Reaper Endgame 18-2 Bear Tank

[Gilga1]

Most tanks are not solo friendly, is this the case with this one too?

Well, it depends on skulls. On R1 you should be able to complete quests fast enough, but I strongly suggest to swap gear using part of the family set etc.
On high skulls you can technically solo some quests, but you would need like 120 minutes to complete Grim and Barret, so no XD

[Hawkwier]

Always interested to see what Gilga will come up with next, as they're top notch and an opportunity to learn from the very best of the game, and this looks yet another cracker!

Really interested to know the breakdown for Con and the defensive stats here Gilga (AC, PRR, MMR). Any chance you can break those down for us?

[Gilga1]

Really interested to know the breakdown for Con and the defensive stats here Gilga (AC, PRR, MMR). Any chance you can break those down for us?

Hey thanks, but I'm not the very best of the game at all

I TR'ed out of this build, but here you have the required Con breakdown:

18 base
8 tome
7 levels
6 completionists

4 rage
4 racial
4 size
3 hardy rage
4 Con enhancements
6 Ursa's spirit
3 force of nature
21 item
9 insightful
4 quality
2 profane
1 exceptional
6 filigrees

5 reaper
2 yugo
2 remnants pot
2 guild

5/10 morale primal scream/rising fury
4 alchemical
8 enhanced blood rage
(2 reaper stat helm)

130-145 range not counting external buffs

Regarding AC, MRR and PRR I provided all the gear/feats/enhancement and PLs needed to compute them (rest is mythic/reaper bonuses), but I'm too lazy to post the breakdowns. Anyway, all these stats (including Con) are super easy to figure out

[Sholvah]

You picked rank 3 in US - Legendary Shield Mastery
But dint pick the feat for it
Requires: Rank 1: Shield Prowess; Rank 2: Shield Mastery feat; Rank 3: Improved Shield Mastery feat.

[Gilga1]

You picked rank 3 in US - Legendary Shield Mastery
But dint pick the feat for it
Requires: Rank 1: Shield Prowess; Rank 2: Shield Mastery feat; Rank 3: Improved Shield Mastery feat.

I had both in my previous life. ED trees dont reset on TR.

[Hobgoblin]

I had both in my previous life. ED trees dont reset on TR.

just be careful if u do this and a feat reset - it will often reset ur ed tree

[Soulfurnace]

With u47 - and now, u48 - would you have made any changes to this build?
Either gear or otherwise

[Gilga1]

With u47 - and now, u48 - would you have made any changes to this build?
Either gear or otherwise

Hey! Probably yes. I'm playing a tank right now (bladeforged cleric pally arti split) and I'm using winter 7 pieces + summer 2 pieces.

Quick update: 48.1 patch reduced Winter set hp bonus from +30% to +20%. A big difference that makes LGS still the best option for tanks in many situations.

[xBunny]

Feats
Toughness (1), Toughness (BH), Completionist (3), Natural Fighting (6,9,12), Quicken (15), Enlarge (18), Empower Heal (21), Epic Toughness (24), Epic Spell Power Positive (26), Haste (27), Elusive Target (28), Deific Warding (29), Epic DR (30), Scion of Celestia (L)

Does Natural Fighting Strikethrough works with Bear defensive stances?

Cannot afford spent heart on mine character. I want to create low diff raid(EN\EH or a R1 for Baba\Strahd) tanks alt. Was thinking to go 15Druid3Arti2Ftr to boost some AC from 50% arti and some from Salwart 1-2 levels. I understand that I loose some spells and 5% attack speed with chance to regenerate rage charges. But what do you think overall about the split. I have almost zero DPS tank Alt 18Pal/1Fs/1Ftr PDK and it is boring. Also it looses aggro even with 120 intim (not much, but good for 0 pastlives). Was thinking about some more active tanky build with some party support mby.

Saw your 12Cleric5Pal3Arti on Cannith

PS. looked closer to the Bear tree, looks like bears loose lot of PRR comparing to Pal\Ftr based tanks from their defensive stance and shield mastery and feats(Ftr armor mastery). At least devs could have left shield mastery for animal forms . Created separate thread asking devs to bring Shield Mastery back. https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...nk-PRR-lackage

[magaiti]

Does Legendary Shield Mastery (US T2) work in bear form? Because Shield Mastery feats do not, afaik.

[xBunny]

Does Legendary Shield Mastery (US T2) work in bear form? Because Shield Mastery feats do not, afaik.

Few messages earlier there was same question. It looks to work, but you must take it in your previous eTR that has 2 pre required shield mastery feats. So it looks more like a game glitch rather than intended behaviour.

[magaiti]

Few messages earlier there was same question.

No, it was a different question. It was "how did you take LSM w/o feats".
My question is "does LSM actually benefit you in bear form".

[xBunny]

No, it was a different question. It was "how did you take LSM w/o feats".
My question is "does LSM actually benefit you in bear form".

True. But answer very likely to be the same. Unless OP was to lazy to redo ED tree for his build or added an old screenshot by mistake which is unlikely judging from him answering that question.

[magaiti]

True. But answer very likely to be the same. Unless OP was to lazy to redo ED tree for his build or added an old screenshot by mistake which is unlikely judging from him answering that question.

I can see a few other (however unlikely) possibilities:
- OP believes it works but it never did
- it worked in the past but has been changed in later update

I'm only asking questions because it's not trivial to test for myself. You'd have to have an epic character with druid levels and either LSM already taken in previous life or shield feats taken. This is rather unlikely situation.

I suppose the closest thing I can do without reincarnating/releveling a toon is to test how it goes for Primal Avatar Tree form. I happen to have a capped swash bard with Shield Mastery feats, haven't unlocked primal sphere yet though. but at least unlocking destinies is what i need to do on that toon anyway.

[tipav]

The build seems nice to play.

Do you already play it with the feywild extension ?

If it's the case, could you put an updated version of your character please ?

I don't know how you can go to 400 AC, and same for the numbers for PRR and MRR.

I would like to play this character, but I need more precisions on how you built it.

Tyvm in advance.

[Gilga1]

As for the previous version, the primary goal of this build is to be able to perform multiple tasks (tank, cc, healer).
Is a tank needed for r10 endgame fast completions? Not at all. Conversely, usually, a tank is a wasted slot.
But this one is fast enough (bear charge + sprint boost) and it provides outstanding CC (with no-fail DC in R10 Sharn etc), debuffs, and heals.
CC has improved a lot, due to the changes to Savage Roar (see below).

I changed my race to Wildhunt Shifter. The ability to use clickies when raged is priceless. Also, the Shifter tree offers +5 Con and the debuffing Howl.

I also swapped the barb levels to the warlock. Both are viable options.
Barbarian 2 is 10% movement speed, 3% DR and some useful stuff in OS (Ear Smash above all) and Ravager (+3 CON).
Warlock 2 has Taint the Blood and Taint the aura. If you play with a warlock, go barb. If you don't have warlock friends, that unique debuff is gold.

So... the build is Wildhunt Shifter Druid 18 Warlock 2 in US.
Big Bear (core 5 in NP) can be skipped for 1 FVS, but I invested a lot of points in Falconry for the 50% Fortification debuff so I don't really need the low cost trance.

Character Sheet
Here are my self buffed stats in reaper. I have all the PLs and full reaper trees.



Feats
Toughness (1), Completionist (3), Natural Fighting (6,9,12), Quicken (15), Empower Heal (18), Enlarge (21), Epic Toughness (24), Guardian Angel (26), Epic Fortitude (27), Epic Skill Focus Intimidate (28), Deific Warding (29), Epic DR (30), Scion of Celestia (L)

Enhancements



ED



Most frequent twists setup (4-3-3-1-1): Martial Hymn (or Stormrage), Meld, Stand and be Judged, Primal Scream, Legendary Tactics.

Equipment







Set bonuses:
+25 Artifact bonus to Physical Resistance Rating
+15 Artifact bonus to Healing, Repair, and Negative Amplification
+20% Legendary bonus to maximum hitpoints
+50 Artifact bonus to Universal Spell Power
+5% Artifact bonus to Universal Spell Critical Chance
+25 Artifact bonus to your Magical Resistance Rating
+4 Artifact bonus to Constitution
+10% Artifact bonus to AC

As always, I consider super important reaper/mythic boosts on items. So I did choose my equiqment also according to the boosted items I have.

Filigrees are Snake Bite/Grandfather's Shield (2), Soulreaver/splendid Cacophony (2),
Nystul's Mystic Defense (4), Grandfather's Shield (1), Beast's Mantle (2), Purity/Touch of Grace.

Other weapon swaps:
Epic Bejeweled Opener (9 slots) filled with healing amplification.
LGS Affirmation, Salt, Ooze, Dust (Stormrage, Call lightning storm, Sleet storm etc)
5 slot Blood Feast weapon for Shield of Rage

Big Bear Tanking
Ok, since this bear is a tank let's talk about his defensive features.

HP - Good, thanks to bear's outstanding Constitution score. If you consider Shield of Rage and Affirmation I'm not far from 10.000.

Healing amplification: Decent. Full slotted Epic Bejeweled Opener gives +145.

AC - AC is viable, but can't compete with AC tanks. Without access to 50% armor AC and the good stuff included in Stalwart Defender and Sacred Defender, so there is little to be done. Please note in some content AC is totally useless, while in other content it's really important.

PRR - Around 400. Not top tier, but the PRR is another bear's weak spot.

MRR - Good, even compared to a pure tank.

Saves are ****. You are a bear, you have to live with it.

Unique features from Nature's Protector: immunity to energy drain and death effects, 20% resistance against Force damage.

Wildhunt Shifter is a divine blessing. Or primal, Idk XD
You don't need to drop/recast rage to use clickies. That's wonderful for a tank because you can spam your Dark Discorporation and Radiant Forcefield clickies when needed. Dark Discorporation clickies are by far the most important thing any tank should invest in.
Shifter also provides endless rages, and every rage brings 1000 temp hp.

Intimidate – As you can see, I invested a lot in Intimidate. Potion of Alchemical Intimidate adds more. I'm fine in the 99,9% of the content, for Qaspiel Mistwalker in PN I have to take the Amber buffs.

Big Bear Healing
Druid is a fantastic healer. I slotted 3 autumn in my gearset to raise the critical chance (10% exceptional, 5% artifact) and grab the +50 spellpower. I have crafted positive spellpower and healing lore on my alchemical shield, and I use the Legendary Many-Pouched Belt of the Healer for insightful/quality spellpower.
Mass regeneration is god-like. I also have Greater Vigor mass, Heal, Regenerate, all the CW spells, Light the Dark, and the amazing Renewal.
I use bear stance and I have quicken/enlarge/empower heal.

Big Bear CCing
This updated version has improved immensely.
Why? Because Savage Roar has changed, and now it gives helplessness.
Huge 360° area of effect, no-fail DC (also in R10 Sharn) helpless stun, with a super short cooldown. OMG!
Devs also gave us a very handy visual for killer instincts stacks. Thank you devs!

Run ahead, using sprint boost/bear charge, and ROARR!
No DC caster can compete with this CC (obviously if the mobs are not immune).

You also have Tremor, Bear Charge, and strikethrough with Greater maul and Relentless onslaught (no save).

Annoying despair or vengeance reapers? Stand and be Judged is no fail too...

In short, this bear is an outstanding source of cc, and every melee will love it.

As usual, feel free to ask for further information

[kamthalion]

Bella Tronko!

[tpbtoc]

How does this build work for an alt with 50 reaper points and not that many TR's?

[Gilga1]

How does this build work for an alt with 50 reaper points and not that many TR's?

Hey! Well, it's hard to tell.. tanks are probably the builds where the PLs/Rxp matter the most. AC, hp, saves, etc. In this case, also tactics (Fighter PLs +3, Ancient Tactics +6, Reaper's Tactics +4...).

[Kielbasa]

How does this build work for an alt with 50 reaper points and not that many TR's?

You'll probably be able to make something with around 3-4k hp, 300 ac, 300 prr, 200 mrr if you use a 7/4 winter summer set but odds are you won't be able to cc or heal as well as tronko. So good for pug raids that need a big sack of hp intim tanking for them. Does require to you farm out the Dryad winter trinket to make that setup work.