How would one create the Ultimate Tank?

[Niniux]

In the necromancer's forum, I had been musing about creating the Ultimate meleemancer, in terms of being able to take huge amounts of damage, via auto-renewable Bone Armour from the Bone RW, plus great resists, +max resists, and some absorb thrown in. After looking at having to put together a Last Wish, a Phoenix Shield, and some other expensive items, I realized that I could likely make the best tank a lot cheaper in a Barbarian.

What I'm looking for is how to create a Barb that would have quite high stacked res, +max res, really high -DR%, max block, high defense, and maybe some integer or %Absorb to top it all off.

The first two items, that take care of Max Block, Stacked Res and +max Res would be an Upped Guardian Angel and a Spirit Ward shield.

What I'm looking for is help with filling out the rest...

I was juggling looking at String of Ears/Verdungo's, Vamp Gaze for belt/helm, but I really am not sure what I'd be looking at for Weapon and most of the other gear.

As far as skills are concerned, I was thinking Iron Skin (possibly maxed) 1-5 points in Natural Resistance, maybe some Stun and Concentrate. For Warcries, I wanted to put a bunch of points in Taunt (does FCR help this?), War Cry, Battle Orders and Battle Command.

I'm very new to Barb's so any help would be great.

This character would not be a solo character AT ALL. Would likely be accompanied by a sorceress or elemental druid. I'd like to also provide tank support vs. the ubers.

[Ed from Russia]

I know there's a guide for a damage-reduction barb, even a you-tube video if I remember correctly. But I can't find it ...

[lumpor]

There are many ways to make a near-invincible character. In the paladin forums theres a guide to the guardian angel paladin, who has maxed reduction%, max block, a crapload of defense and 95% to all resists.

I think you should read SSoG's taunt barb guide. That's a good one.

I think the options for an invincible character is:

Paladin: Abbot
Barbarian: Taunt barbarian with more focus on survivability (like maxing iron skin etc)
Sorc: ES sorc with reduction
Necromancer: The one we discussed earlier
Amazon: max block, high defense, maxed dodging skills and lots of resists. Can also combine hit causes monster to flee/knockback with strafe
Assasin: Don't know really
Druid: Not here either

[cloudsloth]

A druid cool be pretty cool with cyclone armor and all. I dunno what else would be going on for the build, or the equip. I personally like damage reduced by x gear. Someday I might play with this. If it works out, you could have like damage reduced by 80, 50% DR, at least 75 resist all (maybe more, that'd be nice) and 100% elemental absorb so long as cyclone armor is active. This might make statistically the best possible tank. You could throw in wearbear too.

[stephan]

Here's the thread: http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=550206

IMO Barbs, Assassins and Paladins are the best choices for PDR builds. They have easy access to resistance and attacks that are not so gear dependent. ES Sorceresses would be really nice if it weren't for mana burn.

[Ed from Russia]

Here's the thread: http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=550206



Yes, that's the one I meant. Tnx

[lumpor]

Both resist and damage reduced by % wouldn't help a cyclone armor druid at all

[cloudsloth]

I may be wrong, but cyclone armor applies only to elemental damage, and thus damage reduced by % aswell as by x would both apply to physical damage on a cyclone armor druid.

I thought cyclone armor absorbed all elemental damage, as if having 100% resists, but I realize I don't know if this is correct.

Anyways, I may be off on a bad idea tangent..... just let me know if I'm wrong.

[lumpor]

Cyclone armor isn't affected by resists.

% reduction comes after x reduction, so any "trying-to-become-invincible" build has little use for % reduction

[stephan]

It never hurts to have DR% because you cannot get enough PDR for all situations (extra strong fana pack). The problem is that it is very difficult to get substantial amounts of both (unless you're an Assassin).