Grupo

In Elden Ring, playing a tank build means you’re the front line in combat—absorbing hits, protecting allies, and ensuring enemies have a tough time getting to your fragile companions. Building a solid tank isn’t just about wearing heavy armor; it’s about balancing defense, stamina, and the right items that allow you to survive the harshest of battles.

If you’re looking to become an unyielding force in Elden Ring, here are 15 items that can elevate your tank build and help you survive even the deadliest encounters.

1. Bull-Goat Set

The Bull-Goat Set is the pinnacle of tanking gear. This armor set offers the highest poise and defense in the game, making you nearly unmovable in combat. While it’s extremely heavy and will slow you down significantly, the protection it provides is unmatched, allowing you to take hits from even the toughest bosses.

2. Radahn’s Greatsword

Radahn’s Greatsword isn’t just a heavy-hitting weapon; it also offers excellent defensive capabilities when paired with its stagger-heavy attacks. Its wide-reaching slashes help you control the battlefield while taking advantage of your heavy armor setup.

3. Erdtree’s Favor

This talisman increases your maximum HP, stamina, and equip load, which are essential for a tank build. Higher HP ensures you can take more hits, stamina allows you to keep your guard up, and the extra equip load means you can wear heavy armor while maintaining mobility.

4. Greatshield

Greatshields in Elden Ring offer substantial protection from incoming damage. Whether it’s the Greatshield of Glory or the Fingerprint Shield, these shields can block even the most powerful of enemy attacks. Pairing them with high poise will allow you to tank hits and retaliate with ease.

5. Radagon’s Scarseal

This talisman boosts your strength while increasing your damage resistance. It's an excellent choice for a tank, as it improves your offensive capabilities while still providing defensive benefits. Be cautious, as it also slightly increases the damage you take, so be sure to balance it with your other gear.

6. Flame, Cleanse Me

The Flame, Cleanse Me incantation is incredibly useful when fighting enemies that deal poison, scarlet rot, or other status effects. It clears these debuffs from you and any nearby allies, allowing you to stay in the fight longer without having to retreat.

7. Elemental Resistances (Fire, Lightning, etc.)

The right Elden Ring items that boost your elemental resistance are essential for tanking specific types of attacks. Items like the Fire-Scorpion Charm or Dragoncrest Shield Talisman will provide added protection against elemental damage, allowing you to absorb hits from bosses that deal fire, lightning, or magic damage.

8. Tears of Denial

If you're trying to avoid dying in one hit, Tears of Denial (from the Flask of Wondrous Physick) can be a lifesaver. This effect gives you a one-time buffer, preventing your health from dropping below a certain threshold, even when you take a lethal blow.

9. Bastard Sword

The Bastard Sword isn’t just a solid offensive weapon—it also has a solid two-handed moveset that allows for defensive versatility. Using it in two hands lets you wield it as a greatsword with a good balance of speed and damage, while maintaining a defensive posture.

10. Sacred Scorpion Charm

When tanking, it’s important to not just survive but also be able to inflict damage. The Sacred Scorpion Charm boosts your holy damage, allowing you to deal better damage with your holy-based incantations, which could prove to be invaluable when fighting enemies that are weak to this element.

11. Dragon Slayer

A reliable weapon that scales well with strength, the Dragon Slayer has a powerful moveset that includes wide slashes ideal for crowd control. It’s especially useful for tank builds that want to deal consistent damage while blocking incoming hits.

12. Tears of the Beast

A fantastic flask option for tanks, Tears of the Beast provides a temporary buff to your physical defense, making it much easier to withstand hits. This can be especially useful in longer battles or when facing multiple enemies at once.

13. Mastodon Armor Set

The Mastodon Armor Set offers excellent protection while maintaining a decent weight. It's particularly helpful for players looking for the balance between being a tank and maintaining some agility. The set’s poise will allow you to maintain your stance against most enemies.

14. Golden Vow

Golden Vow is an incantation that increases both your defense and attack power. It’s perfect for tank builds, as it provides a crucial defensive buff while also enhancing your damage. This can be the difference between surviving a deadly encounter and getting wiped out.

15. The Crucible Horn Shield

This shield has an added advantage over standard shields: it can be used to both block and deal damage. The Crucible Horn Shield’s ability to deal damage while protecting you makes it a fantastic tool for a tank build, as it allows you to engage offensively while keeping a sturdy defense.

Building a tank in Elden Ring requires not just a sturdy defense but also the tools to sustain yourself and retaliate when the moment is right. Whether you focus on heavy armor, shields, or incantations, these 15 items will ensure you’re well-equipped to take on the most challenging foes.

If you're looking to boost your rune supply or acquire some of these powerful items, you can buy Elden Ring runes or grab cheap Elden Ring items to speed up your progress. With the right setup, you can be an unstoppable force on the battlefield.