Don't worry so much about who has the bigger defense numbers. Going past 45% does almost nothing for most of the game's content. The soft cap for incarnate trials is 59%, but you can reach that with a small inspiration or team buffs.
I highly recommend double-stacking Active Defense and taking Grant Cover. Shield Defense can reach 95% defense debuff resistance if you slot 3 Membranes in Active Defense and have it double-stacked.
Mako's Bite is not very useful unless you go for the 6-slot bonus. A Crushing Impact set would give you some recharge at 5 slots.
Chasing recovery bonuses has left some powers underslotted. Deflection and True Grit would be better off with resistance IOs than the sets you have. You have Physical Perfection so you should be fine on endurance.
If you use this build to level up, I would advise taking Battle Agility as soon as possible. Your attacks can wait if you have temp powers like Blackwand and Sands of Mu.
I wasn't overly "worried" about the numbers, but I find it odd that at least looking at the numbers, a scrapper has the same def/res as a tank. Yes I have more HP then he does, but it just seems like a Tank gives up damage for that def.
One of the reasons I went with Mako's is that I already have 5 5% recharge bonuses, so more would be a waste.
Tanker base defense and resistance on powers is higher than the Scrapper version of Shield Defense. The Scrapper had to spend a lot more INF to reach what you did with very little INF.
Instead of going to 5 Mako's and gaining a meaningless damage buff and mez resistance, consider 2 Pounding Slugfest or Bruising Blows for the regeneration or recovery bonus.
I just noticed Phalanx Fighting has a defense enhancement in it. That isn't doing anything for you. The defense granted by Phalanx Fighting when no allies are nearby is unenhanceable. A Luck of the Gambler or Kismet to-hit would be better.
You definitely should add Hasten to your build so you can keep Active Defense double-stacked. Even if you are against using Hami-O's in it, having 70% DDR is better than only having 50%. Cimeroreans will tear you apart if you aren't close to the DDR cap.
Here is my current build (sorry I'm at work so the levels when I took the powers and slots are not accurate, but the build is). I was talking with my scrapper friend last night and found that his defense numbers were actually higher than mine in some places, which I found surprising (He is also a shield). Overall I've enjoyed this character a TON, it might be one of my favorites since it feels closer to a Scrapper in damage than a Tank.
Is there something else I could do to improve my numbers? I'm open to any advice, different sets, respec, etc. I'm by no means super rich at this point, but I'm far from poor.
Thanks in advance for any help/advice.
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.92
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Flaming Hole: Level 50 Mutation Tanker
Primary Power Set: Shield Defense
Secondary Power Set: Fiery Melee
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Teleportation
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Deflection -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(3), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg(3), LkGmblr-Rchg+(5), ImpArm-ResDam(5), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(7)
Level 1: Scorch -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(11), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(13), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(13), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(15)
Level 2: Fire Sword -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(7), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(9), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(9), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11)
Level 4: True Grit -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/EndRdx(A), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(15), Numna-Heal(17), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(17)
Level 6: Active Defense -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(19)
Level 8: Combustion -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(19), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(21), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(21), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(23)
Level 10: Taunt -- Mocking-Taunt(A), Mocking-Taunt/Rchg(23), Mocking-Taunt/Rchg/Rng(25), Mocking-Acc/Rchg(25), Mocking-Taunt/Rng(27), Mocking-Rchg(27)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Jump-I(A)
Level 16: Against All Odds -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 18: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 20: Battle Agility -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(29), RedFtn-Def(29), RedFtn-EndRdx(31), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(31), LkGmblr-Rchg+(31)
Level 22: Build Up -- GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(33), GSFC-ToHit(33), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx(33), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(34), GSFC-Build%(34)
Level 24: Tough -- RctvArm-ResDam(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(34), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(36), RctvArm-EndRdx/Rchg(36), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(36)
Level 26: Shield Charge -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(37), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(37), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(37), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39), Oblit-%Dam(39)
Level 28: Fire Sword Circle -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(39), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(40), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(40), Oblit-%Dam(42)
Level 30: Phalanx Fighting -- DefBuff-I(A)
Level 32: Weave -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(42), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg(42), LkGmblr-Rchg+(43)
Level 35: Incinerate -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(43), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(43), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(45), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(48)
Level 38: Greater Fire Sword -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(45), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(45), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(46), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(46), Mako-Dam%(46)
Level 41: Conserve Power -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 44: Physical Perfection -- Efficacy-EndMod(A), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc(48), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(48)
Level 47: One with the Shield -- ResDam-I(A)
Level 49: Recall Friend -- RechRdx-I(A)
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Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Gauntlet
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+(A), Mrcl-Heal(50)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(50), EndMod-I(50)