Should I be using earthen hearts skills as a DK?

Brrrofski · July 2015

I got the game on xbox one, and like any es game I didn't look online at anything. Just set about learning things for myself. I'm vet rank 2 and put most my attributes into health and stamina. As far as class abilities, from draconic I use volatile armor, green dragon blood, burning talons and ferocious leap,

For ardent flame I only use empowering chains. Should I be using more?

Should I be use earthen heart skills? I kinda like going towards tank, but want balance it with distribution too. Have I invested too little in magica (9 in comparison to the 14 stamina) to use more earthen heart and ardent flame skill?

Brrrofski · July 2015

balance with dps*

Stupid autocorrect!

Cuyler · July 2015

HERE is the build I use.

Edit: note that like 95% of the content in this game has been nerfed and doesn't even need a tank anymore. A DK can get by tanking with just obsidian shield, GDB, spiked armor and some decent gear in most of these situations.

Myimm · July 2015

You could definitely get by with just the 9 magicka points if you set your gear up correctly.
It really all depends on what you want to DO with your tank. Whether you want to be a really heavy defensive tank or to also get some offense in.
Just my two cents, it makes sense to at least have as many of your abilities leveled as possible. Until you get to end game, you aren't really sure WHAT abilities you would most like to use.
Plus they change the abilities and what they do really often.

Brrrofski · July 2015

Battle roar seems like a good passive to have so have been thinking bout ranking earthen heart up for it. Might swap out my chains on pve and try some eh ones. Keeping chains for pvp, nothing like dragging back a struggling enemy desperate to get away.

MangoSsk · July 2015

Brrrofski wrote: »

Battle roar seems like a good passive to have so have been thinking bout ranking earthen heart up for it. Might swap out my chains on pve and try some eh ones. Keeping chains for pvp, nothing like dragging back a struggling enemy desperate to get away.

Heres my loadout

Spiked Armor (Deals Area Damage On Activation) AoE that activates DoTs and aggros more Or Hardened Armor (Testing)
Inner Fire (Most Effective For Aggro) With Uses Stamina Morph Undaunted Skill Line Or Fiery Grip (Uses Magika)
Draconic Blood (Coagulating Blood) Healers have easier time healing you and you can heal better as well
L1 - Anything you want
Bone Shield (Absorbs Damage & Your Allies Damage)
Dragon Leap (Ferocious Leap) Gives you a shield everytime you perform its good when your health is low or when boss is about to perform its specials.

MangoSsk · July 2015

Brrrofski wrote: »

I got the game on xbox one, and like any es game I didn't look online at anything. Just set about learning things for myself. I'm vet rank 2 and put most my attributes into health and stamina. As far as class abilities, from draconic I use volatile armor, green dragon blood, burning talons and ferocious leap,

For ardent flame I only use empowering chains. Should I be using more?

Should I be use earthen heart skills? I kinda like going towards tank, but want balance it with distribution too. Have I invested too little in magica (9 in comparison to the 14 stamina) to use more earthen heart and ardent flame skill?

That obsidian shield looks really nice though which is the only thing I would choose from Earth

Kloud · July 2015

ING shield is one of the best skills in the game imo

Brrrofski · July 2015

Thanks guys, think I'll give it a trial for a bit. Need to cook me up some magica increasing food first though!

MangoSsk · July 2015

Brrrofski wrote: »

Thanks guys, think I'll give it a trial for a bit. Need to cook me up some magica increasing food first though!

As a tank you won't need magika food you will need max health there are a couple hidden passive skills that will earn your magika back I would assign your potions to Magika and just use it when you need it.

20 Health Points
20 Magika
12 Stamina

My max health is like 23,000
Hidden Skill: Earth Passive gains health, magika, stamina with ultimate.

MangoSsk · July 2015

Brrrofski wrote: »

Thanks guys, think I'll give it a trial for a bit. Need to cook me up some magica increasing food first though!

But thats my opinion I forgot you can tailor your own character to your liking

Dagoth_Rac · July 2015

As a melee DPS, DK Tanks that use Chains are amazing! Just pull those archers and casters in and let me melee them to death. Even if you are ranged DPS, pulling all the ranged enemies in makes it easier to DPS multiple enemies at once. So I would highly recommend Chains for a DK tank. It is not obviously beneficial from a tanking point if view, but your DPS will appreciate it!

Brrrofski · July 2015

I want to balance tank with dps though. So need enough magica to spam healing/armor spells and also those damage ones

Teiji · July 2015

You definitely want all your class trees levelled, Earthen Heart is cool with the abilities being very helpful with the aoe shield being essential if you're to dabble in the joyous act of Dragonknight healing.

The shield has a morph which increases healing done by 33%. Petrify penetrates block, making it reliable for pvp.

Brrrofski · July 2015

I use dual weild and bow (both rank 50) hence me putting a lot into stamina. Lethal arrow, rapid strikes and silver bolt ( knocking down 3 daedra/undead, giving you breathing room while soloing dolmens is so useful) are on my bar so need stamina for them

asteldian · July 2015

Brrrofski wrote: »

I want to balance tank with dps though. So need enough magica to spam healing/armor spells and also those damage ones

Easiest way to balance dps and tank is to focus magicka and spam lava whip.
You should really be leveling all your skill lines to 50 and also all skills to morph stage. You will find many skills are useful in different situations, also you are doing yourself a disservice not having all class passives.

Teiji · July 2015

asteldian wrote: »

Brrrofski wrote: »

I want to balance tank with dps though. So need enough magica to spam healing/armor spells and also those damage ones

Easiest way to balance dps and tank is to focus magicka and spam lava whip.
You should really be leveling all your skill lines to 50 and also all skills to morph stage. You will find many skills are useful in different situations, also you are doing yourself a disservice not having all class passives.

It's really essential to have all your class passives, they're passives, they do stuff just by having a skill point place into them - this is glorious!

You want those passives if you want your character to be as strong as possible; a disservice it is otherwise just as asteldian has foretold.

Please get all your class passives.

Merlin13KAGL · July 2015

Is there any class where you use nothing at all from one of the class skill lines?

Perhaps a rephrase of your thread title would help.

Brrrofski · July 2015

Ite, i'll start using it then. Pump points into passive. Obsidian shield and battle roar are two skills which do interest me definitely

Brrrofski · July 2015

Not sure what's wrong with the title... Thread seems to be working well to me

MangoSsk · July 2015

Brrrofski wrote: »

Not sure what's wrong with the title... Thread seems to be working well to me

Imperial/Nord/Race Passives
Heavy Armor Passives
Undaunted Passives
Earthen Passives
Main Weapon Passives
Enchantments (Max Health/Magika)
etc.

Brrrofski · July 2015

I use all the passives in relevant lines though...

BBSooner · July 2015

The leveling process is so mind numbing you should really make use of the focus on experience gain to level all your skill lines. If you prefer a certain battle load out, set a skill from each of your skill lines you need to level on your second weapon. Swap to that weapon when you turn in quests and all quest experience will be added to each skill line slotted on that quickbar - in addition to the weapon skill line that you have equipped.

In short, while leveling, make an effort to level everything, even if it's only by swapping to those skills when you turn in quests.