Sorc Tank help?

Mivryna

So I'm considering getting back into tanking again, but I'm a bit lost when it comes to fully utilizing the Sorcerer's unique features. I am a Dunmer Vampire, and I think I've pretty well mitigated the effects of the fire weakness via racials and champion points. I understand that focusing on Magicka over Stamina would probably be the most effective strategy for a Sorcerer, but with regard to Magicka versus Health, I'm clueless.

To all you skilled Sorc tanks out there, what kind of attribute allotment, weapons, armor, stats, set bonuses, enchantments and such do you rely on? What must Vampiric Sorcerers rely on to succeed as tanks? Assume that for the time being, I only have access to crafted gear.

I usually use Magnus for DPS but I think I've got a Hist Bark set around here somewhere...

Waffennacht

Ok pre update i was 5 seducer 4 magnus, 4 heavy armor 3 light. Sword and board. 28 attributes in magicka like 22 in health.

Used buffs like thunderous presence, used ward and crystal frag with pets for help and health. Liquid Lightning for damage and Mage's Wrath for execute. Atronach for ult.

Now im stamina sorc tank. Attributes mirror only with stamina. Got a few tricks up my sleeve (like gasp still using hardened and pets!) 2h. Use histbark and whitesnake (i know its something else just off of the top of my head)

Way more synergy, abusing the new presence. Great heals with clannofear and rally, can actually use a taunt now.

Wisler89

Why are so many sorcerer tanks using pets? Srsly, why? They offer you nothing if you tank in a group setting. Okay the clannfear heals, but the cast time!! And the twilight deals damage, but it dies so often and the cast time!! Dark Exchange (I seriously can't remember if this is the right one, you need the one which cost magicka and restores stamina) is waaay better than the clannfear (because of the stamina recovery). If you use Hardened Ward in tandem, nothing can kill you. Except maybe your own stupidity. Which can happen fairly often if you run the new dungeons 5+ times in a row.
Outside of trials 25k health is enough. As is the stamina base value (which should be about 15k stamina with tri-food). Rest in magicka so the ward gets a nice boost and voila: working sorc tank. Slot a taunt, the 15% reduced damage from enemies hit (Heroic Slash, so you get more ultimate). Boundless Armor should also be somewhere. Invest a little in blockcost reduction and if you practise you can tank every vet dungeons. And probably vet DSA if you want, but probably not trials.

Noerknhar

I actually love the idea of a Sorc Tank. Everytime I try to talk to someone about that, I get laughed at and asked "why don't you play DK instead?".

Keep it going!

PS: any viable build out there? Like guide/skills/gear? (although it's pretty straight forward)

Mivryna

Thanks for the input, folks. So if I understand correctly, Sorcerers do still need to focus on traditional tanking methods via Health-centric sets and bonuses? Last time I tried tanking I had a hard time keeping up Hardened Ward unless I used 5/7 light armor with full Magicka enchantments. It was certainly an interesting build and almost never took damage, but of course when it did take damage, it was catastrophic.

I suppose traditional methods seem most reliable, but it does make it difficult to keep up with resources. I have got a Hist Bark set that I could experiment with. I'll see how it works out.

Waffennacht

Wisler89 wrote: »

Why are so many sorcerer tanks using pets? Srsly, why? They offer you nothing if you tank in a group setting. Okay the clannfear heals, but the cast time!! And the twilight deals damage, but it dies so often and the cast time!! Dark Exchange (I seriously can't remember if this is the right one, you need the one which cost magicka and restores stamina) is waaay better than the clannfear (because of the stamina recovery). If you use Hardened Ward in tandem, nothing can kill you. Except maybe your own stupidity. Which can happen fairly often if you run the new dungeons 5+ times in a row.
Outside of trials 25k health is enough. As is the stamina base value (which should be about 15k stamina with tri-food). Rest in magicka so the ward gets a nice boost and voila: working sorc tank. Slot a taunt, the 15% reduced damage from enemies hit (Heroic Slash, so you get more ultimate). Boundless Armor should also be somewhere. Invest a little in blockcost reduction and if you practise you can tank every vet dungeons. And probably vet DSA if you want, but probably not trials.

The cast time for clannofear is minimal, esp if you cancel animation. Do you have a heal in mind that would work well? Oh you like the stamina one? Hmmm I wouldn't of thought that. I'm hunting for more spells.

As is, even after the update, I'm back to my sorcy tank ways, I have made improvement but I know I can find a better layout.
Like I'm going to replace Mage's Wrath (after checking dmg, its the same dmg after the buff as Crystal frag)