Heavy Weapons offensive tank

ares

I guess the simple goal of this is to create something that feels like the archetypical warrior (with some fire on the side, why not) which is quite difficult to kill and poses a threat. I simply want him being on the frontline sowing death and destruction with abandon, drawing enemy fire to himself.

This character will be primarily in the tank role. It seemed fairly straightforward so far, but I'm iffy on a few things and not sure if I've done everything I could to strike a solid balance between defense and offense while sticking to the theme. For example, is Skullcrusher actually good when so heavily upgraded, or should I take Brimstone for the fire damage and clinging flame (which would admittedly fit the theme better) etc. etc. I realise I have no offensive cooldown, was thinking that perhaps I could switch out thermal reverberation for it, but not quite sure. Perhaps I should also be taking presence instead of dexterity, for example, for stronger self heals over the extra bit of crit? Advice would be greatly appreciated!


Tank
v3.29:31

Super Stats
Level 6: Strength (Primary)
Level 10: Constitution (Secondary)
Level 15: Dexterity (Secondary)

Talents
Level 1: The Master (Str: 8, Dex: 10, Con: 10, Rec: 10)
Level 6: Boundless Reserves (Con: 5, End: 5)
Level 9: Bodybuilder (Str: 5, End: 5)
Level 12: Physical Conditioning (Str: 5, Con: 5)
Level 15: Martial Focus (Str: 5, Dex: 5)
Level 18: Paramilitary Training (Str: 3, Con: 3, Rec: 3, End: 3)
Level 21: Enduring (Con: 8)

Powers
Level 1: Cleave
Level 1: Defiance (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Guard
Level 8: Thermal Reverberation
Level 11: Enrage (Endorphin Rush, Giant Growth)
Level 14: Brute Strike (Concussion)
Level 17: Arc of Ruin (No Quarter, Wildfire, Challenge!)
Level 20: Vicious Descent (Work Up)
Level 23: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Annihilate (Rank 2, Scorching Blade)
Level 29: Absorb Heat (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 32: Lightning Reflexes
Level 35: Skullcrusher (Rank 2, Rank 3, Put Them Down)
Level 38: Eruption (Rank 2, Magma Burst)
Adv. Points: 36/36

Travel Powers
Level 6: Phoenix Flight
Level 35: Scorching Athletics

Specializations
Strength: Swole (2/3)
Strength: Physical Peak (3/3)
Strength: Brutality (2/2)
Strength: Overpower (3/3)
Warden: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Warden: Ruthless (2/2)
Warden: Tenacious (2/2)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: Retribution (2/2)
Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
Mastery: Warden Mastery (1/1)

flowcyto

You don't generally want to rank up Defiance, but as a tank you do generally want to rank up the block enhancer. You also have two slotted passives by adding R1 LR, though that may have meant to be R1 Masterful Dodge instead. Although you can use Skullcrusher as the main single-target attack (its too narrow to really be used for AoE reliably), Annihilate will be better for dps/threat when optimized. You also can't technically skip out on getting an energy builder in-game, so you'll have to drop a power like Cleave for it.

Here's an example of a simple HW tank:

https://aesica.net/co/herocreator.htm?v=31&n=&d=11380NAQFPEa000000H000H204H400H8042D00H90iK503HE0LH708ON01ER002H03H603JJ031rWF42iK0tak30000000000&e=

Super Stats
Level 6: Strength (Primary)
Level 10: Constitution (Secondary)
Level 15: Endurance (Secondary)

Talents
Level 1: The Behemoth (Str: 10, Con: 10, Rec: 10, End: 8)
Level 6: Physical Conditioning (Str: 5, Con: 5)
Level 9: Boundless Reserves (Con: 5, End: 5)
Level 12: Bodybuilder (Str: 5, End: 5)
Level 15: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 18: Relentless (Str: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 21: Amazing Stamina (Rec: 5, End: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Bludgeon
Level 1: Eruption (Magma Burst)
Level 6: Defiance
Level 8: Enrage (Endorphin Rush)
Level 11: Thermal Reverberation
Level 14: Arc of Ruin (No Quarter, Wildfire, Challenge!)
Level 17: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Annihilate (Rank 2, Scorching Blade, Challenge!)
Level 23: Decimate (Nailed to the Ground)
Level 26: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 29: Masterful Dodge
Level 32: Absorb Heat (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Guard (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 38: Aggressor (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Adv. Points: 34/36

Travel Powers
Level 6:
Level 35:

Specializations
Strength: Swole (3/3)
Strength: Physical Peak (2/3)
Strength: Brutality (2/2)
Strength: Juggernaut (2/3)
Strength: Overpower (1/3)
Warden: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Warden: Ruthless (2/2)
Warden: Upper Hand (2/3)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Protector: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Protector: Bulwark (2/2)
Protector: Debilitating Challenge (2/2)
Protector: Defensive Expertise (3/3)
Mastery: Strength Mastery (1/1)

Uses Eruption + charged Arc of Ruin as its main AoE. Eruption can also put up CFlames for optimizing Annihilate, procing Thermal Reverb, and to heal w/ Absorb Heat. Charging Annihilate is your main single-target attack, while Arc of Ruin can be tapped to apply/refresh debuffs. If you don't want to knock away trash w/ Annihilate, then you can buildup knock immunity w/ Eruption and Arc first. Gears mostly for Con and Str, w/ some End (for more max energy and TReverb's energy return).