Need advice for building and slotting an Energy Aura (and SS) tanker

[ZeeHero]

My defense is comically low, although given I don't have many sets yet I dont forsee much good tanking below 40% defense before my non-toggle buffs. Also could use any other advice those familiar with EA tanker can offer.

 

Biggest plus side at least is I've noticed much less end issues than is normal.

[Black_Assassin]

Have you got the 2x3% defense uniques slotted? Those will help a fair amount if you haven't got them already. Combat Jumping with a Lotg in it is another 2%. Otherwise look for the early slottable sets that give defense. If you have the funds 4 kinetic combat is 3.75% S/L (smashing haymaker is the cheap version with only 1.88% S/L). I think finding E/N defense bonuses will be trickier on slot budget, so you might have to lean on Energy Protection more.

 

 

[El D]

I've got an Electric/EA Scrapper so slightly different slotting arrangements, but to echo @Black_Assassin using 4 slots of Kinetic Combats will be a big help. Steadfast Protection +Def and Gladiator's Armor +Def uniques for a global +6% boost. Three stacks of Eradication will net +3% Energy/Negative Energy defense per stack, which when combined with pool powers like Maneuvers, Hover, and Combat Jumping, can leave you will really solid type defense for most of the game. I'm sitting on 56% Smashing/Lethal, 45% Fire/Cold, 62% Energy, 52% Negative, and everything else in the 20s to 30s.

 

EDIT: To preface, those numbers are with a fully Incarnate-ed out character, but as a bonus incentive - if you do slot Kinetic Combats it makes exemplaring down a lot more fun due to their level range.

Edited July 30 by El D

[Erratic1]

56 minutes ago, ZeeHero said:

My defense is comically low, although given I don't have many sets yet I dont forsee much good tanking below 40% defense before my non-toggle buffs. Also could use any other advice those familiar with EA tanker can offer.

 

Biggest plus side at least is I've noticed much less end issues than is normal.

 

Buy Steadfast Protection and Gladiator +3% Def ASAP. With generic Def IOs and Weave you can be towards 40% defense, which is pretty solid during the levelling process.

[Warshades]

In addition to the +def unique IO's, I would also suggest slotting the +res unique IO's like shield wall and reactive defense. EA is very much a mixed armor set and can achieve high values on both resists and defenses when built with set bonuses, but it will be more of a struggle while leveling naturally. Toss those uniques in whenever and wherever you're able, you can always go back and respec to properly slot your build later.

 

EA is more of a late bloomer with sets and will eventually get very durable. Early on, I would suggest trying to get both the +def and +res unique IO's and don't skip over the passives like Dampening Field, Energy Protection, and Power Armor, they can provide noticeable resist buffs whenever attacks do manage to hit you. Energy Drain isn't working on Mid's currently, but it should provide you with ~5% defense if you use it surrounded by mobs as well. With some built in +recharge bonuses or FF +rech procs in Foot Stomp, Hand Clap, KO Blow, you should be able to double stack it.

Edited July 30 by Warshades

[ZeeHero]

level 50 now, will take a while to get all those enhancements, working on it.

[Stingaray]

SS? Meh. You'd be better off with Energy Melee. 

[PLVRIZR]

On 7/30/2025 at 5:14 PM, ZeeHero said:

My defense is comically low, although given I don't have many sets yet I dont forsee much good tanking below 40% defense before my non-toggle buffs. Also could use any other advice those familiar with EA tanker can offer.

 

Biggest plus side at least is I've noticed much less end issues than is normal.

We are currently running an Energy Aura armor "challenge" for Tanker Tuesday Tour on Excelsior.  We got through DFB and the Frostfire arc and my tank wound up on 16 and ready for the Posi1/2 TFs.  Next month (and on the 7th), we'll be taking on the Synapse TF, and it also happens to be the WST.

 

I'm fairly new to Energy Aura (only one other toon - EM/EA Brute), but have been tanking since 2004...hence Taunt at lvl 10.  Since Homecoming offers prestige attacks, and I'm a survivalist first, I have all the armors available at 16.  Using the above advice, and any Res and Def IOs available at this level, I wound up with this:

 

 

He's pretty immune to +1/+2 bosses (street sweeping in Steel Canyon), but obviously not a damage powerhouse.