Nightblade Mag vs Stam?

sticx45_ESO · May 2015

Having trouble deciding between going stam or mag on my nightblade. I know race makes a big difference in these two aspects, so I don't want to screw it up and wish I had gone the other route later. Am I wrong in the assumptions i'm making below? Is there something else I should consider?

Magicka NB has a bit more utility, better self healing, and is able to play a more vanishing thief type (with frequent uses of cloak), at the cost of large burst and slightly lower dps.

Stam NB has more damage, greater burst, but less utility. Can only vanish 2-3 times before running out of magicka, and while more sturdy due to medium armor, has less self healing, making their self sustain a bit lower.

Mayrael · May 2015

It depends. The utilities are only advantage of mag NB. Stamina NB can have far better dps, better armor (which is important, trust me on that), more dodge rolls and break frees which are crucial in pvp giving more survivability and its not the end. With Rally from 2h weapon and Vigor from alliance war (both skills scale with stamina) stamina NB have far better heals. And if it goes to cloak u can cast it more than 3 times without single point in magica or cost reduction. So IMO stamina NB is way better than magica NB. Though... Magica NB have at least one nice combo. Sneak, proximity detonation, lotus fan, and conceled weapon - good bye.

Dositheus · May 2015

I have fought some magika NB lately, who were rather bursty though, which was surprising. 7 to 8k consistent concealed attacks, with constant cloaking. I was pretty damn impressed.

olsborg · May 2015

Stamina nbs have very good heals, if they use rally and vigor, wich is better heals then magicka nbs can have with healward. Stam is more bursty and can dodgeroll infintely. Mag nbs have the combo mentioned above, and can pretty much spam cloak, Id personally go stam nb anyday

Stannum · May 2015

Stamina NB one of the best PvE dps and in PvP - good gankers. Magika NB one of the best PvP assault tanks (especcially in groups).

Turelus · May 2015

Right now I would say Stamina is better (coming from a Magicka player) however once Nirnhoned gets adjusted that might change in PVP again.

Lunerdog · May 2015

Ive just switched my Vet14 Wood Elf Nightblade from a Med Armour, Bow, Duel Wield and Stam build to a Light Armour, Resto, Destro and Magicka build.

Still levellling the skills but she's born again hard, very glad I tried it.

Stannum · May 2015

Lunerdog wrote: »

Ive just switched my Vet14 Wood Elf Nightblade from a Med Armour, Bow, Duel Wield and Stam build to a Light Armour, Resto, Destro and Magicka build.

Still levellling the skills but she's born again hard, very glad I tried it.

Try heavy and 1h&sh for magika build

sticx45_ESO · May 2015

So I guess the big question I was getting at, although I didn't really know that's what I was thinking at the time, was can Magicka nb's put out close to or even near the burst/dps of a stamina NB.

From asking around in game, the resounding answer I got was a no.

SHADOW2KK · May 2015

Both builds are good but it depends on what you wanna play really.

Stamina builds are good gankers, but dependent on build, gear, pots, and cp management you can hold your own against 3/4 hostiles and if you play your cards right, you conquer.

I am running a stamina bosmer nb build with 2H/Bow/DW, and use Wykkrd (possibly wrong spelling, sorry mate:), to swap skill bars when needed for PvE/PvP operations, and normally do well.

Good luck anyways, and more importantly have fun.

Stannum · May 2015

sticx45_ESO wrote: »

So I guess the big question I was getting at, although I didn't really know that's what I was thinking at the time, was can Magicka nb's put out close to or even near the burst/dps of a stamina NB.

From asking around in game, the resounding answer I got was a no.

Look:
1) all NB skills do magic dmg, not elemental like Sorcs or DKs so you cannot focus your CP both on class skills and weapon (destro) to max effect. And Stamina NB can focus all CP on phisical dmg.
2) Flawless dawnbreaker
3) NB has more bonuses for Stamina regen then for magika (relentles focus, refreshing shadows) and it's good for sustain dmg.
4) As for burst dmg magika NB has no instant high dmg attacks exept consealed weapon

Stannum · May 2015

At the same time magika NB (sap tank build) is really diehard. You can stand one on ten for a long time as a corner stone of assault spear with a good oppotunity to evade if you'll not get support.

sticx45_ESO · May 2015

thanks for the replies

milesrodneymcneely2_ESO · May 2015

Mayrael wrote: »

It depends. The utilities are only advantage of mag NB. Stamina NB can have far better dps, better armor (which is important, trust me on that), more dodge rolls and break frees which are crucial in pvp giving more survivability and its not the end. With Rally from 2h weapon and Vigor from alliance war (both skills scale with stamina) stamina NB have far better heals. And if it goes to cloak u can cast it more than 3 times without single point in magica or cost reduction. So IMO stamina NB is way better than magica NB. Though... Magica NB have at least one nice combo. Sneak, proximity detonation, lotus fan, and conceled weapon - good bye.

Wow. I didn't realize that Stamina Nightblades were that much better than their Magicka-based counterparts.

So, all things being equal, does the Stamina NB have the edge when going head-to-head with a Magicka NB? I know duels rarely happen in Cyrodiil, but just curious.

RavenSworn · May 2015

Actually in terms of passives from the assassin and siphoning tree, these gives better magicka passives. The one reason for stamina passives to be better is the flat stamina recovery from the shadow tree, which coupled with the racial passives such as bosmer or redguard, gives stamina nb the edge in one to one fights. Not to mention the armor bonuses shadow gives.

Its not a wonder the sap tank build, even when used with LA, is a formidable build with the magicka and healing passives from siphon and assassin tree.

sticx45_ESO · May 2015

milesrodneymcneely2_ESO wrote: »

Mayrael wrote: »

It depends. The utilities are only advantage of mag NB. Stamina NB can have far better dps, better armor (which is important, trust me on that), more dodge rolls and break frees which are crucial in pvp giving more survivability and its not the end. With Rally from 2h weapon and Vigor from alliance war (both skills scale with stamina) stamina NB have far better heals. And if it goes to cloak u can cast it more than 3 times without single point in magica or cost reduction. So IMO stamina NB is way better than magica NB. Though... Magica NB have at least one nice combo. Sneak, proximity detonation, lotus fan, and conceled weapon - good bye.

Wow. I didn't realize that Stamina Nightblades were that much better than their Magicka-based counterparts.

So, all things being equal, does the Stamina NB have the edge when going head-to-head with a Magicka NB? I know duels rarely happen in Cyrodiil, but just curious.

was watching Sypher stream today as a magicka nb, and he was wrecking face. (Without using Detonation) So while stam nb's may be slightly better, magicka nb's are still viable it seems.

F7sus4 · May 2015

While you're mostly talking about PvP effectiveness, in PvE Magicka NB are pretty uncomfortable to pilot (Trials/vDSA) while trying to sustain 15k+ DPS. It is possible, but all you do is constantly stacking and reapplying several damage buffs and trying to perfectly fit your damage rotation inbetween. If you screw your timings (which are really tight), your effectiveness drops significantly. You also rely on Shooting Star as a DPS output far more than other classes.

It should not a problem if you can do your job, but it's a bit disheartening when you realize you can provide similar (or far better) DPS output on Stamina NB builds or Magicka Sorc/DK with just chill spam-casting 2-3 buttons.

Stannum · May 2015

milesrodneymcneely2_ESO wrote: »

So, all things being equal, does the Stamina NB have the edge when going head-to-head with a Magicka NB? I know duels rarely happen in Cyrodiil, but just curious.

I think that in case of duel top Stamina NB vs top Magika NB it will be endless fight. (stamina in 5 med + 2H and smth else vs magika in 5 heavy 1h&sh)

Tankqull · May 2015

dancing.in.the.webeb17_ESO wrote: »

milesrodneymcneely2_ESO wrote: »

So, all things being equal, does the Stamina NB have the edge when going head-to-head with a Magicka NB? I know duels rarely happen in Cyrodiil, but just curious.

I think that in case of duel top Stamina NB vs top Magika NB it will be endless fight. (stamina in 5 med + 2H and smth else vs magika in 5 heavy 1h&sh)

magica NB will screw the stamina NB as she deals dmg through rolldodging while the stam blade does not get through healing ward.