New Update, New Build(s)

Stargazer126

So I've been reading a lot about the expected balance changes that are to take place with Update 13. Among peoples' response to these changes, I found that there is an overwhelmingly strong opinion that anything stamina will be inferior compared to magicka builds. Additionally, I read a bit about class nerfs to nightblades in particular, which happens to be the class that I run on my two mains. I am hoping to get some input as to whether my main characters are valid, can be recycled or if I need to start from scratch. My goal with these builds is to be able to be effective in mid-end game PvE, up to and including normal trials at this point. I am not overly concerned about weapon/armor sets at this point, though I am open to any suggestions.

Build One: Breton Magicka Nightblade (DPS)

I fairly recently converted from a stamblade to a magblade (it was my first character so I really didn't know what I was doing at the time). I am currently running a destro staff on the main bar and bow for buffs. While I am currently playing this character as a DPS, I am open to changing to healer or tank if they are more valid for this race and class. I hoping/expecting to stay with magicka considering the racial passives for Breton.

Build Two: Imperial Stamina Nightblade (DPS)

So this is another case of me switching between magicka and stamina. I started this as a magblade, leveled everything up, then switched to stamblade. I am currently running dual daggers on the main bar and bow on the back bar for buffs. Again, I am more than willing to move from a DPS to a healer or tank if either would perform better given the race and class. Additionally, I can easily go between magicka and stamina for this build.

Build Three: Khajiit Stamina Sorcerer (DPS)

This character is only level 21, though I thought I would include it just to get some ideas. I currently run dual daggers on the main bar with bow for buffs on the back bar. Staying DPS is not important, see above. Also, I am not locked into playing stamina either, though I feel that it is better for a Khajiit than magicka.

Ultimately, I would like to be able to use all of these characters to some capacity while still being able to be effective in PvE. If none of these characters can be salvaged for this purpose, I will gladly accept feedback on new character builds that I can begin to level up before the update.

Lashiing

mag nb - dont
stam nb - gank ppl w/o miats
stam sorc - wrecking blow spam

as for pve you're gonna wanna stick to your stam chars
even with the nerf they'll be better then your mag nb

Waffennacht

People say a lot about NB...

But come on, he's my alt, let's be real.

His swallow soul costs something like 1200 magicka. We increase this by 40% takes it to 1700ish (approx)

Now let's compare:

Power Surge 3.2k
Boundless: 3.5k
H Ward: 3k
Healing Ward: 4k
Curse: 3.3k
Frags after proc: 2kish

All approx, but you see my point. A 100% cost increase would still put as one of the cheapest sorc moves. Provides passive health gain increase, and a very strong HoT, it still would dwarf any sorc ability.

mNB has access to several DoTs (not sorc)
Passive Major buff - sorc has to pay 3.5k for this and only gets 300 dps (in PvP) for it
Both roots and disoriented with damage effects, sorc has this but no damage and at x3 the cost

Strongest CC in game
Cloak Purges or nullifies several effects
Shades provide Maim and dmg, sorc pets offer no debuff and can be killed and are very expensive, plus two or three slots

Passive health increase - sorc has to have a pet out for this (can lose it when dead)

Passive ult gain (every class has this, sorcs reduction is actually subpar)

Cheapest ult in game + defile - sorc has non moving ults with no defile + overload nerf

NB has access to mending, expedition HoT and AoE dmg - sorc has a much smaller AoE that only does dmg (LL)

I could just go on and on and on

Lashiing

wanna duel @Waffennacht ?

Waffennacht

Lashiing wrote: »

wanna duel @Waffennacht ?

Absolutely, however I see you're PC. Im xbox

My alt is a breton too just fyi. I like him... Im gonna swap gear straight from my sorc, and if I like it more...

Well I just don't think sorc and my playstyle meshes well.

Animus-ESO

Lashiing wrote: »

wanna duel @Waffennacht ?

Go duel Kena PKK on your sorc, You will put that *** down forever.

OrphanHelgen

Trxveler wrote: »

I am currently running a destro staff on the main bar and bow for buffs.

Wait.... what??

Knootewoot

My Breton melee magblade will wear 5 pieces spinner and 5 julianos and 2 torug pact swords and 1 random yellow destro staff. I won't heal myself since it fails anyway. I will just cast dampen magicka like crazy.

Brrrofski

Waffennacht wrote: »

People say a lot about NB...

But come on, he's my alt, let's be real.

His swallow soul costs something like 1200 magicka. We increase this by 40% takes it to 1700ish (approx)

Now let's compare:

Power Surge 3.2k
Boundless: 3.5k
H Ward: 3k
Healing Ward: 4k
Curse: 3.3k
Frags after proc: 2kish

All approx, but you see my point. A 100% cost increase would still put as one of the cheapest sorc moves. Provides passive health gain increase, and a very strong HoT, it still would dwarf any sorc ability.

mNB has access to several DoTs (not sorc)
Passive Major buff - sorc has to pay 3.5k for this and only gets 300 dps (in PvP) for it
Both roots and disoriented with damage effects, sorc has this but no damage and at x3 the cost

Strongest CC in game
Cloak Purges or nullifies several effects
Shades provide Maim and dmg, sorc pets offer no debuff and can be killed and are very expensive, plus two or three slots

Passive health increase - sorc has to have a pet out for this (can lose it when dead)

Passive ult gain (every class has this, sorcs reduction is actually subpar)

Cheapest ult in game + defile - sorc has non moving ults with no defile + overload nerf

NB has access to mending, expedition HoT and AoE dmg - sorc has a much smaller AoE that only does dmg (LL)

I could just go on and on and on

The key is burst. Sorc has amazing burst capability. Curse, wrath, weave, procced frag. You can hit all that in like 4 seconds and it kills a LOT of people. Plus you have 2 shields so light armor is a lot more forigiving.

The HoTs are bad in PvP. Like I use path to simply proc transmutation.

Cloak is broken. I use most form instead of it. Says it all.

Soul harvest hits like crap in PvP. Soul tether is the only good ult. Sorcs have negate, super strong powerful.

How does a NB get mending?

Sorc is in a way way better situation than magica NB is in PvP. Hence why you see a lot of srocs and like.... No magica NBs.

Waffennacht

Brrrofski wrote: »

Waffennacht wrote: »

People say a lot about NB...

But come on, he's my alt, let's be real.

His swallow soul costs something like 1200 magicka. We increase this by 40% takes it to 1700ish (approx)

Now let's compare:

Power Surge 3.2k
Boundless: 3.5k
H Ward: 3k
Healing Ward: 4k
Curse: 3.3k
Frags after proc: 2kish

All approx, but you see my point. A 100% cost increase would still put as one of the cheapest sorc moves. Provides passive health gain increase, and a very strong HoT, it still would dwarf any sorc ability.

mNB has access to several DoTs (not sorc)
Passive Major buff - sorc has to pay 3.5k for this and only gets 300 dps (in PvP) for it
Both roots and disoriented with damage effects, sorc has this but no damage and at x3 the cost

Strongest CC in game
Cloak Purges or nullifies several effects
Shades provide Maim and dmg, sorc pets offer no debuff and can be killed and are very expensive, plus two or three slots

Passive health increase - sorc has to have a pet out for this (can lose it when dead)

Passive ult gain (every class has this, sorcs reduction is actually subpar)

Cheapest ult in game + defile - sorc has non moving ults with no defile + overload nerf

NB has access to mending, expedition HoT and AoE dmg - sorc has a much smaller AoE that only does dmg (LL)

I could just go on and on and on

The key is burst. Sorc has amazing burst capability. Curse, wrath, weave, procced frag. You can hit all that in like 4 seconds and it kills a LOT of people. Plus you have 2 shields so light armor is a lot more forigiving.

The HoTs are bad in PvP. Like I use path to simply proc transmutation.

Cloak is broken. I use most form instead of it. Says it all.

Soul harvest hits like crap in PvP. Soul tether is the only good ult. Sorcs have negate, super strong powerful.

How does a NB get mending?

Sorc is in a way way better situation than magica NB is in PvP. Hence why you see a lot of srocs and like.... No magica NBs.

@Brrrofski first thanks for your regenerator build (inspiration for my new sorc)
Second: my mistake, I meant vitality, NB has access to minor and major vitality.

Third: Yes, sorc is burst (watching @psychotic13 showed me what correct sorc burst looks like lol) but IMO mNB and mSorc are so similar only mNB has better passives.

Skoria can replace curse (esp after update) for timed burst damage. Swallow Soul is a spammable ability that costs less than Crush and does more damage and gives you a approx 2k heal

I disagree that HoTs are bad in PvP - in HA my soul ticks for over 2k hps, rapid regen over 1k tick, so that's a 3-4k tick in PvP on my mNB then add in Healing Ward - very hard to kill... very

Then you have impale, and agony and cripple and shades. DoTs, Maim and a good execute provides very good and consistent dmg. Using Reaper means major defile and a huge amount of damage (at 50 ult... happens ALOT)

My point simply was people HATE on mNb but they aren't bad at all. Comparable to mSorcs easily Imo.

NBs just have a lot more room for various builds, sorcs are pretty pigeonholed imo.

My sorc (gettin ready for u13)

Is Troll King/Tremorscale, Alchemist (lol always finding myself going back to alch) and Bloodthorn

Not the burst build most sorcs are, it's a rooting brawler build

I don't like to, but I have to: Encase +Resto HA = permalock while gaining health, magicka, and ult, feels pretty cheesy

Anyway I wouldn't say NB is any worse than sorc

Brrrofski

Waffennacht wrote: »

Brrrofski wrote: »

Waffennacht wrote: »

People say a lot about NB...

But come on, he's my alt, let's be real.

His swallow soul costs something like 1200 magicka. We increase this by 40% takes it to 1700ish (approx)

Now let's compare:

Power Surge 3.2k
Boundless: 3.5k
H Ward: 3k
Healing Ward: 4k
Curse: 3.3k
Frags after proc: 2kish

All approx, but you see my point. A 100% cost increase would still put as one of the cheapest sorc moves. Provides passive health gain increase, and a very strong HoT, it still would dwarf any sorc ability.

mNB has access to several DoTs (not sorc)
Passive Major buff - sorc has to pay 3.5k for this and only gets 300 dps (in PvP) for it
Both roots and disoriented with damage effects, sorc has this but no damage and at x3 the cost

Strongest CC in game
Cloak Purges or nullifies several effects
Shades provide Maim and dmg, sorc pets offer no debuff and can be killed and are very expensive, plus two or three slots

Passive health increase - sorc has to have a pet out for this (can lose it when dead)

Passive ult gain (every class has this, sorcs reduction is actually subpar)

Cheapest ult in game + defile - sorc has non moving ults with no defile + overload nerf

NB has access to mending, expedition HoT and AoE dmg - sorc has a much smaller AoE that only does dmg (LL)

I could just go on and on and on

The key is burst. Sorc has amazing burst capability. Curse, wrath, weave, procced frag. You can hit all that in like 4 seconds and it kills a LOT of people. Plus you have 2 shields so light armor is a lot more forigiving.

The HoTs are bad in PvP. Like I use path to simply proc transmutation.

Cloak is broken. I use most form instead of it. Says it all.

Soul harvest hits like crap in PvP. Soul tether is the only good ult. Sorcs have negate, super strong powerful.

How does a NB get mending?

Sorc is in a way way better situation than magica NB is in PvP. Hence why you see a lot of srocs and like.... No magica NBs.

@Brrrofski first thanks for your regenerator build (inspiration for my new sorc)
Second: my mistake, I meant vitality, NB has access to minor and major vitality.

Third: Yes, sorc is burst (watching @psychotic13 showed me what correct sorc burst looks like lol) but IMO mNB and mSorc are so similar only mNB has better passives.

Skoria can replace curse (esp after update) for timed burst damage. Swallow Soul is a spammable ability that costs less than Crush and does more damage and gives you a approx 2k heal

I disagree that HoTs are bad in PvP - in HA my soul ticks for over 2k hps, rapid regen over 1k tick, so that's a 3-4k tick in PvP on my mNB then add in Healing Ward - very hard to kill... very

Then you have impale, and agony and cripple and shades. DoTs, Maim and a good execute provides very good and consistent dmg. Using Reaper means major defile and a huge amount of damage (at 50 ult... happens ALOT)

My point simply was people HATE on mNb but they aren't bad at all. Comparable to mSorcs easily Imo.

NBs just have a lot more room for various builds, sorcs are pretty pigeonholed imo.

My sorc (gettin ready for u13)

Is Troll King/Tremorscale, Alchemist (lol always finding myself going back to alch) and Bloodthorn

Not the burst build most sorcs are, it's a rooting brawler build

I don't like to, but I have to: Encase +Resto HA = permalock while gaining health, magicka, and ult, feels pretty cheesy

Anyway I wouldn't say NB is any worse than sorc

Magica NB is way worse. I play them both a lot and have to work a lot harder when I'm on my NB to kill the same people that I kill on my sorc.

Don't get me started on impale lol... I put it on my bar and within 3 fights I swap it for sap. It constantly gets dodged. It's the most frustrating thing in the world getting someone to 20% and they just dodge roll away and heal. Hit them with two saps (which is undodgeable) and they die. Mage's wrath is an amazing ultimate now they have it working properly.

Swallow soul does not do more damage than crushing shock. And next patch crushing shock will no longer be reflectable yet swallow soul will. Even though it's is not a projectile. I mean, you literally suck life out of someone, so no idea why it gets reflected..

NB are really really good, I agree with you. But burst is an issue. 4 weaves to proc spectral bow which if it actually does proc (sometimes it just straight up doesn't) people dodge it half the time or block it as it's super obvious it's coming. So you need to time it with fear and ult. If one thing goes wrong, burst ruined and start from scratch.

I love my magblade in PvP, I play it because it's the most fun I have on a class. But it is down there with stamplar as far as pecking order goes.

Waffennacht

Hrm ? Strange... must be the stats, but crushing does have a slightly lower dmg than swallow on my build.

Anyway! I can never get my wrath out while i can with inpale lol

Both executes do seem less when compared to RD...

I'd love to show you my sorc and how he plays.

I'm gonna guess my opinion differs mostly from the difference in playstyle

Brrrofski

Waffennacht wrote: »

Hrm ? Strange... must be the stats, but crushing does have a slightly lower dmg than swallow on my build.

Anyway! I can never get my wrath out while i can with inpale lol

Both executes do seem less when compared to RD...

I'd love to show you my sorc and how he plays.

I'm gonna guess my opinion differs mostly from the difference in playstyle

Maybe. I play super aggressive on both. I just find the burst on sorc vastly superior. PvP is all about burst damage. Swallow soul weaving, fear then hit merciless and ultimate is too clumsy and to a good player, dead obvious it's coming. Plus requires being in close as well, putting yourself in danger.

Waffennacht

@Brrrofski

Yeah... I go: agony, cripple, swallow spam! Lol it's Dots and spam till defile and skoria finish the job.

DW no destro staff. Transmutation as well so that's always up.

I don't burst in PvP anymore (What?!) I know right? Lol

I know how it sounds, but it's viable and consistent

Waffennacht

https://youtu.be/K54IJiQ3Otw

Check it @Brrrofski older but you can see how it goes

Brrrofski

Yeh, I play destro resto so it's a different playstyle.

I just feel burst is a must in open world PvP. I've tried dot builds and as soon you're outnumbered you're screwed. Rarely duelled on it to be honest. Dots are super strong in duels.

Draxys

Edit: woops, you wanted pve input... probably shouldn't have posted this in the pvp section lol

For magicka NB ideas, look up kenaPKK on YouTube. Stam NB is the go-to class to one shot people thanks to overpowered proc sets. Stam sorc can be really good in a group if built right, not sure how it performs otherwise.

psychotic13

Bursting on the sorc is pretty easy, just comes down to timing (I use DW not destro though)

I can burst pretty well on my magblade as well tbh, the spectral bow hits harder than a frag and they have a better ult for burst. I also use skoria, if you get these 3 off at the same time the opponent is dead no question. My problem with spectral bow is it sometimes procs, I shoot it but it completely disappears? That's annoying as hell. I use destro/resto on the mNB.

Forgot to add, use mass Hysteria is the best cc in the game!

Waffennacht

@Brrrofski yeah I'm primarily a dueler (I told ya once it came out I wouldn't be able to stop!)

There is a HUGE difference in Open vs Duels so I really can see why the difference now.

That darn merciless, I found that you can "fire" it, and actually cancel it entirely by accident. Also if you do a 5th LA it also seems to go away... very clunky

@psychotic13 you and that fear! I know it's good... I just don't get along with it lol

To OP: if you're talkin about PvE then I would go hands down on a sorc. (Well for solo play, I solo vDungeons on mine and would never give it up)

Stargazer126

Draxys wrote: »

Edit: woops, you wanted pve input... probably shouldn't have posted this in the pvp section lol

For magicka NB ideas, look up kenaPKK on YouTube. Stam NB is the go-to class to one shot people thanks to overpowered proc sets. Stam sorc can be really good in a group if built right, not sure how it performs otherwise.

yeah I realized that shortly after I posted...

Seraphayel

Great thread, really useful input here. Thanks guys!