Magsorc Tank (Heavy armor Ice/Resto Sorc)

dazee · March 2020

Looking for those true experts of the game who know all the mechanics and why's and how's to help me make my dream of finding fun in tanking in ESO come true.

I am looking to build a Magsorc staff tank who can achieve tanking of most vet dungeons (trials not required). I have heard of this being a thing, so I ask all the wizards, literal and figurative, to give me advice in how such a build can be achieved.

Icy_Waffles · March 2020

You’re plan for major fracture with an ice staff as a sorc is....?

Otherwise... most will want to pass unfortunately. Also heavy attacking for taunt is not always possible due to mechanics.

LegendaryOaks · March 2020

Sets: Plague Doctor, Desert Rose, Lord Warden/Grothdaar, use 6 heavy 1 light or 5 heavy 2 light, spell damage glyphs, backbar should be infused with a berserker glyph, front bar should be infused with absorb stamina glyph or crusher glyph

Race: Dunmer/Breton

Food: Tri-Stat

Potions: Trash Essence of Stamina or Tri-Pots

Attributes: all points into magicka but take as many as you need out to put into health as you need at least 35k health

Skills:
Bar One (shield/1h)
1. Pierce Armor
2. Silver Leach/Inner Fire
3. Dark Conversion
4. Mystic Orb
5. Unstable Clannfear/Twilight Matriarch (Whatever one you prefer)
6. Warhorn
Bar Two (Lighting Staff)
1. Lighting Flood
2. Wall of Elements
3. Critical Surge
4. Boundless Storm
5. Unstable Clannfear/Twilight Matriarch (Whatever one you prefer)
6. Destro Ult

This you have decent AOE damage with good tanking ability and it uses the key sorcerer abilities, its sort of like a battlemage. The sets here are very cheap and can be bought from a guild store so its not too much of an investment to try it out, assuming you already have a sorcerer.

FrancisCrawford · March 2020

Icy_Waffles wrote: »

You’re plan for major fracture with an ice staff as a sorc is....?

Group with a stamden or necro?

FrancisCrawford · March 2020

dazee wrote: »

Looking for those true experts of the game who know all the mechanics and why's and how's to help me make my dream of finding fun in tanking in ESO come true.

I am looking to build a Magsorc staff tank who can achieve tanking of most vet dungeons (trials not required). I have heard of this being a thing, so I ask all the wizards, literal and figurative, to give me advice in how such a build can be achieved.

Are you also hoping to fill the healing role?

dazee · March 2020

I actually decided in the end to go mag necro for this staff tank, since I do like the class and necro just has way more good tanking skills.

zvavi · March 2020

dazee wrote: »

I actually decided in the end to go mag necro for this staff tank, since I do like the class and necro just has way more good tanking skills.

:Cries in sorc:

Dracane · March 2020

It does work. I am playing a full magic sorcerer tank since years. I use ice and lightning staff.
I do not like restoration staves on any of my builds other than as a healer, but the choice is yours.

Frost staff has the benefit of giving you a free taunt, that also gives you sustain. We all know, spamming a taunt is very cost intensive. However, in some content the 2s channel time of it is a true nuisance. Especially since heavy attacks often fly wherever they want, instead of where you are pointing.

So when I must tank no deaths or things like that, I unfortunately still am forced to use an extra taunt; deleting the main selling point of ice staves. They would have to allow medium heavy attacks to taunt as well, not only fully charged ones.
I have tanked all veteran trials and dungeons with this. Although I am certain I am using a vastly different build than any other tank out there.

Sorcerer is still not well suited for tanking I am afraid. It is very niche and once you look deeper into it, you will just envy dragonknights. So much better for tanking and also much better for dps. So if you want to play Sorcerer tank, you are a rebel and most people will mock you.

Dracane · March 2020

Icy_Waffles wrote: »

You’re plan for major fracture with an ice staff as a sorc is....?

Otherwise... most will want to pass unfortunately. Also heavy attacking for taunt is not always possible due to mechanics.

Also a point to consider. Your access to debuffs is utterly terrible. Sorcerer can shine when it comes to keeping up aoe concussion on enemies with this setup. But other than that...? You are basically bound to have magicka DDs with you, for you offer nothing for stamina DDs. But your healer can supply elemental drain for your DDs.

I think Sorcerer only works as a selfish tank and when you go for it, you can supply enough of dps and utility to make up for it. But people will not consider the total group dps, only their own dps chart. They are all fools, but that is how humans work.

zvavi · March 2020

For all those who cry for major fracture, caltrops.
For all those who cry for breach, eledrain.
For all those who cry double barred pet, i cry too.
For all those who cry no use for stamina pool, bone shield + silver leash+ dodge.

Tbh i dont see a reason to put resto staff for sorc tank power surge + altar + orbs do the job. (PvE)

Dracane · March 2020

zvavi wrote: »

For all those who cry for major fracture, caltrops.
For all those who cry for breach, eledrain.
For all those who cry double barred pet, i cry too.
For all those who cry no use for stamina pool, bone shield + silver leash+ dodge.

Tbh i dont see a reason to put resto staff for sorc tank power surge + altar + orbs do the job.

You would have to be an Altmer if you want to sustain caltrops+bone shield+leash and then the essentials like break and dodge on a magicka tank. Even then, it is hard. It is not that easy in practice as it may sound. Remember, you have no sword and shield to leech stamina.

zvavi · March 2020

Dracane wrote: »

zvavi wrote: »

For all those who cry for major fracture, caltrops.
For all those who cry for breach, eledrain.
For all those who cry double barred pet, i cry too.
For all those who cry no use for stamina pool, bone shield + silver leash+ dodge.

Tbh i dont see a reason to put resto staff for sorc tank power surge + altar + orbs do the job.

You would have to be an Altmer if you want to sustain caltrops+bone shield+leash and then the essentials like break and dodge on a magicka tank. Even then, it is hard. It is not that easy in practice as it may sound. Remember, you have no sword and shield to leech stamina.

I have experience doing on nb tank tyvm, he got moongrave challenger with pugs. and on sorc since you do have burst heal, you can always drop bone surge. Is a nord. Also unlike s/b tanking where you get tons of mag regen, on mag tanking u need tons of stam regen.

dazee · March 2020

zvavi wrote: »

dazee wrote: »

I actually decided in the end to go mag necro for this staff tank, since I do like the class and necro just has way more good tanking skills.

:Cries in sorc:

Oh don't worry. I can definitely give the sorc version a try too. I even have a well developed already leveled mag sorc, although I would have to keep her attributes the same (64 magicka) I could experiment with other skills and gear to try magsorc tanking.

Icy_Waffles · March 2020

dazee wrote: »

I actually decided in the end to go mag necro for this staff tank, since I do like the class and necro just has way more good tanking skills.

Perfect then you can’t lose major fracture etc.

Also. Necro tank is very fun.

ccfeeling · March 2020

I would not recommend you staff tanking if you are going to complete most of the vet dungeons with this setup .

1H1S front , Ice staff backbar will be good .

You move pretty slow during staff tanking ... you have to drop block for some reasons atm ...

1H1S passive

Battlefield Mobility
(WITH ONE HAND WEAPON AND SHIELD EQUIPPED) Increases your Movement Speed while blocking by 60%.

zvavi · March 2020

ccfeeling wrote: »

I would not recommend you staff tanking if you are going to complete most of the vet dungeons with this setup .

1H1S front , Ice staff backbar will be good .

You move pretty slow during staff tanking ... you have to drop block for some reasons atm ...

1H1S passive

Battlefield Mobility
(WITH ONE HAND WEAPON AND SHIELD EQUIPPED) Increases your Movement Speed while blocking by 60%.

To be completely honest thats one of my only pain points towards staff tanking. I just feel like i am less mobile. It is sad.

karekiz · March 2020

Icy_Waffles wrote: »

You’re plan for major fracture with an ice staff as a sorc is....?

Otherwise... most will want to pass unfortunately. Also heavy attacking for taunt is not always possible due to mechanics.

Caltrops?

Its fine for Vet content regardless of what you pick for generic Vet 4 man clears, Even some DLC HM too.

Off the top of my head:

Ice Staff:
Inner Fire
Silver Leash
Sorc Tank Pet
Ele Drain/Caltrops
Dark Deal/Bound Aegis
Ult: Warhorn/Your choice

Restro:
Orb
Combat Prayer
Sorc Tank Pet
Healing Springs/Conduit
Dark Deal/Bound Aegis
Ult: Restro Ult

Generic stuff - Taunt + Pull + Self Heal + Orbs + Minor Berserk <especially if your random healer isn't casting> + Random Heal or Conduit for procs on DPS.

Good nuff for vet randoms. Would not take into raid or serious content.

I would generally go Lightning staff for 2nd weapon though, but its not like its going to be the biggest thing that matters in most of those encounters tbh.

Septimus_Magna · March 2020

Not running S&B seems doable but impracticable because you move too slow while blocking, even with Major Expedition. I am mainly playing my Breton sorc tank and its really strong, I use S&B/lightning staff but you can switch that for an ice staff without a problem.

Unstable Clannfear (active ability): Once summoned, you can activate the clannfear's special ability for 4365 Magicka, healing you and the clanfear for 35% of your Max Health.
Expert Summoner (passive): Increases your Max Health by 8% if you have a Daedric Summoning pet active.
Dark Deal (active ability): Bargain with darkness to restore 8090 Health and 3600 Stamina immediately. Restore 2400 Stamina over 20 seconds.
Exploitation (passive): Activating a Dark Magic ability grants Minor Prophecy to nearby allies, increasing Spell Critical by 1320 for 20 seconds.

As a sorc tank you have a very strong self-heal with the Clannfear which also increases you health by 8%. You can easily gain stamina while blocking with Dark Deal which also buffs you allies with Minor Prophecy. Combine this with Bone Shield and survival becomes very easy.

The skills that I am running for most dungeons:
Sword and Board (front bar) - Bone Surge, Low Slash, Pierce Armor, Dark Deal, Unstable Clannfear and Temporal Guard.
Lightning Staff (back bar) - Elemental Blockade, Silver Leash, Inner Rage, Boundless Storm, Unstable Clannfear and Aggressive Horn.

Gear is pretty common for the most part.

5x Ebon, jewelry (triune) and 2x body.
2x Maelstrom S&B (front bar).
5x Yoln, lighting staff (back bar) and 3x body.
2x Monster set of your choice (I still need to get Lord Warden).

The nice thing about this gear setup is that you can proc Yoln from the back bar with Inner Rage every 15 seconds. This frees up the front bar for a weapon set, I use the Maelstrom S&B because its a good way to restore extra stam and magicka just by heavy attacking after Low Slash.