I want to try out tanking

Gulnagel · June 2018

Being a long time healer I'm curious on tanking, especially since i feel redundant in dungeons, now days if you play veteran content with 3 dps and 1 tank stuff actually gets easier if you have competent players. Anyways that's another discussion.

My question now is wich race and class are considered meta? I love min-maxing so I won't get locked out endgame. My thoughts go to argonian DK as a top contender but what about Warden?

dovakiin5574 · June 2018

Argonian is meta for tanks regardless of class.

However, if you are interested in knowing, you don't need to be meta to be a great tank.

See spoiler for details

I have a Redguard Nightblade tank and a Khajiit Templar tank that both effectively tank veteran trials. I've experimented with Dark Elf DK and it's viable, just not my cup of tea. Basically choose whatever race/class and make up for shortfalls by using different enchantments and gear. Even different monster sets can make a world of a difference.

witchdoctor · June 2018

Well, Woeler is the guru on tanking: https://woeler.eu/.

DK is still the 'meta,' although warden is close behind. Templars can tank, and NBs are super-fun to tank on.

Argonian and Imperial are both prime tank races. The potion passive on Argonians is top (so I hear, I don't like Argonians or Khajit as the tails annoy me).

Lightspeedflashb14_ESO · June 2018

Argonian dragonknight is meta, you are right on that, though anyrace can be a great tank, Woeler uses a khajit so. Wardens are a close second but they simply lack dks shear tankyness. I have used both in everything but vet trials, where I have only tanked with a dk.

BejaProphet · June 2018

You will only be locked out on account of what players demand, not by it actually being needed. But to be readily accepted by players you should choose either argonian or imperial. Both are well received. And DK. I think the time is quickly arriving where the warden is also warmly received, but you could still have some trouble on that for the time being.

But realize this is all player imposed. But the imposition is very real.

Mancombe_Nosehair · June 2018

I love to tank with my Argonian templar, as you can self heal and heal others easily with breath of life. I also tank with my sorcerer, but he is not as good.

Raraaku · June 2018

Argonian DK is meta due to Argonian's excellent sustain passive makes up for DK's lack of sustain. DK have a great toolbox for tanking, as well as a great group buff with Igneous Weapons. Since the changes with Summerset though, other classes now have access to a pull skill with fighter guild's Silver Leash.

In terms of strictly which race/class is best Meta? It's Argonian/DK combo. However, honestly you can be nearly just as effective tanking with other classes, Argonian is still "best" though thanks to passive. Literally tank's only need Ebon Armory set and Warhorn to be accepted. The only other advantage Dragonknight's really have is the Magma Shell ultimate... Which even then: Warden's have a great, cheap HoT ultimate; NB tanks have Bolstering Darkness, Templars have Empowering Sweep, and Sorcerers have Dark Deal + Spell Symmetry sustain combo.

Tanks are now pretty much viable across all classes for end game content.

profundidob16_ESO · June 2018

Gulnagel wrote: »

Being a long time healer I'm curious on tanking, especially since i feel redundant in dungeons, now days if you play veteran content with 3 dps and 1 tank stuff actually gets easier if you have competent players. Anyways that's another discussion.

My question now is wich race and class are considered meta? I love min-maxing so I won't get locked out endgame. My thoughts go to argonian DK as a top contender but what about Warden?

Argonian has the big advantage that you can hold your shield with your tail and still dualwield your opponent to death ! =P

Asardes · June 2018

Argonian: Resourceful passive is nice to have, but it matters much less than class choice; any race that has a health bonus can make a good tank. Sustain shouldn't be an issue for Warden and DK, since you have excellent sustain passives: Warden: Green Balance: Nature's Gift and DK:Earthen Heart: Helping Hands & Battle Roar, and also Psijic Order: Deep Thoughts skill will augment that if you time it right. DKs can use Mages Guild: Balance for supplemental magicka sustain, since stamina is not really an issue, and Spiked Armor & morphs doesn't give any group utility in the same way as Warden: Winter's Embrace: Ice Fortress does, so you can use Balance for Major Ward & Resolve as well. Other classes have a much harder time tanking, due to the lack of skills, mainly CCs and passives. IMO Templar is dead last and you would actually need a scaly one to make it work since you have no reliable way to recover stamina for holding block other than the racial passive - Restoring Light: Repentace requires bodies to work, and if you have a stamina Templar DD in your group you'll be "stealing" his sustain. There are plenty of tanking guides: Alcast, Woeler and especially Liofa have very good ones so I won't insist on those aspects here.

Nevasca · June 2018

Raraaku wrote: »

Argonian DK is meta due to Argonian's excellent sustain passive makes up for DK's lack of sustain.

What are you smoking? DK has the best sustain of all tanks. Tanking on DK is pretty much easy mode in terms of sustain when you compare to Templar or Nightblade. Nothing beats Helping Hands and Battle Roar. Helps a lot too that their chains don't cost stamina (Other classes have to use Silver Shard) and it is instant (Frozen Gate is not).

Argonian has the best passive to restore resources without dropping block, that's why he is meta. Not to mention it restores Magicka, Stamina and Health, and tanks uses all 3 of these atributes: Stamina to block, Magicka to Utility and Health is constantly droping so it will benefit from that. And while it is a extremely good passive for a tank, it can be done without it if you don't like being a scaly boy/girl.

As for OP:
In terms of BiS class, the order goes:
DK > Warden > Sorcerer >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Templar & NB.

DragonKnight: The best utility and sustain of all tanks. Their class was literally build for it, you can't go wrong with DK. They can run Engulfing Flames meaning you don't need to have MagDK in your group to have the buff, which is really useful. He does everything you want a tank to do better than the other classes.

Warden: Solid choice as well, being a close second. They have a lot of off-healing options which is really good for dungeons if you want to run 3 DDs. You can run Master Architect and spam Tree ult instead of using Alkosh. That would require a DPS in your raid group to run War Horn though, but I'd still prefer MA + Tree ult in Dungeons.

Sorcerer: Really underated tank imo, they are even better with the Summerset changes. They are still undeniable weaker than DK and Warden. Due to prejudice, you might not enter in someveteran groups, or people might not take your serious, or even worse, if they have 2 tanks avaiable, they will always take the other one instead of you, and etc, etc. This goes for all the classes below too.

Templar: Has nice off-healing as well. They make nice tanks for dungeons but they will struggle with sustain in harder content, even in vDLC dungeons. Can also use MA if you use Empowering Sweep, but the ult doesn't give group utility.

Nightblade: While they have off-healing too, it is rather weak when you compare to Templar and Warden. Their self-healing is really strong when you combine all the hots (Funnel, Refreshing Path, Dark Cloak). Nowadays you kinda "Sap Tank" with Dark Cloak, but without the resource return you had with Siphoning+Sap back in the day. They are really weak overall and don't provide much utility in raid enviroment as a tank when you compare to the top 3 classes. Can also use MA if they use Soul Harvest, but the ult doesn't give any group or self-oriented utility.

aeowulf · June 2018

Littlebluelizard wrote: »

Raraaku wrote: »

Argonian DK is meta due to Argonian's excellent sustain passive makes up for DK's lack of sustain.

What are you smoking? DK has the best sustain of all tanks. Tanking on DK is pretty much easy mode in terms of sustain when you compare to Templar or Nightblade. Nothing beats Helping Hands and Battle Roar. Helps a lot too that their chains don't cost stamina (Other classes have to use Silver Shard) and it is instant (Frozen Gate is not).

Argonian has the best passive to restore resources without dropping block, that's why he is meta. Not to mention it restores Magicka, Stamina and Health, and tanks uses all 3 of these atributes: Stamina to block, Magicka to Utility and Health is constantly droping so it will benefit from that. And while it is a extremely good passive for a tank, it can be done without it if you don't like being a scaly boy/girl.

As for OP:
In terms of BiS class, the order goes:
DK > Warden > Sorcerer >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Templar & NB.

DragonKnight: The best utility and sustain of all tanks. Their class was literally build for it, you can't go wrong with DK. They can run Engulfing Flames meaning you don't need to have MagDK in your group to have the buff, which is really useful. He does everything you want a tank to do better than the other classes.

Warden: Solid choice as well, being a close second. They have a lot of off-healing options which is really good for dungeons if you want to run 3 DDs. You can run Master Architect and spam Tree ult instead of using Alkosh. That would require a DPS in your raid group to run War Horn though, but I'd still prefer MA + Tree ult in Dungeons.

Sorcerer: Really underated tank imo, they are even better with the Summerset changes. They are still undeniable weaker than DK and Warden. Due to prejudice, you might not enter in someveteran groups, or people might not take your serious, or even worse, if they have 2 tanks avaiable, they will always take the other one instead of you, and etc, etc. This goes for all the classes below too.

Templar: Has nice off-healing as well. They make nice tanks for dungeons but they will struggle with sustain in harder content, even in vDLC dungeons. Can also use MA if you use Empowering Sweep, but the ult doesn't give group utility.

Nightblade: While they have off-healing too, it is rather weak when you compare to Templar and Warden. Their self-healing is really strong when you combine all the hots (Funnel, Refreshing Path, Dark Cloak). Nowadays you kinda "Sap Tank" with Dark Cloak, but without the resource return you had with Siphoning+Sap back in the day. They are really weak overall and don't provide much utility in raid enviroment as a tank when you compare to the top 3 classes. Can also use MA if they use Soul Harvest, but the ult doesn't give any group or self-oriented utility.

You read my mind, I was going to post almost exactly this. Battle Roar alone is nearly twice as good as leeching strikes as used by a typical NB tank.

The Elder Scrolls Online

I want to try out tanking

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