
Table of Contents
Last Updated: 2023-03-13
The ESO Sorcerer One Bar PvE Tank Build combines speed and burst healing to make an awesome tank! Pick this up if you want great group utility and speed.
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 Sorcerer One Bar PvE Tank Build?
The ESO Sorcerer 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. Sorcerer tanks have some of the best mobility in the game, which can often be a problem for other, slower, classes. Pet provide great burst healing for those who struggle with survivability, and with one slot used by a pet this also adds to the rotation simplicity.
Pros
- SUPER fast
- Great burst healing
- Amazing ultimates in class
Cons
- Pet dependent
- limited damage
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.
Restraining Prison (Morph of Encase | Skill line: Dark Magic) - immobilization, flex for overflowing Altar
Dark Deal (Morph of Dark Exchange | Skill line: Dark Magic) - risky but can use in between blocking heavy attacks and taking pressure to get stamina at the expense of magicka. BE careful, time this only after a heavy attack or a defensive ultimate. Consider this the flex spot on your bar.
Summon Twilight Matriarch (Morph of Summon Winged Twilight | Skill line: Daedric Summoning) - 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.
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.
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
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.
Passives
Class Passives
Daedric Summoning
- Rebate
- Power Stone
- Daedric Protection
- Expert Summoner
Dark Magic
- Unholy Knowledge
- Blood Magic
- Persistence
- Exploitation
Storm Calling
- Capacitor
- Energized
- Amplitude
- Expert Mage
Weapon Passives
One Hand and Shield
- Fortress
- Sword and Board
- Deadly Bash
- Deflect Bolts
- Battlfield Mobility
Armor Passives
Light
- Light Armor Bounuses
- Light Armor Penalties
- Grace
- Evocation
- Spell Warding
- Prodigy
- Concentration
Medium
- Medium Armor Bounses
- Dexterity
- Wind Walker
- Improved Sneak
- Agility
- Athlectics
Heavy
- Heavy Armor Bounses
- Heavy Armor Penalties
- Resolve
- Constitution
- Juggernaut
- Revitalize
- Rapid Mending
Guild Passives
Fighters Guild
- Intimidating Presence
- Slayer
- Banish the Wicked
- Skilled Tracker
- Bounty Hunter
Mages Guild
- Persuasive Will
- Mage Adept
- Everlasting Magic
- Magicka Controller
- Might of the Guild
Undaunted
- Undaunted Command
- Undaunted Mettle
Alliance Passives
Assault
- Continuous Attack
- Reach
- Combat Frenzy
Support
- Magicka Aid
- Combat Medic
- Battle Resurrection
World Passives
Soul Magic
- Soul Shatter
- Soul Summons
- Soul Lock
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
Health
64
Stamina
0
Magicka
0
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) - 50Reduces your damage taken by direct damage attacks by 3% per stage.
Enduring Resolve (Passive) - 50Reduces your damage taken by damage over time attacks by 3% per stage.
Duelist's Rebuff (Slottable) - 50Reduces your damage taken by single target attacks by 3% per stage.
Unassailable (Slottable) - 50Reduces 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) - 50While 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) - 50Grants 28 Max Health per stage.
Rejuvenation (Slottable) - 50Grants 1.8 Health, Magicka, and Stamina Recovery per stage.
Fortified (Slottable) - 50Grants 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) - 50Increases your out of combat Movement Speed by .4% per stage.
Treasure Hunter (Slottable) - 50Increase the quality of items you find in treasure chests.
War Mount (Slottable) - 120Improves your mastery with mounts, removing all mount Stamina costs outside of combat.
Gifted Rider (Passives) - 100Increases 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
FOLLOW ME
If you’re looking for a solo build click HERE, one bar PvP build HERE or a PvP build HERE. Also, consider watching me on Twitch where you can ask me questions about my current builds.