - I respecd it out. was a mistake, even non perma. I just added it back. Take it prior to Granite and 3 slot it.

Also, many probably know, but I will add anyway: The Kinetic power SpeedBoost is your best friend. Make friends with every Kinetic you meet and bring them along. With SB you move normally with Granite/rooted and you attack chain is back to normal. (plus no end issues) You get all of the pluses of Granite and none of the downfalls. I sidekick a Kinetic friend and we BLOW through mishes.

happy smashing!

Build Up - I started out using it, but respec'd out of it. I felt that the recharge was way too long when in Granite and when I use Rock Armor, I felt I really didn't need it.

Teleport - I don't mind it as a travel power, but only use it when I'm in Granite. I can't see not having it when in Granite. Depending on the group I'm with, I'll just TP right in the middle of the mob set off Fault and/or Tremor and let the mallet bashing begin. It's also nice to TP up and down floors instead of using stairs or TP over to a mate in trouble.

Fault - This is one of my favorite powers in the set. I read a post from someone else last week sometime that also didn't like Fault and it really surprises me. I have mine loaded up with 2 accuracy, 2 disorient, 1 recharge and 1 end red, just as this guide states. I really never miss if I'm dealing with mobs that are as high as +2s and 3s, nice disorient duration and they get knocked down. I love it!

Epics - For my concept, I am going with Earth Mastery no question. I would like to hear what others say about some of those skills though.

I went with Super Jump as well to use as my real traveling power. It was more for concept, but I really like it as a traveling power. Being able to jump from building top to building top is just awesome.

Oh and I agree with you 5million percent that Kenetics is just amazing for a stone tanker. I team up with one frequently who is great. His speed boost, Fulcrum Shift and Syphon Power? is just the greatest combo. Normally I would be hitting a foe for say 115 damage, but then with the damage buffs, I hit for 250-300, which is really good for me! Not to mention the fact that my endurance bar never moves when I'm fightning non-stop. I also team up with a troller that has the Force Field secondary, so my defenses just go through the roof!

Definately needs to be said again: You best agro tools are Fault and Tremor! Just like InfiniteWisdom said turn on Pots, Tp in, hit Fault then Tremor and wham you're in business! Only time you'll really lose agro is if someone else taunts or if someone on your team decides to agro another group. But just keep Fault and Tremor going throughout the fight and there is no real need for Taunt, and if one gets away hit him with a huge boulder!

And for an update with the Epics...I am definately keeping Salt Crystals!! Once you get some Accuracy in there it's actually really nice. Debuff an entire mob, get their attention and let the blaster go to work. You just need to make sure Pots is off when using it and that the team knows to hit one baddie at a time. Next up is Fossilize and that's going to be great for those damn Sappers.

Fault and Tremor are great powers. I use them almost every time they're up.

But then, I also love Build Up. Mine is slotted 3 recharge and is set on autofire so I dont have to micromanage it. It fires about once per fight, twice if it's a longer one, several times during AV fights. With Build Up and Seismic Smash you can come *this close* to one-shotting minions.

Interesting take on Build Up Brass, that sounds pretty cool. There are times when the extra damage and accuracy would be nice, but with the limited number of powers we can choose, it sure is tough to decide!

I just got Tremor slotted up with 1 accuracy, 1 recharge and 2 damage enhancements and that skill is really shaping up (making getting my firefighter badges easier and quicker too! )

Question for you Neo: So I'm guessing Mud Pots is counting as an attack and will free everyone in it's AoE when using Salt Crystals, is that why you suggest not having MP active? So my next question would be, how useful is Mud Pots then after you can use Salt Crystals?

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Question for you Neo: So I'm guessing Mud Pots is counting as an attack and will free everyone in it's AoE when using Salt Crystals, is that why you suggest not having MP active?

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Yes, it does damage so it will break anyone that is sleeping from Salt Crystals. You will have to turn it off before attacking with Salt. You also need to make sure your team understands this so they don't use any AoE's when they're sleeping.

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So my next question would be, how useful is Mud Pots then after you can use Salt Crystals?

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Soloing it works great since you don't really need Pots. Teaming just make sure that you're not next to a whole lot of guys that are sleeping before you turn it back on. It's ok to wake a few, the tank version doesn't last nearly as long as the controller version so you won't finish them all off anyway. The main idea is to use it when there's too many to handle at that moment or just simply for the debuff if they become to hard to hit. Needs lots of accuracy though!

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Fault and Tremor are great powers. I use them almost every time they're up.

But then, I also love Build Up. Mine is slotted 3 recharge and is set on autofire so I dont have to micromanage it. It fires about once per fight, twice if it's a longer one, several times during AV fights. With Build Up and Seismic Smash you can come *this close* to one-shotting minions.

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I did the same...

here is my build btw:

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Exported from Ver: 1.7.5.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder
---------------------------------------------
Name: TerraWolf
Level: 50
Archetype: Tanker
Primary: Stone Armor
Secondary: Stone Melee
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Stone Skin==> DmgRes(1) DmgRes(3) DmgRes(3)
01) --> Stone Fist==> Acc(1) Dmg(7) Rechg(40) Dmg(46)
02) --> Stone Mallet==> Acc(2) Dmg(5) Dmg(9) Rechg(13) Dmg(15)
04) --> Rock Armor==> EndRdx(4) DefBuf(5) DefBuf(7) DefBuf(9) EndRdx(48)
06) --> Earth's Embrace==> Rechg(6) Heal(11) Rechg(13) Heal(17) Heal(19)
08) --> Taunt==> Rechg(8) Range(34)
10) --> Swift==> Run(10) Run(11) Run(15)
12) --> Recall Friend==> IntRdx(12)
14) --> Teleport==> Heal(14) Range(21) Range(37)
16) --> Rooted==> Empty(16) EndRdx(17) Heal(19) Heal(45)
18) --> Health==> Heal(18) Heal(27) Heal(37)
20) --> Stamina==> EndMod(20) EndMod(21) EndMod(23)
22) --> Heavy Mallet==> Acc(22) Dmg(23) Rechg(25) Dmg(34) Dmg(36) EndRdx(46)
24) --> Mud Pots==> EndRdx(24) EndRdx(25) Taunt(29) Dmg(33) Dmg(50)
26) --> Build Up==> Rechg(26) Rechg(27) Rechg(31) TH_Buf(40)
28) --> Hurl Boulder==> Acc(28) Dmg(29) Dmg(31) Dmg(34) Rechg(46)
30) --> Mineral Armor==> EndRdx(30) DefBuf(31) DefBuf(43)
32) --> Granite Armor==> EndRdx(32) DmgRes(33) DmgRes(33) DefBuf(37) EndRdx(48) DmgRes(50)
35) --> Hasten==> Rechg(35) Rechg(36) Rechg(36)
38) --> Tremor==> Acc(38) Dmg(39) Rechg(39) Dmg(39) Dmg(40)
41) --> Seismic Smash==> Acc(41) Dmg(42) Rechg(42) Dmg(42) Rechg(43) Dmg(43)
44) --> Fault==> Acc(44) Rechg(45) DisDur(45)
47) --> Salt Crystals==> Acc(47) Sleep(48)
49) --> Crystal Armor==> EndRdx(49) DefBuf(50)
---------------------------------------------
02) --> Rest==> IntRdx(2)
01) --> Sprint==> Run(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Acc(1)
01) --> Gauntlet==> Empty(1)
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ATTENTION ALL STONERS!!!!!

Guys I know how I hate teleport and I'm sure a lot of you do too, but you have to checkout the TP Bind program below. This thing basically allows you to point and click, it's all described in the guide. I finally have a reason to drop the other travel pools and pick up another two powers!!!

The Ultimate Teleport Bind - The Program

Ok, with the new bind I just posted I've decided to change up my 44 respec build so here's one with taunt, since I have extra room I went ahead and took it. There wasn't a 44 respec with taunt example anyway so here ya go!

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Exported from Ver: 1.7.0.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder
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Name: Roxstar
Level: 50
Archetype: Tanker
Primary: Stone Armor
Secondary: Stone Melee
---------------------------------------------
01 : Stone Skin DmgRes(1)
01 : Stone Fist Acc(1)Dmg(11)Dmg(13)Rechg(13)Dmg(46)
02 : Rock Armor DefBuf(2)DefBuf(3)DefBuf(3)EndRdx(31)
04 : Stone Mallet Acc(4)Dmg(5)Dmg(5)Dmg(11)Rechg(25)EndRdx(37)
06 : Swift Run(6)Run(7)Run(7)
08 : Rooted Heal(8)Heal(9)Heal(9)
10 : Earth's Embrace Heal(10)
12 : Teleport Foe Acc(12)
14 : Teleport Range(14)Range(15)Range(15)
16 : Heavy Mallet Acc(16)Dmg(17)Dmg(17)Dmg(23)EndRdx(29)Rechg(29)
18 : Health Heal(18)Heal(19)Heal(19)
20 : Stamina EndMod(20)EndMod(21)EndMod(21)
22 : Fault Acc(22)Acc(23)Rechg(31)EndRdx(36)DisDur(36)DisDur(37)
24 : Mud Pots EndRdx(24)EndRdx(25)Taunt(33)
26 : Air Superiority Acc(26)Acc(27)Rechg(27)
28 : Hurl Boulder Acc(28)Dmg(31)Dmg(34)Dmg(34)Rechg(34)EndRdx(37)
30 : Taunt Taunt(30)
32 : Granite Armor DmgRes(32)DmgRes(33)DmgRes(33)
35 : Tremor Acc(35)Acc(36)EndRdx(40)Rechg(42)Taunt(43)EndRdx(43)
38 : Seismic Smash Acc(38)Dmg(39)Dmg(39)Dmg(39)EndRdx(40)Rechg(40)
41 : Salt Crystals Acc(41)Acc(42)Acc(42)EndRdx(43)
44 : Fossilize Acc(44)Acc(45)Hold(45)Rechg(45)Hold(46)Hold(46)
47 : Mineral Armor DefBuf(47)DefBuf(48)DefBuf(48)EndRdx(48)
49 : Stalagmites Acc(49)Acc(50)DisDur(50)EndRdx(50)
---------------------------------------------
01 : Power Slide Empty(1)
01 : Sprint EndRdx(1)
01 : Brawl Acc(1)
01 : Gauntlet Empty(1)
02 : Rest EndMod(2)
---------------------------------------------

It would be nice to eliminate having two travel powers. I use that simple bind that lets me just hold down the left shift button and just keep clicking to teleport around. It's really simple and I can get around fast but I really just like to jump around still Something else to think about I guess.

Just a quick question about Seismic Smash; my Stone/Stone tanker on Liberty (Grym) is about to hit level 37, so I'm looking hard at the Level 38 attack power.

I ran into a Level 38 Stone/Stone the other day, and he showed me Seismic Smash (which looked pretty good from my end), but said it 'sucked' and that he was planning on respec-ing it out asap.

However, I thought (but didn't say) at the time, since he was only Level 38, he would only have the one slot on it, so perhaps it's a power that needs to be nearly or fully slotted to bloom?

Anyone else have any thoughts on it?

Thanks!

Yeah out of the box it doesn't do it's full potential damage, also it costs a lot of end. I slotted it (in order) acc/dam/dam/end/dam/rech all by level 40. For a stone tank we don't do a lot of damage and this is one of the biggest melee hitters in the game. Also it has a 100% chance to hold right after you hit your target. I would try to talk him into not dropping it!

Okay, glad to hear it, thanks!

I just hit 38 the other day with my stoner and I was so excited to get SS! I immediately ran to a group of Council and first swung my Heavy Mallet at him (3 damage enhancements) and did about 278 damage. I then bashed that same council good with my newly aquired SS (ZERO damage enhancements) and did 207 damage!!! and also took about 1/6 of my endurance meter So when that skill is slotted up correctly, it's gonna be so much fun!

On a side note, it looked like the guys I hit were being disoriented (same as being held?) as they had the same animation above thier heads as when I hit them with Stone Fist or Fault.

Another side note, when you hit with SS and there is that graphic effect that moves out in a circular pattern from the impact zone outward (simialr to what Tremor looks like), is there some type of AoE there? or is that purely for looks?

1) Yes it looks like a disorient but it's actually a hold...well it acts more like a sleep 'cause if you hit a guy with another attack right after you hit him with Seismic the hold seems to not last as long as if you attack someone else.

note: You should be doing tab - hit - tab - hit - tab - hit anyway!

2) From my experience, no it's not AoE...I've never seen another baddie that was affected by Seismic other than the one I hit.

Just an update, I took Seismic Smash at L38, and so far I love it.

I have it slotted with only 1 L40 Acc SO so far; the damage is about the same as my 3-Damage-SO Stone Fist, and there is something VERY satisfying about hitting a L41 Paragon Protector and STUNNING him (only a few seconds, but hey, I'm only L38).

I can't wait to see what it does with 3 Damage SO's!

Thanks for the advice and encouragement!

One thought about your latest build. I would try and fit in minerals before 47. There are a few psi-specific missions that is nice to have minerals for in your forties, well before 47.

I'm interested in why you have only chosen to slot Granite for three Resistance enhancements. Surely six-slotting to include three Resist and three Defence enhancements plays to both strengths of this power rather than ignoring one. I combined this boosted Defence with Weave (since I already had Tough in my build) though it does feel like overkill on most teams. All the same, if Granite offers you both Defence and Resistance, shouldn't you slot for both?

Slotting of grante is highly debated on the tanker forums. Some say to slot it 3 RES and 3 DEF to maximize your defense. Then others like myself will just slot it with just 3 RES. My reasoing for this is because when you have your SO's in Granite and Stone Skin you come extremely close to capping all your resistances. (93% S/L & 78% C/F/E/NE/T)

With the regeneration from Rooted & Health, what little damage you do take can be healed fairly quickly. When you're in really bad situations just pop off Earth's Embrace. I like to have a full attack chain so that I'm not bored in Granite so I dedicate those extra 3 slots to my attacks.

Now if you would like to be a true meatshield tank then slot all your defenses for everything they're worth but that can be very boring for a stone tank unless you team up with a kinetics defender a lot.

Just in case anyone is curious here's a sample meatsheild build. I wouldn't suggest using this to level since there aren't many attacks until late game. This is something I would only use once I've hit 50 and want to just tank for my team. This is completely against everything I've said in my guide simply because I don't like to be a taunt-bot. However, some people like this style of play so I thought I'd throw it out there.

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Exported from Ver: 1.7.5.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder
---------------------------------------------
Name: Roxstar
Level: 50
Archetype: Tanker
Primary: Stone Armor
Secondary: Stone Melee
---------------------------------------------
01 : Stone Skin DmgRes(1)DmgRes(11)DmgRes(13)
01 : Stone Fist Acc(1)
02 : Rock Armor DefBuf(2)DefBuf(3)DefBuf(3)EndRdx(46)
04 : Earth's Embrace Rechg(4)Rechg(5)Rechg(5)Heal(13)Heal(34)
06 : Swift Run(6)Run(7)Run(7)
08 : Rooted Heal(8)Heal(9)Heal(9)EndRdx(50)
10 : Taunt Rechg(10)Rechg(11)Rechg(31)Taunt(42)
12 : Recall Friend Range(12)
14 : Teleport EndRdx(14)Range(15)Range(15)
16 : Health Heal(16)Heal(17)Heal(17)
18 : Crystal Armor DefBuf(18)DefBuf(19)DefBuf(19)EndRdx(46)
20 : Stamina EndMod(20)EndMod(21)EndMod(21)
22 : Mud Pots EndRdx(22)EndRdx(23)Taunt(23)Taunt(25)
24 : Fault Acc(24)Acc(25)Rechg(37)Rechg(42)
26 : Mineral Armor DefBuf(26)DefBuf(27)DefBuf(27)EndRdx(50)
28 : Brimstone Armor DmgRes(28)DmgRes(29)DmgRes(29)EndRdx(46)
30 : Provoke Acc(30)Acc(31)Rechg(31)Rechg(37)Taunt(42)
32 : Granite Armor DmgRes(32)DmgRes(33)DmgRes(33)DefBuf(33)DefBuf(34)DefBuf(34)
35 : Tremor Acc(35)Acc(36)EndRdx(36)Rechg(36)Rechg(37)Taunt(40)
38 : Seismic Smash Acc(38)Acc(39)Dmg(39)Dmg(39)Dmg(40)Rechg(40)
41 : Char Acc(41)Acc(43)Hold(43)Hold(43)Hold(45)Rechg(45)
44 : Fire Blast Acc(44)Empty(45)
47 : Fire Ball Acc(47)Acc(48)EndRdx(48)Rechg(48)Rechg(50)
49 : Hurl Boulder Acc(49)
---------------------------------------------
01 : Power Slide Empty(1)
01 : Sprint Run(1)
01 : Brawl Acc(1)
01 : Gauntlet Empty(1)
02 : Rest Rechg(2)
---------------------------------------------

[ QUOTE ]
One thought about your latest build. I would try and fit in minerals before 47. There are a few psi-specific missions that is nice to have minerals for in your forties, well before 47.

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Lol, well I've already done my respec and now that I have I wish I would've put fossilize back til 47 and taken Minerals at 44. Fossilize doesn't last long (though I'm only 44 so it's not slotted up yet) and I never really noticed the difference without minerals before.

I took too many people's advice where they said you could do carnie missions with just Rooted and Rock Armor. Which you can, until you get to the boss! Heh, oh well I'll wait for the free respec from I7 to switch 'em...if we get one.

Great guide. I just hit lvl 32 tonight with my stone tanker and am getting ready to respec him and get rid of crystal armor and add in another attack.

What I wanna ask about is slotting for accuracy. I notice the builds have 1 acc in them generally. Right now my attack chain is stone fist and heavy mallet with hurl boulder in there when I need it all slotted with 1acc. First of all with those attacks and RA, mudpots, and Rooted running I burn through end pretty fast. And that's with 3-slotted stamina. I think alot of the problem is I miss. ALOT. It is frustrating. I'd dare say my attacks miss at least 50% of the time. I notice this obviously more when I'm soloing. I have my difficulty set to Invulnerable so I'm fighting oranges-purples mostly.

This causes a problem for me with mobs like the DE. I just started fighting them tonight and the purple bosses(lvl 34 to my lvl 32) will summon eminators a second time before I have a chance to kill them. And by then I'm sorely hurting on endurance. I pop inspirations like crazy, but sometimes towards the end of the mission, you're out of yellows and blues. So should I be slotting a second acc into my attack powers? Are most of you all soloing on the highest difficulty as well? Do you have problems with missing alot? I know ig I hit more, that would solve alot of problems. Then again, I just might be soloing outside my ability range. Experiences? Suggestions?