Ice Armor, Ice Armor, rah rah rah!
I've written often about how much fun and effective I find my ice/fire tank. I think I made it after being inspired by a post Garthalus made about his, years ago. It's a bumpy ride, but if you can make it to 26, Energy Absorption is a good reason to keep going.
I can see how the prevelance of defense bonuses in the game puts an IO'ed ice tank at a disadvantage to other IO'ed toons. Still, IMO Ice armor is a strong set that offers a unique experience: Unlimited endurance, effortless aggro control, huge HP, softcap with minimal investment, and a unique T9 that works great with 1 slot. Give it a shot.
50s:
Grimmloch, Tactically Delicious, Ugly Frankie, Operative Tracker, CryoFurnace, Professional Help, Silver Sphinx, Aries Knight, Tachyon Aegis, Jade Sphinx
Currently building:
Any one of half a dozen alts!
You never see any ice tanks because they're buried under the piles of a hundred guys who are not. going. anywhere.
Big Ice tank fan here. I cannot get enough Ice tank thread reading.....so thanks for the post.
Let me put my suggestion of Ice / SS. The set works well together. During the rage crashes you can use EA or Hibernate to recover end & boost defense or end/health. At least that eats up a couple of seconds of the crash, constructively. Personally, I'll taunt or use vet powers too...since the vets aren't affected by the crash. So...crash.....Mu & Wand, then EA....crash over.
Also, thematically it works well imho. My tank, Super Flu, has the cold theme, the smash theme (you always ache when you get hit by the flu), and the slow and -dam debuff (you also feel slow and get weak with the flu).
Definitely a late bloomer....but seriously those early levels fly by anyhow. And if tanking for a bigger team when lower.....carry purples until there is no need.
I will also put my bid in for Soul Mastery. Darkest Night adds to the -dam of Chilling Embrace and the to-hit debuff will help tremendously if not capped. And helpful if you get def debuffed.
It's an end hog for sure and coupled with the double endurance rage crash and hasten crash, you need to account for this.
I focused on soft capping, endurance (dont forget the end accolades), and recharge.
I couldn't wait for I19, so I respec'd my build without fitness and took those three extra slots that I am going to use for stamina (2 + 1 for +end proc) and threw in a few end reducers. Cruising through mishes upped just fine.
When the Super Flu hits you, you will ache, you will feel weak, and you will go down, hard.