The StamKnight - DK Build Guide by SRIBES

jayburna688

ChannelTribes wrote: »

INTRODUCTION

I wasn't planning to post this build but due to so many asking I decided to post it. I have played and theorycrafted DK since the first Beta of ESO. I've played a sword and shield/2h or duel wield stam dk since the end of 1.5 using a similar build to what I use now and have found success with this play style since 1.5.The idea of this build is to excel in a small group, 1v1 situations, 1vX situations and to be flexible enough to be able to swap skills to bomb groups/tank groups. I have been able to beat some of the best duelers in the game and do some amazing things 1vX.Take this build and mold it to your own playstyle and create your own build or feel free to copy and paste exactly how it is now because this works great as well.

NOTES BEFORE WE START

• This build runs tri drinks. In 1.8 we will run the new gold food/drink combo. It gives a little over 300 recovery in each stat and 3.7k health.
• Tri pots are a necessity for this build to keep stamina up by dumping magicka on earthen heart.
• We run 62 Points into stamina.
• This build relies heavily off animation canceling for DPS.
• We run the serpent mundus stone.

THE RACE

*Race isn't a massive deal for this build but I will go through what the best options are*

Redguard - This is what my DK is on live and the stamina return from its racial passive gives sustain but not enough to be a game changer, nonetheless it's amazing and it's my top choice.
Imperial - Health and Stamina allows you to hit higher stats than any other race in those attributes and the health return is nice also.
Orc - The reason I say orc is because the stats are similar to imperial along some extra damage/mobility but the 30% health regen is nice.

THE GEAR

Five Heavy, One Medium, One Light. Stamina glyphs on all gear besides chest, legs, and shield, put prismatic glyphs on those. Two weapon damage on rings, stamina cost reduction on necklace. 7 medium also works.
Engine Guardian - This set is a must have, when the magicka procs it means you have to start spamming the *** out of igneous for those stam returns. This set adds a level of pressure when fighting people that no other undaunted set gives. You'll want the helm and shoulders in medium and light to get the undaunted passive. (Helm+Shoulders)
Agility - Better than other three pieces that give max stam and weapon damage because it gives you almost 50 more weapon damage and 400 more stamina. Helps us bump our stats higher, we will wants robust on all jewelry pieces. (Rings+Necklace)
Hundings Rage - If you pair this up with up with agility you will have high base weapon damage, decent crit chance and high stam. This means you will be heal critting often and hitting hard. It works super well. (Gloves, Legs, Belt, Chest, Boots) Infused on chest and legs to get more out of the prismatic glyphs and divines on gloves, boots, and belt.
Nights Silence - A nice buff to your stamina pool, enough said. (Sword+Shield) Weapon damage glyph on your sword (precise) and prismatic on your shield (infused).
Maelstrom 2H - The DoT is a nice DPS increase when you charge someone+it's free weapon damage. This is a new 1.8 master weapon earned from maelstrom arena and is well worth the farm.

THE SKILLS

*All of these skills can be swapped as I don't always run these same skills all the time*
*You can also run duel wield instead of 2h for quick cloak, steel tornado, flying blade, etc if that play style suits you better*

1) Ransack - Very powerful utility skill it's cheap costing and with the right stats can deal high damage. To get the full benefit of this skill animation cancel a light attack first then a bash at the end to add more pressure to enemies and increase overall DPS.
2) Defensive Stance/Dragon Fire Scale - A reflect is a must. Pick between these two, I swap them out but typically run dragon fire scale.
3) Reverberating Bash - I use this mainly for the heal debuff to mess up templars and healing based builds. The CC is buggy and they can not break the CC while they slide but you can't attack them while they slide. The slide lasts under a second so it's a pretty fair skill and very strong.
4) Resolving Vigor - A nice HoT that is cheap, I keep this on my main bar. When it crit heals with igneous buffed it is extremely nice.
5) Igneous Shield - Grants 5% stamina/wep dmg on cast, buffs vigor healing by 30% and if you spam it keeps a small cushion on you also makes you resist crit attacks while it's up. Use it before you use your heals or when your engine procs magicka.
U: Take Flight - I pick this skill because it provides quick burst and hits hard. I like the extra range in open world but if you feel like you're dying to much then do fer leap.
1) Shuffle - A quick root/snare purge and the 20% miss chance allows you to keep block up more often.
2) Rally - A hot that works well with vigor and grants you the major brutality buff.
3) Stampede - An amazing snare and gap closer. It makes builds that rely off of movement speed forced to fight you and you can stay on their ass the entire time allows you to have mobility and control. This skill works so well with reverberating bash on our main bar.
4) Volatile Armor - I use this for the armor and spell resist buff + the 12% healing bonus while it's up but more importantly I use it as a counter to NB's. The AoE will take them out of stealth and makes them an easier target.
5) Flex Skill - Use whatever skill you like best here. You can use rapid maneuvers for an escape/mobility, wrecking blow, executioner, etc. It's all up to you.
U: Flex Ultimate- This ultimate is up to you, this slot can range from WW, vampire, shifting standard, corrosive armor or put take flight here and flawless dawnbreaker on your main bar.

CHAMPION POINTS

*This is a 501 CP layout of the build, I only have 353 CP atm but this is what I plan to run when I hit 501.

GREEN TREE
*The Tower*
1. Warlord x100
*The Lover*
1. Mooncalf x67

RED TREE
*The Lady*
1. Hardy x60
2. Thick Skinned x20
3. Elemental Defender x40
*The Steed*
1. Block Expertise x47

BLUE TREE
*The Ritual*
1. Mighty x97
2. Precise Strikes x30
3. Piercing x10
*Atronach*
1. Blade Expert x30

CONCLUSION

Enjoy (; i'll try to answer/reply to every question or comment I get.
DK character name: SRIBES
@ name is: @AsweetRoll

I actually respec'd my character last night. I didn't want to use him as a tank anymore. My bars are almost identical. Only difference is champion points which is fine because that's where individuality should really show right? This definitely help me know that a build like this will be viable. Thanks for the post!

SRIBES

Updated the build! I posted my first video which is edited in the original post
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7s_NsodV-0
It's my first video so isn't the best, I got the clips in like an hour of gameplay and really just wanted to get something out. I will have higher quality videos coming out in the future.

jpeltor

ChannelTribes wrote: »

Updated the build! I posted my first video which is edited in the original post
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7s_NsodV-0
It's my first video so isn't the best, I got the clips in like an hour of gameplay and really just wanted to get something out. I will have higher quality videos coming out in the future.

Awesome video. Just got my DK to VR1 last night and had an awesome time in PvP with your setup. Used Invasion instead of stampede--don't like swapping bars between closing the gap and DPSing--and I don't have vigor yet so I slotted Green Dragon Blood.

SRIBES

jpeltor wrote: »

ChannelTribes wrote: »

Updated the build! I posted my first video which is edited in the original post
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7s_NsodV-0
It's my first video so isn't the best, I got the clips in like an hour of gameplay and really just wanted to get something out. I will have higher quality videos coming out in the future.

Awesome video. Just got my DK to VR1 last night and had an awesome time in PvP with your setup. Used Invasion instead of stampede--don't like swapping bars between closing the gap and DPSing--and I don't have vigor yet so I slotted Green Dragon Blood.

Thanks, man! I'm glad you like the build. I can weapon swap pretty quick because my weapon swap is on my mouse so I love stampede. The build gets way better at max level and vigor.

jpeltor

ChannelTribes wrote: »

Thanks, man! I'm glad you like the build. I can weapon swap pretty quick because my weapon swap is on my mouse so I love stampede. The build gets way better at max level and vigor.

I play on a controller so my weapon swap isn't hard to reach either, I just ran into too many laggy situations where it doesn't switch over so I'd press it again, then it switched over twice a second later. But I have since switched to stampede on my back bar and am liking that a lot more. The CC from invasion was too pathetic it was bugging me, I'd rather get the reverb in.

leepalmer95

ChannelTribes wrote: »

jpeltor wrote: »

ChannelTribes wrote: »

Updated the build! I posted my first video which is edited in the original post
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7s_NsodV-0
It's my first video so isn't the best, I got the clips in like an hour of gameplay and really just wanted to get something out. I will have higher quality videos coming out in the future.

Awesome video. Just got my DK to VR1 last night and had an awesome time in PvP with your setup. Used Invasion instead of stampede--don't like swapping bars between closing the gap and DPSing--and I don't have vigor yet so I slotted Green Dragon Blood.

Thanks, man! I'm glad you like the build. I can weapon swap pretty quick because my weapon swap is on my mouse so I love stampede. The build gets way better at max level and vigor.

I'm finding it very hard to keep resources on console with the la, puncture, bash cancelling because when bashing you have to hold block cutting your regen and if the enemy hits you in that time you end up wasting stamina.

I have about 2k regen on my dk and i'm still running out very quickly. Any ideas?

Purdomination33

@ChannelTribes Thanks for posting the build. After 2,000 reiterations I wound up with a similar build.
-Unfortunately I do not have the Engine Guardian Helmet (Have shoulders though).
-Nor do I have to 2 Agility rings. Instead I use 2 Endurance Rings w/Weapon Damage Glyphs. Added Health is always nice.
-I run 5 piece medium Hundings, 3 piece heavy Night Silence (head, chest, maul), and Agility necklace plus Agility Sword/Shield.

My question is regarding your skill set up. I am not very good at using the gap closer on a different bar than the DPS. Do you ever use Shielded Assault? Knocks the enemy down which is nice. Only issue is then Reverb Bash is difficult to find a spot with Shielded Assault on the bar.

When in PvP it can be nice to have a ranged weapon as well. Gap closers do not always work on uneven ground. Or sometimes you find yourself in the dead center of 5-15 bad guys! Do you ever use Silver Leash? Maybe swap it out for unstable flame?

Thanks for the input!

SRIBES

leepalmer95 wrote: »

ChannelTribes wrote: »

jpeltor wrote: »

ChannelTribes wrote: »

Updated the build! I posted my first video which is edited in the original post
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7s_NsodV-0
It's my first video so isn't the best, I got the clips in like an hour of gameplay and really just wanted to get something out. I will have higher quality videos coming out in the future.

Awesome video. Just got my DK to VR1 last night and had an awesome time in PvP with your setup. Used Invasion instead of stampede--don't like swapping bars between closing the gap and DPSing--and I don't have vigor yet so I slotted Green Dragon Blood.

Thanks, man! I'm glad you like the build. I can weapon swap pretty quick because my weapon swap is on my mouse so I love stampede. The build gets way better at max level and vigor.

I'm finding it very hard to keep resources on console with the la, puncture, bash cancelling because when bashing you have to hold block cutting your regen and if the enemy hits you in that time you end up wasting stamina.

I have about 2k regen on my dk and i'm still running out very quickly. Any ideas?

Drop the bash cancel, you need the recovery.

timidobserver

Good video. Redguard is working really nice for you. It makes want to reroll my dunmer DK.

Angus

Purdomination33 wrote: »

My question is regarding your skill set up. I am not very good at using the gap closer on a different bar than the DPS. Do you ever use Shielded Assault? Knocks the enemy down which is nice. Only issue is then Reverb Bash is difficult to find a spot with Shielded Assault on the bar.

When in PvP it can be nice to have a ranged weapon as well. Gap closers do not always work on uneven ground. Or sometimes you find yourself in the dead center of 5-15 bad guys! Do you ever use Silver Leash? Maybe swap it out for unstable flame?

I had the same questions/problems as you, and
- ended up taking S&B with invasion (shielded assault) over stampede, and
- switched 2H for dual wield.

You get very tidy ranged damage from flying blade on dual wield, the ranged option allows you to keep up pressure in some situations, you still get major brutality, but do lose some burst heal from rally.

Big vigor ticks make me not miss the rally heal too much. I like the CC on invasion too, stampede felt lacking. Depends on your playstyle, you might have fun trying it.

SRIBES

timidobserver wrote: »

Good video. Redguard is working really nice for you. It makes want to reroll my dunmer DK.

Thanks man, and yeah redguard DK is super good.

D0ntevenL1ft

ChannelTribes wrote: »

leepalmer95 wrote: »

ChannelTribes wrote: »

jpeltor wrote: »

ChannelTribes wrote: »

Updated the build! I posted my first video which is edited in the original post
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7s_NsodV-0
It's my first video so isn't the best, I got the clips in like an hour of gameplay and really just wanted to get something out. I will have higher quality videos coming out in the future.

Awesome video. Just got my DK to VR1 last night and had an awesome time in PvP with your setup. Used Invasion instead of stampede--don't like swapping bars between closing the gap and DPSing--and I don't have vigor yet so I slotted Green Dragon Blood.

Thanks, man! I'm glad you like the build. I can weapon swap pretty quick because my weapon swap is on my mouse so I love stampede. The build gets way better at max level and vigor.

I'm finding it very hard to keep resources on console with the la, puncture, bash cancelling because when bashing you have to hold block cutting your regen and if the enemy hits you in that time you end up wasting stamina.

I have about 2k regen on my dk and i'm still running out very quickly. Any ideas?

Drop the bash cancel, you need the recovery.

So would you not recommend this build on console?

Angus

D0ntevenL1ft wrote: »

ChannelTribes wrote: »

leepalmer95 wrote: »

ChannelTribes wrote: »

jpeltor wrote: »

ChannelTribes wrote: »

Updated the build! I posted my first video which is edited in the original post
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7s_NsodV-0
It's my first video so isn't the best, I got the clips in like an hour of gameplay and really just wanted to get something out. I will have higher quality videos coming out in the future.

Awesome video. Just got my DK to VR1 last night and had an awesome time in PvP with your setup. Used Invasion instead of stampede--don't like swapping bars between closing the gap and DPSing--and I don't have vigor yet so I slotted Green Dragon Blood.

Thanks, man! I'm glad you like the build. I can weapon swap pretty quick because my weapon swap is on my mouse so I love stampede. The build gets way better at max level and vigor.[/

I'm finding it very hard to keep resources on console with the la, puncture, bash cancelling because when bashing you have to hold block cutting your regen and if the enemy hits you in that time you end up wasting stamina.

I have about 2k regen on my dk and i'm still running out very quickly. Any ideas?

Drop the bash cancel, you need the recovery.

So would you not recommend this build on console?

Dumb question from a PC guy, but does console let you rebind bash? For example, I put it on mouse wheel for PC, so no block needed.

leepalmer95

Angus wrote: »

D0ntevenL1ft wrote: »

ChannelTribes wrote: »

leepalmer95 wrote: »

ChannelTribes wrote: »

jpeltor wrote: »

ChannelTribes wrote: »

Updated the build! I posted my first video which is edited in the original post
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7s_NsodV-0
It's my first video so isn't the best, I got the clips in like an hour of gameplay and really just wanted to get something out. I will have higher quality videos coming out in the future.

Awesome video. Just got my DK to VR1 last night and had an awesome time in PvP with your setup. Used Invasion instead of stampede--don't like swapping bars between closing the gap and DPSing--and I don't have vigor yet so I slotted Green Dragon Blood.

Thanks, man! I'm glad you like the build. I can weapon swap pretty quick because my weapon swap is on my mouse so I love stampede. The build gets way better at max level and vigor.[/

I'm finding it very hard to keep resources on console with the la, puncture, bash cancelling because when bashing you have to hold block cutting your regen and if the enemy hits you in that time you end up wasting stamina.

I have about 2k regen on my dk and i'm still running out very quickly. Any ideas?

Drop the bash cancel, you need the recovery.

So would you not recommend this build on console?

Dumb question from a PC guy, but does console let you rebind bash? For example, I put it on mouse wheel for PC, so no block needed.

Nope, you have to try work around the terrible not regen when blocking with both bash and dodge roll requiring you to block.

Angus

leepalmer95 wrote: »

Angus wrote: »

D0ntevenL1ft wrote: »

ChannelTribes wrote: »

leepalmer95 wrote: »

ChannelTribes wrote: »

jpeltor wrote: »

ChannelTribes wrote: »

Updated the build! I posted my first video which is edited in the original post
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7s_NsodV-0
It's my first video so isn't the best, I got the clips in like an hour of gameplay and really just wanted to get something out. I will have higher quality videos coming out in the future.

Awesome video. Just got my DK to VR1 last night and had an awesome time in PvP with your setup. Used Invasion instead of stampede--don't like swapping bars between closing the gap and DPSing--and I don't have vigor yet so I slotted Green Dragon Blood.

Thanks, man! I'm glad you like the build. I can weapon swap pretty quick because my weapon swap is on my mouse so I love stampede. The build gets way better at max level and vigor.[/

I'm finding it very hard to keep resources on console with the la, puncture, bash cancelling because when bashing you have to hold block cutting your regen and if the enemy hits you in that time you end up wasting stamina.

I have about 2k regen on my dk and i'm still running out very quickly. Any ideas?

Drop the bash cancel, you need the recovery.

So would you not recommend this build on console?

Dumb question from a PC guy, but does console let you rebind bash? For example, I put it on mouse wheel for PC, so no block needed.

Nope, you have to try work around the terrible not regen when blocking with both bash and dodge roll requiring you to block.

Between that and the inability to have addons,it's clear that all console players are in fact, masochists.

SRIBES

D0ntevenL1ft wrote: »

ChannelTribes wrote: »

leepalmer95 wrote: »

ChannelTribes wrote: »

jpeltor wrote: »

ChannelTribes wrote: »

Updated the build! I posted my first video which is edited in the original post
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7s_NsodV-0
It's my first video so isn't the best, I got the clips in like an hour of gameplay and really just wanted to get something out. I will have higher quality videos coming out in the future.

Awesome video. Just got my DK to VR1 last night and had an awesome time in PvP with your setup. Used Invasion instead of stampede--don't like swapping bars between closing the gap and DPSing--and I don't have vigor yet so I slotted Green Dragon Blood.

Thanks, man! I'm glad you like the build. I can weapon swap pretty quick because my weapon swap is on my mouse so I love stampede. The build gets way better at max level and vigor.

I'm finding it very hard to keep resources on console with the la, puncture, bash cancelling because when bashing you have to hold block cutting your regen and if the enemy hits you in that time you end up wasting stamina.

I have about 2k regen on my dk and i'm still running out very quickly. Any ideas?

Drop the bash cancel, you need the recovery.

So would you not recommend this build on console?

I would, just don't bash unless you have to interrupt someone. Just light attack and ransack weave.