Perma-Blocking for a newbie?

GreenHere
GreenHere
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I've got a friend who wants to get into tanking in PvE and eventually PvP, but they have trouble knowing when to block or not. They don't know the animations and whatnot, and are getting flustered with too much going on in most fights. I'm no pro tank, only an occasional fill-in when I'm needed; I don't have any setups that rely heavily on block, nor do I know what route to take to get to perma-block status. Sturdy, Shadow Ward CP, Helping Hands (they're a Nord DK) and the cost reduction glyphs are all I know to suggest, but they're still being drained of Stamina. I don't know what else to tell them at this point.

Help us out, forum! We're looking for something that can keep blocking 100% of the time no matter what, if possible. Group utility, self-healing, and pretty much everything else are thrown out the window for the moment; my friend just needs a build where they can sit still and stare at enemies to learn which animations are which. The only thing they'll be doing (hopefully) is blocking, blocking, taunting, and blocking. Bonus points if they can keep themselves alive without a constant stream of heals, but not a must at all. I'm asking for more of a learner build than anything else.


Please help me help them help you out. :P
We need more good tanks, and they want to learn.

Best Answer

  • ZeroXFF
    ZeroXFF
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    I'll copy paste what I wrote on the same topic in a different thread...

    If you want to permablock, here is how you do it:
    1. Argonian.
    2. DK.
    3. 8p sturdy gear (all armor+shield).
    4. At least 2 shield play enchants on jewelry (optionally make it infused for even more effect).
    5. Keep spamming Igneous Shield whenever you have the magicka for it.
    6. Atronach mundus stone for more Igneous Shield spam.
    7. Pop stamina or 3-stat potions whenever you are missing more than 10k stam.
    8. Only refresh puncture and low slash when they are about to run out.
    9. Put Defensive Posture on your bar (just leave it there for the passives, you don't need to press it).

    This is usually more than enough, but if it isn't for you (for example if you're not an Argonian or a DK), here are some more options:
    10. Use the 1hs ulti and do 2-3 heavy attacks while it lasts without dropping block.
    11. Use Akaviri Dragonguard set for more magicka regen (=more Igneous Shields) and ulti cost reduction (=more 1hs ultis).
    12. Use Blood Spawn monster set for more ulti (=more regen from DK passives and more frequent 1hs ulti availability) or Sentinel of Rkugamz for what's pretty much flat stam regen while blocking.
    13. Use stamina drain enchant on your weapons.

    Overkill, but also very effective if you still don't have enough:
    14. Use Hide of the Werewolf set on jewelry and weapons for even more ulti regen or Trappings of Invigoration for flat 9k stamina return when you use a skill while at low stam.

    Nightblade specific:
    15. Use the best stam regen proc set in the game, Hunt Leader, on jewelry/weapons and use shade for proccing this set and applying minor maim (consider dropping Low Slash from your rotation, unless you need the ulti).

    There you go. If you take all 14 options, you won't be asking "how do I permablock", but "what can I do with all this stamina". There are a couple other options (for example you could go with more magicka regen on monster sets, or go with Engine Guardian, or use a set that applies minor maim so that you can drop Low Slash from your rotation, or Chudan to save magicka you would otherwise use to refresh the resist buffs, and can instead use on Igneous Shield), but they would be more alternatives depending on playstyle than actual improvements.
    Answer ✓
  • BejaProphet
    BejaProphet
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    Cheap block comes from jewelry glyphs, sturdy traits, green champion points, infused traits in jewelry when using shieldplay glyphs, passives in one hand and shield line, absorb magicka. Stack enough and you can perma block.

    But I suggest to you that perma-blocking is a bad goal. I explain why in my guide.
  • eso_nya
    eso_nya
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    Hunt worldbosses with him. most of them shouldnt oneshot him if he fails to block specials, but will teach him "should have blocked that one". their mechanics have better to see visual clues, cause they dont fill the area with several layers of red circles. should give him an easier time to learn which attacks to interupt, dodge or block. u will find most of their attack patterns on dungeon bosses aswell.
  • Namarkas
    Namarkas
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    If you want to achieve perma blocking for your buddy so he can watch and learn, another thing you could stack on top of that is playing the healer and guarding him, as long as he doesn't have 3x your health it should be fine.
  • NBrookus
    NBrookus
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    Couple of options:
    1) Since he's a DK, you could put him in an ult gen build, with sets like Dragonguard and/or WW Hide, to get stam back that way. You do have to drop block to cast an ult tho.
    2) If he has level 50 in H&S, have him use that ult and while it's up, regen stam with heavy attacks.
    3) Remind him that as a DK, he can convert extra magicka into a bit of stam, for example, by using Igneous Shield.
    4) Make sure he is using potions on cooldown.
  • GreenHere
    GreenHere
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    Thank you to all who contributed! It's much appreciated, really. Special thanks to @ZeroXFF for the detailed, thorough, and concise list; we'll be working through that going forward. Very helpful.

    Friend's question: Is this how those people with unreal survivability in Vivec (Cyrodiil) just stand there while 20 people beat on them? They don't need line of sight or anything because they just block forever?
    Edited by GreenHere on October 14, 2018 10:08PM
  • GreenHere
    GreenHere
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    NBrookus wrote: »
    Couple of options:
    1) Since he's a DK, you could put him in an ult gen build, with sets like Dragonguard and/or WW Hide, to get stam back that way. You do have to drop block to cast an ult tho.
    2) If he has level 50 in H&S, have him use that ult and while it's up, regen stam with heavy attacks.
    3) Remind him that as a DK, he can convert extra magicka into a bit of stam, for example, by using Igneous Shield.
    4) Make sure he is using potions on cooldown.

    Thank you, all good points!
  • GreenHere
    GreenHere
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    Cheap block comes from jewelry glyphs, sturdy traits, green champion points, infused traits in jewelry when using shieldplay glyphs, passives in one hand and shield line, absorb magicka. Stack enough and you can perma block.

    But I suggest to you that perma-blocking is a bad goal. I explain why in my guide.

    Thanks for pointing me to your guide, @BejaProphet. I had not run across it before. There is a LOT of good info in there! It's clear you're knowledgeable and passionate about tanking and helping others. Kudos to you :)
    Edited by GreenHere on October 14, 2018 10:07PM
  • NBrookus
    NBrookus
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    GreenHere wrote: »
    Thank you to all who contributed! It's much appreciated, really. Special thanks to @ZeroXFF for the detailed, thorough, and concise list; we'll be working through that going forward. Very helpful.

    Friend's question: Is this how those people with unreal survivability in Vivec (Cyrodiil) just stand there while 20 people beat on them? They don't need line of sight or anything because they just block forever?

    They don't block forever, just feels like it when you are fighting them :neutral: . The few true tanks that are DKs are typically Argonian DKs and use the S&B ult to regen stam. Then there are warden tanks and high health NB tanks, but both classes have different mechanics.

    PVP tanks have to mitigate a lot of different kinds of damage (pen, crit, defiles, unblockable/undodgeable ccs, etc.), so it's a different approach than PVE tanking.
  • evoniee
    evoniee
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    search FukCal51 on youtube, it might inspire you
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