Best Classes for Tanking in ESO 2023

In The Elder Scrolls Online, tanking represents a specialized combat role focused on managing enemy attention during group encounters like dungeons, trials, and arenas. The primary objective involves drawing hostile focus (commonly referred to as aggro) and positioning threats away from more vulnerable damage dealers and healers in your party.

Beyond threat management, tanks significantly enhance group performance through supportive abilities that strengthen allies or weaken opponents, streamlining combat efficiency. Successful tanking demands substantial health pools, robust armor ratings, and damage resistance to withstand enemy assaults, complemented by adequate resource reserves (Stamina or Magicka) for skill execution and damage mitigation.

While any ESO class can technically fulfill tanking duties, certain options naturally outperform others due to inherent skill synergies and passive benefits. This comprehensive guide from The Tank Club delivers authoritative recommendations categorized by content type: dungeon specialists, trial main tanks, and off-tank supports.

Building an effective tank character doesn’t necessarily require massive gold reserves, though currency certainly facilitates acquiring superior equipment, consumables, and enhancement items that elevate performance and durability.

1. Arcanist: The Crowd Control Specialist

Arcanist stands as the premier choice for dungeon tanking in ESO. While following standard tanking fundamentals like utilizing the Vateshran Void Bash set for rapid enemy gathering, Arcanists distinguish themselves through exceptional crowd control capabilities featuring immobilization (Runeguard of Still Waters) and charm effects (Rune of Uncanny Adoration).

This class provides two distinct burst healing options: Runeguard of Still Waters and Impervious Runeward. The latter demands strategic Crux management but rewards players with substantial damage shielding when mastered.

Arcanists demonstrate outstanding resource sustainability, extended-duration abilities, and impressive recovery rates while bolstering group survival through Minor Resolve and Minor Evasion.

Their Runic Sunder ability delivers significant group damage enhancement by stripping 2,200 armor from adversaries. Additionally, Arcanist Domain grants Minor Courage, Minor Intellect, Minor Endurance, and Minor Fortitude, providing comprehensive utility unmatched by alternative classes.

2. Dragonknight: The Sustained Survivor

Dragonknight secures the second position for dungeon tanking excellence. These warriors thrive in sustain mechanics, crowd control effectiveness, and group damage amplification.

This ranking reflects that dungeon environments don’t fully leverage Dragonknight’s complete potential, as engagements typically don’t require Engulfing Flames, Igneous Weapons, Stone Giant, or Minor Brutality benefits.

Nevertheless, Dragonknights remain formidable selections due to their diverse situational abilities and niche utility. They excel at personal durability and survival tactics but cannot match Arcanist’s comprehensive group enhancement package.

Advanced players should note that Dragonknights require more active skill management than other options, making them better suited for experienced tank enthusiasts.

3. Necromancer: The Ultimate Utility

Necromancers claim the third spot due to their exceptional damage-over-time mitigation and damage transfer capabilities to spectral companions, proving invaluable in contemporary dungeon content.

This class dominates ultimate ability regeneration mechanics within ESO’s class ecosystem.

Recent game updates have alleviated previous sustain challenges, making Necromancer resource management more accessible. Beckoning Armor further enhances control by drawing enemies toward your position.

Necromancer tanks possess a unique emergency recovery mechanism: when entire parties face wipe scenarios, they can instantly resurrect all group members with a single ability activation.

Trial main tanking introduces substantially more complex considerations than dungeon content. Optimal class selection becomes heavily dependent on your specific group configuration and composition requirements.

1. Dragonknight: Stamina Management Expert

When your roster includes additional Dragonknights, maintaining a Dragonknight main tank remains advantageous. These specialists demonstrate superior stamina conservation for blocking and evasion maneuvers, particularly beneficial for tanks transitioning into trial content.

Dragonknights deliver valuable group enhancements including Stagger, Minor Brutality, Engulfing Flames, and Igneous Weapons, establishing them as exceptionally resilient options.

Important Note: Stagger maintenance offers straightforward uptime but presents potential sustainability challenges.

Dragonknight positioning fluctuates between primary and secondary choices based entirely on group structure and buff coverage needs.

2. Arcanist: Armor Penetration Specialist

Arcanists contribute the substantial group benefit of 2,200 armor penetration, uniquely applied through taunt abilities. This design necessitates Arcanist main tanks for accessing this particular debuff.

This represents clever development implementation, establishing Arcanist main tanks as potentially crucial components in trial group compositions by linking this debuff to taunt functionality.

Arcanists can additionally substitute for the Claw of Yolnahkriin gear set through Arcanist’s Domain, enabling additional equipment-based buffs when incorporating this class.

While Arcanists could readily claim top main tank status, alternative gear configurations like Tremorscale with Crimson Oath’s Rive or Alkosh users might render Runic Sunder’s additional penetration redundant.

3. Sorcerer/Warden/Nightblade: Flexible Alternatives

Sorcerer represents the tertiary selection, though Wardens become preferable when absent from group compositions, and Nightblades excel in extreme damage mitigation scenarios.

Contemporary group strategies typically demand multiple Sorcerers due to the Greater Storm Atronach Ultimate providing full-group synergy and Major Berserk damage amplification.

Crystal Weapon offers alternative penetration buffing capabilities, though maintaining uptime proves challenging and effectiveness falls short of Arcanist capabilities.

Sorcerer tanks exhibit exceptional survival capabilities through massive healing potential, substantial damage shielding, elevated resistances, and damage reduction abilities like Bound Aegis.

Sorcerer sustainability remains strong due to limited skill casting requirements preventing resource depletion. Cost reduction passives and Dark Deal’s stamina regeneration further enhance resource management.

The off-tank role differs substantially from main tank responsibilities. As secondary tank, your focus shifts toward supportive functions including buff application, enemy debuffing, and occasionally handling specific boss mechanics or challenging additional enemies.

1. Necromancer: Ultimate Generation Powerhouse

Necromancer emerges as the premier off-tank selection. Their utility proves particularly impactful in modern trial encounters.

When confronting bosses or enemies featuring intensive damage-over-time or bleeding mechanics targeting tanks, Necromancers provide optimal solutions. Combined with superior ultimate generation, groups benefit from increased Major Force and Major Vulnerability uptime, significantly enhancing trial performance.

2. Dragonknight: Essential Buff Maintenance

Even when utilizing Arcanist main tanks, Dragonknights remain necessary for Stagger application. Maintaining Stagger from off-tank positioning presents challenges but remains achievable.

In certain scenarios, off-tank Stagger maintenance might actually prove simpler when not actively tanking primary bosses.

3. Sorcerer/Warden/Nightblade/Templar: Situational Specialists

Third-class selection presents complexity, typically involving gap-filling responsibilities. When groups lack Wardens, this class provides group Major Toughness and Major Resolve benefits.

As Warden, Corrupting Pollen delivers Minor Cowardice debuffs to enemies.

If your composition contains no Sorcerers or only single representatives, this class becomes preferable for previously mentioned buffs. Less frequently, Nightblades might be necessary for Minor Savagery and Major Cowardice, or Templars for Minor Sorcery applications.

These represent the comprehensive class options for tanking throughout The Elder Scrolls Online. Which specialization resonates with your playstyle? Share your preferences in the comments section below. Remember to subscribe to The Tank Club‘s channel for additional expert content.

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