I believe it is Nerve path that gives you +defense in the 2nd tier level. I've tried it on my Bane and it is so not worth it. My Bane carries at least 3 +defense toggles and with 2nd tier, it only increases by like 2.5%.
My Bane is working on Cardiac path because the -endurance makes such a huge difference.
What's left is to normalize all Assassin Strikes and improve Stalker's old sets (Claw, MA and EM)! You don't need to bring back the missing PbAoE attack. You just need to make the existing ones better! For example, make Slice a WIDER and LONGER cone.
I went for the cardiac and the cardiac radial boost on my nw. BIG difference when it comes to end management.
//CX
And Cardiac's 2nd tier has +20% Range which fits my all range-fort build even better! :P
What's left is to normalize all Assassin Strikes and improve Stalker's old sets (Claw, MA and EM)! You don't need to bring back the missing PbAoE attack. You just need to make the existing ones better! For example, make Slice a WIDER and LONGER cone.
I was tempted by some of the other alpha enhancements( specifically the one with Def), tried this one this morning, and wow what an improvement. Formerly I had to be careful of my end, but now....
BTW, doing trapdoor on my Fort( and my 50 dom) seemed so much easier than my Huntsman/Bane for some reason.