[Tank] Sorcerer, need advice and opinion

Bashev

I am planning to do some PvE and I didnt do anything more difficult in the last years as I play mainly PvP.
Here is the build that I plan to use:
https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Special:EsoBuildData?id=121377
What do you think? Is it viable? The goal is all DLC vet dungeons and probably vet trials.
My idea is to cast 2 shields (10k +12k) and block only heavy hits. I also can heal my self extremely well with the pet. Using heavy attacks for restoring stamina while I have the shields. Casting harness magicka after block will be 15% cheaper.
Power surge will be used for PUGs or vet dungeons without a healer.
Is 600 block cost ok or my stamina will be gone pretty fast?
Edit:
On the 1h shield bar i can slot as ulti Temporal Guard for 8% damage reduction and move on the second slot horn.

RogueShark

I don't know much about tanking but one thing I've heard is you don't want Ebon on your weapons. The buff for the group is dropped when you bar-swap, which can be potentially lethal in some circumstances.

Bashev

RogueShark wrote: »

I don't know much about tanking but one thing I've heard is you don't want Ebon on your weapons. The buff for the group is dropped when you bar-swap, which can be potentially lethal in some circumstances.

Good advice. I didnt know that. Then I have to switch to 5 light and 2 heavy.

josiahva

Bashev wrote: »

I am planning to do some PvE and I didnt do anything more difficult in the last years as I play mainly PvP.
Here is the build that I plan to use:
https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Special:EsoBuildData?id=121377
What do you think? Is it viable? The goal is all DLC vet dungeons and probably vet trials.
My idea is to cast 2 shields (10k +12k) and block only heavy hits. I also can heal my self extremely well with the pet. Using heavy attacks for restoring stamina while I have the shields. Casting harness magicka after block will be 15% cheaper.
Power surge will be used for PUGs or vet dungeons without a healer.
Is 600 block cost ok or my stamina will be gone pretty fast?
Edit:
On the 1h shield bar i can slot as ulti Temporal Guard for 8% damage reduction and move on the second slot horn.

You wont be taken into trials as a sorc-tank. People will always prefer a DK tank for obvious reasons. As for a shield-tank build...they work just fine for most content(DKs are STILL better shield tanks than sorcs)...you certainly dont want or need Ebon on a shield tank though. I would say Ebon is fairly worthless for any content that is not trial level...vet DLC and below you are better off running Imperium...the huge shield for the group is much more likely to keep just 4 people alive. On My shield tank I use the following:

Chudan(This saves magicka so I dont have to constantly cast armor abilities and can instead spam igneous shield for the group more...might not be the best choice for Sorc though)
Plague Doctor(the higher the health, the bigger shields for the group are)
Imperium(The proc is especially nice when you are pinned down by Dranos in vCoS or chained down by that boss in FG2, etc since it procs when you cant do anything actively)
50k Health/22k Stamina/11k Magicka 1600 magicka regen/1600 stamina regen

Using the barrier ult front back and warhorn backbar, and bone shield(when someone bothers to hit the spinal surge synergy)with all shields up I have been able to shield the ENTIRE GROUP for up to 70k before...which is far more useful that self shielding. With a build like this, I only ever block heavy attacks or one shots...I just ignore everything else while light or heavy attacking...spamming igneous shield and bone shield...no problem whatsoever for running HM no death vet DLC dungeons(everyone loves shields that make them tanky as hell). With this build, a healer is purely optional if the DPS have a single self heal and will stay close enough to you to benefit from the shield spamming....but, DK is better purely because of igneous shield...sorc doesnt have anything comparable. Shield spamming its easy to get away with a 10k magicka pool if you have decent regen and use heavy attacks(or meditation) when needed

p.s. this is not an optimal tank build for trials and people never like the lack of Ebon in trials, regardless of the reasons

heavy attacking with a frost staff back bar will give you essentially infinite magicka for self heals or more shield spamming.

Suddwrath

Sorc tanks are viable in trials, but not with that setup. You will need to use heavy armor or else some mechanics will one-shot you even if you cast a shield.

While sorc tank can tank any vet content, don't expect to be brought in score runs. Groups will prefer the tank to be a DK for the Engulfing Flames buff.

Bashev

SaltySudd wrote: »

Sorc tanks are viable in trials, but not with that setup. You will need to use heavy armor or else some mechanics will one-shot you even if you cast a shield.

Can you explain why I need heavy armor? Because of the 10% more health?

macsmooth

josiahva wrote: »

Bashev wrote: »

I am planning to do some PvE and I didnt do anything more difficult in the last years as I play mainly PvP.
Here is the build that I plan to use:
https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Special:EsoBuildData?id=121377
What do you think? Is it viable? The goal is all DLC vet dungeons and probably vet trials.
My idea is to cast 2 shields (10k +12k) and block only heavy hits. I also can heal my self extremely well with the pet. Using heavy attacks for restoring stamina while I have the shields. Casting harness magicka after block will be 15% cheaper.
Power surge will be used for PUGs or vet dungeons without a healer.
Is 600 block cost ok or my stamina will be gone pretty fast?
Edit:
On the 1h shield bar i can slot as ulti Temporal Guard for 8% damage reduction and move on the second slot horn.

You wont be taken into trials as a sorc-tank. People will always prefer a DK tank for obvious reasons. As for a shield-tank build...they work just fine for most content(DKs are STILL better shield tanks than sorcs)...you certainly dont want or need Ebon on a shield tank though. I would say Ebon is fairly worthless for any content that is not trial level...vet DLC and below you are better off running Imperium...the huge shield for the group is much more likely to keep just 4 people alive. On My shield tank I use the following:

Chudan(This saves magicka so I dont have to constantly cast armor abilities and can instead spam igneous shield for the group more...might not be the best choice for Sorc though)
Plague Doctor(the higher the health, the bigger shields for the group are)
Imperium(The proc is especially nice when you are pinned down by Dranos in vCoS or chained down by that boss in FG2, etc since it procs when you cant do anything actively)

Using the barrier ult front back and warhorn backbar, and bone shield(when someone bothers to hit the spinal surge synergy)with all shields up I have been able to shield the ENTIRE GROUP for up to 70k before...which is far more useful that self shielding. With a build like this, I only ever block heavy attacks or one shots...I just ignore everything else while light or heavy attacking...spamming igneous shield and bone shield...no problem whatsoever for running HM no death vet DLC dungeons(everyone loves shields that make them tanky as hell). With this build, a healer is purely optional if the DPS have a single self heal and will stay close enough to you to benefit from the shield spamming....but, DK is better purely because of igneous shield...sorc doesnt have anything comparable. Shield spamming its easy to get away with a 10k magicka pool if you have decent regen and use heavy attacks(or meditation) when needed

p.s. this is not an optimal tank build for trials and people never like the lack of Ebon in trials, regardless of the reasons

You missed the bit where he’s wearing armour master in light and wants to tank, he’s only going to be tanking 1 and maybe some of the 2 dungeons before he gets kicked once people realise

Suddwrath

Bashev wrote: »

SaltySudd wrote: »

Sorc tanks are viable in trials, but not with that setup. You will need to use heavy armor or else some mechanics will one-shot you even if you cast a shield.

Can you explain why I need heavy armor? Because of the 10% more health?

Not only for the health, but also for the resistances. While your setup is a little tanky as long as the shields are up, if you get hit with a heavy attack while stunned before you cast your shield it will one-shot you. The same thing applies if you run out of magicka and can't cast a shield in time.

josiahva

macsmooth wrote: »

josiahva wrote: »

Bashev wrote: »

I am planning to do some PvE and I didnt do anything more difficult in the last years as I play mainly PvP.
Here is the build that I plan to use:
https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Special:EsoBuildData?id=121377
What do you think? Is it viable? The goal is all DLC vet dungeons and probably vet trials.
My idea is to cast 2 shields (10k +12k) and block only heavy hits. I also can heal my self extremely well with the pet. Using heavy attacks for restoring stamina while I have the shields. Casting harness magicka after block will be 15% cheaper.
Power surge will be used for PUGs or vet dungeons without a healer.
Is 600 block cost ok or my stamina will be gone pretty fast?
Edit:
On the 1h shield bar i can slot as ulti Temporal Guard for 8% damage reduction and move on the second slot horn.

You wont be taken into trials as a sorc-tank. People will always prefer a DK tank for obvious reasons. As for a shield-tank build...they work just fine for most content(DKs are STILL better shield tanks than sorcs)...you certainly dont want or need Ebon on a shield tank though. I would say Ebon is fairly worthless for any content that is not trial level...vet DLC and below you are better off running Imperium...the huge shield for the group is much more likely to keep just 4 people alive. On My shield tank I use the following:

Chudan(This saves magicka so I dont have to constantly cast armor abilities and can instead spam igneous shield for the group more...might not be the best choice for Sorc though)
Plague Doctor(the higher the health, the bigger shields for the group are)
Imperium(The proc is especially nice when you are pinned down by Dranos in vCoS or chained down by that boss in FG2, etc since it procs when you cant do anything actively)

Using the barrier ult front back and warhorn backbar, and bone shield(when someone bothers to hit the spinal surge synergy)with all shields up I have been able to shield the ENTIRE GROUP for up to 70k before...which is far more useful that self shielding. With a build like this, I only ever block heavy attacks or one shots...I just ignore everything else while light or heavy attacking...spamming igneous shield and bone shield...no problem whatsoever for running HM no death vet DLC dungeons(everyone loves shields that make them tanky as hell). With this build, a healer is purely optional if the DPS have a single self heal and will stay close enough to you to benefit from the shield spamming....but, DK is better purely because of igneous shield...sorc doesnt have anything comparable. Shield spamming its easy to get away with a 10k magicka pool if you have decent regen and use heavy attacks(or meditation) when needed

p.s. this is not an optimal tank build for trials and people never like the lack of Ebon in trials, regardless of the reasons

You missed the bit where he’s wearing armour master in light and wants to tank, he’s only going to be tanking 1 and maybe some of the 2 dungeons before he gets kicked once people realise

Oh...well armor master is worthless since they required that you wear 5 pieces of the armor weight to use that particular armor skill...it used to be good when you could cast harness magicka in 5 heavy...now its pretty well garbage for anything. On the bright side...Chudan is a good substitute for it at the cost of something like Bloodspawn

Bashev

SaltySudd wrote: »

Bashev wrote: »

SaltySudd wrote: »

Sorc tanks are viable in trials, but not with that setup. You will need to use heavy armor or else some mechanics will one-shot you even if you cast a shield.

Can you explain why I need heavy armor? Because of the 10% more health?

Not only for the health, but also for the resistances. While your setup is a little tanky as long as the shields are up, if you get hit with a heavy attack while stunned before you cast your shield it will one-shot you. The same thing applies if you run out of magicka and can't cast a shield in time.

But i am at max resistance. The idea is that I will have 50% reduction from resistance, 30% reduction from major protection and 8% reduction from minor protection. On top of that I will have the CP reduction.

D0PAMINE

You can use a Sorc tank in trials, but you need specific gear to do so. Swarm Mother helps a ton, and Plague Doctor (for off tank) will help. You need to get all the passives for Undaunted, it will make things a bit more solid. If you're on PC, make one on the PTS and fine tune it. Make sure resist is close to 30k for both.

Edit: I just saw youre at the max resist. I've found that AoE's that slow enemies help a bit too.

Tasear

D0PAMINE wrote: »

You can use a Sorc tank in trials, but you need specific gear to do so. Swarm Mother helps a ton, and Plague Doctor (for off tank) will help. You need to get all the passives for Undaunted, it will make things a bit more solid. If you're on PC, make one on the PTS and fine tune it. Make sure resist is close to 30k for both.

Edit: I just saw youre at the max resist. I've found that AoE's that slow enemies help a bit too.

Don't think you need swam mother's with sliver leash working as a pull.

zvavi

Main problems I see are the lack of heals you will get, cause no heavy armor passives+pirate skeleton.
And of course lack of supportive sets. I mean, this build might survive most vet dlc things, probably (with the requirement to recast shield every 5 seconds, eats too much magicka imo).
To make it work you will need to have a very good resource management, because as I see it, if u run out of magicka, u r kinda dead.
Also someone already pointed out that ebon is bugged on weapons
Edit: aggressive horn is better than sturdy, I don't see a reason for Ward to be slotted. U probably want silver leash for dungeons. U might as well consider getting rid of heroic slash, since the pet applied minor main anyway.
Very important. They are changing enchantments next patch, so one handed enchantments will do half the enchantment. so you want crusher on your staff, for better crusher uptime(wall op) and weakening on front bar
Also u might want the horn on back bar, and barrier on front bar (for magicka Regen).
Also when you block with magicka, magicka won't regenerate, so I will assume u usually block on front bar cause u have atronach mundus.

zvavi

Edited previous comment

MartiniDaniels

Well, your build is original, and from my experience self-shielding doesn't help tank much.. shield for group - yes, shields for self - no, they are blown away in 1-2 seconds when any serious damage is incoming.. it's easier to tank with health and then heal, then tank with shields and constantly respawn them for yourself.
In dungeons you may run wherever you want, which is better suits you. In vet trials this setup won't work, trial leader really will ask you to change build/gear to something standard.

ccfeeling

You can complete the general dungeons with any set combination , too ez .

But if you wanna tank DLC HM or Vtrial , sustain is always an issue .

From my experience , if you can tank BF HM without healer , your build is fine !

XxCaLxX

I run multiple sets on my sorc tank but mainly plague dr and ebon with lord warden. I run 6 heavy and 1 medium. 5-1-1 works too. For dungeons I prefer sorc tank because is ridiculously easy. 2 shields plus the clanfear heal is all you need so bring along three dps. Honestly I never really use the clanfear heal it’s just for extra resources but I have 42k health, 24k Stam and 23k mag with 1 mag recovery glyph and only two pieces of gear golded. I’ve done every single vet dungeon with ease.

lokulin

It looks like an interesting setup but it is missing a ranged taunt and silver leash for grouping adds. Not sure what ultimate you are going to put on your back bar but absorbtion field is good for trash. I would probably drop surge and boundless storm. With two shields your bar space is pretty tight. Some fights would benefit more from bound ageis and/or absorb magicka. I tried light armour shield tanking a while back but I found I wasted too much time on casting shields. You are better off using that time crowd controlling adds, debffing the boss or buffing the group or yourself. My last point is I think having magicka higher than stamina is going to be very risky in the harder vet content as you won't be able to rely on shards or orbs for stam resources if you need to block and dodge a lot. Being argonian will help with the resourceful passive but it is a lot to give up. Personally I think a higher stam pool and high magicka regen gives better results.

Bashev

Thanks all for the inputs.

I dont like Ebon too much but I read that is is kind of mandatory for tanks.

Someone mention that I am lucking support sets, which ones are best for tanks? I can swap pirate skeleton for more supportive set.

Other comments were that when I am out of magicka I will be dead but I have 20k+ stamina pool. Then I can use block as traditional tanking. The block cost is 600 stamina.

Someone mentioned that pet debuff with minor maim, is this true? I didnt know that.

Missing range taunt - I can use ice destro heavy attack.

Dodging - if a fight needs a lot of dodging I can slot streak?

I can also change surge to silver leash when needed and change boundless storm to balance for more sustain and when I am in a real group and not in a PUG

@Woeler and @Alcast Guys, can you give some feedback?

P.S I want to use magicka tanking as this character is my PvP character and I dont want to change attributes all the time. I play non CP so CP points are not a problem. Morphs are not a problem too.

Aalahk

I'm a magicka sorcerer DPS who has different skill and gear sets (thanks, Dressing room Addon on PC!) for tanking and healing. I've successfully tanked all normal dungeons, most veteran dungeons and some normal trials. That means all my CP (which you don't care about) and my attributes are slotted into magicka.

There is another thread on the same vein that I commented on a while back. It might be useful to you: https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/449934/are-there-any-full-magicka-sorc-tanks#latest

Your setup is very similar to mine with a few exceptions. You'll notice I don't have much to add that hasn't already been by others in this thread:

The sets I use are:

• Ebony enchanted with all tri-stats
• Backbar is generally Lich
• Lord Warden Helm - nice resists for you but also helps support your group
• I backbar a Lich Ice staff - it's nice having magicka to block with when I need it

My skills are also very similar with two exceptions:

• Instead of two shields, I just run empowered Ward (provides minor intellect for the group)
• In place of your second shield, consider running Silver Leash - it's expensive but it's a great way to pull those enemies into your team's AOE - on boss fights switch out for Bound Aegis for that extra mitigation from block or if it's an easy one, add Mage's Fury
• Lord Warden Helm - nice resists for you but also helps support your group (the post I linked suggested Bloodspawn but i've since moved away from this)
• I DPS fairly often when I'm not tanking so I've kept the Twilight Matriarch as my pet

If you're on PC/EU, I'd be happy to run some content with you and give you tips.

neal_brasier

I tried frost staff tanking before I found you still need a range taunt, heavy attacking with the ice staff is very slow and if there's more than 1 add you're sort of screwed

ZeroXFF

I think you'll get more mileage out of your sorc tank by getting your HP up to increase the clanfear heal and stacking mag regen with 5-7 heavy pieces. That way you'll have the same worst case survival as with the shields, but you won't have to proactively do anything to stay alive, you can just use clanfear to recover from big hits.

This would also allow you to run support sets if you want.

I'm sure you could make this build work, but it's definitely not getting the most out of your char.

Vildebill

What is you tanking goal? In non DLC vet dungeons and lower you can tank in just about anything, but where tanking gear matter, like trials and vet DLC:s, your setup is not very optimal. Both pirate skeleton and armor master gives bonuses that's pretty useless for tanking. Pirate skeleton is overkill and proc based on cooldown, so it might proc whenever you don't need it the most. Armor master is good for when you want to use light armor and make up for the resistances you loose not wearing HA. Why do you want to wear light armor on this build? Heavy armor passives are fare superior on tanking in general. Ebon is good though. For jewelry enchants, use the block cost ones since that bonus is flat, thus not suffer from diminishing returns. In the next patch most people that aren't already doing it will put crusher on the staff instead of the 1h since enchantments get halved, and keeping the enchantment up with blockade.

If you want to be a somewhat useful tank in harder content, invest in sets that support your group. That will make the content faster and easier. Sets like Alkosh, Powerful Assault, and Akaviri Dragonguard does just that. Same goes with monster sets, Lord Warden is good since it helps your group's survivability, same goes for Thurvokun, and Bloodspawn helps you generate more ultimate for more warhorns.

Self shield tanking is not a big thing since it's not very optimal, tanks have high HP pools as it is, and the only thing you need to block will one shot you anyway if you don't. And I'd advise you to use a ranged taunt (Inner fire from undaunted) since the heavy attack from ice staff is slow.

Since you're pretty new to tanking, get your hands on some gear that helps your sustain and survive if you don't already have it, and start to learn just how to tank. When you're starting to feel comfortable, start switching survival and sustain sets to more supportive ones.

Bashev

Vildebill wrote: »

What is you tanking goal? In non DLC vet dungeons and lower you can tank in just about anything, but where tanking gear matter, like trials and vet DLC:s, your setup is not very optimal. Both pirate skeleton and armor master gives bonuses that's pretty useless for tanking. Pirate skeleton is overkill and proc based on cooldown, so it might proc whenever you don't need it the most. Armor master is good for when you want to use light armor and make up for the resistances you loose not wearing HA. Why do you want to wear light armor on this build? Heavy armor passives are fare superior on tanking in general. Ebon is good though. For jewelry enchants, use the block cost ones since that bonus is flat, thus not suffer from diminishing returns. In the next patch most people that aren't already doing it will put crusher on the staff instead of the 1h since enchantments get halved, and keeping the enchantment up with blockade.

If you want to be a somewhat useful tank in harder content, invest in sets that support your group. That will make the content faster and easier. Sets like Alkosh, Powerful Assault, and Akaviri Dragonguard does just that. Same goes with monster sets, Lord Warden is good since it helps your group's survivability, same goes for Thurvokun, and Bloodspawn helps you generate more ultimate for more warhorns.

Self shield tanking is not a big thing since it's not very optimal, tanks have high HP pools as it is, and the only thing you need to block will one shot you anyway if you don't. And I'd advise you to use a ranged taunt (Inner fire from undaunted) since the heavy attack from ice staff is slow.

Since you're pretty new to tanking, get your hands on some gear that helps your sustain and survive if you don't already have it, and start to learn just how to tank. When you're starting to feel comfortable, start switching survival and sustain sets to more supportive ones.

This is extremely wrong. My block cost now is 596 stamina and if I slot 3 block cost reduction enchants then my cost will be 389. Basically 66% from the cost reduction is waisted.

As I said my goal was vet DLCs and vet trials. I used to tank back in the days before 1 tamriel. Then I focused exclusively to PvP.

For the enchantment changes I will swap the enchants.

What is a good amount for HP with 50% resistance so I dont get one shot? Back in the days the most dangerous attacks were the ublockable one and now these shields could helm me there.

Vildebill

Bashev wrote: »

Vildebill wrote: »

What is you tanking goal? In non DLC vet dungeons and lower you can tank in just about anything, but where tanking gear matter, like trials and vet DLC:s, your setup is not very optimal. Both pirate skeleton and armor master gives bonuses that's pretty useless for tanking. Pirate skeleton is overkill and proc based on cooldown, so it might proc whenever you don't need it the most. Armor master is good for when you want to use light armor and make up for the resistances you loose not wearing HA. Why do you want to wear light armor on this build? Heavy armor passives are fare superior on tanking in general. Ebon is good though. For jewelry enchants, use the block cost ones since that bonus is flat, thus not suffer from diminishing returns. In the next patch most people that aren't already doing it will put crusher on the staff instead of the 1h since enchantments get halved, and keeping the enchantment up with blockade.

If you want to be a somewhat useful tank in harder content, invest in sets that support your group. That will make the content faster and easier. Sets like Alkosh, Powerful Assault, and Akaviri Dragonguard does just that. Same goes with monster sets, Lord Warden is good since it helps your group's survivability, same goes for Thurvokun, and Bloodspawn helps you generate more ultimate for more warhorns.

Self shield tanking is not a big thing since it's not very optimal, tanks have high HP pools as it is, and the only thing you need to block will one shot you anyway if you don't. And I'd advise you to use a ranged taunt (Inner fire from undaunted) since the heavy attack from ice staff is slow.

Since you're pretty new to tanking, get your hands on some gear that helps your sustain and survive if you don't already have it, and start to learn just how to tank. When you're starting to feel comfortable, start switching survival and sustain sets to more supportive ones.

This is extremely wrong. My block cost now is 596 stamina and if I slot 3 block cost reduction enchants then my cost will be 389. Basically 66% from the cost reduction is waisted.

As I said my goal was vet DLCs and vet trials. I used to tank back in the days before 1 tamriel. Then I focused exclusively to PvP.

For the enchantment changes I will swap the enchants.

What is a good amount for HP with 50% resistance so I dont get one shot? Back in the days the most dangerous attacks were the ublockable one and now these shields could helm me there.

Yeah and that is because those numbers are calculated before the percentages, not after. Like a lot of other stats. So no, I'm not "extremely wrong" : - P Shield play are great. Many tanks who run magica recovery use the magica for Igneous Shield to get back some stamina, but since you're gonna run with a sorc you won't have that option. You could use dark deal though.

Health depends on what you are comfortable with I guess. Most aim for 35k and higher.

josiahva

Bashev wrote: »

Thanks all for the inputs.

I dont like Ebon too much but I read that is is kind of mandatory for tanks.

Someone mention that I am lucking support sets, which ones are best for tanks? I can swap pirate skeleton for more supportive set.

Other comments were that when I am out of magicka I will be dead but I have 20k+ stamina pool. Then I can use block as traditional tanking. The block cost is 600 stamina.

Someone mentioned that pet debuff with minor maim, is this true? I didnt know that.

Missing range taunt - I can use ice destro heavy attack.

Dodging - if a fight needs a lot of dodging I can slot streak?

I can also change surge to silver leash when needed and change boundless storm to balance for more sustain and when I am in a real group and not in a PUG

@Woeler and @Alcast Guys, can you give some feedback?

P.S I want to use magicka tanking as this character is my PvP character and I dont want to change attributes all the time. I play non CP so CP points are not a problem. Morphs are not a problem too.

Dont listen to that garbage...Ebon is NOT mandatory for tanks...except in trials(and honestly, that's only because its expected, not because it outperforms other sets). The ONLY time I put on Ebon is if I am going into a trial, and its solely to make other people happy(its 5% health...if people are down to 5% health they are going to die 99% of the time anyway, so it only makes a difference 1% of the time...that is the fact of the matter).

For monster helms, your best 2 support sets are Bloodspawn(extra ult means more warhorns) and Lord Warden(makes everyone tankier. For main armor sets people like Ebon, Alkosh, Powerful Assault, etc(though there are many others that are useful).

Ranged taunt...Ice staff heavy works as long as its not urgent...but for an urgent ranged taunt you want inner fire.

You wont be dead if you run out of magicka if you have 20k stamina(always assuming you are on S&B bar, 20k stamina is sufficient for most fights except those few where perma-blocking is required(The Warrior in HRC comes to mind...or the scimitars in AA, etc) for those couple of fights you might want to swap between stam and magicka pools for blocking...learning when to bar swap to manage rss pools will be critical. This is assuming that you are blocking only when you need to and not perma-blocking...if perma-blocking you need a lot more that 20k.

Dodging..again, 20k is sufficient for dodging...I mean, I have no problem in vICP at 22k stam constantly dodge rolling the Flesh Atro and there arent any fights that require more dodge rolling than that...maybe The Inhibitor in vWGT just to help get away from her coldfire mode...still no problem(assuming the others are doing their job at least)

In the end though, for trials, dont use a shield tank unless you are off-tanking, it is just not optimal for the content. When tanking end game content you just have to have several different setups available depending on the content at hand(and sometimes its worth it to swap skills and gear for specific fights). You wont be able to just run one set of gear for everything...or rather, you can, but it wont be optimal.

Drummerx04

I started playing around with sorc tank, and have successfully tanked all vDLC HM dungeons multiple times (with no healer) and also main tanked Zmaj in vCR +3 (in a progression group). As such, I can probably give some reasonable advice and feedback.

I'm assuming you will mostly be tanking just vet DLC dungeons or trial progression groups that don't care too much about optimization.

Armor Master is pretty much garbage. If you want to tank in 5 light on a crafted set (light armor has some nice magicka cost reduction/recovery), just use Fortified Brass. The 5 piece resistance increase is the same and doesn't need you to slot harness. Use ebon if needed in a trial, but I like plague doctor if ebon isn't needed.

Use swarm mother to chain adds in dungeons.

I recommend 2 block cost jewelry, and mostly sturdy armor. This will allow you to block through most damage. Without the cost reduction your stam is gone in like 4 seconds.

My skill bars are:

• Front: Dark Deal, Puncture, Ball of Lightning, Clannfear, Empowered Ward (to buff group regen)
• Back: Low Slash (or Silver Leash), Inner Fire, Clannfear, Balance, Restraining Prison (Bound Aegis if nothing is rootable)

The main idea here is to use sorc strengths in tanking. Clannfear is an impressive heal (my record self heal in vCR is 37k burst), Encase is an amazing root, Dark Deal allows for really good stam management for tanks, ball of lightning has really solid utility. Balance is FAR better on tank than Boundless Storm. Same defensive buff, but also restores significant amounts of magicka instead of costing magicka.

Here's the bar setup in action in vCR +3 progression

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQzGEtJkiwI

Bashev

Another question, the 5.8% damage reduction from the lord warden's set is it really good?

TechnoDreamVision

josiahva wrote: »

Bashev wrote: »

I am planning to do some PvE and I didnt do anything more difficult in the last years as I play mainly PvP.
Here is the build that I plan to use:
https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Special:EsoBuildData?id=121377
What do you think? Is it viable? The goal is all DLC vet dungeons and probably vet trials.
My idea is to cast 2 shields (10k +12k) and block only heavy hits. I also can heal my self extremely well with the pet. Using heavy attacks for restoring stamina while I have the shields. Casting harness magicka after block will be 15% cheaper.
Power surge will be used for PUGs or vet dungeons without a healer.
Is 600 block cost ok or my stamina will be gone pretty fast?
Edit:
On the 1h shield bar i can slot as ulti Temporal Guard for 8% damage reduction and move on the second slot horn.

You wont be taken into trials as a sorc-tank. People will always prefer a DK tank for obvious reasons. As for a shield-tank build...they work just fine for most content(DKs are STILL better shield tanks than sorcs)...you certainly dont want or need Ebon on a shield tank though. I would say Ebon is fairly worthless for any content that is not trial level...vet DLC and below you are better off running Imperium...the huge shield for the group is much more likely to keep just 4 people alive. On My shield tank I use the following:

Chudan(This saves magicka so I dont have to constantly cast armor abilities and can instead spam igneous shield for the group more...might not be the best choice for Sorc though)
Plague Doctor(the higher the health, the bigger shields for the group are)
Imperium(The proc is especially nice when you are pinned down by Dranos in vCoS or chained down by that boss in FG2, etc since it procs when you cant do anything actively)
50k Health/22k Stamina/11k Magicka 1600 magicka regen/1600 stamina regen

I did not have a 5 pieces of Imperium for noobie Redguard DK tank. Any recommendations of set or sets I can use instead of it?

Psyonico

Bashev wrote: »

Another question, the 5.8% damage reduction from the lord warden's set is it really good?

Lord Warden is an awesome tanking set

paulsimonps

If you want to tank vet Trials with your sorc people are going to be expecting either Alkosh or Torugs or both, can't really get around that. Your set up has basically no group support other than your Ebon, non Torugs enchantments won't impress if that and ebon is all you got.

Wearing two selfish sets like Pirate Skeleton and Armor Master is all well and good in Dungeons but people are usually more demanding in Trials, and with good reasons, the tanks support means a lot when you have 8-9 DPS in the group. One thing you do have as a Sorc is Lightning, Shock Damage. Using boundless storm, lightning wall of elements and liquid lightning gives a good up time on Concussion and Off-balance while also giving out a unique synergy for the other tank, if there is one, for higher alkosh up times.

As well with the coming changes you want to make sure your Crusher enchantment is on your staff, cause they are nerfing one handed enchantments. A shock enchantment on your front bar for more shock damage is not a bad idea. I would also highly recommend Bound Aegis, during my testing with mitigation I have found that extra blocking mitigation stacks additive, which means that bound aegis is hella strong(especially when combined with Sword and Board passive and Absorb magicka).

Blocking and healing is preferable to damage shields in Trial content, as the bosses hits really fricking hard. Heavy armor for the resistance, health and other passive just helps so much more than adding a second shield with Light Armor, cause you have to either sacrifice a 5p set or have no resistance to speak off.

If you don't like Torugs or Alkosh or both then combing Ebon with Dragon would not be a bad idea as the lowered ulti costs combines really well with the Sorcs already low ultimate cost. Add vampires invigorating drain on that and you got yourself a really nice Warhorn up time.

Lastly don't forget how amazing Dark Deal is, great heal and sustain skill, as long as you learn to use it well.

I am interested to see what you will make of the feedback you are getting. But do remember that support is key to success as a tank, and sometimes to even be invited.