Replies: 115
Hey everyone, I’m Geraint (@GeraintAmbrosia) from the EU Megaserver and member of the social/casual guild Alith (http://www.alitheso.com)
I thought I’d share my Dragon Knight PvE tanking build(s) “The Blockade” with you all.
The Blockade is a main tank build for group endgame PvE such as trials, veteran hardmode pledges and VDSA only, I don’t do PvP or vMA with this build and I don’t promote it.
In this build guide you will also find gear set variants for trial off-tanking as well as high ultimate generation, please note that these builds are optional and not part of the main build setup and just presented for when you are not the main tank of your group!
The skill points spent are only for the mentioned build(s) – please follow the skill & CP setup info link below for details – feel free to spend points in other skill lines with your remaining points.
My build lists Champion point allocations for a character with 90, 150, 240, 300, 360, 420, 480 and 561 champion points.
Changes for One Tamriel are in green
Latest update:
October 16th, 2016 – build update for One Tamriel patch
[spoiler]
October 2nd, 2015 – build overhaul for Imperial City, build update video
May 10th, 2015 – added new section “Food & Drinks”, made changes to champ point distribution for 90, 120, 150 & 180 points, removed 360 champ point setup, changed trait recommendation for the gear to reinforced, adjusted skill use on bar 1 & 2 (personal preference).
April 26th, 2015 – included video section & City of Ash video
April 7th, 2015 – Weapon trait recommendation change
March 23, 2015 – old CP video removed & corrections on CP passives
January 23rd, 2016 – build overhaul for Orsinium DLC, build update video
June 4th, 2016 – build overhaul for Dark Brotherhood DLC
June 12th, 2016 – build video for Dark Brotherhood DLC
[/spoiler]
Build video (Status: One Tamriel)
Race
I personally use an Imperial for the health & stamina passives but the build works for all races. I also have a Dunmer DK running the build with no problems.
Other good race options are Nord, Argonian and Orc.
I’m a Vampire now.
Attribute distribution
If you are NOT an Imperial, Nord, Argonian or Orc you might want to put more attribute points into Health.
For veteran pledges I tend to stay at ~27k health, in trials I’m at ~33k (with food buff, Warhorn etc. excl.), more information about that in the gear section.
I currently run 15 Mag / 4 Health / 45 Stam on my Imperial.
Pledge gear attribute values with purple 3 stat food buff, hardened armor & Lord Warden buff (values might change depending on gear enchants)
[img]https://i.imgsafe.org/06ac46261f.png[/img]
Trial main tank gear attribute values with purple 3 stat food buff, hardened armor & Lord Warden buff (values might change depending on gear enchants)
[img]https://i.imgsafe.org/06a952bb1c.png[/img]
Food & Drinks
I’m using purple 3 stat (CP 150/160) food.
Mundus Stone
I found The Atronach a really good choice if you are already used to trial tanking and it’s my suggestion for experienced tanks that are already familiar with this build.
Otherwise you can also choose either The Tower (Stamina), The Mage (Magicka, or if you really can’t live without The Lord (Health) instead.
Special Ability: Vampire
Being a vampire as tank is no longer as bad as many thought, it’s actually pretty good (check out the passives!)
There are only a few locations like City of Ash where you might have problems being a vampire tank.
If you are a Dunmer your passive mitigates the higher flame damage a bit and for all other races if you think you take too much damage just feed and run those special instances at Vampire stage 1, problem solved.
But even at Vampire stage 4 it should be possible if you got a decent group.
Skills point & Champion point distribution link (based on Imperial and Atronach mundus):
http://www.eso-skillfactory.com/en/share/12008/
I didn’t place points in other weapon trees other than One Hand and shield as well as crafting (except for the important Alchemy and Provisioning ones).
You can distribute the remaining skill points in the other trees as you like/need.
Champion Point distribution
The CP setup is based on using the Lord Warden Set option when tanking – in case you are using Bloodspawn you can redistribute the CP from “The Lord” to “The Lady” (into Hardy and Elemental Defender).
I’m no longer providing 2 different CP choices for magicka or stamina based dps gear for the vWGT Inhibitor fight as the difficulty of this pledge got nerfed and there are some good DK dps gear guides here on TF, please choose a gear set you like for this single dps encounter from there.
The Blockade is now a full tank only build with no special dps CP alloction for just this one fight.
Champion point selection in detail:
[spoiler]
Setup for 90 points
Warrior Star Signs
The Lord – 10 points into “Heavy Armor Focus”
The Lady – 10 points into “Elemental Defender”
The Lady – 10 points into “Hardy”
Thief Star Signs
The Lover – 30 points into “Arcanist” (magicka regeneration)
Mage Star Signs
The Apprentice – 30 points into “Blessed”
Setup for 150 points
Warrior Star Signs
The Lord – 10 points into “Heavy Armor Focus”
The Lady – 20 points into “Elemental Defender”
The Lady – 20 points into “Hardy”
Thief Star Signs
The Lover – 30 points into “Arcanist”
The Tower – 18 points into “Magician”
The Tower – 2 points into “Warlord”
Mage Star Signs
The Apprentice – 50 points into “Blessed”
Setup for 240 points
Warrior Star Signs
The Lord – 10 points into “Heavy Armor Focus”
The Lady – 30 points into “Elemental Defender”
The Lady – 30 points into “Hardy”
The Lady – 10 points into “Thick Skinned”
Thief Star Signs
The Lover – 30 points into “Arcanist”
The Tower – 40 points into “Magician”
The Tower – 10 points into “Warlord”
Mage Star Signs
The Apprentice – 50 points into “Blessed”
The Atronach – 30 points into “Melee Weapon Expert”
Setup for 300 points
Warrior Star Signs
The Lord – 10 points into “Heavy Armor Focus”
The Lady – 40 points into “Elemental Defender”
The Lady – 40 points into “Hardy”
The Lady – 10 points into “Thick Skinned”
Thief Star Signs
The Lover – 30 points into “Arcanist”
The Tower – 47 points into “Magician”
The Tower – 23 points into “Warlord”
From 300 point onwards I try to use a 2:1 point distribution for Magician to Warlord
Mage Star Signs
The Apprentice – 70 points into “Blessed”
The Atronach – 30 points into “Melee Weapon Expert”
Setup for 360 points
Warrior Star Signs
The Lord – 10 points into “Heavy Armor Focus”
The Lady – 47 points into “Elemental Defender”
The Lady – 47 points into “Hardy”
The Lady – 16 points into “Thick Skinned”
Thief Star Signs
The Lover – 30 points into “Arcanist”
The Tower – 60 points into “Magician”
The Tower – 30 points into “Warlord”
Mage Star Signs
The Apprentice – 90 points into “Blessed”
The Atronach – 30 points into “Melee Weapon Expert”
Setup for 420 points
Warrior Star Signs
The Lord – 10 points into “Heavy Armor Focus”
The Lady – 57 points into “Elemental Defender”
The Lady – 57 points into “Hardy”
The Lady – 16 points into “Thick Skinned”
Thief Star Signs
The Lover – 30 points into “Arcanist”
The Tower – 70 points into “Magician”
The Tower – 40 points into “Warlord”
Mage Star Signs
The Apprentice – 100 points into “Blessed”
The Apprentice – 10 points into “Elemental Expert”
The Atronach – 30 points into “Melee Weapon Expert”
Setup for 480 points
Warrior Star Signs
The Lord – 10 points into “Heavy Armor Focus”
The Lady – 67 points into “Elemental Defender”
The Lady – 67 points into “Hardy”
The Lady – 16 points into “Thick Skinned”
Thief Star Signs
The Lover – 30 points into “Arcanist”
The Tower – 78 points into “Magician”
The Tower – 39 points into “Warlord”
The Shadow – 13 points into “Shadow Ward”
Mage Star Signs
The Apprentice – 100 points into “Blessed”
The Apprentice – 30 points into “Elemental Expert”
The Atronach – 30 points into “Melee Weapon Expert”
Setup for 561 points
Warrior Star Signs
The Lord – 10 points into “Heavy Armor Focus”
The Lady – 80 points into “Elemental Defender”
The Lady – 80 points into “Hardy”
The Lady – 17 points into “Thick Skinned”
Thief Star Signs
The Lover – 30 points into “Arcanist”
The Tower – 96 points into “Magician”
The Tower – 48 points into “Warlord”
The Shadow – 13 points into “Shadow Ward”
Mage Star Signs
The Apprentice – 100 points into “Blessed”
The Apprentice – 55 points into “Elemental Expert”
The Atronach – 30 points into “Melee Weapon Expert”
[/spoiler]
Gear
My armor setup is 1L / 1M / 5H to get the maximum out of the Undaunted passive.
Starter Tanking gear (< 299 CP)
[spoiler]
Bloodspawn – Footman – Hist Bark:
Head – Heavy – Bloodspawn – Infused – Prismatic enchant
Shoulders – Medium – Bloodspawn – Sturdy – Prismatic enchant
Chest – Heavy – Hist Bark – Infused – Prismatic enchant
Gloves – Heavy – Footman (not sure if sturdy is now possible in case it is use sturdy) – Prismatic enchant
Belt – Light – Hist Bark – Sturdy – Prismatic enchant
Pants – Heavy – Hist Bark – Infused – Prismatic enchant
Boots – Heavy – Footman (not sure if sturdy is now possible in case it is use sturdy) – Prismatic enchant
Jewelry – 2x Footman rings, 1x Footman necklace – block cost reduction enchant on all 3
2x 1h weapon – Hist Bark – Defending – Stamina or Magicka leech enchant
2x Shield – Hist Bark – Infused – Prismatic enchant
For the Head & Shoulders Undaunted set a heavy Head and medium Shoulders would be best, if you are unlucky to find them you can use either armor type to complete the set just make sure to create the Hist Bark belt in the right armor type to preserve the Undauted armor type attribute passive bonus.
If you can’t afford to craft prismatic enchants, enchant the items with any missing attribute enchants that you might need instead
I completely removed the Engine Guardian option for this build update, the only way I can see it still working is pumping lots of points into “Heavy Armor Expertise” to get at least close to the pdef. cap again.
You have to decide if it’s worth sacrificing points from Hardy and/or Elemental Defender for it – if you choose to do it then Engine Guardian still works with this build.
[/spoiler]
Endgame Tanking gear > 300 CP
I prefer Lord Warden set as the proc chance is 50% (!) compared to Bloodspawn’s 6%.
50% means the proc buff is active pretty much all of the time and close range dps also profit from the shadow orb.
The pdef & spell resist is not as high as Bloodspawn (~3.7k compared to ~6.8k) but the buff is active most of the time compared to Bloodspawns 6% proc chance.
I personally would suggest to use 3x infused on the big armor parts, 4x sturdy on the rest and put some left over points (up to 13) into the Shadow Ward CP passive.
If you want to go full sturdy you can free up the points from Shadow Ward and put them into Magician and/or Warrior.
I completely removed the Engine Guardian option for this build, the only way I can see it still working is pumping lots of points into “Heavy Armor Expertise” to get at least close to the pdef. cap again.
You have to decide if it’s worth sacrificing points from Hardy and/or Elemental Defender for it – if you choose to do it then Engine Guardian still works with this build.
Let’s have a look at the new (set)gear / trait options.
Pledge gear setup
Lord Warden – Hist Bark – Bahraha’s Curse
Head – Medium – Lord Warden – Infused (sturdy optional) – Prismatic enchant
Shoulders – Light – Lord Warden – Sturdy – Prismatic enchant
Chest – Heavy – Hist Bark – Infused (Sturdy optional) – Prismatic enchant
Gloves – Heavy – Hist Bark – Sturdy – Prismatic enchant
Belt – Heavy – Hist Bark – Sturdy – Prismatic enchant
Pants – Heavy – Hist Bark – Infused (Sturdy optional) – Prismatic enchant
Boots – Heavy – Hist Bark – Sturdy – Prismatic enchant
Jewelry – 2x Bahraha rings (any attribute trait you need), 1x Bahraha necklace (any attribute trait you need) – 3x block cost reduction enchant
2x Bahraha Shield – Infused (Sturdy optional) – Prismatic enchant
2x Bahraha 1h weapon – Defending – 1x Stamina or Magicka leech (main bar) – 1x crushing enchant (2nd skill bar)
For the Head & Shoulders Undaunted set a medium Head and light Shoulders would be best so you can change the other gear parts easier for trials gear or other sets.
If you can’t afford to craft prismatic enchants, enchant your armor with any missing attribute enchant that you might need.
Why did I chose Bahraha?
[spoiler]
In case you don’t know the set bonus:
(2 Items) Adds 1064 Maximum Health
(3 Items) Adds 967 Maximum Magicka
(4 Items) Adds 967 Maximum Stamina & take 40% less damage from traps
(5 Items) Your damage abilities have a 25% chance to create desecrated ground for 5 seconds, snaring enemies within for 70%, damaging them for Magic Damage every 1 second and healing you for the damage done.
Not only do we get bonus to all 3 attributes, the best part is when this set procs (and many mobs are in the area of effect) you basically don’t need a healer and the healing you get is just crazy!
Yes, you will lose around 500 magicka & stamina but the 5 piece bonus is really worth taking as tank, furthermore with the change to the heavy armor Constitution passive you gain more stamina & magicka anyway.
[/spoiler]
Trial gear setup (main tank)
Lord Warden – Hist Bark – Ebon Armory
Head – Medium – Lord Warden – Infused (sturdy optional) – Prismatic enchant
Shoulders – Light – Lord Warden – Sturdy – Prismatic enchant
Chest – Heavy – Hist Bark – Infused (Sturdy optional) – Prismatic enchant
Gloves – Heavy – Ebon – Sturdy – Prismatic enchant
Belt – Heavy – Ebon – Sturdy – Prismatic enchant
Pants – Heavy – Hist Bark – Infused (Sturdy optional) – Prismatic enchant
Boots – Heavy – Hist Bark – Sturdy – Prismatic enchant
Jewelry – 2x Ebon rings (any attribute trait you need), 1x Ebon necklace (any attribute trait you need) – 3x block cost reduction enchant
2x Hist Bark Shield – Infused (Sturdy optional) – Prismatic enchant
2x Hist Bark 1h weapon – Defending – 1x Stamina or Magicka leech (main bar) – 1x crushing enchant (2nd skill bar)
For the Head & Shoulders Undaunted set a medium Head and light Shoulders would be best so you can change the other gear parts easier for trial gear or other sets.
If you can’t afford to craft prismatic enchants, enchant your armor with any missing attribute enchant that you might need.
Trial gear setup (off tank)
I chose the gear for this setup so you can concentrate on off tanking and still do decent enough damage with partly automatically activated set bonus skills.
Tremorscale – Defending Warrior – Alkosh/Bahraha
Head – Medium – Tremorscale – Infused (sturdy optional) – Prismatic enchant
Shoulders – Light – Tremorscale – Sturdy – Prismatic enchant
Chest – Heavy – Defending Warrior – Infused (Sturdy optional) – Prismatic enchant
Gloves – Heavy – Defending Warrior – Sturdy – Prismatic enchant
Belt – Heavy – Defending Warrior – Sturdy – Prismatic enchant
Pants – Heavy – Defending Warrior – Infused (Sturdy optional) – Prismatic enchant
Boots – Heavy – Defending Warrior – Sturdy – Prismatic enchant
Jewelry – 2x Alkosh rings (any attribute trait you need), 1x Alkosh necklace (any attribute trait you need) – 3x block cost reduction enchant
2x Alkosh shield – Infused (Sturdy optional) – Prismatic enchant
2x Alkosh 1h weapon – Defending (but it doesn’t really matter most of the time for off-tanking) – 1x Stamina or Magicka leech (main bar) – 1x crushing enchant (2nd skill bar)
If you are unlucky with drops or don’t have Alkosh set yet like myself as I was away from the game for a while you can still use your pledge gear set Bahraha’s Curse instead (check the pledge gear section above for details)
Tremorscale & Defending Warrior set bonus:
[spoiler]
Tremorscale
(1 items) Adds 967 Max Stamina
(2 items) When you taunt an enemy, you have a 50% chance to cause a duneripper to burst from the ground beneath them, dealing 6500 Physical Damage to all enemies within 4 meters and reducing their Movement Speed by 70% for 8 seconds. This effect can occur once every 4 seconds.
Defending Warrior
(2 items) Adds 1935 Spell Resistance.
(3 items) Adds 1935 Physical Resistance.
(4 items) Adds 1604 Maximum Health
(5 items) When you block an attack, you deal 4000 Magic Damage to all enemies within 10 meters of you and heal for 100% of the damage done. This effect can occur once every 10 seconds.
[/spoiler]
Ultimate regen gear setup
This setup will basically work in any situation, I just put it here as alternative but it’s not meant to replace the main tanking setup.
Don’t use ultimate %-cost reduction sets, as DK you want to have a high ultimate cost for higher attribute refresh from the Battle Roar passive!
Compared to the other gear setups you have to change the medium armor Undaunted set piece to heavy to retain the undaunted set bonus for 1L /1M / 1H for this setup.
Blood Spawn – Tava’s Favor – Hide of the Werewolf
Head – Heavy – Blood Spawn – Infused (sturdy optional) – Prismatic enchant
Shoulders – Light – Blood Spawn – Sturdy – Prismatic enchant
Chest – Heavy – Tava’s Favor – Infused (Sturdy optional) – Prismatic enchant
Gloves – Medium – Hide of the Werewolf – Sturdy – Prismatic enchant
Belt – Heavy – Tava’s Favor – Sturdy – Prismatic enchant
Pants – Heavy – Tava’s Favor – Infused (Sturdy optional) – Prismatic enchant
Boots – Heavy – Tava’s Favor – Sturdy – Prismatic enchant
Jewelry – 2x Hide of the Werewolf rings, 1x Hide of the Werewolf – 3x block cost reduction enchant
2x Shield – Tava’s Favor shield – Infused (Sturdy optional) – Prismatic enchant
2x 1h weapon – Hide of the Werewolf 1h weapon – Decisive trait would be best (any other good trait works too tho) – 1x Stamina or Magicka leech (main bar) – 1x crushing enchant (2nd skill bar)
Hide of the Werwolf set bonus:
[spoiler]
(2 items) Adds 1064 Max Health
(3 items) Adds 967 Max Stamina
(4 items) Adds 129 Weapon Damage
(5 items) When you take damage, you generate 5 Ultimate. This effect can occur once every 5 seconds.
[/spoiler]
Skills
Main Tank / Pledges skills
Bar 1
1 – Ransack (Taunt) – because Pierce armor still bugs out with other skills.
2 – Heroic Slash
3 – Hardened Armor / Volatile Armor (I tend to use Volatile now)
4 – Igneous Shield
5 – Defensive Stance or Absorb Magic / possible utility slot if you use 7 or 8 sturdy gold pieces
U – Agressive Warhorn
Bar 2
1 – Inner Rage (ranged Taunt)
2 – Choking Talons
3 – Unrelenting Grip / Igneous Weapons (slot only if there are no other DKs in your group)
4 – Coagulated Blood / Deep Breath / Rearming Trap
5 – Defensive Stance or Absorb Magic / possible utility slot if you use 7 or 8 sturdy gold pieces
U – Magma Shell / Spell Wall (byebye Rakkhat and Lord Warden projectiles)
Off Tank skills
Bar 1
1 – Ransack (Taunt) – because Pierce armor still bugs out with other skills.
2 – Heroic Slash
3 – Hardened Armor / Volatile Armor (I tend to use Volatile now)
4 – Igneous Shield
5 – Defensive Stance or Absorb Magic / Mystic Guard
U – Agressive Warhorn
Bar 2
1 – Inner Rage (ranged Taunt)
2 – Unrelenting Grip / Burning Embers / Invigorating Drain/ Igneous Weapons (slot only if there are no other DKs in your group)
3 – Elude
4 – Coagulated Blood / Deep Breath
5 – Defensive Stance or Absorb Magic / Mystic Guard
U – Shooting Star / Spell Wall / Devouring Swarm (or any ultimate you like, you probably will use Warhorn most of the time anyway)
Keep in mind that Invigoration Drain is a channeled spell so you can’t block while it’s channeling.
Best time to use it is at the start of a fight or if you have Spell Wall ultimate active.
Ultimate regen skills
Bar 1
1 – Ransack (Taunt) – because Pierce armor still bugs out with other skills.
2 – Heroic Slash
3 – Hardened Armor / Volatile Armor (I tend to use Volatile now)
4 – Igneous Shield
5 – Defensive Stance or Absorb Magic
U – Agressive Warhorn
Bar 2
1 – Inner Rage (ranged Taunt)
2 – Choking Talons
3 – Elude
4 – Coagulated Blood / Deep Breath / Unrelenting Grip / Igneous Weapons (slot only if there are no other DKs in your group)
5 – Defensive Stance or Absorb Magic / Invigorating Drain
U – Shooting Star / Devouring Swarm / Spell Wall
Keep in mind that Invigoration Drain is a channeled spell so you can’t block while it’s channeling.
Best time to use it is at the start of a fight or if you have Spell Wall ultimate active.
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I hope this tanking guide helps you in your tanking build decisions, if you have questions or want to comment on it please reply here or pm me ingame on the EU server (@GeraintAmbrosia).
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This topic was modified 2 weeks, 1 day ago by
GeraintAmbrosia.
