Crowd Control: Vulnerabilities and Death

While the majority of this Combat section is devoted to inflicting damage and winning the fight, it’s important to know what to do when you’re weakened, disabled, or prone to attack. Death comes to us all; here’s how to react to the various non-beneficial statuses prior to it, as well as a description of the effects, which also apply to enemies if you inflict Disabling Effects on them. The all-encompassing term for vulnerabilities is “crowd control” (CC).

Disabling Effects

These result in your character becoming temporarily sluggish, or losing control to varying degrees. They occur after a particularly brutal or specific enemy attack. Look for information on enemy attacks, or weapons and spells if you’re in a PvP battle, to learn the likelihood of being debilitated by one of the following:

Disoriented

Description: The target is dizzied, unable to move or perform actions, usually after being struck by a weapon with an ability. Example: Scatter Shot (Bow skill).

Counteract: You need to break free of this effect, which costs you Stamina.

Feared

Description: The target randomly runs away from the entity employing this effect, and cannot perform actions during the flee. Example: Roar (Werewolf skill).

Counteract: You need to break free of this effect, which costs you Stamina.

Immobile (Rooted)

Description: The target cannot move from their position (unless they teleport), but is able to attack, block, and utilize spells. Example: Stampede (Two-Handed).

Counteract: Escape by dodge rolling, or use a Purge skill or Synergy.

Knocked Back

Description: The target is pushed back approximately five meters, possibly incurring additional Disabling Effects, depending on the spell or item used. Example: Piercing Javelin (Templar skill).

Counteract: You need to break free of this effect, which costs you Stamina.

Knocked Down

Description: The target falls and is completely prone, unable to perform actions for up to five seconds. Example: Stonefist (Dragonknight skill).

Counteract: You need to break free of this effect, which costs you Stamina.

Off-Balance

Description: The target is dizzied for approximately five seconds, a shorter amount of time than caused by “disoriented” attacks. Consecutive attacks afterward can lead to the target being knocked down. This usually occurs if the victim blocks a heavy attack, or a number of class and weapon skills. Example: Lava Whip (Dragonknight skill).

Counteract: You need to break free of this effect, which costs you Stamina.

Pulled

Description: The target is pulled to the entity employing this effect, during which time the target cannot perform actions or move. Example: Silver Leash (Fighters Guild).

Counteract: You need to break free of this effect, which costs you Stamina.

Silenced

Description: The target is stopped from casting spells or using Magicka-based abilities, but can move and utilize other attacks. Example: Negate Magic (Sorcerer skill).

Counteract: You need to break free of this effect, which costs you Stamina.

Snared

Description: The target’s movement is slowed, but they can employ attacks and other maneuvers. Example: Sun Fire (Templar skill).

Counteract: Utilize a Purge skill or Synergy. Example: Purifying Ritual (Templar skill).

Stunned

Description: The target falls to their knees and is not able to perform actions. Follow up with further attacks if you’re the entity performing the stun. Example: Crystal Shard (Sorcerer skill).

Counteract: You need to break free of this effect, which costs you Stamina.

Elemental Vulnerabilities

These effects not only tend to damage you in a specific manner, but damage you for a specific length of time afterward and make you even more vulnerable to additional attacks of the same type. They may also apply previously listed Disabling Effects.

Burned (Fire)

Description: The target is set on fire for up to three seconds. Example: Ardent Flame (Dragonknight skill).

Counteract: Adorn armor and jewelry with fire-resistant enchantments or buffs.

Chilled (Frost)

Description: The target suffers Frost Damage for up to three seconds and movement is slowed, like with a snare. Example: Ice Comet (Mages Guild).

Counteract: Adorn armor and jewelry with frost-resistant enchantments or buffs.

Concussed (Shock)

Description: The target suffers Shock Damage for up to four seconds and inflicts reduced damage. Example: Storm Calling (Sorcerer skill).

Counteract: Adorn armor and jewelry with shock-resistant enchantments or buffs.

Other Vulnerabilities

The following additional vulnerabilities have different and wide-ranging effects that should be studied.

Blinded

Description: A rarely seen effect (no pun intended) where the target is more apt to miss an attack for a number of seconds. Only a few foes use this attack. Example: Akatosh’s Blessed Armor (set), used when blocking.

Counteract: You need to break free of this effect, which costs you Stamina.

Bleeding

Description: The target is struck by a (usually sharp) weapon and suffers additional damage over a period of time, not typically longer than ten seconds. Example: Damage from an axe.

Counteract: React to the attack by blocking or avoiding to prevent bleeding. Adorn armor and jewelry with resistant enchantments or buffs.

Diseased

Description: The target takes damage and has less potency when attempting to heal. Your Health Recovery is halved for a few seconds. Example: Werewolf claw attacks.

Counteract: React to the attack by blocking or avoiding to prevent becoming diseased. Adorn armor and jewelry with resistant enchantments or buffs.

Immovable

Description: The target becomes immune to knockback and other Disabling Effects. Example: Immovable (Heavy Armor skill).

Counteract: Attack the target before Immovable is cast.

Poisoned

Description: Inflicts additional Poison Damage on a target for a number of seconds. Often damages in conjunction with reduced healing for the target. Example: Lethal Arrow (Bow skill).

Counteract: React to the attack by blocking or avoiding to prevent becoming poisoned. Adorn armor and jewelry with resistant enchantments or buffs.

Taunted

Description: Used during PvE combat. The target is forced to attack the caster for approximately 15 seconds, usually when the target is at a disadvantage—weakened, suffering from effects, or otherwise incapacitated. Example: Inner Fire (Undaunted skill).

Counteract: Retreat from the caster. If you’re the attacker, pick the weakest foe, or maneuver an enemy you wish to attack you, so your party can help finish them off.

Death

Should you succumb to your wounds, your corpse remains where you fall for a few moments, as you view the reasons why you died. You then have a choice of where to resurrect yourself:

You (or another player) can utilize a Soul Stone and so you resurrect at your current position.

You can resurrect at the nearest Wayshrine.

You can resurrect at the entrance to a delve or public dungeon, if you died inside one.

During PvP, you can choose to resurrect at a keep controlled by your alliance, so long as it has a resource under your alliance’s control and isn’t currently being attacked. Or you can spawn at a forward camp, if you’re close by. Or you can be resurrected by an ally.

Any equipped items lose durability, forcing you to utilize a Repair Merchant or a Repair Kit. These are worth completing before you begin your adventuring again, as you require the most durable equipment to survive in treacherous Tamriel.