Magicka Nightblade Crafted PVP Gear

Feannag

I am new to ESO PVP, but have learned enough to know that my PVE gear is not cutting it. Can anyone recommend some crafted gear that would work so I can help my team a bit more? Also, any recommendation as BIS gear would be appreciated as well.

Thanks

Feannag

Johngo0036

Hi,

I have 3 magicka NB's and run the following setup,

5 Pieces Julianos,
3 will power,
2 Nerieneth
2 swords of Torugs pact
Prismatic fire Staff(from fighters guild)/whatever staff sharpened,

I use 5 pieces light, 1 heavy and 1 medium for the undaunted passives,

My skills are as follows:
Destro Staff Bar,
1) Elemental Blockade
2) Funnel Health
3) Crippling Grasp
4) merciless Resolve
5) magelight
U) Shooting Star

Dual wield Bar
1) Sap Essence
2) Impale
3) Siphoning Attacks,
4) Twisting Path
5) Magelight
U) Soul Tether

I find this is a really easy rotation and skill setup to master,

Feannag

Thanks Johngo0036...

I read in a few places that critical % is not that valuable (due to Impenetrable train) - and Julianos raises that quite a bit. Have I misunderstood?

Thanks

Sandman929

Feannag wrote: »

Thanks Johngo0036...

I read in a few places that critical % is not that valuable (due to Impenetrable train) - and Julianos raises that quite a bit. Have I misunderstood?

Thanks

Julianos is for the spell power, and contrary to the notion that everyone is running impen, there are plenty of players who aren't because I still crit quite high on a regular basis. There are a lot of players in PvP, and only a small percentage of them build specifically to negate crit damage.

Brrrofski

For pvp, kagernacs is better than julianos.

5 Kags
4 magnus if dual wield (1 kena, 2 seducer if destro)
3 willpower

Can't go wrong with it in pvp.

exeeter702

Brrrofski wrote: »

For pvp, kagernacs is better than julianos.

5 Kags
4 magnus if dual wield (1 kena, 2 seducer if destro)
3 willpower

Can't go wrong with it in pvp.

I second this.

5 kagrenacs hope
3 willpower
2 Torugs
1 kena

If you don't have kena, the 3 mag or seducer is fine.

Feannag

If I don't have undaunted passive what is the better combination of light medium heavy?

7/0/0
5/2/0
5/0/2

And is 7 Impenetrable the way to go?

Thanks

KenaPKK

No. Just no. All of you stop telling this man sets to wear like he can slip into just anything you happen to wear and run with it optimally.

Mageblade has the most varied play styles in the game, and each is almost always served better by some niche set than vanilla Kag's or Julianos or something.

OP, talk to us about your play style so that we may recommend which sets would function best for your individual character.

Do you wish to be melee or ranged?

If melee, do you have defensive inclinations that might make you like shield and sword? Aggressive mageblades using concealed can 100% use snb for the added defense.

Burst damage for short fights and quick kills, or a more well rounded build less likely to one shot potatoes but capable of sustaining in a brawl?

Do you want to sneak around a lot?

Do you intend to use a gap closer? One isn't necessary, but this will change your setup dramatically.

How tanky and hard to kill do you want to be?

Tell us how you want to play, and we (probably I) shall point out sets to emphasize the strengths of said play style and turn you into a beast. >:O

Regardless, you'll end up going all impen armor, likely sharpened offensive bar and defending defensive bar, but no guarantees!!

Feannag

Great questions - and to be honest, I am trying to figure out my playstyle. But to get things started...I am looking for a more well rounded build. I tend to work with other groups (defending/attacking keeps, running in small groups, etc). I am less interested in solo ganking.

As far as tanky - looking for a more balanced build. I will willing to sacrifice some damage for some survivability. Likely running staves (what I run in PVE), but willing to melee if that makes sense.

Ultimately, looking for set I can use long enough for me to learn PVP ropes and figure out what I really want,

Thanks!!!!!

KenaPKK

Feannag wrote: »

Great questions - and to be honest, I am trying to figure out my playstyle. But to get things started...I am looking for a more well rounded build. I tend to work with other groups (defending/attacking keeps, running in small groups, etc). I am less interested in solo ganking.

As far as tanky - looking for a more balanced build. I will willing to sacrifice some damage for some survivability. Likely running staves (what I run in PVE), but willing to melee if that makes sense.

Ultimately, looking for set I can use long enough for me to learn PVP ropes and figure out what I really want,

Thanks!!!!!

Understood. Destro resto mageblade is head and shoulders more effective in this meta than dual wield -- it gets tankier, sustains better, and deals perfectly comparable damage with greater ranged reach. Plus it's fun as hell. You won't be disappointed.

I should have asked what relevant Undaunted and Maelstrom pieces you have to choose from. Any sharpened or defending or precise staves, Kena, Bloodspawn, Maw of the Infernal , or other nice pieces lying around? You'll want all impen for this, but a couple infused, divines, or heavy reinforced exceptions won't be bad.

Expect to go vampire.

Feannag

Sounds like a good recommendation!

Already Vampire...so got one box checked. Nothing else but crafted gear at this point (but have all 9 traits open) except Kena shoulder (medium armor - divine). Starting to do some Dungeon/Maelstrom runs to get the pieces (I am back after a long break).

Thanks!

KenaPKK

Feannag wrote: »

Sounds like a good recommendation!

Already Vampire...so got one box checked. Nothing else but crafted gear at this point (but have all 9 traits open) except Kena shoulder (medium armor - divine). Starting to do some Dungeon/Maelstrom runs to get the pieces (I am back after a long break).

Thanks!

All good. Crafted glyphs got buffed, so they're really good now. I stopped using my Maelstrom destro. 1 Kena is perfect, and Maelstom destro is only BiS now if you want to use poisons.

You'll naturally use light or heavy 5-1-1, 1 Kena, 2 Torug's or VD, and Willpower. That'll be standard. You'll want a sharpened destro staff and damage glyphs on all jewelry pieces most likely. Vicious Death is cheap to buy and gives the same 2pc spell damage bonus as crafted Torug's, so either works.

Make that 2pc your head and staves in case another Undaunted piece or Maelstrom staff comes into the picture later.

I recommend an infused resto back bar. Infused received an indirect buff when crafted glyphs got bigger, making it really really good for buff bars now. Fire or spell damage glyph on your front bar, damage or weakening glyph on the resto. Fire is for pew pew damage and rekting vamps. Putting the damage glyph up front is for if you don't want to weapon swap to activate it. Staffblade does not weapon swap much. Our buffs last a long time, and we're super tanky on the offensive bar.

It's your 5pc set that gets interesting. I think you should try heavy armor. Staff mageblade has low ability costs and Siphon Attacks up its sleeve, and Constitution just got buffed. Sustaining is not mindless, but it is plenty doable. Penetration and crit fall, but you gain 200 unbuffed spell damage from the new Wrath passive when people are beating on you. And with the high resistances, bonus max health, and bonus healing received passives under all of your running heals over time, you'll be HUGELY tanky. Also that new heavy attack passive restores a ton of magicka with resto heavy attacks. I've been running it for a while and love it.

Now you need to ask yourself exactly how much sustain you really need to function. On my YouTube channel (same name as my forum name) there's a recent video of me 1vXing dudes while wearing the above bit + 5 Fasalla's armor. Bottom of the sustain spectrum. Twilight's Embrace is zero sustain with some damage and durability, but I wouldn't recommend using it with Fasalla's debuff so ubiquitous. If you ran Julianos, your sustain would still be low, but your damage would be insane. Kag's would trade some damage for some health and an extra line of regen. Magnus would trade more damage for a line of regen and an 8% chance to negate the cost of a spell. This is a great 5pc on mageblade because we're spammy. Also since we're talking heavy armor, your spell costs would be higher than if in light, getting more value from Magnus procs.

Lately I've been running 5 heavy Kag's, Maelstrom resto with Regen going, in 5 heavy + 2 light, and my sustain is right where I need it to be to fight comfortably and indefinitely. It is still pretty strained, though. If you run with your medium Kena shoulder and a crafted resto staff, you'll lose a lot of sustain versus my setup. Heavy Magnus would gain some of that back, and you can always change jewelry glyphs.

Think if you want to go heavy. If you do, then think where you want to be on that sustain spectrum. My formal recommendation based on the conversation would be to make 5 Magnus. If you were to go Kag's, you'd definitely end up wanting to change out a jewelry glyph, which will put you at less damage than Magnus and 3 damage glyphs. Keep Siphon Attacks up always, and if you need to, use a drain magicka glyph on a staff. Oh, a little detail that I just remembered, with this build done properly, light attack weaving Swallow Soul with Siphon Attacks up is a net positive in magicka -- SAs gives you more back than Swallow costs, and that's if it doesn't proc! So geeewwd!!

So yea. That will make you strongest in this meta given your available gear. You'll be in one of my refined builds adapted for not having a Maelstrom resto or light Kena piece.

Thoughts on it? Lemme know if you have questions about bars or CP or stuff.

Feannag

That was AWESOME. Thanks so much for the thoughtful answer. I like the idea of Heavy Armor (and mats are cheaper for heavy ) I will try playing around with 5-2 vs 5-1-1 (with Kena) to see where I end up with sustain. Sadly my first few times in pvp - sustain wasn't the issue lol (died to quick)...but expect a bit more time with more appropriate gear.

I will check out your youtube channel as well for some playing tips

Draxys

Listen to Kena! xD

I recently started playing my NB again after not touching it since 1.4 before console release. I'm still not very good at it, but I'm finding that NB has so many more possibilities than just stacking damage and bursting from stealth.

Feannag wrote: »

That was AWESOME. Thanks so much for the thoughtful answer. I like the idea of Heavy Armor (and mats are cheaper for heavy ) I will try playing around with 5-2 vs 5-1-1 (with Kena) to see where I end up with sustain. Sadly my first few times in pvp - sustain wasn't the issue lol (died to quick)...but expect a bit more time with more appropriate gear.

I will check out your youtube channel as well for some playing tips

Props to you for wanting to actually figure stuff out rather than just quit or complain. Pvp settings can always use more people like you

Feannag

Ooops, another minor questions...Armor Glyph - Magicka or Health or combination - or another way to ask, what's a good range to target for max health?

For bars I am ok...(I run pretty close to what you were using in your video)...on CP - I run what seems to be pretty standard for a general PVE role (outside of changes people make for the hardest runs) - Elem Def, Hardy / Arcanist, Mag / Thaum, Elem Exp. Is there anything that is more PVP specific that you generally wouldn/t run in PVP

Thanks

Van_0S

Draxys wrote: »

I recently started playing my NB again after not touching it since 1.4 before console release. I'm still not very good at it, but I'm finding that NB has so many more possibilities than just stacking damage and bursting from stealth.

True!
I just started a new NB character(Breton), and she's the best offensive tank.

AllPlayAndNoWork

Draxys wrote: »

Listen to Kena! xD

I recently started playing my NB again after not touching it since 1.4 before console release. I'm still not very good at it, but I'm finding that NB has so many more possibilities than just stacking damage and bursting from stealth.

Feannag wrote: »

That was AWESOME. Thanks so much for the thoughtful answer. I like the idea of Heavy Armor (and mats are cheaper for heavy ) I will try playing around with 5-2 vs 5-1-1 (with Kena) to see where I end up with sustain. Sadly my first few times in pvp - sustain wasn't the issue lol (died to quick)...but expect a bit more time with more appropriate gear.

I will check out your youtube channel as well for some playing tips

Props to you for wanting to actually figure stuff out rather than just quit or complain. Pvp settings can always use more people like you

I agree, listen to Kena, he has helped me loads recently, a top bloke.

KenaPKK

Van_0S wrote: »

Draxys wrote: »

I recently started playing my NB again after not touching it since 1.4 before console release. I'm still not very good at it, but I'm finding that NB has so many more possibilities than just stacking damage and bursting from stealth.

True!
I just started a new NB character(Breton), and she's the best offensive tank.

100% true. I just shared my special sap tank build for the first time in another thread here. Mageblade is just badass and can do anything.

AllPlayAndNoWork wrote: »

Draxys wrote: »

Listen to Kena! xD

I recently started playing my NB again after not touching it since 1.4 before console release. I'm still not very good at it, but I'm finding that NB has so many more possibilities than just stacking damage and bursting from stealth.

Feannag wrote: »

That was AWESOME. Thanks so much for the thoughtful answer. I like the idea of Heavy Armor (and mats are cheaper for heavy ) I will try playing around with 5-2 vs 5-1-1 (with Kena) to see where I end up with sustain. Sadly my first few times in pvp - sustain wasn't the issue lol (died to quick)...but expect a bit more time with more appropriate gear.

I will check out your youtube channel as well for some playing tips

Props to you for wanting to actually figure stuff out rather than just quit or complain. Pvp settings can always use more people like you

I agree, listen to Kena, he has helped me loads recently, a top bloke.

Feannag wrote: »

Ooops, another minor questions...Armor Glyph - Magicka or Health or combination - or another way to ask, what's a good range to target for max health?

For bars I am ok...(I run pretty close to what you were using in your video)...on CP - I run what seems to be pretty standard for a general PVE role (outside of changes people make for the hardest runs) - Elem Def, Hardy / Arcanist, Mag / Thaum, Elem Exp. Is there anything that is more PVP specific that you generally wouldn/t run in PVP

Thanks

All prismatics. The hakeijo Are readily accessible now, and you'll feel a huge impact from them. There is no such thing as too much health or stam with this build. You face-heal-tank everything, so the deep pool and ability to dodge and block a little bit are extremely valuable. Also remember you have a lot of stam sustain with siphoning attacks. Having a deep stam pool lets you use your stam frequently while always reserving enough to break free of needed.

I think my heavy Kag's 5-2 staff build has 33k health, 38.7k magicka, and 16k stam with all impen. That's op!!!!

Oh, random thought, immov + spell crit + magicka pots are the best for this build. You don't need heals or stam. You need immov if outnumbered, you need the magicka and mag regen buff, and omg that spell crit on your heals. Mmmmm juicy.

CP:
10 resistant at least -- more if you're not 7 impen
12 quick recovery
1 expert defender
At least 70 Hardy
Whatever is left in ele defender
100 ele expert
13 thaumaturge if you are slotting dots
13 staff expert
41 blessed
Extras in penetration
100 regen
47 cost reduction
20 tumbling

I do not spend my gold super min maxing my cp, but this is a pretty refined baseline. Staff expert is underrated. Blessed is awesome. Quick recovery sucks past 12 points. Mitigations (Hardy and ele defender) are most important. If you can spare points elsewhere they go here. The 10 resistant, 12 QR, and 1 ED are bare bones and super efficient.

Feannag

Great...now if I can get my kids to ignore me for an hours our so, I can get crafting

KenaPKK

joshhh_nb

@KenaPKK yo I saw you mention a sword and board setup? Right now I'm using 5 lich 5kags 3 willpower but im really squishy im using 5 1 1, my crit resistance is 1.8k with 3 impen pieces. Do you think you can help me with a build? i really don't want to be a sap tank though, I really liked the look of 1.5 mag blades so I want to make a snb set up are there any sets you recommend?

Essiaga

For jewelry I keep 1 ring enchant regen because it gives more than the stated regen. I get like 300 instead of the 170ish it say. I think it's still like that. When you do apply glyphs to Jewelry check that out and consider if you think its worth it to you.

It does stink to that pvp has such investment into finding what works for you. It's great to have player like KenaPKK lay out knowledge like this though. The community is what makes PVP possible in ESO.

KenaPKK

@Essiaga that is because jewelry regen glyphs are amplified by CP and class/skill passives.

@joshhh_nb I will reply regarding the snb build soon.

KenaPKK

@joshhh_nb apologies for the delay. So, you want a snb nightblade build which focuses on killing dudes but can still take a beating. Good stuff. That is a really fun style of build to play, and it can get pretty tanky too.

Lich builds sustain forever, but they certainly don't tank much. You need that impen. CP distribution also makes a huuuuge difference in durability, so I'll go over that for you too.

To adapt your build to be tankier while using your current gear, I would replace the Lich with a Kag's resto (for 4pc back bar), 2 Engine Guardian, and 2 Torug's armor. Bloodspawn is a good replacement for Engine if needed, but engine Is godlike on snb mageblades who aren't looking to tank zergs (zergs wreck the poor little dwemer). Malubeth is decent, but it's super bugged and op right now, not to mention Fasalla's is halving all healing. If you use Malubeth, you'll get used to playing with a bugged op mechanic, which will only hurt your skills, development, and performance long term after it's fixed. If you want to be even tankier, you could bring in a 2pc health bonus like Twilight's Embrace instead of the Torug's.

Also idk your shield trait, but make sure it is impen or reinforced. No other trait is worth. Trust. As for the glyph, the shield enchantment can vary. All armor should be prismatics, but you have options here since you lose the stats when weapon swapping. The general principle for a PvP tank is to enchant the shield with the resource --- health, mag, or stam -- which regenerates the most quickly so that you can make use of it the best. You're not looking to be a super tank, but that's one thought process that you could follow. I personally think your options are between prismatic for balanced stats and max magicka for moar damage. That is the option I would choose.

As a rule of thumb for mageblade these days, have all armor pieces in impen and enchanted with prismatic glyphs. The only exception to this is bomb mageblades, which you're not going to play.

Use light armor 5-1-1. Snb gives lots of defense already, and you'll appreciate the sustain passives.

CP:
100 ele expert
41+ Blessed
13 max thaumaturge, depending how many dots you use
Other blue in penetration or blessed
100 regen
30 tumbling
37 cost reduction (<-- hits the diminishing returns threshold perfectly)
10 resistant + more if you're not at 2k crit resistance yet
1 expert defender
12 quick recovery
All other red points into hardy and ele defender. No points anywhere else. Balance your red points based on what damage type -- Magicka or physical -- you feel is hurting you more. I do an even balance most times, but I'm a little OCD.

TLDR: all impen, all prismatic glyphs (except maybe the shield), and CP redistribution. GG hope this helps! I'm going to write about bars too in a sec just cuz I'm bored. Lol

KenaPKK

@joshhh_nb skill bars!

Snb: lotus, concealed, dark cloak, sap essence, fear, soul harvest

Resto: siphon attacks, double take /mirage / mist form / cripple, healing ward, swallow soul, merciless resolve, soul tether / devouring swarm

I personally recommend going vamp and using munchy bats and mist form. Dodge chance suuuuper strong -- and let's be honest, it's badass -- but it isn't necessary for survival. What I do believe is necessary is swallow soul and merciless on the back bar. Having ranged poke is really nice in open world, the swallow hot is a massive durability tool, and being able to pew pew, throw a merciless proc at someone, weapon swap, gap close in, fear, and combo gives you a ton of kill potential. This particular back bar merciless combo gives you a ton of underestimated burst against tanky priority targets, which is valuable on a snb build, which has naturally low damage.

If you're happy with your damage, substituting in rapid regen, harness magicka, veil / bolstering darkness, or shade.

KenaPKK

@joshhh_nb let me know if you want to change more stuff up with your snb build. You could mix up your sets a lot more if you feel like making or farming all new stuff. Fasalla's would compliment your build well, as would Twilight's Embrace, Shadow Dancer, Transmutation, and tons of other neat magicka sets.

Ishammael

Magicka based Major Evasion is pretty amazing.

Wish I (still) had that on my DK....

KenaPKK

It's nice but it's the end-all-be-all for neither mDK nor this mageblade build. mDK is in need of greater things than a dodge chance buff.

joshhh_nb

@KenaPKK yeah I'm really flexible with my gear atm apart from a maelstrom resto which I still need to get. Any more suggestions would be great, I'm sort of getting bored with kags

KenaPKK

@joshhh_nb you could do 5pc + 2pc armor, 2 endurance rings, willpower neck + resto + snb. That would be interesting and would keep you from having a 1pc back bar bonus if that's a big deal. Maelstrom resto is sooooo useful.

What undaunted pieces do you have?

Shadow Dancer 5pc using jewelry was my favorite for an offensive snb build for a while. It is a highly underrated set in many ways, but it is unnecessary now that vamp is good again. Do you intend to go vampire? If not, look at SD for sure.

vamp_emily

I'm creating some new armor for a low level Mag NB(30). This is kind of what I had planned.

5 Julianos
2 Kegrenac
2 Seducer

I think i am going with 5 imp and 2 divine traits, and sharpen on weapons. More than likely Added Magicka Enchantments on armor and maybe Added weapon damage Enchantments on Weapons.

Not sure what jewelry I will use, can't afford anything high priced, but more than likely it will be jewelry that ups my magika regen.

Does this sound good for a low level magika NB? or Bad?


edit: all light armor