Help with a F2P DA/SS Tank

I have a friend that plays casually and isn't planning on going VIP anytime soon, but is looking for help with his build- Dark Armor/ Super Strength tank. He's currently lvl 48, so he has complete access to lvl 50 SO's and can +3 all of them in time. I took a small crack at it, trying to focus on status resist and net recovery while still having decent resistance numbers.

I chose not to take Cloak of Fear/ Oppressive Gloom/ Rage, as he is a new player and I don't want to throw harmful powers or debuffs that he won't understand at him. No Hami O's, just SO's for now- maybe the Hami's will come in time, or maybe I'll finally convince him to go VIP and he'll be confused all over again.

I will put a disclaimer that I am NOT a tank player by any means, and that is why I'm reaching out for help here.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.954
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Mutation Tanker
Primary Power Set: Dark Armor
Secondary Power Set: Super Strength
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Medicine
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Death Shroud -- Dmg(A), Dmg(15), EndRdx(17), EndRdx(17)
Level 1: Jab -- Dmg(A), Dmg(3), EndRdx(3), Acc(5)
Level 2: Dark Embrace -- ResDam(A), ResDam(19), ResDam(19), ResDam(23), EndRdx(25), EndRdx(25)
Level 4: Murky Cloud -- ResDam(A), ResDam(27), EndRdx(27), EndRdx(37)
Level 6: Haymaker -- Dmg(A), Dmg(7), EndRdx(7), Acc(9)
Level 8: Boxing -- RechRdx(A)
Level 10: Obsidian Shield -- ResDam(A), ResDam(29), EndRdx(29), EndRdx(36)
Level 12: Dark Regeneration -- Heal(A), Heal(31), RechRdx(31), EndRdx(31)
Level 14: Tough -- ResDam(A), ResDam(15), ResDam(33), EndRdx(33), EndRdx(33)
Level 16: Fly -- EndRdx(A)
Level 18: Cloak of Darkness -- DefBuff(A), DefBuff(34), DefBuff(34), DefBuff(34), EndRdx(36), EndRdx(36)
Level 20: Knockout Blow -- Dmg(A), Dmg(21), EndRdx(21), Acc(23)
Level 22: Weave -- DefBuff(A), DefBuff(37), DefBuff(37), DefBuff(39), EndRdx(39), EndRdx(39)
Level 24: Aid Other -- IntRdx(A)
Level 26: Punch -- Dmg(A), Dmg(40), EndRdx(40), Acc(40)
Level 28: Aid Self -- IntRdx(A)
Level 30: Taunt -- Taunt(A)
Level 32: Soul Transfer -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(43)
Level 35: Conserve Power -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(43), RechRdx(43)
Level 38: Focused Accuracy -- ToHit(A), ToHit(45), EndRdx(45), EndRdx(45)
Level 41: Hurl -- Dmg(A), Dmg(42), EndRdx(42), Acc(42)
Level 44: Physical Perfection -- EndMod(A), EndMod(46), EndMod(46), Heal(46), Heal(50)
Level 47: Foot Stomp -- Dmg(A), Dmg(48), EndRdx(48), Acc(48)
Level 49: Energy Torrent -- Dmg(A), Dmg(50), EndRdx(50)
------------
Level 2: Swift -- Run(A)
Level 2: Health -- Heal(A), Heal(5), Heal(9), Heal(11)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- EndMod(A), EndMod(11), EndMod(13), EndMod(13)
Level 1: Brawl -- RechRdx(A)
Level 1: Gauntlet
Level 1: Sprint -- EndRdx(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run


TIA. (:

Not a whole lot that can be done on just SOs as far as builds are concerned. Not taking Oppressive Gloom and Rage will gimp him like nothing else could. SS is balanced around having Rage for damage, he doesn't need to go double stacking it or anything. He just needs to have it up and remember not to attack anything for a second while it's down. Oppressive Gloom will add much needed mitigation. Stun is kind of like having 100% resistance to attacks made by minions. Cloak of Fear is too end heavy for him probably, seeing as he has no IOs. If you can trade IOs to him (not sure that you can, never tried) I'd give him a ToE proc. Otherwise, make sure he knows how to combine inspirations to make all the blues he'll need. Aid Other and Aid Self are a total waste. Dark Regeneration is the best heal in the game (except maybe Stygian Circle). Weave is overslotted I think. You could trade him HOs for sure if you are willing to front him something to give him a hand. They could probably help with the slot crunch. I'll see what I can come up with when I get home in a couple hours. I like making sure new players have a good time, and having a good character just might draw him into an IO license

@Rorn ---- Blue Baron ---- Guardian

He often plays with his wife and was very wary of getting rid of aid self/other for that reason- but i'll see if I can talk him out of it/ explain rage and oppressive gloom as well.

He somehow didn't have any enhancements up until this point [????] and I'm still not entirely sure he gets it- but I figure if I email him a link to the build and get him to buy all the SO's he needs at least they're all set since he's above lvl 47 already hah.

Again, any help I can get on this is awesome- hard to convince a f2p player to put in $$ for sub if he keeps dying because of his build haha.

well. You really need to take Rage... especially since you dont have any set bonuses. The ToHit from Rage will assure your attacks land consistantly.

I would just show your friend how to monitor combat statistics and observe Damage bonus.
The bonus turns from green to red and is a nice indicator that you've "crashed". During this time you can taunt/heal/herd/picknose.

Focused Accuracy is one of the most end intensive powers.. I wouldn't take this with a SO build.

Like Vauluur mentioned. OG is some nice mitagation. It's not great but you dont have to spend any slots on the power (practically free endurance usage)

this is what I'm thinkin

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.954
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

no kb protection: Level 50 Mutation Tanker
Primary Power Set: Dark Armor
Secondary Power Set: Super Strength
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Death Shroud -- Dmg(A), Dmg(13), Dmg(15), EndRdx(17), EndRdx(17), Acc(29)
Level 1: Jab -- Dmg(A), Dmg(3), Dmg(3), EndRdx(5), Acc(11)
Level 2: Dark Embrace -- ResDam(A), ResDam(19), ResDam(19), EndRdx(25), EndRdx(25)
Level 4: Murky Cloud -- ResDam(A), ResDam(23), ResDam(27), EndRdx(27), EndRdx(37)
Level 6: Haymaker -- Dmg(A), Dmg(7), Dmg(7), RechRdx(9), EndRdx(33), Acc(36)
Level 8: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 10: Obsidian Shield -- EndRdx(A), EndRdx(29)
Level 12: Dark Regeneration -- Heal(A), RechRdx(31), RechRdx(31), EndRdx(31), EndRdx(36)
Level 14: Tough -- ResDam(A), ResDam(15), EndRdx(33), EndRdx(33)
Level 16: Fly -- Flight(A), Flight(34)
Level 18: Cloak of Darkness -- EndRdx(A), EndRdx(36)
Level 20: Knockout Blow -- Dmg(A), Dmg(21), Dmg(21), EndRdx(23), RechRdx(34), Acc(34)
Level 22: Weave -- DefBuff(A), DefBuff(37), DefBuff(37), EndRdx(39), EndRdx(39)
Level 24: Combat Jumping -- Jump(A)
Level 26: Taunt -- Range(A)
Level 28: Hasten -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(39), RechRdx(40)
Level 30: Oppressive Gloom -- Acc(A)
Level 32: Rage -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(40)
Level 35: Conserve Power -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(43)
Level 38: Foot Stomp -- Acc(A), Dmg(40), Dmg(42), EndRdx(45), RechRdx(45), RechRdx(45)
Level 41: Physical Perfection -- EndMod(A), EndMod(42), EndMod(42), Heal(43), Heal(43)
Level 44: Hurl -- Acc(A), Dmg(46), Dmg(46), Dmg(46)
Level 47: Energy Torrent -- Acc(A), EndRdx(48), HO:Centri(48), HO:Centri(48), HO:Centri(50), RechRdx(50)
Level 49: Soul Transfer -- RechRdx(A)
------------
Level 2: Swift -- Run(A)
Level 2: Health -- Heal(A), Heal(5), Heal(9)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- EndMod(A), EndMod(11), EndMod(13)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Gauntlet
Level 1: Sprint -- EndRdx(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run

Just a nitpick...fly is capped speed at 50 anyway...I would take that slot and put it in Cloak of Darkness and put a DefBuff SO in it, as it buffs DEF as well as Weave does...the base % is the same.

Okay.

How is it that no one has mentioned Acrobatics being a must-have power for Dark Armor with no IOs?

The poor guy is probably a freaking pinball fighting certain enemy groups.

Combat Jumping - Super Jump - ACROBATICS. It's THAT important to a Dark Armor or Fiery Aura tank. When you're getting knocked on your butt, you can't heal, attack, taunt, nothing.

No KB protection on a tank of any kind will frequently lead to both the tank and the team getting killed because the tank spends more time on his back than on his feet.