Nightblades, while possessing notable strengths as tanks, are not frequently used for tanking in The Elder Scrolls Online.

Nightblade tanking peaked years ago during the “Sap Tank” era for dungeons and saw some popularity in trials during the Elsweyr chapter, particularly in the Sunspire trial.

Their limited appeal stems from a lack of unique group benefits and redundancy in group buffing when another Nightblade is present. The Minor Savagery group buff is desirable but typically provided by other roles.

Despite this, Nightblades excel at mitigating damage with strong AoE debuffs and defensive passives, making them effective in high-damage situations. Recent updates have improved their healing and sustain, alleviating many of the issues previously faced by Nightblade tanks.

The scribing system also plays a crucial role, replacing Silver Leash with a Magicka pull option and adding potential for an immobilization skill, which helps Nightblades compete with other classes in dungeon content. They still lack in useful group benefits, however.

Nightblades shine in building Ultimate quickly, one of their biggest strengths. While not a popular choice and often overlooked in organized group content, Nightblades can be a fun, niche class for those who enjoy significant damage reduction and rapid Ultimate generation.

• Great damage mitigation with built in buffs
• Good sustain for experienced players
• Nice healing over time especially in static fights
• Fast Ultimate regeneration
• Good for AoE debuffing

• No burst heal
• Lack of useful buffs
• Only group buff is easily replaced by having one other Nightblade in a group
• All buffs and debuffs are obtained easier by other sources
• Not as beginner friendly as other classes

• Hemorrhage – Minor Savagery
• Lotus Fan – AoE Minor Vulnerability
• Refreshing Path – AoE Major Expedition, Minor Endurance & Minor Intellect
• Mass Hysteria – AoE Major Cowardice
• Power Extraction – AoE Minor Cowardice
• Dark Shade – AoE Minor Maim
• Soul Siphon – Group Major Vitality
• Bolstering Darkness – Group Major Protection

Nord
Argonian

The Atronach

64 Health

Orzorga’s Red Frothgar

Tri-Stat Potion
Heroism Potion

Bosses

Adds

• • Assassination: Executioner, Pressure Points, Hemorrhage
  • Shadow: Refreshing Shadows, Shadow Barrier, Dark Vigor, Dark Veil
  • Siphoning: Catalyst, Magicka Flood, Soul Siphoner, Transfer
  • One Hand and Shield: Fortress, Sword and Board, Deadly Bash, Deflect Bolts, Battlefield Mobility
  • Destruction Staff: Elemental Force, Ancient Knowledge, Destruction Expert
  • Light Armor: Light Armor Bonuses, Light Armor Penalties
    Grace, Evocation, Spell Warding
  • Medium Armor: Medium Armor Bonuses
    Dexterity, Wind Walker, Athletics
  • Heavy Armor: Heavy Armor Bonuses, Heavy Armor Penalties
    Resolve, Constitution, Juggernaut, Revitalize, Rapid Mending
  • Fighters Guild: Intimidating Presence
  • Undaunted: Banish the Wicked, Undaunted Mettle
  • Support: Magicka Aid
  • Racial: All
  • Alchemy: Medicinal Use

The Nightblade class script is quite beneficial as it restores resources and can increase your Crit Chance. This is important because it helps to proc the Hemorrhage passive, which is one of the few unique group benefits of a Nightblade.

Nightblades can gain significant benefits from scribing, acquiring three useful tools: a Magicka-costing pull, an AoE immobilize, and a damage shield skill. These abilities are missing from the base Nightblade toolkit and significantly improve their tanking capabilities.

Wield Soul can be transformed into a Magicka-costing chain ability, eliminating the need for Silver Leash for fast chaining. This skill allows a Nightblade to gain 1000 Magicka and Stamina, effectively regaining Stamina while blocking, similar to how Dragonknights use Igneous Shield to proc the Helping Hands passive. Additionally, a major buff or debuff can be added to enhance its effectiveness.

Soul Burst fills the gap in crowd control, as Nightblades lack a useful CC skill that immobilizes enemies. This is crucial when pulling or chaining enemies, as they can then be immobilized or snared. Unlike the Nightblade’s Fear ability, which doesn’t work on chained enemies, an immobilize script combined with a snare and Minor Breach is a good approach. Other options can also be beneficial depending on the specific needs of your build.

These enhancements make Nightblade tanks more versatile and capable of handling a wider range of dungeon scenarios, improving their overall effectiveness as tanks.

Signature Script: Class Mastery
Restore 333 Magicka and Stamina if your target was above 50% Health. Increase your Critical Chance by 10% for 5 seconds if your target was at or below 50% Health.

Focus Script: Pull
Deals ? Magic Damage to an enemy, pulls them to you, and taunts them for 15 seconds if they are not already taunted.

Signature Script: Druid’s Resurgence
Restores 1000 Magicka and 1000 Stamina.

Affix Script: Vitality
Grants Major Vitality for 10 seconds, increasing healing received and damage shield strength by 12%.

Focus Script: Damage Shield
Grants you and your allies a damage shield that absorbs ? damage for 6 seconds, scaling off Max Health and capped at 55% of your Max Health.

Signature Script: Sage’s Remedy
Heals for ? Health over 10 seconds.

Affix Script: Any
?

Focus Script: Immobilize
Immobilizes enemies for 3 seconds.

Signature Script: Gladiator’s Tenacity
Reduces damage taken by 8% for 8 seconds.

Affix Script: Minor Breach
Afflicts Minor Breach for 22 seconds, reducing Physical and Spell Resistance by 2974.

• Ironclad
• Duelist’s Rebuff
• Bulwark 
• Enduring Resolve (DoT damage fights)
• Unassailable (AoE damage fights)

• Boundless Vitality 
  
• Fortified
• Rejuvenation
• Bracing Anchor (Bosses)
• Celerity (Adds)