ITF Beyond +4

[WuTang]

So here we go... I'm finally dipping into star level content for ITF.

 

I joined a 4* for my first time, as support, I figured, start out the way I plan to continue. And I think I did well...or was carried more likely....but I'll tell myself whatever I need to hear!

 

But seriously, what should I expect? The fights weren't difficult, but we had a stupid good team lead that new what the F she was do'n, so I was really just along for the (ride) experience, which was invaluable. 

 

Now I want to Tank one or DPS one, so I'm curious, is there a different way to build for star content? As of right now I only have 3 leveled Tanks, loads of Brutes, some Scrappers, and a nice selection of Corruptors.

 

My Tanks are Rad/MA/En, Bio/BA, and a Dark/EM (this one isn't in consideration). Based on what I know about ITF in general and having seen the fight in a 4*, I think the Rad Tank would be my best option. But wondering what others think work for hard mode. The Bio is a Map Server baby and isn't fully incarnate, getting there, but after seeing the fights I'm not 100% sure Bio, at least my build, would do so well on the big-boi fights.

 

If my build needs Ageless Core, is that a no-go? In the one run I'm pretty sure I was the only one without Barrier.

 

I guess what I'm looking for is a "hey these are the things..." So, if anyone knows all the things, I'd appreciate a heads up!

 

Thanks!

 

-WT

[Snarky]

some people find the starred content easier than +4/8.  i think the starred is more challenging, but i have chaotic ways.  Starred content, to be successful, requires our characters to act like they are in a play, doing certain things at certain times certain ways.  Done correctly, even 4 star ITF with a good team is not extreme.  Discord helps to coordinate barriers.

[Carnifax]

36 minutes ago, WuTang said:

My Tanks are Rad/MA/En, Bio/BA, and a Dark/EM (this one isn't in consideration). Based on what I know about ITF in general and having seen the fight in a 4*, I think the Rad Tank would be my best option. But wondering what others think work for hard mode. The Bio is a Map Server baby and isn't fully incarnate, getting there, but after seeing the fights I'm not 100% sure Bio, at least my build, would do so well on the big-boi fights.

 

Of these I'd say the Rad/MA/En for sure. Absorb is a great help for 4*

 

I have a Rad/MA/En, with Ageless, but have never a 4* on them (did do a +4 during the week and my health bar didn't budge). I've always been one of the the supports on 4 stars (I've done it as Fire/Nature Corruptor and as Ill/Dark and found the Fire/Nature felt more useful). 

[WuTang]

25 minutes ago, Carnifax said:

I've always been one of the the supports on 4 stars (I've done it as Fire/Nature Corruptor and as Ill/Dark and found the Fire/Nature felt more useful). 

I used my Fire/Dark/Soul Corruptor it felt solid and useful, but to be honest, I was still getting my footing.

 

On a +4 or less on most of my toons I can race forward and survive long enough to kill a bunch before the group catches up. And on two of my Tanks, I can "pull it all" and be fine. Can do that on several of my Brutes too.

 

48 minutes ago, Snarky said:

some people find the starred content easier than +4/8.  i think the starred is more challenging, but i have chaotic ways.  Starred content, to be successful, requires our characters to act like they are in a play, doing certain things at certain times certain ways.  Done correctly, even 4 star ITF with a good team is not extreme

I can't yet comment on the ease of starred runs. Being carried, in my mind, doesn't give me the cred I need, But that run was very smooth. There were deaths, but never a wipe. And the coordination of the 7 members was, to my eye, seamless.

[Uun]

I don't do star content often and it's usually 1* or 2*. That said, I tanked a 3* ITF on my Dark/Dark tank and it performed well. There's a lot of negative damage (which Dark Armor should be capped to), plus it has the best heal in the game.

[WuTang]

34 minutes ago, Uun said:

I don't do star content often and it's usually 1* or 2*. That said, I tanked a 3* ITF on my Dark/Dark tank and it performed well. There's a lot of negative damage (which Dark Armor should be capped to), plus it has the best heal in the game.

My Dark/Em tank is setup to be gimmicky. It's a stun build, which doesn't actually work in an ITF very well, or at least it hasn't the 3 times I've ran with him.

[arcane]

You don’t need much besides a good taunt to tank a 4 star TF because 4 star teams rely on team buffs for safety rather than pointless defense/resistance bonuses that aren’t large enough to save you anyway. Just recently tanked all of the TF’s on an offensively-built Night Widow with basically no issues. Had no issues tanking them on my Spines/Fire Brute either. Done them all with Rad, Bio, and Dark tanks too. And none of my characters have the fighting pool or slot sets of 6 or anything like that. 
 

But yes you need to have Barrier just to get invited most of the time. It won’t be as bad as you think since most 4 star teams will have kins or colds or marines helping your endurance. But sure, I’ve had to pick Cardiac on some Tankers to make Barrier a viable pick for general play.

 

At the end of the day, on a 4 star, the most offensively built taunter will be fine on a decent team, and the most tanky build you can imagine won’t stand a chance on a bad team. 
 

EDIT: Only caveat I can think of: if you are going to try to do 4 star Lady Grey with a Scrapper/Widow Confront instead of a Brute/Tanker Taunt… it helps to actually slot Confront instead of just dropping a range IO in there.

Edited April 17 by arcane

[Player2]

7 hours ago, WuTang said:

we had a stupid good team lead that new what the F she was do'n, 

^ ^ ^

This right here makes all difference.