Nightblade Tank

A sustain-first shadow brawler. Siphoning Attacks and Dark Cloak keep you topped up, Blinding Flare and a scribed Ulfsild's Contingency cut the damage you take, and Share the Spoils feeds Ultimate to the group.

Update 52 (PTS)PvE · TankPure classAdvancedLast 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

The Nightblade tank leans on sustain. Siphoning Attacks turns your damage into Health, Magicka and Stamina on both bars, and Dark Cloak is a strong heal over time that heals much more while you're bracing. Every Shadow cast (Dark Cloak and Refreshing Path) refreshes Shadow Barrier's Major Resolve.

Defence comes from two front-bar slots: Blinding Flare gives Major Protection just for being slotted, and a scribed Ulfsild's Contingency shields you and nearby allies, cuts your damage taken by 8% and adds Minor Resolve. With the Cutthroat's Focus mastery, casting a Nightblade skill while blocking makes you dodge attacks, and enemies you dodge take 5% more damage.

For the group, Refreshing Path gives Major Expedition, Minor Intellect and Minor Endurance, a scribed Trample gives you Major Heroism and leaves a speed zone, and Aggressive Horn brings Major Force. Share the Spoils makes every Siphoning Attacks cast send Ultimate and resources to your group. Reviving Barrier covers raid-wide damage.

Strengths

Excellent sustain from Siphoning Attacks and strong healing while blocking from Dark Cloak.
Very high Ultimate generation for yourself and the group through Trample's Major Heroism, Transfer and Share the Spoils.
Cutthroat's Focus is a unique tank damage debuff.

Weaknesses

No class Major Breach, Maim or Vulnerability. The pull, Cowardice, Heroism and the shield come from Scribing.
Cutthroat's Focus needs Nightblade casts while blocking, so it takes good timing.
Needs the Scribing system unlocked and three grimoires scribed.

Buffs and debuffs you bring on bosses

Keeps you alive

Your group gets

Enemies get

Class Mastery

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

Cutthroat's Focus
Dodge attacks while blocking; dodged attackers take 5% more damage.
Share the Spoils
Siphoning casts send Ultimate and resources to your group through Transfer.

Tip

For progression, swap Share the Spoils for

An Eye for Exploitation for more survivability.

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 Nightblade changes for tanks 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

Keeps you alive

Your group gets

Enemies get

Front bar

One hand & shield · War Machine

1

2

3

4

5

R

Back bar

Ice staff · War Machine

1

2

3

4

5

R

Slot	Skill	Why it's slotted
Front 1	Siphoning Attacks Siphoning Cast time: InstantCost: 4,000 Health Sustain on both bars, and a Siphoning cast for Transfer and Share the Spoils.	Sustain on both bars, and a Siphoning cast for Transfer and Share the Spoils.
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	Dark Cloak Shadow Cast time: InstantDuration: 3 secondsCost: 4,050 Magicka Your heal over time. Much stronger while blocking; Minor Protection on both bars, and a Shadow cast for Shadow Barrier.	Your heal over time. Much stronger while blocking; Minor Protection on both bars, and a Shadow cast for Shadow Barrier.
Front 4	Ulfsild's Contingency Scribed as Warding Contingency Cast time: InstantDuration: 22 secondsCost: 2,808 Magicka Scribed: a shield for you and nearby allies on your next cast, 8% less damage taken, and Minor Resolve.	Scribed: a shield for you and nearby allies on your next cast, 8% less damage taken, and Minor Resolve.
Front 5	Blinding Flare Support Cast time: InstantRange: 28 metresDuration: 5 secondsCost: 5,130 Magicka Major Protection (10% less damage taken) just for having it slotted. Cast it to stun enemies it reveals.	Major Protection (10% less damage taken) just for having it slotted. Cast it to stun enemies it reveals.
Front R	Reviving Barrier Support Cast time: InstantDuration: 30 secondsCost: 250 Ultimate Shields you and nearby group members and heals them, for raid-wide damage.	Shields you and nearby group members and heals them, for raid-wide damage.
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	Trample Scribed as Magical Trample Cast time: 1.5 secondsDuration: 2 secondsCost: 3,046 Magicka Scribed: Major Heroism for Ultimate and a speed zone for you and your allies.	Scribed: Major Heroism for Ultimate and a speed zone for you and your allies.
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	Refreshing Path Shadow Cast time: InstantDuration: 10 secondsCost: 3,510 Magicka Group Major Expedition, Minor Intellect and Endurance, a HoT, and a Shadow cast for Shadow Barrier.	Group Major Expedition, Minor Intellect and Endurance, a HoT, and a Shadow cast for Shadow Barrier.
Back R	Aggressive Horn Assault Cast time: InstantDuration: 30 secondsCost: 250 Ultimate Major Force for the group, and it triggers War Machine.	Major Force for the group, and it triggers War Machine.

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

Warding Contingency

Ulfsild's Contingency · Damage Shield / Gladiator's Tenacity / Resolve

Cast time: Instant
Target: Self
Duration: 22 seconds
Cost: 2,808 Magicka

Damage Shield

Focus script: Grants a damage shield to you and your allies that absorbs 5,622 damage for 8 seconds, scaling off the higher of your Max Health or Magicka and capped at 55% of your Max Health.

Gladiator's Tenacity

Signature script: Reduces damage taken by 8% for 8 seconds.

Resolve

Affix script: Grants Minor Resolve for 22 seconds, increasing Physical and Spell Resistance by 2,974.

Warding Contingency: a shield for you and nearby allies on your next cast, Gladiator's Tenacity for 8% less damage taken for 8 seconds, and Minor Resolve for 22 seconds. Shadow Barrier already covers Major Resolve.

Scribed skill

Magical Trample

Trample · Magic Damage / Thief's Swiftness / Heroism

Cast time: 1.5 seconds
Target: Area
Radius: 5 metres
Duration: 2 seconds
Cost: 3,046 Magicka

Magic Damage

Focus script: Deals 6,233 Magic Damage to all enemies.

Thief's Swiftness

Signature script: Leaves behind an area of speed for 10 seconds which increases the Movement Speed of you and your allies within by 15%.

Heroism

Affix script: Grants you Major Heroism for 10 seconds, generating 3 Ultimate every 1.5 seconds.

Major Heroism for 10 seconds (3 Ultimate every 1.5 seconds) and a 15% speed zone for the group. Blinding Flare already covers Major Protection, so don't take the Protection affix here.

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 Trample for AoE Major Breach. Reverberating Bash replaces Blinding Flare to trigger Void Bash and stack the pack.

What this setup brings

Keeps you alive

Your group gets

Enemies get

Front bar

One hand & shield · Void Bash

1

2

3

4

5

R

Back bar

Ice staff · Powerful Assault

1

2

3

4

5

R

Slot	Skill	Why it's slotted
Front 1	Siphoning Attacks Siphoning Cast time: InstantCost: 4,000 Health Sustain on both bars, and a Siphoning cast for Transfer and Share the Spoils.	Sustain on both bars, and a Siphoning cast for Transfer and Share the Spoils.
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	Dark Cloak Shadow Cast time: InstantDuration: 3 secondsCost: 4,050 Magicka Your heal over time. Much stronger while blocking; Minor Protection on both bars, and a Shadow cast for Shadow Barrier.	Your heal over time. Much stronger while blocking; Minor Protection on both bars, and a Shadow cast for Shadow Barrier.
Front 4	Ulfsild's Contingency Scribed as Warding Contingency Cast time: InstantDuration: 22 secondsCost: 2,808 Magicka Scribed: a shield for you and nearby allies on your next cast, 8% less damage taken, and Minor Resolve.	Scribed: a shield for you and nearby allies on your next cast, 8% less damage taken, and Minor Resolve.
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	Reviving Barrier Support Cast time: InstantDuration: 30 secondsCost: 250 Ultimate Shields you and nearby group members and heals them, for raid-wide damage.	Shields you and nearby group members and heals them, for raid-wide damage.
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	Refreshing Path Shadow Cast time: InstantDuration: 10 secondsCost: 3,510 Magicka Group Major Expedition, Minor Intellect and Endurance, a HoT, and a Shadow cast for Shadow Barrier.	Group Major Expedition, Minor Intellect and Endurance, a HoT, and a Shadow cast for Shadow Barrier.
Back R	Aggressive Horn Assault Cast time: InstantDuration: 30 secondsCost: 250 Ultimate Major Force for the group, and it triggers War Machine.	Major Force for the group, and it triggers War Machine.

Scribing

Scribed skill

Warding Contingency

Ulfsild's Contingency · Damage Shield / Gladiator's Tenacity / Resolve

Cast time: Instant
Target: Self
Duration: 22 seconds
Cost: 2,808 Magicka

Damage Shield

Focus script: Grants a damage shield to you and your allies that absorbs 5,622 damage for 8 seconds, scaling off the higher of your Max Health or Magicka and capped at 55% of your Max Health.

Gladiator's Tenacity

Signature script: Reduces damage taken by 8% for 8 seconds.

Resolve

Affix script: Grants Minor Resolve for 22 seconds, increasing Physical and Spell Resistance by 2,974.

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.

Mirage
Major Evasion and Minor Resolve for 20 seconds, and another Shadow cast, in place of Trample.
Bolstering Darkness
Group Major Protection instead of Reviving Barrier, if your healers cover raid-wide damage.
Soul Burst
Scribed group shield with Minor Courage, in place of Ulfsild's Contingency.
Shrewd Offering
A second Siphoning cast for Share the Spoils, in place of Refreshing Path.
Soul Harvest
Front-bar Ultimate for trash: Ultimate on every kill.
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.

Shadow Barrier
Your Major Resolve. Recast Dark Cloak or Refreshing Path to keep it up.
Dark Vigor
Max Health for each Shadow skill slotted.
Transfer
Siphoning Attacks builds Ultimate, and Share the Spoils passes it to the group.
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 War Machine. Goading Throw already keeps Major Maim on the boss, and a single target has nothing to gather, so the extra pieces let War Machine 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)	Sturdy	Prismatic Defense
Shoulders	Archdruid Devyric Light (monster)	Light (monster)	Sturdy	Prismatic Defense
Chest	Lucent Echoes Heavy	Heavy	Reinforced	Prismatic Defense
Hands	Lucent Echoes Heavy	Heavy	Sturdy	Prismatic Defense
Waist	Lucent Echoes Heavy	Heavy	Sturdy	Prismatic Defense
Legs	Lucent Echoes Heavy	Heavy	Reinforced	Prismatic Defense
Feet	Lucent Echoes Heavy	Heavy	Reinforced	Prismatic Defense
Neck	War Machine Jewellery	Jewellery	Infused	Reduce Spell Cost
Ring 1	War Machine Jewellery	Jewellery	Infused	Reduce Spell Cost
Ring 2	War Machine Jewellery	Jewellery	Infused	Reduce Spell Cost
Front: main hand	War Machine One-handed sword	One-handed sword	Infused	Crusher
Front: off hand	War Machine Shield	Shield	Sturdy	Prismatic Defense
Back bar	War Machine 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.

Lucent EchoesTrial

5 pieces · Lucent Citadel (Gold Road); perfected on veteran

(2 items)Adds 4% Healing Taken.
(3 items)Gain Minor Aegis, reducing damage taken from monsters by 5%.
(4 items)Adds 1206 Max Health.
(5 perfected)Adds 1206 Max Health.
(5 items)While you are above 50% Health, group members within 28m who aren't wearing Lucent Echoes gain 11% Critical Damage and Critical Healing. At 50% Health or below, you take 20% less damage from monsters.

War MachineTrial

5 pieces · Halls of Fabrication (Morrowind)

(2 items)Adds 1096 Max Stamina.
(3 items)Gain Minor Slayer, increasing damage done to monsters by 5%.
(4 items)Adds 129 Weapon and Spell Damage.
(5 items)When you use an Ultimate in combat, you and the closest 5 group members within 28m gain Major Slayer for 1 second per 10 Ultimate spent, increasing damage done to monsters by 10%.

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. Lucent Echoes becomes Turning Tide for short pulls: block, then bash, to cleave the pack and give it Major Vulnerability. War Machine 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.

Keeps you alive

Your group gets

Enemies get

Slots

Slot	Set	Type	Trait	Enchant
Head	Magma Incarnate Medium (monster)	Medium (monster)	Sturdy	Prismatic Defense
Shoulders	Spaulder of Ruin Light (mythic)	Light (mythic)	Sturdy	Prismatic Defense
Chest	Turning Tide Heavy	Heavy	Reinforced	Prismatic Defense
Hands	Turning Tide Heavy	Heavy	Sturdy	Prismatic Defense
Waist	Turning Tide Heavy	Heavy	Sturdy	Prismatic Defense
Legs	Turning Tide Heavy	Heavy	Reinforced	Prismatic Defense
Feet	Turning Tide Heavy	Heavy	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.

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.

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

Powerful Assault
Dungeon swap for War Machine. Aggressive Horn and Trample both trigger it.
Turning Tide
Extra Major Vulnerability from block-then-bash, which fits this playstyle.

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

Fortified
Armor until you hit the cap.
Bastion
Stronger Ulfsild's Contingency and Reviving Barrier shields.
Celerity
Movement speed, which also offsets Bracing Anchor.
Bracing Anchor
You block more damage, which suits a tank that lives behind its shield. It costs 16% Movement Speed in combat; swap it for Boundless Vitality if that bothers you.

Craft

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

Boundless Vitality replaces Bracing Anchor, whose movement speed penalty hurts between packs.

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

Fortified
Armor until you hit the cap.
Bastion
Stronger Ulfsild's Contingency and Reviving Barrier shields.
Celerity
Movement speed, which also offsets Bracing Anchor.
Boundless Vitality
Trash: Max Health in place of Bracing Anchor, which would slow you 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

1Open with Shield Throw (Goading Throw) on the boss and recast it every 10 seconds; on trash open with Unstoppable Brute, then chain adds in with Wield Soul. On unpullable enemies, use it just for Major Cowardice.
2Fight from the front bar so Blinding Flare's Major Protection stays up. Prime Ulfsild's Contingency before big hits, and cast Dark Cloak while blocking so it heals harder and Cutthroat's Focus fires.
3Cast Siphoning Attacks often: it keeps your resources up and feeds Transfer and Share the Spoils.
4On the back bar, keep Elemental Susceptibility on the boss, recast Trample for Major Heroism, and drop Refreshing Path under the group. Each Shadow cast refreshes Shadow Barrier.
5Heavy Attack about every 15 seconds to trigger Archdruid Devyric.
6Use Reviving Barrier for raid-wide damage and Aggressive Horn for burns; every Ultimate also triggers War Machine's Major Slayer. On trash you wear Powerful Assault instead, so save Ultimates for the bosses.

FAQ

What does the Nightblade tank bring to the group?

On bosses it gives the group 6 buffs, including Major Force, Major Expedition and Major Slayer, and puts 8 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.

Is the Nightblade tank hard to play?

It's the hardest here. Your Major Resolve only lasts while you keep casting Shadow skills (Dark Cloak and Refreshing Path), and your sustain depends on keeping Siphoning Attacks running.