Dual Wielding with DK: Retreating Maneuvers

tinythinker

I am currently practicing with a new Two-Handed set up for PvP, but last week I was also briefly trying the a Dual Wield set up with my DK:

1. Burning Embers
2. Blood Craze
3. Molten Armaments
4. Rapid Strikes
5. Whirling Blades.

It seed kind of OK, but just that. Kind of OK. Maybe just shy of OK, actually.

Both the One Handed and Shield and Two Handed setups I've used work better for me than the above setup. Whirling Blades is rarely used and just doesn't get much done. I would use Flame Lash but the bar has no way immobilize a target unless I drop something for Burning Talons or Obsidian Shard.

Sure, some folks might like Igneous Weapons and Steel Tornado, but those changes don't fix my issues with a Dual Wield DK.

For single targets Burning Embers, Blood Craze, and Rapid Strikes in concert really rack up the damage fast and provide nice DoTs with healing, but you are left very vulnerable. You have no gap closer or escape, and nothing for reflecting spell projectiles unless you swap something out for Reflective Scales. I could do without either a reflect or a gap closer, but not both. I considered Extended Chains but it has a low success rate for me versus other players.

So, I was thinking about adding Retreating Maneuvers as an offensive ability. It isn't the instant charge of other gap closers and offers no stun but you are still faster and get immunity from snares and roots.

This setup still has no effective shielding, though.

Has anyone tried a setup like this? Is there anything you would add/remove?

CapuchinSeven

It costs an insane amount of stamina, it's really for either getting out of dodge fast, running in a blob moving around a keep clearing enemy siege, or getting to dodge fast with your group.

ryanmjmcevoy_ESO

DW gets bonus damage from stunned, off-balance, immobilized, etc. enemies. Talons is your friend! And steel tornado > whirling imo.

DW is on my dps bar, and my second bar is sword and board with all magika buffs and the shield charge. If i need scales or GDB or whatever else, its on that bar. First bar is pretty much identical to yours except tornado and unstable flame.

My single target dps still needs work though. I don't really run trials, so highest possible DPS wasn't on my agenda. I only do general pve stuff, dungeons, and probably gonna try out the arena. I'm built a little more for PvP, which I'm definitely not the best at, but that's more due to my own skill level, I think. I do well enough, though. Nothing like Standard -> Talons -> Steel Tornado in a bottle necked spot. Racked up 6 killing blows in a few seconds doing that.

tinythinker

Yeah, I switched to Burning Embers because I can hit multiple targets in rapid succession and get the healing tick on them. I picked Whirling because of stamina drain, but I appreciate the range of Tornado.

I did my Dual Wield experiment paired with my usual One Hand and Shield Bar, so the deficiencies mentioned (reflecting, gap closing) were alleviated, but then I was left without a ranged attack.

I considered Talons to pair with Dual Wield, but people seem to roll out of them very fast.

ryanmjmcevoy_ESO

In PvP I generally begin encounters with Shield Charge -> Talons -> Weapon Swap -> Unstable Flame -> Rapid Strikes. Varies depending on the enemy and the situation, but that's the basic rotation. Also keep Igneous or Molten armaments up when you can. With the hundings rage set + medium armor passive I'm already at weapon damage soft cap, and igneous gives me that little extra boost (plus providing ultimate when you cast!)

Invasion gives you a good stun and if they want to break it they need to CC break, then if you talons, they'd better have enough stamina to roll dodge too or theyre screwed. Even if they do, you can charge and talons again and at that point theyre likely out of stam.

Edit: and in terms of ranged, well that's where my setup falls short, and that's okay with me. My Khajiit DK is a full melee warrior, and I enjoy it. If you wanted some range I've heard people do well with flying blade, and there's also silver shards.