Tanking help

Swundead

Hello people.

So I decided to level a new character with the spanking new update and so far I am loving it. The character in question is a Templar Imperial, and I want it to be a tank mainly and using x2 sword and shield. Like one for buffs and other for taunts/attacks that sort of thing. So my problem is that I never tanked in ESO before, or really that much in any mmo. I am mainly a dps/healer but for example, Skyrim I love playing sword and shield ( and in other rpgs that allow it to!)

So, is there anyone who could help me with some tips on which abilites, stats and gear ( heavy only ) to get and aim for as I progress through the levels? A few general tanking tips would not be wrong either, as I am reading up on a few myself but sometimes it feels a bit overwhelming.

Any help/feedback is welcome!

SomeDudeOnFire

http://deltiasgaming.com/category/eso-guides/class-guide/templar-class-guide-for-elder-scrolls-online/templar-builds/

Swundead

SomeDudeOnFire wrote: »

http://deltiasgaming.com/category/eso-guides/class-guide/templar-class-guide-for-elder-scrolls-online/templar-builds/

I know Deltia, but for the most part he is not really offering what I want, so thats why I decided to check here

Liofa

Hey ! First of all , welcome to ESO ! I am playing as a PvE tank for nearly 2 years now and I have seen/played all kinds of tanks . My main is a DK tank . DK is obviously the best choice you can make because of the easy gameplay and the utility it provides to the group . What I mean by easy gameplay is this , when you hold block , your stamina regeneration will be 0 . So , you have to have a way of regenerating Stamina while holding block . Of course , you don't have to block all the time (except some fights) but in case you have to , DK has the easiest way of doing this . DK can convert Magicka into Stamina without dropping block . That is the main reason . So , about Templars , there are no such thing unless there are corpses on the ground . Templars only way of regenerating Stamina without dropping block is Repentance . Repentance drains Stamina and Health from the corpses on the ground . So , if there are no adds in a fight , you may be in trouble . People may bash me for saying this but there is a really simple way of getting really good amount of Stamina without dropping block and that is a Monster set called Engine Guardian . EG is random , you may not be able to get Stamina proc even after 10 procs but when you get a Stamina proc , you get more than enough . Engine Guardian may be the best choice for you right now until you figure things out and get the hang of tanking . Other than that , there is a new Monster set that is called Sentinel of something . I don't know the full name of it ^^ It spawns a little dwemer spider when you heal yourself or/and an ally . This spider restores a bit of Stamina and Health . Since you will play as a Templar , you can use Cleansing Ritual to heal everyone in a huge area to proc this set . There is 1 drawback though . This spider restores Stamina and Health only to the ones who stand near it and the radius of restoration is kinda small . So , you may have to position yourself accordingly if you want the Stamina restore . There are a lot of stuff to talk about when it comes to tanking but a tank without Stamina is a dead tank ^^ So , before anything else , I wanted to clear things a bit about Stamina sustain .

This was a long writing but I hope you can find some answers here (at least about sustaining your Stamina) . If you have any questions , just ask !

Morgul667

if there is a good guide to tanking someone can recommend would be great

Lightspeedflashb14_ESO

Morgul667 wrote: »

if there is a good guide to tanking someone can recommend would be great

This is the best video out there right now.

https://youtu.be/upYhwqV8tvA

There are some things that you will have to work to get but the general idea is the same.

Swundead

Liofa wrote: »

Hey ! First of all , welcome to ESO ! I am playing as a PvE tank for nearly 2 years now and I have seen/played all kinds of tanks . My main is a DK tank . DK is obviously the best choice you can make because of the easy gameplay and the utility it provides to the group . What I mean by easy gameplay is this , when you hold block , your stamina regeneration will be 0 . So , you have to have a way of regenerating Stamina while holding block . Of course , you don't have to block all the time (except some fights) but in case you have to , DK has the easiest way of doing this . DK can convert Magicka into Stamina without dropping block . That is the main reason . So , about Templars , there are no such thing unless there are corpses on the ground . Templars only way of regenerating Stamina without dropping block is Repentance . Repentance drains Stamina and Health from the corpses on the ground . So , if there are no adds in a fight , you may be in trouble . People may bash me for saying this but there is a really simple way of getting really good amount of Stamina without dropping block and that is a Monster set called Engine Guardian . EG is random , you may not be able to get Stamina proc even after 10 procs but when you get a Stamina proc , you get more than enough . Engine Guardian may be the best choice for you right now until you figure things out and get the hang of tanking . Other than that , there is a new Monster set that is called Sentinel of something . I don't know the full name of it ^^ It spawns a little dwemer spider when you heal yourself or/and an ally . This spider restores a bit of Stamina and Health . Since you will play as a Templar , you can use Cleansing Ritual to heal everyone in a huge area to proc this set . There is 1 drawback though . This spider restores Stamina and Health only to the ones who stand near it and the radius of restoration is kinda small . So , you may have to position yourself accordingly if you want the Stamina restore . There are a lot of stuff to talk about when it comes to tanking but a tank without Stamina is a dead tank ^^ So , before anything else , I wanted to clear things a bit about Stamina sustain .

This was a long writing but I hope you can find some answers here (at least about sustaining your Stamina) . If you have any questions , just ask !

No problem! I asked for advice and that was what I got. But, in all seriousness, should I have made a DK for first time tanking? I heard a few times that DK > Templar, but I always liked the paladin/priest archtype. And I will look into the gear and see how to obtain it. Thanks!

XpoZeD_GoD

Every class can tank viably, Templar is one of the easiest to do it with as it has self heals, a way of restoring stamina (Repentance) and a way of restoring magicka (Rune Focus). Personally my Templar Tank is running 5 light and 2 heavy with Armour Master and it can basically reach the resistance cap. Engine Guardian is basically a must and then the final 5 piece can be what ever you think fits (I am using Footman's). As you may notice it is very similar to a build by Deltia. Using shuffle is key to survivability in this build. I use both taunts but mainly use Inner Fire because magicka sustain is easier at the start of combat. Repentancing all the way throughout the fight.

I would strongly recommend playing a Templar Tank but if you don't like it then you can just switch it to a healer or a dps quite easily. Dragonknights offer more utility but Templars are almost as good.

CreepyPahuska

Swundead wrote: »

But, in all seriousness, should I have made a DK for first time tanking?

NO

Whoever tells you to go DK for first time tanking is WRONG. Every single class in this game can be JUST AS GOOD as the DK if not better when it comes to tank and support. The most important thing is to play what you like cause there is no point in playing something that will get you bored. You wanna play a paladin/priest kind of thing ? Fine. Do it. It has, and will always work. The only downside of playing a non-DK tank is that when you'll be looking for guides and informations (which is what you're doing right now), you'll find less information, so you'll probably need to figure some things out by yourself, by trying, failing, modifying your build and retrying.

Swundead

CreepyPahuska wrote: »

Swundead wrote: »

But, in all seriousness, should I have made a DK for first time tanking?

NO

Whoever tells you to go DK for first time tanking is WRONG. Every single class in this game can be JUST AS GOOD as the DK if not better when it comes to tank and support. The most important thing is to play what you like cause there is no point in playing something that will get you bored. You wanna play a paladin/priest kind of thing ? Fine. Do it. It has, and will always work. The only downside of playing a non-DK tank is that when you'll be looking for guides and informations (which is what you're doing right now), you'll find less information, so you'll probably need to figure some things out by yourself, by trying, failing, modifying your build and retrying.

Haha, well I guess I will learn the trades of the game after really playing my templar! Yeah, I personally enjoy Templar more then DK so I will keep it as it is!

Swundead

XpoZeD_GoD wrote: »

Every class can tank viably, Templar is one of the easiest to do it with as it has self heals, a way of restoring stamina (Repentance) and a way of restoring magicka (Rune Focus). Personally my Templar Tank is running 5 light and 2 heavy with Armour Master and it can basically reach the resistance cap. Engine Guardian is basically a must and then the final 5 piece can be what ever you think fits (I am using Footman's). As you may notice it is very similar to a build by Deltia. Using shuffle is key to survivability in this build. I use both taunts but mainly use Inner Fire because magicka sustain is easier at the start of combat. Repentancing all the way throughout the fight.

I would strongly recommend playing a Templar Tank but if you don't like it then you can just switch it to a healer or a dps quite easily. Dragonknights offer more utility but Templars are almost as good.

Haha yeah, I was actually looking at Deltia and his PvP healer looks just right up my alley ( could be my off-spec ) But what I want is to find something, that could help me with building a x2 sword and board with heavy armor tank. But I will look around more, and ofcourse learn my Templar.

Morgul667

Lightspeedflashb14_ESO wrote: »

This is the best video out there right now.

There are some things that you will have to work to get but the general idea is the same.

Thanks !

RavenSworn

CreepyPahuska wrote: »

Swundead wrote: »

But, in all seriousness, should I have made a DK for first time tanking?

NO

Whoever tells you to go DK for first time tanking is WRONG. Every single class in this game can be JUST AS GOOD as the DK if not better when it comes to tank and support. The most important thing is to play what you like cause there is no point in playing something that will get you bored. You wanna play a paladin/priest kind of thing ? Fine. Do it. It has, and will always work. The only downside of playing a non-DK tank is that when you'll be looking for guides and informations (which is what you're doing right now), you'll find less information, so you'll probably need to figure some things out by yourself, by trying, failing, modifying your build and retrying.

I definitely agree to this.

Was a magicka based night blade tank, or sap tank as they would call it. Changed my stats after OT, now I'm relearning how to tank with a stamina based night blade. It's fun trying out new skills, new builds and making improvements. Most importantly, know your class. What are its strengths and weaknesses and what you can do to make it work.

Had fun times running normal dungeons and getting sets to prepare my tank while learning the ropes.

Swundead

uniq_faznrb18_ESO wrote: »

CreepyPahuska wrote: »

Swundead wrote: »

But, in all seriousness, should I have made a DK for first time tanking?

NO

Whoever tells you to go DK for first time tanking is WRONG. Every single class in this game can be JUST AS GOOD as the DK if not better when it comes to tank and support. The most important thing is to play what you like cause there is no point in playing something that will get you bored. You wanna play a paladin/priest kind of thing ? Fine. Do it. It has, and will always work. The only downside of playing a non-DK tank is that when you'll be looking for guides and informations (which is what you're doing right now), you'll find less information, so you'll probably need to figure some things out by yourself, by trying, failing, modifying your build and retrying.

I definitely agree to this.

Was a magicka based night blade tank, or sap tank as they would call it. Changed my stats after OT, now I'm relearning how to tank with a stamina based night blade. It's fun trying out new skills, new builds and making improvements. Most importantly, know your class. What are its strengths and weaknesses and what you can do to make it work.

Had fun times running normal dungeons and getting sets to prepare my tank while learning the ropes.

Haha yeah, I know. Sadly I still get overwhelmed by the nature of this game, dont get me wrong. Be anything you want mindtype is amazing, but a bit daunting for a person who played WoW all his life.. But I will continue to level and learn my class. So far I know, tank the meanest guy and dont run out of stamina! :P

Autolycus

The viability of tanking for all classes is currently in one of the best places it has ever been. For those of you who are familiar with the nuances of each class and have experience in all forms of content: Yes, there are many specific cases in which one class has advantages and disadvantages. That being said, someone with a well-developed build and a respectable amount of practice is going to be capable of doing just about everything. I've seen every class tank the most challenging content at this point, and with the availability of so many different utility sets with 1T, this concept is even more true.

On a slightly more subjective point, I find that as the difficulty of content increases, the more emphasis a tank must place on the fundamentals of tanking and group utility. One such example is a DK's chains - most would agree that having access to something like this (even if using Swarm Mother as a different class) is extremely valuable for veteran dungeons. But then we get to vet trials, where most things are either immune to chains, or the duty of chaining enemies is offloaded to a dps instead. The tank is then free to dedicate those resources to something else, like higher mitigation, reducing block cost instead of magicka recovery/cost, generating more ultimate, using a different utility skill that applies Minor Maim or snares, etc.

Don't get me wrong - it's not as though every class is using the exact same skills and gear. However, there is a semblance of truth to that statement when we consider the idea that most endgame tanks are utilizing the same buffs. Take Major Ward/Resolve for example: Most tanks try to keep 100% uptime on this for the increased resistances. It doesn't matter if one gets it from DK armor, or a Sorc lightning form, or Templar rune, or NB shadow skills - it's all the same buff. This is also true for Maim, Protection, Vitality, Heroism, Fracture, Breach, and Evasion.

I mentioned in the first paragraph that there are nuances with each of these buffs, specifically how one goes about using them, and in some cases one particular class may be able to access/provide one of those buffs more efficiently. But what really matters is that the player behind the tank is consciously aware of this utility and finds a way to incorporate as many buffs/debuffs as possible for the group, and there are several ways to access each one (potions and poisons are one of the easiest ways to supplement the buffs that one cannot easily get from class/weapon/armor skills). This is, of course, in addition to having reasonable resistances, and being able to block as much as possible (which means accounting for sustain).

The take-away here is that any class can be a strong tank for even the most challenging pve content. It comes down more to the player behind the tank than the class itself, as almost all utility (in the form of buffs/debuffs) is accessible by all classes. I have yet to see a tank who put real effort into accommodating as many of these things as possible unable to do so. The fundamentals are available to everyone; nuances and individual strategy is usually determined on a group-level, and is something that requires the entire group to accommodate. Not every group will have the exact same make-up and provide all of the same buffs/debuffs in the same way, but regardless of group make-up, there is usually a way for every group to incorporate the majority of them. It's just a matter of figuring out who is going to do which, and who will wear what gear, etc.

Sigtric

My tank is a Templar and it is great fun.

You'll want to work towards getting Repentance, and all your passive for 1h/shield, heavy armor.

I am running Black Rose and Malubeth for pve tanking and it works very well.

I also use my magicka pool for blazing shield. It seems to be a little unconventional for the rest of my build but it has been working very well for me. I can usually keep it active nearly 100% of the time and let that damage shield work for me.

Last thing is to get the range taunt from undaunted line, keep it on your back bar, melee taunt on Main.

GreatGildersleeve

I have to echo what others have said. Try a bunch of things out and find what works best for you. And don't be limited by 'meta' builds or skills.
My main is a hybrid Argonian stam sorc; it's definitely challenging but I have a blast with it and I'm always trying new skills and gear combos depending on the fight (Velidreth is currently kicking my butt but I'll get her eventually.)
For skills, whatever works for the target but there are some basics. Both taunts help, and I use Heroic Slash a tonne to try to keep Warhorn up as much as possible.
Gear will be different for everyone but the standbys are always a good place to start (Hist Bark, Armor Master, Footman.) Personally I run Footmans, Noble's Conquest and Engine Guardian. (And I have a few other sets I swap out as needed.) Don't worry about doing dps but do try to pay attention to buffs and debuffs to make the groups job easier overall.
As long as you're enjoying it, it should come through in your play. Just make sure you hold aggro

Swundead

Thanks for the great info from all of you! I currently got a pretty good set up with 1h/shield and resto, and I am just focusing on leveling.

Right now my biggest focus is learning the tanking aspect of the game right. In World of Warcraft as an example, your job is tanking everything, and you have big taunts to help you with that. In this game I noticed that more often then not, I can keep the big guy on me, and maybe 1 or 2 adds, but the rest break of. At that point I panic thinking that I am failing at my job.

Should I try to tank everything in range? Or should I focus on the big adds, then ofcourse the boss when we encounter one?

Rune_Relic

You want to taunt any adds that grief the healer.
Other than that focus on the boss and buff/resource management.
If you a tag some adds in the process all the better....
But if you tag too many ..getting yourself killed done no one any favours.

You primary role is to get the main damage dealer(s) occupied.
Your secondary role is to keep the healer alive by taunting adds off the healer.
Your tertiary role is to res the healer if he/she dies while you're being hammered.
So for me, you have to keep something back in reserve should this happen.
The more you know the dungeon, the more you will know when to keep that reserve available.

In an ideal world you will stack 'em on you and let the dps whack 'em from behind.
The healer then can focus all their healing power in a small area and conserve resources.
[Rather than trying to heal everyone running all over the place]
This is why a pull like DK chains is such a key skill to have.
Control....of the combat..is why you are there.
Pull + Root would be the primary skills n any tanks arsenal.
They require resources you wont have access to without the right gear.

mrowmrif2

Liofa wrote: »

People may bash me for saying this but there is a really simple way of getting really good amount of Stamina without dropping block and that is a Monster set called Engine Guardian . EG is random , you may not be able to get Stamina proc even after 10 procs but when you get a Stamina proc , you get more than enough . Engine Guardian may be the best choice for you right now until you figure things out and get the hang of tanking

Dont forget that both engine and sentinel sets, since they spawn a pet that dies quickly, is huge for templar tanking for just the reason you said: repentance!! You CREATE YOUR OWN CORPSE! so... with this FREE heal and stamina restore, templar is made viable. Other sets like the popular bloodspawn and lord warden are simply lackluster for a templar and work better on DK.