Ice/Fire Tank help.

[AfterglowNoMore]

While looking over some old threads at the Ogaming after the merge, I found an old character concept that I hadlong forgotten named Phoenix Frost. He's an Ice Armor/Fire Melee Tank. Are there any powers in either set that I should avoid? Any that I should deffinately take? Any pools that compliment it well?

[Istasi]

Well, I can't really comment on Fire Melee, but I can give you some advice on Ice Armor.

Frozen Armor: One of your bread-and-butter powers. Six-slot it, the general slotting is one EndRedux and 5 DefBuff. This power helps against pretty much any and every enemy, especially in the thick of things, with its Smash/Lethal defense. Also, this helps lessen the alpha strike so that you can survive to get Energy Absorption (EA) off after level 26.

Should you take it? Yes. Hell yes.

Hoarfrost: The Dull Pain of Ice Armor, this power isn't necessary, but it really, really helps to have it. There are two routes you can go with this power: perma or "Oh crap." Perma means 4 SO RechRedux (with hasten) or 6 SO RechRedux without. "Oh crap" is usually just one or two RechReduxes, so that it's up when you need it, but not all the time.

Should you take it? It's definitely a good power, but not a requirement.

Chilling Embrace: This really helps you out in the defense department, despite the fact it doesn't add any defense directly. It slows the movement and attack rate of any foes within a good-sized radius, and, as we all know, less attacks means less chances of being hit. It's a great power, but not worth enhancing beyond its inital slot (slow enhancers only help with the movement rate slow, not the attack rate.) Most people put in an EndRedux.

Should you take it? This is really your choice. If you do decide to take it, you don't need it until your late teens or twenties.

Wet Ice: Another bread-and-butter power, this gives you defense to everything buy Psionic damage, and also gives you resistance to status effects. Six-slotting it is a no-brainer, 1 EndRedux and 5 DefBuff. You pretty much want to keep this on all the time in a fight. It grants you the widest range of defense and renders you pretty much immune to status effects.

Should you take it? Take it, slot it, love it.

Permafrost: In every set there has to be a stinker, this is Ice Armor's. Despite being Ice's only straight up resist power, the small amount of resistance this gives against trivial damage types is pretty much pointless. So, basically, this power sucks.

Should you take it? No. Definitely not.

Icicles: This is a decent power, but has a high end cost for a toggle. The most effective use for this would be to create a mobile caltrops effect (Icicles + CE). This isn't currently in Shatterfrost's planned build, but hey, things can change. For slots, I think most people go with 2 EndRedux, 1 Acc, and 3 Damage. This is only for 6-slotting however, because the general consensus is that this isn't worth it if you don't slot it heavily.

Should you take it? If you have the extra slots, go for it. If not, leave it.

Glacial Armor: This is the final item in the collection of the three basic armors. It grants you defense to Energy and Negative Energy, so it's also the most situational of the armors. You don't need to slot this as much as the two other armors, seeing as you won't be using it as much. I'd suggest 1 EndRedux and 2 or 3 DefBuff.

Should you take it? Yes, but it isn't as essential as Frozen Armor or Wet Ice.

Energy Absorption: This is where the true power of Ice Armor lies. Although the amount of enemies this can effect has been capped in Issue 4, it is still quite an awesome power. From a max of 5 enemies around you, you drain some of their endurance and in turn gain 18.5% defense to everything but Psionics. Now, to make this perma (without hasten) you should throw in 2 RechRedux ASAP. Add a few extra defense to overcap, and you're set to rock and roll.

Should you take it? If you don't, you can just consider yourself a gimped Ice Tank.

Hibernate: There are many views on this power, some live by it, while others label it as useless. It encases you in ice, making you invulnerable, but unable to attack or do anything else. It also boosts your regen rate. I'm going to pick this up, but I may respec out of it should I find that it isn't useful enough.

Should you take it? This one is completely your choice.

There you have it, the facts and my personal preferences on Ice Armor powers. Now, take into account, I haven't used some of these powers, and my decisions were reached through extensive research alone, so you may want to get a second opinion from someone like Frost Sampson or Astartus. Hope I helped!