Critique my PVP build

badmojo · November 2014

v14 redguard

Glass cannon melee build is what I was going for. I'm also leveling my bow so poison arrow is on my second bar right now instead of flying blade. Other skills I swap out the shades for are evil hunter, aspect of terror, sap essence, purge, siege shield, etc.

Sets are mostly stamina and weapon power focused. Traits are impen, enchants are stamina.

http://esohead.com/calculator/skills#mcMX9ck9cWmia8IrtP8GFlT8w2Bg8w2lm8w2CO8GHRk8LxkS8w2lJ8GFts8IPq48Irxv8IPwB8p7XcdBET6MdBvj6MdBEI6MdBvT6MdBEp8t7XLsgX6MwS3c6MwYlv6MwYle6MwUlN6MwYl26rsgZ6rsgW6Lsg18C7Xrzqu6Lzqq6MGFWc6MGFWi6MGFWA6MGFWn6Lzqa8D7XLzdm6rzdc6MIrEf6MIsaM6MIrv36MIrEh8F7XMIPNU6MIPAT6MIPAv6MIPAh6LzrO6rzrJ8P7mLdYf8U7oMTkTV6MTkTq8zV7XzeCp46ceCGC6ceCAq6ceCxV8zf7zzNbo8zu7zzHfYE6zHfZd8zG7zzHQ3F8zI7zzJIoX6zJIkL8zN7zzJZcY8zA7zzKpUN8zL7zzK4EX

TheBucket · November 2014

I run a similar build and I'm working on hitting 250 weapon damage with this at the moment before using potions.

If this is for PvP, you have to run Aspect of Terror. It's one of the better abilities in the game.

I also don't see why you need two execute abilities on your bar. I would only stick to one, and I also wouldn't be using Ambush as it's a waste of magic. Save your magic for cloak in my opinion.

If you really want to use Ambush. I would put it on the same bat as Funnel Health so you can maximize the health returned from the ability after using Abmush. Since your Shadows last a good while. It'll be easy to switch weapon bars and cast shadows for ultimate gain from funnel health.

Also, if you running this build for PvP. I would go for a different Mundus stone. Critical chance is a bit pointless unless your front loading it. I prefer the tower stone since there is no current stamina regen one.

badmojo · November 2014

TheBucket wrote: »

I also don't see why you need two execute abilities on your bar. I would only stick to one, and I also wouldn't be using Ambush as it's a waste of magic. Save your magic for cloak in my opinion.

If you really want to use Ambush. I would put it on the same bat as Funnel Health so you can maximize the health returned from the ability after using Abmush. Since your Shadows last a good while. It'll be easy to switch weapon bars and cast shadows for ultimate gain from funnel health.

I sneak attack with ambush and then follow it up with incapacitating strike and then hopefully finish them off with the 3 weapon skills. Shadow is there to remove DOTs and get out of trouble.

Funnel health was just the hardest hitting 28m magicka skill I could find, I wanted to be able to cast with both pools. I usually run with a healer so the healing isn't really a priority.

Thechemicals · November 2014

It just depends on how you are using your rotation. All i see is a buncha skills put together.

What is your rotation? For me, i go snipe+critical rush+wrecking blow and execute. Most NB's use ambush and incapacitate and impale in their rotations for easy kills.

TheBucket · November 2014

badmojo wrote: »

TheBucket wrote: »

I also don't see why you need two execute abilities on your bar. I would only stick to one, and I also wouldn't be using Ambush as it's a waste of magic. Save your magic for cloak in my opinion.

If you really want to use Ambush. I would put it on the same bat as Funnel Health so you can maximize the health returned from the ability after using Abmush. Since your Shadows last a good while. It'll be easy to switch weapon bars and cast shadows for ultimate gain from funnel health.

I sneak attack with ambush and then follow it up with incapacitating strike and then hopefully finish them off with the 3 weapon skills. Shadow is there to remove DOTs and get out of trouble.

Funnel health was just the hardest hitting 28m magicka skill I could find, I wanted to be able to cast with both pools. I usually run with a healer so the healing isn't really a priority.

Well, if you are running glass cannon that 100 health tick wont be that helpful. You should work more towards avoiding DPS then healing through it. So, I would save my magic for Cloak.

I run -5 Potion Glyphs at the moment on all 3 pieces of the Shadow Walker Jewelry.

So that's where my healing comes from and I can boost my dps with a Stamina/Health/Crit regen 91% of the fight.

I thought you were going for a stamina build? You already have a hard hitting DPS ability in Flying Blade.

2550 Stamina
211 Weapon Damage

My Flying Blade currently hits for 500-800 without crit.

elausche_ESO · November 2014

I am sorry to inform you of this, but Nightblades are the softest class in the game. Every other class can absorb thousands upon thousands of damage. Going glass canon on the softest class in the game is not going to be as fun as you think. The second someone spots you, you will be CC'd and dead. If you cannot survive 3 seconds of beatdown from a knockdown, you won't get many kills, because of the time spent running back to the battle.

You might break 700 with a Flying Blade, if you have the Ambush buff up, but short of 4000 stamina and 400 weapon power, you won't be hitting for 800 with a non-crit, non-ambush flying blade against a naked player. Expect Flying Blades to deal similar damage to a Light armor funnel health, but without the extra 100 hps.

What I would recommend, from my experience, for the build that would fit your close range melee play style.

Max magicka, magicka regen, and spell power. Seducers/Warlock set. Buy a VR1 ring for Warlock, if you can't find VR12. 1h/shield for main damage bar and get good at bashing in your rotation as well as blocking.

Dark Cloak - Survival and helps keep stamina up between crouch.
Ambush - Your sneak attack, gap closer, and adds huge damage to other attacks
Conceal Weapon - A huge part of PvP is moving around and getting in range of your target, this helps. It also helps to escape when combined with Dark Cloak.
Funnel health - Ranged attack, heal, great damage, cheap, heals others. Use after an Ambush for a larger heal.
Impale - Eats through those shields once they get low.
Soul Harvest or Soul tether for your ultimate. I prefer Soul Harvest for the healing debuff against tougher targets, but others prefer the more bursty Soul Tether build.

If you hate the idea of going magicka and must be stamina, then at least have a bow on your secondary bar. Move flying blades to your first bar and put Lethal Arrow on your second bar for the opener/healing debuff. Also, replace Ring of Preservation with Retreating Maneuvers to help yourself escape and your allies to travel around the map. If you go Vampire, you can go retreating maneuvers, crouch, and elusive mist to escape from almost any bad situation. The Crouch/hidden can take place during mist form, so you actually vanish in mist form. Lastly, please put Veil of Blades on one of your bars for a huge buff to survival and your best opportunity for winning a 1vX when placed properly. Not sure about rapid strike, i would probably go Blinding fury, but not sure if that is even worth having for PvP.

Perhaps something like this... Stamina Melee Build with ranged opener and survival

Open with Lethal and dark shades. Switch to dual wield and ambush, flying blades, rapid strikes/ blinding fury. Impale your target when you can.

I am positive this build could be improved upon, but i tried not to completely wipe your initial build.

Chesimac · November 2014

Ditch ring of preservation any day.

badmojo · November 2014

elausche_ESO wrote: »

If you cannot survive 3 seconds of beatdown from a knockdown, you won't get many kills, because of the time spent running back to the battle.

I guess my thinking is that if I can't get away in the first 3 seconds, I probably couldn't get away in 30. I'll be the first to admit my build sucks in a one on one dual situation, any enemy with decent heals or enough resistance can just outlast me and slowly wear me down. But, my build seems to do great in groups, I sit back with the healers and casters, then when I see our guys having some trouble with an enemy I'll burst in and then quickly fall back again, leaving the enemy hurt and debuffed, ready to be mopped up by our stronger players. Also, I try to provide a good base of fire for taking keeps and resources, somebody needs to take out those guards with good old fashioned dps.

Anyway, thanks for the reply, I'll have to play around with some of those skills and might consider respec to magicka to give it a try. I had it 50/50 stam/mag originally, but I felt the damage numbers weren't enough.

My current stats(in cyrodiil with food buff)..
0 mag
0 health
62 stam

max magicka 1650
max health 2507
max stamina 2668 (overcharged)

magicka regen 68
health regen 37
stamina regen 130 (overcharged)

spell damage 95
spell crit 25%
spell resist 1428

weapon damage 214 (overcharged)
weapon crit 68%
armor 1477

Set Bonuses

5 piece hundings rage
-4% weapon crit
-91 max stam
-4% weapon crit
-increase weapon damage 28.0

4 piece nights silence
-91 max stam
-12 stam recovery
-4% weapon crit

rings & necklace of reduce stamina cost

TheBucket · November 2014

elausche_ESO wrote: »

I am sorry to inform you of this, but Nightblades are the softest class in the game. Every other class can absorb thousands upon thousands of damage. Going glass canon on the softest class in the game is not going to be as fun as you think. The second someone spots you, you will be CC'd and dead. If you cannot survive 3 seconds of beatdown from a knockdown, you won't get many kills, because of the time spent running back to the battle.

You might break 700 with a Flying Blade, if you have the Ambush buff up, but short of 4000 stamina and 400 weapon power, you won't be hitting for 800 with a non-crit, non-ambush flying blade against a naked player. Expect Flying Blades to deal similar damage to a Light armor funnel health, but without the extra 100 hps.

What I would recommend, from my experience, for the build that would fit your close range melee play style.

Max magicka, magicka regen, and spell power. Seducers/Warlock set. Buy a VR1 ring for Warlock, if you can't find VR12. 1h/shield for main damage bar and get good at bashing in your rotation as well as blocking.

Dark Cloak - Survival and helps keep stamina up between crouch.
Ambush - Your sneak attack, gap closer, and adds huge damage to other attacks
Conceal Weapon - A huge part of PvP is moving around and getting in range of your target, this helps. It also helps to escape when combined with Dark Cloak.
Funnel health - Ranged attack, heal, great damage, cheap, heals others. Use after an Ambush for a larger heal.
Impale - Eats through those shields once they get low.
Soul Harvest or Soul tether for your ultimate. I prefer Soul Harvest for the healing debuff against tougher targets, but others prefer the more bursty Soul Tether build.

If you hate the idea of going magicka and must be stamina, then at least have a bow on your secondary bar. Move flying blades to your first bar and put Lethal Arrow on your second bar for the opener/healing debuff. Also, replace Ring of Preservation with Retreating Maneuvers to help yourself escape and your allies to travel around the map. If you go Vampire, you can go retreating maneuvers, crouch, and elusive mist to escape from almost any bad situation. The Crouch/hidden can take place during mist form, so you actually vanish in mist form. Lastly, please put Veil of Blades on one of your bars for a huge buff to survival and your best opportunity for winning a 1vX when placed properly. Not sure about rapid strike, i would probably go Blinding fury, but not sure if that is even worth having for PvP.

Perhaps something like this... Stamina Melee Build with ranged opener and survival

Open with Lethal and dark shades. Switch to dual wield and ambush, flying blades, rapid strikes/ blinding fury. Impale your target when you can.

I am positive this build could be improved upon, but i tried not to completely wipe your initial build.

Thats the basic Nightblade build and has nothing to do with stamina. It will actually decrease his survival because he wont have any magic for cloak.

You will have plenty of survival with cloak, arena armor, and pots.

You dont need bow. Flying hits hard for the burst, and you can spam it in quicker sessions then bow dps.

badmojo · November 2014

I decided to respec to 18 stamina and 44 health and I'm having a lot better time. I didn't realize how much stamina was being wasted by max stam being overclocked, I gained about 1k hp without a very noticeable drop in DPS.

I also slotted the thrown blade skill on my melee bar and dropped the funnel health completely. So now I have a much more straight forward attack procedure with less weapon swapping required. Now I just stealth until they get in range for an ambush and then use the 30% buff on my thrown dagger or Incompacitating strike if it's charged, then wear them down with the rapid strikes until they're low enough for the steel tornado bonus.

I finally got Snipe for the bow so I'm still using that, and I can't get enough of the circle of protection, I feel that skill is way too underused in PVP. Medium armor wearing nightblades are pretty damn squishy. It's also a great skill to have when defending keeps & resources, rolling in and dropping it on the guards who are getting oiled and whatnot can change the outcome of a siege depending on the numbers.

tldr, don't continue to overcharge stamina, it's just a waste of attribute points.

Kartalin · November 2014

Circle of protection is nice, but I find that playing a dps NB in PVP requires mobility. The circle kind of ties you to one spot, so if you're going glass cannon, you'd better hope that DK critical rushing or invasioning you is a vamp. Even then it may only buy you a second or two.

I experimented with using it for awhile, but ultimately found it not as useful as I hoped.

badmojo · November 2014

I just find that in an exchange with another ranged attacker, the boost to armor, spell resistance and health recovery can mean the difference between me having to roll away and him doing it.

Stannum · November 2014

1. One target bar.. You should burst and then - evade.
So ambush to charge, then Soul Harvest (i like this morph more), then mass hysteria for CC then Flying blade spam you still have 2 slots so let it be dark cloak (to remove DoTs and evade) and impale (for crit buff and finisher) or smthing else on your choise.

and now critics )))
rapid strikes are bad for PvP as it is melee channel and can be easily evaded.
ring of preservation you should stand in it. standing still galss cannon - dead glass cannon (btw shadow passive give you greate armor bonus when you are out of stealt/invis so use dark cloak)
dark shades i don't know how they can be usefull exept of stealh detectors (and it's better use radiant maglite as it also gives protection agains stealth attacks)

2. AoE ??? I don't think it's a good idea to AoE in PvP with NB glass cannon but if you use Steel tornado you should use it with power extraction