Help with a plasma tank based around plasma beam

benoitsean · March 2022

I have an idea for a cyborg with a cannon replacing his whole left arm. He must have Plasma Beam as his main attack (I want him to get it as early as possible since that's what this build is based off of) but I don't know what else to put with it. I want him to be a tank with decent dps and good energy return. Also, all of his attacks should be able to have plasma burn. I was thinking maybe using CON as the stat and DEX as one of the secondaries so I can take advantage of Adrenaline Rush for that little bit of passive regen and probably Invulnerability for the passive. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

flowcyto · March 2022

Plasma Beam alone is gonna be pretty weak, since it's meant to be run w/ other PA slotted toggles (and you have to get used to manually aiming it). It's also not really a good idea to limit the powers to applying PBurn, since most of them won't be able to do that (I may not even take the PBurn adv on Plasma Beam itself, though you could if you wanted to). Also, slotted toggles aren't great to use if you have to block often, so it may not be a good fit for a tank (depending on the content you run). Slotted PA toggles will also lock out most other types of powers when turned on. So I wouldn't really recommend such a build overall, unless you don't plan on tanking anything that serious w/ it. If you're still committed to the idea, though, then here's a basic setup for it:

(Unnamed Build) - Freeform (Tank)
v3.45:38

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

Talents
Level 1: The Chiller (Dex: 10, Con: 10, Rec: 8, End: 10)
Level 6: Amazing Stamina (Rec: 5, End: 5)
Level 9: Impresario (Dex: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 12: Accurate (Dex: 5, End: 5)
Level 15: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 18: Acrobat (Dex: 5, Con: 5)
Level 21: Boundless Reserves (Con: 5, End: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Power Bolts
Level 1: Eye Beam (Rank 2, 20/20 Fission, Challenge!)
Level 6: Invulnerability (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Chilled Form
Level 11: Plasma Beam (Rank 2, Melta Cannon, Challenge!)
Level 14: Overdrive
Level 17: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 20: Energy Wave (Reverse Polarity, Challenge!)
Level 23: Reconstruction Circuits (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Energy Shield (Rank 2, Phalanx Defense System)
Level 29: Chest Laser (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 32: Power Conversion (Rank 2)
Level 35:
Level 38:
Adv. Points: 34/36

Travel Powers
Level 6:
Level 35:

Specializations
Constitution: Unyielding (1/2)
Constitution: Fuel My Fire (3/3)
Constitution: Resilient (2/2)
Constitution: Adrenaline Rush (2/2)
Constitution: Armored (2/2)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: Find the Mark (3/3)
Guardian: The Best Defense (2/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Modified Gear (2/2)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (3/3)
Mastery: Constitution Mastery (1/1)

The last few powers can be w/e you want.

EWave w/ Rev Polarity can help group up nearby mobs, to help deal w/ the PA beam attacks having some pretty narrow AoEs on their own. Power Conversion can help if you need extra energy to run 3 attack toggles at once (or just run w/ 2 attack toggles, and/or switch the block to Force Shield w/ Force Sheathe). Gears mostly for Con, w/ some Dex and End (and some extra cost discount on gear).

benoitsean · March 2022

Thanks Flow. I did change it up a little. What do you think of this?

(Unnamed Build) - Freeform (Tank)
v3.45:38

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

Talents
Level 1: The Chiller (Dex: 10, Con: 10, Rec: 8, End: 10)
Level 6: Amazing Stamina (Rec: 5, End: 5)
Level 9: Impresario (Dex: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 12: Accurate (Dex: 5, End: 5)
Level 15: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 18: Acrobat (Dex: 5, Con: 5)
Level 21: Boundless Reserves (Con: 5, End: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Power Bolts
Level 1: Mini Gun (Rank 2, U-238 Rounds, Challenge!)
Level 6: Invulnerability (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Chilled Form
Level 11: Plasma Beam (Rank 2, Melta Cannon, Challenge!)
Level 14: Unified Theory
Level 17: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 20: Energy Wave (Reverse Polarity, Challenge!)
Level 23: Reconstruction Circuits (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Energy Shield (Rank 2, Phalanx Defense System)
Level 29: Chest Beam (Rank 2, Rank 3, Challenge!)
Level 32: Power Conversion (Rank 2)
Level 35: Implosion Engine
Level 38: Thundering Return
Adv. Points: 36/36

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

Specializations
Constitution: Unyielding (1/2)
Constitution: Fuel My Fire (3/3)
Constitution: Resilient (2/2)
Constitution: Adrenaline Rush (2/2)
Constitution: Armored (2/2)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: Find the Mark (3/3)
Guardian: The Best Defense (2/3)
Protector: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Protector: Bulwark (2/2)
Protector: Debilitating Challenge (2/2)
Protector: Defensive Expertise (3/3)
Mastery: Constitution Mastery (1/1)

Devices

jaazaniah1 · March 2022

Question: Do you really want to tank, or just be a tough dps? If the latter, you might just go the dual passive route and use Targeting Computer and Invulnerability and switch builds depending on the circumstance.

flowcyto · March 2022

benoitsean wrote: »

Thanks Flow. I did change it up a little. What do you think of this?

I mean, the edit is okay, if you're set on the idea. I would pass on getting Chest Beam, though, since Mini Gun (or Eye Beams) can already apply Burn Through, and Chest Beam isn't a slotted attack (so it'll be affected by lockouts). You'll want either Chest Laser or Micro Muni in that slot instead, assuming you want a 3rd attack toggle as an option,

But yea, switching to being a dps build, but w/ the option to be a hybrid-dps would be a better approach overall. Editing that build, for example:

(Unnamed Build) - Freeform (Tank)
v3.45:38

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

Talents
Level 1: The Chiller (Dex: 10, Con: 10, Rec: 8, End: 10)
Level 6: Amazing Stamina (Rec: 5, End: 5)
Level 9: Worldly (Ego: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 12: Daredevil (Ego: 5, End: 5)
Level 15: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 18: Ascetic (Con: 5, Ego: 5)
Level 21: Boundless Reserves (Con: 5, End: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Power Bolts
Level 1: Mini Gun (Rank 2, U-238 Rounds, Infrared Guidance System)
Level 6: Targeting Computer (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Chilled Form
Level 11: Plasma Beam (Rank 2, Melta Cannon)
Level 14: Unified Theory
Level 17: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 20: Energy Wave (Reverse Polarity)
Level 23: Reconstruction Circuits (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Power Conversion (Rank 2)
Level 29: Chest Laser (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 32: Invulnerability (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Energy Shield (Rank 2)
Level 38: Thundering Return
Adv. Points: 34/36

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

Specializations
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Follow Through (3/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (2/3)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: Find the Mark (2/3)
Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (2/3)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (3/3)
Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)

Gears mostly for Ego, w/ some Con and End. You could also go back to stating for Dex and using Dex PSS instead (cost discount on gear is more important then), or take Concentration (instead of Chilled Form) and go w/ Int PSS + an Int focus.

benoitsean · March 2022

Hey thanks guys. I think I'll try that dual passive with INT. That one looks like fun.

warcanch · March 2022

Since I don't see Challenge on any power, how much Tanking do you intend to do?

If you want to be THE tank during Events, Rampages, Open Missions, Forum Malvanum, etc, then I suggest a few things.

Bastion is a great extra health/damage mitigation ability when combined with (well, anything of course) 3 PA toggles going at once.

Therefore, I'd drop the self-rez in favor of a ranged Bastion applier, such as Earth Splitter. It has a middle % chance to apply on tap, but a 100% chance on full charge. And, it adds 10% of your damage output as shielding, which stacks 10x. Plus, I'd put Challenge on it. That way, you're only doing Challenge when you want to get some Bastion going.

Second, grind for Defender Gloves. You get less Bastion %, only 3%, but you don't have to keep applying it and you get 30% of your damage output as additional Threat.

Help with a plasma tank based around plasma beam

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