ICE/FIRE ... Taunt vs. Hibernate?

All,

I am planning an Ice/Fire tanker, and I have a build I like, but I can't decide whether to go with Taunt or Hibernate.

Now, I think I've heard people say that its good to have both, because you can activate Taunt, Hibernate, and very often still have aggro (from Taunt) when you come out of Hibernate mode. However, I am happy with my build and I don't have the luxury of both. I want to keep all my other powers and attacks. I am also not likely to be doing any hardcore tanking on my character. I just like the power-sets. I'll be soloing or playing on small & medium teams with friends.

So with that in mind .... Taunt vs. Hibernate?

Thanks,

Lewis

P.S. Here is the build for reference.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.952
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

ZZZ TAN ICE FIRE: Level 50 Mutation Tanker
Primary Power Set: Ice Armor
Secondary Power Set: Fiery Melee
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Pyre Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Frozen Armor -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(A), LkGmblr-Def(9), LkGmblr-Rchg+(9)
Level 1: Scorch -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(7), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(7), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(17), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(42)
Level 2: Fire Sword -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(3), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(3), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(17), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(42)
Level 4: Combustion -- Erad-Dmg/Rchg(A), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(5), Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(15), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(25)
Level 6: Wet Ice -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 8: Chilling Embrace -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 10: Hoarfrost -- Numna-Heal/Rchg(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(11), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(11), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(25)
Level 12: Icicles -- M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx(A), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(13), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(13), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(15), Sciroc-Dam%(40)
Level 14: Super Speed -- Winter-ResSlow(A)
Level 16: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(34), RechRdx-I(46)
Level 18: Glacial Armor -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(A), LkGmblr-Def(19), LkGmblr-Rchg+(19)
Level 20: Build Up -- GSFC-ToHit(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(34), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(42), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx(43), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(43), GSFC-Build%(43)
Level 22: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+(23), Ksmt-ToHit+(23)
Level 24: Boxing -- Acc-I(A)
Level 26: Energy Absorption -- Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg(A), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(27), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(27), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg(33), LkGmblr-Def(34), LkGmblr-Rchg+(46)
Level 28: Fire Sword Circle -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(29), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(29), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(31), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(31), Oblit-%Dam(31)
Level 30: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(33), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(33), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(37), RctvArm-ResDam(37)
Level 32: Hibernate -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 35: Incinerate -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(36), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(36), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(37)
Level 38: Greater Fire Sword -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(39), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(39), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(39), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(40)
Level 41: Ring of Fire -- Enf'dOp-Acc/EndRdx(A)
Level 44: Fire Blast -- Decim-Acc/Dmg(A), Decim-Dmg/EndRdx(45), Decim-Dmg/Rchg(45), Decim-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(45), Decim-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(46)
Level 47: Fire Ball -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(48), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(48), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(48), Posi-Dam%(50)
Level 49: Weave -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(A), LkGmblr-Def(50), LkGmblr-Rchg+(50)
Level 50: Cardiac Total Core Revamp
------------
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(40)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(21), EndMod-I(21)
Level 1: Brawl -- Acc-I(A)
Level 1: Gauntlet
Level 1: Sprint -- ULeap-Stlth(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run

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Well since you have the best taunt aura in the game matched up with icicles and the AoE goodness of /fire I say taunt is totally shippable if you know anything about tanking. And seeing you said you wont be doing any hardcore tanking I'd pick hibernate.

Multimedia Genius Submission

Thanks for the reply. That's the way I was leaning. I just wasn't sure if there was a compelling reason to lean the other way.

Lewis

I think I'd take Taunt. I just don't wind up using Hibernate all that much, but Taunt I use all the time in teams. It's nice to have the extra ranged taunt, and I like the range debuff too.

However I can't argue with Smeg's logic, it makes perfect sense.

Without taunt you'll really only have aggro issues when teaming with SD users. Personally, I would strip slots from Fire Blast and add some Taunt Duration to CE. Even if you find yourself using Hibernate rarely in certain situations, it's those situations where you NEED Hibernate instead of Taunt.

Well, I kinda wanted the nudge towards global recharge from my Fire Blast.

Hmm. Well, I have quite a few levels yet before I have to decide, I suppose. I'm level 5.

Lewis

I've played a Ice/Fire/Pyre for five years. Taunt is not skippable. What are you going to do when a patrol wanders up behind your Blaster, or the pets aggro the next group? Drag the spawn through your team like a soccer riot through a schoolyard and hope your auras aren't target capped?

Greater Fire Sword is a piece of junk: slow, ugly and redundant. Drop it and take Taunt instead.

I'd drop Fire Sword. Also don't put a rechg in Hibernate its pointless. You realise you've got too many of the same health bonuses? I am 100% certain the build could be min/maxxed better.

Thanks for the additional replies.

I wont drop any of the fire swords. I made the character specifically because I wanted all 3 fire sword powers. I have played a /Fire tanker before (invuln/fire to 50) and I am fine with all of them. I tried to qualify my original post because I figured someone would tell me to drop greater fire sword. I would love to drop boxing, but oh well. I would consider dropping scorch, despite the fact that it is pretty nice, but as a tanker, I cant.

As for health bonuses, I wasnt even aware I was slotting any. In which sets? I wasnt really trying to minmax, other than softcapping and recharge. If there are some duplicate hit point bonuses, rest assured that I was not even slotting for 1, much less 5 or more. I probably picked some stuff because it was all pretty and/or symmetrical or harmonious in Mids' planner.

I do see the point about taunt. I do like taunt. I always try to take it. But I feel foolish skipping hibernate. Maybe I should just skip Fireball ..... Nah.

Anyway, I guess I will just decide at level 32.

Thanks,

Lewis

Actually I think I have changed my mind. I think I may drop Greater Fire Sword. I hate to, but if I can live with my attack chain at level 36-37, then I will take taunt instead and slot perfect zingers to retain the recharge. That will give me a spare slot since I will only need 4 slots (iirc) to hit the 5%.

Thanks,

Lewis

/still likes GFS

If I am not losing my senses, Greater Fire Sword would be better DPA, DPS and DPE than Fire Sword despite its longer cast time. The longer cast time does allow for more end recovery before firing off the next attack.

Thanks. I may go ahead and take taunt at 38 instead of gfs. But I apprreciate the response.

Lewis