New player tank looking for help-advice

[Mando712]

I just started playing this week. 10-24-25 and make a natural-shield-melee radiation tank. I make level 50 and now would like help on what augments (IO?) to slot, My build interest is in the traditional tank role with some offensive capability. 

Dozer' 

Excelsior server

@ArchAngel-Michael

 

Thank you.

[MonteCarla]

Hey Dozer!

I remember you from my Faathim Task Force! 🙂

 

General rule for SO's: Only slot up to 3 of the same kind in each power, or you get hit hard by diminishing returns. So 3 damage in each attack, 3 defence in your main shield powers, and so on.  For attacks, 1 accuracy, 3 damage, 1 recharge, 1 end redux is a good start usually. 

Shield's a Defence set primarily, so you really want to hit 45% Melee/Ranged and Area defences - that's the soft cap at which you're very hard to hit by most enemies.
(You can monitor these by clicking on the menu above your powers tray Power->Combat Attributes and then find the defences, and they'll pop up in a little window as a live display)

Your main powers (Battle Agility and Deflection) will give you 24% or so when slotted.
Combat Jumping adds another 3% maybe.

Phalanx Fighting adds maybe 8% lightly slotted with 2 allies in close range. So that's 35%

 

The Steadfast Protection Res/Def  and Gladiator's Armor unique IOs can be bought (see end of post) and slotted in True Grit for another 6%.

You can find the remaining 4% in set bonuses.

 

Good melee def sets (maybe grab 2 of these)
- Unbreakable Guard x4 in True Grit, inlcuding the special +Max HP one

- Touch of Death 6 slotted in any melee power

- Obliteration 6-slotted in your PBAoEs

 

Good ranged def set
(from the wiki here https://homecoming.wiki/wiki/Category:Sets_with_Ranged,_Energy_and_Negative_Energy_Defense_bonuses)

- Mako's Bite 6-slotted in a Melee attack

 

Good AoE defence sets

- Scirocco's Dervish in a PBAoE

 

6 slots of Gaussian's Synchonrised Fire Control gives you +2.5% vs Melee, Range AND AoE!
 

 OR take Tough and Weave from the Fighting pool to be even tougher!

 

After that, start looking for things that can boost your Recharge, so you can use Shield Charge and Fusion more often.
Luck of the Gambler +Recharge global is a great start. YOu can slot 5 of them, and have at least 5 defence granting powers in Shield Defence

 

To afford these enhancements... I know you have 144 merits from the Task Force we did 🙂

Go to the Auction House in Atlas and buy Enhancement Converters from the little ATM on the right.
List them in the auction house for 1 inf each and they'll sell for at least 50,000 each! 
So 144 merits = 432 converters = 21.5 million inf!

 

Feel free to hit me up with more questions.
 

 

[Six-Six]

A general rule I follow is to slot SOs until 35, unless I'm desperate for specific set bonuses. ACC and End are the most important for attacks. You want your attacks to connect, otherwise you're just fanning your foe with your spanking weapon or fists (I'm looking at you Sands of Mu). I've even come across people who slot 2 ACC over DMG. Don't ignore the End cost of your powers. You don't want to be taking the knee everytime after a tussle. If I have an extra slot, I'd just stick a proc for the lower levels.

SO values will be much higher than attuned IOs until that level. Around 35-40, the SO vs IO values start to even out, to be surpassed by IOs after 40. That's when I start slotting sets. Bear in mind that you don't HAVE to slot IOs. You can get through the game with just SOs. But them IO set bonuses and Hami-Os tend to be a must-have for most people. Also, some yellow IOs have better set bonuses (depending on your overall needs or what your power needs) than oranges.