DK Tank new character questions

Veinblood1965 · December 2018

I've never played a tank before just an FYI. Rolled a new DK toon have a couple of questions.

From researching I should use training trait for all gear correct? And use up until what level? Does this include rings and necklace? Weapons? I'm almost a master crafter in everything so making it isn't an issue.

I wouldn't think training on weapons would be good is it? If not what would be good for a newby tank?

What level can he start joining dungeon groups? I read CP ten is that correct?

This is my first alternate toon so any alt advise would be appreciated. I tried looking up newby dk tank guides but all I got was DK tank guides not newby stuff. If anyone has a link to one that would be nice.

csparks1 · December 2018

IDK that much about DKs, but in general on new toons use all training gear until you get to max cp unless you want to level them slower or do competitive BGs.

Put one of the max stats on jewelry, and yes use training on your weapons - you need those skill lines leveled up too.

I start doing Dungeon groups around level 8-10

If you don't normally make new toons, remember to get Undaunted, Mages guild, and Fighter's guild skill lines before you go and kill anything or do any quests if possible. Also if you plan on doing writs with them - go through the intro crafting quests right off the bat too.

Have fun!

Veinblood1965 · December 2018

csparks1 wrote: »

IDK that much about DKs, but in general on new toons use all training gear until you get to max cp unless you want to level them slower or do competitive BGs.

Put one of the max stats on jewelry, and yes use training on your weapons - you need those skill lines leveled up too.

I start doing Dungeon groups around level 8-10

If you don't normally make new toons, remember to get Undaunted, Mages guild, and Fighter's guild skill lines before you go and kill anything or do any quests if possible. Also if you plan on doing writs with them - go through the intro crafting quests right off the bat too.

Have fun!

Oh good idea about the undaunted, I didn't do that on my main toon until after level 50. No more writs though I've had enough of those!

What did you mean by max stats on jewelry? Like purple jewelry? Or a trait?

Also anyone know what enchantments to add while leveling? Stamina? As far as points when I level should I put those into Stamina or Health or both? I'd think Stamina but just a guess.

My mains have usually be healers or DPS so quite ignorant of tank stuff, I think I'll be good at it though and it looks fun.

Nestor · December 2018

You can join dungeon groups at L10. It's the GF that puts limits on you, but you can enter dungeons manually.

As for leveling a Tank, really, level them as a DPS, then Respec as a Tank. Keep a tank related skill in your flex slots so they get developed while your leveling. Of course the more Training traited items you have, the faster all this goes.

Yes, you can level as a tank, if you don't mind pugging dungeons all day long. Or really drawn out mob combat.

BejaProphet · December 2018

There is a link to my tanking guide in my signature for whatever it is worth to you. Good luck!

Tasear · December 2018

It's sad but best way to level as a tank is either as a dps or random groups. Still it is nice to have more tanks in world.

P.S
@Liofa (cough cough) maybe they will be willing to interject some advice too.

AcadianPaladin · December 2018

My main is a healer but I have leveled up a DK main tank - primarily so my healer can gain an appreciation of how to better support her tanks. I've quite enjoyed it and the DK makes an excellent choice for tanking.

The link that @BejaProphet provided is a superb resource.

Woeler also puts out great info on tanking such as this beginner guide: https://woeler.eu/eso-dragonknight-beginner-tank-build/

Good advice above about starting undaunted early. Daily undaunted delve quests are fast, easy and will gradually level undaunted. Even when you begin dungeons, Undaunted takes a long time to level up and you want the Undaunted top passives to boost your attributes. Related to this, wear a mix of all three armor types - 5 heavy, 1 medium and 1 light is ideal.

Though I don't dispute leveling a DK tank as a dps since main tanks are low damage and fights can last awhile, I leveled mine as a full main tank right from the tutorial and don't regret it since my whole purpose was to gain an appreciation for tanks.

The way I prepared my tank for dungeons was by starting with some basic world bosses that were solitary bosses and a couple other players around to help do damage. Practice holding the boss, reading and block/interrupt his mechanics as you hold him in basically one spot so he stays in the 'killing zone' of the area effect damage skills your dps put on the ground. Also, keep him turned away from your dps providers. Once you gain some comfort there, progress to some of the world bosses that are a pair of bosses and develop the ability to hold two in your face at once. That will get you the basics of 'keep the boss off your dps'.

Since I leveled up as a tank, I used every multiple foe trash fight as a chance to practice pulling in foes and holding them in a tight group around me.

Ideally, run your first few dungeons with friends who can work with you and give you feedback.

Joxer61 · December 2018

Woeler has a great guide for beginners.....oh snap, already posted so sweet! Yea, go there and also for some great builds, beginner on up
https://www.xynodegaming.com/almost-immortal-warrior
He has an "easy tank" one as well! have fun!!!

Protossyder · December 2018

How I leveled my tank:

Gear
- 7 purple training gear (5 h - 1 m - 1 l) + training/drop weapons + drop jewelry
Skills
- wear sword and shield to level its skill tree obviously
- always have 3 skills (of each class trees) on your bar(s) to level the skill lines equally
- 1 skill of Destruction staff (many tanks have a destro staff on their backbar)
- 1 flex spot (maybe 2h skill for pvp? or sword and shield skill to actually be a little useful ^^)
- on your backbar equip a destro staff and switch the destro skill for a snb skill
- Don't waste skill points on passives, level every important skill and unlock the morphs
Guilds
- don't forget to join all npc guilds
- become a vampire for the passives(there is almost no downside for a tank)
PvP
- you need the warhorn, so have fun in pvp

The downside of this leveling setup is that you are a pain in the a$$ to everybody and need to get carried since you can't use 2 of your skills on the bar while the other 3 are probably useless right now.
I would recommend running skyreach with a stamsorc partner and doing a random normal per day. The good thing is that you level everything equally and are well prepared.
For more skillpoints: tp randomly to friends and guild members to unlock wayshrines and gain some xp, it will be easier to get to the skyshards later

Thorstienn · December 2018

I have leveled 5 tanks over my playtime, and unlike common opinion, I have always done it as a tank, not a DD.
Step 1 is have a max level build idea in mind, so you know what skills to work towards, but also so you know how you want to allocate your Attributes.
Step 2 get the guild lines etc and go around doing as much overland content as you feel like till level 16 (scaling makes you strong enough even as a tank).
Step 3 (lvl16) Equip your new blue gear: all training, I do 5 Heavy Hundings, 1Light/1medium and weapons Deaths Wind. And start PuGing random dungeons!
You want to start dungeons ASAP so you get to experience them all in the "correct" order. If you lvl as DD then switch to tank, you may get thrown into the DLC deep end.
Finally, I'd say get new gear (always make it blue) around every 10 levels (the points where it costs 1 material) to be safe, or do what I do and go lvl: 3, 16, 36, 46, CP150/endgame.
Hope that helps and remember to have fun!

P.S. if you're PC NA, feel free to whisper me @Thorstienn in game and I'll dungeon with you: always enjoy anninsta queue on my DDs!

Veinblood1965 · December 2018

AcadianPaladin wrote: »

My main is a healer but I have leveled up a DK main tank - primarily so my healer can gain an appreciation of how to better support her tanks. I've quite enjoyed it and the DK makes an excellent choice for tanking.

The link that @BejaProphet provided is a superb resource.

Woeler also puts out great info on tanking such as this beginner guide: https://woeler.eu/eso-dragonknight-beginner-tank-build/

Good advice above about starting undaunted early. Daily undaunted delve quests are fast, easy and will gradually level undaunted. Even when you begin dungeons, Undaunted takes a long time to level up and you want the Undaunted top passives to boost your attributes. Related to this, wear a mix of all three armor types - 5 heavy, 1 medium and 1 light is ideal.

Though I don't dispute leveling a DK tank as a dps since main tanks are low damage and fights can last awhile, I leveled mine as a full main tank right from the tutorial and don't regret it since my whole purpose was to gain an appreciation for tanks.

The way I prepared my tank for dungeons was by starting with some basic world bosses that were solitary bosses and a couple other players around to help do damage. Practice holding the boss, reading and block/interrupt his mechanics as you hold him in basically one spot so he stays in the 'killing zone' of the area effect damage skills your dps put on the ground. Also, keep him turned away from your dps providers. Once you gain some comfort there, progress to some of the world bosses that are a pair of bosses and develop the ability to hold two in your face at once. That will get you the basics of 'keep the boss off your dps'.

Since I leveled up as a tank, I used every multiple foe trash fight as a chance to practice pulling in foes and holding them in a tight group around me.

Ideally, run your first few dungeons with friends who can work with you and give you feedback.

Great advise, I plan on running him from the start as a tank, that's how I've done my healers in other morphs.

Veinblood1965 · December 2018

BTW great advise everyone and appreciate it quite a bit.

Spartabunny08 · December 2018

Undaunted leveling, I found an interesting trick. I noticed once I had davons watch wayshrine after making a new character and I remembered from fungal grotto that the guy is there for undaunted. Sure enough if you talk to him at any level it will start the undaunted line and one can be leveling it while leveling everything else. I collect it as I collect mages and fighters guild. I also level all builds more like tank, 5 fortified brass, 4 adept rider and whatever set of jewelry at the dolmen to compliment build.

Tasear · December 2018

Imporant thing
Have a taunt
Resistances cap is 33k for physical and spell.
Make sure enemies point away from allies.
Don't die ...try to be last one standing
Don't let let allies die to one shots that you should of been taking.