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Skyrim Tank builds

Builds for soaking damage and staying on their feet. For players who would rather outlast a fight than dodge it.

Or start from scratch in the Character Build Planner and share your build.

Lvl 51
6 / 10
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3 / 10
Dwemer Dreadnought
Skyrim The Skyrim equivalent of Iron Man build
Crafting
Roleplay
Tank
Published / Updated
by@Ahhhh
Lvl 55
12 / 15
6 / 8
8 / 14
4 / 9
3 / 10
6 / 10
Overlord
Skyrim Armored Summoner build
Crafting
Magic
Melee
Minions
Tank
Published / Updated
byMisterFreakingSunshine

Based loosely on the titular character from the Overlord game series. This character is a heavily armored battlemage who summons allies, fires off powerful spells, and crafts its own powerful gear.

Focus on leveling Conjuration early and use your sword and Destruction spells as backup until you have enough Magicka to blast constantly in fights.

Smithing and selling enchanted daggers keeps you flush with cash for spells while leveling your crafting.

Lvl 40
4 / 10
5 / 8
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7 / 12
3 / 10
Heavy Breton
Skyrim Spell Pickaxe build
Challenge
Melee
Roleplay
Solo
Tank
Published
byJamesQuest
Lvl 44
9 / 9
5 / 8
2 / 10
7 / 12
4 / 14
1 / 10
Heavy Imperial
Skyrim Imperial Spell Sword build
Endgame
Melee
Roleplay
Solo
Tank
Published
byJamesQuest
Lvl 40
11 / 11
8 / 10
8 / 14
5 / 9
4 / 6
3 / 10
Destruction Vampire
Skyrim Fire Mage build
Endgame
Magic
Roleplay
Solo
Tank
Published
byJamesQuest
Create your own Skyrim build
Open the planner and publish it here
Lvl 36
6 / 9
3 / 8
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2 / 10
5 / 14
4 / 12
Pestilence
Skyrim DOT Damage Knight build
Consumables
Melee
Tank
Published / Updated
by@h4z2

Build limited to only 6 skills. Main Skill (Alchemy) has a 10 perk investment, Minor Skills have a 5 perk investment. This build is a Heavily Armoured Knight who uses poison and bleed buildup to cause massive amounts of damage over time (DOT). Applying poisons of weakness to poison and weakness to magicka increase all DOT damage, taking this build to the next level.

Lvl 65
5 / 8
7 / 9
5 / 10
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6 / 14
7 / 11
Toxic komodo
Skyrim Sneaky magickal tank spécialised in dot build
Endgame
Magic
Solo
Stealth
Tank
Published / Updated
byAsimpleguest

An sneaky argonian leeching with drain spell, shouts and poison runes toying with his prey until it decide to became a tormenting force using knockbacks, bleeding and poisons so potent that they will reduce the poor prey to ashes if not cautious. When the prey die, the toxic komodo will eat it nourrishing and reinforcing himself until he found his next prey.

Need the improved atronach glitch, to permit unlimited leeching and reinforce his low magickal.

Lvl 98
9 / 9
9 / 9
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10 / 10
6 / 9
6 / 9
Pure Warrior+
Skyrim Weaponmaster direct combat tank build
Boss Killer
Close Range
Crafting
Melee
Tank
Published / Updated
by@pontonius
Lvl 73
8 / 9
5 / 9
5 / 6
5 / 9
7 / 10
7 / 14
Yngvar
Skyrim Nord Barbarian of Old build
Beginner Friendly
Close Range
Magic
Melee
Tank
Published / Updated
by@larcx13

Based off of Ysgramor and old Nords who did not judge or shun magic. Frost destruction, restoration for hewling and alteration for added protection. Wears light armor and wields twohanded weapons like a traditional barbarian. Join and finish the Companions and Dawngaurd. Joins the college of winterhold for access to spells, but does not become archmage (roleplay).

Lvl 36
9 / 12
5 / 8
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5 / 10
5 / 14
4 / 9
Pure Imperial
Skyrim Spell Knight build
Magic
Melee
Tank
Published / Updated
by@h4z2

Build limited to only the skills with starting bonuses. Main Skill has a 10 perk investment, Minor Skills have a 5 perk investment

Lvl 36
8 / 8
5 / 10
5 / 9
5 / 9
5 / 10
4 / 9
Pure Orc
Skyrim Enchanted Warrior build
Crafting
Melee
Tank
Published / Updated
by@h4z2

Build limited to only the skills with starting bonuses. Main Skill has a 10 perk investment, Minor Skills have a 5 perk investment

Lvl 45
8 / 8
8 / 15
3 / 10
6 / 9
6 / 12
3 / 10
dark knight
Skyrim Battlemage (NoCrafting) build
Budget
Melee
Tank
Published
by@Pw1ng

Warrior in heavy armor with one-handed weapons, uses conjuration, restoration, and alteration magic for support (no crafting).

Lvl 42
6 / 10
8 / 8
8 / 8
6 / 12
5 / 10
3 / 10
Knight of Chaos
Skyrim Warrior build
Melee
Tank
Published / Updated
bySh!
Lvl 50
8 / 10
9 / 15
5 / 9
7 / 12
7 / 10
3 / 10
Forsaken Legionaire
Skyrim Imperial Death Knight, Vampire, Spell Blade, Entropist build
Endgame
Magic
Melee
Roleplay
Tank
Published / Updated
byHalkaun

THIS BUILD IS CURRENTLY BEING PLAY TESTED