test content
Logo
What is the Arc Client?
Install Arc
TK Blade Tank: Viable or not?
pharmaco
Posts: 17 Arc User
Ok, for a quick explanation, I have always been drawn to the idea of tanking. Taking the big hits for the team and keeping the attention of the big bad on me while still being able to remain standing, is a really cool thing to do in my opinion. However, I find that I am enamored with really high DPS more than being a tank and most often these roles tend to conflict with each other. To that end I put together this build, a revamp of an old TK Blade DPS toon that I can retcon or just start over with to get a feel for the play style again.
Here's the build:
PowerHouse (Link to this build)
Name: Ego Trip
Archetype: Freeform
Super Stats:
Level 6: Dexterity (Primary)
Level 10: Constitution (Secondary)
Level 15: Ego (Secondary)
Talents:
Level 1: The Void
Level 6: Covert Ops Training
Level 9: Martial Training
Level 12: Sniper Training
Level 15: Jack of All Trades
Level 18: Martial Focus
Level 21: Physical Conditioning
Powers:
Level 1: Ego Blade (Incisive Wit)
Level 1: Ego Weaponry (Rank 2, Siphoning Strikes)
Level 6: Id Mastery (Rank 2, Rank 3, Id Blades)
Level 8: Ego Blade Frenzy (Rank 2, Rank 3, Challenging Strikes)
Level 11: Void Shift (Emerging Nightmares, Crippling Challenge)
Level 14: Form of the Master (Storm's Eye Prana)
Level 17: Parry (The Elusive Monk)
Level 20: Ego Reverberation
Level 23: Ego Blade Annihilation (Rank 2, Mental Acuity)
Level 26: Bountiful Chi Resurgence (Resurgent Reiki)
Level 29: Masterful Dodge
Level 32: Evasive Maneuvers
Level 35: Unbreakable
Level 38: Bionic Shielding
Travel Powers:
Level 6: Swinging (Rank 2, Flippin')
Level 35: Athletics
Specializations:
Dexterity: Combat Training (3/3)
Dexterity: Gear Utilization (2/3)
Dexterity: Evasion (1/2)
Dexterity: Deadly Aim (3/3)
Dexterity: Quick Reflexes (1/3)
Protector: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Protector: Bulwark (2/2)
Protector: Exhausting Strikes (2/2)
Protector: Defensive Expertise (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: The Rush of Battle (3/3)
Vindicator: Modified Gear (2/2)
Mastery: Protector Mastery (1/1)
Now for explanation.
I finally realized that by staying in the hybrid role and using the Protector tree that I could generate a respectable amount of threat. Not quite as much as in the Tank role, but due to being able to keep Id Mastery as my passive I believe that the damage per attack combined with CC and CS should keep attention on me nearly all of the time. How I've never seen this combo before makes me want to face palm some times.
With good dodge mods and Parry/EM most of my non dodge based toons can reach close to 60/60 dodge/avoidance and Flippin helps this out a bit too. I also plan on running the Armadillo gear from the Q store in my secondary slots for the bonus 25% resistance until something better comes along. So with the resist all from Id Mastery, a decent defense rating, and the bonus resistance from the gear along with the dodge that I can get, I believe that I can get pretty decent damage mitigation. And thanks to Braxzana reminding me to take Emerging Nightmares for the fear induction on a Void Shift, that also lops off 10% of the damage from every attack from a feared opponent for even more mitigation.
My primary heal will be Siphoning Strikes off of Ego Weaponry, and later in the build I have BCR and FotM with the Storm's Eye Prana advantage to cover my healing needs, and Bionic Shielding at 38 because there was nothing left to take. I think this should cover healing for the most part, but I haven't field tested the build so I do not know yet.
As far as DPS goes, I loose 25% damage from not being in the Melee role, and I lose 10% crit severity by taking the Protector tree for Bulwark, but I am guessing that I will not notice that small a drop in damage potential.
All in all, I think this build might be the DPS tank that I have searched for but never found. I have stood toe to toe with the Mega D solo with the previous incarnation as long as I blocked the big charge attacks, so I'm hoping this version does as well. Sorry for making you read a book about it. I would appreciate any feed back on the build that anyone has, and I am looking forward to further testing in the coming days.
Here's the build:
PowerHouse (Link to this build)
Name: Ego Trip
Archetype: Freeform
Super Stats:
Level 6: Dexterity (Primary)
Level 10: Constitution (Secondary)
Level 15: Ego (Secondary)
Talents:
Level 1: The Void
Level 6: Covert Ops Training
Level 9: Martial Training
Level 12: Sniper Training
Level 15: Jack of All Trades
Level 18: Martial Focus
Level 21: Physical Conditioning
Powers:
Level 1: Ego Blade (Incisive Wit)
Level 1: Ego Weaponry (Rank 2, Siphoning Strikes)
Level 6: Id Mastery (Rank 2, Rank 3, Id Blades)
Level 8: Ego Blade Frenzy (Rank 2, Rank 3, Challenging Strikes)
Level 11: Void Shift (Emerging Nightmares, Crippling Challenge)
Level 14: Form of the Master (Storm's Eye Prana)
Level 17: Parry (The Elusive Monk)
Level 20: Ego Reverberation
Level 23: Ego Blade Annihilation (Rank 2, Mental Acuity)
Level 26: Bountiful Chi Resurgence (Resurgent Reiki)
Level 29: Masterful Dodge
Level 32: Evasive Maneuvers
Level 35: Unbreakable
Level 38: Bionic Shielding
Travel Powers:
Level 6: Swinging (Rank 2, Flippin')
Level 35: Athletics
Specializations:
Dexterity: Combat Training (3/3)
Dexterity: Gear Utilization (2/3)
Dexterity: Evasion (1/2)
Dexterity: Deadly Aim (3/3)
Dexterity: Quick Reflexes (1/3)
Protector: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Protector: Bulwark (2/2)
Protector: Exhausting Strikes (2/2)
Protector: Defensive Expertise (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: The Rush of Battle (3/3)
Vindicator: Modified Gear (2/2)
Mastery: Protector Mastery (1/1)
Now for explanation.
I finally realized that by staying in the hybrid role and using the Protector tree that I could generate a respectable amount of threat. Not quite as much as in the Tank role, but due to being able to keep Id Mastery as my passive I believe that the damage per attack combined with CC and CS should keep attention on me nearly all of the time. How I've never seen this combo before makes me want to face palm some times.
With good dodge mods and Parry/EM most of my non dodge based toons can reach close to 60/60 dodge/avoidance and Flippin helps this out a bit too. I also plan on running the Armadillo gear from the Q store in my secondary slots for the bonus 25% resistance until something better comes along. So with the resist all from Id Mastery, a decent defense rating, and the bonus resistance from the gear along with the dodge that I can get, I believe that I can get pretty decent damage mitigation. And thanks to Braxzana reminding me to take Emerging Nightmares for the fear induction on a Void Shift, that also lops off 10% of the damage from every attack from a feared opponent for even more mitigation.
My primary heal will be Siphoning Strikes off of Ego Weaponry, and later in the build I have BCR and FotM with the Storm's Eye Prana advantage to cover my healing needs, and Bionic Shielding at 38 because there was nothing left to take. I think this should cover healing for the most part, but I haven't field tested the build so I do not know yet.
As far as DPS goes, I loose 25% damage from not being in the Melee role, and I lose 10% crit severity by taking the Protector tree for Bulwark, but I am guessing that I will not notice that small a drop in damage potential.
All in all, I think this build might be the DPS tank that I have searched for but never found. I have stood toe to toe with the Mega D solo with the previous incarnation as long as I blocked the big charge attacks, so I'm hoping this version does as well. Sorry for making you read a book about it. I would appreciate any feed back on the build that anyone has, and I am looking forward to further testing in the coming days.
Post edited by pharmaco on
0
Comments
With that argument out the window, I'd say the build looks pretty good as is. The one thing I'd be tempted to do is get Nailed To The Ground on the lunge --- and since it's Void Shift, the fear-induction would be a handy add-on, too.
I had a head-slapping moment when I finally realized how awesome Siphoning Strikes was --- amazing the difference it makes, especially on a high-hit point (CON superstat) and high-Crit (Dex primary superstat) build...
It was the same head slap to me when I started to think about it. Then I was reading a thread where people were arguing over Hybrid/Bulwark vs Tank threat bonuses and realized that with the high damage of TK Blades and Id Mastery, even in Hybrid, that a DPS tank was not only doable, but might even excel as long as you have Siphoning Strikes.
While EBA is awesome, it isn't spammable and using Ego Weaponry is really poor DPS and with SS you don't have CC on it. CC really needs to be put on a spammable or maintain power.
I might suggest testing in the PTS on a level 40 dummy and time how long it takes in seconds to kill it with your best Active Offense and 8 stacks of Focus. Two Gun Mojo, Conflagration, Lightning Arc, Dragon's Wrath toons can kill a dummy in 5-6 seconds with a synergistic setup. Best I ever did with EBA/EBB I think was was 10 seconds.
P.S. I suggest swapping Vindicator for Warden and use the Mastery. Adds more Ego Weaponry damage = more heals.