Arcanist Tank

Hermaeus Mora's bulwark. Stacked shields, Crux-powered heals and group Major Force from a class mastery, so you don't need a set for it.

Update 52 (PTS)PvE · TankPure classIntermediateLast reviewed 2026-10-27

Update 52 (PTS) version

This page is the Update 52 version of this tank build. Update 52 is on the PTS until January 19, 2027, so numbers can still move. Skill and set tooltips still show the live Update 51 text; hover one that changes to see what's new. For what works in game today, switch to Update 51 in the version picker (top right, or in the menu on phones). The full list is in the Update 52 patch notes.

Overview

Soldier of Apocrypha is one of the best tank skill lines in the game. Cruxweaver Armor gives you Major Resolve, puts Minor Breach on anything that hits you and builds Crux. Impervious Runeward is an enormous one-second shield that spends Crux to heal you. Runeguard of Still Waters gives the whole group Minor Resolve. Gibbering Shelter soaks most of your incoming damage while shielding the group.

As a pure-class Arcanist you unlock Class Mastery. Ink-Scribe's Verve gives the group Major Force from your healing alone, and Erudite's Rigor turns every hit you take into group Major Vitality and Minor Cowardice on the attacker.

Every slot does a different job. One taunt per setup (the scribed Shield Throw on bosses, Unstoppable Brute on trash), so Runic Sunder isn't slotted; Crux comes from Evolving Runemend and Cruxweaver Armor instead. The scribed Wield Soul (Leashing Soul) is the pull, so Rune of Uncanny Adoration isn't slotted.

Strengths

Some of the best burst survival in the game, from stacked shields and Crux heals.
Group Major Force, Major Vitality, Minor Resolve and four Minor buffs from Zenas' Empowering Disc, without a set slot.
Strong Ultimate generation through Crux and Erudite's Rigor.

Weaknesses

Crux management, plus lots of Magicka-hungry buttons.
Crux builds more slowly without a Runic Sunder taunt. Cast Evolving Runemend before you need a big Runeward heal.
Major Force overlaps with an Arcanist healer, Saxhleel Champion or Aggressive Horn, so coordinate.

Buffs and debuffs you bring on bosses

Class Mastery

Pure-class characters with all three class lines at rank 50 can slot two Class Mastery passives (added in Update 50).

Ink-Scribe's Verve
Your healing gives the group Major Force. Only one per group is needed.
Erudite's Rigor
Cruxweaver Armor adds group Major Vitality and Ultimate per Crux.

Tip

If an Arcanist healer already runs Ink-Scribe's Verve, pick something else.

What changes in Update 52

Update 52 is on the PTS (patch 12.2.0, from 26 October 2026) and goes live on 19 January 2027. This version follows the first PTS week, so numbers can still move. Skill and set tooltips on this page still show the live Update 51 text.

Class. No Arcanist changes in Update 52.

Trash taunt. Unstoppable and both its morphs (Heavy Armor) now taunt up to six enemies that weren't taunted in the last 7 seconds, so Unstoppable Brute takes Inner Rage's slot in the Trash setup. It still gives Major Resolve and 6 seconds of CC immunity, but snares you by 65% while that lasts, and it costs Stamina. Inner Beast no longer taunts: it pulls up to six enemies, from 22 metres (down from 28) for 3,213 Stamina, which makes it a flex pick for spread-out packs. The Tormentor set now taunts every enemy it damages. The Taunt script taunts six enemies only on Goading Smash and Goading Vault, which need a two-hander or a bow; Goading Throw stays single-target, so the Boss setup doesn't change.

Reverberating Bash. It now stuns after 0.7 seconds and applies Major Maim for 15 seconds. Void Bash already puts Major Maim on the whole pack, so the Trash setup doesn't change.

More damage for tanky builds. Juggernaut, Deadly Bash and the Cutting Defense star now add damage done to monsters when your Health and Armor outweigh your damage stats. A typical tank gets about 20% from Deadly Bash alone. Nothing to slot: the gear you already wear turns it on. Defensive Stance's block bonus, which wasn't applying, is fixed.

Gear to watch. Perfected Void Bash now gives Armor instead of Max Health. The Infused armour trait goes up to 40% and Impenetrable to 165. Gaze of Sithis raises your Armor cap by 13,200, and Dov-rha Sabatons, Knight-errant and Glorious Defender are reworked for shield tanks. The gear table stays as written until PTS numbers settle.

Skill Setups

Every tank build has a Boss and a Trash setup. On bosses you taunt with the scribed Shield Throw (Goading Throw) for its heal and Major Maim; on trash Unstoppable Brute taunts the whole pack at once.

Taunt with Shield Throw scribed as Goading Throw instead of Inner Rage. It heals you each time the shield comes back and keeps Major Maim on the boss, so the boss hits 10% softer. Inner Rage's Radiate synergy is lost, which matters less on one target.

What this setup brings

Front bar

One hand & shield · Turning Tide

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Back bar

Ice staff · Turning Tide

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Slot	Skill	Why it's slotted
Front 1	Zenas' Empowering Disc Curative Runeforms Cast time: InstantDuration: 20 secondsCost: 3,780 Magicka Minor Courage, Fortitude, Intellect and Endurance for you and the group.	Minor Courage, Fortitude, Intellect and Endurance for you and the group.
Front 2	Shield Throw Scribed as Goading Throw Cast time: InstantRange: 28 metresCost: 2,538 Stamina Scribed as Goading Throw: your boss taunt. It heals you on return and keeps Major Maim on the boss. Recast it every 10 seconds.	Scribed as Goading Throw: your boss taunt. It heals you on return and keeps Major Maim on the boss. Recast it every 10 seconds.
Front 3	Evolving Runemend Curative Runeforms Cast time: InstantCost: 4,590 Magicka Your heal and main Crux builder.	Your heal and main Crux builder.
Front 4	Impervious Runeward Soldier of Apocrypha Cast time: InstantDuration: 6 secondsCost: 4,320 Magicka Burst shield, plus a heal for each Crux you spend.	Burst shield, plus a heal for each Crux you spend.
Front 5	Energy Orb Undaunted Cast time: InstantDuration: 10 secondsCost: 3,780 Magicka Group heal, and its Healing Combustion synergy gives DPS resources.	Group heal, and its Healing Combustion synergy gives DPS resources.
Front R	Gibbering Shelter Soldier of Apocrypha Cast time: InstantDuration: 10 secondsCost: 200 Ultimate Your emergency button: soaks 60% of damage and shields the group.	Your emergency button: soaks 60% of damage and shields the group.
Back 1	Elemental Susceptibility Destruction Staff Cast time: InstantRange: 35 metresDuration: 30 secondsCost: 3,240 Magicka Boss Major Breach; its Chilled and Concussion add Minor Maim, Brittle and Vulnerability.	Boss Major Breach; its Chilled and Concussion add Minor Maim, Brittle and Vulnerability.
Back 2	Elemental Blockade Destruction Staff Cast time: InstantDuration: 15 secondsCost: 2,970 Magicka Area Chilled for Minor Maim and Brittle on trash, and armour shred on Chilled targets.	Area Chilled for Minor Maim and Brittle on trash, and armour shred on Chilled targets.
Back 3	Runeguard of Still Waters Soldier of Apocrypha Cast time: InstantDuration: 20 secondsCost: 3,510 Magicka Group Minor Resolve, Minor Protection and a self-heal for you, and a root.	Group Minor Resolve, Minor Protection and a self-heal for you, and a root.
Back 4	Wield Soul Scribed as Leashing Soul Cast time: InstantRange: 22 metresCost: 4,234 Magicka Scribed as Leashing Soul: the pull, with Major Cowardice.	Scribed as Leashing Soul: the pull, with Major Cowardice.
Back 5	Cruxweaver Armor Soldier of Apocrypha Cast time: InstantDuration: 30 secondsCost: 2,700 Magicka Major Resolve, Minor Breach on attackers, Crux, and the Erudite's Rigor hook.	Major Resolve, Minor Breach on attackers, Crux, and the Erudite's Rigor hook.
Back R	Glyphic of the Tides Curative Runeforms Cast time: InstantRange: 28 metresDuration: 15 secondsCost: 200 Ultimate Group heals and group Major Protection when fully charged.	Group heals and group Major Protection when fully charged.

Scribing

Scribed skill

Goading Throw

Shield Throw · Taunt / Sage's Remedy / Maim

Cast time: Instant
Target: Enemy
Range: 28 metres
Cost: 2,538 Stamina

Taunt

Focus script: Deals 2,145 Physical Damage to an enemy and taunts them for 15 seconds.

Sage's Remedy

Signature script: Heals you for 2,591 Health on return, scaling off your Max Health.

Maim

Affix script: Afflicts the enemy with Major Maim for 10 seconds, reducing damage done by 10%.

Goading Throw: a 28m taunt that heals you when the shield comes back and puts Major Maim on the boss for 10 seconds, so the boss deals 10% less damage.

Scribed skill

Leashing Soul

Wield Soul · Pull / Druid's Resurgence / Cowardice

Cast time: Instant
Target: Enemy
Range: 22 metres
Cost: 4,234 Magicka

Pull

Focus script: Deals 2,803 Magic Damage to an enemy, pulls them to you, and taunts them for 16 seconds if they are not already taunted.

Druid's Resurgence

Signature script: Restores 600 Magicka and 600 Stamina.

Cowardice

Affix script: Afflicts the enemy with Major Cowardice for 10 seconds, reducing Weapon and Spell Damage by 430.

Leashing Soul: pulls and taunts an add, refunds 600 Magicka and Stamina, and applies Major Cowardice.

Open the Boss setup in the Build Editor to change skills, gear and stats.

Taunt the pack with Unstoppable Brute: since Update 52 it taunts up to six enemies at once. Cast it once you're in the middle, since it snares you for 6 seconds. Pulsar takes Elemental Susceptibility's slot and spreads Chilled over the whole pack. Razor Caltrops replaces Runeguard of Still Waters for AoE Major Breach. Reverberating Bash replaces Energy Orb to trigger Void Bash and stack the pack.

What this setup brings

Front bar

One hand & shield · Void Bash

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Back bar

Ice staff · Powerful Assault

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Slot	Skill	Why it's slotted
Front 1	Zenas' Empowering Disc Curative Runeforms Cast time: InstantDuration: 20 secondsCost: 3,780 Magicka Minor Courage, Fortitude, Intellect and Endurance for you and the group.	Minor Courage, Fortitude, Intellect and Endurance for you and the group.
Front 2	Unstoppable Brute Heavy Armor Cast time: InstantDuration: 20 secondsCost: 2,943 Stamina Trash taunt from Update 52: taunts up to 6 enemies that weren't recently taunted, with Major Resolve and 6 seconds of CC immunity. It snares you by 65% while the immunity lasts, so cast it once you're in the pack.	Trash taunt from Update 52: taunts up to 6 enemies that weren't recently taunted, with Major Resolve and 6 seconds of CC immunity. It snares you by 65% while the immunity lasts, so cast it once you're in the pack.
Front 3	Evolving Runemend Curative Runeforms Cast time: InstantCost: 4,590 Magicka Your heal and main Crux builder.	Your heal and main Crux builder.
Front 4	Impervious Runeward Soldier of Apocrypha Cast time: InstantDuration: 6 secondsCost: 4,320 Magicka Burst shield, plus a heal for each Crux you spend.	Burst shield, plus a heal for each Crux you spend.
Front 5	Reverberating Bash One Hand and Shield Cast time: InstantRange: 7 metresCost: 2,700 Stamina Trash: stuns the target after 0.7 seconds and, since Update 52, applies Major Maim for 15 seconds. It's also the bash that triggers Void Bash to pull the pack into one stack.	Trash: stuns the target after 0.7 seconds and, since Update 52, applies Major Maim for 15 seconds. It's also the bash that triggers Void Bash to pull the pack into one stack.
Front R	Gibbering Shelter Soldier of Apocrypha Cast time: InstantDuration: 10 secondsCost: 200 Ultimate Your emergency button: soaks 60% of damage and shields the group.	Your emergency button: soaks 60% of damage and shields the group.
Back 1	Pulsar Destruction Staff Cast time: InstantCost: 3,780 Magicka Trash: Chilled on the whole pack for Minor Brittle and Minor Maim, Minor Mangle, and Minor Protection for you.	Trash: Chilled on the whole pack for Minor Brittle and Minor Maim, Minor Mangle, and Minor Protection for you.
Back 2	Elemental Blockade Destruction Staff Cast time: InstantDuration: 15 secondsCost: 2,970 Magicka Area Chilled for Minor Maim and Brittle on trash, and armour shred on Chilled targets.	Area Chilled for Minor Maim and Brittle on trash, and armour shred on Chilled targets.
Back 3	Razor Caltrops Assault Cast time: InstantRange: 28 metresDuration: 10 secondsCost: 2,295 Stamina Trash: AoE Major Breach and a snare on the pack, and a Powerful Assault trigger.	Trash: AoE Major Breach and a snare on the pack, and a Powerful Assault trigger.
Back 4	Wield Soul Scribed as Leashing Soul Cast time: InstantRange: 22 metresCost: 4,234 Magicka Scribed as Leashing Soul: the pull, with Major Cowardice.	Scribed as Leashing Soul: the pull, with Major Cowardice.
Back 5	Cruxweaver Armor Soldier of Apocrypha Cast time: InstantDuration: 30 secondsCost: 2,700 Magicka Major Resolve, Minor Breach on attackers, Crux, and the Erudite's Rigor hook.	Major Resolve, Minor Breach on attackers, Crux, and the Erudite's Rigor hook.
Back R	Glyphic of the Tides Curative Runeforms Cast time: InstantRange: 28 metresDuration: 15 secondsCost: 200 Ultimate Group heals and group Major Protection when fully charged.	Group heals and group Major Protection when fully charged.

Scribing

Scribed skill

Leashing Soul

Wield Soul · Pull / Druid's Resurgence / Cowardice

Cast time: Instant
Target: Enemy
Range: 22 metres
Cost: 4,234 Magicka

Pull

Focus script: Deals 2,803 Magic Damage to an enemy, pulls them to you, and taunts them for 16 seconds if they are not already taunted.

Druid's Resurgence

Signature script: Restores 600 Magicka and 600 Stamina.

Cowardice

Affix script: Afflicts the enemy with Major Cowardice for 10 seconds, reducing Weapon and Spell Damage by 430.

Leashing Soul: pulls and taunts an add, refunds 600 Magicka and Stamina, and applies Major Cowardice.

Open the Trash setup in the Build Editor to change skills, gear and stats.

Flex skills

Swap these in when the fight or your group calls for it.

Rune of the Colorless Pool
Minor Vulnerability and Minor Brittle on a single boss for 20 seconds.
Runic Sunder
Only if you drop your taunt. It is a taunt too, so don't slot two.
Charging Maneuver
Group Major Expedition between trash packs.
Rune of Uncanny Adoration
Class pull with Minor Vulnerability. Swap it in for Wield Soul only if you don't have the grimoire yet.
Inner Beast
Update 52: no longer a taunt; it pulls up to 6 enemies to you from 22 metres, for 3,213 Stamina. Good for spread-out packs, alongside Leashing Soul for single casters.

Passives

The passives that shape this build. They come with the skill lines, so there's nothing to slot.

Aegis of the Unseen
Extra Armor while Cruxweaver Armor is on you.
Circumvented Fate
Every Arcanist cast gives the group Minor Evasion against area damage.
Intricate Runeforms
Cheaper, stronger shields from Impervious Runeward and Gibbering Shelter.
Sword and Board
20% more damage blocked with your shield on the front bar.
Undaunted Mettle
6% Max Health, Magicka and Stamina, since your gear has all three armour weights.
Constitution
Health Recovery and a little Magicka and Stamina from each Heavy Armor piece when you take damage.

Gear

The front bar swaps Void Bash for Turning Tide. Goading Throw already keeps Major Maim on the boss, and a single target has nothing to gather, so the extra pieces let Turning Tide work from both bars.

Pick a set for each block. The build's recommended gear is selected to start with.

Body

Chest, hands, waist, legs and feet

Jewellery & back bar

Neck, both rings and the ice staff

Front-bar weapons

One-handed sword and shield

Monster set

Head and shoulders

Buffs and debuffs with this gear

Gold entries come from your gear; the rest come from your skills and passives.

Slots

Slot	Set	Type	Trait	Enchant
Head	Archdruid Devyric Medium (monster)	Medium (monster)	Divines	Prismatic Defense
Shoulders	Archdruid Devyric Light (monster)	Light (monster)	Divines	Prismatic Defense
Chest	Pearlescent Ward Heavy	Heavy	Divines / Reinforced	Prismatic Defense
Hands	Pearlescent Ward Heavy	Heavy	Divines	Prismatic Defense
Waist	Pearlescent Ward Heavy	Heavy	Divines	Prismatic Defense
Legs	Pearlescent Ward Heavy	Heavy	Divines / Reinforced	Prismatic Defense
Feet	Pearlescent Ward Heavy	Heavy	Divines / Reinforced	Prismatic Defense
Neck	Turning Tide Jewellery	Jewellery	Infused	Reduce Spell Cost
Ring 1	Turning Tide Jewellery	Jewellery	Infused	Reduce Spell Cost
Ring 2	Turning Tide Jewellery	Jewellery	Infused	Reduce Spell Cost
Front: main hand	Turning Tide One-handed sword	One-handed sword	Infused	Crusher
Front: off hand	Turning Tide Shield	Shield	Sturdy	Prismatic Defense
Back bar	Turning Tide Ice staff (two-handed)	Ice staff (two-handed)	Infused	Crusher

Sturdy and Divines are interchangeable on armour. Tri-Stat glyphs on jewellery are a fine swap if you need more resources.

What the sets do

Archdruid DevyricMonster

2 pieces · Earthen Root Enclave (veteran) + Undaunted chest

(1 item)Adds 1487 Offensive Penetration.
(2 items)When you deal damage with a Heavy Attack, after 1.2 seconds deal 650 Shock damage to up to 6 enemies in a 7 by 5 meter line on your target, applying Major Vulnerability to them for 7 seconds. Once every 15 seconds.

Pearlescent WardTrial

5 pieces · Dreadsail Reef (High Isle); perfected on veteran

(2 items)Adds 1206 Max Health.
(3 items)Gain Minor Aegis, reducing damage taken from monsters by 5%.
(4 items)Adds 4% Healing Taken.
(5 perfected)Adds 1206 Max Health.
(5 items)You and up to 11 group members gain Pearlescent Ward, which persists through death: up to 180 Weapon and Spell Damage based on how many group members are alive, and up to 66% damage reduction against non-player enemies based on how many are dead.

Turning TideDungeon

5 pieces · Shipwright's Regret (Ascending Tide)

(2 items)Adds 1206 Max Health.
(3 items)Adds 1096 Max Stamina.
(4 items)Adds 1206 Max Health.
(5 items)When you Block, your next Bash within 10 seconds deals 2223 Magic damage to up to 6 enemies in a 5 by 10 meter line and applies Major Vulnerability for 10 seconds. Scales off Max Health. Once every 15 seconds.

Archdruid Devyric often misses moving packs, so the helm becomes a one-piece Magma Incarnate for recovery and the shoulders Spaulder of Ruin: crouch to give up to 6 allies 260 Weapon and Spell Damage. Turning Tide becomes Powerful Assault: you don't want to spend Ultimates on trash, and Razor Caltrops triggers it. Void Bash on the front bar pulls the pack together when you bash with Reverberating Bash, then puts Major Maim on all of it. That's for dungeons: trial adds can't be crowd controlled, so in trials keep the Boss front bar on trash too. The back-bar ice staff takes the Charged trait so Pulsar almost always applies Chilled, and the jewellery goes Swift for running between packs.

Pick a set for each block. The build's recommended gear is selected to start with.

Body

Chest, hands, waist, legs and feet

Jewellery & back bar

Neck, both rings and the ice staff

Front-bar weapons

One-handed sword and shield

Buffs and debuffs with this gear

Gold entries come from your gear; the rest come from your skills and passives.

Slots

Slot	Set	Type	Trait	Enchant
Head	Magma Incarnate Medium (monster)	Medium (monster)	Divines	Prismatic Defense
Shoulders	Spaulder of Ruin Light (mythic)	Light (mythic)	Divines	Prismatic Defense
Chest	Pearlescent Ward Heavy	Heavy	Divines / Reinforced	Prismatic Defense
Hands	Pearlescent Ward Heavy	Heavy	Divines	Prismatic Defense
Waist	Pearlescent Ward Heavy	Heavy	Divines	Prismatic Defense
Legs	Pearlescent Ward Heavy	Heavy	Divines / Reinforced	Prismatic Defense
Feet	Pearlescent Ward Heavy	Heavy	Divines / Reinforced	Prismatic Defense
Neck	Powerful Assault Jewellery	Jewellery	Swift	Reduce Spell Cost
Ring 1	Powerful Assault Jewellery	Jewellery	Swift	Reduce Spell Cost
Ring 2	Powerful Assault Jewellery	Jewellery	Swift	Reduce Spell Cost
Front: main hand	Void Bash One-handed sword	One-handed sword	Infused	Crusher
Front: off hand	Void Bash Shield	Shield	Sturdy	Prismatic Defense
Back bar	Powerful Assault Ice staff (two-handed)	Ice staff (two-handed)	Charged	Crusher

Sturdy and Divines are interchangeable on armour. Tri-Stat glyphs on jewellery are a fine swap if you need more resources.

What the sets do

Magma IncarnateMonster

1 piece · The Dread Cellar (veteran) + Undaunted chest

Only 1 of 2 pieces, so the top bonus is off.

(1 item)Adds 129 Magicka Recovery and 129 Stamina Recovery.
(2 items)When you heal yourself or a group member with a single target heal ability, grant the lowest Health group member within 28 meters Minor Courage and Minor Resolve for 10 seconds. The effect then bounces to a nearby group member within 8 meters, up to 3 times. Once every 15 seconds.

Spaulder of RuinMythic

1 piece · Antiquities (The Deadlands)

(1 item)Crouch to toggle Aura of Pride: up to 6 group members within 12m gain 260 Weapon and Spell Damage, and you lose some Health, Magicka and Stamina Recovery per ally affected.

Pearlescent WardTrial

5 pieces · Dreadsail Reef (High Isle); perfected on veteran

(2 items)Adds 1206 Max Health.
(3 items)Gain Minor Aegis, reducing damage taken from monsters by 5%.
(4 items)Adds 4% Healing Taken.
(5 perfected)Adds 1206 Max Health.
(5 items)You and up to 11 group members gain Pearlescent Ward, which persists through death: up to 180 Weapon and Spell Damage based on how many group members are alive, and up to 66% damage reduction against non-player enemies based on how many are dead.

Powerful AssaultPvP

3 front / 5 back · Imperial City Tel Var merchants

Full bonus on the back bar only.

(2 items)Adds 1206 Max Health.
(3 items)Adds 1096 Max Stamina.
(4 items)Adds 129 Weapon and Spell Damage.
(5 items)When you cast an Assault ability in combat, you and up to 5 group members within 12m gain 307 Weapon and Spell Damage for 15 seconds.

Void BashArena

2 pieces · front bar · Vateshran Hollows (Markarth); perfected on veteran

(2 perfected)Adds 965 Max Health.
(2 items)When you deal damage with Power Bash, you gain Call of the Void for 2 seconds, pulling enemies within 12m to you. When it ends, enemies in the area get Major Maim for 10 seconds. Once every 13 seconds.

Alternative sets

Lucent Echoes
PUG body swap: buffs group crits while you stay above 50% Health.
Powerful Assault
PUG jewellery and weapons for dungeons.
Baron Zaudrus
Monster swap that turns your status effects into Ultimate.
Nazaray
Extends Turning Tide's Major Vulnerability when you cast an Ultimate.

Champion Points

Slottable stars only. Spend passive points in each tree along the path to these stars.

Warfare cuts single-target and direct damage, and Fitness adds Max Health, Armor and stronger shields.

Warfare

Ironclad
Less damage from direct attacks, which covers most boss mechanics.
Duelist's Rebuff
Less damage from single-target hits.
Bulwark
Free Armor with a shield or frost staff. Swap for Enduring Resolve at the armour cap.
Focused Mending
Stronger single-target heals, which boosts your own self-heals and Goading Throw's heal.

Fitness

Boundless Vitality
Max Health scales every shield.
Fortified
Armor until you hit the cap.
Bastion
Runeward and Gibbering Shelter shields hit much harder.
Rejuvenation
Recovery for all three resources.

Craft

Steed's Blessing
Run between pulls faster.
Gifted Rider
Faster mount.

Celerity replaces Rejuvenation so you get between packs faster.

Warfare

Ironclad
Less damage from direct attacks, which covers most boss mechanics.
Duelist's Rebuff
Less damage from single-target hits.
Bulwark
Free Armor with a shield or frost staff. Swap for Enduring Resolve at the armour cap.
Focused Mending
Stronger single-target heals, which boosts your own self-heals and Goading Throw's heal.

Fitness

Boundless Vitality
Max Health scales every shield.
Fortified
Armor until you hit the cap.
Bastion
Runeward and Gibbering Shelter shields hit much harder.
Celerity
Trash: movement speed for running between packs.

Craft

Steed's Blessing
Run between pulls faster.
Gifted Rider
Faster mount.

Good swaps

Unassailable
Less AoE damage taken. Swap it in for Focused Mending on fights where the damage is mostly area attacks.
Enduring Resolve
Less damage over time. Swap it in for Bulwark once you're at the armour cap, or for fights that are mostly damage over time.

Race

Nord
Max Health, Armor and Ultimate whenever you take damage.

Mundus

The Atronach
Magicka Recovery, since most of a tank's casts cost Magicka.
below the armour capThe Lady
Adds Armor. Take it over The Atronach while your gear and CP leave you short of the armour cap.

Attributes

64 Health

Max Health is what every heal and shield you cast scales from. Food, mundus and Reduce Spell Cost jewellery cover your Magicka and Stamina. Keep Max Stamina above Max Magicka, though: the Combustion synergy restores whichever is higher, and you want it to be Stamina. If passives or sets push your Magicka up, put just enough points into Stamina to stay ahead and the rest into Health.

Food

defaultJewels of Misrule
Max Health with Magicka and Stamina Recovery, at a fraction of the price of Bear Haunch.
bestOrzorga's Smoked Bear Haunch
Adds Health Recovery on top, so it's slightly better, but it costs much more.

Potions

Essence of Health
Tri-stat: restores Health, Magicka and Stamina at once.
situationalHeroism potion
Minor Heroism for more Ultimate, when your resources hold up without tri-stats.

Gameplay

1Taunt the boss with Shield Throw (Goading Throw) every 10 seconds for Major Maim; taunt trash with Unstoppable Brute. Pull adds and casters with Wield Soul.
2Keep Cruxweaver Armor and Runeguard of Still Waters up at all times; both last 20–30 seconds.
3Cast Evolving Runemend to build Crux between spikes, then spend it on Impervious Runeward heals when you get hit hard.
4Keep Zenas' Empowering Disc under the group; its buffs stay with them for 10 seconds after they leave it.
5Keep Elemental Susceptibility on the boss and Elemental Blockade under it for Breach and status effects.
6Block a heavy hit, then bash: Turning Tide cleaves a line and applies Major Vulnerability (once every 15s). Turning Tide is a boss set; the Trash setup wears Powerful Assault instead.
7Use Glyphic of the Tides on cooldown for group value; save Gibbering Shelter for burst phases.
8Agree with your group who brings Major Force so it isn't doubled up.

FAQ

What does the Arcanist tank bring to the group?

On bosses it gives the group 8 buffs, including Major Force, Major Vitality and Major Protection, and puts 9 debuffs, including Major Breach, Major Vulnerability, Major Cowardice and Major Maim on the boss. The full list is under Overview.

What's the difference between the Boss and Trash setups?

Bosses taunt with the scribed Shield Throw (Goading Throw) for its heal and Major Maim. Trash taunts the whole pack with Unstoppable Brute and swaps in skills and gear for packs of adds.

Why doesn't the Arcanist tank slot Runic Sunder?

It would be a second taunt. The build taunts with Shield Throw on bosses and Unstoppable Brute on trash, and builds Crux with Evolving Runemend and Cruxweaver Armor instead.