Tank Build

Layla_Dawn

So I keep hearing about several different tank builds, but I cant seem to really find any solid builds ( IE - build calculators ) so that I can take a look at them.

I heard about sorcerer tanking builds, one was a kiting tank build and another more of a sword and board "traditional" build.

The other I heard about was a light armor 5/2 ( heavy armor ) with staff tanking build for a DK, supposedly an AoE tanky build. This one seemed appealing to me.

I was wondering if anyone has used a build similar to any of these? If so, how did it work, has it been tried and tested?

I would like to build a tank, but traditional tanking bores me and yes I know that the games tanking role isnt traditional in the sense of other MMO's but hopefully you get my point.

Any help and maybe a link to a build would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Cogo

Hi there.

Before I even started early access and I did not try beta (even if I had a key), I have decided to be a tank. The type of tank who is a big freaking brick wall. Slow, can't do damage for ***, but simply do not die!

My focus was quite conservative. First...I ONLY use skillpoints on TANKING. Fek soloing. I choose Orc and Dragonknight.

I focused on Heavy armor, one hand and shield, Orc racial skills and the Draconic Power tree ONLY. I know there are some very good mixes you can do between the 3 skill trees, but this is how I made mine.

I learned in my dungeon groups that the AE root ability in Draconic Power is a must for a tank. Don't think of the damage, but being able to ROOT mobs, so they cant attack your group is very powerful.

Also, and this is VERY specific to every player, I found that the shield charge + morphed into longer stun, is VERY effective. I can keep aggro on my main target (The hardest mob), charge and stun mobs who are about to do something bad!

During my levels, I noticed that my stamina is my life blood. Everyone knows that stamina is the cost for some abilities. Like the taunt. BUT, stamina is most critical for blocking. Even if you block with a shield and you have low to 0 stamina left.....you get hit HARD. Also the charge costs a little stamina.

SO! I keep 2 armor pieces as MEDIUM, for the stamina regen, and it does VERY well. Much worth the lack in armor.

I am building myself to be a group/Raid MAIN tank! The stupid sod that stands in front of everyone and calls the 50 meter dragon for "wuzz", then attacks! That's me!

My skills goes SOLO into defense, HP/stamina regen, passive abilities that helps tanking. Everything from adding defense for carrying x amount of armor pieces to a self heal. And of course the passive abilities that all healing recieves is increased by 12%. (Look at all your skills and see what you think suits you)

Why am I not putting any skillpoints in 1-2 damage abilities? Because those 2 skillpoints steals from my TANKING ability. You cant have the cake and eat it too!

Without boasting to much, I am a pretty DAMN good SLOW solid tank.

However, there are 3 main negative sides to my build.

1. Solo. Sure, I woun't die very fast, but up towards Lvl 15+, I am having problems killing stuff. I recently started to use a bow as second weapon (With 0 skills in it) and the damn bow does better damage then sword and shield, heh.

Solo/Exploring/questing gets MUCH harder with my build. Only other build I could see have simular problem is a PURE healer. (No offensive spells...just healing).

2. More abilities to use and change depending on your encounter. When you focus to be the best in a few abilities, you will be. BUT, you lack the options to change depending on your situation.

3. PvP. Elderscrolls is not a game where everyone can do everything. You choice your destiny. Mine is to take damage. In PvP, I am more or less useless. Even the "Immobilize" skill does NOT protect me against masses of arrows/fireballs aimed at me. Nor should it.

This is my build, and the reasons why I choose what I did. There are lots of different ways to build. Hell, you can even be a nightblade and tank with the correct abilties/spells if that is your sort of thing.

Final word, why I choose a big fat brick wall as tank: Try to hurt me and you will fail. I trust my team to do the hurting for me!

Hope this was helpful to you regarding the Heavy slow tank build.

Layla_Dawn

I do appreciate you taking the time to post your build!

Although, this seems more of the traditional, as you put it, brick wall tank build. I would rather steer clear of this if at all possible. However, if I cant find another tanking build that I do like, Ill give this one a try, thanks!

Stautmeister

For dks, there is the
Ransack
Innerbeast
Absorb magick
Burning talons
Green dragonblood
Magma shell

Solid tanking build in dungeons. And i think pretty good awesome for bossfights as well.

There are also some weird sorcs dps tank builds that use aoe dmg combined with light armor and their armor buff. They also use a healing staff to get healer aggro.

With inner beast being a range taunt you can get really creative with doding. Just be sure to have your armor maxed through a skill.
I think you can even archer tank if your skilled enough.