Beginner looking for advice on a 2H stamina build

Sunfire · February 2015

I'm new to the game and for the love of all that is holy I can't decide on a class or race for my main character.

I am currently torn between Templar and DK for class. Race it's between Imperial and Wood Elf (I play AD and own the Imperial Edition).

I want to play with two-handed swords, stamina build. I realize 1.6 will probably shake the tree quite a bit, but somehow using a blazing spear of light instead of my trusty sword seems... off to me. I prefer to go up and personal with stuff. I usually like the holy warrior type of class, but I don't know if maybe a DK would be a better fit. And yes, for PvE and DPS. I don't do PvP at all and I suck at it (big time).

Any advice out there?

Stannum · February 2015

Sunfire wrote: »

And yes, for PvE and DPS.

Then you better choose NB or Sorc. It's good in 1.5 and will be even better in 1.6. DK and especially templar has no such great weapon buffs NB and sorcs have.
And btw think of redguard race it have defenitely better resource management with 2H in 1.5 (have not tried in 1.6 when caps will be remooved).

Khivas_Carrick · February 2015

Redguard make the best race for stamina builds by far, followed by Bosmer and then Imperial.

I however as an Imperial Templar stamina build with a 2H do utterly amazing in 1.6, easily knocking around 10k DPS, and there are actually ways to do it without using spear skills, although I highly suggest you keep em.

Either way, DKs are good for melee now, NBs only got better for stamina, and Sorcs are actually dependent on weapon skills for all builds.

Personally, I say stick with what you feel like sticking with, and as for a skill loadout, try this:

Vampire's bane OR Blazing Spear (think of it as an every blast rather than actual weapon use of a spear)

Momentum (Rally morph)

Reverse Slash (Either morph will do)

Power Of The Light

Wrecking Blow

Flawless Dawnbreaker for the ultimate.

I can go into detail for you but do know this build would be more suited for support rather than damage, which is ok because resource management can be difficult in 1.6

Sunfire · February 2015

Thanks for the replies already!

I originally discarded Sorc and NB, due to them being more sqishy than the other two. I like to be self-sufficient and be slightly more than a glass-cannon.

As for races, I don't like the story, lore and style of the Redguards, since I play Dominion it would be hard to explain why a Redguard would help the queen anyway. But I think I'm on a good way with Bosmer, if they are fitting for a stamina build.

As for the build you suggested, @Khivas_Carrick I had similiar thoughts even though I didn't really know what to do :P The only thing I set up differently was Blazing Spear/Vampire's Bane, I planned on taking Evil Hunter instead, mostly for the passive weapon crit.

I actually don't have a huge problem with using a spear skill occasionally, but when I use it as a main skill (as I suspect many stamina builds will in 1.6) then I don't use a 2H weapon anymore. And I do love my giant swords...

[edit]
Almost forgot, why would you consider that more of a support build than damage? What would be the difference between support and damage build?

Stannum · February 2015

Sunfire wrote: »

Thanks for the replies already!

I originally discarded Sorc and NB, due to them being more sqishy than the other two.

Crit build Sork with critical surge and thundering presence are not at all squishy, has great DPS and can help with CC in PVE. (and after 1.6 they will have stamina based overload.) May be they will be the best stamina DPS.

Khivas_Carrick · February 2015

That's actually a possibility, using Evil Hunter and all. In my build I use Biting Jabs as the first move because it's my opener to get the passive 10% Crit, plus it hits like a truck. You however mentioned you don't want to feel like using a giant spear of light as a main weapon, which is ok because I feel there are other options out there, such as what you just mentioned here. Frankly I've considered using Evil Hunter despite such a low proc chance for noon daedric enemies.

Also, it's lower damage because Blazing Spear is magic based and doesn't tick as hard as the full frontal damage of other moves, such as Biting Jabs. It does however offer a more support friendly route in that it restores the stamina of nearby allies that use the synergy, and that in 1.6 is actually highly valuable.

Sacrifice damage to bolster the damage of others, or maintain your damage and continue pounding an enemy. Class options will open up greatly in this patch and actual thought will be emphasized when doing things now. It'll be great.

Khivas_Carrick · February 2015

Oh and I forgot to mention this, but biting jabs isn't actually the primary move in a single target 2H DPS build, Wrecking Blow weaved with Heavy Attacks are.

Warraxx · February 2015

i do well with a stamina Orc Dk, running 2h/s&b. crit rush hits like a truck. bosmers are tiny cute litlle things, go big or go home :P release your inner Orc!

Sunfire · February 2015

Khivas_Carrick wrote: »

Oh and I forgot to mention this, but biting jabs isn't actually the primary move in a single target 2H DPS build, Wrecking Blow weaved with Heavy Attacks are.

You're using Biting Jabs for the buff and AoE then? Or what other place does it have? AoE would probably be a weakness of the build I thought about above, considering both Wrecking Blow and Executioner are single-target attacks.

I guess the build would be something like this: Biting Jabs, Executioner, Wrecking Blow, Rally, Power of the Light, Flawless Dawnbringer?

Btw, since we are on the topic: how do those passives work that say "while using a Aedric Spear ability"? Only when using (for erxample) skills like Biting Jabs?

Great answers guys, thanks a lot already!

Khivas_Carrick · February 2015

The passives work exactly as they say. For example Piercing Spear increases your critical strike damage by 10% if you have an Aedric spear ability slotted, and just like that you for it if biting jabs or blazing spear is equipped.

As for AoE, my build doesn't fall short because I don't use executioner, I use reverse slice, which is the aoe attack version of it. That coupled with how fast and potent the new Dawnbreaker is and biting jabs, my aoe does not suffer in the slightest lol

But yes, I use biting jabs once every 6 seconds to maintain the crit bonus, and I used PotL as a timer to know when to refresh myself. Basically, open up with PotL, biting jabs, then weave heavy attack and wrecking blow until execute time.

Sunfire · February 2015

Thanks again for all the info @Khivas_Carrick‌ . I think this would be a viable build for me as well. Maybe switch out a bit between Biting Jabs and Evil Hunter, play around with it to see what stuff feels like. Thanks for the suggestion of using Reverse Slice, I never actually thought about that!

So in the end, Templar it is. Only I rolled a Bosmer, due to RP reasons. But I think that's probably less of an issue than the build stuff

Warraxx · March 2015

Sunfire wrote: »

... I rolled a Bosmer, due to RP reasons. But I think that's probably less of an issue than the build stuff

<<orc cries>>