ESO Nightblade One Bar PvE Tank Build

Table of Contents

• Skills
• Rotation
• Gear
• Passives Skills
• Race
• Mundus Stone
• Champion Points
• Consumables
• Wrap Up

Last Updated: 2023-03-13

The ESO Nightblade One Bar PvE Tank Build is a fast, mobile tank which is hard to pin down on the battle field. Though magicka dependent, this Nightblade tank has great ultimate generation to counterbalance its limited group utility.

We also included flexible gear options for those with or without Oakensoul Ring mythic.

Related: How to Obtain Oakensoul Ring Guide

Last updated March 13th, 2023, for Update 37 and the Scribes of Fate DLC. We changed relevant item sets and adjusted abilities to create the most effective tanking build. The champion points suggested also assume you are crafting your build for suvivability, rather than damage. Adjust where you see fit or add a healing skill to your bar to help with more challenging content. Also, make sure to use a two-bar build for Veteran Cloudrest, where bar swapping is required.

 

Should you play the ESO Nightblade One Bar PvE Tank Build?

The ESO Nightblade One Bar PvE Tank Build is a great starting point for beginning tanks. Oakensoul makes the one bar tank effective because you aren’t required to maintain constant buffs (like armor and resource sustain), which gives players breathing room on ability timers and allows you to focus more on aggro and mechanics. While Nightblade isn’t a class players would naturally gravitate to as a tank, it shouldn’t be discounted! Great mobility means it can respond quickly to changes in mechanics and fast ultimate generation means that it can add a powerful punch to the group dps.

• Good heals over time
• In class mobility
• Great ult generation

Cons

• Super magicka dependent
• Limited utility

Skills

Sword and Shield

Two options in tanking:

• Sword and Shield (preferred) Consumes stamina and has a great ultimate that gives you block mitigation BUT doesn't cost you stamina.  Another advantage is the skill Pierce Armor which reduces armor by 9,523 on a single target. Mobs have 18,200 roughly, so this will skyrocket your teams overall dps BUT can be difficult to sustain on stamina.  Thus, making sure your stamina pool is slightly higher than magicka becomes important in group play with Necrotic Orb.  This skill will look for whatever is highest and you want that to be stamina.
• Frost Staff, can consume magicka to block, same mitigation or take out tri-focus for stamina blocking.  The benefit of Frost Staff is, you don't cut your sword and shield trait in half AND you have range.  The downside, you won't have armor stripped by 9,523 via Pierce Armor.  Consider this easier to manage resources and frees up a bar spot if needed.

Inner Rage (Morph of Inner Fire | Skill line: Undaunted) - This is a ranged taunt that can proc a synergy. The strength of this is, you'll be able to not move all over the map when you need to range taunt mobs (and you will). If using an Ice Staff, consider this your flex spot.

Pierce Armor (Morph of Puncture | Skill line: One Hand And Shield) - Single target taunt with massive armor debuff making DPS do more damage. Most mobs have 18,200 resistances, the lower, the more damage your group does. Use this on your priority target like a boss, mini boss or something you want to kill fast. If you're using Master's Sword and Shield this will heal you as well.

Funnel Health (Morph of Strife | Skill line: Siphoning) - use for heals over

Defensive Stance (Morph of Defensive Posture | Skill line: One Hand And Shield) - Increases block mitigation and blocking cost. Consider this your flex spot on the bar.

Healthy Offering (Morph of Malevolent Offering | Skill line: Siphoning) - burst healing

Aggressive Horn (Morph of War Horn | Skill line: Assault) - TWO CHOICES 1x for increasing damage Aggressive Horn or 1x for Survival and that's Reviving Barrier for Alliance War Support. Horn = One of the most important ultimate abilities for a support role. Grants Major Force increasing critical damage by 20%, also increases Max Magicka and Stamina by 10% for you and your group members. Prioritize use of this ultimate, it provides a huge damage boost to your group, coordinate with other support roles if possible to keep a high uptime. Reviving Barrier = An ultimate that applies massive damage shields to group members, and those shielded also receive healing over time. Provides extra Magicka Recovery through Support skill line passive when slotting this ultimate ability.

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Rotation

Normal rotation

The general premise here is to use your stamina ONLY for blocking and the pierce armor skill, ONLY on the main boss or mini-boss. The range taunt, Inner Rage, on everything else. Your priority target will always be in this order, boss > mini-boss > any enemy NPC that can be one-shot DPS > trash adds. I heal myself when needed and manage my resources by using potions when dipping low and I do a fully-charge heavy attack AFTER the boss does a fully-charge heavy attack first. You can see sprinkles, block then usually 5 seconds or so it's safe to do a fully-charge heavy attack.

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Gear

Optimal with Mythic

This is setup assumes you have are good at maintaining resources and healing yourself.

Slot	Type	Set	Trait	Glyph
Head	heavy	Crimson Oath’s Rive	Sturdy	Prismatic
Shoulders	light	Magma Incarnate	Sturdy	Prismatic
Chest	heavy	Turning Tide	Reinforced	Prismatic
Legs	heavy	Turning Tide	Sturdy	Prismatic
Gloves	heavy	Turning Tide	Sturdy	Prismatic
Boots	heavy	Turning Tide	Sturdy	Prismatic
Belt	heavy	Turning Tide	Sturdy	Prismatic
Weapon One	Sword	Crimson Oath’s Rive	Decisive	Crusher
Secondary	Shield	Crimson Oath’s Rive	Sturdy	Health
Weapon Two
Necklace		Crimson Oath’s Rive	Triune	Magicka Recovery
Ring 1		Oakensoul ring	Triune	Magicka Recovery
Ring 2		Crimson Oath’s Rive	Triune	Magicka Recovery

Desktop hover over gear for set bonuses, mobile click once for set bonuses

Magma Incarnate: helmet obtained in Veteran dungeon The Dread Cellar, Waking Flame DLC, shoulders bought from Urgarlag Chief-bane the Pledge Master

• Why? 1 piece gives stamina and magical recovery helps with sustain.

FLEX OPTIONS 1PC

• Baron Thirsk = 1pc magicka and stamina recovery
• Chokethorn = 1pc magicka recovery
• Shadowrend = 1pc magicka recovery

Turning Tide: obtained in Shipwright’s Regret Veteran Dungeon, Ascending Tide’s DLC.

• Why? best in slot without necromancer in your group to constantly keep high uptime on major vulnerability adding HUGE damage to your group

FLEX OPTIONS DAMAGE ADDED SETS

• Perfected Claw of Yolnhakriin = great damage added set in trials due to minor courage up time
• Aegis of Galenwe = great buff to great while blocking
• Powerful Assault = great if you can manage casting echoing vigor on your back bar every 10 seconds.
• Torug’s Pact = beginner crafted set that can reduce armor for you, make sure trait is infused with crusher enchant

Crimson Oath’s Rive: obtained in The Dread Cellar Waking Flame DLC.

• Why? many DPS have switched to stamina and the decreased armor in combination with major vulnerability adds the most damage for two 5pc sets.

FLEX OPTIONS SURVIVABILITY AND SUSTAIN

• Battalion Defender = incredible survivability and group utility set
• Grace of Gloom = insane survivability if you have high health
• Wretched Vitality = great resource sustain
• Desert Rose = absolute god tier magicka recovery and frequently used by PvP tanks
• Leeching Plate = incredible self survivability set

Oakensoul: obtained through ESO Mythic/antiquities system. You need 5 objects(leads) to be able to create the Mythic item. Location of the 5 leads (click for details)

• Why? The best one bar item for a DPS

FLEX OPTIONS MONSTER

• Magma Incarnate 1pc + 1pc Spaulder of Ruin  =  incredible combo if you have another Nazaray tank
• Nazaray = great set to pain with Turning Tide for huge Aggressive Horn combos
• Encratis’s Behemoth = great damage increase when running heavy magicka builds in group

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Without Mythic

Great for a beginner who wants high survivability and sustain with a mythic

Slot	Type	Set	Trait	Glyph
Head	medium	Engine Guaridan	Sturdy	Prismatic
Shoulders	heavy	Engine Guaridan	Sturdy	Prismatic
Chest	heavy	Battalion Defender	Reinforced	Prismatic
Legs	heavy	Battalion Defender	Sturdy	Prismatic
Gloves	heavy	Battalion Defender	Sturdy	Prismatic
Boots	heavy	Battalion Defender	Sturdy	Prismatic
Belt	heavy	Battalion Defender	Sturdy	Prismatic
Weapon One	Sword	Desert Rose	Decisive	Crusher
Secondary	Shield	Desert Rose	Sturdy	Health
Weapon Two
Necklace		Desert Rose	Triune	Magicka Recovery
Ring 1		Desert Rose	Triune	Magicka Recovery
Ring 2		Desert Rose	Triune	Magicka Recovery

Desktop hover over gear for set bonuses, mobile click once for set bonuses

Engine Guardian: obtained in Darkshade Caverns II base game.

• Why? carries your self survivability and resources in a single two piece.

• Nazaray = great set to pain with Turning Tide for huge Aggressive Horn combos
• Encratis’s Behemoth = great damage increase when running heavy magicka builds in group
• Sentinel of Rkugamz = decent healing and sustain for you and others
• Scourge Harvester = great self survivability monster

Battalion Defender: obtained in Rewards of the Worth mails by participating in PvP or you can buy from guild traders.

• Why? absolutely carries you and your melee DPS healing.

Desert Rose: obtained in Cropsford Elite Gear Vendor.

• Why? mind numbing insane magicka sustain. Thus you can just burst heal.

For flex options, look above in optimal setup.

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Passives

Class Passives

Weapon Passives

Armor Passives

Guild Passives

Alliance Passives

World Passives

Make sure to focus on maxing out the following passives skills as they add performance to your character

• Class passives
• Weapon passives
• Armor passives
• Fighter’s Guild (optional)
• Mage’s Guild (optional)
• Undaunted (must have)
• Psijic Guild (optional)
• Crafting Alchemy (Medicinal Use for potion duration)
• Race
• Assault Alliance passives
• Alliance Support passives
• Vampire (if using)

Races

Nord

Great resistance passives for players who want more defensive gameplay and high stamina resource pool.

• Reveler
• Resist Frost
• Stalwart
• Rugged

Imperial

The best overall stat pool for tanking and skill cost reduction in cost makes it a go-to.

• Diplomat
• Tough
• Imperial Mettle
• Red Diamond

Argonian

Blend of survival and resource sustain.

• Amphibian
• Life Mender
• Argonian Resistance
• Resourceful

Attributes

Mundus Stone

Atronach - OVERALL (if you have magicka, you can heal Indefinitely) Increases Magicka recovery by 310. With 7 Divines armor pieces: Increases Magicka recovery by 507 The best option for tanking.

Lord - Good mundus if you have great sustain and sub 40k health. Increases Maximum Health by 2225. With 7 Divines armor pieces: Increases Maximum Health by 3639

Champion Points

Warfare

Ironclad (Slottable) - 50
Reduces your damage taken by direct damage attacks by 3% per stage.

Enduring Resolve (Passive) - 50
Reduces your damage taken by damage over time attacks by 3% per stage.

Duelist's Rebuff (Slottable) - 50
Reduces your damage taken by single target attacks by 3% per stage.

Unassailable (Slottable) - 50
Reduces your damage taken by area of effect attacks by 3% per stage.

Flex Spot(s): If you can afford, take these passives as they add power without a slottable: Tumbling (30), Mystic Tenacity (10), Hero’s Vigor (20), Shield Master (10), Defiance (20), Hasty (16), Tireless Guardian (20), Fortification (30), Sprinter (20), Nimble Protector (6), Savage Defense (30), Bashing Brutality (20), & Piercing Gaze (30)

Fitness

Bracing Anchor (Slottable) - 50
While in combat, increase the amount of damage you can block by 4% per stage, but reduces your Movement Speed by 16% at all stages.

Boundless Vitality (Slottable) - 50
Grants 28 Max Health per stage.

Rejuvenation (Slottable) - 50
Grants 1.8 Health, Magicka, and Stamina Recovery per stage.

Fortified (Slottable) - 50
Grants 34.6 Armor per stage.

Flex Spot(s): If you can afford, take these passives as they add power without a slottable: Precision (20), Piercing (20), Eldritch Insight (20), Flawless Ritual (40), War Mage (30), Quick Recovery (20), Preparation (20), Elemental Aegis (20), Hardy (20), Blessed (20), Tireless Discipline (20), Battle Mastery (40), & Mighty (30)

Crafting

Steed's Blessing (Slottable) - 50
Increases your out of combat Movement Speed by .4% per stage.

Treasure Hunter (Slottable) - 50
Increase the quality of items you find in treasure chests.

War Mount (Slottable) - 120
Improves your mastery with mounts, removing all mount Stamina costs outside of combat.

Gifted Rider (Passives) - 100
Increases your Mount Speed by 2% per stage.

Flex Spot(s): If you can afford, take these passives as they add power without a slottable: Breakfall (50), Wanderer (75), Steadfast Enchantment (50), Fortune’s Favor (40), Gilded Fingers (50), & Inspiration Boost (45)

Consumables

Bewitched Sugar Skulls

Type: Foods

OVERALL BEST: Increase Max Health by 4620, Max Stamina and Max Magicka by 4250, and Health Recovery by 462 for 2 hours. Ingredients to make Scrib Jelly (2), Flour (5), Columbine (2), Bervez Juice (2), Honey (5)

Artaeum Pickled Fish Bowl

Type: Foods

ALTERNATIVE: Increase Max Health by 5652 and Max Magicka by 5117 for 2 hours. (effects are scaled based on your level) Ingredients: Fish (5), Rice (3), Clam Gall (3), Honey (3)

Tri-Potions

Type: Potions

Restore 7329 Health, 6618 Magicka, and 6618 Stamina immediately. Grants Major Fortitude, Major Intellect, and Major Endurance which increase your Health Recovery, Magicka Recovery, and Stamina Recovery by 20% for 47.3 seconds. Ingredients: Bugloss, Columbine, Mountain Flower

Wrap Up

LIGHT ATTACK WEAVING GUIDE

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