Need help with a Fire 'tank' build.

[Archived Post]

I'm trying to put together a fire tank build and have a few questions about defensive powers and how to finish up my build. This is what I have so far:

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Scorch: Level 40 Champion

Superstats:
Level 5: Super Constitution
Level 13: Super Endurance

Powers:
Level 1: Throw Fire
Level 1: Firestrike -- Wildfire, Crippling Challenge
Level 5: Thermal Reverberation
Level 5: Fire Flight
Level 8: Pyre -- Challenging Strikes, Rank 2, Rank 3
Level 11: Invulnerability -- Rank 2, Rank 3
Level 14: Retaliation -- Rank 2, Rank 3
Level 17: Resurgence -- Evanescent Emergence, Rank 2
Level 20: Fireball -- Challenging Strikes, Unstable Accelerant
Level 23: Bountiful Chi Resurgence -- Resurgent Reiki, Rank 2
Level 26: Flashfire -- Sweltering Heat, Rank 2
Level 29:
Level 32:
Level 35:
Level 35:
Level 38:

Talents:
Level 1: Abyssal
Level 6: Boundless Reserves
Level 9: Enduring
Level 12: Energetic
Level 15: Shrug It Off
Level 18: Prodigy
Level 21: Survival Training

I'm not to sure about the talents either, I started adding presence as I heard it improves healing effects and couldn't think what else could help me.

So I was thinking of invulnerability as my slotted passive but it scales with str and con, I will have next to no str so I'm wondering if that will drastically reduce its effectiveness or would it still offer decent defence?

My other options would be PFF which scales with End but also Ego, Regen which I don't know anything about and Defiance which I'm guessing would be a waste as I could just pick up Defensive Combo and stack Defiance with that?

Also, does it matter which block ability I take? I went with Retaliation purely because I figured the buff gained from it combined with Pyre would be pretty sweet.

I'm not really sure what to fill the rest of my build up with after getting Flashfire though, I have a couple of AOEs and some single target abilities most of which are slotted with threat advantages, 2 defensive and 2 healing abilities.

Quite a few questions I know but if anyone has any input it would be greatly appreciated :)

[Archived Post]

Not too sure how super-statting End would really work/help a tank (besides scaling with PFF), though I haven't tanked too much in CO yet. Blocking should give you plenty of endurance. Most generally go Str/Con for the added benefit to Inv. and the extra damage.

I believe that super-statting Str gives a double benefit, besides the bonuses to powers. Str alone increases melee damage, and super statting it adds damage over and above what Str alone would give, if that makes sense (super-statting effects which stats primarily influence your damage).

Using Defensive Combo to stack defiance is highly recommended because taking Defiance robs you of your slotted defensive passive, and the up-time of both are fairly close regardless. Also, most +block powers continue their benefits a bit after you block, and Force's block gives you some energy from damage you take (which might help with any perceived endurance problems).

Sans Pyre, I haven't heard too many things about Fire, so you might look into some auxillary power sets that fit your character's concept. Munitions and Power Armor (the latter being much more energy-hungry) are two very powerful sets at the moment, so you could look into them. Note: Power Armor tends to run a lot of maintained moves (up to 3, actually) at the same time, but that really hinders other power sets.

Acrobatics as a second travel power would be a good choice, primarily while you're running about (not sure if it's faster than flight, but it could work concept-wise as well). You could also look into taking a Circle, one in particular increases threat (among other benefits), and you really only need to charge it once and forget it (unless you leave the circle). Again, not too sure that threat is really a problem but in long fights with bosses it could be a very handy buff for a few seconds of charge time at the beginning.

[Archived Post]

Thanks for the input!

I hadn't thought of taking a circle and the Primal Dominion one looks very helpful though the -hold resistance could be a problem.

Not sure why I had taken End as a super stat, I was probably ignoring the fact that it would still boost my fire attacks anyway even though they aren't melee. I guess I will swap End for Str then and go with invulnerability. If I have any energy problems while leveling I will pick up force shield instead of retaliation.

So that would leave me with something like this:

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Scorch: Level 40 Champion

Superstats:
Level 5: Super Constitution
Level 13: Super Strength

Powers:
Level 1: Throw Fire
Level 1: Firestrike -- Wildfire, Crippling Challenge
Level 5: Thermal Reverberation
Level 5: Fire Flight
Level 8: Pyre -- Rank 2, Rank 3, Challenging Strikes
Level 11: Invulnerability -- Rank 2, Rank 3
Level 14: Force Shield -- Rank 2, Force Sheath, Rank 3
Level 17: Resurgence -- Rank 2, Evanescent Emergence
Level 20: Fireball -- Challenging Strikes, Unstable Accelerant
Level 23: Bountiful Chi Resurgence -- Rank 2, Resurgent Reiki
Level 26: Flashfire -- Rank 2, Sweltering Heat
Level 29: Defensive Combo -- Surge Of Strength
Level 32: Circle Of Primal Dominion
Level 35:
Level 35: Acrobatics
Level 38:

Talents:
Level 1: Superhuman
Level 6: Physical Conditioning
Level 9: Enduring
Level 12: Mighty
Level 15: Shrug It Off
Level 18: Impressive Physique
Level 21: Intimidating

Still 2 power slots left so will have a look through the builder and see if I can find something useful.