Is there an effective magic build without using staffs?

TheDarkShadow

I want to make a nightblade using light armour (because I like the outfit), so magic build it is. But I don't want to fight with a walking stick. Is there an effective magical build with light armour, dual-wield and bow? I use bow mostly for the immersion so it doesn't really matter if it does any damage. I could use it just for buff bar or something. I figured most of the skills would be on Nightblade lines, and Mage guild line (because I don't use staff so no staff skills). But as I understand if you use physical weapons, your light/heavy attacks will base on your stam attribute, and because light/heavy attacks add a lots in dps, so without a staff, your dps will be much much lower. Even worst, all the skills in physical weapons also base on stam so it's not effective to use them either. I don't need a "min/max build" but at least good enough to handle world boss and anchors alone. Thank you.

DeanTheCat

Short Answer: No

Long Answer: It is not possible to make a magicka based Nightblade that isn't reliant on some form of staff, as you'll need a Restoration Staff to close your wounds. You'll be dead pretty quickly if you don't have some form of decent self-healing (And no, Strife doesn't count).

TheDarkShadow

Thank you. It's kind of sad because I thought the idea of building character in this game is you could choose any armour, weapon and class you want. Hopefully ZOS can change it in the future, maybe add magicka morph options to physical weapons.

SienneYviete

Absolutely you can, duel wield actually gives you higher spell damage which also boosts your healing, magicka nightblades have plenty of class based self heals refreshing path, strife, mark target, you can also use entropy from the mages guild line. With high spell damage these heals work extremely well, alot of players underestimate the power of heal over time spells especially on a spell damage stacking build. The only thing you don't have is a big on call burst heal which honestly if you have good maneuverabilty from cloak and concealed weapon you won't need.

DeanTheCat

SienneYviete wrote: »

Absolutely you can, duel wield actually gives you higher spell damage which also boosts your healing, magicka nightblades have plenty of class based self heals refreshing path, strife, mark target, you can also use entropy from the mages guild line. With high spell damage these heals work extremely well, alot of players underestimate the power of heal over time spells especially on a spell damage stacking build. The only thing you don't have is a big on call burst heal which honestly if you have good maneuverabilty from cloak and concealed weapon you won't need.

Until you meet someone who blocks 24/7 or someone who uses Wards (Like most Sorcs). Your strife will then return very low healing (Blocking) or nothing at all (Wards). Maybe in PvE, they may work, but in PvP where movement and mobility is king along with most players using Block or Wards, you'll be dead quite quickly if you just rely on NB class based heals.

TheDarkShadow

Well I mostly roleplay and pve with this character so it really doesn't matter in pvp. I just want a build that strong enough to solo pve world boss and anchors, maybe do some dungeons now and then. How about other classes? Is there any class with self-heal skills that can cover the restoration staff?

About DW and 2H give more spell damage than staffs, I've heard of it but still a bit confused. Do light/heavy attack of weapons depend on stam/magic attribute?

DeanTheCat

You'll want a Dragonknight or Templar for that. Dragonknights have Dragon Blood, whereas Templars have Rushed Ceremony.

Besides, Nightblade class-based HoTs aren't going to save you when you get hit by multiple heavy attacks from mobs and you need that panic button heal to save you. Which if you are going to try to solo any of the multi-player content, you will inevitably meet.

Weapon Damage from weapons are directly translated into spell damage, so a Sword that has 1000 weapon damage will also give 1000 spell damage when equipped. 2h and DW have higher base Weapon Damage, so that translates into more Spell Damage.

TheDarkShadow

DeanTheCat wrote: »

You'll want a Dragonknight or Templar for that. Dragonknights have Dragon Blood, whereas Templars have Rushed Ceremony.

Besides, Nightblade class-based HoTs aren't going to save you when you get hit by multiple heavy attacks from mobs and you need that panic button heal to save you. Which if you are going to try to solo any of the multi-player content, you will inevitably meet.

Weapon Damage from weapons are directly translated into spell damage, so a Sword that has 1000 weapon damage will also give 1000 spell damage when equipped. 2h and DW have higher base Weapon Damage, so that translates into more Spell Damage.

Thank you.

So it mean no matter what build I'm using, magic or stam, the light/heavy attack only effected by weapons' damage, right?

DeanTheCat

Nope.

Spell Damage + Maximum Magicka:
- Destruction Stave
- Restoration Stave

Weapon Damage + Maximum Stamina:
- Dual Wield
- Sword and Shield
- Two Handed
- Bow

SienneYviete

You're misinformed test it... I have, dual wield and 2h give higher spell Damage than staves.
For instace the two highest spell damage nightblade and sorc builds dont use staves they use dual wield. To answer the op if you go this way your light attacks hit like a wet noodle however your class based magicka skills are higher powered

PBpsy

TheDarkShadow wrote: »

Well I mostly roleplay and pve with this character so it really doesn't matter in pvp. I just want a build that strong enough to solo pve world boss and anchors, maybe do some dungeons now and then. How about other classes? Is there any class with self-heal skills that can cover the restoration staff?

About DW and 2H give more spell damage than staffs, I've heard of it but still a bit confused. Do light/heavy attack of weapons depend on stam/magic attribute?

For that yes you can although It would be very presumptuous for you to expect to be accepted in a Vet dungeon PUG.With a group of friends that will put up with you .Yes . You will not have much chance in pvp.

As end game damage dealers magicka NB are in pretty bad position at the moment even when they try to optimize their builds. We only get close to the top DPS trough a very involved and precise play style which involves destruction staff light and meddium attack weaving and DOT staking.

We supposedly have utility from of heals and from our veil of blades use. The true is that it is more like futility since those HOTS are many times useless over heals and Veils use drops our dps even lower. I have recently got to max level with a Templar and without the effort i put into my day one NB I can get close damage and I have Breath of life which is true save the group from wiping now kind of utility. Plus some other great buffs and synergies.

For a build that will take you trough the game.
I would recommend going Sword and shield + 2W . The bow is not useful at all for you not even a little bit.
I recommend getting 2 heavy gear pieces. You can get a Light armor look with a light Daedric armor Skirt. Put Heavy on head and Chest.Use a Seducer Set.

Funnel health, Syphoning attacks,Sap Essence, Will be your main friends. If you have these one with Sword and shield you can actually do all solo content and solo most vet dolmens easily. There will be some problem on some dolmen generals but that is true for most builds.

Other things you will use
-Annulment- Dampen Magicka- In my opinion this is the key for soloing 50% of the tougher 20% of the World bosses.
-Entropy -Structured entropy- An extra non staff heal.
-Volcanic Rune - one of those great skills that nobody uses anymore since the game is to easy.
-Inner Light -it is mandatory in my opinion for any magicka user. I have never found any utility brought by putting an active skill instead using 2 slots for it worth not having it.
-Dark shades
-Crippling grasps.
-Cloak will be useful.


PS. Finally If you are interested only for the aesthetics of light armor. You may consider just going stamina DW+2H +bow depending on situation and use one of the many Light armor disguises. You will just smash trough all the PVE with this combo.

DeanTheCat

SienneYviete wrote: »

You're misinformed test it... I have, dual wield and 2h give higher spell Damage than staves.
For instace the two highest spell damage nightblade and sorc builds dont use staves they use dual wield. To answer the op if you go this way your light attacks hit like a wet noodle however your class based magicka skills are higher powered

The OP was asking about Light/Heavy attack damage, to which I answered him. I also already explained to the OP that DW and 2h has higher spell damage.

DeanTheCat wrote: »

Weapon Damage from weapons are directly translated into spell damage, so a Sword that has 1000 weapon damage will also give 1000 spell damage when equipped. 2h and DW have higher base Weapon Damage, so that translates into more Spell Damage.

Everything I post regarding mechanics has already either been tested by me, or my guild. Please do not assume I post without testing.