Ice Armor, Epics....and a few others.
By
Aceovhartz,
Posted on: 2010-05-23 22:03 in Everything about PvP
Quote:
What is your secondary? I think I might be able to contribute at least two cents to making an Ice tanker for PvP. I will start with my one cent, I think they do a lot better in zones than in arena. In arena, you will hold your ground against other defense based toons, but vs resist based toons, I would not play an Ice/ unless it was Ice/Dark. When fighting Cold/dark blast toons, I would prefer fighting them with my Ice/Dark as well. Their lack of Aim, and your heal plus your defense, go quite a ways to help you out. Even, vs Elec/thermal's , I would prefer Ice/dark your defense, to hit debuff, and your heal, your fast recharging energy absortion, can give you solid survival tools.|
Originally Posted by Tango_Bravo
Have played, and enjoyed, my Ice Tank since its introduction. I recently re-opened my account and am looking to make some new changes. Most specifically the new (to me) Epic Pools. I'm considering "Energy Mastery" as it has 2 play-style appealing abilities to me. Focused Acc and Physical Protection. I wanted to know if it was possible to rely on Physical Protection's recovery in place of Stamina when slotted? This could give me the opportunity to delve into the Fighting pool for Tough/Weave.
I'm assuming it wont be on account of all the toggles in the build. IF NOT, I may still be interested in taking it and, perhaps, dropping EA. Thoughts? As of now I have Aid Self rather than the Fighting Pool. In the past I found it more beneficial, to me of course, to have a 600hp+ "on-the-fly" heal. Which I figured could mitigate more damage than Tough/Weave with a successful use. Thoughts? MUCH Appreciated! |
If you change your mind about what kind of primary you would want for a general pvp tanker, I would go electric armor. Elec/SS/Earth would sure give Psy/Em blasters a really hard time in arena; trust me. He's my favorite tanker for PvP.
Having said that, I would also like to know what do you intend to use that toon for, what kind of PvP you want to do, etc. Last, but not least, are you sure you want to make a tanker for PvP? If you are looking to go out there and kill, you might as well go as Psy/ blaster or Stalker (and get some practice AND advice from other good stalkers). That goes for arena and zone.
Repeat Offenders forever !
Make all IO's available in Paragon Market! NCSoft, the chinese are making BIG money selling influence and other stuff in the game. Best way to stop them = make the paragon market a place to buy all IO's and perhaps other things as well.
He's already 44 as I've had him for quite some time. Secondary IS Dark. I'm not looking to kill so much. I simply like the survivability. Though I KNOW it's not the MOST resistant to death. Especially when coupled with PvP's downfalls. My play-style is a bit more....eccentric I suppose. I try builds that both abilities compliment maybe one aspect of a set.
PvP has always been zone. Never tried the Arena. Though I'm not opposed to trying it even with this toon. I have an Ice/SS and did well with him. But was meant for a more damaging build. I favor what seems it WONT do well. I'm not let down if the build fails horribly. And I enjoy going against the fray.
......Just thought about giving up Hasten for Tough/Weave. But I LOVE Hasten to get my heals up. Perhaps Fighting would benefit the build more? Thoughts?
I've just realized the endurance cost of EA vs. Consumption. And that DC returns more end. Downfall being its recharge.
......Not AS interested in the Energy Epic as I've read some patch notes/numbers. But not disregarding it.
stop stop stop just lvl up a blaster thats all u need to pvp
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I don't want folks to misunderstand my post. I have had this character for some time and it's become one of my favorites to play. I'm looking for insight, and opinions, for ways to increase it's effectiveness. What to take. Or what not to take etc. |
Originally Posted by Dawk_Boy
stop stop stop just lvl up a blaster thats all u need to pvp
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I appreciate your opinion. But I know what the effective classes/builds are. I'm over trying to please the game. And ready to please myself. It's build to compete or build to enjoy while accepting the shortcomings. Spent too much time building characters to compete.
Still working on the build. Thinking of dropping Hasten for Tough/Weave. And will have to look into recharging more. And Ice Mastery for the hold.
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Can I ask what you do with the tank? Fightclub (melee/duels) in zone or what? I can make suggestions and give build advice with a better understanding of what you want to do with the toon.|
Originally Posted by Tango_Bravo
I don't want folks to misunderstand my post. I have had this character for some time and it's become one of my favorites to play. I'm looking for insight, and opinions, for ways to increase it's effectiveness. What to take. Or what not to take etc.
I appreciate your opinion. But I know what the effective classes/builds are. I'm over trying to please the game. And ready to please myself. It's build to compete or build to enjoy while accepting the shortcomings. Spent too much time building characters to compete. Still working on the build. Thinking of dropping Hasten for Tough/Weave. And will have to look into recharging more. And Ice Mastery for the hold. |
As a starter, do not take only PP over stamina. If you have to pick one, pick stamina it has about twice the recovery. PP is meant to supplement stamina/health not replace either of them. Also, skipping hasten is a bad idea, you need the extra recharge to get things like Hoarfrost back as soon as you can. Since your seconday is dark you've got a great heal there with siphon life (you can always tag an NPC in case your opponent is too hard to hit) so you can skip medicine.
If you are building for more all around zone stuff I'd take speed, leaping, fitness, and for the last one I'd go either fighting (if you take body mastery) or leadership (if you take stone mastery, fossilize hits like a truck.)
For all around zone stuff you are going to need need need a +tohit power and having a ranged attack is nice so I'd probably go leadership+stone mastery (stone prison is not half-bad as well.) If you got fighting+body mastery that's more of a fight club toon since at best you'll one ranged attack.
This much I can tell you, if you are building for 1v1 melee duels ice/dark can be nigh-unkillable if built right, AND you should be able to get kills in the process.
So what do you plan on doing with it?
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Ok, so it seems you want it a lot more for zones than for arena. If you do happen to do a lot more arena, then some tweaks would go in your build. I am not LOL'ing Fight Club stuff, but if that's what you want to do then further tweaks would be in order, IMO. In fight club PvP rules, my Ice/Dark tanker has not lost a single fight in standard times. When sudden death is included, things can change quickly, so he has lost some, few, but still.|
Originally Posted by Tango_Bravo
He's already 44 as I've had him for quite some time. Secondary IS Dark. I'm not looking to kill so much. I simply like the survivability. Though I KNOW it's not the MOST resistant to death. Especially when coupled with PvP's downfalls. My play-style is a bit more....eccentric I suppose. I try builds that both abilities compliment maybe one aspect of a set.
PvP has always been zone. Never tried the Arena. Though I'm not opposed to trying it even with this toon. I have an Ice/SS and did well with him. But was meant for a more damaging build. I favor what seems it WONT do well. I'm not let down if the build fails horribly. And I enjoy going against the fray. ......Just thought about giving up Hasten for Tough/Weave. But I LOVE Hasten to get my heals up. Perhaps Fighting would benefit the build more? Thoughts? I've just realized the endurance cost of EA vs. Consumption. And that DC returns more end. Downfall being its recharge. ......Not AS interested in the Energy Epic as I've read some patch notes/numbers. But not disregarding it. |
So, what I would give is some advice on power selection for your toon, based on my experiences with it:
Definitely Fitness, everything in Ice Armor except Chilling embrace or icicles. Super speed is a must in zone PvP, so Hasten + SS. Combat jump, at least, to add to your defense and your mobility, up to you to include SJ. Tough and Weave, yes, take it to increase your defense, it does make a difference, earth Epic for fossilize and quicksand. From dark melee, the heal, shadow maul. In PvP, the combo of Shadow Maul + Flurry, is a big hitter, but the root times are looong, so your choice if you want to use that. Go for as much global accuracy as possible as well as defense bonuses, then recharge, then HPs.
I hope that helps.
Repeat Offenders forever !
Make all IO's available in Paragon Market! NCSoft, the chinese are making BIG money selling influence and other stuff in the game. Best way to stop them = make the paragon market a place to buy all IO's and perhaps other things as well.
Definitely helps, Commando and Merc! I mostly zone. But may try my hand at Arena, as mentioned. Starting to get a hold on a full respec now.
Icicles is nothing to me.
If I do go with Earth then I would most certainly drop Embrace. I didn't take everything since I don't mess with cones so much. Same with Maul. (may try the spec at some point though)
I'd hate to give up Aid Self as it's mitigated so much for me thus far. Though I AM considering the fighting pool.
Sticking with Fitness as I knew I would.
Sticking to my Hasten "guns".
Whats your opinions on EA vs DC? Both have appeal. EA's recharge and +Def. (though situational) And DC's cheap End. and higher +End.
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EA hands down. It's autohit.
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Originally Posted by Tango_Bravo
Definitely helps, Commando and Merc! I mostly zone. But may try my hand at Arena, as mentioned. Starting to get a hold on a full respec now.
Icicles is nothing to me. If I do go with Earth then I would most certainly drop Embrace. I didn't take everything since I don't mess with cones so much. Same with Maul. (may try the spec at some point though) I'd hate to give up Aid Self as it's mitigated so much for me thus far. Though I AM considering the fighting pool. Sticking with Fitness as I knew I would. Sticking to my Hasten "guns". Whats your opinions on EA vs DC? Both have appeal. EA's recharge and +Def. (though situational) And DC's cheap End. and higher +End. |
How about Soul Drain? Forgettable for PvP?
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It used to be but thanks to the revamp its good enough (especially for toe to toe) and it's also great for slotting purposes when it comes to defense (obliterations.)
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Originally Posted by Tango_Bravo
How about Soul Drain? Forgettable for PvP?
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I've looked at a lot of current "PvP" builds. I've noticed A LOT that DON'T slot their accuracy based abilities. Averaging 50% or so, base. Why is this?
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People should plan for at least two SOs worth (appx 66%) of Acc in attacks plus a +tohit power (tactics, focused accuracy, and the Kismet +6tohit is nice too) to hit opponents reliably. It also helps alot to have a good amount of global accuracy as well. I like to shoot for at least 20+ global accuracy. Ideally you should shoot for the accuracy in your attacks and your global accuracy to add up to at least 100. |
Originally Posted by Tango_Bravo
I've looked at a lot of current "PvP" builds. I've noticed A LOT that DON'T slot their accuracy based abilities. Averaging 50% or so, base. Why is this?
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With the changes to defense in i14 (elusivity lowered) many people probably thought and still think they can get away with less accuracy which is a mistake because they are still going to encounter high defense toons with at least some elusivity (widows, shields, EA, ice armor, and SRs, and even epic armors etc..) Defense + elusivity can still be a force in PVP (mostly zone and duels, not so much in organized team arena) if built properly.
I had meant to also ask about Taunt. Never used it before, but I understand it has its uses in PvP by closing some distance. Should I consider it as a filler? Or aim to include it?
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The only thing taunt would not be needed for would be if you were strictly fight clubbing (even then it's handy if your opponent has a few ranged attacks.) |
Originally Posted by Tango_Bravo
I had meant to also ask about Taunt. Never used it before, but I understand it has its uses in PvP by closing some distance. Should I consider it as a filler? Or aim to include it?
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Taunt's -75% range is autohit but the taunt portion needs accuracy to hit. Slotting it can be as simple as putting one acc IO in it to fully six slotting it with recharge, accuracy, and range (2 of each.) The reason you would not put taunt duration in there is taunt is currently bugged and actually lasts longer unslotted. Expect this to get fixed by next century.
Note: One of the taunt IO sets has some decent defense and 7.5 recharge to boot, but it requires 5 slots for the defense and 6 for the recharge. If you got the slots go for it but they are probably needed elsewhere.
Doubting I'll have left over slots. At this point in my build I can take Shadow Maul (Late. Like 44 or so) or grab Taunt for its utility and save a few slots.
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Good info Mercury_Down. Thanks for the post
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Originally Posted by Mercury_Down
Can I ask what you do with the tank? Fightclub (melee/duels) in zone or what? I can make suggestions and give build advice with a better understanding of what you want to do with the toon.
As a starter, do not take only PP over stamina. If you have to pick one, pick stamina it has about twice the recovery. PP is meant to supplement stamina/health not replace either of them. Also, skipping hasten is a bad idea, you need the extra recharge to get things like Hoarfrost back as soon as you can. Since your seconday is dark you've got a great heal there with siphon life (you can always tag an NPC in case your opponent is too hard to hit) so you can skip medicine. If you are building for more all around zone stuff I'd take speed, leaping, fitness, and for the last one I'd go either fighting (if you take body mastery) or leadership (if you take stone mastery, fossilize hits like a truck.) For all around zone stuff you are going to need need need a +tohit power and having a ranged attack is nice so I'd probably go leadership+stone mastery (stone prison is not half-bad as well.) If you got fighting+body mastery that's more of a fight club toon since at best you'll one ranged attack. This much I can tell you, if you are building for 1v1 melee duels ice/dark can be nigh-unkillable if built right, AND you should be able to get kills in the process. So what do you plan on doing with it? |
Have played, and enjoyed, my Ice Tank since its introduction. I recently re-opened my account and am looking to make some new changes. Most specifically the new (to me) Epic Pools. I'm considering "Energy Mastery" as it has 2 play-style appealing abilities to me. Focused Acc and Physical Protection. I wanted to know if it was possible to rely on Physical Protection's recovery in place of Stamina when slotted? This could give me the opportunity to delve into the Fighting pool for Tough/Weave.
I'm assuming it wont be on account of all the toggles in the build. IF NOT, I may still be interested in taking it and, perhaps, dropping EA. Thoughts?
As of now I have Aid Self rather than the Fighting Pool. In the past I found it more beneficial, to me of course, to have a 600hp+ "on-the-fly" heal. Which I figured could mitigate more damage than Tough/Weave with a successful use. Thoughts?
MUCH Appreciated!