The Best Early Tank Build Weapons in Enshrouded

Highlights

• Tanks in Enshrouded should focus on taking as much damage as possible, using skills that synergize with the tank role.
• New tanks can start with the Hatchet, Shield, Scrappy Sword, or Spiked Club for effective early-game play.
• Aim to craft the Rising Fighter Shield, Enhanced Spike Club, or Hero’s Shield for upgraded tanking capabilities in Enshrouded.

A tank in Enshrouded is a good, solid build for solo and multiplayer games, especially this one. It should be noted that a character doesn’t actually have a class in this game, but instead progresses by unlocking skills on the skill wheel. With this in mind, players are free to take skills that have a synergistic relationship with the tank role.

Launched in 2024, Enshrouded received good reviews, and has been praised for building an immersive world with deep gameplay. The game doesn’t use procedural generation to create the playing map, but instead created the environment entirely by hand, and this really shows. For players looking to get off to a strong start with their build, here are the best early weapons for tanks in Enshrouded.

8 Hatchet

Looted During The Introduction Quest

Stats:

• Damage: 11
• Durability: 250

Once the game’s cutscenes are finished and the player has woken up, they will be given a quest to get to the plains and find a base location, to which they are then guided through a small cave system. Part of this guide quest is to take the player into a hidden room with a chest inside, which contains the Hatchet.

This is a weapon that new tanks can use until they can craft or loot something better. It isn’t completely terrible and is more than capable of handling low-level enemies that are found close to the starting area.

7 Shield

The Basic Craftable Form Of Protection

Stats:

• Block: 2
• Parry: 10
• Durability: 80

Crafting requirements:

As soon as the player completes the introductory quest, they are able to craft the starting Shield. It isn’t great, but it does enable new players who want to focus on tanking to learn the block/stun combat mechanics. There is no need to unlock the Blacksmith crafting NPC to craft this shield.

The player will need to find 6 logs, which is very easy. They also need 1 string, crafted from plant fiber, which is collected from bushes and shrubs. This means that a new player can craft this shield within the first few minutes of the game.

6 Scrappy Sword

A Respectable Starting Blade For New Tanks

Stats:

• Damage: 16
• Durability: 250

Crating requirements:

• Wood Logs: 1
• Metal Scraps: 3
• Nails: 2

The Scrappy Sword is the first really useful one-handed weapon suitable for new tanks playing Enshrouded. With a respectable 16 damage and decent durability, it can see the player through until they loot the Wailing Blade a handful of hours into the game.

The material requirements for this weapon are very low, and should only take around 15 minutes to farm from low-level POI. In fact, the player will likely loot all the required resources whilst completing the Blacksmith crafting NPC quest, as this character is needed to craft this sword.

5 Spiked Club

Craftable Weapon With Decent Damage

Stats:

• Damage: 17
• Durability: 250

Crating requirements:

The Spiked Club is an alternative option to the Scrappy Sword. The advantage of this weapon for new tanks in Enshrouded, is that they can craft it as soon as they complete the starter quest. The Blacksmith NPC isn’t needed to craft this weapon.

It should take just a few minutes of farming to find the nails to craft this tank weapon, and the wood is easy to find. Overall, this is a useful weapon that can be crafted and used just a few minutes into the game.

4 Rising Fighter Shield

A Huge Early Upgrade Over The Basic Craftable Shield

Stats:

• Block: 7
• Parry: 20
• Durability: 100

Crafting requirements:

• String: 6
• Metal Sheets: 5
• Wood Logs: 2

With its much better stats, the Rising Fighter Shield is one that every new tank should aim to craft as soon as possible. The material requirements are very low, and it should only take a few minutes to collect what is needed, especially when wood and string are basic materials that are easy to get. The best way to get the metal sheets is by smashing up boxes and barrels found in the vicinity and picking up the scraps dropped.

The player will need to locate and free the Blacksmith crafting NPC to unlock the blueprint for this shield. Also note that the NPC will need to be placed within a fully enclosed structure, so that they are sheltered.

3 Enhanced Spike Club

The Best Early Game Craftable Tank Weapon

Stats:

• Damage: 26
• Durability: 260

Crating requirements:

The Enhanced Spike Club is an upgraded version of the standard club and is a solid choice for early-game tanking. But, in order for the player to be able to craft the Enhanced Spike Club, they will need to complete the quest to locate and free the Blacksmith crafting NPC. They will then need to complete a few quests for the Blacksmith to unlock the forge blueprint, and then build and place the forge, to unlock the blueprint for this weapon.

This weapon will work well for tanking until the player can complete the Scavenger Stash quest and loot the legendary Wailing Blade sword, which will take them all the way to mid-game and beyond. As far as early-game weapons are concerned, this should be a priority pick from the start of a playthrough.

2 Hero’s Shield

The Best Player-Crafted Shield

Stats:

• Block: 10
• Parry: 35
• Durability: 110

Crafting requirements:

The Hero’s Shield is as good as it gets for player-crafted equipment suitable for new tanks. The material requirements are a little high, and it will take some time for the player to farm the resources needed to make these materials, but the bonus it gives over the other two player-crafted shields is worth the effort.

The Blacksmith crafting NPC will craft this shield for the player, but there are a couple of prerequisites here. Firstly, the player will need to build an enclosed structure, such as a small house, and place the Blacksmith inside, so that they are fully sheltered. They will also need to complete the Blacksmith quests to unlock the forge, then craft one at a workbench and place it close to the Blacksmith NPC.

1 Wailing Blade

An Easy To Acquire Legendary Weapon For New Tanks

Stats:

• Damage: 14
• Durability: 160

The Wailing Blade is by far the easiest legendary weapon to acquire in Enshrouded, and is absolutely perfect for new tanks. Once the player has completed the Blacksmith quests, they will receive a signpost quest to find the Alchemist. On the way, they will stumble across a Scavenger cave. Clearing this cave gives access to the Scavenger Stash, where this sword is a guaranteed loot item.

The real strength of this weapon, is that it has 5 upgrade slots. Once fully upgraded, it will see the player through to the mid-game easily. It also glows, so wielding it means there is no need to equip a torch in dark places.