Dark Soul – ESO Templar Tank Build

Build Overview

They finally did it. They completely nerfed a fully functioning, successful ESO Templar tank build.

Or… did they?

The short version is that the Lazy Tank was designed to take advantage of non–crowd-control-based pulls, combined with heavy snares and stuns to replicate an immobilisation that the Templar class clearly lacked (until they altered Shards).

At the same time, it leaned on a set that allowed you to taunt via direct damage. Explosive Charge could hit multiple targets, meaning that on impact they were all taunted — jump, taunt, pull, stun. Easy.

Not anymore.

🔧 The Nerf (and Why It Happened)

For years, the developers were clear: they did not want an AoE taunt in the game. Tanks are meant to make decisions, not press one button and hold block. We had fun with it for a while, but the oversight was eventually addressed.

The functionality was a side effect of a system that had to be carefully altered and was never intended. As a result, it was removed.

The Tormentor set still applies a taunt on charge abilities — but now only to the first target hit.

The Lazy Tank, as people knew it, was gone.

🔥 Adapt or Die

But we don’t give up that easily — not in a game built around adaptation and growth. The Lazy Tank dies, and in its place, Dark Soul rises.

This is the Lazy Tank and then some. With the removal of AoE taunting as a design constraint, new opportunities opened up — not just to recover the build, but to improve it.

⚡ Update 44 Changes Everything

With Update 44, Explosive Charge was changed and now includes a taunt baked directly into the skill. That means Tormentor is no longer required at all.

More constraints lifted means more freedom — and more fun. The result is a build that is stronger and tougher than ever.

One jump now taunts the first target, grants Minor and Major Protection, triggers Burning Light, interrupts and stuns channeling enemies, sets targets Off Balance, pulls them together, and causes a bleed explosion afterward via a specific set. BANGIN!

🗡️ Training Wheels Off

With AoE taunting gone, the build shifted toward deeper interaction with status effects and control. It’s no longer ultra-simple — but that added complexity makes you stronger.

On the back bar, we now use dual wield — specifically Blackrose weapons (available even on normal difficulty).

Quick Cloak provides a 20% reduction to all AoE damage for 30 seconds, adds constant AoE damage, fires two glyphs on cooldown, and provides additional damage reduction and amplification.

🩸 Bleed, Heal, Repeat

Using dual wield also unlocks Rend as a back-bar ultimate — a 16-second bleed per target that guarantees Haemorrhage every tick and heals you for over 53% of all damage done per target, depending on buffs.

The result overall with the build changes? You take far less damage, heal a ridiculous amount, gain powerful damage shields in crowds, and maintain constant stuns thanks to a monster set that triggers repeatedly.

Jump. Pull. Stun. Bleed. Don’t die. It’s honestly nuts.

📈 Stronger Than Ever

Some may argue that dual wield weakens tanking due to lost weapon passives — but Champion Points cover that gap with Bracing Anchor. The back bar gains tankiness, while the front bar gains even more block mitigation.

Total block mitigation reaches roughly 79% before additional group buffs.

On top of that, this build now excels in the Infinite Archive. Rend applies constant bleed status effects, enabling control and massive shredding potential — even as a tank.

And yes — we even added an execute. It works, and it heals you too.

Hopefully you enjoy this new and improved Templar tank, reviving what many assumed was a dead build.

📌 Key Notes

• High resistances that are cheap to apply and easy to maintain.
• Area-of-effect pulls without built-in stuns.
• Area-of-effect stuns once targets are grouped.
• Excellent mobility and control with an aggressive playstyle.
• Status effects on demand from skills that also heal you.
• Easy gear acquisition via normal difficulty and tradeable options.
• Strong sustain while blocking through Rune and Repentance.
• No more struggling with large add pulls.
• Dominates Infinite Archive when stacking Focused Efforts.

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