Sorcerer is disappointing - what class offers better mage play?

Jorotarr · January 2016

So I started off with a Sorc, and having tried several builds, none of them are too appeasing. Right now I am having some mild fun with Dark Magic, Daedra Summoning, and Destro. I was going for the typical glass cannon robes and staff kind of build, but it's not working out very well. I am bored with Sorcerer. I am really interested in some sort of a Blood Mage build, one of my favorite classes from Vanguard was the Blood Mage. I also like heavy DOT builds, like the WoW Warlock, but I haven't found that in the Sorcerer line of skills either. So far a lot of the Sorcerer skills aren't much like a mage I am wanting to play. So what class would work best for either a DOT damage, or a Blood Mage class?

Alucardo · January 2016

Sounds like Magicka Nightblade might be up your street. They rely on sucking the life force out of their opponents in order to heal themselves. Two of their abilities are very common with Vampires

- Swallow soul is kind of like Drain essence, in the fact that it damages the enemies health while restoring their own
- Soul Tether is kinda like bats because it drains health while restoring theirs and works as an AoE

You could probably do some theorycrafting to come up with a fun Blood Mage build around this spec.

Edit: I forgot to mention, if you wanted a DoT, they have one called Cripple. You shoot a red mist that travels along the ground hitting your opponent. It deals damage over time, reduces their speed and increases your own.

Junkogen · January 2016

Google "blood mage ESO". There's already a build for you. Like the previous post said, it's a lot of siphoning abilities. Although, it's not as strong burat DPS as a magicka Sorc, I think it has more sustain with DoTs and HoTs. Sap essence is a really great AOE ability. Yeah, definitely check out the siphoning skill line of Nightblade and see if that grabs you.

Curragraigue · January 2016

Magicka DK maybe? Searing strike applies a DoT that gives a heal at the end. Eruption has an instant damage and snare over time. Burning Talons is an AoE DoT with cc.

Just remember it is a different game if you come in with rigid expectations you are likely to be disappointed.

FriedEggSandwich · January 2016

Sorc is very pew pew in eso. They do hardened glass cannon really well. Hardened Ward will help you to achieve this. But if you don't like the play style then, as someone else said, magicka nightblade, or even magicka DK for the dots.

dday3six · January 2016

Magicka NB is often considered a Blood Mage of sorts. Their main single target and AOE skills used in PVE deal damage and heal. Magicka DK is very DOT focused, but their main elemetal damage is fire. Keep in mind most builds Magicka or Stamina will make sure of 2 or more DOTs when they are concerned with optimal damage output.

ADarklore · January 2016

I'm loving my Magicka Nightblade much more than my Magicka Sorc for PvE solo content. Using Swallow Soul for single target DPS and Sap Essence for mobs, it definitely has the Blood Mage feel. There are many other skills in the Nightblade siphon line that can be used with the Blood Mage build.

Samphaa · January 2016

A high elf sorc was my first character and a couple of weeks ago I finally got him completely maxed out. He's an absolute monster, I love him.

I did however want to try something different over the christmas holidays so went for magic nightblade and I just can't get along with it. I've got up to vet 6 but I'm just not enjoying it half as much as my sorc. It's like you need enemies around to have any buffs. You can't self buff like you can with a sorc (power surge, boundless storm etc...) I also don't like how most of the skills are all like a red mist, you can't actually see them properly or feel them hit if that makes sense. It's all just red air.

found1779 · January 2016

Great wasn't bad enough i was saying a stamina sorcerer isn't good now someone is saying even the magicka side isn't omg zos show sorcerers some attention you might start by making more stamina morphs for stamina sorcerers that would be a good start

ADarklore · January 2016

Samphaa wrote: »

I did however want to try something different over the christmas holidays so went for magic nightblade and I just can't get along with it. I've got up to vet 6 but I'm just not enjoying it half as much as my sorc. It's like you need enemies around to have any buffs. You can't self buff like you can with a sorc (power surge, boundless storm etc...) I also don't like how most of the skills are all like a red mist, you can't actually see them properly or feel them hit if that makes sense. It's all just red air.

That is how I felt with my first attempt at a Magicka Nightblade... it just didn't feel right being an assassin-type character wielding a staff. But with my new character, I see him more as a Blood Mage, and the red mist with the siphoning ability fits so much better. Self-Buff you have with Sap Essence, all you have to do is hit ONE enemy to gain the buff, but I don't need to rely on crits to heal with it unlike Power Surge. I use Mirage as my equivalent to Boundless Storm... but interesting how you complain about the red mist yet Boundless Storm turns you into a blur of electricity.

Between Swallow Soul and Sap Essence, I destroy everything while also using evading techniques (Dark Cloak, Mirage), gap closer (Lotus Fan), debuff (Reaping Mark), heal and speed buff (Refreshing Path), and finisher (Impale)... just a blast to play. It is definitely a LOT more active compared to my Magicka Sorc. With my Magicka Sorc I'd simply let my Clannfear draw aggro while I sat in the background destroying everything from range... there is only so much, Velocious Curse... Mage's Wrath... Mage's Wrath... Mage's Wrath... Crystal Frag... a person can take before they go insane.

Anzriel · January 2016

found1779 wrote: »

Great wasn't bad enough i was saying a stamina sorcerer isn't good now someone is saying even the magicka side isn't omg zos show sorcerers some attention you might start by making more stamina morphs for stamina sorcerers that would be a good start

Magicka sorc is very good in pvp, and in pve in fights where the boss burns before overload runs out. The issue with magicka sorc is that if the next trials have longer fights as is rumored then sorc will end up being behind in group pve. Solo pve and most pvp you can do well with a sorc. Although we'll see if they plan to do anything with shield before that can really say how they'll be in the future.

For the "blood mage" style the closest would be a magicka nightblade. For a dot class, dragonknight is a dot class, but it is also a short-mid ranged class, you'll be keeping up dots while spamming whip mostly in pve.

Septimus_Magna · January 2016

Sorc is the strongest magicka class if played right, you just need to store 1000 ultimate and unleash Overload light attacks while screaming:

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Brrrofski · January 2016

found1779 wrote: »

Great wasn't bad enough i was saying a stamina sorcerer isn't good now someone is saying even the magicka side isn't omg zos show sorcerers some attention you might start by making more stamina morphs for stamina sorcerers that would be a good start

No, he just doesn't like how they play. There's a difference

Flameheart · January 2016

Playing a V16 magicka NB in group, pledge and trial content and leveling up my V14 sorcerer right now, I have to admit, that nothing will beat the playstyle and feeling of a magicka NB at moment, but my little magicka sorc follows my NB closely and will be my second favorite for sure.

DannyLV702 · January 2016

That head title offends my sorc man lol

aLi3nZ · January 2016

Sourcer is awesome once you get it leveled and geared properly. Depends on what style you want but I have got 5 light 2 heavy with balanced focus on both sustain and dps. I have played as tank before a couple times and solo'd desgeon bosses. Power surge used for healing only since everyone including healer died. So 63% crit rating with mage light and proced crystal frags or overload light attacks shoot my health right back up to full.

stefano.conigliob16_ESO · February 2016

Septimus_Magna wrote: »

Sorc is the strongest magicka class if played right, you just need to store 1000 ultimate and unleash Overload light attacks while screaming:

I *hate* overload. Hate it, hate it, hate it. It looks like CRAP. Feels like crap when casting. Utterly awful.

Xeven · February 2016

Sorcerer is disappointing

Autolycus · February 2016

Xeven wrote: »

Sorcerer is disappointing

james.resnerb14_ESO · February 2016

Joromarr wrote: »

one of my favorite classes from Vanguard was the Blood Mage.

Oh Vanguard...

How I miss you so.

My Raki Disciple was my favorite MMO character of all time. VG also had the best Bard class of any MMO by a gazillion miles..

R.I.P.

DannyLV702 · February 2016

ZOS should use this thread title as advice and BUFF sorcs!!!!

aLi3nZ · February 2016

Sourcs got pet buffs as well as better counters for cloaking. While I hate pets and the fact it takes 2 slots and doesn't do what you want half the time. I hate restro staffs even more so

Reevster · February 2016

Ya love my Dark Elf magic NB.... everything "feels" quicker/faster then my Sorc, plus the 7 percent fire damage bonus passive from Dark Elf comes in handy with staff fire based skills.