Shield/axe or Shield/SS tanker for farming

I really would like to know if Shield axe or Shield/SS tanks are better for soloing +2/8person mobs

Superstrength hands down. Footstomp isn't called one the best AoEs in the game for no reason. Mob saturated Against All Odds+Rage is a thing of beauty.

For running 8 man spawns your best bet is to have as much AOE damage as possible... to me that sounds like Shield/Fire actually. Of the two you listed I believe Axe has more AOE than SS... the only AOE SS has is Foot Stomp; admittedly a nice attack.

Axe has two AOE attacks, Whirling Axe is a PBAOE dealing 44 base damage and a 14 second recharge while Pendulum is a melee cone dealing 84 base damage and 15 seconds recharge.

Foot Stomp is a PBAOE dealing 63 base damage on a 20 second recharge timer; the only AOE in Super Strength. Looking at those numbers Axe looks like a better choice with 2 AOE's, both of which have faster recharge and one of which does more damage. However, Foot Stomp DOES have a considerably larger radius (15') vs the 8' radius of Whirling Axe and the 180 degree cone of Pendulum.

To contrast those sets Fire has 3 AOE attacks, Combustion is a 15' radius PBAOE doing 57 base damage on a 15 second timer. Fire Sword Circle is a 10' radius PBAOE doing 83 base damage on a 20 second timer. Breath of Fire is a VERY narrow cone (realistically nearly a straight line) with a 15' range doing 74 base damage on a 10 second timer.

Unfortunately I can only speak from experience on the Fire set as I've never played Axe or SS to any significant level... for those sets I'm having to go by the numbers in Mids'.

i picked between axe and SS because they both have knock up and knock down. This helps minimize incoming dmg fire doesn't. I'm still torn between rage or massive aoe of axe along with good ST dmg. I know foot stomp is good but it comes so late and its your only aoe in that set. So im sorta leaning towards axe but i just relize DM might be good too.

If you are talking about farming, with the best efficiency, aren't you talking about farming about lvl 50? I don't see how the late lvl acquisition of Footstomp is an issue if you are already level 50.

What about Electric for the second Shield Charge-like power, Lightning Rod?

My personal experience with level 50 /SS (although it's Inv/SS) and level 50 Shield/Axe is that Axe has more knockdown and more AoE powers to click -- three if you count Cleave (Cleave can be used as an AoE with a little kiting; so far the most I've hit with one Cleave is 7, although 10 is the theoretical limit.)

The only real annoyance with Axe is that Pendulum is limited to 5 targets max, unlike War Mace's equivalent power. However, Pendulum is very, very nice.

There's no doubt that Rage and AAO would be a killer combo...I just find it a tad frustrating waiting for Footstomp to cycle. It's psychologically easier to swing the Axe a few more times.

I'd roll Shield/SS instead of Shield/Axe or Shield/Fire.
For large spawns (farming), AoE radius is a major factor and when mobs start to wander around.
A 15' radius AoE covers almost 4 times the area of a 8' radius AoE.
In the case of Foot Stomp you can also potentially reach more targets and tag them with gauntlet (up to the taunt cap only ofc).

Assuming a time frame of 30 seconds max per spawn as well as some help for global recharge, e.g.Hasten etc.
Shield Charge 20' radius, base recharge 90 sec = usuable 1x per spawn
Foot Stomp 15' radius, base recharge 20 sec = usuable 3-5x per spawn
Fire Ball 15' radius, base recharge 32 sec = usuable 2-3x per spawn
That's just some very rough numbers here...

Rage is boosting Footstomp, Shield Charge and Fire Ball by +80-160% damage, depending if you stack it (which you probably should even if it's just to prevent the -def on a crash).
I would probably go point blank, do your first stomp, fire ball, shield charge, 2nd foot stomp, then pick on Lts and bosses with ST attacks

my 2 inf

elec is alittle meh when it comes to damage...the best way to combat that is to roll a brute honestly..you should see what my elec melee / wp brute does at full fury with lightning rod...its awesome!..

however without it it kinda misses'

aao and bu is nice an all.but it wont be enough

Uhm... Munecaroon, I think you misread CMA's post....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Call Me Awesome To contrast those sets Fire has 3 AOE attacks, Combustion is a 15' radius PBAOE doing 57 base damage on a 15 second timer. Fire Sword Circle is a 10' radius PBAOE doing 83 base damage on a 20 second timer. Breath of Fire is a VERY narrow cone (realistically nearly a straight line) with a 15' range doing 74 base damage on a 10 second timer.

so you might want to include those in your example below.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by munecaroon Assuming a time frame of 30 seconds max per spawn as well as some help for global recharge, e.g.Hasten etc. Shield Charge 20' radius, base recharge 90 sec = usuable 1x per spawn Foot Stomp 15' radius, base recharge 20 sec = usuable 3-5x per spawn Fire Ball 15' radius, base recharge 32 sec = usuable 2-3x per spawn That's just some very rough numbers here...

and Fireball is part of the epic for tanks...


Ah.. nvm. I see you're saying go SD/SS/Pyre for the toon.... You hadn't mentioned that anywhere in your post. Sorry...

nvm.

well thanks yall for responding but i have one more question. Are they fun to solo to 50. Cause Im problably gonna be soloing and once in a while Duoing with a friend to 50. When i do duo to lvl hes got a lowbie arch/mm and Im making a Shield/SS/phyre.

I farm with my Shield/SS/Pyre, and have no complaints.

As far as leveling goes, just get used to only having ST attacks until Shield Charge. If you can handle that, you'll be rewarded for your patience.