Powerful Dark Knight Ravendawn Tank Build
Introduction
Welcome to The Tank Club’s Ravendawn Build!
This build is designed to be used in solo PvE and group PvE content. It’s a powerful build that has access to good damage, self survival and healing, group benefits, enemy debuffs and crowd control. You can play this build as a Damage Dealer for solo content but it can easily become a Tank focussed build when part of a group.
Archetypes
There are many different classes and archetypes you can choose from, but to create an effective build for both solo damage and group tanking we’ve chosen Warfare, Protection and Shadow to create a Dark Knight, make sure to select these classes in this order.
- Warfare is a monster PvE DPS class with good single target and AoE damage, alongside some lifesteal based healing and crowd control. This class becomes much stronger as you collect and use the correct RavenCards which really buff up the Warfare. Abilities with this class are mostly melee and cost Health to cast.
- Protection is the next class due to it’s melee range combat and protection skills cost mana to cast, so it pairs really well with Warfare. Using this class will provide direct self healing and defensive benefits combined with the ability to taunt enemies, this makes it the perfect choice for a Tank.
- Finally we have Shadow and this is due to it also being a melee and mana based damage dealing class. When you are not doing much Tanking but want the option of combining both mana and health costing abilities for doing damage, Shadow gives you that option. With Shadow abilities you gain crit and some big hitting damage skills but one of the strongest things as a Tank also is the ability to dodge enemy hits.
Stats
Main focus for stats is Might to increase Weapon Power which also buffs Weapon Defense.
Place all points into Might until you reach 25 and then you’ll begin to focus into a second stat.
Once at 25 Might, place 1 point into Dexterity for every 3 into Might.
Gear
With gear – since we aim to do damage and be a Tank you should use 4 Plate armor. This allows you to focus stats into Might and Dex but still gain benefits without needing to invest into Vitality.
By using 4 Plate you’ll gain increased Max Health, Healing Received and Weapon Defense, but you’ll do less damage than using Leather, so this is an option if you don’t plan on playing much in a group or as a Tank.
Weapon Options
- Club and Shield for a Damage Tank
- Sword and Shield for a more Defensive Tank
- 2 Handed Axe for Solo & more Damage focus
Skill Tree
As mentioned already, you need to select Warfare first then Protection and finally Shadow as you are levelling and progressing.
| Protection | Shadow | Warfare |
|---|---|---|
| Bash – Free single target damage & slow | Quick Slash – Single target damage | Brutal Strike – Free single target damage & heal |
| Spirits Resolve – Big heal | Shadowbind – Single target snare | Guillotine – Single target execute |
| Smiting Smash – AoE damage & debuff | Coup de Grace – Big single target damage | Feasting Strike – Single target damage & heal |
| Spirit Shield – Defensive buff | Stalk – Single target slow and buffs Coup de Grace | Bladestorm – AoE damage, bleed damage & heal |
| Blessed Earth – AoE enemy debuff, self buff and heal | Illusive – Dodge attacks | Earthquake – Big double AoE damage & slow |
| Provoke – AoE enemy taunt | Death Blossom – Big single target triple strike | Fissure – AoE stun & reduces cooldown on Earthquake |
| Unbreakable – Damage absorb/heal |
RavenCards
For PvE the best RavenCards will be any that provide additional healing or group benefits so we’ll focus on trying to apply those to this build.
It can take a significant amount of time to get RavenCards but they will add some really strong additional benefits to your abilities.
Only forget to use your RavenShards to upgrade your best RavenCards. Some of the best one to upgrade are
- Dwarf Elementalist
- Morningstar Judge
| Protection | Shadow | Warfare |
|---|---|---|
| Bash – RavenCard: Skeleton Soldier | Quick Slash – RavenCard: Brotherhood Swordsman | Brutal Strike – RavenCard: Troll |
| Spirits Resolve – RavenCard: Hoglet | Shadowbind – RavenCard: Skorn Deathblade | Guillotine – RavenCard: Saltdusk Executioner |
| Smiting Smash – RavenCard: Troll Champion | Coup de Grace – RavenCard: Elf Assassin | Feasting Strike – RavenCard: Polar Bear |
| Spirit Shield – RavenCard: Jackal Moonblade | Stalk – RavenCard: Hookmaster Knave | Bladestorm – RavenCard: Troll Knight |
| Blessed Earth – RavenCard: Morningstar Judge | Illusive – RavenCard: Pirate Swashbuckler | Earthquake – RavenCard: Dwarf Elementalist |
| Provoke – RavenCard: Minotaur Champion | Death Blossom – RavenCard: Widow Queen | Fissure – RavenCard: Troll Titan |
| Unbreakable – RavenCard: Skeleton Pikeman |
Conclusion
This is a strong build for all content in Ravendawn but it may take a little bit of time until you start to feel its power as you increase your level and obtain the correct RavenCards, you’ll begin to notice how strongly it performs in a range of content.
If you are new to Ravendawn make sure to check out our Complete Beginners Guide, to help you with those day 1 struggles!
