I take a pet sorcerer, with the Volatile Familiar and Twilight Matriarch. Reasons include but are not limited to:

• Excellent burst heal.
• Excellent ticking heal (Critical Surge).
• Pets that commonly tank one attacker for you.
• Very good single-target ultimate skill (Greater Atronach).
• Slightly better shield than other magicka classes (Empowered Ward is a little more forgiving than the 6-second shields).
• DoTs that work even if you're busy trying to survive (pet basic attacks).

Skill bar space is distressingly tight, but that's the main drawback.

Nightblades excel at trash fights, because of the many on-kill bonuses, but they're nothing special against bosses.

I struggle surprisingly often with magicka templars. Probably I rely too much on Puncturing Sweeps and hence run into trouble when it doesn't fit well.

I've had some recent success with a magicka warden. Damage is really nice, in my opinion, as the Animal Companions skill line works quite well now. Strong HoTs plus Dampen Magicka can make up for the lack of a burst heal. And they're the other class with a pet who can tank some aggro.

BigSpiders wrote: »

Ty for the info!

Do the pets still tank in dungeons? It seems like they are mostly ignored/maybe invincible in dungeons

Good point.

I think what you're suggesting is correct.