Shield Defense
Overview
Shield Defense is an upcoming defensive powerset announced to be released in Issue 13. Shields will be usable with any unarmed or right-handed weapon powerset. [1] Shield Defense will be for Tankers, Scrappers, and Brutes. [2] The original information release included Stalkers in the list to get Shields, but was corrected. [3]
Your mastery over the shield protects you from all forms of attacks in the form of defense as well as some moderate damage resistance to most types of damage. Your training with the shield enables you to protect your nearby allies boosting their defenses.
Power Table
Tankers, Brutes, and Scrappers
The Shield Defense powerset is available as a primary for Tankers, and as a secondary for Brutes and Scrappers. The following table shows which powers are available and at what level:
Power | Level as Primary | Level as Secondary | Effect | |
Deflection | 1 | 1 | Toggle: Self +DEF(Melee), +Res(Lethal, Smashing) | |
Battle Agility | 1 | 2 | Toggle: Self +DEF(Ranged, AoE), +Res(Defense Debuff) | |
Phalanx Fighting | 2 | 4 | Auto: Self +DEF(Melee, Ranged, AoE) | |
Active Defense | 6 | 10 | Click: Self Res (Disorient, Hold, Immobilize, Sleep, Fear, Confuse, Repel, Knockback, Defense Debuff) | |
Against All Odds | 8 | 16 | Toggle: Self +DMG, Foe -DMG | |
Grant Cover | 12 | 20 | Toggle: PBAoE, Team (but not self) +DEF(All) | |
Shield Charge | 18 | 28 | PBAoE Superior DMG(Smashing), Foe Knockdown, Self Teleport | |
True Grit | 26 | 35 | Auto: Self +Res (Cold, Energy, Fire, Negative Energy, Toxic), +MaxHealth | |
One With the Shield | 32 | 38 | Click: Self +Res(Disorient, Sleep, Hold, Immobilize, Repel, Knockback, All DMG but Psi), +Recovery, +Max HP |
Powers
Active Defense
When you activate this power, it grants protection from Sleep, Disorient, Fear, Immobilize, Confusions, Repel, Knockback, Hold and Defense Debuff effects for a short duration. Recharge: Very Long
Against All Odds
The harder pressed you are in combat the greater your offensive abilities become. Each enemy that stands toe-to-toe with you in combat will grant you a damage bonus. The first foe you engage in melee grants the highest damage bonus, and up to 10 foes can contribute to this effect. Each foe in melee also suffer from reduced damage as your shield deflects a portion of their damage. Recharge: Slow
Recharge | Slow |
Minimum Level | 16 (Brute) |
16 (Scrapper) | |
8 (Tanker) | |
Effects | Toggle |
Self +DMG | |
Foe -DMG | |
Enhancements | Enhance Taunt Effectiveness |
Reduce Endurance Cost | |
Increase Attack Rate |
Battle Agility
Your incredible reflexes allow you to position your shield to deflect incoming ranged damage. While Deflection is active you will benefit from increased Ranged and AoE defense as well as some moderate protection from Defense Debuffs. Recharge: Fast
Recharge | Fast |
Minimum Level | 2 (Brute) |
2 (Scrapper) | |
1 (Tanker) | |
Effects | Toggle |
+DEF(Ranged, AoE), +Res(Defense Debuff) | |
Enhancements | Reduce Endurance Cost |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Enhance Defense Buffs |
Deflection
Your mastery of the shield allows you to easily deflect melee attacks, and attacks that do get through your ironclad defenses tend to do less damage. While Active Defense is active the user will gain defense to melee attacks and some minor resistance to lethal and smashing damage. Recharge: Fast
Grant Cover
You are able to use your shield to defend nearby allies. Any teammates who remain nearby gain a bonus to their defense. (NOTE: The defense bonus from this power is only applied to nearby team mates, but not yourself.) Recharge: Slow
Recharge | Slow |
Minimum Level | 20 (Brute) |
20 (Scrapper) | |
12 (Tanker) | |
Effects | Toggle |
Team (but not self) +DEF(All) | |
Enhancements | Reduce Endurance Cost |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Enhance Defense Buffs |
One With the Shield
When you activate this power, you gain strong resistance against most types of damage and also to Disorient, Immobilization, Hold, Knockback, Repel and Sleep effects. One with the Shield costs little Endurance to activate and increases your recovery and maximum hit points for its duration, but when it wears off you are left exhausted, and substantially drained of Endurance. Note that One With the Shield is unaffected by Attack Rate changes. Recharge: Very Long
Phalanx Fighting
Fighting very near your allies allows you to deflect attacks much easier. You will gain a small bonus to your melee, ranged and area of effect defense this bonus grows for each ally near you. This power is always on and costs no endurance.
Minimum Level | 4 (Brute) |
4 (Scrapper) | |
2 (Tanker) | |
Effects | Auto |
Self +DEF(Melee, Ranged, AoE) | |
Enhancements | Enhance Defense Buffs |
Shield Charge
You can throw all of your might behind your shield and charge through ranks of foes in the blink of an eye. Using this power allows you to teleport to a selected area to deal significant smashing damage to all foes in a long cone in front of you, most foes that are struck by your Shield Charge will be knocked down. Damage: Superior, Recharge: Very Long.
True Grit
Your intense training has left you tougher than even the hardiest of heroes. You gain additional hit points and resistance to fire, cold, energy, negative energy and toxic damage sources. This power is always on and costs no Endurance.
Minimum Level | 35 (Brute) |
35 (Scrapper) | |
26 (Tanker) | |
Effects | Auto |
Self +Res (Cold, Energy, Fire, Negative Energy, Toxic), +MaxHealth | |
Enhancements | Enhance Damage Resistance |
Enhance Heal |