Which Primary Power Set Is The Most Survivable?

Hi all, I recently came back from a few yrs break and wanting to re-start with a pure Tank for teaming. Due to all the updates which set is the most survivable? Is Ice/Ice still weak compared to others?

Thanks in advance

For 'pure Survival' and nothing else, Stone is still king, post 32.

Ice has never really been that bad, just misunderstood. It is a Defense set, so you don't get hit often, but when you do get hit, it Hurts. Also, it takes a few levels to build up the defenses, so it Seems to suck, at first, but grows up Strong.

One of the best Tanker options is Invulnerability, built and set-slotted for extra Defense. Call_Me_Awesome has a suitably awesome pair of guides for doing this. Resistance Plus Defense is Awesome!

The new kids are Shield Defense, which is a Defense set, but has a bit of Resistance and Hit Points boosting built in, and Willpower, which is massive Hit Points, plus Regeneration, with a little Resistance and Defense thrown in to help control the bleeding. Also, we've recently gotten Electric Armor, which is a lot like Fire, a Resistance set, but with a focus on Energy and Endurance.

Fire has received a few tweaks, but it's still more offense than defense, a Resistance set with extra damaging options, plus one of the fastest self-heals in the game.

Finally, Dark has been ported over from the Scrappers and we Tankers have learned to love the 'Batman utility-belt' that Dark Armor brings, while Hating the huge amount of Endurance management needed to run the set. It's not as much protection as we might like, but it has an answer for just about everything, as well as having the most potent self-heal in the game.

So, in answer to your question, "Which set is the most survivable?" the answer depends entirely on how you use it!

And other folks might have their own pat answers for you.

I'd say, for 'classic' tanking, Invulnerability + Defense, or Stone - slotted to overcome its negatives, will be strongest. Shield Defense will give you almost as much protection, as will Ice, but they take longer to mature. Willpower is fantastic for You, the Tanker, but you have to work much harder to overcome it's weak Aggro-holding traits, so it can be problematic on a team.

The other sets lend themselves better to a Different playstyle. They are no less effective, but work less well for the classic 'meat-shield' role. Your playstyle and your Team have more effect on your survivability, with these other sets.

Be Well!
Fireheart

Obviously nothing survives better than the most sturdily built Granite tanks. Of course, they sacrifice a lot to get there.

After that, I vote Dark Armor. Then again, I'm biased. Then again again, layered mitigation is the best way to go, and thanks to IOs, you can get all three layers on Dark Armor in high amounts. Very good resistances, softcapped defenses and the best heal in the game.

It also helps that you have to actually kill it twice.

Stone is great as long as you like your nickname to be "Captain Slow"

Invul is a great set as long as you get tough and weave. It's simple and powerful at high ends.

Will Power is also a good, but a bit tricky, as you are now balancing regen and defense. But you get that Psi defense many tank builders are looking for.

Shield is good as an offensive consideration, some good team defense for your efforts, but I personally think it's overrated

The other power sets can be good, but are very complex to get right. I see them more of a fun alternative than a true defensive tanker build.

Have to agree with Redlynne, Ice/ is a very powerful set, but you can feel the pain if your Def is debuffed to much. However, since i've been playing an ice tank (ice/eng) since before I can remember, I'd say that ice tankers can out tank most others (except for stone) with ease. Very little will get through to you (especially if you get some nice set bonuses from IOs as I did) and you always have hoarfrost and hibernate to back you up if your health gets too low (P.S. aid self works well with this set also if you want another healing power). I also have a WP/Fire tank at 50, and while he is fun to play, i consider him a squishy compared to my ice tank.

I like Invuln the best overall.

Willpower and Invulnerability to me are a tie for second place.

Ive build pretty much every tank except Dark to level 50 and I just find that Invuln overrall is the best for me. Stone in granite is very very tough but you pay for that by being incredibly slow, travel limited and doing less damage.

My Invuln will get even better once issue 19 drops.. He already has perma Dull Pain, Soft capped defense with a very few foes in range and with IO's even has decent defense and resistance to PSI. And he is at the cap for smashing lethal resistance as well.

Plus no recharge or damage penalties.

This question really depends on whether or not you're talking about an "end game" build or a leveling build. I have 3 lvl 50 tanks, and I can tell you that my Invuln tank was easily the most surviveable on my way to 50. However, once we start talking about IOing at level 50, things change a bit. I have a fire tank that rivals my invuln for survivabilty, believe it or not. With IO's, my fire tank is at 40% S&L defense which vastly reduces the damage coming in. With S&L resistances at 70% and everything else but toxic and cold at 50% resist, what does come through is pretty well mitigated and healing flames currently has a 12 second recharge to keep the green bar full. The only real exception I've found has been Lord Recluse. I am proud to say I've tanked Recluse successfully on my fire tank with just an Emp for support, but it wasnt easy. My invuln has tanked recluse much more successfully, due largely in part to Dull Pain hitting the hitpoint cap and that extra defense & resists. But I can't think of another mission/AV in the game that I have had troubles tanking with the fire tanker (maybe Hami?), and the toon adds some significant damage to the team as well unlike my Invuln.

My point to all this? Pre-IO, Invuln would be my vote for the most survivable and playable tank (stone can be FRUSTRATINGLY slow). If your thinking Stateman TF, Invuln or stone are really the best ways to go. But post IOs ANY tank should be able to do the job on 99% of missions/TFs/AVs with the right build.

With the recent ability to change Dark Armor's effects, it's not as much of an over powering look any more.

You can just about customize the effects of DA to absolutely nothing now. Which is nice, seeing how it is the best set out there, unless you like being a big slow lifeless turd that has lackluster damage.

Pre-ED, yeah Stone all the way, but now, meh. Sadly mine was level 41 when that issue dropped, and my Stone/SS got put on the shelf. Took almost 2 more years for him to hit 50, and that was cus I was tired of looking at him.

I'll have to pitch my case for Elec. Endurance is never an issue, Self Heal with +Regen lets you tank Hamidon on the LGTF quite effectively, and you get great offensive stuff in a damage aura and a +rech passive. All resistance sets are up there for the most survivable, but in my mind Elec gives you the most offense with that. It also looks cool.