How I play Nightblade...

chuckselegy · July 2015

Terrible!

But I'm taking my lickings and trying to learn from them.

Let me preface this by saying I'm a COD player converted over. Not that this has anything much to do with it, but could be relevant.

I've respec-ed a few times to really try to understand the differences in the two ideals of the class, stamina vs

First I went Magicka, DW and Resto taking my build from Deltia. Turns out it was more built for the PVE player and I learned real quickly after entering PVP as a lol 34 and not getting one kill for the two weeks I hit PVP a few hours each day. Racked up the healing AP but no kills. Really dampened my spirit on the magicka NB.

Clearly this post is about my personal skills and required skills to play a NB effectively.

Respec to stam NB and at this point I'm about a lvl43 and within two hours I had five kills and felt pretty confident but I noticed I wasn't managing my resources very well. I ran out of stamina very quickly and I didn't have Rally or Relentless Focus. This was more fun of a setup; 2H and Bow. Nope, didn't have Snipe or Focused Aim either.

Was watching a few Twitch guys, Sypherpk, iSkys, and another dude and I adjusted my skill trees to a 2H & DW setup to take advantage of a little AOE with the likes of Steel Tornado and this was okay. I was even better taking some of Sypherpk's tips of grinding. I was finally a Vr1 at this point. So I stuck to PVE for a weekend and racked up some CP thinking it would solve my problems. It helps but doesn't fix my glaring issue, resource management, sustainability, bursting dmg, and lack of armor that benefits my character.

I'd adjust my bars going into PVP, like anyone should, and I was doing okay. Picked up a few good kills; a f-ing amazeballs kill on a VR6 Sorc. He was buffed up pretty good too. It was total 1v1 on the side of a cliff and I felt like a badass. This is also the same time as my little escapades with the guy in the two man hank crew where he shoveled his kills (still hilarious to me).

My frustration with that setup was fully self induced looking at my character and stressing over my Crit/Weapon and Spell damage. Was and mostly still is rather low. It ranges 23-34%-ish. And since my resource regen slowly then I felt at a huge disadvantage.

I know it's totally a skill issue with my ability to play the NB effectively but I'm getting better.

I'm now a VR4 (and a half) and I e been rolling with a small three man group doing more of the ganking/small group battle stuff and it's been better but I'm still struggling with resource management. I e settled in to the stam NB-2H & DW and I spend a lot more time in stealth (excited for updat and possible perma cloak opportunities.

I still struggle, especially trying to run with a zerg and trying to take keeps.

Nightblade really is a tough class to use. And the advent of Twitch and YouTube really helps and can hinder a person. If you're like me and somewhat ocd and stress over the numbers, even the smallest of "disadvantage" can have you respec-ing instead of mastering.

This is what I've settled into at the moment. It works but on a small scale. And with a small group/ganking crew.

Bar 1-2H
Ambush
Brawler (switch in wrecking blow)
Rally
Piercing Mark
Dark Cloak
Soul Tether/Soul Harvest (U)

Bar 2-DW
Ambush
Blood Craze
Double Take
Mass Hysteria
Rapid Strikes
DawnBreaker (still leveling it up) (U)

Attributes: 45 Stam 9 Health

Vampire lvl10

Warrior Mundus Stone

All medium in armor and three different sets

Viper for a five piece, Red Mountain for a two piece and few pieces I can't remember their name. Basic idea is that it's all based off max stam and weapon damage. Unfortunately it's all green because I don't survive too well in dungeons and the cue doesn't really work or folks don't use it.

Anyways just wanted to throw this out there for anyone looking to troll for easy kills and to those that might be going through NB identity crisis like myself. Any advice would be helpful but I'm pretty certain I just need to play more, get better gear and play my role as a NB assassin and less the guy who wants to tank a Vr14 Sorc Emporer.

Thanks

chuckselegy · July 2015

What do I want from my character?

High DPS
High Bursts
More Resource control and regen

tonemd · July 2015

Not being the best myself all i would suggest is saving your AP for 5 pieces of Ravager. My non-imaginative build is hunding's rage (4 armor, 1 weapon) and ravagers (2 armor, 3 accessories)...and a lonely Way of the Air helmet (because it looks cool). I'm still using the cheap stuff but even the cheap ravagers seems to make a big difference if you can get 5 pieces.

I have taken Kizzy back and forth between magicka/stamina/high damage/high sustain/ S&B/ dual wield/2 hand/ staffs/bows etc., trying to make her fit all situations because I just can't stand the idea of grinding up another character. It took me a while to realize that she is an assassin, thats it. That's how I play her best. I had to stop grouping up and running with the pack, staying on crown and all that BS. Surf the crowd and snipe, ambush from the sides. That's what NBs do best.

Gotta work on my DK for all that other crap.

chuckselegy · July 2015

@tonemd yeah, I need to play the role and less the run and gun I play in COD. I'll check that set out. I have around 154k AP atm. So we will see.

Zanen · July 2015

You need surprise attack.

Also I run flying blade and steel tornado.

Problem with brawler in pvp is the overflow bug will get you instagibbed, it's too small a shield and overflow damage hits unmitigated. Also the dot will break your cloak.

Do damage on your DW bar and use the 2h for buffs and utilities, it's problematic I know but as a NB you have better options than the 2h abilities and DW does more damage. I run dark cloak on the DW bar to give me time for the swaps and buffs.

Use drink to help with sustain.

Hope I helped.

chuckselegy · July 2015

@Zenan yeah man, that's good for thought. Organization on bars seems very important. I know that but don't know if I make a lot of effort to maximize it

Mr_Nobody · July 2015

"Nightblade really is a tough class to use."

chuckselegy, 2015

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marco.cuevas.ventob14_ESO · July 2015

I am running a NB and I am finding out..

there are some battles I can win
and there are some that I can definitely cannot win

once you play the class long enough you will
realize that and all will be better...

at least that's what I am figuring out.

chuckselegy · July 2015

Trolls not welcome here. Please go away.

jrkhan · July 2015

I wouldn't worry too much about upgrading gear until v14. Then, prioritize weapon upgrades - the extra weapon damage and armor pen from sharpened trait will make a noticeable difference.
Since you seem to be a min maxer in the making, I'd really suggest getting to v14 and then gearing up.
If you can find a decent grinding spot and partner, it's only 1-2 hours per vet level.
Regarding resource management when solo, you'll need to decide how you want to fight:
Kill target quickly, then stealth (easier to play, 'ganker' build)
Dodge roll spam, then occasionally burst people down (better 1vx but better gear/skill required)

If you are ganking, you should consider bow/2h, the flight time on lethal arrow gives you opportunities to land multiple attacks simultaneously, lethal arrow + amush + soul harvest can all land within 1 second and will get you a lot of kills if your opponent has < 22k hp.
I will fire off lethal, then weapon swap to 2h bar then ambush, the extra weapon damage from your 2 hander is very relevant when securing a kill.
You only need around 2.1k weapon damage 22k stamina for this to be a very effective burst combo. Once your initial target is dead, you restealth and resource management isn't an issue.

If you want to have more of a dodge roll oriented 1vx play style, you'll focus more on regen, but you still need enough burst to take people down in 4 hits.
This seems most effective with engine guardian and way of air sets. Also, vigor - which as a new player you won't have access to for some time. I feel like you'll need a few hundred champ points and fully upgraded gear to do this successfully.

If your playing with a group, your weapon choices are fine, there are a few things that should help you with regen that you haven't mentioned yet:
Use grim focus for 20% stam regen and damage boost. Use level appropriate stam pots. Biggest yet: drinks that boost your stam regen - the value listed is multplied by your passives, which as a night blade medium armor wearing vampire, are very significant.

P.S. I don't see steel tornado on your duel wield bar for group play. Even with a small gank group, I expect you'll find this skill useful.

P.P.S.
Use 'sharpened' weapons - this is by far your best option for weapon traits.

Ezareth · July 2015

jrkhan wrote: »

I wouldn't worry too much about upgrading gear until v14.
Since you seen to be a min maxer in the making, I'd really suggest getting to v14 and then gearing up.
If you can find a decent grinding spot and partner, it's only 1-2 hours per vet level.
Regarding resource management when solo, you'll need to decide how you want to fight:
Kill target quickly, then stealth (easier to play, 'ganker' build)
Dodge roll spam, then occasionally burst people down (better 1vx but better gear/skill required)

If you are ganking, you should consider bow/2h, the flight time on lethal arrow gives you opportunities to land multiple attacks simultaneously, lethal arrow + amush + soul harvest can all land within 1 second and will get you a lot of kills if your opponent has < 22k hp.
I will fire off lethal, then weapon swap to 2h bar then ambush, the extra weapon damage from your 2 hander is very relevant when securing a kill.
You only need around 2.1k weapon damage 22k stamina for this to be a very effective burst combo. Once your initial target is dead, you restealth and resource management isn't an issue.

If you want to have more of a dodge roll oriented 1vx play style, you'll focus more on regen, but you still need enough burst to take people down in 4 hits.
This seems most effective with engine guardian and way of air sets. Also, vigor - which as a new player you won't have access to for some time. I feel like you'll need a few hundred champ points and fully upgraded gear to do this successfully.

If your playing with a group, your weapon choices are fine, there are a few things that should help you with regen that you haven't mentioned yet:
Use grim focus for 20% stam regen and damage boost. Use level appropriate stam pots. Biggest yet: drinks that boost your stam regen - the value listed is multplied by your passives, which as a night blade medium armor wearing vampire, are very significant.

P.S. I don't see steel tornado on your duel wield bar for group play. Even with a small gank group, I expect you'll find this skill useful.

Everything he said. I recently went through what you're going through and let me tell you Cyrodiil does not treat Sub VR14 Nightblades kindly. Once you get around Vet10 however things really open up but it is painful to make the gear investment to keep your damage increasing. every couple levels. I definitely suggest just grinding out your last levels and hit Vet14, you'll be much happier if you do. Save your AP forVet 14 gear.

Some sets to keep an eye out for that I used on my grind to Vet 14.
Skirmisher Vet 6-8, Vet 12-Vet14
Nights Silenced 3-4 pieces crafted
Unassailable rings + neck.Vet 8-11 I think. All bonus to health which you'll want as a NB.

I don't think you should have ambush on both bars. I prefer crit-charge myself and seem to have an easier time killing Ambush nightblades but that is your choice.

Grim focus only gives you +10% Stam regen but it all adds up and its a powerful ability for NBs.