
Nightblade Tank PvE Build ESO – Darkness
Build Written By: Dottz Gaming – PC NA
Role: Tank
Patch: Markarth
Table of Contents
Introduction
Welcome to DottzGaming.com’s nightblade Tank Build PvE, Darkness, for the Elder Scrolls Online!
Nightblades make really solid tanks if built and played correctly. While most people like to think that nightblades are incapable of tanking higher level content, they couldn’t be more wrong. If you play on the strengths that the nightblade has, you can create a powerful nightblade tank that can take on not only vet DLC dungeons, but veteran trials as well. The Darkness build has run through multiple Vet DLC dungeon achievement runs, as well as vet trial hard mode runs, so if you choose to run this setup you’ll be building your character up for success!
There are a lot of factors that vary in this build depending on if you are tanking dungeons or trials. Some are different gear choices and some are different skill choices, and all of this will be outlined below!
Setup
Gear
Nightblade Tank PvE Build – Trials Main Tank | |||||
Gear Slot | Set | Weight | Trait | Enchant | Acquisition |
Head | Symphony of Blades | Heavy | Sturdy | Prismatic | Vet Depths of Malatar |
Shoulders | Symphony of Blades | Medium | Sturdy | Health | Undaunted Chest |
Gloves | Perfected Claw of Yolnahkriin | Heavy | Sturdy | Health | Sunspire |
Legs | Perfected Claw of Yolnahkriin | Heavy | Infused | Prismatic | Sunspire |
Chest | Perfected Claw of Yolnahkriin | Heavy | Infused | Prismatic | Sunspire |
Belt | Perfected Claw of Yolnahkriin | Heavy | Sturdy | Health | Sunspire |
Boots | Perfected Claw of Yolnahkriin | Heavy | Sturdy | Health | Sunspire |
Necklace | Roar of Alkosh | Jewelry | Healthy/Infused | Reduce Block Cost | Maw of Lorkhaj |
Ring | Roar of Alkosh | Jewelry | Healthy/Infused | Magicka Recovery | Maw of Lorkhaj |
Ring | Roar of Alkosh | Jewelry | Healthy/Infused | Magicka Recovery | Maw of Lorkhaj |
Weapon 1 | Roar of Alkosh | 1h Weapon | Decisive | Restore Stamina | Maw of Lorkhaj |
Shield 1 | Roar of Alkosh | Shield | Sturdy | Prismatic | Maw of Lorkhaj |
Weapon 2 | Roar of Alkosh | Ice/Lightning Staff | Infused | Crusher | Maw of Lorkhaj |
Nightblade Tank PvE Build – Trials Off-Tank | |||||
Gear Slot | Set | Weight | Trait | Enchant | Acquisition |
Head | Symphony of Blades | Heavy | Sturdy | Prismatic | Vet Depths of Malatar |
Shoulders | Symphony of Blades | Medium | Sturdy | Health | Undaunted Chest |
Gloves | Torug's Pact | Heavy | Sturdy | Health | Crafted |
Legs | Torug's Pact | Heavy | Infused | Prismatic | Crafted |
Chest | Torug's Pact | Heavy | Infused | Prismatic | Crafted |
Belt | Ebon Armory | Heavy | Sturdy | Health | Crypt of Hearts |
Boots | Ebon Armory | Heavy | Sturdy | Health | Crypt of Hearts |
Necklace | Ebon Armory | Jewelry | Healthy/Harmony | Reduce Block Cost | Crypt of Hearts |
Ring | Ebon Armory | Jewelry | Healthy/Harmony | Magicka Recovery | Crypt of Hearts |
Ring | Ebon Armory | Jewelry | Healthy/Harmony | Magicka Recovery | Crypt of Hearts |
Weapon 1 | Torug's Pact | 1h Weapon | Decisive | Absorb Stamina | Crafted |
Shield 1 | Torug's Pact | Shield | Sturdy | Prismatic | Crafted |
Weapon 2 | Torug's Pact | Ice Staff | Infused | Crusher | Crafted |
Nightblade Tank PvE Build – Dungeons HP Tank | |||||
Gear Slot | Set | Weight | Trait | Enchant | Acquisition |
Head | Scourge Harvester | Heavy | Sturdy | Prismatic | Vet Wayrest Sewers 2 |
Shoulders | Scourge Harvester | Medium | Sturdy | Health | Undaunted Chest |
Gloves | Plague Doctor | Heavy | Sturdy | Health | Deshaan or Guild Trader |
Legs | Plague Doctor | Heavy | Infused | Prismatic | Deshaan or Guild Trader |
Chest | Plague Doctor | Heavy | Infused | Prismatic | Deshaan or Guild Trader |
Belt | Plague Doctor | Heavy | Sturdy | Health | Deshaan or Guild Trader |
Boots | Plague Doctor | Heavy | Sturdy | Health | Deshaan or Guild Trader |
Necklace | Warrior-Poet | Jewelry | Healthy | Reduce Block Cost | Vvardenfell or Guild Trader |
Ring | Warrior-Poet | Jewelry | Healthy | Magicka Recovery | Vvardenfell or Guild Trader |
Ring | Warrior-Poet | Jewelry | Healthy | Magicka Recovery | Vvardenfell or Guild Trader |
Weapon 1 | Warrior-Poet | 1h Weapon | Decisive | Absorb Stamina | Vvardenfell or Guild Trader |
Shield 1 | Warrior-Poet | Shield | Sturdy | Prismatic | Vvardenfell or Guild Trader |
Weapon 2 | Warrior-Poet | Ice Staff | Infused | Crusher | Vvardenfell or Guild Trader |
Nightblade Tank PvE Build – Dungeons Sap Tank Style | |||||
Gear Slot | Set | Weight | Trait | Enchant | Acquisition |
Head | Bloodspawn | Heavy | Sturdy | Prismatic | Vet Spindleclutch 2 |
Shoulders | Bloodspawn | Heavy | Sturdy | Prismatic | Undaunted Chest |
Gloves | Bahraha's Curse | Medium | Sturdy | Prismatic | Hew’s Bane or Guild Trader |
Legs | Akaviri Dragonguard | Heavy | Infused | Prismatic | Eastmarch or Guild Trader |
Chest | Akaviri Dragonguard | Heavy | Infused | Prismatic | Eastmarch or Guild Trader |
Belt | Bahraha's Curse | Light | Sturdy | Prismatic | Hew’s Bane or Guild Trader |
Boots | Akaviri Dragonguard | Heavy | Sturdy | Prismatic | Eastmarch or Guild Trader |
Necklace | Bahraha's Curse | Jewelry | Healthy | Reduce Block Cost | Hew’s Bane or Guild Trader |
Ring | Bahraha's Curse | Jewelry | Healthy | Reduce Block Cost | Hew’s Bane or Guild Trader |
Ring | Bahraha's Curse | Jewelry | Healthy | Magicka Recovery | Hew’s Bane or Guild Trader |
Weapon 1 | Akaviri Dragonguard | 1h Weapon | Decisive | Absorb Stamina | Eastmarch or Guild Trader |
Shield 1 | Akaviri Dragonguard | Shield | Infused | Prismatic | Eastmarch or Guild Trader |
Weapon 2 | Akaviri Dragonguard | Ice Staff | Infused | Crusher | Eastmarch or Guild Trader |
NOTE: The sets needed for a trials group will vary per group. Be sure to check with your group’s leader to see what sets they want you to run. Other great sets to make sure you have on you are Hircine’s Veneer and Worm’s Raiment.
Attributes
The attribute breakdown is going to vary based on race, but when I created this setup, I was using an Imperial and tried to create all 4 build setups above around the same attribute spread. You just want to make sure you have at least around 35k+ HP, and that your stamina is higher than your magicka so that when you use Shards/Orbs, your stamina is returned. Do keep in mind this attribute breakdown is for using 3 healthy. If you use Harmony, you’re going to need to move some more points into health to make sure you’re over that 35k threshold.
Magicka: 18
Health: 16
Stamina: 30
Skills
Main Bar – Sword and Shield: Pierce Armor, Heroic Slash, FLEX, Dark Cloak, Leeching Strikes, Aggressive Horn
Back Bar – Ice/Lightning Staff: Silver Leash, Inner Rage, Refreshing Path, Elemental Blockade, Mirage, Soul Siphon
Flex Skill Options
The build has 1 primary flex spot on the front bar; you can fill that slot based on what build you’re using and what is needed at the time. In terms of any changes to the back bar, most of the time, Silver Leash is used. But, if I am in a specific fight where Silver Leash is not necessary, I’ll also swap in another flex skill. The options for flex skills are as follows:
- Defensive Stance
- Deep Thoughts
- Sap Essence
- Sanguine Altar
- Shielded Assault
- Bone Surge
- Mass Hysteria
- Efficient Purge
I also recommend getting Shield Discipline, the ultimate from the One-handed and Shield skill line. In certain fights where stamina sustain is going to be a real challenge and dropping block isnt the best option, this can be substituted in for Aggressive Horn to significantly help with stamina sustain.
Vampire vs. Mortal
For this build you’re going to play as a mortal. Vampire was changed in Greymoor, and we were only really using the skill line for the passives that it had. Now, there are simply to many drawbacks to justify using it.
Champion Points
CHAMPION POINT 810 SETUP
THE MAGE (BLUE)
- Blessed – 100
- Elfborn – 100
- Spell Erosion – 3
- Elemental Expert – 32
- Physical Weapons Expert – 35
THE THIEF (GREEN)
- Warlord – 37
- Arcanist – 64
- Tenacity – 56
- Shadow Ward – 82
- Tumbling – 31
THE WARRIOR (RED)
- Ironclad – 72
- Spell Shield – 32
- Thick Skinned – 48
- Hardy – 49
- Elemental Defender – 49
- Heavy Armor Focus – 20
For the sap tank style, run the following as your blue CP:
THE MAGE (BLUE)
- Blessed – 100
- Elfborn – 81
- Spell Erosion – 14
- Elemental Expert – 75
CHAMPION POINT 300 SETUP
THE MAGE (BLUE)
- Blessed – 49
- Elfborn – 48
- Physical Weapons Expert – 3
THE THIEF (GREEN)
- Arcanist – 23
- Tenacity – 21
- Shadow Ward – 56
THE WARRIOR (RED)
- Ironclad – 37
- Thick Skinned – 23
- Hardy – 19
- Elemental Defender – 19
- Heavy Armor Focus – 2
Other Important Info
Buff Food
Longfin Pasty w/ Melon Sauce (Max Health, Magicka & Stamina)
Mundus
Atronach – Increased Magicka Recovery
Race
- Imperial
- Argonian
- Nord
Potions
Tri-Stat (Restore HP, Mag and Stam) (Bugloss, Columbine and Mountain Flower)
Passives
Class (all), Light Armor (all except the ones that require you to wear 5 pieces), Medium Armor (all except the ones that require you to wear 5 pieces), Heavy Armor (all), One-Handed and Shield (all), Destruction Staff (all except tri-focus), Fighters Guild (Banish the Wicked), Undaunted (all), Racial (all), Alchemy (Medicinal Use)
Contact
If you have any questions about the build, join our discord server and ask @Dottz about the build!
Update Log
2/25/2018 – Build created.
5/31/2018 – Build writer changed and build overhauled for Summerset Isles.
9/5/2018 – CP updated for wolfhunter
10/31/2018 – CP updated for wolfhunter, off tank setup removed
1/31/2019 – New build writer and build completely overhauled
2/28/2019 – Front bar/back bar enchants swapped, CP 300 setup added
5/22/2019 – Attributes changed, Ebon changed the Claw of Yol for trials main tank setup
8/14/2019 – No changes for scalebreaker
10/21/2019 – No changes for Dragonhold
2/24/2020 – Alkosh replaced with Ebon in main setup, Akaviri Dragonguard replaced with Torug’s in off-tank setup, front bar trait changed from infused to decisive on all setups
5/26/2020 – Vampirism removed from the build
8/24/2020 – main tank gear overhauled, off tank monster set updated
11/2/2020 – no changes for markarth