How to tank?

santixd7 · July 2014

So before I started playing this game, I was a WoW - Player (already have been playing for a year and a half) but it got boring and started searching for new ones. Found this one, but what I cant understand is how to tank, if you can't know wich of your attacks provoke aggro and you can't also see how much of the enemy's aggro is on you. So my question is, is there an addon or something?
- Santi

pinstripesc · July 2014

There isn't really hate/threat as you know from most MMOs. Your only 2 tank/taunt skills are "Puncture" from Sword + Shield and "Inner Fire" from the Undaunted skill line. They are both 15 second taunts. You don't usually wanna hold aggro on every single mob, you just grab the big ones or majority - your group should be able to handle the rest on their own.

Otherwise, the only way to build aggro is through DPS (or healing), as far as I know.

traigusb14_ESO2 · July 2014

ESO doesn't have hate list/counts like other games.

Monsters have their own AI patterns and will split targets pretty much all the time (Some bosses have specials that operate at different ranges and will hit other people even if tank has aggro).

Tanks have no AOE taunts, and don't build up hate.

There are only 2 skills in game that lock aggro If I remember right. 1 in sword and shield melee range (uses STA )and 1 in Undaunted guild line (ranged uses Magicka). you it a mob and it locks on you for X seconds (if you spam it, taunt will actually break on 3rd hit).

So tanks tend to focus on the most dangerous mob (like bosses), or several in packs, but not all of them. In ESO is is important for DPS and Healers to protect themselves, have real decent HP totals and block etc.

Some bosses have PB AOEs that even the tank can't stand in, and it is your job to kite it around.

Packs of trash, you may be DPSing rater than tanking.

*** Blocking is your friend. Block all the time.
*** Your job will usually include interrupting boss interruptable specials, practice the double mouse button bash, or assign it to a key.
*** Don't stand in the red. Just like Tanks work differently in ESO, so do Healers. They usually can't "heal through" boss specials. You need to get out of them just like everyone else.
*** Pick your targets. After initial Pull or charge attack. Decide if you need to go after anything that wanders off. You may not. If you are holding 5/8 generic human baddies it should be fine.
*** Keep an eye on "good circles." Many buffs and heals are ground circle based (some of yours might be). Learn what they look like and try to stay in them if you can.

Honestly the best way to describe Tanks in ESO is hard to kill CC.

santixd7 · July 2014

traigusb14_ESO2 wrote: »

1 in Undaunted guild line (ranged uses Magicka). you it a mob and it locks on you for X seconds (if you spam it, taunt will actually break on 3rd hit)

Is that ability available for DKs and from what skill tree is it? (Weapon, armour etc)

PS: Thanks for the info helps me a lot

pinstripesc · July 2014

Inner Fire is in the Undaunted skill tree, which is a guild.

UPrime · July 2014

santixd7 wrote: »

traigusb14_ESO2 wrote: »

1 in Undaunted guild line (ranged uses Magicka). you it a mob and it locks on you for X seconds (if you spam it, taunt will actually break on 3rd hit)

Is that ability available for DKs and from what skill tree is it? (Weapon, armour etc)

PS: Thanks for the info helps me a lot

They're available to all classes since technically all classes can tank. Some are better then others at it. The Undaunted is a guild skill line that you level up by doing dungeons. Chances are though, you'll need to do a lot of dungeons before you have that taunt unlocked and will need to have the board/shield taunt well before then.