Magicka Based Tank Possible?

Mansome

Hi all,

I am wanting to do another respec for my DK. The issue I am having is so many more abilities take magicka than stamina. My character is Vet 4 red guard thats a werewolf. So far I have Heavy and Medium armors maxed as well as the sword shield, bow and restoration staff. Is it possible for me to tank in medium armor and not run out of stamina if I put all my points towards health and magicka?

Sandshark95

My DK Tank is currently running a magicka spec. Haven't hit Vet ranks with that alt yet, but I don't see why it wouldn't work. You're right in that DK abilities are heavy on the magicka, which was the main factor in my decision to go for a more magicka-focused build on my Tank. I don't know about going all medium, but a few pieces might help. The passives you get for being a Redguard and a Werewolf should definitely prevent your stamina from suffering too much. Throw in a few stamina enchants if necessary. In addition, there's always Green Dragon Blood from the Draconic Power Skill Tree. I think that skill was made specifically for magicka DK Tanks.

I can see why other classes might want to always default to stamina for tanking, but as a DK, all those shiny tanky magicka abilities are almost too good to pass up entirely. Stamina is obviously important for blocking and dodging, but that's only a part of what a Tank does; Tanks have to use CCs, taunts, AoEs, buffs, self-heals...It just so happens that DKs have access to all of these abilities, and nearly all of them are magicka-based. So why not go for a magicka build? I see no reason why it wouldn't be viable, even for endgame content.

Vorpal_Spork

Mansome wrote: »

Hi all,

I am wanting to do another respec for my DK. The issue I am having is so many more abilities take magicka than stamina. My character is Vet 4 red guard thats a werewolf. So far I have Heavy and Medium armors maxed as well as the sword shield, bow and restoration staff. Is it possible for me to tank in medium armor and not run out of stamina if I put all my points towards health and magicka?

A magicka tank is a bad idea. How do you plan to have stamina to block with? There are no magicka 1 hand weapons so how do you even plan to have a shield in the first place? How do you plan to tank in medium armor? It has a lot less armor. Why medium armor and magicka? Medium armor gives no benefit to magicka builds. There's literally nothing about this that makes any sense.

Sandshark95

It doesn't cost stamina to simply hold a shield and swing a sword. Sure, blocking does--but Tanks don't just stand in one place holding the block button every waking moment of gameplay. Blocking isn't the only way to mitigate damage. Melee magicka builds are more than perfectly viable when it comes to DPSing, so why not Tanking?

I think the OP mentioned medium armor as an idea to compensate for the stamina loss as a magicka build. I agree that full medium armor isn't the best idea. A Tank needs mostly heavy armor. Stamina enchants and passives can help with the rest.

It might not be your cookie-cutter tank build, but I sincerely don't believe it's anywhere close to outlandish or unachievable. In Veteran levels with Champion Points and whatnot, you can have pretty decent-sized stamina and magicka pools without compromising your build viability. Just because it's a different approach to tanking doesn't make it a "bad idea" by any means. If Stamina Sorcery is actually a thing and exists, then Magicka Tanking honestly isn't too far out there.

Mansome

Just to add this, I will carry all 3 armor types so I can switch if the need arises. Heavy if medium is too squishy, medium if the stamina drain is too bad, and light if the magicka drain is bad when healing. I want to be able to tank, dps or heal when needed. I was thinking of dropping the points I put into the bow to go with destruction staff. Right now I am full health and stamina but I have enchanted with all magicka because the magicka drain right now is insane. Its very rare I run out of stamina ever unless I am taking on hoards and hoards of critters back to back.

Stannum

tank should have
1) max dmg mitigation
2) max reduced block cost
3) may be bash cost bonus

So you should tank with 1h&sh and in 5 heavy.
But it doesn''t mean that you should go magika or stamina build (in stamina build you'll have more stamina pool and regen but you'll spend stamina not only for defence but for attack and will not have enougth magika for buffs and heals)(in magika build you'll have lots of magika for class buffs, heals and even attacks and will spend your stamina only for blocking and bashing)
So for NB magika tank is defenitelly better. For DK (as she has great GBT skill) you can go all health pool tank. Also cano go magika or stamina.

Vizier

Magicka based tanks using shields are IMO the most effective ATM, at least in PvP.

leepalmer95

A magicka based Dk with 5 heavy/2 light is really effective, Reflective scales, GDB, Whip, Burning Breath etc.. can all be cast with a sword and shield and you do the same dmg as if you would be holding a staff.

Zsymon

I think most tanks are magicka with 5 heavy pieces.

Blackjak-33

Vet 1 redguard/Werewolf magicka siphon Nightblade tank here and I've had no problems thus far. I use jewelry for block cost reduction/max stamina glyphs and max health and magicka glyphs on armor. I would recommend using all heavy armor for the block cost reduction bonus heavy armor gives you as well.

Pompeyfluff

I'm running a magika/health combo DK tank and its working out well so far (only V5 though). Use Shield & Sword on both weapon bars

Eventual aim is to have the following sort of set up:
30 points in magicka
30 points in health
2 in stamina

5 heavy armour (hist bark), 1 light, 1 medium

Will add a mix of cost reduction/max stam/max health/,max magicka glyphs on as well.

weapon bars will contain 3 magicka based abilities/2 stam abilities to enable both bars to be played and maintained.

asteldian

Magicka tanks work a charm. Just need to build them right. I use 5h/1/1 I use no block cost reduction enchants, I have no attributes in stamina (though I have a decent stam regen as Reguard werewolf) I have tanked all content in game without issue. And that is as a Templar, thanks to the passives DK gets they have an even easier time of it due to getting stamina back when using ultimate or casting Earthen Heart skills.