Are tanks relevant/ necessary?

Marysvillain

I've read a lot of posts saying tanks are irrelevant and not needed at any point of this game (PvE). However those discussions were from January/February of this year and I'm not certain if anything has changed or not as I just started playing upon console release, on console.

wayfarerb14_ESO

Tanks are absolutely relevant. If you want to do a group dungeon, tanks are very helpful.

Marysvillain

Alright thanks. Anyone else?

PBpsy

Yes tanks are necessary for all end game content with the exception of some very non standard teams with very well played thought out builds like 4 x Templar dps.and various combos of Magicak NB ,DK, Temp dps + heals.
For any PUG a decent tank and heal is essential especially on lower level where many people do not know what they are doing and /or have very suboptimal/builds and gear.
Some things as gold pledges are almost impossible without a tank.

Marysvillain

Thank you for taking the time to respond. My friend is 3 days into his tank and was a bit discouraged after reading old posts on tanks. He's in much higher spirits after hearing this.

Lynx7386

While it is possible to do most dungeons without a tank, it's a nightmare on everyone in the group.

You need tanks, just as much as you need a healer or damage dealers. The biggest difference between ESO tanking and that of other MMO's is that the tank cannot just aggro everything onto him and be a meatshield. Tanking in ESO is more about controlling the enemy and keeping yourself alive while your group finishes off everything. You'll never be able to taunt all of the mobs in each pull - go for the tougher mobs that will take too long for your group to kill, and hold them while the group takes out everything else first. shield bash casters and healers, get in front of charging enemies and block to knock them down, stun and root the hell out of everything to minimize the damage the enemies deal.

DaveMoeDee

Tanks are pretty lame for solo content, but very needed -- and fun even -- for group dungeons. My main character is a tank and my alts were much more fun to play.

Gabriel_Froste

Depends on how you play and what class you choose.

SHADOW2KK

Tanks are always in demand for PvE groups or Trials and in PvP too.

Enjoy:}

Dustile

Totally necessary. Some probably cleared a lowbie without one. And omg wouldn't you know it, we must not need tanks.

Lynx7386

DaveMoeDee wrote: »

Tanks are pretty lame for solo content, but very needed -- and fun even -- for group dungeons. My main character is a tank and my alts were much more fun to play.

I dont know, my dk tank is in the pact and around level 30 or so I came across a particularly difficult zone boss: an archer-type enemy with a massive amount of health and enough damage to kill players at that level in 3 or 4 arrows and on top of that had some adds. Several other players in the area had attempted to fight that boss and perished quickly, so I felt all the more rewarded when I solo'd her. Reflective scales to save me from the arrows, talons to keep the adds at bay while i whittled them down, lava whip and dragonblood to heal myself, and what few hits I did take slid right off of that heavy armor.

It was a long fight, but rewarding.