Starter Tank
Gameplay
What this build for?
SnS/WH tank is classis setup which help your team not only with holding agro but also providing important utilities. Rends, Weakens, CC. It will not work well in solo pvp due to low damage output but will be great for any kind of group content.
Catacombs
Raids (Usually no more then 1 slot in a 10 man raid)
Mutations (M1-M3)
I'll try to explain step by step what to look for and how to make this build
What items to get at start?
As a complete beginner, you might wonder: how do I get gear good enough to start running Catacombs, raids, or dungeons?
Even though the gear shown in the example below isn’t best-in-slot (BIS), it’s already a solid setup made from items that drop inside Catacombs. But what should you get to even start farming there?
It’s actually quite simple — focus on having two key things in your first armor pieces:
A Gem Socket
A Defense Socket
You can find such items as random drops from regular mobs, expedition chests, or even on the market. Don’t overpay — these are temporary starter items that you’ll replace quickly. Paying around 1–2k per piece is reasonable, keeping your total armor budget near 10k gold.
Avoid spending gold on Enchanted Ward gems early on. They’re a bit too expensive right now (as of 21.10.2025) to justify using in starter gear. It’s completely fine to play without them at first — but definitely use them if you manage to get one for free.
Priority | Head | Chest | Gloves | Pants | Boots |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gem Socket | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Defence Socket | enchanted ward | enchanted ward | enchanted ward | enchanted ward | enchanted ward |
Is faction gear good?
Yes, it is good option. Check your 730 gear from faction vendor. It should be in a budget and has decent starter perks. You can use this set in both pvp/pve at the beginning
What gems to choose?
Content | Gem | Runeglass |
|---|---|---|
Catacombs | Having Cut Pristine Opals in every piece of armor and jewelry greatly improves your survivability in Catacombs. With eight Opals equipped, you’ll gain roughly 16% resistance to all elemental damage, making them the most reliable and universal defensive option for this mode. | Runeglass gems are not required — they’re a nice bonus but absolutely not necessary. |
Open World | For open-world content, using Cut Pristine Onyxes is usually the better option. | Runeglass gems are not required — they’re a nice bonus but absolutely not necessary. |
Mutations (Difficulty 3) | In mutations gem choise depends on weekly elemental mutation type and boss fight. Aim to get as close as possible to 50% of weekly element resistance for best expirience in mutated expeditions. With 8 gems and 10% from amulet you will be at 42%, for best protection you might want to have 2 conditionings of same element on top of it. | Runeglass gems are not required — they’re a nice bonus but absolutely not necessary. |
Raids | In raids, gem choices are boss-specific. Always consult your raid leader for recommendations before entering. Some raids are heavily DPS-focused, where you may be asked to socket a full set of Carnelian gems to increase ongoing damage against taunted enemies. | Runeglass gems are not required — they’re a nice bonus but absolutely not necessary. |
What's with jewelry?
Start with looking simple 1-2 perker jewelry. Avoid regenerating on earring if doing group content. This one draws agro, but if you are doing solo content without tank it's fine to have it
Perk 1 | Perk 2 | |
|---|---|---|
Amulet | Try to find protection according to content type you are doing. It might be fire/nature/void/lightning/ice or thrust/slash/strike | Not important as starter |
Ring | As for start try to find ring with your weapon damage type (thrust/slash). It counts as empower, so in raids due to specifics of team composition you more likely will be asked to use something else, but in solo content it is good choise. | Not important as starter |
Earring | Refreshment / Refreshing Move | Despised |
Shield
Make sure to not have same protection perks on amulet and shield. They do not stack
Perk 1 | Perk 2 | |
|---|---|---|
Shield | Try to find protection according to content type you are doing. It might be fire/nature/void/lightning/ice or thrust/slash/strike | Skill Socket. Fortifying Shield Rush |
Good luck in catacombs!
Now you should be ready to go. Farm catacombs, buy overcharged boxed and try to get those items. It should not take long. If you get those as your last perk roll after openning a box - it's good :)
lifestealer's draught
mortal agression
shirking fortification (be sure to implement some dodges into gameplay)
conditionings (thrust/slash/strike/flame/void etc). Don't bother with rolling perfrect combinations as on build example. It can be any combination of conditionings.
Why elemenatally charged set?
There is simply no better starter options for pve tanks. You can get multiple conditionings and defensive sockets. And that's basically all you need. Even tho set bonuses are not gona work you still get decent pieces. You don't have to upgrade it to 800, remember this is starter gear, that you can easily get from catacombs for free. Keep grinding and look for pieces that suit your tanking playstyle individually.
Mutation Academy
Honzey - builds, design and development
Website uses resources from nwdb.info and nwbuddy.de