UPDATED FOR BLACKWOOD

The Destroyer – A Dragonknight Tank Build

This ESO DragonKnight Tank build is capable of taking on all content in the game. Its a strong choice, and by far the most meta option available in elder scrolls online today.

1. Overview
   • Race
   • Mundus
   • Attributes
   • Consumables
2. Gear
3. Skills
4. Rotation
5. Passives
6. Champion Points

OVERVIEW

• Race: Imperial or Nord
  • For other great alternatives see our race guide here.
• Mundus: Atronach
• Attributes:
  • Magicka: 0
  • Health: 64
  • Stamina: 0
• Consumables
  • Food: Bewitched Sugar Skulls
  • Potion: Essence of Health (Tri-Stat)
    

GEAR

In this section we will go over the beginner and veteran gear for this Dragonknight Tank Build

SLOT	SET	WEIGHT	TRAIT	ENCHANTMENT
Head	Engine Guardian	Medium	Sturdy	Prismatic Defence
Shoulder	Engine Guardian	Medium	Sturdy	Prismatic Defence
Chest	Yolnahkriin	Heavy	Reinforced	Prismatic Defence
Belt	Yolnahkriin	Heavy	Sturdy	Prismatic Defence
Shoes	Yolnahkriin	Heavy	Sturdy	Prismatic Defence
Hands	Yolnahkriin	Heavy	Sturdy	Prismatic Defence
Pants	Yolnahkriin	Heavy	Infused	Prismatic Defence
Necklace	Powerful Assault	Jewelry	Infused	Reduce potion cooldown
Ring 1	Powerful Assault	Jewelry	Infused	Reduced Block Cost
Ring 2	Powerful Assault	Jewelry	Infused	Reduced Block Cost
S+B (Sword + Board)	Powerful Assault	Sword + Shield	S – Decisive / B – Infused	S – Reduce Target Weapon Damage B – Multi-Effect
Back Bar	Powerful Assault	Ice Staff	Infused	Crusher

• Engine Guardian drops in Darkshade Caverns II
• Encratis’ Behemoth drops in Black Drake Villa
• Yolnahkriin drops in Sunspire (Trial)
• Powerful Assault can be purchased from Guild Traders (frost staff is EXPENSIVE feel free to use fire or lightning staff until you can afford it)
  • Cast vigor once every 10 seconds to proc PA
• And of course, once you get to Vet Trials grab the Monster sets requested by your raid lead!

---

STARTER TANK GEAR

NOTE: Starter does not mean it is bad, it just means that it is obtainable earlier in the game!

SLOT	SET	WEIGHT	TRAIT	ENCHANTMENT
Head	Engine Guardian	Medium	Sturdy	Maximum Health Enchantment
Shoulder	Engine Guardian	Medium	Sturdy	Maximum Health Enchantment
Chest	Crest of Cyrodiil	Heavy	Sturdy	Maximum Health Enchantment
Belt	Crest of Cyrodiil	Heavy	Sturdy	Maximum Health Enchantment
Shoes	Crest of Cyrodiil	Heavy	Sturdy	Maximum Health Enchantment
Hands	Crest of Cyrodiil	Heavy	Sturdy	Maximum Health Enchantment
Pants	Crest of Cyrodiil	Heavy	Infused	Maximum Health Enchantment
Necklace	Torug’s	Jewelry	Healthy	Magicka Recovery Enchant
Ring 1	Torug’s	Jewelry	Healthy	Magicka Recovery Enchant
Ring 2	Torug’s	Jewelry	Healthy	Magicka Recovery Enchant
S+B (Sword + Board)	Torug’s	Sword + Shield	S – Infused / B – Infused	S – Hardening B – Multi-Effect
Back Bar	Torug’s	Ice Staff	Infused	Crusher Enchant

• Engine Guardian drops in Darkshade Caverns II
• Crest of Cyrodiil can be purchased from Vlastarus, Elite Gear Vendor in Cyrodiil (or guild traders anywhere)
• Torug’s is a crafted set

SKILLS

Green Dragon Blood	Heroic Slash	Pierce Armor	Igneous Shield	Defensive Stance	Aggressive Horn
Resolving Vigor	Elemental Blockade	Inner Rage	Unrelenting Grip	Choking Talons	Magma Shell

Honorable mentions:
Use Igneous Shield and then Green Dragon Blood for self heals
>

Magma Shell is OP and great for getting back resources


Balance is a great skill that allows you to swap Health for Magicka. (This is when those Mages guild passives come in handy!)


Elemental Blockade creates an elemental barrier dealing damage to enemies and setting them off balance


Reviving Barrier is a good alternative Ult for health and protection for you and your party (handy in no-death runs)

SKILL LINEAGE

SKILL (MORPH)	BASE ABILITY	SKILL TREE
Green Dragon Blood	Dragon Blood	Dragonknight > Draconic Power
Heroic Slash	Low Slash	Weapon > One Hand and Shield
Pierce Armor	Puncture	Weapon > One Hand and Shield
Igneous Shield	Obsidian Shield	Dragonknight > Earthen Heart
Defensive Stance	Defensive Posture	Weapon > One Hand and Shield
Aggressive Horn	War Horn	Alliance War > Assault
Resolving Vigor	Vigor	Alliance War > Assault
Elemental Blockade	Wall of Elements	Weapon > Destruction Staff
Inner Rage	Inner Fire	Guild > Undaunted
Unrelenting Grip	Fiery Grip	Dragonknight > Aredent Flame
Choking Talons	Dark Talons	Dragonknight > Draconic Power
Magma Shell	Magma Armor	Dragonknight > Earthen Heart

SITUATION + STRATEGY

Tanking in ESO is situational. You have a lot of flexibility when it comes to skills and gear, depending on the fight, your raiding party or the achievement you’re going for. In this build, I have a few go-to skills for self-sustain and some flex spots where I can switch out certain skills as needed.

My tank strategy is pretty simple:

1. Grab the boss (always turn away from the DPS)
2. Chain in ads
3. Lock with talons (keep everything tight so DPS can stack their dots)
   
   

• Melee Taunt:
  Pierce Armor
  
  Next, chain in ads with Unrelenting Grip > Lock down with Choking Talons
  >
  
  
• Range Taunt:
  Inner Rage
  

*TIP – Heavy Attack with a frost or ice staff for a free taunt (with the tri-focus passive)

Remember: As a tank, self-sustain is key. A good tank doesn’t rely on the healer to stay alive.

• Self-Sustain:
  Ingenious Shield > Green Dragon Blood
  >
  Magma Shell
  

*PRO TANK TIP:
My favorite skill (and in my opinion, the most underrated one as a tank) is Shield Discipline. In general, the tank is THE LAST to rez. That being said… there will be times when your party wipes and you’re the last one alive. That’s when this Ulti comes in handy and can save the run.

• Shield Discipline allows you a free block, giving you just enough time to rez someone without getting interrupted. Lazer boss in Frostvault anyone?? I’d say it’s for more experienced tanks, but one I highly recommend!
  

PASSIVES

• CLASS
  • All passives
• WEAPON
  • 1 Hand + Sword: All Passives
  • Staff: All Passives
• ARMOR
  • Light Armor:
  • Medium Armor: All
  • Heavy Armor: All
• WORLD
  • None
• GUILDS
  • Mages Guild: All Passives except Might of the Guild
  • Undaunted Guild: All Passives
• Alliance
  • Assault: First passive (1 point only)
• Racial: All Passives
• Alchemy: Medicinal Use

CHAMPION POINTS

In this section, we will go over the Dragonknight Tank champion point setup 2.0.

More Build Guides!

• Dragonknight
  • Dragonknight Healer ESO PVE Build
  • Magicka Dragonknight DPS ESO PVE
  • Stamina Dragonknight DPS ESO PVE
• Necromancer
  • Magicka Necromancer Build ESO PVE
  • Necromancer Healer PVE ESO
  • Necromancer Tank Build PVE ESO
  • Solo Stamina Necromancer Build ESO
  • Stamina Necromancer Bow Build PVE
  • Stamina Necromancer Build ESO PVE
• Nightblade Builds ESO
  • Magicka Nightblade Build ESO PVE
  • Nightblade Healer ESO PVE Build
  • Nightblade Tank ESO PVE Build
  • Stamina Nightblade DPS ESO PVE
• Sorcerer Builds ESO
  • Magicka Sorcerer Build ESO PVE
  • Sorcerer Healer ESO PVE Build
  • Sorcerer Tank Build ESO PVE
  • Stamina Sorcerer Build ESO PVE
• Templar
  • Magicka Templar Build ESO PVE
  • Stamina Templar DPS PVE ESO
  • Templar Healer ESO PVE Build
  • Templar Tank ESO PVE Build
• Warden
  • ESO Bow Warden PVE Build
  • Magicka Warden DPS ESO PVE
  • Stamina Warden Build PVE ESO
  • Warden Healer PVE ESO
  • Warden Tank Build ESO PVE