My MagPlar wants in on the Oaken action

Draxund

Love it or hate it, Oakensoul is out there and we're seeing some "interesting" effects. I play almost exclusively in Cyrodiil and have noticed that damage is high, ultimate regen is flowing like wine, and I can't kill MagDKs or StamSorcs to save my life, haha. Well if I can't beat em, join em! Now that I have the ring, I'd love to get feedback from solid PvPers about what a great one-bar Oakensoul build might look like for a Magicka Templar in this new meta.

Sets. I used to run a damage set (e.g., War Maiden) and something defensive (e.g., Pariah) or regen-focused (e.g., Wretched Vitality), but I'm not sure those are cutting it anymore. Also, the juicy buffs on Oakensoul have negated certain set benefits (e.g., Olorime) and perhaps made critical chance/dmg more attractive too (e.g., Order's Wrath or Rallying Cry). Lastly, we need to squeeze it all on one bar; I'm having trouble getting damage, defense, and sustain properly balanced. So what sets have you found most effective to pair with Oaken?

Skills. There's a few skills that are probably still staples, but I have been intrigued by what I see some people doing with their one bar. I've been running the following with moderate success: Puncturing Sweeps; Purifying Light; Toppling Charge; Living Dark; Honor the Dead; Flawless Dawnbreaker (ULT). What I feel is lacking is an evasive skill and a cleanse. For example, it would be nice to have Extended Ritual, but I just don't know what could be replaced. So what MagPlar skills have you found most effective to pair with Oaken?

If you have anything else to add, please do! Cheers!

Dirt_Rooster

I'm assuming you're talking about CP cyrodiil. There, gear setups have too much variety for me to take the time to think about right now. In general though, there's no real reason to wear any kind of passive mitigation set. Full damage has worked for a long time now. As far as skills go, living dark is probably the easiest in your list for me to give up followed by purifying light. You definitely want a dawns wrath skill, and I usually prefer solar barrage over purifying light. I would personally replace living dark with your cleanse if you feel it's required.

Draxund

Dirt_Rooster wrote: »

I'm assuming you're talking about CP cyrodiil. There, gear setups have too much variety for me to take the time to think about right now.

I'm open to No-CP campaigns as well, I just haven't done that yet.

In general though, there's no real reason to wear any kind of passive mitigation set.

Is that because the meta right now is burst damage? I could imagine people are either going full defense or none at all, depending on what they want to accomplish.

Dirt_Rooster

I shouldn't say there's no real reason to use a passive mitigation set, moreso that you can get away without using one if you are comfortable enough with actively avoiding damage instead. But yes, in general I love maxing out damage because I'm a firm believer in out-pressuring people in this game. I think it works really well. As far as no-cp sets go it's much simpler for me, I use deadly/spinners/markyn. Highest possible damage I have been able to come up with.

fred4

I'm going to chime in, even though I have not played my magplar in PvP yet, this patch. I did some PvE theory-crafting and a few dummy tests, though, and I'm using Oakensoul on my PvP melee magblade.

On the magblade I gave up Caluurion and am using Order's Wrath. Both classes have the 10% crit damage passive. I am further building into that with dual-wield axes, CP, a mix of light and medium armor, Race Against Time and decent crit chance (40%). My magblade currently sits at a 124% crit modifier, e.g. the cap, although it may work to push beyond the cap in PvP, due to crit resistance (anecdotally true, but afaik unconfirmed as far as rigorous testing). With Oakensoul giving you Major Force, I think paying attention to crit is worth experimenting with over penetration or the ubiquitous Deadly Strikes, especially if you use Race Against Time.

Having said all that, I am not convinced Oakensoul works as well on templar. On magblade you're hoping for a succession of random crits that bursts people hard. On templar, because Sweeps consists of 4 hits, you're invariably looking at an average of crits and non crits. This means that crit rate and base damage is as important, or more so, than the crit damage modifier. Order's Wrath fits the bill in both ways, but it's probably less of a shoe-in than for magblade.

The main reason I'm not convinced by Oakensoul for templar is the sustain rune. Yes, you get the minor recoveries, but you're either going to run a lightning staff for heavy attacks or dual-wield and have no mag restore option. You could slot the sustain rune, but bar space is very precious.

I should say that I use RAT and Spell Wall for defense, because my templar is not a vampire. As she is squishy and I find templar such a pressure class, I tend to use Spell Wall as often as my offensive ult in my two bar build and am thinking of using 1H+S with Oakensoul, together with fully offensive and/or sustain sets.

I don't feel that pushed about using Oakensoul on magplar. You do give something up with that mythic. It narrows the difference between being offensive and defensive. If you take it at face value, you will probably notice the offensive potential first, but you'll feel squishier. Perhaps that suits you, but if you start compromising on damage, you may ask yourself: "Why am I running this mythic?" I think Oakensoul has the best synergy with nightblade and DK.

fred4

In terms of sets, I think Rallying Cry is one of the most obvious options. You want the crit, you get some spell damage, but you also have a defensive component - the crit resist, all the more valuable the more other people run Oakensoul with that Major Force. Unless you get Rallying Cry from your group.

I think a lot hinges on whether you use Mist Form, or not (I see that you don't). In that case I find Race Against Time a must have. You can make do with Toppling Charge in some situations, I suppose. I also favor having some stamina sustain - hence would use Bear Haunch - and am partial to Zoal, speed (Swift) and I like Spell Wall on magplar. Let's say an overloading meta sorc attacks you, Spell Wall gives you a counterattack window while they hit themselves in the face. The advantage of my build-style is that it feels nice to play. The disadvantage is that it tends to leave damage on the table.

The skill bar I have been thinking of is Sweeps, Honor the Dead, Extended Ritual, Purifying Light, Race Against Time, Spell Wall. No room for Toppling Charge and CP Exploiter passive and no room for a weapon that restores magicka...

jcasini222ub17_ESO

Been rolling around some ideas of oaken, sergeant’s mail and maybe undaunted unweaver I think it is. You’d be super squish but I’m think the heavy attack will trigger potl to proc off 1 blow. Essentially pot, heavy, profit. Theory at least. Use invis pots too.

That theory build being said I fully believe builds like this are trash and I’m extremely disappointed in the direction of combat in this game.

divnyi

@fred4 it was confirmed that you can push crit past player resistances above the cap, so you need +95% to get to normal cap and another +25% to get past Rallying Cry. Practically, you can meet first cap, you won't meet second one. Can be very close to meeting second cap with support.

Magplar is actually decent in Oaken, but bowsorc does everything it do, but better. Why sweep for all 4 hits, whole second in melee range, when you can do same damage/sec in full range with crystal weapon precast and spammable on top?

Draxund

@fred4 Thanks for your thoughts! One thing I'm liking about Oaken is that it's really stretching my theorycrafting, which I think is half the fun. I really need to slot Race Against Time, but I can't decide on whether to give up burst dmg (Purifying Light) or the gap closing stun (Toppling). I had never considered 1H+shield, but I'll look into it.

fred4

Draxund wrote: »

@fred4 Thanks for your thoughts! One thing I'm liking about Oaken is that it's really stretching my theorycrafting, which I think is half the fun.

I agree.

I really need to slot Race Against Time, but I can't decide on whether to give up burst dmg (Purifying Light) or the gap closing stun (Toppling).

Toppling procs off balance, so the new (again) Exploiter CP will give you +10% damage. You'll probably end up trying both. I know I will.

I had never considered 1H+shield, but I'll look into it.

With the main drawback being - and it's a big one - that you can't restore magicka from heavy attacks. That means you will lean towards oversustaining via sets or glyphs. It will probably be quite nice to play, but cause you to nerf your damage. It's the kind of thing I tend to personally go for, but expect that tradeoff.

Dirt_Rooster

I agree that it definitely makes me think harder when I slot oakensoul. When I get back from vacation I think I am honestly going to try giving up toppling charge first, and use dawnbreaker instead. My hope is that I'll feel comfortable enough without a stun, and the increased ult gain might let me use dawnbreaker almost as fast as crescent sweep. I'll gain around 15% damage with oakensoul but definitely giving up a ton of utility.

divnyi

Did this. Zero regrets. It is crit damage cap on chars with no impen.
Need to level 2h to Onslaught for sweet sweet ganks.

Ye I use sneak on this build a lot.