I went from fire magicka DK to 2H stam DK for the burst.

Bow stam DK would run into trouble with magicka DKs reflecting bow abilities and heavy attacks.

It depends on playstyle, one is not stronger than the other.

IMHO, magicka DKs are more efficient than stam DK. They have access to more class skills, and therefore to more support for themselves or their group.

Stam DK have access to some burst skills with the bow and the 2h, but they can be easily controlled and killed by a tanky magicka build.

In short: stam = burst dmg, and works pretty well with a NB; magicka = support, mitigation, heal, so the ability to survive, and works pretty well with a tanky DK. NB and sorc can additionally deal burst dmg with their magic spells in addition to be tanky; they have access to the best of both worlds.

I switched to magicka DK this week, because PvP is boring and I need a change. So I'm horrible and re-learning how to play.

Stam has better burst damage, but magicka has better sustain. If you build to take damage and manage resources instead of needing to practically one-shot with a 2H then magicka will work fine

I can't stand stamina DK, so I still play magicka DK in 2.0.
Basically, stamina DK is better for solo roaming than magicka, but if you run with a group then magicka DK is better for group scenarios. I do a lot of damage by myself even in 5 heavy, not as much as a stamina build or a full light spell damage build, but I get by.
It really depends on how you play and the way you build your character. I enjoy being tanky and still doing damage so I stayed magicka with 5 heavy to die in 5 seconds insead of 2.5 seconds. It's a huge adjustment from 1.5 where I had 3000 HP, 2425 magicka, and 2000 stamina, but as time goes on you deal with what you're given, lol.
Until Nirn is changed though, I'll be hitting for less than I should be hitting people without heavy on for.
Stamina dk is good because it has a lot of burst and DoT applications that barely anyone uses, but are really powerful along with Petrify as a NASTY single target CC. They also (as much as I hate it) can dodge roll away from almost any fight there is with enough stam recovery under their belt, making able to escape much easier than I can. (I'm usually in the back of the group holding the zerg off our group lead and friends, and die because I can't escape. )

I love this thread.

but tell me, how does one "burst" with Stamina DK?

I spam wrecking blow and get by, but NOWHERE NEAR as fast as crystal fragment spam or NB's from stealth.... that thing just blows people away.

I need to look into 5-heavies with magika build, but 2H and destro. i wonder where would that get me.

Davadin wrote: »

I love this thread.

but tell me, how does one "burst" with Stamina DK?

I spam wrecking blow and get by, but NOWHERE NEAR as fast as crystal fragment spam or NB's from stealth.... that thing just blows people away.

I need to look into 5-heavies with magika build, but 2H and destro. i wonder where would that get me.

A stamina DK cannot really burst, at least not as a NB can burst, because a DK does not have access to stamina versions of DPS class skills. For instance, a stamina DK relies on the 2H and bow skills to deal some burst damage, but it's not at the level of the burst damage caused by ambush or surprise attacks.

I assume ZOS wanted the DK to be tanky and the NB to be a damage dealer, and they seem to go a bit further to that direction since 1.6. What is still missing in the game though is to have more stamina versions of class skills so people can have more options for their build. I hope this is something that will come with the next big patch after the console release.

Magica DK is still pretty strong imho, but shines most in group situations.

I dont have a lot of burst, but I have pretty strong sustain and can put decent pressure on so that i can time what little burst I have with a cc or ultimate to get a kill.

Kloud wrote: »

Thx for all the replys I think having a stam version of whip would help stam dks a lot

yup.

But in the meantime, Unstable Flame is pretty decent. And cheap.