IO sets for positional defense

[Heraclea]

Got my third tanker to 50 yesterday - the shield/fire.  Trying to figure out how to slot her. 

 

What are some good sets for positional - as opposed to typed - defense?  Right now I am at 48% melee defense, but 40% ranged and about the same for AoE defense.  Good enough for all practical purposes, I know, but I would still like to raise those latter figures.  I am not at all allergic to slotting up sets that only go up to 30 or 35, also. 

 

Anything I should be looking at?  Also considering slotting a Taunt set in Combustion. 

[Caulderone]

Blessing of the Zephyr is pretty good Ranged and AoE defense per slot.

[Call Me Awesome]

I use Mako's Bite in ST attacks for Ranged defense, you can use Obliteration in PBAOE for Melee defense or Scirocco's for AOE.  Touch of Death is another melee ST set for Melee defense.

 

Try the Set Bonus Finder in Mid's in the Window dropdown menu for more ideas.  Be aware it lists bonuses that don't exist anymore like Defense (Melee) shows nothing but Defense (Melee), Defense (Lethal), Defense (Smashing) does.

 

Here's a reference, it's my old Live build on my Shield/Fire tanker from issue 19.  I haven't updated it for Homecoming so for example it's missing Grant Cover which is highly recommended now due to the debuff resistance it provides.  Also at the time Membrane HO's in Active Defense boosted DDR, I believe that has changed.  I was a poor broke tanker at the time and IO prices were insane so it lacks a lot of uniques I'd use as a matter of course now, it was a cheap build to get the job done.

 

Hero Plan by Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer 2.6.0.7
https://github.com/ImaginaryDevelopment/imaginary-hero-designer

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Call Me Frank: Level 50 Natural Tanker
Primary Power Set: Shield Defense
Secondary Power Set: Fiery Melee
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Medicine
Ancillary Pool: Pyre Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Deflection -- GifoftheA-Def/EndRdx(A), GifoftheA-Def/Rchg(3), GifoftheA-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(3), GifoftheA-Def(5), ResDam-I(5), ResDam-I(7)
Level 1: Scorch -- TchofDth-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(A), TchofDth-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(7), TchofDth-Dmg/Rchg(9), TchofDth-Dam%(9), TchofDth-Dmg/EndRdx(11), TchofDth-Acc/Dmg(11)
Level 2: True Grit -- Heal-I(A), Heal-I(13), Heal-I(13), ResDam-I(15), ResDam-I(15), StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(17)
Level 4: Combustion -- Mlt-Acc/Dmg(A), Mlt-Dmg/EndRdx(17), Mlt-Dmg/Rchg(19), Mlt-Acc/EndRdx(19), Mlt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(21), Mlt-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(21)
Level 6: Active Defense -- HO:Membr(A), HO:Membr(23), RechRdx-I(23)
Level 8: Against All Odds -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 10: Taunt -- MckBrt-Rchg(A), MckBrt-Taunt/Rng(25), MckBrt-Acc/Rchg(25), MckBrt-Taunt/Rchg/Rng(27), MckBrt-Taunt/Rchg(27), MckBrt-Taunt(29)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Jump-I(A)
Level 16: Battle Agility -- GifoftheA-Def/EndRdx(A), GifoftheA-Def/Rchg(29), GifoftheA-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(31), GifoftheA-Def(31)
Level 18: Boxing -- Acc-I(A)
Level 20: Tough -- ImpArm-ResDam(A), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(31), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(33), ImpArm-ResDam/Rchg(33)
Level 22: Weave -- GifoftheA-Def/EndRdx(A), GifoftheA-Def/Rchg(33), GifoftheA-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(34), GifoftheA-Def(34)
Level 24: Phalanx Fighting -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 26: Shield Charge -- ScrDrv-Acc/Dmg(A), ScrDrv-Dmg/EndRdx(34), ScrDrv-Dmg/Rchg(36), ScrDrv-Acc/Rchg(36), ScrDrv-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(36), RechRdx-I(37)
Level 28: Fire Sword Circle -- Mlt-Acc/Dmg(A), Mlt-Dmg/EndRdx(37), Mlt-Dmg/Rchg(37), Mlt-Acc/EndRdx(39), Mlt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(39), Mlt-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39)
Level 30: Aid Other -- Heal-I(A)
Level 32: Aid Self -- DctWnd-Heal/Rchg(A), Mrc-Heal/Rchg(40), HrmHln-Heal/Rchg(40)
Level 35: Incinerate -- Mk'Bit-Dam%(A), Mk'Bit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(40), Mk'Bit-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(42), Mk'Bit-Dmg/Rchg(42), Mk'Bit-Dmg/EndRdx(42), Mk'Bit-Acc/Dmg(43)
Level 38: Greater Fire Sword -- CrsImp-Acc/Dmg(A), CrsImp-Dmg/Rchg(43), CrsImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(43), CrsImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(45), CrsImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(45), RechRdx-I(45)
Level 41: Char -- Acc-I(A)
Level 44: Fire Blast -- Dvs-Dmg/EndRdx(A), Dvs-Acc/Dmg(46), Dvs-Dmg/Rchg(46), Dvs-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(46)
Level 47: Fire Ball -- PstBls-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(A), PstBls-Dmg/Rchg(48), PstBls-Dmg/Rng(48), PstBls-Dmg/EndRdx(48), PstBls-Acc/Dmg(50)
Level 49: One with the Shield -- ResDam-I(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Gauntlet 
Level 4: Ninja Run 
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(50), EndMod-I(50)
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
------------

[tidge]

I will second Blessing of the Zephyr as a set.
The (Superior) Winter sets usually offer hefty Defense for 5 and 6 slotting.
Mocking Beratement is a good choice when seeking Defense improvements (and should be cheap).

 

I admit that I am disappointed that the Tanker archetype IOs don't yeild more Defense than they do.

 

[PyroNugget]

often over looked is the 6 piece set bonus from Gaussians syncronized fire-control is 2.5% to melee,ranged and AoE( in build up or taking Tactics from leadership)

 

add in maneuvers w/LotG +recharge and thats 5.1% to all three

 

--- just those 2 ,if you can fit it in, would soft cap your ranged and AoE if you were at 40% base

 

as said above the WInters /Frozen sets are loaded with BIG % in the 5pc/6pc set bonuses( targeted AoE set bonuses ttl out to 7.5% DEF to AoE!)

 

[Heraclea]

I was able to get AoE to past the softcap fairly easily.  Ranged eluded me until I remembered good old Multistrike, so now all of the positions are higher than 45% without respeccing or moving anything. 

 

Entirely unrelated question: how many server transfers do you get on Homecoming? and are they ever refreshed? 

[Uun]

Don't forget the Steadfast Protection resistance/defense unique - 3% defense to all.

[Roderick]

2 hours ago, Heraclea said:

Entirely unrelated question: how many server transfers do you get on Homecoming? and are they ever refreshed? 

Five at a time, and pretty often. No more than a week, possibly less.

[Rathulfr]

19 minutes ago, Roderick said:

Five at a time, and pretty often. No more than a week, possibly less.

It's 5 transfers every 3 days.

[Myrmidon]

2 hours ago, Uun said:

Don't forget the Steadfast Protection resistance/defense unique - 3% defense to all.

I’m pretty certain that Hera is using both of the Steadfast and Gladiator’s Defense bonuses.