Blocking & Counterattacks

Blocking & Counterattacks

Mastering blocking and counterattacking is crucial for survival and maximizing your damage output in The Elder Scrolls Online, especially in challenging content like Veteran Dungeons and Trials. This guide will walk you through the mechanics and provide actionable strategies to elevate your combat prowess.

The Fundamentals of Blocking

Blocking is your primary defensive maneuver against incoming attacks. It significantly reduces damage taken and can prevent or mitigate crowd control effects. To block, hold down the right mouse button (PC) or the designated block button on your controller.

• Damage Reduction: Blocking reduces the damage you take from most attacks. The exact percentage varies based on your gear, passive skills, and the type of attack.
• Stamina Cost: Sustained blocking consumes Stamina. If your Stamina reaches zero while blocking, your block will break, leaving you vulnerable and often stunned or disoriented.
• Interrupting Heavy Attacks: Blocking an enemy's heavy attack will interrupt them, causing them to become off-balance. This is a critical mechanic for setting up counterattacks.
• Mitigating Area of Effect (AoE) Damage: While blocking doesn't negate all AoE damage, it can significantly reduce its impact, allowing you to survive mechanics that would otherwise be lethal.

Counterattacking: Capitalizing on Vulnerability

Once an enemy is off-balance, they are susceptible to powerful counterattacks. This is where the "Blocking & Counterattacks" synergy truly shines.

Executing a Counterattack

1. Identify a Heavy Attack: Watch for enemies winding up for a heavy attack. These are typically telegraphed with a yellow glow or a distinct animation.
2. Block the Heavy Attack: As the heavy attack lands, hold your block. This will interrupt the enemy and make them off-balance.
3. Perform a Heavy Attack: Immediately after blocking their heavy attack, release your block and initiate your own heavy attack. Your heavy attack against an off-balance enemy will deal significantly increased damage and restore resources.

Advanced Counterattack Strategies

• Resource Management: Successfully counterattacking by heavy attacking an off-balance enemy is a primary way for many builds to restore Stamina or Magicka. Prioritize this mechanic, especially during prolonged fights.
• Synergy with Abilities: Many class abilities and weapon skills gain bonus effects against off-balance enemies. For example, the Flurry skill (Dual Wield) can be particularly potent when used after an enemy is off-balance.
• Group Coordination: In group content, tanks often focus on interrupting enemies to make them off-balance, allowing damage dealers to unleash powerful heavy attacks and abilities. Communicate with your group to maximize this synergy.

Gear and Skills for Enhanced Blocking & Counterattacks

Certain gear sets and passive skills can greatly enhance your blocking and counterattacking capabilities.

Recommended Gear Sets

• Heavy Armor Sets:
  • Ebon Armory: (Found in Crypt of Hearts I & II) Provides bonus Max Health to you and your group, increasing your survivability while blocking.
  • Torug's Pact: (Craftable in Grahtwood, Stormhaven, Deshaan) Reduces the cooldown of your weapon enchantments, which can be triggered more frequently with successful heavy attacks.
  • Plague Doctor: (Found in Deshaan overland) Massive boost to Max Health, making you incredibly tanky for sustained blocking.
• Shield Sets:
  • Perfected Puncturing Remedy: (Found in Veteran Vateshran Hollows) Grants significant healing and Stamina restoration when you block an attack, making it ideal for tanks.
  • Perfected Point-Blank Volley: (Found in Veteran Vateshran Hollows) While primarily a damage set, its bonus to Light and Heavy Attacks can synergize with counterattacks.

Key Passive Skills

• Heavy Armor Line:
  • Juggernaut: Increases your healing taken while wearing 5 or more pieces of Heavy Armor.
  • Revitalize: Increases your Stamina Recovery while wearing 5 or more pieces of Heavy Armor.
• One Hand and Shield Line:
  • Defensive Posture: Reduces the Stamina cost of blocking.
  • Deadly Bash: Increases the damage of your Bash attacks, which can be used to interrupt enemies.
• Undaunted Mettle: (Undaunted Guild Skill Line) Increases your Max Health, Stamina, and Magicka based on the number of armor types you are wearing. Important for hybrid builds.
• Racial Passives: Races like Nord (Max Health, Stamina Recovery, Damage Reduction) and Imperial (Max Health, Max Stamina, Stamina Recovery) have excellent racial passives for blocking-focused builds.

Practice Makes Perfect

The best way to master blocking and counterattacking is through practice. Head to areas with predictable enemy attack patterns, such as the White-Gold Tower Public Dungeon or the various Dolmens across Tamriel, and focus on timing your blocks and follow-up heavy attacks. With consistent effort, you'll become a formidable force on the battlefield!