Updated For Markarth

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: Nord
  • Fantastic passive resistances and Ult regen. For other great alternatives see our race guide here.
• Mundus: The Lord
• Attributes:
  • Magicka: 20
  • Health: 24
  • Stamina: 20
• Consumables
  • Food: Bewitched Sugar Skulls
  • Potion: Essence of Health (Tri-Stat)
    

GEAR

SLOT	SET	WEIGHT	TRAIT	ENCHANTMENT
Head	Mighty Chudan	Medium	Sturdy	Maximum Health Enchantment
Shoulder	Mighty Chudan	Light	Sturdy	Maximum Health Enchantment
Chest	Yolnahkriin	Heavy	Reinforced	Multi-Effect Enchantment
Belt	Yolnahkriin	Heavy	Sturdy	Multi-Effect Enchantment
Shoes	Yolnahkriin	Heavy	Sturdy	Multi-Effect Enchantment
Hands	Yolnahkriin	Heavy	Sturdy	Multi-Effect Enchantment
Pants	Yolnahkriin	Heavy	Infused	Multi-Effect Enchantment
Necklace	Alkosh	Jewelry	Healthy	Magicka Recovery Enchant
Ring 1	Alkosh	Jewelry	Healthy	Magicka Recovery Enchant
Ring 2	Alkosh	Jewelry	Healthy	Magicka Recovery Enchant
S+B (Sword + Board)	Alkosh	Sword + Shield	S – Infused B – Infused	S – Hardening Enchant B – Multi-Effect Enchant
Back Bar	Alkosh	Lightning Staff	Infused	Crusher Enchant

• Mighty Chudan drops in Veteran Ruins of Mazzatun
• Yolnahkriin drops in Sunspire (Trial)
• Alkosh Drops in the Trial Maw of Lorkhaj (Trial)

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	Bloodspawn	Medium	Sturdy	Maximum Health Enchantment
Shoulder	Bloodspawn	Light	Sturdy	Maximum Health Enchantment
Chest	Ebon	Heavy	Reinforced	Maximum Health Enchantment
Belt	Ebon	Heavy	Sturdy	Maximum Health Enchantment
Shoes	Ebon	Heavy	Sturdy	Maximum Health Enchantment
Hands	Ebon	Heavy	Sturdy	Maximum Health Enchantment
Pants	Ebon	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 Enchant B – Multi-Effect Enchant
Back Bar	Torug’s	Lightning Staff	Infused	Crusher Enchant

• Bloodspawn drops in Spindleclutch II
• Ebon drops in Crypt of Hearts I and II
• 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 H + S: All Passives
  • Staff: All Passives
• ARMOR
  • Light Armor: Grace, Evocation
  • Medium Armor: Dexterity, Wind Walker, Improved Sneak Athletics
  • Heavy Armor: All Passives
• WORLD
  • None
• GUILDS
  • Mages Guild: All Passives except Might of the Guild
  • Undaunted Guild: All Passives
• Racial: All Passives
• Alchemy: Medicinal Use

CHAMPION POINTS

More Build Guides!

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