+4x8 solo CRITIQUE - PvE - Brute - TW / ELA - Mid's included

I was all excited about soloing +4x8 hero tip missions after reading this thread: http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=280149

I copied the final build exactly (minus the 2 billion PvP enhancement and the hamis) where the author boasts that he can solo +4x8 for most enemy groups. Wound up with like 36% SL defense or so. Of course my 1st mission is against Arachnos (very common enemy group for me) which he says is a coin flip for surviving, but (he claims) the real problem is with tarantula mistresses. Kill them fast or die. Truth is, nearly ALL of Arachnos is problematic. Lowered difficulty down to +0x8. After dying half a dozen times trying to kill the same group, I whittled the group down to 3 enemies. And died again. Against 3 normal con enemies.

Tried the same mission with my old, built-around-Defensive Sweep-build, and survived much better. Defensive Sweep is +11.25% to Melee and Smashing defense every time it hits. In 6.6 seconds of swinging, that's +33.75% defense from the one power alone. Don't know why the power was considered an afterthought by the author of the TW/ELA Optimization thread.

So I tried a different approach. Positional defense. In theory, given that SR Tanker relies exclusively on positional defense for damage mitigation, (up to 41.2% Melee, Ranged, and AoE), TW will only have to fill the Ranged and AoE defense gaps. So I threw this build together to see just how well those gaps could be filled. Filled pretty well for something thrown together. 38.3% ranged. 38.9% AoE. Admittedly I had to resort to the 2billion PvP enhancement to get it that high, but still... I didn't take Weave. Not a big fan of Weave. Aaanyway, here's the build... Before I go rebuilding the char again, how well do you suppose it would do in +4x8 hero tips? Any ideas for improvement?

http://www.cohplanner.com/mids/downl...07FF00833E0349

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

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Thunda AoE Ranged Def: Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: Titan Weapons
Secondary Power Set: Electric Armor
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Defensive Sweep -- Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(13), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(17), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(17), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(19)
Level 1: Charged Armor -- Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg(43), Aegis-EndRdx/Rchg(43), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(45), Aegis-ResDam(45)
Level 2: Titan Sweep -- Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(3), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(3), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(11), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(11)
Level 4: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(5), SW-Def/EndRdx(5), LkGmblr-Rchg+(45)
Level 6: Combat Jumping -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(7), Zephyr-ResKB(7), LkGmblr-Rchg+(37)
Level 8: Hover -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(9), Zephyr-ResKB(9)
Level 10: Conductive Shield -- TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(19), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(46)
Level 12: Crushing Blow -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(25), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(39), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(39), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(40), Mako-Dam%(40)
Level 14: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(15), RechRdx-I(15)
Level 16: Follow Through -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(46), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(48), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(50), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(50), Mako-Dam%(50)
Level 18: Rend Armor -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(40), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(42), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(42), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(42), Mako-Dam%(43)
Level 20: Build Momentum -- GSFC-ToHit(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(21), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(21), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx(23), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(23), GSFC-Build%(25)
Level 22: Taunt -- Range-I(A)
Level 24: Static Shield -- TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(37)
Level 26: Whirling Smash -- Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(27), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(27), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(34), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(37), Sciroc-Dam%(39)
Level 28: Energize -- Numna-Heal/EndRdx(A), Numna-EndRdx/Rchg(29), Numna-Heal/Rchg(29), Numna-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(31), Numna-Heal(31), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(31)
Level 30: Grounded -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), GA-3defTpProc(46)
Level 32: Arc of Destruction -- Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(33), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(33), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(33), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(34)
Level 35: Power Sink -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 38: Lightning Reflexes -- Empty(A)
Level 41: Lightning Field -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 44: Super Speed -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(48), Zephyr-ResKB(48)
Level 47: Superior Conditioning -- Empty(A)
Level 49: Physical Perfection -- Empty(A)
------------
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(13), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(34), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(36), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(36), Mako-Dam%(36)
Level 1: Fury
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 1: Momentum

The problem you're experiencing is what is termed a 'cascading defense failure'. You're facing off against a host of enemies that fire off a volley of -defense debuffs, your defenses go into the negatives and then they follow up with attacks that strike against your weakest resists. It's one of the reasons many players (mistakenly) view resist sets as being 'squishy' when they get to higher levels.

Nor will Defensive Sweep help you much. The attacks you're worried about are Ranged/Psionic attacks. So building up your Smashing/Melee defense merely means that you'll end up with slightly less negative Smashing/Melee as they punch through your relatively weak Ranged/Psionic with ease. Indeed, you'll probably discover that Smashing/Melee defense is generally not very useful for a resist-based melee because you've already got fantastic resists against those attacks.

Your basic intuition about positional defenses is correct: ranged defense is really what you need, since most of the attacks you're really concerned about are ranged. As an Electric tank, you have three weak resist categories: Psionic, Negative and Toxic. Almost every attack of those types is ranged. It may seem counter-intuitive to stress ranged defense in a melee build, but keep in mind that an attack remains 'ranged' even when used from point-blank range.

Beyond this, some ways of dealing with your problem:
1. Sapping. Electric Armor has two 'sapping' powers - Lightning Field and Power Sink. Power Sink alone will rip away over half the endurance of +3 (+4 with level shift) minions/lieutenants. Lightning Field isn't quite as dramatic, but enemies within your Lightning Field will quickly lose the remainder and then only attack intermittently.

2. Epic powers. Prior to AOs, I would have suggested Mu Mastery. However, post-AO (and possibly even pre-AO) I'd say go with Soul Mastery. Soul Mastery gives you one of the best single target attacks available to Brutes (Gloom) as well as the ability to blanket the entire spawn with -to hit before you engage with Dark Obliteration. If you really want to nail it home, you can add Darkest Night to the mix. Soul Mastery transforms the problem of soft-capping Ranged (and other defenses) from an impossibility to merely a difficulty.

There are other possibilities as well - arguments could be made for Earth or Arctic Mastery. However, the one epic pool I wouldn't take just so happens to be the one you did - Energy Mastery. Electric Armor gives you nearly infinite endurance and a self-heal, so really all you get from Energy Mastery is an endurance-intensive accuracy toggle that you probably won't need.

3. AE Knockdown. Obviously, AE Hold or AE Disorient would work just as well - but you don't have those options. AE Knockdown, whether from the primary or even Spring Attack, means that you can negate the alpha strike of -defense debuffs. While this merely delays the inevitable, you just need to buy enough time to drain their endurance.

4. Inspirations/Incarnates/Accolades. There are various ways to get a brief period of either soft-capping defense or being really, really tough. Unfortunately, these all involve either long cooldowns or consumables so they're your last choice. Burnout would also fit into this category, since it allows you to toss two Power Sinks, two Energizes and/or two control effects in a row (on a long cooldown at a steep end cost).

Thank you so very much! That was very helpful! I made a new build and it's working out much better. With some practice I'm able to handle groups that would shred the SL def build. Still not able to solo +4x8 Arachnos or Longbow, but I'm making progress. Here's the new build. Hint: I haven't bought the 2billion enhancement yet.

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

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Thunda AoE Ranged Def: Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: Titan Weapons
Secondary Power Set: Electric Armor
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Teleportation
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Defensive Sweep -- Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(13), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(17), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(17), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(19), LkGmblr-Rchg+(46)
Level 1: Charged Armor -- Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Aegis-ResDam(43), Aegis-EndRdx/Rchg(43), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(45), Aegis-Psi/Status(45)
Level 2: Titan Sweep -- Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(3), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(3), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(11), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(11)
Level 4: Conductive Shield -- ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx(5), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(5)
Level 6: Crushing Blow -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(7), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(7), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(21), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(21), Mako-Dam%(23)
Level 8: Follow Through -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(9), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(9), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(36), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(40), Mako-Dam%(40)
Level 10: Static Shield -- TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(19), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(46)
Level 12: Taunt -- Empty(A)
Level 14: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(15), RechRdx-I(15)
Level 16: Grounded -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), GA-3defTpProc(46)
Level 18: Rend Armor -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dam%(36), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(40), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(42), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(42), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(42)
Level 20: Lightning Reflexes -- Empty(A)
Level 22: Super Speed -- Zephyr-ResKB(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(23), Zephyr-Travel(37)
Level 24: Build Momentum -- GSFC-ToHit(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(25), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(25), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx(37), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(39), GSFC-Build%(39)
Level 26: Whirling Smash -- Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(27), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(27), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(34), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(37), RechRdx-I(39)
Level 28: Energize -- Numna-Heal/EndRdx(A), Numna-EndRdx/Rchg(29), Numna-Heal/Rchg(29), Numna-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(31), Numna-Heal(31), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(31)
Level 30: Lightning Field -- Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(A), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(50), M'Strk-Acc/EndRdx(50)
Level 32: Arc of Destruction -- Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(33), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(33), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(33), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(34)
Level 35: Power Sink -- Efficacy-EndMod/Acc(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(36)
Level 38: Gloom -- Cloud-ToHitDeb(A)
Level 41: Darkest Night -- DarkWD-ToHitDeb/EndRdx(A), DarkWD-ToHitdeb/Rchg/EndRdx(43), DampS-ToHitDeb/EndRdx(48)
Level 44: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(45), SW-Def/EndRdx(48)
Level 47: Fly -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(48)
Level 49: Recall Friend -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(50)
------------
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Empty(A), Empty(34)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- Empty(A), Empty(13)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury
Level 1: Sprint -- ULeap-Stlth(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 1: Momentum

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