Best class/build for an Argonian?

Hoylegu

Hi all,

I want to roll an Argonian (it's clear to me now that they are the master race), but their racials don't seem to excel at anything.

Any tips what best class/weapon/role/builkd to pick for an Argonian?

Thanks!

PBpsy

Slave to a Dunmer.

Dayv

Play the role you want to play. If, for example, you're passionate about being an argonian sorceror you'll find a way to do it better than someone who picks being an altmer sorceror vampire because that's what they think is the most OP spec this week.

williambbechtoldub17_ESO

That's easy, a DK using Destruction Staff and Restoration staff.

KhajiitiLizard

Racial passives don't really matter that much, just play the class you want.

Jimm_ay

gets a decent bonus from reso staff - might be a good sorc/healer or templar..but honestly play what you want...a Argo DK would be fine.

apterous

nightblade with bow as a true shadowscale.

Hoylegu

apterous wrote: »

nightblade with bow as a true shadowscale.

Oooh, I like this, might give it a go, thanks.

Dayv

apterous wrote: »

nightblade with bow as a true shadowscale.

I play a nightblade. I wanted to be an archer type character, ranger rather than rogue thinking NB was probably the best class to adapt for this but when I got to VR, I just found that bows are currently not up to the job and NBs have tons of issues and just couldn't survive bow specced.

Winterstrife

Dayv wrote: »

apterous wrote: »

nightblade with bow as a true shadowscale.

I play a nightblade. I wanted to be an archer type character, ranger rather than rogue thinking NB was probably the best class to adapt for this but when I got to VR, I just found that bows are currently not up to the job and NBs have tons of issues and just couldn't survive bow specced.

I'm playing a Bow/DW Nightblade, there is little room for error DW-ing compared to using Bows. So maybe you are doing something wrong? Try using more crowd control abilities like Crippling Grasp (Siphoning skill line) and Volcanic Rune (Mage's Guild skill line) if you are using a stamina based build its probably best you try a magicka based one (I did that switch & it worked out better than expected).

tinythinker

There isn't a single best class/build, but anyone wanting to maximize Argonian passives can try to do so within each class:

Dragonknight

A heavy tanking support build with One Handed and Shield and a Restoration Staff. Tanks benefit from a large amount of health and Argonian Resistance confers a 1/2/3% bonus to maximum health. The Heavy Armor passive Constitution adds 2%/4% health regeneration while the Elder Dragon passive under Draconic Powder adds 2%/5% health regeneration, which together compliment the Argonian emphasis on having a large health pool and gaining health back quickly.The HA passive Rapid Mending gives a bonus of 0.5%/1% to healing received per number of pieces worn while the Burning Heart passive (also under Draconic Power) adds 6%/12% to healing received when an ability from that skill line is active. Both of these stack with the Argonian passive Quick to Mend (2%/4%/6% extra healing received), and the healing received stat has no cap.

The One-Handed and Shield line works well with the point black AoE of the Dragonknight class and is also complimented by the HA passives Juggernaut and Bracing. The Restoration Staff works nicely to compliment existing self-healing from the Dragonknight’s Draconic Power skill line and is also useful in group play. Again, the bonus to health totals and healing received for Argonians makes all of this more effective.

Templar

I can also see a case for a similar build with a light-tank Templar using the following morphs in the Restoring Light skill line: Rushed Ceremony –> Honor the Dead (the added magicka is important with no Argonian racial bonus for this stat), Healing Ritual –> Ritual of Rebirth (further buffing the racial bonus for healing received), Restoring Aura –> Repentance (adds regen for stamina and for health further buffing the racial bonus for health regeneration and making up for no racial stamina bonus, especially useful for being in Heavy Armor with One-Handed + Shield as the primary weapon), and Rune Focus –> Channeled Focus (to make up for lack of a racial bonus for magicka in a spell heavy build, but the increased buff to healing received complimenting the racial bonus could be a good choice for staying power).

In the Aedric Spear skill line the Spear Shards –> Luminous Shards morph also helps out the lack of racial bonuses to Stamina and Magicka for a build that will need good amounts of both, and the Spear Wall passive compliments both the armor and (primary) weapon selection. Basically the idea is to compliment/maximize the utility of the Argonian racials to keep the character alive and to choose passives/morphs to keep the character active with effects/abilities. Not flashy and not much capacity for rapid high damage bursts but rather more of a work horse/yeoman kind of approach.

Sorcerer

I see some possible advantages for an Argonian as Sorcerer, since the class gives everyone myriad magicka bonuses, but Heavy Armor doesn’t seem like a good option here given a need to get all the extra magicka (regeneration) possible, so that complementarity is reduced or eliminated. The Daedric Summoning skill line does have the Daedric Protection passive to boost/compliment the increased health regeneration of Argonians, and the Dark Magic skill line has the Blood Magic passive to boost a fixed percent of the character’s health (which has a higher cap for Argonians so they could receive “more” health points), but that’s about it. Not to suggest an Argonian Sorcerer wouldn’t be fun or effective, I’m just not seeing as much to take advantage of in terms of the innate Argonian traits.

Nightblade

Looking superficially at an Argonian as Nightblade, I know that some people have mentioned using Heavy Armor with this class (bringing in that choice’s complementarity to Argonian racial traits), and like Sorcerer and magicka any race gains stamina bonuses as a Nightblade. Beyond that some skill line abilities and passives look promising.

Under the Assassination skill line, the Assassin’s Blade –> Killer’s Blade morph heals the character for a fixed percentage of maximum health (again the health cap is higher for Argonians) and the reduction to health received for using the Death Stroke ultimate ability is somewhat mitigated by the bonus to health received by Argonians (not much, but it’s better than nothing).

The Path of Darkness –> Refreshing Path morph under the Shadow skill line heals the player every second, so Argonian health (regeneration, received) bonuses apply.

The Siphoning skill line, though, is where the complementarity with Argonian traits really take off. The passives alone are well suited to Argonians: Catalyst boosts potion effectiveness (Argonian’s receive this with Amphibious so if you add in potion boosting armor enchantments this stat explodes) and Soul Siphoner boosts healing received from this skill line (adding to the general healing received bonus for Argonians). That same Argonian bonus for healing received (Quick to Mend) combines with the Strife –> Swallow Soul and Siphoning Strikes –> Leeching Strikes morphs to further boost healing received.

Summary

To be clear, these aren't necessarily the "best" builds you can make with an Argonian. You don't have to try for the possible synergy with every skill line, like the connection between heavy armor and health/healing, and for that example you might be better off in some cases with light armor instead. I have one Argonian that wears mostly heavy/some light armor, and one in all light armor. What is offered above are just some of the more obvious ways that you can try to take maximum advantage of Argonian racial traits in conjunction with various skill lines. The Argonian traits will be of use with any build, but they will be utilized more fully when used in combination with certain skills and gear.

tinythinker

Or I guess to summarize, Argonians fit well with the tanky/supportish side of any class.

Night_Child

Shadowscale Build:

https://youtu.be/9X2YhRhEIBQ

Lysette

Now I am happy to see, that someone else than me sees something good in the racial passive which is related to potion usage. I think as well that it is a pretty good racial passive and it is unique - you pointed out pretty well why that is,.

Takes-No-Prisoner

Nightblade argonains are pretty awesome. Their passives have good syngery with the NB skill tree. The siphoning tree, as someone already mention, is great for us. The champion points into Quick Recovery makes it super easy for healers to heal us. In conjunction with heavy armors healing passive, we become pretty formidable to take down. Also lets not forget NB shadow barrier passive has synergy with heavy armor. Plus when we drink a potion we get ultimate from the catalyst passive. Aside from that, you'd just need to make sure you have an alchemist ready to make potions. It is pretty easy to do.

eserras7b16_ESO

Hoylegu wrote: »

apterous wrote: »

nightblade with bow as a true shadowscale.

Oooh, I like this, might give it a go, thanks.

Wich would not make you competitive, to use the 9% healing received you've got on the passives try Magicka NB or Magicka Templar.

Jar_Ek

Try an Argonian stamina sorcerer. The healing comes from critical surge and is boosted by Quick to Mend; and a Clannfear gives a 35% health heal which is boosted by Quick to Mend (and by the health bonuses). You can tank up with a mix of hvy + med (needed for crit), use a 2h won for damage and self heals and then choose your offhand (sword+shield, bow, dw - whichever you like).

eserras7b16_ESO

Okay listen. Dunmer vs Argonian

Nobody in this chat seems to realize or acknowledge the mechanics of this game. 9% more magicka means A LOT more damage, something like 3k DPS increase? See where I am going?

9% Healing recieved = 9% Healing recieved (Genius)
9% Magicka = 9% more mana pool + 9% more damage + 9% more healing received (since you use abilities wich heal you based on damage done) + the more champion points you have, the more magicka you get from the passive.
I know what i said isn't 100% accurate but just an idea.

I know you people love your argonian, I love my argonian aswel, since the game is skill based mostly, I've been able to complete everything the game has thrown to me (even vMSA) still, Argonian is way under the other racial passives. Magicka Templar using puncturing sweeps or magicka NB are good builds for an Argonian since they benefit from the passives, but this doesn't mean a dunmer is not going to be better. There's still a lot to be done, tell the developers you want balanced racial passives, Argonian is not balanced yet.


A guy above us defended the following: Argonian swiming passive is usefull, but Dunmer Fire resist passive is useless.

Don't give credit to him please. Sorcerers do fire damage, Daedras do fire damage, Dragonknights do fire damage, some templars do aswel, some magicka NB's do fire damage depending on skills they're using, infinite habilities in this game are fire damage based, having 7% reduction on these means 7% less damage recieved in many situations in both PvP and PvE. Stating this passive is useless made my eyes cry, it is a good passive, and the swiming speed won't help you in instanced PvE or PvP (Because in pvp water has slaughter fish in it so it's suicide trying to flee swiming on them)

We're left with more Health,

Well, not bad for solo I guess thou this limits our DPS capacities a lot.

Takes-No-Prisoner

Not necessarily true @eserras7b16_ESO about the bodies of water in pvp. There are small pounds and canals we can travel in. The areas we cannot swim is the lake around Imperil City and the river running south between Castle Alessia and Castle Bloodmayne. Everything else is swimmable.

Zerok

You probably would want to take a NB, because that potion passive will complement your own racial potion passive.

Add potion speed enchants to that and you will have potion-based build

RenhardtESO

I love my argonian templar healer. I don't really go for the whole passive thing. He heals hard and hits like a truck. And as long as you do your build right, MP will rarely be an issue. Just play the way you like

lathbury

magicka nb either healing or dps with new alchemist gear setup

istateres

I have an Argonian Templar, DK, and NB. I do not have an Argonian Sorc.

I would avoid a Sorc. Any role (Tank, DPS, Heals) can work, so I think that comes down to what YOU (the OP) wants to play.

Your build should fit the role you select.

A) Tank - Templar or DK
DPS - Templar or NB (maybe DK)
C) Heals - Templar or DK

Enjoy!

ThatNeonZebraAgain

Argonians actually make excellent tanks thanks to the stat restore on potion use and bonuses to health and healing received. The healing received passive stacks well with those from classes that also have ways to boost healing received, which are mainly DK and NB. No matter the class, it's also worth noting that magicka builds make the most of healing received bonuses since healing scales with magicka/spell power. Bigger heals to begin with means you get more out of those +healing received bonuses.

I've been playing an Argonian NB tank for nearly 2 years (currently magicka-focused). There's a reason it's been my only main character.

HaldaAinur

Think about your play-style, are you a healer, dps, dd, or tank? Or will you switch between two? Base your class on that if that's easiest. Or just go with whatever seems like the most fun.

Start getting an idea of the type of character you want to play in terms of style and personality. It may not mean much to you, but it irks me if I have a character who is generally quite religious using dark magic and such- I just like to have their personality reflected through their style of fighting as well.

Defense v offense, comes into what role you want, and the skill-lines and their morphs.

Alliance; are you going to be a traditional argonian who worships sithis, or do you want something a little different? Maybe this will affect your style of fighting as well.

Now you've got a class and alliance, check out some builds for reference, and see if there's anything you like. However, don't be afraid to stray from generic builds (as useful as they are), and have fun with it.

Night_Child

Lysette wrote: »

Now I am happy to see, that someone else than me sees something good in the racial passive which is related to potion usage. I think as well that it is a pretty good racial passive and it is unique - you pointed out pretty well why that is,.

Ty, I appreciate the response. I'm not really biased toward any class, so I tend to do a lot of research and experiment on a race/class that gets little love to see if I can make something work. Thanks again!

laksikus

best class: fish
best build: i wonder if fiords makes you swim faster too.

try to swim acros the see to IC in cyrodiil

Night_Child

eserras7b16_ESO wrote: »

Okay listen. Dunmer vs Argonian

Nobody in this chat seems to realize or acknowledge the mechanics of this game. 9% more magicka means A LOT more damage, something like 3k DPS increase? See where I am going?

9% Healing recieved = 9% Healing recieved (Genius)
9% Magicka = 9% more mana pool + 9% more damage + 9% more healing received (since you use abilities wich heal you based on damage done) + the more champion points you have, the more magicka you get from the passive.
I know what i said isn't 100% accurate but just an idea.

I know you people love your argonian, I love my argonian aswel, since the game is skill based mostly, I've been able to complete everything the game has thrown to me (even vMSA) still, Argonian is way under the other racial passives. Magicka Templar using puncturing sweeps or magicka NB are good builds for an Argonian since they benefit from the passives, but this doesn't mean a dunmer is not going to be better. There's still a lot to be done, tell the developers you want balanced racial passives, Argonian is not balanced yet.


A guy above us defended the following: Argonian swiming passive is usefull, but Dunmer Fire resist passive is useless.

Don't give credit to him please. Sorcerers do fire damage, Daedras do fire damage, Dragonknights do fire damage, some templars do aswel, some magicka NB's do fire damage depending on skills they're using, infinite habilities in this game are fire damage based, having 7% reduction on these means 7% less damage recieved in many situations in both PvP and PvE. Stating this passive is useless made my eyes cry, it is a good passive, and the swiming speed won't help you in instanced PvE or PvP (Because in pvp water has slaughter fish in it so it's suicide trying to flee swiming on them)

We're left with more Health,

Well, not bad for solo I guess thou this limits our DPS capacities a lot.

First and foremost, I urge you to learn how to read. I said, "I just exposed a Dunmer's racial 100% useless against other PvP players assuming s/he went Vampire." I never posted anything about swim speed vs fire damage. If I made you cry the first time, then get a load of this. I'm going to repeat myself and see if anyone can get it this time around. A Dunmer vs. Argonian. Dunmer and their fire damage, both resist and additional are useless when fighting my Argonian. Dunmer are resistant to FIRE, NOT MAGIC. Dunmer do additional FIRE damage, Argonians can heal past that. I rendered their passive ability as smoke screen and got past it and you got mad at me for it? You started crying? Lmao...wow. You want to talk about 9%. It's good, especially when levels are low and/or CP are scarce. It's simple math, use a calculator, or is your math as bad as your English?

Furthermore, you beg people not to give credit to someone who just bypassed the use of fire and went in another direction and found, yet, another way to slaughter vampires and Dunmer alike. I have nothing against Dunmer aside from their lore, but they have good passives. I, meaning me, just rendered them useless. If everyone rolled a magika NB the way I do, meaning they use NO fire abilities and only abilities that sap/siphon health and hit HARD while doing so and NEVER running low on magika, can you imagine how pathetic you'll feel defending a Dunmer class that needs no defending? People use fire abilities. I don't. All in all, I have NO problem disposing of Dunmer and other races alike. Point, blank, period. YOU need to not get butt hurt because I found away around a certain races passives. Instead, take a pen and pad and take notes. You might need to learn how to read first and not copy paste what you WANT to read the wrong way. Also that comment about Dunmer being left with more health was ignorant. Since we are talking about racial passives, Argonian Resistance + Quick to Mend means the life siphoning Argonian magika NB that hit's like a truck will be left with more health.

Nice try though...well, not really, but still.

Night_Child

ThatNeonZebraAgain wrote: »

Argonians actually make excellent tanks thanks to the stat restore on potion use and bonuses to health and healing received. The healing received passive stacks well with those from classes that also have ways to boost healing received, which are mainly DK and NB. No matter the class, it's also worth noting that magicka builds make the most of healing received bonuses since healing scales with magicka/spell power. Bigger heals to begin with means you get more out of those +healing received bonuses.

I've been playing an Argonian NB tank for nearly 2 years (currently magicka-focused). There's a reason it's been my only main character.

laksikus wrote: »

best class: fish
best build: i wonder if fiords makes you swim faster too.

try to swim acros the see to IC in cyrodiil

Lmao, that was random...and pointless. Where are you going with that? I think it's funny how almost everyone brings PvP into the mix when his initial post said nothing bout swimming in Cyrodiil. Oh my...smh.

Junkogen

Be warned. Potion-based builds are expensive. It takes time to collect all those materials or get gold to buy mats. Just starting out, probably not the best idea. Now, later when you have extra gold lying around,then it's not so bad.

Also, there really is no comparison between a Dunmer and Argonian for a magicka build. Dunmer is a way better choice to min/max. Argonian really doesn't excel in the game's current meta. I appreciated that guy's attempt to sell the Argonians' passives against a Dunmer. Dunmer gets more benefit from their max stat passive because the meta supports putting all your attribute points into magicka or stamina. 9% of 30-40k is more than the 9% of 20 or so k of health. For example 9% for 20000 is 1800. 9% of 30000 is 2700 and 9% of 40000 is 3600. See? Dunmer passive is better.

Night_Child

ThatNeonZebraAgain wrote: »

Argonians actually make excellent tanks thanks to the stat restore on potion use and bonuses to health and healing received. The healing received passive stacks well with those from classes that also have ways to boost healing received, which are mainly DK and NB. No matter the class, it's also worth noting that magicka builds make the most of healing received bonuses since healing scales with magicka/spell power. Bigger heals to begin with means you get more out of those +healing received bonuses.

I've been playing an Argonian NB tank for nearly 2 years (currently magicka-focused). There's a reason it's been my only main character.

They make awesome tanks.