A tank build in Enshrouded 1.0 comes from the Guardian side of the skill tree, the branch around Power Parry between Warrior and Battlemage on the Skills screen: skills that raise the armor you get from gear, cut the damage you take when enemies surround you, and pull their attention onto you.
Quick answer: Take Heavy Plates, Shiny Plates, Tower, Warden, Nemesis and Earth Aura, pick up Constitution on the way, and wear the heaviest Warrior set the Blacksmith offers at your Flame level: Tank, Guardian, Warden, Brazen Bull, Golden Bulwark and then Crestflame.
Tank skills and what each one does
Heavy Plates and Shiny Plates raise the Physical and Magical Armor from everything you wear by 4% per rank, so they get stronger with every heavier set. Tower and Warden add 10% Physical and Magical Resistance, but only while three or more enemies are within 20 meters. Nemesis makes enemies pay more attention to you, and Earth Aura gives you and allies standing close 10% to both resistances. Constitution raises Health, and Thick Skin keeps adding Constitution as your Flame grows. The full tree is in every Warrior skill and what it does.
| Skill | Cost | Points from a Spark | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constitution | 1 point | 1 | Increases your Constitution attribute by 1. |
| Heavy Plates | 1 point per rank, 3 ranks | 2 | Physical Armor points from equipped items are increased by 4%. (4% increased Physical Armor per rank) |
| Shiny Plates | 1 point per rank, 3 ranks | 3 | Magical Armor points from equipped items are increased by 4%. (4% increased Magical Armor per rank) |
| Tower | 3 points | 7 | While there are three or more enemies within 20 meters, you receive 10% increased Physical Resistance. |
| Warden | 3 points | 7 | While there are three or more enemies within 20 meters, you receive 10% increased Magical Resistance. |
| Thick Skin | 5 points | 11 | Gain one point of Constitution for every two levels of the Flame. |
| Nemesis | 2 points per rank, 3 ranks | 8 | Increase the attention you draw from enemies by 10%. (10% attention drawn per rank) |
| Earth Aura | 2 points per rank, 3 ranks | 10 | You emit a protective aura that increases Physical and Magical Resistances by 10% for you and all allies within 4 meters. (4 meters range per rank) |
| Absorb | 1 point per rank, 3 ranks | 6 | When you receive Magic damage, you have a 4% chance to restore 1 Mana per Health point lost. (4% chance per rank) |
| Martyr | 3 points | 10 | When you are killed by an enemy, all allies within 30 meters are healed for 50% of their maximum Health. |
| Soul Leech | 2 points per rank, 3 ranks | 7 | When killing an enemy with a Melee weapon, all players within 5 meters of the target restore 15 Mana. (5 meters range and 15 Mana per rank) |
| Purification | 1 point per rank, 3 ranks | 3 | Defeating a Shroud infested enemy with a One- or Two-Handed Axe, Club, Hammer, Sword or Greatsword restores 3 seconds of Time in the Shroud. (3 seconds per rank) |
| Power Parry | 1 point per rank, 3 ranks | 1 | Your Parry Power is increased by 10%. (10% Parry Power per rank) |
| Vigorous Deflection | 1 point per rank, 3 ranks | 6 | Successfully parrying an enemy’s attack restores 15 Stamina. (15 Stamina per rank) |
“Points from a Spark” is the cheapest number of skill points it takes to reach that skill, counting the skills on the way.
Skill point route
This is the cheapest order to reach every tank pick from a Spark, one rank each. It takes 13 skills and 26 skill points; two Constitution nodes, Soul Leech and Strength are picked up on the way. The extra ranks of Heavy Plates, Shiny Plates, Nemesis, Earth Aura and Absorb cost 14 more points, 40 in all. More points come from leveling up and Shroud Roots, see how to get skill points.
| Step | Skill | Points | Running total | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Constitution | 1 | 1 | on the way to Heavy Plates |
| 2 | Heavy Plates | 1 | 2 | build pick |
| 3 | Shiny Plates | 1 | 3 | build pick |
| 4 | Constitution | 1 | 4 | on the way to Tower |
| 5 | Tower | 3 | 7 | build pick |
| 6 | Warden | 3 | 10 | build pick |
| 7 | Soul Leech | 2 | 12 | on the way to Nemesis |
| 8 | Strength | 1 | 13 | on the way to Nemesis |
| 9 | Nemesis | 2 | 15 | build pick |
| 10 | Earth Aura | 2 | 17 | build pick |
| 11 | Thick Skin | 5 | 22 | build pick |
| 12 | Absorb | 1 | 23 | build pick |
| 13 | Martyr | 3 | 26 | build pick |
Martyr is a co-op pick. It does nothing for you: when you die, allies within 30 meters are healed for 50% of their maximum Health and get Final Blessing, 100 more maximum Health for 15 minutes. Earth Aura reaches 4 meters per rank, so it only covers allies who stay close, and Nemesis pays off most when someone else does the damage. Playing solo, the armor and resistance skills carry the build.
The heaviest armor set at every Flame level
At every Blacksmith tier, one Warrior set carries more armor than every other Blacksmith Warrior set of the same item level. Those six sets are the tank line. The table gives each full five-piece set’s Physical and Magical Armor next to the other Warrior sets at that item level, which all share the same values. Upgrading your Flame Altar opens the next set, see every Flame Altar upgrade requirement.
| Set | Flame level | Item level | Full set Physical / Magical Armor | Other Blacksmith Warrior sets at that item level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tank | 3 | 10 | 81 / 45 | Adventurer: 70 / 34 |
| Guardian | 4 | 15 | 113 / 63 | Mercenary, Blackguard: 100 / 50 |
| Warden | 5 | 20 | 148 / 84 | Soldier, Rogue: 130 / 64 |
| Brazen Bull | 6 | 30 | 219 / 123 | Mountain’s Shadow, Wolf’s Fang: 190 / 94 |
| Golden Bulwark | 8 | 40 | 286 / 162 | Sunpiercer: 250 / 124 |
| Crestflame | 9 | 45 | 629 / 350 | Emberguard: 559 / 280 |
The tank sets also carry the build’s skills, but only once you enhance the pieces: the chest unlocks Heavy Plates +2, the legs Absorb +1 and Shiny Plates +1, the boots Earth Aura +1 and Purification +1, the gloves Soul Leech +2, and the helmet Nemesis +1 and Purification +1 (the Warden Helmet has Blood Rage +1 and Brute +1 instead). The card stats are what each piece shows before enhancing: Block on the gloves, Health on the legs, Health Regeneration on the boots, and from the Guardian set on also Health on the chest, Merciless Attack Damage on the helmet and Stamina Regeneration on the legs and boots. Every other set is in craftable armor sets and the Flame level that unlocks each one.
Tank set (Flame level 3, item level 10)
| Piece | Slot | Physical / Magical Armor | Card stats | Skill ranks and perks when enhanced | Recipe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tank Helmet | Head | 16 / 9 | None | Nemesis +1; Purification +1 | 2 Copper Bars, 4 Indigo Plant, 1 Dried Fur, 5 Shroud Mushroom |
| Tank Chestplate | Chest | 31 / 17 | Health Regeneration +6 | Heavy Plates +2; Health +40 | 4 Torn Cloth, 2 Reptile Leather, 4 Copper Bars, 4 Amber, 3 Giant Critter Scales |
| Tank Gloves | Hands | 9 / 5 | Block +2 | Soul Leech +2; Health +40 | 2 Shroud Sack, 2 Copper Bars, 1 Dried Fur, 1 Goo |
| Tank Trousers | Legs | 16 / 9 | Health +45 | Absorb +1; Shiny Plates +1 | 2 Resin, 2 Linen, 1 Bug Dust, 2 Charcoal, 2 Corrupted Boar Tusk |
| Tank Boots | Feet | 9 / 5 | Health Regeneration +6 | Earth Aura +1; Purification +1 | 2 Charcoal, 1 Glow Dust, 4 Bones, 2 Brittle Shroud Petals |
Guardian set (Flame level 4, item level 15)
| Piece | Slot | Physical / Magical Armor | Card stats | Skill ranks and perks when enhanced | Recipe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guardian Helmet | Head | 22 / 12 | Merciless Attack Damage +35% | Nemesis +1; Purification +1 | 2 Fossilized Bone, 1 Bronze Bars, 1 Tin Bars, 10 Mint Mushroom Meat |
| Guardian Chestplate | Chest | 45 / 25 | Health +180; Health Regeneration +5 | Heavy Plates +2 | 2 Ammonia Gland, 2 Leather, 2 Bronze Bars, 1 Tin Bars, 2 Petrified Shroud Stalker Shell |
| Guardian Gloves | Hands | 12 / 7 | Melee Damage +2%; Block +3 | Soul Leech +2; Health +60 | 4 Critter Glands, 1 Leather, 1 Bronze Bars, 2 Monstrous Ribs |
| Guardian Trousers | Legs | 22 / 12 | Health +68; Stamina Regeneration +5 | Absorb +1; Shiny Plates +1 | 4 Feather, 2 Leather, 3 Shroud Gelatin, 2 Bronze Bars, 15 Acidic Mycelium |
| Guardian Boots | Feet | 12 / 7 | Health Regeneration +9; Stamina Regeneration +5 | Earth Aura +1; Purification +1 | 4 Shroud Adhesive, 4 Fossilized Bone, 1 Bronze Bars, 2 Corrosive Blood |
Warden set (Flame level 5, item level 20)
| Piece | Slot | Physical / Magical Armor | Card stats | Skill ranks and perks when enhanced | Recipe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warden Helmet | Head | 29 / 16 | Merciless Attack Damage +38% | Blood Rage +1; Brute +1; Health +20 | 1 Mist of a Fell Sicklescythe, 1 Iron Bars, 8 Lapislazuli, 2 Yellow Fabric |
| Warden Chestplate | Chest | 58 / 32 | Health +240; Health Regeneration +6 | Heavy Plates +2 | 1 Padding, 2 Iron Bars, 2 Green Fabric, 1 Fell Heart, 4 Fossilized Bone |
| Warden Gloves | Hands | 16 / 10 | Melee Damage +3%; Block +4 | Soul Leech +2; Health +80 | 2 Enshrouded Vulture Talon, 1 Iron Bars, 1 Padding, 1 Yellow Fabric |
| Warden Trousers | Legs | 29 / 16 | Health +90; Stamina Regeneration +6 | Absorb +1; Shiny Plates +1 | 2 Monstrous Ribs, 1 Iron Bars, 4 Shadowbloom, 6 Scales, 15 Brittle Shroud Flakes |
| Warden Boots | Feet | 16 / 10 | Health Regeneration +12; Stamina Regeneration +6 | Earth Aura +1; Purification +1 | 20 Shroud Sand, 1 Iron Bars, 1 Leather, 3 Fossilized Bone Dust |
Brazen Bull set (Flame level 6, item level 30)
| Piece | Slot | Physical / Magical Armor | Card stats | Skill ranks and perks when enhanced | Recipe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazen Bull Helmet | Head | 43 / 24 | Merciless Attack Damage +41%; Frost Resistance +2 | Nemesis +1; Purification +1 | 1 Enshrouded Cyclops Eye, 1 Warm Padding, 2 Steel Bars, 2 Glimmer Gentian |
| Brazen Bull Chest | Chest | 85 / 47 | Health +300; Health Regeneration +8; Frost Resistance +4 | Heavy Plates +2 | 1 Critter Carapace, 3 Silver Bars, 2 Warm Padding, 4 Amethyst, 2 Obsidian Dust |
| Brazen Bull Gloves | Hands | 24 / 14 | Melee Damage +4%; Block +5; Frost Resistance +1 | Soul Leech +2; Health +100 | 10 Enshrouded Ice, 1 Warm Padding, 1 Silver Dust, 2 Iron Bars |
| Brazen Bull Trousers | Legs | 43 / 24 | Health +112; Stamina Regeneration +8; Frost Resistance +2 | Absorb +1; Shiny Plates +1 | 2 Steel Bars, 1 Warm Padding, 4 Obsidian, 1 Flammable Goo, 15 Enshrouded Ice |
| Brazen Bull Boots | Feet | 24 / 14 | Health Regeneration +15; Stamina Regeneration +8; Frost Resistance +2 | Earth Aura +1; Purification +1 | 1 Chitin Powder, 1 Warm Padding, 1 Silver Bars, 2 Hardened Leather |
Golden Bulwark set (Flame level 8, item level 40)
| Piece | Slot | Physical / Magical Armor | Card stats | Skill ranks and perks when enhanced | Recipe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Bulwark Helmet | Head | 56 / 31 | Merciless Attack Damage +44%; Wet Duration Reduction 120 s | Nemesis +1; Purification +1 | 1 Capybara Bristles, 5 Green Vitriol Dust, 2 Gold Bars, 2 Piscine Ivory Dust |
| Golden Bulwark Chestplate | Chest | 112 / 62 | Health +360; Health Regeneration +9; Wet Duration Reduction 180 s | Heavy Plates +2 | 4 Capybara Bristles, 6 Green Vitriol Dust, 2 Gold Bars, 1 Bursting Fell Heart, 2 Red Fabric |
| Golden Bulwark Gloves | Hands | 31 / 19 | Melee Damage +5%; Block +6; Wet Duration Reduction 90 s | Soul Leech +2; Health +120 | 5 Green Vitriol Dust, 2 Capybara Bristles, 1 Gold Dust, 1 Red Fabric, 1 Cursed Shroud Sack |
| Golden Bulwark Pants | Legs | 56 / 31 | Health +135; Stamina Regeneration +9; Wet Duration Reduction 120 s | Absorb +1; Shiny Plates +1 | 4 Palm Leaves, 50 Pink Mushroom Meat, 4 Capybara Bristles, 2 Piscine Ivory Dust, 1 Corrupted Boar Tusk |
| Golden Bulwark Boots | Feet | 31 / 19 | Health Regeneration +18; Stamina Regeneration +9; Wet Duration Reduction 90 s | Earth Aura +1; Purification +1 | 6 Water Reptile Leather, 2 Capybara Bristles, 10 Gold Dust, 1 Shroud Sludge |
Crestflame set (Flame level 9, item level 45)
| Piece | Slot | Physical / Magical Armor | Card stats | Skill ranks and perks when enhanced | Recipe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crestflame Helmet | Head | 126 / 70 | Merciless Attack Damage +47%; Wet Duration Reduction 120 s; Frost Resistance +2 | Nemesis +1; Purification +1 | 5 Sulfur, 5 Moonstone, 6 Archaic Shards, 1 Gold Bars |
| Crestflame Chest | Chest | 251 / 140 | Health +420; Health Regeneration +11; Wet Duration Reduction 180 s; Frost Resistance +4 | Heavy Plates +2 | 4 Celestium Bars, 1 Gold Bars, 2 Blue Fabric, 1 Archaic Infusion, 1 Archaic Core |
| Crestflame Gloves | Hands | 63 / 35 | Melee Damage +6%; Block +7; Wet Duration Reduction 90 s; Frost Resistance +1 | Soul Leech +2; Health +140 | 2 Magma Gel, 1 Celestium Bars, 1 Shroud Relic, 2 Ember Carapace |
| Crestflame Pants | Legs | 126 / 70 | Health +158; Stamina Regeneration +11; Wet Duration Reduction 120 s; Frost Resistance +2 | Absorb +1; Shiny Plates +1 | 2 Ember Carapace, 5 Magma Gel, 1 Celestium Bars, 2 Fabric, 1 Diamond |
| Crestflame boots | Feet | 63 / 35 | Health Regeneration +21; Stamina Regeneration +11; Wet Duration Reduction 90 s; Frost Resistance +2 | Earth Aura +1; Purification +1 | 1 Sparkling Dust, 2 Celestium Bars, 10 Active Mycelium, 3 Diamond |
Shields for a tank
No shield shows an armor value on its card; shields add parry skill ranks instead, so a tank can carry any shield and parry with it. The parry skills and every shield that boosts them are in the sword and shield parry build, and the full list is in the shields and wards list.
Other melee builds
For a parry-first setup see the sword and shield parry build, for your first Warrior skill points the early warrior build, and for two-handed play the greatsword Warrior build and the Barbarian build.
