Tanking in this game, there is one important aspect that is basically different than in most MMO games. A player will do well to remember them. In Tamriel world, when talking about tanking the first class that pops up in people’s is Dragon Knight. If you like the tank role, here is some useful tips for your Dragon Knight.

Active Blocking

In this game, blocking is an active process. It doesn’t simply mean you will have a certain percentage to block an attack when equipping a shield. For it to even be more effective, you actually have to physically block it. If not, it’s just another armor and attribute boost.

A good tank will always block the attack, rather than soak up the damage with armor, after they have tanked or are tanking something. That is what it means to actively block.

If your group is having problems with a certain boss, it alos usually means that your tank is not blocking a certain direct damage effect or AoE that, otherwise, can be effectively avoided. Block still works even if the origin of the damage is magical in nature. By using block, even a Sorcerer can mitigate incoming damage by using block.

The red circles of death is another thing you should really watch out for, especially as a tank in dungeons. The bosses usually have this primed for special attack that hit for a lot of damage, thus you really need to watch out for these in dungeons. At the very least, block them, if you can’t really avoid them.

It is very easy to tank a boss. Aside from solid tank build, it’s as simple as having Puncture on your ability bar. When someone managed to draw aggro, or at any time you feel like doing so, use it.

Dungeon Abilities:

1. Puncture morphed into Pierce Armor
2. Dark Talons morphed into Choking Talons
3. Molten Weapons morphed into Molten Armaments
4. Obsidian Shield morphed into Igneous Shield
5. Dragon Blood morphed into Green Dragon Blood

Skill rotation:

1. Use Obsidian Shield.
2. As you are about to connect with the first mob, use Molten Weapons so as to benefit from the Critical Strike buff.
3. Puncture the first mob you meet.
4. Root everyone in place and debuff them by Choking Talons.
5. When your group mates will start charging to rebuff the critical strike buff, use Molten Weapons.
6. So as to draw aggro on yourself, Puncture everything you can.
7. You will need to start blocking at this point. And to help your healer, use Dragon Blood.
8. Keep using Puncture on mobs that are not aggroing you.
9. Rotate between Molten Weapons – Obsidian Shield – Choking Talons while blocking, and keep using Puncture on mobs that are not on you.

This should work perfectly with mobs coming in groups. However, when dealing with bosses, they are too powerful and using Talons of them will prove useless as they can’t be affected. Use Dragon Blood, and try to conserve your magicka instead for when and if you are in a bind. All the while rotating between Molten Weapons and Obsidian Shield, and also blocking or doing light attacks.