This is a Nightblade tanking build for ESO, intended for most players. The build is updated for Elsweyr. If you have any questions about the Nightblade tanking build, leave a comment below.
Nightblade tanks using Heavy Armor have great survivability along with good group support.
See our ESO Builds section for more builds.
Nightblade Tank Build Index
Guide Contents
Nightblade Tank Build Basics
Best Nightblade Tank Race: Nord > Argonian > Imperial > Orc
Nightblade Tank Attributes: 21 Magicka – 10 Health – 33 Stamina
You attribute will vary a lot. Allocate them to get Magicka, Health and Stamina pools to suit your style.
Should I play as a Vampire as a Nightblade Tank: Yes (optional).
Best Mundus Stone for a Nightblade Tank: The Lord (Health)
Best Potion for Nightblade Tanks: Tri-Stat (Bugloss, Columbine and Mountain Flower)
Best Food for Nightblade Tanks: Longfin Pasty with Melon Sauce
Nightblade Tank Build Skills
What are the best weapons to use as a Nightblade Tank? It is recommended that you have one bar for one handed and shield, and one bar for either lightning or frost staves.
Nightblade Tank Main Bar – One Handed and Shield Skills:
Slot 1: Heroic Slash
Slot 2: Pierce Armor
Slot 3: Dark Cloak
Slot 4: Deep Thoughts
Slot 5: Funnel Health
Ultimate: Bolstering Darkness
Nightblade Tank Alternate Bar – Lightning / Frost Staff:
Slot 1: Silver Leash
Slot 2: Inner Rage
Slot 3: Refreshing Path
Slot 4: Elemental Blockage
Slot 5: Mirage
Ultimate: Soul Siphon
Nightblade Tank Build Passive Skills
Assassination Passives: All
Shadow Passives: All
Siphoning Passives: All
One Hand and Shield Passives: All
Destruction Staff Passives: All
Heavy Armor Passives: All
Medium Armor Passives: Dexterity – Wind Walker – Improved Sneak – Athletics
Light Armor Passives: Recovery – Evocation – Spell Warding – Grace
Vampire Passives: Supernatural Recovery – Undeath – Unnatural Resistance – Dark Stalker
Fighters Guild Passives: Banish the Wicked
Mages Guild Passives: Mage Adept – Everlasting Will – Magicka Controller
Psijic Order Passives: Concentrated Barrier – Deliberation
Undaunted Passives: All
Racial Passives: All
Nightblade Tank Build Champion Points
The first bolded number indicated below is for a
If you need to gain more champion points fast, see our ESO Leveling Guide.
The Mage Champion Points (Blue)
The Apprentice: 100 (100) Blessed
The Ritual: 40 Precise Strikes – 10 Piercing
The Atronach: 47 Physical Weapons Expert – 73 Master-At-Arms
The Thief Champion Points (Green)
The Shadow: 81 (44) Shadow Ward – 60 Tumbling
The Lover: 43 (43) Tenacity
The Tower: 56 (13) Warlord – 21 Bashing Focus – 9 Sprinter
The Warrior Champion Points (Red)
The Lady: 56 (27) Hardy – 56 (27) Elemental Defender – 56 (2) Thick Skinned
The Steed: 72 (44) Ironclad
The Lord: 18 Bastion – 12 Heavy Armor Focus
Nightblade Tank Build Gear
There is a lot of Nightblade Tank gear to choose from. Below is a selection of viable gear, and below that a suggested end-game setup.
- Battalion Defender – Rewards of the Worthy /
Guildstore - Bloodspawn – Spindleclutch
- Ebon Armory – Crypts of Hearts
- Fortified Brass – Crafted
- Lord Warden – Imperial City Prison
- Night’s Silence – Crafted
- Plague Doctor – Deshaan /
Guildstore -
Roar of Alkosh – Maw of Lorkhaj - Swarm Mother – Spindleclutch 1
- Torug’s Pact – Crafted
If you need gold to buy gear for your build, check out our ESO Gold Farming Guide, with tips on how to make tons of ESO gold.
Head: Lord Warden – Night’s Silence – Blood Spawn Weight: Heavy Trait: Infused Enchant: Prismatic
Shoulders: Lord Warden – Night’s Silence – Blood Spawn Weight: Heavy Trait: Sturdy Enchantment: Health
Chest: Battalion Defender – Torug’s Pact – Ebon Armory – Fortified Brass Weight: Heavy Trait: Reinforced Enchant: Prismatic
Gloves: Battalion Defender – Torug’s Pact – Ebon Armory – Fortified Brass Weight: Medium Trait: Sturdy Enchant: Health
Legs: Battalion Defender – Torug’s Pact – Ebon Armory – Fortified Brass Weight: Heavy Trait: Infused Enchant: Prismatic
Belt: Battalion Defender – Torug’s Pact – Ebon Armory – Fortified Brass Weight: Light Trait: Sturdy Enchant: Health
Boots: Battalion Defender – Torug’s Pact – Ebon Armory – Fortified Brass Weight: Heavy Trait: Sturdy Enchant: Health
Necklace: Akaviri Dragonguard – Ebon Armory – Torug’s Pact – Warrior-Poet Type: Jewelry Trait: Healthy Enchant: Reduced Block Cost
Rings: Akaviri Dragonguard – Ebon Armory – Torug’s Pact – Warrior-Poet Trait: Healthy Enchant: Magicka Recovery
One Hand Weapon: Battalion Defender – Akaviri Dragonguard – Battalion Defender – Warrior-Poet Trait: Infused Enchant: Absorb Stamina
Shield: Battalion Defender – Akaviri Dragonguard – Battalion Defender – Warrior-Poet Trait: Infused Enchant: Prismatic
Two Hand Weapon: Battalion Defender – Akaviri Dragonguard – Battalion Defender – Warrior-Poet Trait: Crusher Enchant: Prismatic
This Nightblade Tank build is continuously updated, leave a comment if you have any questions or suggestions!