Looks like you're a Dk. So my suggestion is start off with an aoe like you have been. Use your taunt on the big hitter, and talons the mobs. Then chain the ranged guys in. This is generally an ok strategy, but can change depending on the fight. Some adds you just have to let go in lieu of the big bad.

I use Chains to pull in the adds. You don't need all of them. Just the harder hitting ones. On some trials, there is a definite pecking order. I use the Chain Morph that refunds cost if it does not work.

Also, only apply your taunt about every 8 seconds, so as to not use up your resource pool.

https://eso-skillbook.com/

The hardest part of tanking is slowing your roll. Only applying skills as they run out. Turning on the Buff Indicators can really help. However it is a measured methodical application of skills and techniques that wins here. Not a spastic spam of the skills.

1. Block only when you need to, not all the time.
2. Apply taunts, buffs and debuffs only as they are going to run out, no need to stack them.
3. Heavy attacks return resources, so if you need something to do, do HAs.
4. Get the rythym down right, you can hold aggro on a Vet boss, deal with adds, stay alive and never run out of resources.

Of course it helps to have a Healer who knows what they are doing, and DPS that will let the Tank do their job.

Only thing that hasn’t been said is as a DK I liked rooting the mobs around me and hitting them with that minor main.

zvavi wrote: »

BackLotBasher wrote: »

But there always seems to be a slew of little ads running around, and I feel like I'm trying to herd cats.

That's the dds fault for not kiting add properly into the stack, ypur job as the tank is to get heavy hitters and if u have time to round up the adds dds cant. Therefore, chain archers/mages. If the melee adds running after 1 dd at the other side of the map, i assure you, the dd is not supposed to run at the other side of the map.

PvE basics, yup. Kite it over the aoe stack and it’ll get peeled.

Don't waste resources on taunting everything. Chain all the mobs you can then use Talons to keep them in one place, DDs AoEs will do the rest. As for prioritizing that need to be learned - just pick heavy hitters and make them angry, chain&talon the rest. Non-boss mobs that can't be chained is usually a good indicator that 'it can hit badly'.
Also do not spam taunt on single thing. That can make them overtaunt and become immune to taunting for couple of seconds.

Puncture and Inner Fire are your only options to hold agro.

To start agro, you have to aoe the mobs first. Eventually the dps will get that agro, but that is their problem.

Your problem is to agro the big bads or the heavies (such as Ogrims). The little adds are up to the individual to handle.

BackLotBasher wrote: »

I'm really new to playing this role (usually play a healer), but I have a Nord DK tank that I'm using to try to understand some basics of playing one (CP is around 300). I have a front bar with One Hand and Shield, using Puncture and Heroic Slash, plus Absorb Missile and Igneous Shield (dragon blood for extra healing). Magma Armor is the Ult. This part I get. Hit big bad dude with Puncture to *** him off, then tank his aggression.

But there always seems to be a slew of little ads running around, and I feel like I'm trying to herd cats. Is there something I should be doing to get the majority of the crowd reeled in? Should I be using other ranged taunts (rather than trying to run and puncture them)? I have Inner Fire, but I'm never sure if it's my job to worry about distant ranged enemies, or let the DD players take care of them. I've used Elemental Blockade with a lightning staff to open fights on a crowd, but it seems like there are always a few rogues that don't seem to focus on me.

Any tips?

Good questions.

Your key taunts are Puncture from the Sword & Shield line (melee taunt), Inner Fire from the Undaunted line (ranged taunt), and a heavy attack from a Frost staff also taunts (ranged).

Your primary function in general, is to taunt any boss and any large hard hitting adds, and maintain this 100%. There are variations to deal with mechs and tactics in certain content, but thats your main role. Taunt and dont die.

Now, the issue you raise is often referred to as an "add pull". As in pulling all the additional enemies, the little ones, into as small an area as possible, therefore greatly increasing the combined damage of the dps in the group. This is one of the secondary jobs of the tank, but is still very important.

You can do this in a number of ways and will need to learn what works in what content. One of the most fundamental, easy and efficient ways this is achieved is for a group to allow the tank to engage the enemy several seconds before they join, all enemies will automatically attack the tank as they enter the fray, (tank can lay down their aoes and fire ranged damage at as many enemies as possible to help), all melee adds will close in on the tank, during this opening few seconds the bosses and large adds should be taunted, and the tank should then use skills like Silver bolts or the DK chains, or the Warden Frozen gate, to pull as many ranged adds to them as possible.

This process takes practice and skill to do efficiently. The goal is to pool the enemies together, not taunt them all, it can be fund to taunt everything and I do so often depending on the content, but no one expects you to do so.

As a rule of thumb, if it's a single small add or if it's half dead, and it gets away I just let the dps handle it. The way I see it, as a tank, my job is to handle to big picture of the fight. While tanking, I want to (and should) control every mob, sometimes one of the low priority mobs gets away. If your dps isn't potatoes they will burn it or cc it.

Nestor wrote: »

Its not just holding Taunt, its how and where you do it.

4. Bash them when they are winding up a magic attack or Heavy to stun them

I wish more players would remember to interrupt. Communication is amazing to arrange for this though. But it would be nice if we didn't have to ask people to pay attention.