New player duo build suggestions

[Lindharin]

Hello!

 

My wife and I are starting playing again (we played for a few years on live) on Homecoming, and when we play together we'll probably be focusing on storyline quests and duo content rather than big groups, and leveling up rather than just end-game content.  We don't have a big nest egg of influence yet, so we're pretty much starting from scratch (I've got a solo character who's got a few million to get us started, that's it.)

 

She is currently planning on either a Shield tanker (Axe maybe, or EM or Rad?) or an Energy Armor or Rad Armor Brute (offense not yet chosen).  She enjoys rushing in when that is feasible, but when we need to be careful in a higher risk area I'll probably do the pulling then she'll grab the aggro.  

 

For my character, I want to build something that will complement that for an effective duo.  I tend to build characters to concepts and will certainly pick one that appeals to me, but I'm looking for advice about what gaps I might need to fill or what I should avoid due to redundancy or whatever.  Would a higher damage AT be more useful in a duo than a support character?  Are there any particular gaps in a Shield tanker or a EA / RA brute that I definitely should try to fill (mez protection, endurance buffs, etc.)?  

 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[Bionic_Flea]

How about a pair of Shield/Axe Tanker and Axe/Shield scrapper?  You can do a lot of concepts with Shield and Axe from tribal to feudal to cops to futuristic.  Phalanx Fighting and Grant Cover will add to your defenses.  Add in some leadership powers and good slotting and you should both be fairly unkillable and do good damage.

 

Here are links to the different shields and axes you can choose from:

https://homecoming.wiki/wiki/Shield_Customization

https://homecoming.wiki/wiki/Weapon_Customization#Axes

[mistagoat]

I've found nearly any tank/blaster combo to be absurdly effective! The tank keeps aggro off the blaster and the blaster "arrests" stuff fast enough that it never becomes a problem for the tank. I do a lot of duos and that's probably the most efficient in my experience. It's a very smooth run. Swap the blaster for a corruptor with nice debuffs for similar results.

 

A pair that really surprised me was my arsenal/TA troller paired with my buddies beast/storm MM. Enemies rarely got a chance to attack and when they did get an attack off they usually hit a pet so we had an extremely safe run up to 50.

[Lindharin]

If she goes Axe tanker, how good is Axe Cyclone?  If I had an Energy Blast on my character, would Axe Cyclone be able to re-group any mobs that I knockback?  Or would the knockback push them too far away and out of reach of Axe Cyclone?

[Krimson]

56 minutes ago, Lindharin said:

If she goes Axe tanker, how good is Axe Cyclone?  If I had an Energy Blast on my character, would Axe Cyclone be able to re-group any mobs that I knockback?  Or would the knockback push them too far away and out of reach of Axe Cyclone?

My current go to farmer is a Shield/Battle Axe Tanker. Axe Cyclone is great.

[GM_GooglyMoogly]

3 hours ago, Lindharin said:

If I had an Energy Blast on my character, would Axe Cyclone be able to re-group any mobs that I knockback?

 

Axe has a limited range of 15 feet from the user.  Anything outside that would not be effected.  

 

https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=tanker_melee.battle_axe.whirling_axe&at=tanker

 

But, if the build has the room, you can also get fold space.  That has a range of 100 feet.  

 

https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=pool.teleportation.long_range_teleport&at=tanker

[Without_Pause]

I would offer up Ice/Thermal Corr if they go Shield. Shield is Def based where as Thermal is Res and has some healing with Debuffs. I like finding some sort of controls for annoying things and Ice Blasts has enough holds to cover you. 

 

Rad could use some Cold support. EA is pretty self sufficient so it is fairly open to what works for it. 

 

If they go Axe, having something like Time involved would be helpful as Axe is on the slower side and Time offers +Recharge.

[Scarlet Shocker]

Perhaps, if you can make it at your stage in the game, an SoA backed by something like an Ice/Dark Defender?

 

SoA's are tough sons of bitches and the Ice/Dark (or Ice/Rad) gives great defence and enemy debuffs too

 

 

[gameboy1234]

Thermal has kind of ugly buffs if you're at all into your costume.  I don't mind but it might get tiring after a while.

 

Controllers can pair nicely with melee because they lock everything down and keep it in range.  Maybe Gav/Time (Time has very light-weight visual effects), or something similar.  Depending on your preferences, Arsenal/Traps is kinda fun, though it's very stationary, the debuffs can help melee a lot.  Of course just about anything will work...

Edited July 8 by gameboy1234

[Anthraxus]

My wife just finished levelling her Shield/Axe tanker, and I followed her with a Time/Rad defender.

That was a fun ride to 50! 😁👍