Need help “modernizing” my build!

Tariq9898 · November 12

Hello, I’m getting back into ESO after 8-9 month break and looking to “modernize” my build. It’s now 2 years old.

This is what I’m currently using:

https://hacktheminotaur.com/builds/eso-dragonknight-solo-hybrid-pve-build-firebrand/

Here are some quick details:

Class: hybrid DK (emphasis on Stam)
Mundus: Thief
Attributes: 64 on Stam

Skills: Main hand (2h sword)
- Reverse slice
- stampede
- barbed trap
- dizzying swing
- cauterize
- temporal guard

Backhand (flame staff):
- noxious breath
- elemental blockade
- burning embers
- molten armaments
- volatile armor
- standard of might OR ferocious leap

It utilizes 5 piece Hexos Ward, Burning Spellweave, Maelstrom 2h, and Grothdarr. It’s fire themed.

It’s a solo hybrid DK build. However, it’s now two years old and I’m curious what suggestions y’all would make to bring it up to speed.

I have replaced Agility 2h with Maelstrom due to Stampede. I’ve been thinking of replacing Burning Spellweave with Runecarver Blaze since I heard it might be better??? 🤔🤔

The goal is to create a powerful hybrid solo build that can complete the Spirit Slayer challenge. While still maintaining the 2h/Destro weapons and the Fire themes of DK! And no trial gear, I don’t do trials 😭.

Other than that, I’m completely open to changing up my entire gear set! As well as using certain scribing skill if need be!

I’d like to hear your thoughts. Thank you!

MidniteOwl1913 · November 12

I would check skinny cheeks DPS sets. I use a lot of different sets on my DK because I get bored easily and I'm not chasing BIS. The set that spawns a hunger to attack your enemies is fun, pyrebrand was fun while it lasted. I like Grothdar, it's a good set Zaan is good too.

I used Burning Spellweave for a while, and it's still a good set.

El_Borracho · November 13

There are some crazy DK builds out there now, including Bow/Bow setups. I'd go with skinnycheeks. I happen to like one done by "Charles" on YouTube. Ninjapulls has some good stuff too. All of it needs to be adapted to your gameplay

BasP · November 13

I only play solo so I don't have any BIS (Trial) gear, but with the following setup I could easily do the Vateshran Hollows trifecta and had a 300K score in the previous patch cycle (which is far from a World Record, of course, but not too bad). I have a MagDK instead of a Hybrid, though, but the setup might give you some ideas nonetheless:

If you want to use the 2H skills, I think that you'd get more mileage out of Wrecking Blow than Dizzying Swing considering WB would give you Major Berserk, which increases your damage done by 10%. It would also be nice if you had the bar space for Eruption, considering keeping that skill up would give you 100% uptime on the Mountain's Blessing passive (for Minor Brutality). You could consider replacing Volatile Armor with that skill to see how that works out.

This got me thinking, it might be nice to switch Cauterize for Flames of Oblivion and replace Volatile Armor with Cinder Storm (the healing morph of Eruption). You'd lose Major Resolve, but would gain a good DPS skill as well as a Heal over Time that would proc Mountain's Blessing.

Zodiarkslayer · November 14

Ah man, those @HackTheMinotaur builds are sometimes really messy. And he sometimes overstates the effectiveness of his builds a little. For example that Hexos' Ward on this one will have uptime problems and Burning Spellweave has a 33% inherent downtime, which makes it a bad backbar proc set without even considering the rather short 12 cooldown. Hexos' Ward works well with high crit chance (>60) or two abilities: Puncturing Strikes and Flurry, which have several direct damage attacks per global cooldown, not just one, significantly improving the odds of proccing the shield.

Lets approach this from a different angle. My philosophy is either alleviate the weaknesses or emphasize the strengths if a class. For StamDk it's a little difficult, because you cannot really play 100% to its strengths. Why? Because their is no good poison damage spammable in the game. With scribing you can scribe Smash with poison damage, yes. But it has a 0.6s cast time and is a little unwieldy.

So, I would argue alleviate the weaknesses is the prudent choice.
I would use sets that increase crit chance, crit damage and penetration, because that is where DK is a little weak on its own.
In my opinion that is best resolved by using Tzogvin's Warband and Order's Wrath with Mora's Whispers and a one piece pen line Monster set.

autocookies · November 15

Depends on what your going for, if you want more damage you can for sure optimize that more. If your looking for a more solo survival but with good damage I would consider just doing a 2 bar heavy attack setup and use hardened armor as your main shield (Its a super cheap shield for the value it gives worth more then Igneous Shield at half the cost. Its not hardened ward but for sure lets you trivialize the solo arenas) If you want bars and build setup let me know.

Edit: stam focused with fire theme.. solo.. just reading these now.. could still do a heavy attack build using the 2 handed frontbar and carve as your main shield (I like my shields / heals to match the resource I get back when heavying)

Skills I would not go without: Molten Whip (slotted for buffs also a good spamable), Flames of Oblivion (slotted for buff also usable and looks awesome), Fiery Breath (ether morph prefer mag morph), Searing Strike (ether morph for heals or damage), Standard of Might (Backbar), Ash Cloud (ether morph for heals or damage can use after your blockade to simplify rotation), Molten Armaments (if heavy attack build), and Inhale (Yes slotted and used for how cool it looks after every heavy attack if not using shield)

Hotdog_23 · November 16

Go heavy attack build. Sergeants Mail, dungeon set and orders wrath set which is crafted. Then of course oakensoul ring, one piece slime crawl monster set.

Skills burning embers, nice long dot that also heals. Noxious breath for AOE major breach and another dot. Burning talons, nice short strong dot that is easy to maintain with heavy attack build. Deep breath, nice for that also heals and can interrupt and stun enemies. Plus when surrounded by more enemies the heal can be hugh. Burst heal I use scribing ability, soul burst, healing focus script, signature sage's healing, affix script resolve.

The healing burst skill give a 8k heal with 5500 HOT for 10 seconds and resolve grants minor resolve for 20 seconds.

Standard of might is ultimate I use and can bar Magma shell if the boss fight needs it. Just depends on what you think you need.

Can go heavy or medium armor. Honestly I would go heavy for more resistance. Since it is a solo arena. The only really dps check is the last boss adds. This build has lots of healing. Use thief mundus to get crit over 50% even with 5 pieces of heavy armor.

Rotation is healing burst before fight start, noxious breath to open, burning embers, talons heavy attack, deep breath, heavy attack, talons heavy attack, deep breath, etc. Add noxious breath burning embers and healing burst when needed to keep them up. Pretty simple rotation basically dots and rotate talons, HA, deep breath, HA, back to talons.

Generally use healing burst for the resolve and burst heal you could add a dot to it inside of the hot since the dot is 20 seconds long as well if wanted.

Good luck and stay safe🙂