‘Radiant Aegis’ ESO Templar Tank Build & Guide 2025
Master the ESO Templar Tank Build with strong self-healing, damage shields, and group support. A solid choice for dungeons with niche uses in trials.
Table of Contents
ESO Templar Tank Introduction
Welcome to The Tank Club’s Radiant Aegis – ESO Templar Tank Build and Guide!
Templars are one of the least commonly used tanks in The Elder Scrolls Online, but that doesn’t mean they’re ineffective. While they may lack some of the group utility that other tank classes provide, Templar Tanks excel in 4-player content with partial group-healing and sustain, making them a viable option for dungeons and casual content.
The Templar’s greatest strengths come from their powerful healing-over-time abilities, strong damage shields, and stamina sustain through Repentance. These tools allow them to mitigate damage, sustain themselves, and provide support to their group.
However, Templars struggle in trial content where other tanks provide more impactful group buffs and debuffs. Many groups choose alternative classes due to the limited unique utility that Templars bring, making them a less common choice for high-end progression.
That said, if you’re looking for a straightforward, self-sufficient tank that excels in dungeons and casual PvE, the Templar Tank can still be a fun and effective option. Their strong healing, and defensive toolkit make them ideal for newer tanks or those who prefer a more self-reliant playstyle.
ESO Templar Tank Strengths, Weaknesses & Group Benefits
Strengths
- Decent Sustain: The reduced ability cost passive and Restoring Focus allow you to gain Stamina back every second, even while blocking.
- Strong Damage Shield: Access to a powerful Magicka cost, Health-scaling class damage shield.
- Group Utility: Provides group utility with Minor Sorcery, Purify Synergy, and increased recoveries and healing for the group.
- Versatile Role: Functions well as an Off Tank/Support role if there are no other Templars in the group.
Weaknesses
- Lack of Burst Healing: Relies on damage shields and healing over time, lacking strong burst healing options.
- Easily Replaced: One other Templar in the group can provide the same benefits, making the Templar Tank less valuable.
- Magicka Sustain Issues: High-cost Magicka skills can create sustain problems.
- Limited Unique Group Buffs: Only offers one unique group buff, which is less commonly utilized nowadays.
Group Benefits
- Illuminate – Group Minor Sorcery
- Power of the Light – Minor Breach
- Radiant Aura – Group Minor Endurance, Minor Fortitude, and Minor Intellect
- Extended Ritual – Group Purge/Synergy
- Hasty Prayer – Minor Endurance
- Repentance – 3000 group heal per corpse
- Light Weaver – 2 Ultimate to group members
- Luminous Shards – Alkosh/sustain synergy
ESO Nightblade Tank Core Essentials
Core Essential Details
- Race: Nord is the most useful race for a Templar Tank due to the increased resistances and ultimate generation. Since Templar Tanks are rarely used in endgame trial content, especially outside of dungeons, you can choose any race that suits your preference.
- Attributes: Aim for around 40k Max Health, then distribute points into Stamina and Magicka. Templar healing skills often scale with Max Health or Magicka/Spell Damage, so having extra Magicka can be beneficial.
- Food: Red Frothgar provides significant Magicka Recovery, which is crucial for maintaining the frequent casting of Magicka abilities.
- Potions: Tri-Stat Potions are essential for the resource gain and all recoveries they provide, ensuring you have the necessary sustain during fights.
- Magicka Recovery: Aim for around 2500 Magicka Recovery to maintain all your abilities effectively.
- Resistances: For most dungeon content, 25k Resistances will suffice. However, for harder content, aim for 30-33k Resistances to ensure survivability.
ESO Templar Tank Gear
| Piece | Set | Weight | Trait | Enchantment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head | Archdruid Devyric | Medium | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Shoulder | Archdruid Devyric | Light | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Chest | Pearlescent Ward | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Hands | Pearlescent Ward | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Waist | Pearlescent Ward | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Legs | Pearlescent Ward | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Feet | Pearlescent Ward | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Necklace | Vestment of Olorime | Jewellery | Infused | Magicka Recovery |
| Ring | Vestment of Olorime | Jewellery | Infused | Magicka Recovery |
| Ring | Vestment of Olorime | Jewellery | Infused | Magicka Recovery |
| Main Hand | Puncturing Remedy / Void Bash | Any 1H | Decisive | Absorb Stamina |
| Off Hand | Puncturing Remedy / Void Bash | Shield | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Main Hand Backup | Vestment of Olorime | Ice Staff | Infused | Crusher |
| Piece | Set | Weight | Trait | Enchantment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head | Archdruid Devyric | Medium | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Shoulder | Archdruid Devyric | Light | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Chest | Turning Tide | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Hands | Turning Tide | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Waist | Turning Tide | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Legs | Turning Tide | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Feet | Turning Tide | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Necklace | Vestment of Olorime / Powerful Assault | Jewellery | Harmony/Infused | Magicka Recovery |
| Ring | Vestment of Olorime / Powerful Assault | Jewellery | Harmony/Infused | Magicka Recovery |
| Ring | Vestment of Olorime / Powerful Assault | Jewellery | Harmony/Infused | Magicka Recovery |
| Main Hand | Void Bash / Puncturing Remedy | Any 1H | Decisive | Any |
| Off Hand | Void Bash / Puncturing Remedy | Shield | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Main Hand Backup | Vestment of Olorime / Powerful Assault | Ice Staff | Infused | Crusher |
| Piece | Set | Weight | Trait | Enchantment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head | Nazaray / Archdruid Devyric / Tremorscale | Medium | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Shoulder | Nazaray / Archdruid Devyric / Tremorscale | Light | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Chest | Turning Tide | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Hands | Turning Tide | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Waist | Turning Tide | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Legs | Turning Tide | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Feet | Turning Tide | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Necklace | Pearlescent Ward | Jewellery | Harmony | Magicka Recovery |
| Ring | Pearlescent Ward | Jewellery | Harmony | Magicka Recovery |
| Ring | Pearlescent Ward | Jewellery | Harmony | Magicka Recovery |
| Main Hand | Pearlescent Ward | Any 1H | Decisive | Absorb Stamina |
| Off Hand | Pearlescent Ward | Shield | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Main Hand Backup | Pearlescent Ward | Ice Staff | Infused | Crusher |
| Piece | Set | Weight | Trait | Enchantment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head | Magma Incarnate / Nazaray | Medium | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Shoulder | Spaulder of Ruin / Nazaray | Light | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Chest | Saxhleel Champion / Lucent Echoes | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Hands | Saxhleel Champion / Lucent Echoes | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Waist | Saxhleel Champion / Lucent Echoes | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Legs | Saxhleel Champion / Lucent Echoes | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Feet | Saxhleel Champion / Lucent Echoes | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Necklace | Powerful Assault | Jewellery | Infused | Prismatic Cost Reduction |
| Ring | Powerful Assault | Jewellery | Infused | Prismatic Cost Reduction |
| Ring | Powerful Assault | Jewellery | Infused | Prismatic Cost Reduction |
| Main Hand | Puncturing Remedy | Any 1H | Decisive | Infused Stamina |
| Off Hand | Puncturing Remedy | Shield | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Main Hand Backup | Powerful Assault | Ice Staff | Infused | Crusher |
| Piece | Set | Weight | Trait | Enchantment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head | Archdruid Devyric | Medium | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Shoulder | Archdruid Devyric | Light | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Chest | Pearlescent Ward | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Hands | Pearlescent Ward | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Waist | Pearlescent Ward | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Legs | Pearlescent Ward | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Feet | Pearlescent Ward | Heavy | Divines | Prismatic Defence |
| Necklace | Saxhleel Champion | Jewellery | Harmony | Magicka Recovery |
| Ring | Saxhleel Champion | Jewellery | Harmony | Magicka Recovery |
| Ring | Saxhleel Champion | Jewellery | Harmony | Magicka Recovery |
| Main Hand | Saxhleel Champion | Ice Staff | Infused | Crusher |
Gear Information
The gear setup for the Templar Tank focuses on enhancing group buffs and enemy debuffs to ensure maximum damage potential and survivability for your team.
Firstly, Archdruid Devyric is used for its powerful enemy debuff, which increases the damage enemies take by 10% after you perform a heavy attack. This significantly boosts your group’s DPS, making it a valuable set for any Templar Tank.
Next, the Vestment of Olorime is equipped for its status as the strongest Weapon/Spell Damage buff set in the game. It provides the Major Courage buff, greatly enhancing group damage. If your healer already supplies this buff, you can switch to Powerful Assault for a similar effect.
Pearlescent Ward is also utilized, providing a versatile buff that increases damage when allies are alive and enhances survivability when they die. This set requires no micromanagement, allowing you to focus fully on skill usage.
For add pulls, Void Bash is essential. It efficiently pulls enemies with a single button press, conserving resources compared to using Silver Leash. When facing bosses, switching to Puncturing Remedy is beneficial for its additional self-heal.
On the jewelry, Infused Magicka Recovery is recommended to aid in sustain. Pair this with Divines gear and the Atronach Mundus to maximize your Magicka Recovery.
For weapons, use an Infused Ice Staff with a Crusher enchantment to reduce enemy resistances. Additionally, equip a Charged One-Handed Weapon with a Shock enchantment to inflict Concussion and apply Minor Vulnerability, further boosting your group’s damage output.
Where to Obtain:
- Vestment of Olorime – Cloudrest Trial.
- Pearlescent Ward – Dreadsail Reef Trial.
- Archdruid Devyric – Earthern Root Enclave, Urgarlag Chief-bane
- Void Bash – Vateshran Hollows.
- Puncturing Remedy – Dragonstar Arena & Veteran Dragonstar Arena (Perfected)
Other notable sets that you could use:
ESO Templar Tank Skills
Templar Passives
- Aedric Spear: Spear Wall, Balanced Warrior.
- Dawn’s Wrath: Enduring Rays, Prism, Illuminate, Restoring Spirit.
- Restoring Light: Mending, Sacred Ground, Light Weaver.
- 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
ESO Templar Tank Scribed Skills
Templars can make reasonable use of the scribing system, most notably by gaining access to a Magicka pull skill, significantly improving sustain.
The Templar class script adds a short burst of resistance, which can be doubled, but its 5-second duration makes it less appealing.
Wield Soul can be transformed into a Magicka-costing chain ability, eliminating the need for Silver Leash for fast chaining. This skill allows a Templar to gain 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.
Templar Class Script
Signature Script: Class Mastery
For 5 seconds, you gain 1320 Armor and 150 Weapon and Spell Damage. If Sacred Ground is active on you, these values are increased by 50%.
Focus Script: Pull
Deals Magic Damage to an enemy, pulls them to you, and taunts them if they are not already taunted.
Signature Script: Druid’s Resurgence
Restores Magicka and Stamina.
Affix Script: Vitality
Grants Major Vitality, increasing healing received and damage shield strength.
ESO Templar Tank Other Skills & Passives
Aedric Spear
Radial Sweep
(Not Needed)
Puncturing Strikes
(Unnecessary)
Primarily a damage skill, useful in solo content but not needed for tanking.
Piercing Javelin
(Not Needed)
Focused Charge
(Unnecessary)
A gap closer that interrupts enemies and grants Major Protection. However, gap closers are not essential for PvE tanking, and Major Protection can be obtained more effectively by slotting Revealing Flare.
Luminous Shards → Morph of Spear Shards
(Situational)
This damage skill provides a synergy that restores Magicka and Stamina to one group member, making it a good sustain tool for them. It’s often not needed by the tank but can be used to place Vestment of Olorime on your group from range.
Blazing Spear → Morph of Spear Shards
(Vital)
This morph offers AoE immobilization for crowd control and grants a synergy to one group member, allowing them to restore either Magicka or Stamina.
Radiant Ward → Morph of Sun Shield
(Vital)
This ability provides a large damage shield that scales with Max Health and costs Magicka. Templars lack health-scaling burst heals but have multiple healing over time skills. Using Radiant Ward in combination with these healing over time abilities allows you to absorb damage with the shield while simultaneously healing missing health. This makes it an excellent survival tool that you can frequently use due to its Magicka cost. Additionally, activating this skill procs the Spear Wall passive, granting you extra mitigation with Minor Protection.
Piercing Spear
(Unnecessary)
This passive increases your damage, which isn’t crucial for Tanks. However, it can be used to improve your DPS once you have all the other important passives.
Spear Wall
(Vital)
Using an Aedric Spear ability grants Minor Protection, which reduces your incoming damage. This works well alongside Radiant Ward to enhance your damage mitigation.
Burning Light
(Unnecessary)
This passive deals extra damage when you use Shards or Ward. If you want to do some additional free damage, this passive will help, but it’s not essential for tanking.
Balanced Warrior
(Vital)
This passive provides extra resistances, which are always beneficial for a Tank.
Dawn's Wrath
Nova
(Unnecessary)
This Ultimate causes Major Maim to enemies, but this can be achieved more easily with Frost Clench, making it less essential for tanking.
Vampire’s Bane → Morph of Sun Fire
(Situational)
You might use this skill if you are tanking with Encratis’s Behemoth, as it provides a reliable way to apply flame damage over time to proc the set on cooldown.
Solar Flare
(Not Needed)
Power of the Light → Morph of Backlash
(Optional)
This skill is less essential now since Minor Breach can be obtained from Pierce Armor and AoE Minor Breach from Elemental Blockade. However, it is still useful in situations where you are at range or using a taunt skill that doesn’t include this debuff. It also procs the Illuminate passive, which is the main reason a Templar is needed in a group. If you don’t need Minor Breach, consider using the other morph.
Purifying Light → Morph of Backlash
(Optional)
This skill can be used when Power of the Light is not needed. It’s beneficial to have at least one Dawn’s Wrath skill slotted for passives. This morph provides a small heal and costs Magicka, making it a better option for sustain if you don’t require the Minor Breach from Power of the Light.
Living Dark → Morph of Eclipse
(Situational)
This skill is very effective when dealing with multiple enemies as it provides a heal every half second for 3 seconds. During add pulls, it offers significant healing by potentially ticking 6 times in 3 seconds, making it ideal for situations where you are taking damage while moving. It also snares enemies, although the primary use is for the healing.
Radiant Destruction
(Not Needed)
Enduring Rays
(Optional)
This passive is only worth using if you have Living Dark, as it increases the duration of this skill. If you don’t use Living Dark, this passive is not necessary.
Prism
(Vital)
A valuable passive for increasing Ultimate gain. It grants you Ultimate every 6 seconds, making it beneficial for maintaining Backlash and other Dawn’s Wrath skills, ensuring a steady flow of Ultimate points
Illuminate
(Vital)
The main group buff provided by the Templar, adding around 2k DPS to each Spell Damage-focused damage dealer in your group. This buff does not benefit Weapon Damage users. It’s easily maintained by keeping up Living Dark, Backlash, or any Dawn’s Wrath skills.
Restoring Spirit
(Vital)
This sustain passive reduces the cost of all your abilities, including Ultimates, making it easier to manage your resources. Although not as strong as some other classes’ sustain passives, it still provides a benefit to your overall sustain.
Restoring Light
Rite of Passage
(Unnecessary)
Rushed Ceremony
(Unnecessary)
A burst heal that scales with Spell Damage and Max Magicka, resulting in low healing output for a Tank with high cost. It can also target others, making it unreliable for self-healing. Rely on Radiant Ward and healing-over-time abilities that scale with Max Health instead.
Hasty Prayer → Morph of Healing Ritual
(Unnecessary)
A guaranteed AoE heal but with a high Magicka cost. Can also provide Minor Expedition to your group, but its utility is limited compared to other more cost-effective and targeted healing options.
Radiant Aura → Morph of Restoring Aura
(Vital)
Provides Minor Fortitude, Minor Endurance, and Minor Intellect to your group, boosting health, stamina, and magicka recovery, making it a valuable sustain buff.
Repentance → Morph of Restoring Aura
(Optional)
Provides the same recovery passives as Radiant Aura but not the group recoveries. It allows you to repent nearby corpses, giving you 3000 Stamina each and healing you and group members for 3000 health per corpse. Great for healing and sustaining in 4-player content, but less effective in boss fights due to the lack of corpses.
Extended Ritual → Morph of Cleansing Ritual
(Vital)
A primary skill for a Templar Tank. Provides a group synergy to purge and cleanse negative effects. This skill can also proc gear sets like Symphony of Blades due to its large area and long duration. The heal over time is small but effective when combined with other healing over time abilities. Its large area ensures full coverage, so you don’t need to keep replacing it, making it excellent for sustained healing in most combat scenarios.
Restoring Focus → Morph of Rune Focus
(Vital)
This is your primary tool for Stamina sustain and healing. It’s very cost-effective and provides Stamina even while blocking. You don’t need to remain inside the rune to benefit, which is convenient. It grants Major Resolve and a heal over time that scales with Max Health. This heal is especially effective when combined with other healing sources and is significantly buffed when standing in the rune, which is feasible during many boss fights. For Magicka sustain, consider using the Mage Guild skill Spell Symmetry, an alternative to Balance.
Mending
(Vital)
This passive is crucial as it boosts the healing from your over-time abilities. Restoring Focus and Extended Ritual heals are increased by up to 12%, depending on your health, providing essential support during tough encounters.
Sacred Ground
(Vital)
A key passive for Tanks, it increases the amount of damage you can block and boosts healing from all abilities by 8%. Standing inside your Restoring Light abilities, such as Ritual and Rune, enhances your healing and resource management.
Light Weaver
(Vital)
This passive grants Ultimate to all allies, a small but useful boost that will likely proc from your Extended Ritual.
Master Ritualist
(Optional)
Speeds up resurrection and revives allies with full health. While useful, as a Tank, you should rarely need to resurrect others, so this passive is less critical.
ESO Templar Tank Champion Points
- Ironclad
- Duelist’s Rebuff
- Bulwark
- Enduring Resolve (DoT damage fights)
- Unassailable (AoE damage fights)
ESO Templar Tank How to Play
Radiant Aegis Skill Rotation
- Precast Restoring Focus and Radiant Ward.
- Run at the enemies and initiate combat with a light attack, followed by placing Elemental Blockade.
- After 2 seconds, cast Power Slam to proc Void Bash, pulling all enemies onto your Blockade.
- Cast Pulsar twice to immobilize all enemies.
- During an add pull, ensure that Elemental Blockade, Extended Ritual, and Restoring Focus are active. Taunt all ranged enemies. Every time 2 or more enemies die, cast Repentance for Stamina sustain. While taking damage, recast Living Dark and Radiant Ward for healing and shields.
- With Extended Ritual and Living Dark active while standing inside Restoring Focus, you should receive around 8k healing per second. Additionally, you can add a 10-20k damage shield with Radiant Ward.
