Stone / Stone Tanker build request please

Hello all,

I have a Stone / Stone Tanker which I started a very long time ago ( Currently 25 ) that I would like to start playing again.

What I would like are some example builds that I can get some ideas from if I may I am very inexperienced with most things in CoH sorry ( Stopped playing along time ago ) I am thinking of going Granite Armour, is that still a good idea these days ?

Absolutely any advice is very much welcome


Electra

You definitely WANT Granite Armor, but living in it makes you a very one-dimensional character and awfully boring to play. A stone tank running Granite is the most durable character in the game, and by a wide margin.

I built for +runspeed and +recharge to make the character tolerable while running Granite and Rooted. On the bright side, when the enemies aren't mean enough to need Granite, all that recharge means I can lay some serious smackdown and also solo very fast (for a tank).

I don't use Mids so I can't post my build. I have the Gift of the Ancients +7.5% runspeed five times. I have Luck of the Gambler +7.5% recharge five times. With all that recharge, you'll run into endurance issues when not using Granite. I've got +39% recovery (not including Stamina).

Granite armor is great, once you get it.

I suggest you search the tank forums for previous Stone Armor threads. There are also a few Stone/Stone threads where you can find builds. Find something you like and play with it in Mids Hero Planner (www.cohplanner.com) to see what works for you. Export it here and we'll take a look at what you've got and make suggestions on where it can be improved, or how we'd do it differently.

Although they're not recent guides, read up on Stone Armor in the tank guides section. There are still valid ideas there; especially for overcoming some of the de-buffs (run speed, recharge, and damage) that you get while in Granite Armor.

This is a SS/Stone brute build I just finished not long ago...and there are obviously some differences as this is a brute...but...

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.957
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

SS_Stone: Level 50 Mutation Brute
Primary Power Set: Super Strength
Secondary Power Set: Stone Armor
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Teleportation
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Jab -- SBrutesF-Acc/Dmg:50(A), SBrutesF-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(3), SBrutesF-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(3)
Level 1: Rock Armor -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), SW-ResDam/Re TP:50(5)
Level 2: Punch -- SBrutesF-Rech/Fury:50(A), SBrutesF-Dmg/Rchg:50(5), SBrutesF-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:50(7)
Level 4: Haymaker -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg:50(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx:50(9), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg:50(11), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(11), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(45), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(46)
Level 6: Stone Skin -- RctvArm-ResDam:40(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(13), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(13), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(15), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+:30(15), GA-3defTpProc:50(17)
Level 8: Earth's Embrace -- Numna-Heal:50(A), Numna-Heal/Rchg:50(17), Panac-Heal:50(19), Panac-Heal/Rchg:50(19), Mrcl-Heal/Rchg:40(25), Mrcl-EndRdx/Rchg:40(25)
Level 10: Knockout Blow -- Hectmb-Dmg/Rchg:50(A), Hectmb-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(29), Hectmb-Acc/Rchg:50(31), Hectmb-Dmg/EndRdx:50(31), Hectmb-Dam%:50(31)
Level 12: Taunt -- Zinger-Dam%:50(A)
Level 14: Mud Pots -- Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:30(A), Erad-Acc/Rchg:30(23), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:30(23), FotG-Dam/End/Rech:50(37), FotG-Acc/Dmg:50(37)
Level 16: Rooted -- Numna-Heal:50(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx:50(46), Panac-Heal:50(50), Panac-Heal/EndRedux:50(50)
Level 18: Rage -- RechRdx-I:50(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx:50(34), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg:50(34)
Level 20: Brimstone Armor -- RctvArm-ResDam:40(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(43), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(45), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(45)
Level 22: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 24: Tough -- RctvArm-ResDam:40(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(40), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(40), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(40)
Level 26: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), LkGmblr-Def:50(27), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:50(27), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:50(29)
Level 28: Hurl -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(36), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(37)
Level 30: Hasten -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(36), RechRdx-I:50(36)
Level 32: Foot Stomp -- Armgdn-Dmg/Rchg:50(A), Armgdn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(33), Armgdn-Acc/Rchg:50(33), Armgdn-Dmg/EndRdx:50(33), Armgdn-Dam%:50(34)
Level 35: Teleport -- Winter-ResSlow:50(A)
Level 38: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), LkGmblr-Def:50(39), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:50(39), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:50(39)
Level 41: Granite Armor -- RctvArm-ResDam:40(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(42), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(42), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(42), LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(43), LkGmblr-Def:50(43)
Level 44: Tactics -- GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx:50(A), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx:50(46)
Level 47: Gloom -- Apoc-Dmg/Rchg:50(A), Apoc-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(48), Apoc-Acc/Rchg:50(48), Apoc-Dmg/EndRdx:50(48), Apoc-Dam%:50(50)
Level 49: Dark Obliteration -- Det'tn-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury
Level 1: Sprint -- Run-I:50(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I:50(A)
Level 2: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+:50(A), Panac-Heal/+End:50(7), Mrcl-Rcvry+:40(21)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I:50(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%:50(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg:50(9), P'Shift-EndMod:50(21)
Level 0: Freedom Phalanx Reserve
Level 0: Portal Jockey
Level 0: Task Force Commander
Level 0: The Atlas Medallion
Level 50: Ion Core Final Judgement
Level 50: Degenerative Radial Flawless Interface
Level 50: Cimeroran Core Superior Ally
Level 50: Ageless Radial Epiphany
Level 50: Agility Core Paragon
------------

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LSK actually put up a REALLY nice build here.

Clicking on the linked image above will take you off the City of Heroes site. However, the guides will be linked back here.

There are two schools of thought with stone tankers, those that live their entire careers in granite once they get it and those that don't. You need to see which style you prefer more. I will say that if you are only using SOs then granite is the better choice.

Granite is very sturdy, it has strong defense and resistances against most damage types. Enemies are less likely to hit you and when they do, they hit for a lot less. Despite this, it has some penalties: it has a movement penalty, more so when combined with rooted, it imposes a damage and recharge debuff on you, and it has no protection against psi attacks.

Other than the movement penalty, the other armors offset the disadvantages in granite at the cost of being less sturdy (using just single origin enhancements). With some IO investment you can soft cap defense to the most common damage types with these armors which makes enemy less likely to hit you.

With Stone/Stone the other major concern is end usage. Stone melee is an end hog.

I'm with the school that granite is a situational tool and should be used as such. Below is a build I whipped up were I to build a stone/stone. It is a little expensive but it's not super pimped out (no purples no pvp IOs), so I think it's a doable budget for a casual gamer.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.957
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Tanker
Primary Power Set: Stone Armor
Secondary Power Set: Stone Melee
Power Pool: Teleportation
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Rock Armor -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:31(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:31(3), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:31(3), GftotA-Run+:31(17)
Level 1: Stone Fist -- P'ngS'Fest-Acc/Dmg:30(A), P'ngS'Fest-Dmg/EndRdx:30(5), P'ngS'Fest-Dmg/Rchg:30(7), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(7), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(9)
Level 2: Earth's Embrace -- Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg:31(A), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:31(17), Dct'dW-Heal:31(43), Dct'dW-Rchg:31(43), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg:31(43)
Level 4: Heavy Mallet -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg:31(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx:31(9), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:31(25), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg:31(40), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(40), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(40)
Level 6: Teleport -- EndRdx-I:50(A)
Level 8: Rooted -- HO:Golgi(A), Mrcl-Heal/EndRdx:31(50), Mrcl-Heal:31(50)
Level 10: Mud Pots -- Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:30(A), Erad-%Dam:30(11), Erad-Dmg:30(11), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(13), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx:50(13), M'Strk-Acc/EndRdx:50(39)
Level 12: Kick -- Empty(A)
Level 14: Tough -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:31(A), RctvArm-ResDam:31(15), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:31(15)
Level 16: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:31(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:31(19), GftotA-Run+:31(29), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:31(31)
Level 18: Crystal Armor -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:31(A), HO:Cyto(19), GftotA-Run+:31(45)
Level 20: Fault -- Stpfy-Acc/Rchg:31(A), Stpfy-EndRdx/Stun:31(21), Stpfy-Acc/EndRdx:31(25), Stpfy-Stun/Rng:31(27), Stpfy-Acc/Stun/Rchg:31(27), FrcFbk-Rechg%:31(29)
Level 22: Stone Skin -- Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx:31(A), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg:31(23), Aegis-ResDam:31(23)
Level 24: Taunt -- Zinger-Taunt:31(A), Zinger-Taunt/Rchg:31(31), Zinger-Taunt/Rchg/Rng:31(34), Zinger-Acc/Rchg:31(36), Zinger-Taunt/Rng:31(36), Zinger-Dam%:31(36)
Level 26: Build Up -- RechRdx-I:50(A)
Level 28: Hurl Boulder -- Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:31(A), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:31(31), Dev'n-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(39), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:31(42)
Level 30: Hasten -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(46)
Level 32: Granite Armor -- Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx:31(A), Aegis-ResDam:31(33), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:31(33), LkGmblr-Rchg+:31(33), GftotA-Run+:31(34), DefBuff-I:50(34)
Level 35: Tremor -- Erad-Dmg:30(A), Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:30(37), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:30(37), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(37), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx:50(39)
Level 38: Seismic Smash -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg:30(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx:30(45), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg:30(45), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:31(46), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(46), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(48)
Level 41: Minerals -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:31(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:31(42), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:31(42)
Level 44: Conserve Power -- RechRdx-I:50(A)
Level 47: Physical Perfection -- P'Shift-EndMod:31(A), P'Shift-End%:31(50)
Level 49: Brimstone Armor -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+:30(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Gauntlet
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+:20(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+:30(48)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod:31(A), P'Shift-End%:31(5), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc:31(21), EndMod-I:50(48)
Level 0: Freedom Phalanx Reserve
Level 0: Portal Jockey
Level 0: Task Force Commander
Level 0: The Atlas Medallion
Level 50: Cardiac Core Paragon
------------

So this is the end goal, getting there is not going to be quite the same especially if you are just using SOs.

For survival you are going to depend a lot on fault so that power needs to be slotted asap. You defenses are not quite high enough without IOs to avoid most enemy attacks so you will also need to rely on fault and your regeneration rate.

A level up build with just SOs would look something like this:

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.957
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 49 Magic Tanker
Primary Power Set: Stone Armor
Secondary Power Set: Stone Melee
Power Pool: Teleportation
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Rock Armor -- DefBuff(A), DefBuff(3), DefBuff(3)
Level 1: Stone Fist -- Acc(A), EndRdx(5), Dmg(7), Dmg(19), RechRdx(31)
Level 2: Stone Mallet -- Acc(A), EndRdx(7), Dmg(9), Dmg(17), EndRdx(31)
Level 4: Heavy Mallet -- Acc(A), EndRdx(9), Dmg(11), Dmg(25), EndRdx(31)
Level 6: Teleport -- EndRdx(A)
Level 8: Rooted -- Heal(A), Heal(11), Heal(17)
Level 10: Earth's Embrace -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(13)
Level 12: Mud Pots -- EndRdx(A), EndRdx(15), Acc(15)
Level 14: Hasten -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(29)
Level 16: Stone Skin -- Empty(A)
Level 18: Crystal Armor -- DefBuff(A), DefBuff(19), DefBuff(25)
Level 20: Fault -- Acc(A), Acc(21), EndRdx(21), RechRdx(23), RechRdx(23)
Level 22: Kick -- Empty(A)
Level 24: Tough -- Empty(A)
Level 26: Weave -- EndRdx(A), DefBuff(27), DefBuff(27), DefBuff(29)
Level 28: Taunt -- RechRdx(A)
Level 30: Build Up -- RechRdx(A)
Level 32: Granite Armor -- Empty(A)
Level 35: [Empty]
Level 38: [Empty]
Level 41: [Empty]
Level 44: [Empty]
Level 47: [Empty]
Level 49: [Empty]
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Gauntlet
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- EndMod(A), EndMod(5), EndMod(13)
------------

Hello all,

Thank you all for the great advice so far, I am currently working on a build in MIDS that I will post for your advice. As I said in my original post, I am very inexperienced with all of this, so all the posts have been great thanks

I am working on the Holiday set as it seems quite good, does anyone use the ATIO set for tankers at all ? I have also done a bit of reading about offsetting the Granite armour Movement / Recharge debuff with LotG and GotA, but I am not sure that is the path I want to head down yet.

It can get very confusing looking at all the possibilities and I totally agree that Stone / Stone is hard on endurance. At 27 I am having huge endurance issues and not really sure what I can do about it yet.

Once again thank you all for the great advice