Heavy Weapons/Invulnerability build

patternwalker

I'm at level 20 and feeling stuck. I want to build a Heavy Weapons/Invulnerability character who can tank on teams but solo reasonably effectively too. I've got the beginnings of a build (posted below), but I'm not sure where to go next. I do want Invulnerability, I do want at least the 3 attacks I've already chosen, but I'm not sure what attacks to add.

(He's using an alien sword that gives him his powers, so I'm avoiding anything too "magic" looking.)

I also need to put in some aggro building advantages, but I'm not sure where best to do that. I've already started down the Warden tree, but can change if necessary.

Any help would be really appreciated. Thanks!

PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Name: Ikon start

Archetype: Freeform

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

Talents:
Level 1: The Devastator
Level 6: Physical Conditioning
Level 9: Relentless
Level 12: Healthy Mind
Level 15: Quick Recovery
Level 18: Body and Mind
Level 21: Covert Ops Training

Powers:
Level 1: Bludgeon
Level 1: Cleave (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Eruption (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Invulnerability (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Decimate (Nailed to the Ground)
Level 14: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 17: Enrage (Endorphin Rush)
Level 20: Guard
Level 23:
Level 26:
Level 29:
Level 32:
Level 35:
Level 38:

Travel Powers:
Level 6: Flight (Rank 2)
Level 35:

Specializations:
Strength: Swole (2/3)
Strength: Physical Peak (3/3)
Strength: Aggression (2/2)
Strength: Juggernaut (3/3)
Warden: Fortified Gear (2/3)
Warden: Slaughter (3/3)
Warden: Tenacious (2/2)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (3/3)
Vindicator: Modified Gear (2/2)
Mastery: Warden Mastery (1/1)

evilkittyman

Challenging Strikes on Cleave is a free* threat increase, and Cleave is ridiculously powerful AoE for a T0 attack anyways. Or it was back when I was current, at least. Dunno about now. As for Challenge, I’d drop Rank 3 on Eruption and stick it there. You’ll want to be hitting Eruption constantly to help keep MSA procced and Enrage refreshed anyways, may as well let that keep your threat up, too.

Also better to go for Mass Destruction in Vindicator over Focused Strikes. Practically everything Heavy Weapons has is AoE, and when I was working on Mina Rose way back when, cycling Eruption with rapid Initiative-boosted Skewer taps was easily the best DPS in the set. The vast majority of your damage with HW is going to be AoE-tagged, may as well get use of the fact.

That’s what I’ve got right off. Heh, I’m sure someone better’n I am will be along to help fill out the rest of the tree for you.

flowcyto

Ya got the basics of it down pretty well thus far. The CS/CC advice from evilkittyman is good for a tank HW build- I'd follow that.

Here's a variant ya could take, one of potentially many that works:

PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Name: Ikon start

Archetype: Freeform

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

Talents:
Level 1: The Devastator
Level 6: Physical Conditioning
Level 9: Relentless
Level 12: Healthy Mind
Level 15: Quick Recovery
Level 18: Body and Mind
Level 21: Covert Ops Training

Powers:
Level 1: Bludgeon
Level 1: Cleave (Rank 2, Rank 3, Challenging Strikes)
Level 6: Eruption (Rank 2, Crippling Challenge)
Level 8: Invulnerability (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Enrage
Level 14: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 17: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Brimstone (Rank 2, Rank 3, Challenging Strikes)
Level 23: Decimate (Nailed to the Ground)
Level 26: Annihilate (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 29: Arc of Ruin (No Quarter)
Level 32: Masterful Dodge
Level 35: Guard
Level 38: Unleashed Rage (Rank 2, Rank 3)

Travel Powers:
Level 6: Flight (Rank 2)
Level 35: Athletics

Specializations:
Strength: Swole (2/3)
Strength: Physical Peak (3/3)
Strength: Aggression (2/2)
Strength: Juggernaut (2/3)
Strength: Overpower (1/3)
Warden: Fortified Gear (2/3)
Warden: Slaughter (3/3)
Warden: Ruthless (2/2)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Brawler: The Glory of Battle (3/3)
Brawler: Penetrating Strikes (2/2)
Brawler: Ruthless (2/2)
Brawler: Setup (2/2)
Brawler: Flanking (1/3)
Mastery: Warden Mastery (1/1)

I chose Brawler cause Setup allows ya to do good single-target dmg as HW (an area the tree usually lacks in), and cause ur using Cleave anyways. On bosses its basically Cleave -> Eruption (for CripC and MSA) or Cleave -> Annihilate (latter will hit pretty hard on knock immune mobs w/ Setup backing), also charging Arc for the Disorient and its debuff on occasion. Brimstone makes for easy AoE; just run around mobs spamming it to glue them to ya.

UR tops off the build just for burst dps. Could replace a latter power w/ Unbreakable (w/ adv) or Aggressor if ya wanted.

patternwalker

Thanks to you both! I'm mulling this over. Flowcyto--you mention taking Brawler for Setup, but you don't actually have Setup. Two points of Flanking?

flowcyto

patternwalker wrote: »

Thanks to you both! I'm mulling this over. Flowcyto--you mention taking Brawler for Setup, but you don't actually have Setup. Two points of Flanking?

Yup, blame being tired. Drag 2 of those Flanking points into Setup.

also: you saw nothing; stare into this neuralyz- I mean pen, please.

patternwalker

Thanks again, evilkittyman and flocyto! Leveling this character with a plan!

magnathyr1

You said you wanted to stick with invulnerability... was wondering why that instead of defiance?

You have enrage as a power and defiance & enrage are synergetic... personally I would pick both and use defiance while tanking for groups on elite bosses, and switch to invulnerability when solo'ing.

PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Name: Heavy Weapon solo tank

Archetype: Freeform

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

Talents:
Level 1: The Devastator
Level 6: Physical Conditioning
Level 9: Relentless
Level 12: Quick Recovery
Level 15: Paramilitary Training
Level 18: Mighty
Level 21: Enduring

Powers:
Level 1: Bludgeon
Level 1: Cleave (Rank 2, Defensive Stance, Challenging Strikes)
Level 6: Defiance (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Enrage (Endorphin Rush)
Level 11: Skewer (Rank 2, Follow Through, Initiative)
Level 14: Arc of Ruin (Rank 2)
Level 17: Invulnerability (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Vicious Descent (Relentless)
Level 23: Guard
Level 26: Eruption (Rank 2)
Level 29: Annihilate (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 32: Aggressor (Rank 2)
Level 35: Unbreakable (Rank 2, Better You Than Me)
Level 38: Unleashed Rage

Travel Powers:
Level 6: Flight (Rank 2)
Level 35:

Specializations:
Strength: Swole (3/3)
Strength: Physical Peak (2/3)
Strength: Juggernaut (3/3)
Strength: Overpower (2/3)
Warden: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Warden: Slaughter (2/3)
Warden: Reactive Strikes (2/2)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Protector: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Protector: Unrelenting (2/2)
Protector: Bulwark (2/2)
Protector: Defensive Expertise (3/3)
Mastery: Protector Mastery (1/1)



This is what I would suggest with all gear concentrating on your SS's..... its just my 2 cents for ya

jimhsua

Invuln doesn't have a ramp up period (which could matter if you're not all CON, though you should be close to) and more importantly has dmg absorption, which can matter a lot w/ regular/alert content (not rampages though). Defiance has slightly higher DR (the gap between Invuln and Defiance shrank significantly with On Alert and other patches), but more importantly is a potent, if bursty, "energy unlock".

Personally, energy for Might/HW boils down to two options:
STR/enrage plus

INT/MSA or
REC/Defiance or Unstoppable
(NB: I personally REC in addition to Brimstone/TR, but that's largely for theme (it works, though)).

Which is better depends on how exactly you use your powers and what role you want to play (solo DPS, off-tank, dedicated tank?).

Another consideration is that Defiance is just terrible for leveling (don't get enough energy, and you are almost as squishy as an offensive passive w/o the damage).