Among the many popular builds available for Elder Scrolls Online (ESO), few are as enduring and widely respected as the ‘Almost Immortal Warrior’ by Xynode. Known for its exceptional survivability and flexibility, this build has become a go-to option for players who want to solo difficult content or serve as an unshakable tank in group play. It combines high resistance, strong self-healing, and sustainable resource management to create a playstyle that truly lives up to its name. Whether you’re facing world bosses, dungeons, or veteran trials, the Xynode Almost Immortal Warrior provides a reliable foundation for any serious player seeking durability without sacrificing efficiency.
What Is the Xynode Almost Immortal Warrior?
The Xynode Almost Immortal Warrior is a tank build designed primarily for Dragonknight characters, although with adjustments, it can be adapted to other classes. Its main strength lies in its unparalleled survivability. This build is designed for PvE content and excels in both solo and group environments. It’s particularly favored by players who want to take on content that would usually require multiple players, thanks to its high sustain and defensive capabilities.
Core Objectives of the Build
- Extreme survivability against sustained damage
- Reliable self-healing to stay alive during intense fights
- Efficient resource management for long battles
- Ability to hold aggro and control enemy positioning
Primary Skills and Abilities
The Almost Immortal Warrior makes use of key Dragonknight abilities that help maximize defense while maintaining steady pressure on enemies. The skills are carefully selected to complement both solo and group play, emphasizing healing, resistance, and crowd control.
Main Bar (Sword and Shield)
- Heroic Slash– Reduces enemy damage output and builds Ultimate.
- Pierce Armor– Taunt and Major Breach to keep threat and weaken enemies.
- Igneous Shield– Adds a damage shield and provides Major Mending.
- Green Dragon Blood– Provides a huge burst heal based on missing health.
- Absorb Magic– Passive healing and damage mitigation from projectiles.
- Ultimate: Magma Shell– Grants massive damage reduction and a shield to allies.
Back Bar (Frost Staff or Two-Handed)
- Unrelenting Grip– Pulls ranged enemies to you and immobilizes them.
- Volatile Armor– Boosts physical and spell resistance and damages attackers.
- Cinder Storm– Provides area healing and snare for enemy movement.
- Resolving Vigor– Stamina-based heal over time.
- Choking Talons– AoE crowd control and Minor Maim.
- Ultimate: Spell Wall or Standard of Might– Defensive or offensive options based on the encounter.
Gear Setup
Gear plays a central role in turning the Dragonknight into a nearly indestructible tank. The Xynode Almost Immortal Warrior makes use of specific item sets that enhance resistance, healing received, and Ultimate generation.
Recommended Sets
- Leeching Plate– Deals damage and heals you when taking hits. Excellent for survivability.
- Powerful Assault– Boosts weapon and spell damage to nearby allies after casting Vigor.
- Stonekeeper (Monster Set)– Restores resources when blocking attacks.
Alternative Sets
- Ebon Armory– Increases max health for group members. Great for trials or dungeons.
- Alkosh– Used in group content where synergies are frequent. Helps reduce enemy resistances.
Gear Traits and Enchantments
Ideally, armor should be heavy and infused, with tri-stat enchantments for resource balance. Weapons typically use sturdy traits to reduce block cost and absorb enchantments for damage mitigation. Jewelry should include block cost reduction or stamina recovery glyphs, with infused or protective traits based on preference and needs.
Champion Points Allocation
Champion Points (CP) significantly impact the performance of the Almost Immortal Warrior. Proper allocation can increase resistances, healing efficiency, and damage reduction.
Warfare Tree
- Enduring Resolve– Increases effectiveness of damage reduction.
- Ironclad– Reduces damage taken from direct attacks.
- Unassailable– Reduces damage from AoE attacks.
- Rejuvenation– Grants health, magicka, and stamina recovery.
Fitness Tree
- Boundless Vitality– Increases max health.
- Fortified– Increases armor rating.
- Strategic Reserve– Grants health recovery while blocking.
- Sustained by Suffering– Improves sustain while under negative effects.
Playstyle and Combat Strategy
The Xynode Almost Immortal Warrior thrives in high-pressure environments. The strategy is simple: stay alive, maintain aggro, and support allies. Most of the time, your focus will be on rotating your buffs, maintaining taunt on high-priority targets, and using healing skills as needed. Blocking and resource management are key try to block only when necessary and keep up defensive cooldowns.
Solo Content
For solo play, this build truly shines. The high sustain from Leeching Plate and healing abilities like Green Dragon Blood allow players to take on world bosses and delve into public dungeons without fear. The ability to chain enemies together and control their movement creates an efficient farming experience as well.
Group Dungeons and Trials
In group content, your role is to hold the frontline. Keep enemies clustered for AoE damage from your group, apply debuffs through skills like Pierce Armor, and use your ultimates strategically. With powerful gear sets and smart rotation, the Almost Immortal Warrior can hold entire rooms of enemies without going down.
Advantages of the Build
- Exceptional survivability in nearly all types of content
- Versatility for both solo and group PvE
- Low maintenance and forgiving for new players
- Scales well with Champion Points and gear improvements
Potential Drawbacks
- Relatively low damage output, especially in solo content
- Dependent on specific gear sets to reach full potential
- May feel slow-paced compared to more aggressive builds
The Xynode Almost Immortal Warrior remains one of the most reliable and time-tested builds in Elder Scrolls Online for those who value survivability and control. It’s a perfect choice for players who enjoy tanking roles or who want to tackle high-level content solo without constantly worrying about their health bar. While it may not deal the highest damage, it more than makes up for it with its ability to endure through almost any challenge. With careful attention to gear, skill rotation, and positioning, this build can serve as the backbone of any dungeon team or the core of a self-sufficient solo adventurer.