If you chose to go with a tank build for your Division agent you’ll be expected to be the front line for your squad, running into the thick of it and soaking up damage that would be otherwise directed at the rest of your team. You can’t just choose to be a tank without building your agent to suit however, and while there are multiple ways to build a tank character, we’ve assembled some of the skills, stats, and perks you should focus on to build the best tank possible.

In terms of stats, the main one you’ll want to be focusing on is stamina for obvious reasons. The more health you can stack on your tank, the longer you’ll be able to survive and the tougher enemies you’ll be able to take on.

When you feel you have enough health, your next focus should be weapon damage which will help keep the attention of the enemy units on you and not your squishier teammates.

Skills

Your main skill you’ll want to pickup is the ballistic shield. While it’s not as effective a mode of cover as a wall or the portable wall, the shield allows you to move in close and gain the NPC’s attention. The major downside of the ballistic shield is that you can only use a sidearm when it’s deployed. You can however increase the damage your sidearm does with the Assault shield mod, something you should get as soon as you can.

Even if you don’t add the mod, it isn’t a major issue considering your main job is tanking damage, but it’s something to think about when putting together the rest of your group.

Once you level up enough your next pickup should be the mobile cover skill. It’s a welcome upgrade over the ballistic shield as it allows you to plant full cover wherever you want (although it can be destroyed). Choose the countermeasures mod if you want to give yourself an added damage bonus whenever you’re behind the portable cover.

Survivor link is the ultimate tanking ability, but it will take a while until you are able to unlock it. Not only does it increase your damage resistance and movement speed, it provides those same buffs to any of your squad mates that happen to be nearby.

Talents

Many talents work well for a security build, but these ones should be on your short list.

• On the move – reduced damage taken while moving.
• Steady hands – increases accuracy when you enter cover.
• Repo reaper – gives you primary ammo when you successfully kill an enemy with your sidearm.
• Critical save – increases damage output for a short time after using a medkit.

Weapons

It’s user’s choice for weapons with the security build, but many choose to go with short range options because you’ll be wading into the thick of it before deploying your portable cover. Shotguns have great stopping power, and don’t require a huge amount of accuracy (a good thing when you’re in the fray).

Of course you’ll also want the best sidearm you can get your hands on since you’ll be deploying your ballistic shield a good deal of the time.