Theorycrafting an "Endgame Capable" Brick-Style Tank Build

lyrious

So after seeing the solid results I got from asking around here for a Melee-Support build, my brother asked me to see if I could ask around about a Brick (Either Brawling or Two-Handed) Style Tank Build (Obviously it does not have to be exclusively Brick powers, to avoid any confusion), as this is what he would like to play, but he's worried about wanting to make sure he can do all the content in the game. You know (Cosmic's and Stuff) with the character. If he is going to need a Build for Leveling, ad one for Endgame, that's fine too, though preferably it will be one that Levels well too.

He says he has no real preference between Brawling or Two-Handed (though I suspect he may prefer Brawling), I know he prefers when he can not only take a punch, but also pack one too, and that he very much enjoys knocking the crap out of things (so something with lots of Knock, and no Knockback is preferable), and loves dealing a metric crap-ton of damage, even if that means he will be slightly (and I mean slightly) less Tanky. Also notable, he will be doing a lot of content with me (who is playing a Melee-Support) while I suspect I may need a more focused, or ranged oriented support for the "Endgame" stuff, I will still be playing a Melee Support in most content, so if you have any suggestions to make sure these two builds "play nice" (which I doubt will be hard) feel free to pitch in.

flowcyto

Well, unfortunately Might and HW's best single-target attacks will do large KBs when charged (Haymaker and Annihilate). Since most bosses are CC-immune that will not be a real issue there, but for trash you can work around that by building up knock immunity w/ other attacks first. If you really don't want to deal w/ KBs at all, though, then I guess you could get by using Uppercut, Skewer, or Skullcrusher. I wouldn't count on being an end-game main tank, either way, unless he's already had much practice/coaching and has good gear set up for it.

Here's a very basic Might tank that uses Uppercut instead of Haymaker, as an example. It should also be fine for leveling in general:

(Unnamed Build) - Freeform (Tank)
v3.44:36

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

Talents
Level 1: The Behemoth (Str: 10, Con: 10, Rec: 10, End: 8)
Level 6: Paramilitary Training (Str: 3, Con: 3, Rec: 3, End: 3)
Level 9: Relentless (Str: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 12: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 15: Amazing Stamina (Rec: 5, End: 5)
Level 18: Physical Conditioning (Str: 5, Con: 5)
Level 21: Bodybuilder (Str: 5, End: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Clobber
Level 1: Defensive Combo (Rank 2, Rank 3, Pummel)
Level 6: Enrage
Level 8: Invulnerability (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Pulverizer
Level 14: Uppercut (Rank 2, Rank 3, Challenge!)
Level 17: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 20: Shockwave (Rank 2, Power Shift, Challenge!)
Level 23: Demolish (Rank 2, Below the Belt)
Level 26: Endorphin Rush (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 29: Retaliation (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 32:
Level 35:
Level 38:
Adv. Points: 33/36

Travel Powers
Level 6:
Level 35:

Specializations
Strength: Swole (2/3)
Strength: Physical Peak (3/3)
Strength: Brutality (2/2)
Strength: Juggernaut (3/3)
Protector: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Protector: Unrelenting (1/2)
Protector: Bulwark (2/2)
Protector: Debilitating Challenge (2/2)
Protector: Resolute (2/3)
Warden: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Warden: Ruthless (2/2)
Warden: Elusive (2/2)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Mastery: Protector Mastery (1/1)

I left many power slots open at the end so you or your bro can add functionality to help address w/e issues you may run into.

For single-targets, you can use Demolish to put up and refresh its debuff, but otherwise you can just spam charged Uppercut. For AoE, you can pull enemies in a wide area w/ Shockwave, and also tag them w/ Challenge, while you can also use Defense Combo's cleave component when up-close (and it also gives you a dmg shield to work with). Although Defiance is fine as the passive here for maxing out dmgRes, I went w/ Invuln instead since it's better for more generalized content (and you don't have to build stacks like w/ Defiance). Gears mostly for Con, w/ some Str and Rec.

Ofc, if you think you can work around the KB, then you can sub in Haymaker for Uppercut here and not really need to change anything else in the build (aside from re-ordering a few of the powers, since Haymaker is unlocked later than Uppercut).

(edited to fix some typos)

pantagruel01

When dealing with trash, you typically don't want single target damage in the first place, so you don't need to worry that much about the knocks on your single target attacks. Just don't use Roomsweeper. Havoc Stomp (or Brimstone with imaginary weapons) won't scatter things and gives you a good secondary challenge attack.

flowcyto

Yeah, I'd imagine that single-target stuff on trash would mostly come at the end, whenever there's 1-2 stray mobs left, and they could have knock immunity built up on them from other attacks (even then, it's not a big deal to use something like Demolish instead). Havoc Stomp w/ it's pull-in adv is also a nice wide AoE that can effectively replace Shockwave in my build, but yeah you have some other decent pbAoE options available that don't KB as well.

lyrious

So what would a strong Two-Handed Weapon Build Look like?

flowcyto

Here's a simple HW version:

(Unnamed Build) - Freeform (Tank)
v3.44:36

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

Talents
Level 1: The Behemoth (Str: 10, Con: 10, Rec: 10, End: 8)
Level 6: Paramilitary Training (Str: 3, Con: 3, Rec: 3, End: 3)
Level 9: Relentless (Str: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 12: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 15: Amazing Stamina (Rec: 5, End: 5)
Level 18: Physical Conditioning (Str: 5, Con: 5)
Level 21: Bodybuilder (Str: 5, End: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Bludgeon
Level 1: Eruption (Magma Burst)
Level 6: Enrage
Level 8: Invulnerability (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Pulverizer
Level 14: Arc of Ruin (No Quarter, Wildfire, Challenge!)
Level 17: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 20: Annihilate (Rank 2, Scorching Blade, Challenge!)
Level 23: Endorphin Rush (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Guard (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 29:
Level 32:
Level 35:
Level 38:
Adv. Points: 26/36

Travel Powers
Level 6:
Level 35:

Specializations
Strength: Swole (2/3)
Strength: Physical Peak (3/3)
Strength: Brutality (2/2)
Strength: Juggernaut (3/3)
Protector: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Protector: Unrelenting (1/2)
Protector: Bulwark (2/2)
Protector: Debilitating Challenge (2/2)
Protector: Resolute (2/3)
Warden: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Warden: Ruthless (2/2)
Warden: Elusive (2/2)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Mastery: Protector Mastery (1/1)

Taps of Arc of Ruin can put up No Quarter and refresh CFlames, while Eruption can initially put up CFlames to further boost Annihilate's dmg (the latter of which is ofc your main single-target attack). Arc can also be your main AoE and 2ndary Challenge tag. The basics are already covered here, so you have plenty of room to add other powers for further functionality (or just for theme). Gears mostly for Con, w/ some Str and Rec.

buckythered

Thank you for the builds

flowcyto

Sure thing 8)

jaazaniah1

Slight variation of Flow's build and filling in last power slots with some possibilities.

(Unnamed Build) - Freeform (Tank)
v3.44:36

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

Talents
Level 1: The Behemoth (Str: 10, Con: 10, Rec: 10, End: 8)
Level 6: Paramilitary Training (Str: 3, Con: 3, Rec: 3, End: 3)
Level 9: Relentless (Str: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 12: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 15: Amazing Stamina (Rec: 5, End: 5)
Level 18: Physical Conditioning (Str: 5, Con: 5)
Level 21: Bodybuilder (Str: 5, End: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Bludgeon
Level 1: Pulverizer
Level 6: Enrage
Level 8: Invulnerability (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Guard (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Arc of Ruin (No Quarter, Wildfire, Challenge!)
Level 17: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 20: Annihilate (Rank 2, Scorching Blade, Challenge!)
Level 23: Endorphin Rush (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Brimstone (Rank 2, Aftershock, Challenge!)
Level 29: Hurl (Rubble Trouble)
Level 32: Thunderclap (Collateral Damage)
Level 35: Unleashed Rage (Commanding Presence)
Level 38: Fiery Embrace
Adv. Points: 34/36

Travel Powers
Level 6:
Level 35:

Specializations
Strength: Swole (2/3)
Strength: Physical Peak (3/3)
Strength: Brutality (2/2)
Strength: Juggernaut (3/3)
Protector: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Protector: Unrelenting (1/2)
Protector: Bulwark (2/2)
Protector: Debilitating Challenge (2/2)
Protector: Resolute (2/3)
Warden: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Warden: Ruthless (2/2)
Warden: Elusive (2/2)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Mastery: Protector Mastery (1/1)

Devices

Hurl to give you a ranged attack.
Thunderclap for a wide area stun.
Fiery Embrace because who likes being dead?
Unleased Rage for more aggro.
Brimstone if you want something a little different from Eruption, though Eruption guarantees Clinging Flames and Brimstone is a chance..