Nightblade Build Help

delphwind_ESO · December 2014

Good afternoon ESO friends,

My group has decided to come back to ESO after playing for a while at launch. I had previously made a Templar Healer, but this time I am going to be playing a Nightblade DPS.

After going through the skill calculator at esohead.com I ended up with a build that focuses almost entirely on Light/Heavy attacks with various short term buffs, and a charge.

5 piece Light, 2 piece Medium to maximize my magicka pool.

I have 2 self healing abilities through Strife and Siphoning Strikes for extra survivability.

I am sure this build will do fine in PvE, as most builds will work, but I am wondering if I am going to gimp my damage too drastically by not taking any direct attack skills? Am I relying too heavily on the Light/Heavy attacks?

Link to Build

Surfinginhawaii · December 2014

Go to deltiasgaming.com for several excellent nightblade builds.

Lynx7386 · December 2014

If you're focusing more on magicka, you should at least put veiled strike on your bar (aka surprise attack / concealed weapon). This gives you more burst damage than you would have if you only used light/heavy weapon attacks.

The bigger issue you'll face is that you're wanting to play a melee combatant (or weapon based character), but you're focusing on magicka as a primary stat. Without medium armor and gearing towards stamina, your weapons are going to hit like wet noodles.

Nestor · December 2014

delphwind_ESO wrote: »

Am I relying too heavily on the Light/Heavy attacks?

I almost never use Heavy Attacks in the game, I weave in light attacks in between skill attacks. I may open with a Heavy Attack/Skill combo but after that it's Light Attacks mixed with Skill Attacks.

With the recent changes in Stamina, a Stamina based character is quite viable, where a magic based NB is still a good way to go. So, you need to choose first whether you want Stamina or Magic to be your base to fight from.

Note, you can still use Light Attacks interspersed with your Skill attacks no matter what direction you take things.

Cody · December 2014

If you are playing a melee NB, go DW, put sparks on your bar, and be sure to have lots of stamina for roll dodging and blocking. or go 2H and have momentum on your bar for the heals.

if you are planing to use a staff, have lots of magicka and some kind of knockback/CC

the build you found is one of the best optimized builds. It will work in PvP. LA is superior to medium and heavy armor nowadays, and, as a result(and slighty due to the following result) magicka builds tend to be a bit better than stamina builds.

Cody · December 2014

oh, and learn how to use siphoning strikes.

It will help you out a lot

delphwind_ESO · December 2014

Lynx7386 wrote: »

Without medium armor and gearing towards stamina, your weapons are going to hit like wet noodles.

Melee weapon damage is based on Stamina?

Shunravi · December 2014

delphwind_ESO wrote: »

Lynx7386 wrote: »

Without medium armor and gearing towards stamina, your weapons are going to hit like wet noodles.

Melee weapon damage is based on Stamina?

yes

delphwind_ESO · December 2014

Played in 3 betas and at launch and had no idea .. thank you, that changes things a bit.

Cody · December 2014

delphwind_ESO wrote: »

Lynx7386 wrote: »

Without medium armor and gearing towards stamina, your weapons are going to hit like wet noodles.

Melee weapon damage is based on Stamina?

yes.

having low stamina makes your melee attacks very weak.

ThornJagger · December 2014

Lets not forget in update 6, a promised fix to stamina builds to put us on par with magic. /crossfingers

Jacques Berge · December 2014

OP, it's always good to remember that, in a game like this, playstyle and player skill is something to take into account when choosing a build. The great thing about this game is that that there are several possible builds for each class, viability is based purely on the player. Simply put, you're going to have to test each build extensively to know what's going to be good for you.

Take for instance, I am very successful in what I want to achieve in PvP, but I have been fine tuning the same build/playstyle from launch. I'm hesistent to suggest my build, cause it may not be good for you. I know when and how to use all of my skills, what skills I can counter agaisnt, and what skills I can not, and how to avoid those skills.

Sorry, I'm a long winded guy, but in short, you're gonna have to come up with your own build to truly be successful. Now, I would suggest you ask what skills are good and in what situation if you are unfamiliar with them. Application of skills and combos is a far more effective way to theorycraft

delphwind_ESO · December 2014

@Jacques Berge

Thank you for the information. You are correct of course. I played a Templar healer in beta, and got my healer to level 40 range after release.

I was asking for advice based on my ignorance of the other classes tanking and DPS abilities and thought Nightblade would be a good place to start as a DPS focused choice.

The build I linked in the OP was one I managed to come up with on my own based on the information I had at the time, since then I have found that a light/heavy attack build with selfbuffs will be rather gimp, and that I should focus on Stamina rather than Magic if I want to melee.

I plan on making a dual wield stamina melee focused Nightblade that is more open combat oriented as I have never enjoyed stealth.

Let's see how it goes.