Take it. Even if you don't put any slots in it, or ever have any teammates in range, it's an endurance-free 5% Defense to stack with your other armors. If you ever do get a teammate in range, it provides even more of a boost.
I have taken it on my Tanker, and solo most of the time with him.
Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
"I was just the one with the most unsolicited sombrero." - Traegus
Yes, 5% is very sizable for the cost (one power pick, zero endurance, zero necessary extra slots).
Cool, I didn't read the 5% base goodness, that does make it much more worth it. Does slotting effect this number? Potentially getting it up to 8% with no friends around?
Nope. Enhancements only affect the buff you get with other teammates in the area. The 5% base is always 5%.
Well poo. Thats all I have to say about that.
There are other things you could slot into it, if you have the funds.
Kismet: +6% to-hit
LOTG: +7.5 Recharge
Gift of the Ancients: +7.5 Run Speed
Other than that, I would put a regular Defense IO into it in case you ever do Tank and a scrapper comes by, its just bonus defense.
You could put in more slots to get a set bonus, but I think you'll find other powers that you can put your slots into.
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Phalanx Fighting, are you worth it?
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I took it without a second thought.
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And Grant cover...I'm looking at you next... I don't feel like you're necessary, but maybe someone on here will tell me otherwise.
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This is the ONLY power in the primary that I skipped. No regrets.
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Could I get by with out One with the Shield? I've really never been crazy about powers that have a "crash".
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You can skip any of the Tier 9's. This one isn't a particularly powerful one. However, this is offset by the extreme MILDNESS of the 'crash'. See how the tank is without it. You don't have to decide now, or in advance. And if you take it and hate it, you can always respec.
Paragon City Search And Rescue
The Mentor Project
i also took it and have no regrets
Apparently Grant Cover takes on a greater importance later on if/when you go up against mobs that debuff defense, stacking its Defense Debuff resistance with Active Defense and Deflection.
I haven't compared it yet to see what the realistic differences are but other Shield Tankers seem to swear by it.
Grant Cover and OWtS are slated for my last two power picks (currently lvl34). Grant Cover for the Defense Debuff Resistance, and OWtS for a preemptive "Oh [censored]" button on high-end TF runs.
Victory: @Brimstone Bruce
Brimstone Bruce (lvl50 Stone/Fire Tanker) Broadside Bruce (lvl50 Shield/WM Tanker)
Ultionis (lvl50 Dark/Dark Defender) Cortex Crusher (lvl50 Mind/Kin Controller)
Patronox (lvl50 Kat/Dark Scrapper) Harbinger Mk.7 (lvl50 Bots/FF MM)
NightShift for Life.
After mulling around ideas for my shield tank, I finally figured out what I wanted to give a shot. But my question becomes this:
eflection
?) Combat jumping? Phalanx Fighting? Swift/Hurdle?
Phalanx Fighting, are you worth it?
It seems like I essentially have to be right on top of a teammate to get anything other than the 5% base buff, and getting someone on top of me is...inconvenient at best, and downright uncomfortable at worst. So do I take the power? Will my defensive stats be hurting without it?
I'm looking to come "reasonably" close to softcapping, which means I'd be happy with 40% def Melee/AoE/Range, because I'm really just looking to be able to handle non-AE content.
I'm planning on getting tough/weave for more def, I already have combat jumping, and oh yeah, my secondary is DM for the -tohit stacking with defense.
All that being said, my build as of level 12 (haven't gotten the power yet) looks like this:
1
1:Shadow Fist (I can't even remember if thats the right name)
2:True Grit
4:Shadow Maul
6:Battle Agility
8:Against all Odds
10:Active Defense
12
My goal is tanking Posi after this level up, not sure if I'll be main tank, or simply just running it to knock it out, but next would be Synapse and on up thru TFs, so any suggestions on powers would be great.
And Grant cover...I'm looking at you next... I don't feel like you're necessary, but maybe someone on here will tell me otherwise.
Final Question! (This turned out longer than I thought it would)
Could I get by with out One with the Shield? I've really never been crazy about powers that have a "crash". I don't really have any experience with them, but for some reason they just give me a bad feeling. I also feel like if I'm even close to soft-capped, I shouldnt need an "I win" button, because i should be winning all the time.
Anyway, I appreciate any help I recieve, and ideally I would like to get Taunt in to my build, and I am willing to sacrifice a movement power for it (since CJ/Hurdle is surprisingly quick)