Some Magicka DK Build Advice/Tips?

Jjitsuboy98 · November 2016

Hello I was wondering if you guys could help me with my DK Build as I am having a real tough time deciding what path to stay with.
One setup I have is 5H/1L/1M Double Sword and Board and I run 5 Seducer/ 5 Trainee / 2 Grothdarr/ Blood Spawn ( Do not have Skoria ). What is your opinion on this build in 1v1s? Open world? I do pretty good with it but sometimes it seems I don't have enough burst. I run the typical Magicka DK that bursts with Meteor/Fossilize combo with front bar being typical DPS and back with buffs etc. Also I cant seem to choose between Grothdarr and Blood Spawn.

I see mainly light armor DKs these days so I have a set that I could run without farming the Silks of the Sun and upping gold weapons again. 5L/1H/1M Dual Wield/Resto Staff 5 Trainee/ 5 Magnus/ 2 Groth/Bloodspawn. My question is/would Magnus be considered a good choice for a set? I really like the Trainee set and do not want to give it up. I could have more damage with Sun and a little more sustain with Magnus but I never see anyone use it so I presumed it was garbage. How does a light armor setup as such compare to the heavy in 1v1s and Open World? Thanks.

CMurder435 · November 2016

So the current gear you listed is pretty solid. I primarily PvP on my magicka dk and most of my set-ups are 5H-1L-1M amd entirely built with solo open-world PvP in mind. I know theres been a few light armor set-ups that are rly beast in 1v1s that have been around for ages..but duels and cyro pvp are two different things imo..heavy suits me better..but with the added sets, consumables, etc.. that One Tamriel brought into the game, I've found some bursty light-armor builds to be really strong.. Just find your playstyle and don't stop trying new things. I mostly play with (Heavy Tavas + 2 BloodSpawn + 5 Sun)
sun 1h & shield with the 3pc sun jewelry.. sometimes double 1h&S and sometimes sun resto on the back bar.. I also play 5 sun, 5 burning spellweaver, 2 skoria/grothdarr.. and i have like 15-20 other builds on top of those.. Keep trying different things and you'll find your preference. Just recognize the distinct difference bw 1v1 and open world pvp bc it's completely different when it comes to mdk gear..at least i find it is.. Best of luck bro.

Brutusmax1mus · November 2016

There's a heavy attack build by Nos that's tons of fun in cyro. Use a lightning staff and watch the hordes melt coming through the breach. Cinder storm , elemental blockade and then heavy attack with lightning destro. Awesome aoe, 70%snare, off balance for 10%more damage, and all at a safe range.

If a tank is using talons at the breach too, go up with him and use deep breath and engulfing flames for even more aoe.

Draven147 · November 2016

I have recently fired up a mDK and I have found a set combo that I really like. 5 sun: 3 jewels 1h weapon and shield paired with 5 rattlecage: Chest, legs, hands, feet and waist. I will be running grothdarr once I get the shoulders. Sustain is an issue with the mDK so on the rings I put recovery glyphs. All buffed up I am just under 30k spell/phys resist and mag regen is around 1450 with 2200 spell damage (sun doesn't show on the character sheet) Max magicka is around 35k, 25k health and 14k stam (with tri-stat food in cyrodiil)

I feel pretty tanky and a little safer running around open world. The gankers can still burst me down but not nearly as fast and I usually have a chance to defend myself.

I suggest that if running heavy go with grothdarr and if light go bloodspawn.

Lokey0024 · November 2016

Draven147 wrote: »

I have recently fired up a mDK and I have found a set combo that I really like. 5 sun: 3 jewels 1h weapon and shield paired with 5 rattlecage: Chest, legs, hands, feet and waist. I will be running grothdarr once I get the shoulders. Sustain is an issue with the mDK so on the rings I put recovery glyphs. All buffed up I am just under 30k spell/phys resist and mag regen is around 1450 with 2200 spell damage (sun doesn't show on the character sheet) Max magicka is around 35k, 25k health and 14k stam (with tri-stat food in cyrodiil)

I feel pretty tanky and a little safer running around open world. The gankers can still burst me down but not nearly as fast and I usually have a chance to defend myself.

I suggest that if running heavy go with grothdarr and if light go bloodspawn.

This is my setup with sun defending resto/sword and shield. I run all spell dmg tho so i try to resto attack after initially doting up attackers. Still get zerged down like a wolf in cyrodiil

Lokey0024 · November 2016

N stuff

AverageJo3Gam3r · November 2016

With 1HS light armor is not a loss in tankiness, IMO. Made the switch this patch and didn't notice any difference. Seducers is a sustain setup. I don't think it's necessary anymore. Trainee allows you to run the witches festival mag recovery food instead of tristat food. This gives you the sustain you need to drop seducers for a dps set. Kags, julianos, suns, and burning spellweave are popular sets.

As a mDK, you'll need to time your burst. Keep engulfing or embers up, and play conservative until grothdar procs. Then go for a deep breath+talons+meteor+fossilize+flame lash combo. Meteor alone isn't enough. You need to layer these extra damage sources at the same time.

MDKs are in a much better place now. With a better self heal or means of escape (I want minor expedition on wings for 4 seconds), mDKs will be golden.

Rohaus · November 2016

After farming for a week... I run 5 piece Lich, 5 piece Rattlecage, 2 piece Groth. I tried out 5 piece Desert Rose instead of Lich... Lich, in my experience, is far superior to Desert Rose.

Just have to be mindful of the Lich proc and not accidentally use it prior to engagement.

If the buff to Dragon Blood is good enough, I will be switching Destro staff + 1HS.

Jjitsuboy98 · November 2016

Here lately I have swapped from heavy to light 5 kags 5 Trainee 2 valkn skoria. Dual wield resto. The damage difference is pretty considerable. I can burst people so much better. 5 Sun prob be better than 5 kags but i really don't feel like farming impenetrable traits forever at the moment.

AverageJo3Gam3r · November 2016

@Jjitsuboy98 you can find silks gear at guild traders and the price has dropped quite a bit, even for impen. I completed my set for about 10k per piece.

iseko · November 2016

I was wondering how viable this would be:
5 piece burning spellweave
5 piece silks of the sun
Grothdar, lord warden or engine guardian, depending... But would prefer grothdar.

5L 1M 1H

All impen

Dualwield offense bar, either S&B or resto on defense. All weapon traits defending.

With major resolve/ward you can get past 20k resist (both physical and spell). You would have the sustain through 5 piece light (and possible resto staff). Could add some recovery jewelry if needed. If not go spell dmg. Full impen also helps survivability. Spell pen and crit comes from light armor. Choose mundus based on preference. DKs have some nice self heals.

Get magicka and health up to 30k. Preferred race is dark elf. (Fire dmg buff)

But why I'd like this so much is basically that fire spells (dots) proc both sun and spellweave. Increasing spell dmg with 1k. With 30k magicka and unbuffed spell power of 2.5k... Dmg could be nice I think.

Was just poundering about this. Not sure how viable the base idea of 5L stacking resist through defending is...

Jjitsuboy98 · November 2016

iseko wrote: »

I was wondering how viable this would be:
5 piece burning spellweave
5 piece silks of the sun
Grothdar, lord warden or engine guardian, depending... But would prefer grothdar.

5L 1M 1H

All impen

Dualwield offense bar, either S&B or resto on defense. All weapon traits defending.

With major resolve/ward you can get past 20k resist (both physical and spell). You would have the sustain through 5 piece light (and possible resto staff). Could add some recovery jewelry if needed. If not go spell dmg. Full impen also helps survivability. Spell pen and crit comes from light armor. Choose mundus based on preference. DKs have some nice self heals.

Get magicka and health up to 30k. Preferred race is dark elf. (Fire dmg buff)

But why I'd like this so much is basically that fire spells (dots) proc both sun and spellweave. Increasing spell dmg with 1k. With 30k magicka and unbuffed spell power of 2.5k... Dmg could be nice I think.

Was just poundering about this. Not sure how viable the base idea of 5L stacking resist through defending is...

I usually prefer 40k plus of magicka. And after a full few nights in light armor/ dual world/ restore staff I have just decided it's not my thing. The damage is great but on a Magicka DK I just don't have the mobility to survive long and I was getting demolished. I went back to my heavy setup and have more success being able to hold block up like the old days and rely on mist form and ultimates. I haven't really tried light armor with one hand and shield but the stamina back on 5 heavy is useful.

brandonv516 · November 2016

Damage bar
Sharp Resto Sun staff

Block n' buff bar
Wyrd tree defending 1h + Sun shield

Sun waist and gloves
Wyrd tree chest, legs, boots
Skoria helm + shoulders
Sun jewelry

36K magicka
20K health
14K stamina
1500 magicka recovery
2700 spell damage (counting weapon buff + major sorcery) more with Sun buff on flame attacks

Your preference on armor traits but should have at least 3 to 4 impenetrable I feel.

Wyrd tree loses some damage to rattlecage but it provides a bit more sustain and a purge when you switch bars. Downside is the purge is every 15 seconds. Other downside is that not many people are selling Wyrd tree (xbox) so you have to do the leg work and get it.

Like any set it's not going to produce any miracles - that's on you.

Kinetic_Rage · November 2016

I run 5 light, 2 heavy. 5 seducers, 5 Rattlcage with mainly Duel Destro. 5 Elegance makes a monster heavy attack with the inferno staff. Makes for a fun stealth vampire, leaping from stealth into a middle of enemies and mist out when I need too. Making sure to pop green dragon blood for for stam regen during mist form