Tough and weave can significantly help you, though I have a hard time suggesting anything over footstomp.
I had tough and weave on my shield tanker as he was leveling up, but quickly grew tired of the restricted power choices, and opted for a few IO sets to up his melee and ranged defense numbers.
On that topic, if you're not too keen on IO sets, then tough and weave will use up a significant chunk of your endurance recovery.
That's coming from someone that would rather have fireball, so take that how you will.
Im still using SO but i'll buy IO's sets as soon as i'll reach lvl 50 (i never buy IO's set before lvl 50).
I never tried footstomp but i was thinking to try it on test server and maybe get it when i'll do a respec (dropping hurl).
Well... i think i'll skip ancilliary powers to focus on fighting pool powers
I don't have a SD/SS, but my WP/SS is level 47. I have found Foot Stomp to be very useful. I'd highly recommend it. with Shield Charge I think Foot stomp would add even more to damage mitigation. I also have the fighting pool and haven't regretted it. From what I have read on SD guides Fighting pool is a good choice. I too do not really care for the Tanker epics, but Conserver Power is nice. Focused Accuracy is good too, but it is another toggle and with IO bonus' you probably won't need it often. Hope this helps you out.
Footstomp is gooooooooood. I seriously dont know how people could live without it.
It is fast recharge (hasten + 3 recharge SO, u can have it up every 8 seconds. Can get it down to 6 sec with IOs).
Good dmg (i hit level 53 bosses for 100+ dmg).
Good dmg migration tool. (The more the enemy spend time on their butt, the less dmg u take.)
*****-proof skill to use. (As main tank, u will be surrounded by enemies ALL the time. All u need is to press 1 button, no need to target, no need to select position to attack)
I usually jump into a grp of mob, hit Footstomp to gain aggro, wait till I am surrounded then hit Shield Charge for max dmg. (Maximise dmg buff from AAO) The KB effect of Footstomp is negligible, esp on bosses.
I left out Hurl from my build because I used taunt as my main pulling skill (1 slot with accuracy) Plan to take it after I respec, being able to throw rocks at people just seems too cool to miss.
Weaving and tough is great for SO builds but I am currently saving up inf for IOs, so that I could drop them for something else. Also, tough and weaving drains quite a bit of your end. Rage crash is the main issue which I have so far with my SD/SS, so lesser toggle will help alot (so does conserve energy).
Opinion is heresy.
I went with Air Superiority and Flight over Combat Jumping & Super-jump, which hurts me a bit, defensively, but I can't recall the last time I died outside of some of those nutty AE missions. Of course, I did manage to luck into the +3% defense IO recipe early on.
But my SD/SS tanker is only 35, so I have a little more room to go. At this point, I really doubt I'm going to take Hand Clap, and I might skip Hurl as well, but I'll almost certainly get Foot Stomp, and One With the Shield. Of course, if I take OWtS, I'll have every SD power. (I took Grant Cover because even though I only group up rarely, it is very nice to have to help protect the squishies if I'm not holding everything's attention.)
Quote:
For me, I skipped both Grant Cover and OWtS. |
Originally Posted by Kierthos
I went with Air Superiority and Flight over Combat Jumping & Super-jump, which hurts me a bit, defensively, but I can't recall the last time I died outside of some of those nutty AE missions. Of course, I did manage to luck into the +3% defense IO recipe early on.
But my SD/SS tanker is only 35, so I have a little more room to go. At this point, I really doubt I'm going to take Hand Clap, and I might skip Hurl as well, but I'll almost certainly get Foot Stomp, and One With the Shield. Of course, if I take OWtS, I'll have every SD power. (I took Grant Cover because even though I only group up rarely, it is very nice to have to help protect the squishies if I'm not holding everything's attention.) |
I skipped Grant Cover becos when I am the first 1 to jump into a grp, I usually has no issue holding aggro. If I missed some, taunting will cover the rest.
As for OWtS, I just don't like having a skill which I can't put recharge enhancement in. Besides that, I have yet to find a need for the skill. Even when I am tanking level 54 bosses in AE, I rarely die. If you're properly IOed (not referring to those 3 billion dollar builds, of cos), it shldnt be hard for you to tank a grp of 54 bosses for around 3-4 mins by yourself (of cos, with the help of some blue and green insp for times which I keep with me most of the time).
The only time I see a need of this skill if you are tanking AVs but then again, usually you will not bring a PUG and you shld be covered in terms of heals + buffs in such situation.
Anyway, if you have weaving + tough running, as a SD tank, you should be able to survive long enough most situation even if you are not IOed. Unless you are tanking a map with lots of def debuff mob. In such a case, I usually drop really fast if not assisted.
Opinion is heresy.
Oh! forgot to ask about this:
How reduce endurance cost works on rage and Owts?
they drain a lot of endurance when they vanish... what happen if i put reduce endurance cost enhancements on them? do they reduce the activation cost or the vanish cost?
No. 
ehm... no what? :/
I love yes/no answers to either or questions.
No, endurance reduction enhancements don't reduce the severity of the crash. Yes, they reduce the cost of the activation.
Yeah, that was indeed a stupid answer from my side.
Dersk is right and IMO Endurance Reduction is wasted on Rage.
This is my first tanker (i usually play trollers, blaster, defender..) and she's still lvl 39...
I would like to get some advice:
I picked up every power of SD pool (but Grant Cover) and Jab, Haymaker, Taunt, Knockout Blow, Rage and Hurl from SS pool.
Plus, i picked up:
- Fitness (swift, health, stamina)
- Leap (CJ, SJ)
- Speed (Hasten)
At lvl 41 i'll have to pick up a new power and im still not sure..
I dont like any Ancilliary pools, they seems totally used to me.. (i just like conserve power from energy pool).. so i was thinking about Fighting pool
What do you think about that? is it useful?
My defense and resistance ability are not that great, as a tanker i feel weak, large groups of purple foes can easily beat me :/
I would like to know if Weave and tough could help me to get tougher than i am now..
How many + def and + res do those powers give?i mean %...
Do they drain many endurance? (cause i already have some endurance problem..)
I could get Boxing (41), Tough (44), Weave (47) and conserve energy (49)
Is it a good idea? any better advice?