Cow / Unarmed Tank Build – Project Gorgon (2026)
Project Gorgon offers one of the most unique tanking playstyles in the MMORPG genre. One of the strongest endgame tank setups is the Cow / Unarmed Tank, which focuses on high threat generation, strong Elite mitigation, and reliable crowd control.
This build is designed for group dungeons and late-game content, where tanks are required. This build covers the skills to use, the gear and mods to prioritise, and how to set up the Cow/Unarmed tank to become the toughest piece of steak on the battlefield.
This build assumes you understand the basics of tanking in Project Gorgon. If you’re new to the role, see our Project Gorgon Tanking Guide first.
Unlocking Cow & Unarmed for Tanking
Becoming a Cow / Unarmed Tank requires unlocking both skill lines and learning additional abilities from trainers as you level them up.
Unarmed
Unarmed focuses on punching, kicking, and throwing enemies, providing damage, control, and stuns.
Unarmed is unlocked as soon as you start on the tutorial island, allowing you to begin levelling the skill line immediately. Simply ensure one or both hands are free to use Unarmed abilities. Defeating enemies with Unarmed levels the skill, unlocking new abilities and upgrades as you progress.
Unarmed Trainers:
- Flia in Serbule teaches the abilities Headbutt 1-3 & Bodyslam 1-3.
- Hogan in Eltibule (Hogan’s Keep) teaches abilities Mamba Strike 1-3 and Bruising Blow 1-3.
- Furlak in Rahu (City of Rahu) will unlock levels 51-60, 61-70, and teaches level 51+ abilities.
- Pegast in Fae Realm (Fel-Dasculan Ruins) unlocks levels 71-80.
- Emersil the Ever-Gloating in Povus (Nightmare Caves Dungeon) teaches levels 81-90.
Cow
Cow combat focuses on self healing, mitigation and fast pulling and gathering with AoE taunting potential. Cows can even self heal by eating grass!
Playing as a Cow is not immediately accessible and requires completing several prerequisites to gain access to the required dungeon:
- Progress off the tutorial island Anagoge
- Speak to Yurra in Serbule and complete both The Red Crystal and Brain Bug Infestation
- Complete Get Crystal Samples from Blanche in Serbule Keep
- Complete Unlocking the Crystal Lattice from Velkort in Serbule Keep and remember the frequency he gives you
You will then gain access to the Crystal Cavern, located beneath the giant red crystal seen during these quests. Inside, find Maronesa, who will curse you with the Cow beast form.
Cow Trainers:
- Suspicious Cow located in Eltibule outside Eltibule Keep will train the ability Clobbering Hoof.
- Raul in Sun Vale (Animal Town) will unlock levels 51-70 and teaches 51+ abilities.
- Noita the Green in Fae Realm (Fel-Dasculan Ruins) unlocks levels 71-80.
- Big Footed Jim in Povus (Nightmare Caves Dungeon) teaches levels 81-90.
Why Cow / Unarmed Works as a Tank
Cow / Unarmed works as a tank due to its combination of mitigation, strong taunt scaling, and access to both AoE and single-target threat tools. Cow abilities provide survivability and group control, while Unarmed adds reliable stuns and focused taunting. While it requires more setup than simpler tank builds, its performance scales extremely well into late-game dungeon content.
Recommended Cow / Unarmed Tank Abilities
This ability setup focuses on consistent taunting, mitigation uptime, and Elite damage control. Cow skills provide survivability and AoE threat, while Unarmed adds control, stuns, and reliable single-target taunts.
Cow
- Chew Cud
- Tough Hoof
- Stampede
- Deadly Emission
- Moo of Determination
- Moo of Calm
Unarmed
- Infuriating Fist
- Slashing Strike
- Cobra Strike
- Barrage
- Front Kick
- Hip Throw
Cow abilities form the core of your mitigation and AoE threat, with Chew Cud and Tough Hoof providing sustain and damage reduction during heavy pulls. Stampede and Deadly Emission are used to establish and maintain aggro on groups, while Moo of Determination and Moo of Calm offer powerful defensive windows.
Unarmed abilities are used to control priority targets, apply reliable single-target taunts, and stabilise fights through stuns and knockdowns when needed.
Recommended Equipment for Cow / Unarmed Tank
Generally, the gear you want to use for this build is Metal armour, specifically the Dwarven Plate set. This is a crafted armour set that can either be made yourself or purchased from other players. Dwarven Plate provides Elite Mitigation, making it the strongest and most reliable option for Cow/Unarmed tanking.
For headgear, the Truffle Hat / Cow Hat is highly recommended, as it increases the base damage of Cow skills and boosts Taunt from Attack Damage, helping you maintain aggro more reliably.
The Nose Ring of Destructive Tendencies is also a strong option for Cow tanks, providing additional Taunt from Attack Damage.
Best Mods for Cow / Unarmed Tank Build
Mods (also known as Treasure Effects) are strong stats, effects and ability altering enhancements that go onto gear. Each combat skill has its own set of mods.
The mods listed below represent an endgame-optimised Cow/Unarmed tank setup. You do not need every single mod immediately, but initially prioritising taunt scaling and mitigation will give the biggest performance gains.
Head
Taunt From Attack Damage +195%
Max Armor +125
Taunt From Attack Damage +125%
Infuriating Fist damage +98 and for 10 seconds all Elite attacks deal -8% damage to you.
While Unarmed skill is active: you gain +4% Melee Evasion and any time you Evade a Melee attack you recover 100 Armor
Slashing Strike deals +84 damage and boosts your Melee Evasion +6.5% for 5 seconds
Chest
Chew Cud increases your mitigation versus Crushing, Slashing, Piercing, and Cold attacks +22 for 10 seconds. Against Elite enemies, mitigates +22 more
Max Power +43 and Vulnerability to Elite Attacks -6% when Cow skill active
Max Health +87
While Unarmed skill is active: 27% of all Slashing, Piercing, and Crushing damage you take is mitigated and added to the damage done by your next Punch, Jab, or Infuriating Fist at a 330% rate
Infuriating Fist damage +98 and for 10 seconds all Elite attacks deal -8% damage to you.
Taunt From Attack Damage +50%
Legs
Deadly Emission Damage +61%
Tough Hoof deals 225 Trauma damage to the target each time they attack and damage you (within 8 seconds)
While Unarmed skill is active: 37% of all Darkness and Psychic damage you take is mitigated and added to the damage done by your next Punch, Jab, or Infuriating Fist at a 480% rate
Taunt From Attack Damage +50%
Slashing Damage Reduction +50
Acid Damage Reduction +25, Nature Damage Reduction +25, Darkness Damage Reduction +25
Hands
Max Power +43 and Vulnerability to Elite Attacks -6% when Cow skill active
Chew Cud increases your mitigation versus Crushing, Slashing, Piercing, and Fire attacks +22 for 10 seconds. Against Elite enemies, mitigates +22 more
Deadly Emission Deals +640 Nature damage over 10 seconds and Taunts +670
Tough Hoof deals +204 damage and taunts +1400
While Unarmed skill active: 21% of all Acid, Poison, and
Nature damage you take is mitigated and added to the damage done by your next Kick at a 460% rate
Cobra Strike, Mamba Strike, and Slashing Strike deal +60 damage and can be used while stunned. Doing so removes the stun effect from you.
Feet
Stampede Taunt +660
Chew Cud increases your mitigation versus Crushing, Slashing, Piercing, and Fire attacks +22 for 10 seconds. Against Elite enemies, mitigates +22 more
While Unarmed skill is active: 27% of all Slashing, Piercing, and Crushing damage you take is mitigated and added to the damage done by your next Punch, Jab, or Infuriating Fist at a 330% rate
While Unarmed skill is active: 37% of all Darkness and Psychic damage you take is mitigated and added to the damage done by your next Punch, Jab, or Infuriating Fist at a 480% rate
While Unarmed skill active: 21% of all Acid, Poison, and Nature damage you take is mitigated and added to the damage done by your next Kick at a 460% rate
Infuriating Fist taunts +640 and deals 312 Trauma damage over 6 seconds
Ring
Stampede boosts your Fire/Cold/Electricity Mitigation vs. Elites +26 for 30 seconds (stacks up to 5 times)
Chew Cud increases your mitigation versus Crushing, Slashing, Piercing, and Cold attacks +22 for 10 seconds. Against Elite enemies, mitigates +22 more
Deadly Emission Damage +61%
Taunt From Attack Damage +125%
Infuriating Fist deals +67% damage and taunts +760
Fire Damage Reduction +55
Necklace
Stampede deals +1300% damage if used while you are stunned
Chew Cud increases your mitigation versus all attacks by Elites +50 for 10 seconds
Tough Hoof costs -78 Power and mitigates +13% of all Elite attacks for 8 seconds
While Cow skill is active, you regenerate +50 Health every 5 seconds and resist +25 damage from Elite attacks
Unarmed attacks deal +9 damage and have +25 Accuracy (which cancels out the Evasion that certain monsters have)
Cobra Strike deals +125 damage and boosts your Melee Evasion +17% for 7 seconds
Main Hand
For 30 seconds after you use Moo of Determination, any physical (Slashing/Piercing/Crushing) attacks that hit you are reduced by 33. This absorbed damage is added to your next Front Kick.
Tough Hoof costs -78 Power and mitigates +13% of all Elite attacks for 8 seconds
Deadly Emission Deals +640 Nature damage over 10 seconds and Taunts +670
While Unarmed skill is active: you gain +4% Melee Evasion and any time you Evade a Melee attack you recover 100 Armor
While Unarmed skill is active: any time you Evade an attack, your next attack deals +205 damage
Max Armor +59
Off Hand
For 30 seconds after you use Moo of Calm, any internal (Poison/Trauma/Psychic) attacks that hit you are reduced by 50. This absorbed damage is added to your next Stampede attack at a 200% rate.
Tough Hoof immediately restores 109 armor
Deadly Emission Deals +260 Nature damage over 10 seconds and reduces targets’ next attack by 44%
Slashing Strike deals +84 damage and boosts your Melee Evasion +6.5% for 5 seconds
Barrage costs -40 Power and restores 41 Armor to you
Infuriating Fist deals +67% damage and taunts +760
How the Cow / Unarmed Tank Performs in Group Content
The Cow / Unarmed tank is built to aggressively maintain aggro through sustained damage and taunt scaling while absorbing heavy Elite pressure. Use Cow abilities to quickly stabilise pulls and apply AoE threat, then rotate Unarmed skills for control and reliable single-target taunting. This build performs best in organised dungeon groups where consistent threat and mitigation are required.
If you’re looking for alternative tanking playstyles in Project Gorgon, the Staff / Shield Tank Build offers a more traditional and accessible approach, while the Ice / Shield Tank Build focuses more heavily on control and damage reduction.
