Viable second weapon set for Tank characters?

Maulclaw · October 2018

From what I've seen it seems all tank characters solely rely on sword/shield. I was wondering if any other weapons could be used as a second set? Or are both sets weapon/shield based?

VaranisArano · October 2018

What level of content are you aiming for?

For harder content, most run double 1H and Shield.

The other common second weapon is an Ice staff, for people who like magicka tanking.

Now, for normal dungeons you can run whatever you like. I've run bow, dual wield, ice staff, fire staff, and resto staff as my back bar weapon.

My leveling nightblade tank is using 1H&S and ice staff, and I like it quite a bit.

idk · October 2018

Ice staff is the only quasi bonafide tanking weapon. Zos retrofitted the weapon for tanking but it is not as strong as S&B nor does it offer as much utility as S&B provides major breach and Fracture and Slash is a more reliable source of Maim.

GreenHere · October 2018

Dual Wield will be a more attractive option, come next patch. Blade Cloak will give you some nice mitigation in situations with lots of aoe damage (which there are plenty of), and Blood Craze will allow you to keep up two back bar enchants pretty easily, while healing a bit too.

Assuming ZOS doesn't sneak in some last minute DW/enchantments nerf, which I would not put past them.

GreenHere · October 2018

Also, Lightning staves can be a decent option. You can help with Off-Balancing enemies, when you're in groups without dps taking care of that already. Elemental Blockade also can deliver good uptimes on back bar enchants. And if you're running content without a dedicated healer, you can also apply Ele Drain (again, if the DD aren't doing that for themselves).

phaneub17_ESO · October 2018

Being a casual all my tanks are magicka with one bar dedicated tanking and the other bar hybrid healing and/or damage. These setups are for normal dungeons, and possibly non-DLC veteran dungeons at best, not for trials or harder stuff.

Templar - Imperial
1H/Shield: Blazing Spear, Puncturing Sweep, Pierce Armor, Channeled Focus, Repentance, Empowering Sweep
Resto Staff: Structured Entropy, Reflective Light, Purifying Light, Ritual of Retribution, Ritual of Rebirth, Remembrance

Dragon Knight - Imperial
1H/Shield: Stone Giant, Flame Lash, Pierce Armor, Volatile Armor, Green Dragon Blood, Standard of Might
Fire Staff: Eruption, Engulfing Flame, Elemental Blockade, Cauterize, Draw Essence, Elemental Rage.

Nightblade - Argonian
1H/Shield: Swallow Soul, Debilitate, Pierce Armor, Mirage, Dark Cloak, Veil of Blades
Frost Staff: Sap Essence, Twisting Path, Elemental Blockade, Lotus Fan, Merciless Resolve, Soul Tether

Sorcerer - Orc
1H/Shield: Endless Fury, Haunting Curse, Pierce Armor, Boundless Storm, Twilight Matriarch, Suppression Field
Lightning Staff: Destructive Clench, Lightning Flood, Elemental Blockade, Empowering Ward, Twilight Matriarch, Elemental Rage

Warden - Norde
1H/Shield: Screaming Cliff Racer, Fetcher Infection, Pierce Armor, Ice Fortress, Enchanted Growth, Healing Thicket
Frost Staff: Winter's Revenge, Arctic Blast, Elemental Blockade, Blue Betty, Lotus Blossom, Northern Storm

Liofa · October 2018

Not at all. Most trial tanks use a Destro Staff on their back bar, sometimes Shock, sometimes Frost. Next patch I'll be using Dual Wield.

BejaProphet · October 2018

I think it should be noted that most knowledgeable trial tanks advocate double sword and board in the hard content until you become very comfortable with fights. Don’t start runnining lightning staff when you first dive into vet trials/dlc dungeons.

Tasear · October 2018

Depends what you want to do. Only things I don't see often are 2 hander and bow.

fred4 · October 2018

Watch Woeler's YouTube channel / his website. The reason to use the ice staff:

(a) You still have block mitigation on that bar, but typically don't use the passive that turns it into blocking with magicka.
(b) You put down Elemental Blockade, which will keep procing the off-bar enchant, even as you swap back to 1H+S.

You'd have to check on point (b), since this keeps changing each patch. The idea is to have an infused Crusher enchant on the front bar and an Infused Weakening enchant on the back bar, keeping the back bar enchant procked while Elemental Blockade is up.

Sinolai · October 2018

Maulclaw wrote: »

From what I've seen it seems all tank characters solely rely on sword/shield. I was wondering if any other weapons could be used as a second set? Or are both sets weapon/shield based?

Double sword+shield is probably the simplest choice with best protection for the tank. Ice Staff is common is also common (even when you dont have the passive that turns block cost to magicka). Ice Blockade is good maiming tool with snare and in some places you can slot crushing shock or eledrain if not provided by healer.

Also seen some lightning staves for blockade that gives vulnerability, but that gives reduced protection on back bar. Works in dungeons but wouldnt recommend it on vTrials. Unless you know exactly what you are doing.

AcadianPaladin · October 2018

I run double s&b on my dk. Whenever I try to run an ice staff on the back bar for blockade and the heavy attack ranged taunt it seems good in theory and does give me a bit of damage. But when things get challenging, I fight to stay alive, get frustrated and quickly go back to double s&b. Less dps but nearly unkillable.

Sparr0w · October 2018

Safer option: Double S&B
Safe Utility: S&B/Ice Staff (Slows, blockade procs enchant, can use ele drain/crushing shock)
Utility: S&B/Lightning Staff (Procs off balance, blockade procs enchant, can use ele drain/crushing shock)

Next patch running DW back bar will also make it onto that list, since you will be able to proc 2x enchants with rending, get a slight HoT and optionally run blade cloak for AoE mitigation.

Lightspeedflashb14_ESO · October 2018

Tasear wrote: »

Depends what you want to do. Only things I don't see often are 2 hander and bow.

2 hander has snare removel and long lasting hot. Bow has a AOE root.

Starlock · October 2018

Tasear wrote: »

Depends what you want to do. Only things I don't see often are 2 hander and bow.

My primary tank uses a 2-hander. Rally is his main heal over time, and the brawler damage shield is great sometimes (and will be even better next patch since it will inherit his high resistences). In trials most probably don’t notice his 2-hander though since he is usually on his 1h and shield bar.

jypcy · October 2018

Tasear wrote: »

Depends what you want to do. Only things I don't see often are 2 hander and bow.

Asylum 2h can be popular for ultigen and would be a reason to use 2h on a tank in addition to the benefits that others noted.

Bow has a passive for on demand major expedition and a ranged interrupt in addition to the benefits that others noted.

I’d say you’re right that they’re certainly less common choices than the other skill lines, but — to OP’s question— they’re viable.

Azurya · October 2018

nordic bath towel, for the real hard ones