New to stam dps (rate my build type thread)

AngersRevenge

I have played all classes to vet rank but usually stick with magicka and don’t PvP much. This is my 2nd NB. Mostly for non-vet PvP. It seems more balanced right now. I plan on PvP’ing more, and heard/read that stamina is way better for PvP as the game is right now. I am wondering what you guys think is best for my play style. In most games I like the sneaky assassin with selective targeting who goes for the most dangerous threat and takes them out before they can do much damage and/or healing (i.e. take out the siege engineers or healers from the back). My idea is to buff up my damage as much as possible before sneak attacking. I am only level 27 now but am trying to think ahead. Any and all critique is welcomed.

BAR 1, Two-hand Sword
Wrecking Blow – 20% more damage on next attack
Ambush – Gap closer and 20% more damage on next attack
Shadowy disguise – escape mechanic and to be more sneaky
Rally – 20% more damage for 30 seconds and my only heal aside from pots
Mass hysteria – either to single out a person or as an “Oh Yit!” button
Ult: Soul Harvest – Moar Damage

BAR 2, Bow
Venom Arrow – Stop healers from casting
Snipe – Big damage
Crippling Grasp – Kiting maneuvers
Relentless focus – 8% damage buff and 10% stam regen
Piercing Mark – less armor equals more damage
Ult: Flawless Downbreaker – 5% more damage

Mundus: The Warrior – Moar Damage
And, of course, any and all passives I can get my hand on. Passives are pretty much self-explanatory.

Stamina regen from WW (15%), Refreshing Shadows (30%), and Bosmer’s Y’ffre’s Endurance (21%). That’s 66% in combat stamina regen bonus. Not counting medium armor passives.

So the idea is buff with Relentless Focus (8%), Rally (20%), have Dawnbreaker's buff (5%), Bosmer Stealthy trait (10%), Master Assassin (10%), and if crit Hemorrhage (10%). That’s 53% more damage from a sneak attack, 63% more if it crits. Also, 28% carries over to regular fighting with a 2-hander and 33% with a bow. Not counting Champ points.

TL/DR
My ultimate questions are;
1) Would Camouflaged Hunter be better than Crippling Grasp? Grasp is for more kiting, but Hunter can be applied while in stealth and there are a lot of vamps in PvP, so I have heard. It’s only a small percentage though. So, I was thinking Grasp would be more useful overall.
2) Armor split: 7 Medium, 5/2 Medium/Light, or 5/1/1. With 5/2 I still get good benefit from the passives but allow a little more magicka for things like Hysteria, Shadowy disguise, Mark, and Relentless Focus. 5/1/1 offers the Undaunted passive for 6% more stats (prob not 5/1/1 for PvP, Huh?)
3) How useful is Shadow Image? Is it more like a fun gimmicky ability (and looks really fun) or does it serve a useful purpose. What ability would you discard to use it?
4) How useful is Surprise Attack? It’s quicker than Wrecking Blow but doesn’t offer the damage or 20% increase to next attack or hit as hard. What ability would you discard to use it?
5) Is going all stam the best or would I need some magicka for more utility spells? Do I even need health?
6) Are there any other “in stealth” damage buff I have missed? Buffs that can be applied in stealth and not break it.

Thanks in advance for the critisiscm.

TheBucket

Suprise Attack > Wrecking Blow.

You get the passive bonus for Armor and Spell Resist
It still hits very hard and can't be used 2-3 times before even 1 wrecking blow.
More Health for Shadow ability on the bar.


Magic NB s more fun though to me and more challenging.

AngersRevenge

@TheBucket Thanks.

Kind of thought something like that. Didn't realize it was that much quicker or that wrecking blow was that much slower.
Any thoughts on Crippling Grasp or Double Take. Grasp offers a slow on target but double take offers dodge. Is 20% dodge that helpful in PvP or, in your opinion, do most people use it for the move buff, considering you don't need a target to use it?

Soris

Well if you use snare/dot on me, I would cleanse it as soon as I can. So I guess Double Take offers you more flexibility without having to target anyone. And that 20% dodge chance is huge imo.

AngersRevenge

I thought snares couldn't be removed. Sorry, last time I played was pre-Craglorn and haven't PvP but twice since I returned. I really don't see many Templars running around as much as there used to be.Is there another de-buffer spells added?

But ya, I'm starting to agree with Double Take. It can also be used in stealth to increase your speed. Which comes in handy.

Played a little last night with Silver Shard since I don't have Snipe yet. Man, there are a lot of vamps. In your opinion are the amount of vamps the same in Vet PvP? It was pretty fun watching them wonder why they was getting pummeled.

With shard being quicker and allow more movement would it be better than snipe as well? And, if they are a vamp that's just a bonus.

Thanks for all the input and sorry for all the questions. I am not really trying to make a build based on what the forums say is the "best". I take it all your guys opinion and use it to judge an ability for myself.

Davadin

there are a LOT of werewolves, and if u got all passives from the Fighter's Guild, everything affecting daedras will affect ww too....

AngersRevenge

I assumed there was a lot of WW for the 15% stam regen. The only issue is fighter's guild doesn't effect them unless they area in WW form. While vamps are always in vamp form. There is basically no downside to being a WW if you just use the regen and never change to a wolf. Just gotta find one that will actually change.

reften

I'd go DW over bow. Flying blade can out DPS snipe atm, and snares/casts fast.

For single target, go with this burst

DW bar
2H bar

1.
2H bar
Pop
Momentom
Camo Hunter
Grim Focus

hold 2 seconds
Mark target

2.
Flip to DW (should have Flawless Dawnbreaker here)

Ambush
Soul harvest
Surprise Attack

3.
Flip back to 2H
Mass Hysteria

4.
Flip back to DW
Ambush
Surprise attacked

Repeat 3 and 4 till 25% health

5.
Flip to DW
Impale spam

Don't forget to weave in your light attacks.

Weapon dam should be 3200+ easily in stealth with buffs

iseko

AngersRevenge wrote: »

I assumed there was a lot of WW for the 15% stam regen. The only issue is fighter's guild doesn't effect them unless they area in WW form. While vamps are always in vamp form. There is basically no downside to being a WW if you just use the regen and never change to a wolf. Just gotta find one that will actually change.

Been a while since I played a WW so not too sure if it still counts. There has been so much disagreement over it. But when I was a werewolf, fighters guild skills worked on me even in human form. The poison dmg thing DEFINATELY works in human form.

AngersRevenge

@iseko Unless the tool tip is wrong it says that the poison damage doesn't effect you unless in WW form.

@oren74 DW ranged doesn't have the burst that snipe does. I have learned to snipe, heavy attack, then silver shards someone from stealth so that all abilities hit within half second of each other. Most people don't know whats going on.

Think I found my answers though. Thanks for all your inputs.

BAR 1, Two-hand Sword
Suprise Attack
Ambush
Shadowy Disguise
Rally
Mass hysteria
Ult: Soul Harvest

BAR 2, Bow
Silver Shards (or Camo Hunter, or Vigor when I get it)
Poison Injection
Snipe
Relentless Focus
Double Take
Ult: Flawless Dawnbreaker

iseko

AngersRevenge wrote: »

@iseko Unless the tool tip is wrong it says that the poison damage doesn't effect you unless in WW form.

Because when has the tooltip ever been wrong in this game...

AngersRevenge

iseko wrote: »

AngersRevenge wrote: »

@iseko Unless the tool tip is wrong it says that the poison damage doesn't effect you unless in WW form.

Because when has the tooltip ever been wrong in this game...

True. Hehe
But it doesn't seem like I am taking more damage from poison at least. Don't use DPS meters though.