Slotting Pets for defense?

[Mesu]

Trying to max out my Demon/Thermal defense but having a hard time doing that. Getting them high resis is easy, specifically trying to max out their fire defense. What enhancements can I slot? I've been going through a list and I just get more confused than where I was before.

Edited May 1, 2023 by Mesu

[Sarion]

There are special pet specific IO's that you can slot, preferably in Hell on Earth. These IO's act as auras and will give them defense as long as they are within 20 feet of you. Expedient reinforcement, call to arms, edict of the master. They won't cap your defense for your demons but it will help. 

[Uun]

There are 6 IOs you can slot. The radius is 40 feet (the in-game text stating 20 feet is incorrect). Whichever power you slot them in, the defense/resist bonus will apply to all henchmen. That said, you will want to slot a Recharge Intensive Pet set in a power with a long cooldown like Hell on Earth.

 

Call to Arms - Defense Bonus Aura - 5% defense (all), 40-foot radius

Expedient Reinforcement - Resist Bonus Aura - 10% resistance (all), 40-foot radius

Edict of the Master - Defense Bonus - 5% defense (all), 40-foot radius

Sovereign Right - Resistance Bonus - 10% resistance (all), 40-foot radius

Command of the Mastermind - AoE Defense Aura - 10% defense (AoE), 40-foot radius

Mark of Supremacy - +Resist & +Regen Aura - 10% resistance (all) + 100% regeneration, , 40-foot radius

[Nyghtmaire]

@Uun’s got you covered. 
 

1 hour ago, Uun said:

Command of the Mastermind - AoE Defense Aura - 10% defense (AoE), 40-foot radius

Mark of Supremacy - +Resist & +Regen Aura - 10% resistance (all) + 100% regeneration, , 40-foot radius

Just adding that the superior versions bump each up to 15.

Only other option is taking maneuvers for an additional ~4% (and handy LotG slot). If talking about Incarnates, Hybrid Support Core will add defense when active (and is double for all pets). If hard-pressed Interface diamagnetic radial t3 can add -5 ToHit debuff, stacking 4 times, to approximate defense. And Destiny Barrier of course (T4 Core adding a base +5 defense if used on cooldown).

[Gobbledigook]

I noticed that Tactial Upgrade for Mercs can slot +defense sets yet it does not seem to buff the pets defense when slotting it with a defense enhancement. What is the defense in TU for?

 

It does not give them any Melee defense at all. Shouldn't they have a little Melee defense?

[Uun]

59 minutes ago, Gobbledigook said:

I noticed that Tactial Upgrade for Mercs can slot +defense sets yet it does not seem to buff the pets defense when slotting it with a defense enhancement. What is the defense in TU for?

 

It does not give them any Melee defense at all. Shouldn't they have a little Melee defense?

From the Page 5 patch notes:

 

Tactical Upgrade

• This power now grants henchmen passive Ranged and AoE defenses.
• Now accepts Defense sets and enhancements, will boost henchmen defenses.
• By slotting this power with defense enhancements, players will be able to improve the henchmen's passive defenses.

https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=mastermind_pets.soldier_3.tactical_upgrade&at=mastermind

[StrikerFox]

It's not a lot of defense but it's pretty decent if controlling pets to stay at range. Base value of Tactical Upgrade at 50 is:

 

Melee - +0%
Range - +6.22%
AoE - +3.73% 

 

Slotting Tactical Upgrade moderately would provide around:

 

Melee - +0%
Range - +9.59%
AoE - +5.75%

 

With slotted upgrade + pet unique auras + slotted Maneuvers, Merc pets would be at around:

 

Melee - +14%
Range - +23.59%
AoE - +34.75%

[Gobbledigook]

1 hour ago, StrikerFox said:

It's not a lot of defense but it's pretty decent if controlling pets to stay at range. Base value of Tactical Upgrade at 50 is:

 

Melee - +0%
Range - +6.22%
AoE - +3.73% 

 

Slotting Tactical Upgrade moderately would provide around:

 

Melee - +0%
Range - +9.59%
AoE - +5.75%

 

With slotted upgrade + pet unique auras + slotted Maneuvers, Merc pets would be at around:

 

Melee - +14%
Range - +23.59%
AoE - +34.75%

When i add a defense slot to mine it does not seem to improve the pets defenses beyond base values. It shows 6.22% Ranged defenseTactical upgrade in the pet stats whether i slot a defense enhancement or not.

 

I am certainly not seeing these figures above just the first base value figures even when slotted. 50+1 Mercs/cold MM.

 

Ill test it some more later.

 

Ok now it seems to be working lol. Did the same thing to check it but this time it is showing a different figure and is working properly. No idea what went wrong before but all good. Sorry to bother you guys. TY

Edited May 15, 2023 by Gobbledigook

[StrikerFox]

4 hours ago, Gobbledigook said:

When i add a defense slot to mine it does not seem to improve the pets defenses beyond base values. It shows 6.22% Ranged defenseTactical upgrade in the pet stats whether i slot a defense enhancement or not.

 

I am certainly not seeing these figures above just the first base value figures even when slotted. 50+1 Mercs/cold MM.

 

Ill test it some more later.

 

Ok now it seems to be working lol. Did the same thing to check it but this time it is showing a different figure and is working properly. No idea what went wrong before but all good. Sorry to bother you guys. TY

 

@High_Beam and maybe a few other people had this issue early when i27.5 was released. I tested it and it seemed to work fine for me. I'm not sure what causes it or if anything was done to fix it.