What This ESO Dungeon Tank Build Is Designed For
Companions in The Elder Scrolls Online can do far more than just assist in overland content. With the right setup, they can function as durable frontline tanks capable of handling solo play, world bosses, standard dungeons, and even normal trial encounters.
This build focuses entirely on survivability. Rather than trying to force companions into utility roles they struggle to perform, it turns them into reliable damage sponges that hold enemy attention and stay alive under pressure.
Companion tanks are not a replacement for real player tanks. They rely on cooldown-based abilities, do not block consistently, and require player healing support to survive sustained damage. However, when built correctly, they are more than capable of supporting most early and normal-level PvE content.
This guide explains how to build any ESO companion into a durable tank that can comfortably assist you through solo adventures, group dungeons, and normal trials.
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ESO Companion Tank Tier List (Survivability Test)
To rank each companion objectively, we tested them as dedicated tanks against Saint Olms in the normal Asylum Sanctorium trial. Each companion was placed directly in front of the boss and left completely unsupported — no player healing, no external mitigation, and no repositioning.
We then measured how long they survived under continuous boss pressure using only their own defensive skills and cooldowns.
This ranking reflects raw survivability and aggro stability under sustained damage, not damage output or utility potential.
Best Survival
- Bastian Hallix
- Isobel Veloise
- Tanlorin
These companions consistently survived the longest during testing. Their defensive tools and mitigation patterns allow them to absorb sustained pressure more reliably than the others.
Reliable With Support
- Sharp-as-Night
- Zerith-var
- Azandar
Solid survivability overall, but slightly less stable during prolonged damage phases. They perform well in most PvE content, especially with light player healing or occasional support.
Limited Survivability
- Ember
- Mirri Elendis
While fully playable in overland and casual PvE, these companions showed shorter survival windows during sustained pressure. They require more active player support to function as tanks and may be better suited to damage-focused roles.
Companion Gear – Why Vigorous Is Best for Tanking
| Piece | Set | Weight | Trait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head | Companion’s Helmet | Heavy | Vigorous |
| Shoulder | Companion’s Pauldrons | Heavy | Vigorous |
| Chest | Companion’s Cuirass | Heavy | Vigorous |
| Hands | Companion’s Gauntlets | Heavy | Vigorous |
| Waist | Companion’s Girdle | Heavy | Vigorous |
| Legs | Companion’s Greaves | Heavy | Vigorous |
| Feet | Companion’s Sabatons | Heavy | Vigorous |
| Necklace | Companion’s Necklace | Jewellery | Vigorous |
| Ring | Companion’s Ring | Jewellery | Vigorous |
| Ring | Companion’s Ring | Jewellery | Vigorous |
| Main Hand | Companion’s Sword | Sword | Vigorous |
| Off Hand | Companion’s Shield | Shield | Vigorous |
In testing under sustained boss pressure, stacking Vigorous (Max Health) across all 12 gear pieces provided the greatest survivability increase.
Max Health improves durability in two key ways:
- A larger health pool absorbs more burst damage.
- Many companion shields and self-heals scale directly from Max Health, improving survival.
Full Max Health stacking consistently outperformed cooldown reduction and flat damage reduction traits. Mixed setups also resulted in shorter survival times.
Heavy Armor (7 pieces):
2900 Armor per piece (20,300 base resistances before buffs).
Vigorous (Purple, 12 pieces total):
2.6% Max Health per piece, allowing companions to reach close to 40k Max Health when fully stacked.
Companion Skills – Prioritising Survivability
This build focuses entirely on defensive uptime rather than utility. While companions have access to chains, immobilises, and group buffs, those abilities often have long cooldowns and provide inconsistent value under sustained pressure. A defensive ability that cycles frequently will always outperform situational utility in a survivability-focused setup.
Companions activate abilities from left to right on their skill bar, using any skill that is off cooldown. Because of this, skill positioning directly affects how they survive. Defensive abilities placed earlier in the bar will trigger more consistently, while emergency heals positioned later are less likely to be wasted too early in a fight.
The goal is simple: maximise damage reduction and self-sustain uptime so the companion requires minimal player support, even during prolonged boss encounters.
Bastian Hallix
Mirri Elendis
Ember
Isobel Veloise
Azandar Al-Cybiades
Sharp-as-Night
Zerith-var
Tanlorin
ESO Companion Tank FAQ
How do you unlock companions in ESO?
Companions are unlocked by completing specific quests tied to each character. Most are available through Chapter zones such as Blackwood, High Isle, Necrom, or Gold Road. Once unlocked, they can be summoned in most PvE areas and equipped with their own gear and skills.
Why use a companion tank instead of a player tank?
Companion tanks are ideal for solo players or small groups who don’t have access to a dedicated tank. While they cannot replace a real player in Veteran or hard mode content, they provide reliable survivability for overland, dungeons, and normal trials.
Can companions tank dungeons in ESO?
Yes. With a survivability-focused setup, companions can reliably tank normal group dungeons and most early-game PvE content. They are not a replacement for player tanks in Veteran or hard mode content.
Which companion is best for tanking?
Based on survivability testing against Saint Olms in normal Asylum Sanctorium, Bastian Hallix and Isobel Veloise performed the strongest as dedicated tank builds.
Can companions tank trials in ESO?
Companions can survive some normal trial encounters with proper support, but they cannot handle mechanics or positioning like a real player tank. They are not really suitable for trials.
Does companion gear matter for tanking?
Yes. Stacking Vigorous (Max Health) across all 12 gear pieces significantly improves survivability, especially when combined with 7 pieces of Heavy Armor.
Do companions block attacks like player tanks?
Yes, but not in the same way. Companions will block certain key attacks (most commonly charged heavy attacks and some mechanics), but they won’t block consistently like a player tank. That’s why stacking Max Health and maintaining defensive skill uptime matters so much.
Useful Links
- Explore more ESO Tank Builds
- New to tanking? Learn how to Tank in ESO
- ESO Tank Gear Guide
- Visit The Tank Club ESO Hub
- Looking for something new? Browse the Best Console MMORPGs for 2026
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