Low survivability is relative. Yeah, /Fire will have lower survivability than /Axe, but WP is robust and well rounded set. I never found survivability to be much of an issue, but I did do a lot of soloing outside of TFs. Almost any trouble I ran into I could take care of with a luck or two. Something else to consider - knockdowns won't help you against AVs anyways. (I don't have any experience with /Ace and I'm not trying to knock it - just that in certain situations the advantage goes away.)
Btw, one annoying thing about /Fire is the damage is a bit backloaded. Incinerate / GFS are your big single target attacks, but not available until 35/38. Fire Sword Circle, another staple, doesn't come into play until 28. (I personally used BoF to help while leveling up and with my first IO build - I did a lot of solo herding and leveraging AoEs. It's efficiency isn't too bad as a makeshift single target attack, either.)
WP/Fire is a great combination, though. I love mine.
Both are fine choices. I've played them both and enjoyed them both.
If you're concerned about Fire's lack of control, do what I usually do anyways and take Air Superiority and Fly as your travel power. I take AirSup even with the weapon sets because the near certain knockdown is quite helpful.
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Ive decided to make my 1st serious tank and planned to go with Will Power primary however Im not sure on the secondary. The following is my perception.
Axe: Low tank damage, High survivability due to Knockdown
Fire: High tank damage, Low survivability due to no Knockdown effect
Just looking for any recommendations and whether my perception is correct or is one better than the other for Teaming and/or Solo play. I would add Air Superiority with Fire Melee.