Shield/Fire
He will honor his words; he will definitely carry out his actions. What he promises he will fulfill. He does not care about his bodily self, putting his life and death aside to come forward for another's troubled besiegement. He does not boast about his ability, or shamelessly extol his own virtues. - Sima Qian.
If you want a damage dealing tank, you'll want one of the elementals: Ice, Dark, Electric, or Fire; or you'll want Shield Defense since it's PBAOE taunt boosts damage.
Ice is my personal favorite for team tanking. With energy absorption, icicles, and chilling embrace, Ice Armor can be really, really, really hard to pull aggro off of. It's also one of the few sets that can cap Smashing / Lethal defense on SO's (native defense + EA + weave). If you couple Ice Armor with a strong PBAOE set like Fire Melee or Mace you'll mow through most enemies. Ice's aggro capabilities and ability to soft cap it's Smash / Lethal defense is offset by the lack of any resistance offered by the set. Anything that DOES make it through the armor is going to hit for full damage.
Elec, Dark, and Fire are both primarily resist sets. They largely determine how much damage you take when you get hit. Electric is really the best tanking set. It packs higher resists than Dark or Fire, offers a Willpower like regen with Energize, and offers better mez protection than Dark or Fire.
Shield is a mixture of resists and defenses. On paper you could soft cap the defenses with SO's... providing you always get the full benefit of team-mates playing close to you. If you have the influence / merits to work with IO's you can soft cap the defenses even when Phalanx Fighting isn't being utilized. The lack of a damage aura though means that Shield defense's aoe taunt doesn't build against gauntlet. My Spines / Fire scrapper can yank aggro away from Shield Tanks on a regular basis... something to keep in mind.
Personally I'd say that Ice or Elec are your two best options for team tanking.
What have you tried? That may help get some better advice back.
I have found found as a Invul/, Dark Armor/, and Willpower/. I have a baby elec armor/ now too, that seems promising.
Damage, the word on the street I've always heard is that is super strength is the way to go. Never tried it.
Advice you have above implies some other choices.
City of Heroes was my first MMO, & my favorite computer game.
R.I.P.
Chyll - Bydand - Violynce - Enyrgos - Rylle - Nephryte - Solyd - Fettyr - Hyposhock - Styrling - Beryllos - Rosyc
Horryd - Myriam - Dysquiet - Ghyr
Vanysh - Eldrytch
Inflyct - Mysron - Orphyn - Dysmay - Reapyr - - Wyldeman - Hydeous
Chyll: The reason why some people say go Super Strength for damage is that the power-set comes with Rage which boosts damage. However, what a lot of Super Strength tankers overlook is that Super Strength Needs the Rage power in order to deliver the same punch as other tank types.
E.G. : First primary attack : Melee
Jab @ lvl 1 = 6.5 damage
Jab @ lvl 25 = 18.68 damage
Jab @ lvl 50 = 30.25 damage
Scorch @ lvl 1 = 8.06 damage + 3 x .96
Scorch @ lvl 25 = 23.07 damage + 3 x 2.75
Scorch @ lvl 50 = 37.37 damage + 3 x 4.45
Bash @ lvl 1 = 9.60 damage
Bash @ lvl 25 = 27.47 damage
Bash @ lvl 50 = 44.49 damage
***
E.G. : Final PBAOE attack
Foot Stomp @ lvl 38 = 55.78 damage
Foot Stomp @ lvl 50 = 63.17
Fire Sword Circle @ lvl 28 = 54.24 (avg) damage
Fire Sword Circle @ lvl 38 = 70.17 (avg) damage
Fire Sword Circle @ lvl 50 = 79.46 (avg) damage
Crowd Control @ lvl 38 = 63.24 damage
Crowd Control @ lvl 50 = 71.63 damage
***
And the pattern repeats for pretty much every power. Super Strength, as an attack set, is down on every single attack when compared to other attack sets. Thus the Super Strength set needs the Rage power in order to deliver the same DPS as other attack sets.
Yea, I should have mentioned that I would like to use SS as my 2ndary. I love knowing I have the strenght of my childhood superhero, the legendary Superman. (Sorry for the corniness)
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The people that skip over superstrength for recommended secondaries forget the increased damage efficiency and final accuracy check of superstength once rage is included and all the slotting benefits that can create, how those beneifts transfer to primary and epic powers like shield charge and fireball, and the fact that footstomp is tied with tremor as the largest AE attack in a tanker's secondary in terms of area covered.|
Originally Posted by Chyll
Damage, the word on the street I've always heard is that is super strength is the way to go. Never tried it.
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Then we get someone trying to pass crowd control off as a PBAE
A major problem with superstrength is the total lack of AE damage until 38. It's a rather long investment.
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In that case, Inv/SS is the classic, high concept combination, and works quite well as a lead tank for a team. Invulnerability can be built to be close to Stone in toughness, without any of its aesthetic or playstyle annoyances, nor dependence on certain otherwise highly overrated powersets in your teammates. It has no problems holding aggro at all. |
Originally Posted by Orehrepus
Yea, I should have mentioned that I would like to use SS as my 2ndary. I love knowing I have the strenght of my childhood superhero, the legendary Superman. (Sorry for the corniness)
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If you want a punching set that makes you even tougher, Inv/Dark Melee is the way to go. Having a fast if small self-heal in your attack set is going to make you quite hard to defeat.
For all around functionality, Shield/Electric is flavor of the month with good reason. This won't make you as tough as Invulnerability, but Shield is quite adequately tough, and has more layering than the other defense based set (Ice). And fewer aesthetic annoyances, since concept seems to be important to you. Where this shines is on teams that want to steamroll or that are being led by controller pets. You get two big, targeted AoEs to help take charge of multiple spawn aggro. And your aura is quite adequate as well. You will solo well, do more damage than most tankers, and be an asset to your team as well with this combo.
Those are my three current favorites for team utility tanking. I am also a big fan of Willpower, which is also very concept friendly, and a lot more fun to level. But it is somewhat harder to play well, and requires a lot more pro-activity; its usefulness is contingent on not only your own play style but your teammates' as well. The chief difficulty is that its taunt aura does not last very long, so you need to be very busy with taunt, and it favors AoE based sets. If every time you play your tanker you will have the backup of a full team, you'll find Invulnerability gives you an easier time.
<《 New Colchis / Guides / Mission Architect 》>
"At what point do we say, 'You're mucking with our myths'?" - Harlan Ellison
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I agree with most of this - the major differance between Shield and Invuln IMO is that Inv is tougher against most damage types but has a psi hole. Shields isn't quite as tough as Invuln in most cirmumstance but is still very durable and has no weakness to any damage type including psi.|
Originally Posted by Heraclea
In that case, Inv/SS is the classic, high concept combination, and works quite well as a lead tank for a team. Invulnerability can be built to be close to Stone in toughness, without any of its aesthetic or playstyle annoyances, nor dependence on certain otherwise highly overrated powersets in your teammates. It has no problems holding aggro at all.
If you want a punching set that makes you even tougher, Inv/Dark Melee is the way to go. Having a fast if small self-heal in your attack set is going to make you quite hard to defeat. For all around functionality, Shield/Electric is flavor of the month with good reason. This won't make you as tough as Invulnerability, but Shield is quite adequately tough, and has more layering than the other defense based set (Ice). And fewer aesthetic annoyances, since concept seems to be important to you. Where this shines is on teams that want to steamroll or that are being led by controller pets. You get two big, targeted AoEs to help take charge of multiple spawn aggro. And your aura is quite adequate as well. You will solo well, do more damage than most tankers, and be an asset to your team as well with this combo. Those are my three current favorites for team utility tanking. I am also a big fan of Willpower, which is also very concept friendly, and a lot more fun to level. But it is somewhat harder to play well, and requires a lot more pro-activity; its usefulness is contingent on not only your own play style but your teammates' as well. The chief difficulty is that its taunt aura does not last very long, so you need to be very busy with taunt, and it favors AoE based sets. If every time you play your tanker you will have the backup of a full team, you'll find Invulnerability gives you an easier time. |
In the case of Ice - Chilling Embrace more than makes up for a lack of resistance, the -recharge and -damage equates to 46% resist to all damage from mobs in melee.
L50s: Tanks: Cryofission - Ice/EM - Dr Celsius - Fire/Ice - Saint George - SD/SS | Controllers: Psichosis - Ill/Kin - Major Chaos - Ill/Stm | Scrappers - Neutron Crusader - DM/SR
Currently Levelling: Angelic Blade - BS/WP Scrapper | Seeds of Destruction - Plant/Kin Controller
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Thanks, not having played it I never really looked at the set, just the general comments. That helps improve my information.
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Originally Posted by je_saist
Chyll: The reason why some people say go Super Strength for damage is that the power-set comes with Rage which boosts damage. However, what a lot of Super Strength tankers overlook is that Super Strength Needs the Rage power in order to deliver the same punch as other tank types.
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City of Heroes was my first MMO, & my favorite computer game.
R.I.P.
Chyll - Bydand - Violynce - Enyrgos - Rylle - Nephryte - Solyd - Fettyr - Hyposhock - Styrling - Beryllos - Rosyc
Horryd - Myriam - Dysquiet - Ghyr
Vanysh - Eldrytch
Inflyct - Mysron - Orphyn - Dysmay - Reapyr - - Wyldeman - Hydeous
I'll toss out Inv/Fire, and Inv/WM, as two tankers that'll take a beating and dish out damage. Both have some good ST and excellent AoE damage, and Inv can take a helluva beating. Soft-capped, you'll be unstoppable.
They ALL float down here. When you're down here with us, you'll float too!
@Starflier
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That's not quite the same as the first post. /SS will give you something favoured in PvP but in PvE the Smash damage type could be the most commonly resisted. So Shield/SS/Pyre then.
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Originally Posted by Orehrepus
Yea, I should have mentioned that I would like to use SS as my 2ndary. I love knowing I have the strenght of my childhood superhero, the legendary Superman. (Sorry for the corniness)
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He will honor his words; he will definitely carry out his actions. What he promises he will fulfill. He does not care about his bodily self, putting his life and death aside to come forward for another's troubled besiegement. He does not boast about his ability, or shamelessly extol his own virtues. - Sima Qian.
What do you mean by a team tank? What that means to me is Damage is not that important to you because you have a team backing you up. It also means things like Herding and absorbing damage are going to be important. Finally being a team tank usually means holding AGGRO is going to be a priority. Is this what you are looking for? If not....what?
Shield/War Mace is excellent!
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Emphasis mine.|
Originally Posted by je_saist
Chyll: The reason why some people say go Super Strength for damage is that the power-set comes with Rage which boosts damage. However, what a lot of Super Strength tankers overlook is that Super Strength Needs the Rage power in order to deliver the same punch as other tank types.
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This statement isn't true on a per power basis. Some might work out that way, but that's because of their recharge - not any inherent flaw with SS. Let's look at your examples:
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Originally Posted by je_saist
E.G. : First primary attack : Melee
Jab @ lvl 1 = 6.5 damage Jab @ lvl 25 = 18.68 damage Jab @ lvl 50 = 30.25 damage Scorch @ lvl 1 = 8.06 damage + 3 x .96 Scorch @ lvl 25 = 23.07 damage + 3 x 2.75 Scorch @ lvl 50 = 37.37 damage + 3 x 4.45 Bash @ lvl 1 = 9.60 damage Bash @ lvl 25 = 27.47 damage Bash @ lvl 50 = 44.49 damage |
Punch @lvl50 - 44.49 dmg (4s rech)
Bash @lvl50 - 44.49 dmg (4s rech)
Stone Fist @lvl50 - 44.49 dmg (4s rech)
Energy Punch @lvl50 - 44.49 dmg (4s rech)
Haymaker @lvl50 - 72.96 dmg (8s rech)
Pulverize @lvl50 - 72.96 dmg (8s rech)
Stone Mallet @lvl50 - 72.96 dmg (8s rech)
Bone Smasher @lvl50 - 72.96 dmg (8s rech)
KO Blow @lvl50 - 158.38 dmg (20s rech)
Seismic Smash @lvl50 - 158.38 dmg (20s rech)
Total Focus @lvl50 - 158.38 dmg (20s rech)
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Originally Posted by je_saist
E.G. : Final PBAOE attack
Foot Stomp @ lvl 38 = 55.78 damage Foot Stomp @ lvl 50 = 63.17 Fire Sword Circle @ lvl 28 = 54.24 (avg) damage Fire Sword Circle @ lvl 38 = 70.17 (avg) damage Fire Sword Circle @ lvl 50 = 79.46 (avg) damage Crowd Control @ lvl 38 = 63.24 damage Crowd Control @ lvl 50 = 71.63 damage |
Foot Stomp @lvl50 - 63.17 dmg (20s rech, 15ft radius)
Frozen Aura @lvl50 - 63.17 dmg (20s rech, 10ft radius)
Foot Stomp is balanced as only having a 10ft radius, instead of its current 15ft. (It should only deal 48.73 dmg or have a 26.59s rech given its current radius. No, I'm not asking for a nerf, just stating the facts.)
Fire Sword Circle (sans the dot, which is it's perk like FS's knockdown) deals 68.96 dmg. It also only has a 10ft radius.
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| And the pattern repeats for pretty much every power. Super Strength, as an attack set, is down on every single attack when compared to other attack sets. Thus the Super Strength set needs the Rage power in order to deliver the same DPS as other attack sets. |
I would normally say Fire/fire tank but, there's not a lot of flexibility in it "anymore" because of all the damn nerfs lol. I still have a lot of fun with it and fire fire probably uses the most tactics of all the tanks but it's nice to have something with a little bit more strength in it without having to go to the pool powers. Shield/Fire has always sounded like a good combo to me, if you want to go the offensive damage way.
If your looking for a good strong and durable tank go with Invul. or WP.
Then there is the stone tanker....lol The tank that doesn't die but relys heavily on his teammates for damage and the holy SB!!!
A lot of options and really any tanker can be turned into a team tank, I mean they kinda are built for it since this is a "MMO" The most fun and probably best way to go I think is with shield armor and have a really good damage power set like FIRE!!
EDIT: also Fire/Ice tankers are great once they get their burn and ice patch thing lol
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MAIN: Desi Boy> Level 51 Fire/Fire Tank
Super Group: C.O.R.E.
Tanking since 05'
Vigilante
MAIN: Desi Boy> Level 51 Fire/Fire Tank
Super Group: C.O.R.E.
Tanking since 05'
Vigilante
I keep thinking of deleting my lvl 44 stone/stone, its too frustrating to play. Being defeated by a kerb is ultra lame.
I really want to play a team tank but I just can't find the set I want after tinkering 'round. I never solo and want a decent damage dealing tank. I'm not picky. Please throw at me some good ideas. Thanks guys and gals!