elder scrolls online dragonknight tank build

The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) offers a vast and immersive experience, allowing players to explore the world of Tamriel in various ways. One of the most popular and effective roles in the game is that of a tank, particularly when utilizing the Dragonknight class. This article will provide a comprehensive guide to creating an optimal Dragonknight tank build, ensuring that you can withstand the toughest challenges and protect your allies in both PvE and PvP scenarios. From gear selection to skill choices, this guide covers everything you need to know to excel as a Dragonknight tank in ESO.

Understanding the Dragonknight Class

The Dragonknight is one of the original classes in The Elder Scrolls Online, known for its versatility and ability to absorb damage. With a unique combination of fire-based abilities and heavy armor proficiency, Dragonknights can effectively act as a frontline defense for any group. As a tank, your primary role is to absorb damage, control enemies, and provide utility to your team. Understanding the core mechanics of the Dragonknight class is crucial for creating an effective tank build.

Key Attributes of a Dragonknight Tank

When building a Dragonknight tank, several key attributes should be prioritized:

Health: The most critical attribute for any tank, health increases your survivability and allows you to endure heavy damage.
Stamina: While not as important as health, stamina is necessary for blocking attacks and using stamina-based abilities.
Armor: Invest in heavy armor to maximize your damage mitigation.

Choosing the Right Gear

Gear selection plays a vital role in our Dragonknight tank build. The right combination of equipment will enhance your survivability, damage output, and overall effectiveness in your role. Below are some recommendations for gear sets and traits.

Recommended Gear Sets

For a Dragonknight tank, there are several gear sets that can significantly improve your performance:

1. Ebon Armory

This set is ideal for group play, as it increases the health of your allies and yourself, providing a significant boost to survivability.

2. Torug's Pact

This set enhances your weapon damage and reduces the cooldown of your abilities, allowing you to maintain pressure on enemies while still being able to absorb damage.

3. Plague Doctor

Increasing your health and providing additional healing received, this set is excellent for sustaining yourself in prolonged fights.

Traits and Enchantments

When choosing traits for your gear, consider the following:

Sturdy: This trait reduces block cost, allowing you to block more attacks without exhausting your stamina.
Impenetrable: This trait increases your damage mitigation, making it harder for enemies to deal damage to you.
Health Enchantments: Apply health enchantments to your gear to increase your overall health pool.

Skills and Abilities

As a Dragonknight tank, your skills and abilities will define your effectiveness in combat. Below are recommended skills for both the Dragonknight and the two primary skill lines that complement your tanking capabilities.

Dragonknight Skills

Focusing on the Dragonknight skill line, consider the following abilities:

1. Unrelenting Grip

This ability allows you to pull enemies toward you, effectively controlling the battlefield.

2. Dragon Blood

This self-healing ability provides you with a health boost and increases your healing received.

3. Spiked Armor

A great defensive skill that reflects damage back to attackers while increasing your damage mitigation.

Additional Skill Lines

In addition to the Dragonknight skills, consider utilizing skills from the following lines:

1. One-Handed and Shield

Utilizing a sword and shield allows you to block incoming attacks effectively while dealing damage.

2. Heavy Armor

Investing in the Heavy Armor skill line will provide you with additional damage mitigation and enhance your tanking abilities.

Champion Points and Progression

Champion Points (CP) are essential for enhancing your tank build further. Allocate points into the following constellations for optimal performance:

Warlord

This constellation reduces the cost of blocking and increases your stamina recovery, allowing you to maintain your defensive capabilities.

Shield Expert

Investing in Shield Expert will enhance your block effectiveness and further reduce damage taken while blocking.

Ironclad

This CP skill reduces damage taken from direct attacks, making it a must-have for any tanking build.

Playstyle and Strategies

Understanding how to play your Dragonknight tank effectively is just as important as selecting the right gear and skills. Here are some strategies to consider:

Positioning

As a tank, positioning is crucial. Always place yourself between your allies and enemies to absorb incoming damage. Use your crowd control abilities to manage enemy positioning and prevent them from reaching your allies.

Resource Management

Keep an eye on your stamina and health pools. Use your abilities wisely to ensure you never run out of resources during critical moments. Regularly block incoming damage to conserve your health and utilize your healing abilities when necessary.

Communication

Effective communication with your team is essential. Call out when you are using crowd control abilities or if you need assistance. Make sure your allies are aware of your positioning and any potential threats.

Conclusion

Creating an effective Dragonknight tank build in The Elder Scrolls Online requires a deep understanding of the class mechanics, gear selection, and skill choices. By focusing on health, stamina, and proper gear sets, you can ensure that you are a formidable force on the battlefield. Remember to adapt your playstyle based on the encounters you face, and always communicate with your team to maximize your effectiveness. With the right build and strategies, you can become an invaluable asset to any group. For further reading and resources, check out the official ESO website here or explore community builds on sites like ESO Skill Factory.

If you found this guide helpful, be sure to share it with your friends and fellow adventurers. Happy tanking!