Shield is actually an inherently (and purposefully) squishy defence set until you get some IO bonuses in it. Tankers fare a bit better (getting significantly more defence out of the set) than Brutes and Scrappers, but for the most part, Shield is high-damage, low-defence, much like Firey Aura.
I suggest trying to get Tough and Weave into your build (if you don't have them already) and see how much that helps.
It's also important to watch out for enemies with defense debuffs. Unlike SR Shields has only moderate DDR so defense debuffs tend to kill you fast.
I found Shield to be a bit squishy until higher levels. Shield Charge, once fully slotted, has a significant impact on how you play the character.
My Shield characters got a lot better once I was able to add in Tough and Weave, and then get most of my IOs in there for a softcapped or nearly softcapped build. Now, it is amazingly durable. I still have to be careful of Defense Debuffs. Leveling up, you really need to think of Shield as more of an offensive set than defensive -- the damage buff from AAO is significant.
My Broadsword/Shield scrapper was pretty easy to softcap . . . thanks to Perry taking care of the Melee defense. I only needed to add Ranged and AoE Defense. Last night, I just got my Elec/Shield scrapper up to 50. I still need to get some IOs to finish his build, as he is at 46% Melee, but 42% Ranged and 43% AoE. My plan will get 46% across the board.
It looks as though you need some EndRdx in a few places, and 2 Recharge in Active Defenses. Your damage set can make a difference -- some mitigation in the damage set can really help.
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Have a level 50 axe/shield brute, sucks end like crazy. Even with IO sets, numina proc, miracle proc, and p.shifter proc it is STILL hateful.
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I found my shield character pretty much sucked until the mid 40s when I finally got tough and weave slotted and approached the defense softcap.
After that it started to get fun, still I needed all three end-mod powers to keep all the toggles powered.
Thanks.
Well, I guess with inherent Fitness on the horizon, that'll give me the fighting pool sooner rather than later. We'll see how that helps.
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Have you sifted through the Player Guides section? You might find some suggestions or examples of builds in an appropriate Guide.
I followed one as I was leveling my Shield/Mace tank, and that bastige is tough-as-nails at 50. Started getting pretty tough in the late 30s. Now, at 50, he's unstoppable.
The key, I think, as mentioned in other posts here, is to focus on hitting that Soft Cap at the expense of everything else (damage, endurance, recharge) as quickly as possible, THEN you can think about other aspects of the build.
I have an elec/shield that I use for lvl 20-40 strike forces. I have it slotted with lv 20-28 red fortune sets and it can solo a mob of Tsoo, council and sky raiders fairly well with an occasional luck and heal.
This particular build doesn't have tough and weave but has combat jumping for 3% def. I opted for stealth and invis to bypass mobs.
I have a fire/shield brute and it was fun and reasonably smooth all the way. But then again I don't expect to run at +4/x8 and don't even want to on any character who can.
as it stands I have 38 melee, 42 aoe, and 34 ranged defense including tough and weave and I can run fine against 0/x6 romans with bosses on. Gotta be a little careful but it's not too bad. one small purple and I'm, capped. if they take that away an orange makes a world of difference. don't have aid self, don't need it.
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That, and max recharge to your Mez protection power as, IIRC< it's one of your best sources of Def Debuff Resistance.
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Originally Posted by RobertoLyon
The key, I think, as mentioned in other posts here, is to focus on hitting that Soft Cap at the expense of everything else (damage, endurance, recharge) as quickly as possible, THEN you can think about other aspects of the build. |
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This is untrue.|
Originally Posted by Adeon Hawkwood
It's also important to watch out for enemies with defense debuffs. Unlike SR Shields has only moderate DDR so defense debuffs tend to kill you fast.
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Shields, just like SR, is capable of capping DDR.
It's certainly a bit squishier for Brutes and Scrappers. Shield Tanks are as good as any other Tank.
It is definitely true however that Shields benefits HIGHLY from endgame IO builds. My Tank is soft capped to all positions and never runs out of endurance. She only dies if I go afk (and even then she can last a good long time without me).
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My first thought reading your slotting is that you need more recharge reducers in Active Defense. With only one slotted, you are going to have gaps in your mez protection. If you are stunned/held/etc. all of your defensive toggles will suppress until you are no longer stunned/held/etc. Which means that they aren't protecting you at all at those times.|
Originally Posted by Arnabas
As they title suggests, I just can't get a handle on shileds. I have tried multiple characters and currently have a level 29 brute for whom shields is a good thematic defense, but even though I know a number of people who love shields, I have yet to find a way to make them work. I can usually handle most things that they game throws at me with my tanks and brutes, but with shields, all it takes is an orange boss and yellow lieutenant to wipe the floor with me. As it stands now, I am slotted thus (All SOs, no IOs)
Deflection: 3 Defense Buffs, 3 Damage Resist True Grit: 3 Heal, 3 Damage Resist Battle Agility: 3 Defense Buffs Active Defense: 1 Attack Rate Increase Against All Odds: 2 End. Reduction Phalanx Fighting: 1 Defense Buff A typical fight has me popping Insp like candy. I am not sure if the issue is with me expecting too much from this set, or what. Usually by this point, my melee characters wade through enemies with little difficulty. Thoughts? |
If I recall correctly, 2 SO recharge reducers will cause Active Defense to overlap slightly, but 3 will cause enough overlap to give you a small cushion against slows.
I don't have a Brute shield user at this time. Normally I set Active Defense to auto trigger by control+left clicking the icon so that it is always on, and I don't have to think about it.
But my Brutes normally set Brawl to auto trigger to help build Fury better. If you do that then you have to pay attention to when Active Defense is recharged and fire it as soon as possible.
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Originally Posted by Afterimage
My first thought reading your slotting is that you need more recharge reducers in Active Defense. With only one slotted, you are going to have gaps in your mez protection. If you are stunned/held/etc. all of your defensive toggles will suppress until you are no longer stunned/held/etc. Which means that they aren't protecting you at all at those times.
If I recall correctly, 2 SO recharge reducers will cause Active Defense to overlap slightly, but 3 will cause enough overlap to give you a small cushion against slows. I don't have a Brute shield user at this time. Normally I set Active Defense to auto trigger by control+left clicking the icon so that it is always on, and I don't have to think about it. But my Brutes normally set Brawl to auto trigger to help build Fury better. If you do that then you have to pay attention to when Active Defense is recharged and fire it as soon as possible. |
It is also important to note that the Defense Debuff Resistance in Active Defense is both slottable and stacks with itself.
Hasten+3 Hamidon Origin Membrane Exposure enhancements will give you near perma capped DDR on an otherwise typically slotted Shield toon.
Wavicle, Energy/Energy Blaster, dinged 50 in Issue 4, summer of 2005.
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I used this guide as the basis for my War Mace Shield tanker and he's a beast at level 50. Like others said, he really started to come into his own in the late 20's or early thirties and just became unstoppable from there. Like one level I was playing +1/x3 and a couple levels later I was running +2/x8 and going AFK during combat to refill my drink. Slotted up with sets now, I have to work at it to get my endurance bar to move under the 85% mark.
Even if you don't use War Mace, there's a lot of good basic Shield information in there and slotting suggestions.
Edited to add: If you haven't or don't usually, I would recommend looking at Frankenslotting to maximize your slot potential, especially in regards to END consumption. Two Defense/EndRx set IOs in one of your shield toggles is worth more than a generic Defense and a generic EndRx.
its crap defence til you get sets and soft cap it. If also has barely and def resist. It's like /fire you need to kill the enemy fast for the set to work.
I have brute, scrapper and tank shields. All are soft capped, - most builds almost hitting that in low 30's, all have 95% def debuff resistance in later levels, and i certainly wouldn't consider any squishy. Ideally, you want your shield to be soft-capped for all, 95% def debuff rez, fast recharge, good heal/sec, high end recovery, and not too bad resistance at least against smashing/lethal. To get all that is possible, though certainly not cheap. Use mids and play around with it a bit. But, to be honest, if you want to get them to work with exemping, be prepared to pay a fair bit for the io's to be able to do so. Once you get them working, though - you'll find them a lot of fun.
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It is so true, to cap ddr on shields you need 3 hami-o's that cost like 100 mill a pop and enough recharge to keep active defence double stacked at all times no easy feat when also looking to soft cap all 3 positions. SR needs SOs only.
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Originally Posted by Wavicle
This is untrue.
Shields, just like SR, is capable of capping DDR. |
As they title suggests, I just can't get a handle on shileds. I have tried multiple characters and currently have a level 29 brute for whom shields is a good thematic defense, but even though I know a number of people who love shields, I have yet to find a way to make them work. I can usually handle most things that they game throws at me with my tanks and brutes, but with shields, all it takes is an orange boss and yellow lieutenant to wipe the floor with me. As it stands now, I am slotted thus (All SOs, no IOs)
Deflection: 3 Defense Buffs, 3 Damage Resist
True Grit: 3 Heal, 3 Damage Resist
Battle Agility: 3 Defense Buffs
Active Defense: 1 Attack Rate Increase
Against All Odds: 2 End. Reduction
Phalanx Fighting: 1 Defense Buff
A typical fight has me popping Insp like candy. I am not sure if the issue is with me expecting too much from this set, or what. Usually by this point, my melee characters wade through enemies with little difficulty.
Thoughts?
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