Are There Any Real Tank Primaries?

[BurningDezireA]

 When I play a Tank, I actually want to be able to tank any type of damage. My idea of tanking is to have ALL aggro on me, so my attack chain consist of only Taunt and Provoke---yes, that's right, I have two AOE taunt powers. Once I taunt a group, I spend the rest of my time taunting runners that may try to get my teammates---there are always runners. I have enough recharge to where there is always Taunt or Provoke available. That being said I felt useless and very squishy on my INV tank when my team had a mission where there was PSI dmg involved. Since I have not played all tanker primaries, my question is: Is/Are there any tanker primaries that can actually TANK? An INV tank is just a squishy with no dmg output when up against PSI dmg. I am of the opinion that a tank should have high resist across the board---after all, he can't do decent DPS.

 

On a different note, I have also noticed that even with two AOE taunt powers, I have been unable to steal aggro from my teammates multiple times. I have to say that I am quiet disappointed in the tanker AT. Must I make multiple tanks just so I can tank various dmg types?

[Shoulung]

DA has good all around resist though you’ll need to grab KB prot from a power pool or IO. It’s very expensive endurance wise, but that’s less an issue once you start gearing out with set bonuses and incarnates. If you pick up DM for your secondary it has an endurance recovery power for some nice synergy. Tankers weren’t designed to solo everything in the game btw, they were meant to be part of a group, preferably one that has the tools to cover your weaknesses. Thermal and sonic both have resist shields, and FF has a lot of defense, so try to keep one of those in your group. Also, aegis has a non-unique IO you can slot in each of your resist powers for 5% psi resist a pop.

[BurningDezireA]

20 minutes ago, Shoulung said:

DA has good all around resist though you’ll need to grab KB prot from a power pool or IO. It’s very expensive endurance wise, but that’s less an issue once you start gearing out with set bonuses and incarnates. If you pick up DM for your secondary it has an endurance recovery power for some nice synergy. Tankers weren’t designed to solo everything in the game btw, they were meant to be part of a group, preferably one that has the tools to cover your weaknesses. Thermal and sonic both have resist shields, and FF has a lot of defense, so try to keep one of those in your group. Also, aegis has a non-unique IO you can slot in each of your resist powers for 5% psi resist a pop.

Nice and thanks! Will check DA out. Also, I do understand that tanks can't solo everything since their purpose is taking damage, not dishing it out. I guess I just don't get a tank that can't withstand a certain type of damage. 

[Hopeling]

Any positional defense set will work equally well against all damage types. Willpower, Electric Armor, Dark Armor, and Radiation Armor also offer psi resistance.

1 hour ago, BurningDezireA said:

An INV tank is just a squishy with no dmg output when up against PSI dmg.

I mean, if you build to have no damage output, sure. You get attacks for a reason though. If nothing else, knocking down enemies is a form of mitigation.

1 hour ago, BurningDezireA said:

On a different note, I have also noticed that even with two AOE taunt powers, I have been unable to steal aggro from my teammates multiple times. I have to say that I am quiet disappointed in the tanker AT.

That's because you're not supposed to just taunt. Taunts in this game are a multiplier to your threat, but do not directly force the enemy to attack you. If you taunt but deal no damage, you're not going to hold aggro very well.

 

Your attacks have taunt effects built in, too (weaker than Taunt itself, but still strong enough to matter). Provoke will taunt five enemies, but Fireball will taunt sixteen.

[nihilii]

Like Hopeling say, you're simply never going to be as efficient as a full tanker by playing half of your tanker. At the very least you should spam your T1 for Bruising, and AoEs for crowd control and aggro management. But as far as resist-based half tankers go, DA is probably the best choice indeed.

[BurningDezireA]

1 hour ago, Hopeling said:

Any positional defense set will work equally well against all damage types. Willpower, Electric Armor, Dark Armor, and Radiation Armor also offer psi resistance.

I mean, if you build to have no damage output, sure. You get attacks for a reason though. If nothing else, knocking down enemies is a form of mitigation.

That's because you're not supposed to just taunt. Taunts in this game are a multiplier to your threat, but do not directly force the enemy to attack you. If you taunt but deal no damage, you're not going to hold aggro very well.

 

Your attacks have taunt effects built in, too (weaker than Taunt itself, but still strong enough to matter). Provoke will taunt five enemies, but Fireball will taunt sixteen.

Ahhh I see. This is good to know. Thanks! Heavily considering taking Fireball.

 

[Bopper]

You can get 43% resistance to psionic damage from IOs. 5x Impervium (+30), 1 Aegis (+5), 1 Shield Wall (+5), 1 Reactive Defenses (+3, minimum). The tanker ATO proc can increase resistance (I assume all damage). Also, if you're willing to 6 slot resistance, you can get another 22.5% from Set Bonuses. 

[Sir Myshkin]

6 hours ago, BurningDezireA said:

On a different note, I have also noticed that even with two AOE taunt powers, I have been unable to steal aggro from my teammates multiple times. I have to say that I am quiet disappointed in the tanker AT. Must I make multiple tanks just so I can tank various dmg types?

Even the most Deus Ex Machina hero of them all (Superman) was given a (real) weakness in Magic. There's always going to be some kind of hole.

[Odhinn]

As stated above you need to use your attacks as well as taunt for aggro. Also, there is an aggro cap of 17 meaning if there are more than 17 mobs they will attack someone else. You remedy this by beating up the mobs, tankers do enough damage to help take out minions.

 

Invul does have a Psi hole and there is more Psi damage in the late game. But, it can be overcome with a combo of intelligent strategy and a decent build. Use all of your damage mitigating abilities. 

[Ekimmak]

The original design was "force them to play together by giving them weaknesses that other players have to cover". So you see that a lot in all the original sets.

 

No matter what you pick, there's always going to be some sort of weakness you have that an enemy group will exploit.

[Hyperstrike]

If you're worried about Invuln, here's a modified Invuln/SS build, mostly meant for late-game (so it's a respec build, you really DON'T want to try to level this build up).
Also, please note that it can run, at max level, with Tough turned off.

 

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.962
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

MLSPRI (Modified Late Stage Psi Resist Invuln): Level 50 Magic Tanker
Primary Power Set: Invulnerability
Secondary Power Set: Super Strength
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Teleportation
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Resist Physical Damage -- RctArm-ResDam:40(A), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(3), RctArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(3), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(5), GldArm-3defTpProc:50(5), ImpArm-ResPsi:40(7)
Level 1: Jab -- SprGntFis-Acc/Dmg:50(A), SprGntFis-Dmg/Rchg:50(7), SprGntFis-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(9), SprGntFis-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(9), SprGntFis-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(11), SprGntFis-Rchg/+Absorb:50(11)
Level 2: Temp Invulnerability -- UnbGrd-ResDam:50(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx:50(13), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam:50(13), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:50(15), UnbGrd-Max HP%:50(15), ImpArm-ResPsi:40(17)
Level 4: Dull Pain -- DctWnd-Heal/Rchg:50(A), NmnCnv-Heal/Rchg:50(21)
Level 6: Resist Elements -- RctArm-ResDam:40(A), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(21), RctArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(23), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(23), Ags-Psi/Status:50(25), ImpArm-ResPsi:40(25)
Level 8: Unyielding -- UnbGrd-ResDam:50(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx:50(27), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam:50(27), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:50(29), UnbGrd-EndRdx/Rchg:50(29), ImpArm-ResPsi:40(31)
Level 10: Taunt -- MckBrt-Taunt:50(A), MckBrt-Taunt/Rchg:50(31), MckBrt-Taunt/Rchg/Rng:50(31), MckBrt-Acc/Rchg:50(33), MckBrt-Taunt/Rng:50(33), MckBrt-Rchg:50(33)
Level 12: Resist Energies -- RctArm-ResDam:40(A), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(34), RctArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(34), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(34), StdPrt-ResDam/Def+:30(36), ImpSki-Status:30(36)
Level 14: Kick -- FrcFdb-Rechg%:50(A)
Level 16: Tough -- UnbGrd-ResDam:50(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx:50(36), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam:50(37), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:50(37), UnbGrd-EndRdx/Rchg:50(37), ImpArm-ResPsi:40(39)
Level 18: Invincibility -- LucoftheG-Rchg+:50(A), LucoftheG-Def:50(39), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP:50(39)
Level 20: Knockout Blow -- SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg:50(A), SprBlsCol-Dmg/EndRdx:50(40), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(40), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(40), SprBlsCol-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg:50(42), SprBlsCol-Rchg/HoldProc:50(42)
Level 22: Weave -- LucoftheG-Rchg+:50(A), LucoftheG-Def:50(42), Rct-ResDam%:50(43)
Level 24: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Rchg+:50(A), LucoftheG-Def:50(43)
Level 26: Tough Hide -- LucoftheG-Rchg+:50(A), LucoftheG-Def:50(43)
Level 28: Rage -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(45)
Level 30: Hasten -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(45)
Level 32: Super Jump -- WntGif-ResSlow:50(A)
Level 35: Hurl -- SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg:50(A), SprWntBit-Dmg/Rchg:50(45), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(46), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(46), SprWntBit-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg:50(46), SprWntBit-Rchg/SlowProc:50(48)
Level 38: Foot Stomp -- Erd-Acc/Rchg:30(A), Erd-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:30(48), Erd-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:30(48), ClvBlo-Acc/Dmg:50(50), ClvBlo-Dmg/EndRdx:50(50), ClvBlo-Dmg/Rchg:50(50)
Level 41: Recall Friend -- BlsoftheZ-Travel:50(A)
Level 44: Conserve Power -- RechRdx-I:50(A)
Level 47: Physical Perfection -- RgnTss-Regen+:30(A)
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 -- Pnc-Heal/+End:50(A), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+:50(17), Mrc-Rcvry+:40(19)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-End%:50(A), PrfShf-EndMod:50(19)
Level 50: Agility Core Paragon
Level 50: Diamagnetic Core Flawless Interface
------------

 

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Edited September 17, 2019 by Hyperstrike

[Hyperstrike]

And a slightly better Resist set having used MotT.

 

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.962
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

MLSPRI (Modified Late Stage Psi Resist Invuln): Level 50 Magic Tanker
Primary Power Set: Invulnerability
Secondary Power Set: Super Strength
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Teleportation
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Resist Physical Damage -- RctArm-ResDam:40(A), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(3), RctArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(3), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(5), GldArm-3defTpProc:50(5), ImpArm-ResPsi:40(7)
Level 1: Jab -- SprMghoft-Acc/Dmg:50(A), SprMghoft-Dmg/Rchg:50(7), SprMghoft-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(9), SprMghoft-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(9), SprMghoft-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(11), SprMghoft-Rchg/Res%:50(11)
Level 2: Temp Invulnerability -- UnbGrd-ResDam:50(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx:50(13), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam:50(13), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:50(15), UnbGrd-Max HP%:50(15), ImpArm-ResPsi:40(17)
Level 4: Dull Pain -- DctWnd-Heal/Rchg:50(A), NmnCnv-Heal/Rchg:50(21)
Level 6: Resist Elements -- RctArm-ResDam:40(A), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(21), RctArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(23), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(23), Ags-Psi/Status:50(25), ImpArm-ResPsi:40(25)
Level 8: Unyielding -- UnbGrd-ResDam:50(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx:50(27), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam:50(27), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:50(29), UnbGrd-EndRdx/Rchg:50(29), ImpArm-ResPsi:40(31)
Level 10: Taunt -- MckBrt-Taunt:50(A), MckBrt-Taunt/Rchg:50(31), MckBrt-Taunt/Rchg/Rng:50(31), MckBrt-Acc/Rchg:50(33), MckBrt-Taunt/Rng:50(33), MckBrt-Rchg:50(33)
Level 12: Resist Energies -- RctArm-ResDam:40(A), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(34), RctArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(34), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(34), StdPrt-ResDam/Def+:30(36), ImpSki-Status:30(36)
Level 14: Kick -- FrcFdb-Rechg%:50(A)
Level 16: Tough -- UnbGrd-ResDam:50(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx:50(36), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam:50(37), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:50(37), UnbGrd-EndRdx/Rchg:50(37), ImpArm-ResPsi:40(39)
Level 18: Invincibility -- LucoftheG-Rchg+:50(A), LucoftheG-Def:50(39), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP:50(39)
Level 20: Knockout Blow -- SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg:50(A), SprBlsCol-Dmg/EndRdx:50(40), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(40), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(40), SprBlsCol-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg:50(42), SprBlsCol-Rchg/HoldProc:50(42)
Level 22: Weave -- LucoftheG-Rchg+:50(A), LucoftheG-Def:50(42), Rct-ResDam%:50(43)
Level 24: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Rchg+:50(A), LucoftheG-Def:50(43)
Level 26: Tough Hide -- LucoftheG-Rchg+:50(A), LucoftheG-Def:50(43)
Level 28: Rage -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(45)
Level 30: Hasten -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(45)
Level 32: Super Jump -- WntGif-ResSlow:50(A)
Level 35: Hurl -- SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg:50(A), SprWntBit-Dmg/Rchg:50(45), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(46), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(46), SprWntBit-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg:50(46), SprWntBit-Rchg/SlowProc:50(48)
Level 38: Foot Stomp -- Erd-Acc/Rchg:30(A), Erd-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:30(48), Erd-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:30(48), ClvBlo-Acc/Dmg:50(50), ClvBlo-Dmg/EndRdx:50(50), ClvBlo-Dmg/Rchg:50(50)
Level 41: Recall Friend -- BlsoftheZ-Travel:50(A)
Level 44: Conserve Power -- RechRdx-I:50(A)
Level 47: Physical Perfection -- RgnTss-Regen+:30(A)
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 -- Pnc-Heal/+End:50(A), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+:50(17), Mrc-Rcvry+:40(19)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-End%:50(A), PrfShf-EndMod:50(19)
Level 50: Agility Core Paragon
Level 50: Diamagnetic Core Flawless Interface
------------

 

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