Category: Best ESO Builds, Best Dragonknight Builds, Tank Builds
The IRON VAMPIRE is a unique look at PVE tanking with a Vampire theme. This build has some incredibly powerful options for damage mitigation, both through item sets as well as Vampire passives. In addition, the amount of self-healing this build can offer is off the charts, especially when using the Vampire Ultimate. Of course we are also using the standard tanking skills and passives which work so well on the Dragonknight Class for an extremely effective build. Be warned, this build is extremely fun to play!
Dragonknight Class Overview
The Dragonknight Class is an extremely powerful way to play in The Elder Scrolls Online. Dragonknights have many similarities with other classes in ESO such as dedicated Class Skill lines for DPS, for Healing, and for Tanking. Dragonknights are known for their sturdy nature as melee combat specialists but also have many powerful magic abilities. For a more detailed guide be sure to review our ESO Dragonknight Class Guide.
Primary Sets
The Recommended Items Sets on this build focus around reducing your incoming damage through increased Armor values and increased damage mitigation. In addition, these sets also offer a lot of great self-healing, making it nearly impossible for you to die in combat.
First, the Ironblood Set from the Falkreath Hold dungeon grants us both Major and Minor Protection buffs, offering tons of damage resistance! There is a 10% chance of procing this effect, but it is still up quite a bit, especially when tanking multiple enemies at once.
Next, the Crimson Twilight Set from the Castle Thorn dungeon is an amazing self-healing set. This set damages nearby enemies every 8 seconds as long as you are taking damage. Every target you damage heals you for the same amount of health, so the more enemies you fight the bigger heal you get you back!
Finally, for the Monster Set we’re going with even more self healing and defense with the Scourge Harvester Set. This set gives us the Major Vitality buff increasing our healing received by 16% and also giving us lots of healing over time when we take damage.
Click on a Set Name below to learn more.
Ironblood
LVL 50 – CP 160
SET BONUS
(2 items) Adds 657 Critical Chance
(3 items) Adds 1096 Maximum Stamina
(4 items) Adds 657 Critical Chance
(5 items) When you deal Critical Damage, you increase your Weapon and Spell Damage by 450 for 10 seconds. While this effect is active your Critical Strikes heal you for 100 Health. This effect can occur once every 15 seconds and the heal scales off the higher of your Maximum Magicka or Stamina.
Crimson Twilight
LVL 50 – CP 160
SET BONUS
(2 items) Adds 1206 Maximum Health
(3 items) Adds 4% Healing Taken
(4 items) Adds 1206 Maximum Health
(5 items) After taking damage you surround yourself in an 8 meter mist of blood. After 2 seconds, the mist is violently siphoned into your body, dealing 8220 Bleed Damage to nearby enemies and healing you for 100% of the damage done. This effect can occur once every 8 seconds.
Scourge Harvester
LVL 50 – CP 160
SET BONUS
(1 item) Adds 1206 Maximum Health
(2 items) When you take damage, you have a 10% chance to create a beam that steals 7490 Health over 6 seconds from the attacker. While the beam holds you gain Major Vitality, increasing your healing received by 16%. The beam breaks if the enemy moves further than 8 meters away. This effect can occur once every 6 seconds.
Alternate Sets
If you like the powerful self-healing of this build but don’t have access to the Stonethorn DLC, another great option is the Leeching Plate set from the Imperial City Prison dungeon. This provides a similar healing effect though it heals for less and more frequently.
Leeching Plate
LVL 50 – CP 160
SET BONUS
(2 items) Adds 1206 Maximum Health
(3 items) Adds 4% Healing Taken
(4 items) Adds 1206 Maximum Health
(5 items) When you take damage, you summon a cloud of leeching poison under the assailant. The cloud deals 1180 Poison Damage every 1 second for 5 seconds and heals you for 100% of the damage caused. A cloud can be created once every 5 seconds.
For a build with more group support two great options you will want to work towards having on hand are Ebon Armory and Claw of Yolnahkriin. Ebon provides 1000 extra max health to you and your group while Yolnahkriin gives your group Minor Courage, increasing their Weapon and Spell Damage.
Ebon Armory
LVL 50 – CP 160
SET BONUS
(2 items) Adds 1206 Maximum Health
(3 items) Adds 1206 Maximum Health
(4 items) Adds 4% Healing Taken
(5 items) Increases your Maximum Health by 1000 for you and up to 11 other group members within 28 meters of you.
Claw Of Yolnahkriin
LVL 50 – CP 160
SET BONUS
(2 items) Adds 1206 Maximum Health
(3 items) Gain Minor Aegis at all times, reducing your damage taken from Dungeon, Trial, and Arena Monsters by 5%.
(4 items) Adds 1096 Maximum Stamina
(5 items) When you taunt an enemy, you give yourself and 11 group members Minor Courage for 15 seconds, increasing your Weapon Damage and Spell Damage by 215. This effect can occur once every 8 seconds.
Gear Setup
| Weapon/Armor | Set | Trait | Weight | Glyph |
| Main Hand | Crimson Twilight 1h and Shield | Infused / Sturdy | NA | Absorb Stamina / Stamina |
| Backup | Crimson Twilight Frost Staff | Infused | NA | Crusher |
| Head | Scourge Harvester | Infused | Medium | Tri-Stat |
| Shoulder | Scourge Harvester | Sturdy | Light | Magicka |
| Chest | Ironblood | Infused | Heavy | Tri-Stat |
| Waist | Ironblood | Sturdy | Heavy | Health |
| Gloves | Ironblood | Sturdy | Heavy | Health |
| Legs | Ironblood | Infused | Heavy | Tri-Stat |
| Feet | Ironblood | Sturdy | Heavy | Health |
| Necklace | Crimson Twilight | Healthy | NA | Magicka Recovery |
| Ring 1 | Crimson Twilight | Healthy | NA | Magicka Recovery |
| Ring 2 | Crimson Twilight | Healthy | NA | Magicka Recovery |
Consumables, Race, Mundus
Race
My favorite race for this build is Nord due to the extra resistances, health and ultimate generation. Other great options include Imperial, Orc, or even Argonian. For more details on all ESO Races and passive bonuses be sure to check out our Full ESO Race Guide.
Mundus
The Atronach
Food/Drink Buff
Bewitched Sugar Skulls
Increase Max Health by 4620, Max Stamina and Magicka by 4250, and Health Recovery by 462 for 2 hours.
These effects are scaled based on your level.
Potions
Tri-Stat Potions
Basic Magicka Potions
Skills
Main Weapon: One Hand And Shield – Click on a Skill Name to learn more
Backup Weapon: FROST STAFF – Click on a Skill Name to learn more
Skills Discussion & Rotation
Buff Rotation
Buff with Hardened Armor and maintain Sanguine Alter. Also keep Heroic Slash up as much as possible for the Minor Heroism.
Healing and Defense
Use Exhilarating Drain for the healing as well as the ultimate generation. Igneous Shield should also be used regularly for the damage shield as well as extra stamina sustain.
Passive Skills
Class Passives
- Combustion
- Warmth
- Searing Heat
- World In Ruin
- Iron Skin
- Burning Heart
- Elder Dragon
- Scaled Armor
- Eternal Mountain
- Battle Roar
- Mountain’s Blessing
- Helping Hands
Weapon Passives
- Fortress
- Sword And Board
- Deadly Bash
- Deflect Bolts
- Battlefield Mobility
- Penetrating Magic
- Elemental Force
- Ancient Knowledge
- Destruction Expert
Armor Passives
- Grace
- Evocation
- Spell Warding
- Dexterity
- Wind Walker
- Agility
- Athletics
- Resolve
- Constitution
- Juggernaut
- Revitalize
- Rapid Mending
Guild Passives
Racial
Other
Champion Points
Below you will find the recommended Active and Passive Champion Point Stars for this build, broken down into 300, 600, 900, and 1200 CP ranges.
For more information on Champion Points click on a Star name below or browse our detailed Champion Points Guides.
Constellation Descriptions:
Craft TREE
The Green Craft Constellation is focused on crafting and utility-centered upgrades.
Warfare TREE
The Blue Warfare Constellation focuses primarily on increasing player damage, healing and defenses
Fitness TREE
The Red Fitness Constellation is focused on character survival and sustain.
– 300 Champion Points –
GREEN
BLUE
RED
– 600 Champion Points –
GREEN
- 50 Steed’s Blessing (Slot)
- 50 Gilded Fingers
- 10 Fortune’s Favor
- 15 Wanderer
- 40 Steadfast Enchantment
- 30 Rationer (Slot)
BLUE
- 20 Tireless Discipline
- 20 Quick Recovery
- 20 Preparation
- 20 Hardy
- 20 Elemental Aegis
- 50 Duelist’s Rebuff (Slot)
- 50 Unassailable (Slot)
RED
- 50 Boundless Vitality (Slot)
- 20 Tireless Guardian
- 30 Fortification
- 16 Hasty
- 20 Sprinter
- 20 Hero’s Vigor
- 50 Fortified (Slot)
– 900 Champion Points –
GREEN
- 50 Steed’s Blessing (Slot)
- 50 Gilded Fingers
- 10 Fortune’s Favor
- 15 Wanderer
- 40 Steadfast Enchantment
- 30 Rationer (Slot)
- 50 Breakfall
- 50 Treasure Hunter (Slot)
BLUE
- 20 Tireless Discipline
- 20 Quick Recovery
- 20 Preparation
- 20 Hardy
- 20 Elemental Aegis
- 50 Duelist’s Rebuff (Slot)
- 50 Unassailable (Slot)
- 50 Enduring Resolve (Slot)
- 50 Bulwark (Slot)
RED
- 50 Boundless Vitality (Slot)
- 20 Tireless Guardian
- 30 Fortification
- 16 Hasty
- 20 Sprinter
- 20 Hero’s Vigor
- 50 Fortified (Slot)
- 30 Tumbling
- 20 Defiance
- 50 Juggernaut (Slot)
– 1200 Champion Points –
GREEN
- 50 Steed’s Blessing (Slot)
- 50 Gilded Fingers
- 30 Fortune’s Favor
- 15 Wanderer
- 50 Steadfast Enchantment
- 30 Rationer (Slot)
- 50 Breakfall
- 50 Treasure Hunter (Slot)
- 75 Liquid Efficiency (Slot)
BLUE
- 20 Tireless Discipline
- 20 Quick Recovery
- 20 Preparation
- 20 Hardy
- 20 Elemental Aegis
- 50 Duelist’s Rebuff (Slot)
- 50 Unassailable (Slot)
- 50 Enduring Resolve (Slot)
- 50 Bulwark (Slot)
- 20 Eldritch Insight
- 20 Blessed
- 20 Flawless Ritual
- 20 Battle Mastery
- 20 Precision
RED
- 50 Boundless Vitality (Slot)
- 20 Tireless Guardian
- 30 Fortification
- 16 Hasty
- 20 Sprinter
- 20 Hero’s Vigor
- 50 Fortified (Slot)
- 30 Tumbling
- 20 Defiance
- 50 Juggernaut (Slot)
- 6 Nimble Protector
- 50 Bracing Anchor (Slot)
How To Create Powerful ESO Builds
Crafting the Perfect Build for you in The Elder Scrolls Online can be frustrating. Which skills are best for each class? What about passives? The best race? The best armor type and weapons? The best trait and glyphs? There are literally THOUSANDS of different options!
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More Dragonknight Builds For ESO
Want more Dragonknight Builds? Check out our dedicated Dragonknight Builds overview page for even more great options!
