Best Werewolf Build - for ALL CLASSES - by Lefty Lucy

Lefty_Lucy

What's up guys - check out my "Primal Instincts" werewolf build for all classes in ESO! Catch me streaming on Twitch for live PvP in this build!

BUILD VIDEO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiG6AO3XzRE

LIVESTREAM




BUILD OVERVIEW

The "Primal Instincts" Werewolf build focuses on survival and takes advantage of Werewolf's high base DPS and Mobility to give you a much more enjoyable and successful PvP experience in WW form.

This build is successful on ALL classes! Whether you play a Templar, Sorcerer, Nightblade, or Dragonknight, the "Primal Instincts" build will give you the means to dominate as a Werewolf Cyrodiil!




BUILD DETAILS

Build Pros:
+ High Single Target DPS
+ High Survivability
+ High Mobility
+ Successful on ALL classes!

Build Cons:
- Mediocre Stamina Regeneration

CLASSES AND RACES

Recommended Class: Nightblade

Alternative Classes: Dragonknight, Sorcerer, Templar

Recommended Race: Imperial

Alternative Races: Redguard, Orc, Wood Elf, Dark Elf

GEAR

5 Heavy, 2 Light

2/2 Malubeth
5/5 Whitestrakes
5/5 Warlock

2-Handed Sword
1-hand and Shield

ATTRIBUTES

Work towards 20k Stamina, then put the rest of your points into Health!

SKILLS

Pack Leader

Feral Pounce
Hircine's Fortitude
Rousing Roar
Howl of Agony
Claws of Anguish

MUNDUS, BUFFS, POTIONS

Mundus Stone: The Warrior (Increase weapon damage)

Potions: Tri-Pots and Speed Pots

Long Buffs: Tri-stat Drink (Increase all regen stats)

kadar

Thank you so much for this! It's a goal of mine to be successful in cyrodiil using WW form. It's amazing how few transformed WWs I've seen in cyrodiil. And I can't say I've EVER seen one having any real success. Excited to try out some of these tips!

Chrlynsch

Great post man,

Most people focus so much on Glass Cannon and end up getting rolled as a Werewolf.

I highly recommend giving Lefty's build a shot. If your looking for a little more burst I do recommend using Ravager/Whitestrikes.

Lynx7386

I'll never understand why people choose to use anything other than medium armor for a set of abilities that relies entirely on stamina and weapon damage.

Smuggles

Well done Lefty! I gave up on the werewolf at vr2 but I plan on going back at vr14. Thanks for the awesome post.

alaiham2002

Nice

DDuke

Every single ability on your werewolf bar scales based on stamina & weapon damage (including Hircine's Bounty & Claws of Life), and most of the skills are incredibly expensive.

Why run 5 Heavy / 2 Light, when what you want is cheaper skill costs?

Also, you're getting literally zero stamina or weapon damage with that setup.


It's nice if this works for you, but I'd say it's far from "best" werewolf build.

In fact, wearing 6 Medium 1 Heavy, 5x Hunding's, 4x Morag, 2x Shadow Walker, 1x Blood Spawn I can deal over twice more damage & heal for twice more with Hircine's Bounty/Claws of Life, while also sustaining better thanks to 18% less expensive skills & 24% more stamina regeneration.

dreadnoughtus695

Love your video's, helped lots since I picked up the game for X1.

dsalter

DDuke wrote: »

Every single ability on your werewolf bar scales based on stamina & weapon damage (including Hircine's Bounty & Claws of Life), and most of the skills are incredibly expensive.

Why run 5 Heavy / 2 Light, when what you want is cheaper skill costs?

Also, you're getting literally zero stamina or weapon damage with that setup.


It's nice if this works for you, but I'd say it's far from "best" werewolf build.

In fact, wearing 6 Medium 1 Heavy, 5x Hunding's, 4x Morag, 2x Shadow Walker, 1x Blood Spawn I can deal over twice more damage & heal for twice more with Hircine's Bounty/Claws of Life, while also sustaining better thanks to 18% less expensive skills & 24% more stamina regeneration.

why one heavy exactly?

DDuke

dsalter wrote: »

DDuke wrote: »

Every single ability on your werewolf bar scales based on stamina & weapon damage (including Hircine's Bounty & Claws of Life), and most of the skills are incredibly expensive.

Why run 5 Heavy / 2 Light, when what you want is cheaper skill costs?

Also, you're getting literally zero stamina or weapon damage with that setup.


It's nice if this works for you, but I'd say it's far from "best" werewolf build.

In fact, wearing 6 Medium 1 Heavy, 5x Hunding's, 4x Morag, 2x Shadow Walker, 1x Blood Spawn I can deal over twice more damage & heal for twice more with Hircine's Bounty/Claws of Life, while also sustaining better thanks to 18% less expensive skills & 24% more stamina regeneration.

why one heavy exactly?

+2% health/stamina/magicka from Undaunted Mettle passive and Heavy Armour passives are all beneficial for stamina build as well, so you're getting a good overall value for that (especially when at higher CP levels, as you'll have more resources and thus more benefit from the passive).

I would actually go 5 medium 1 heavy & 1 light to get even more benefit from Undaunted Mettle, if light armour had more useful passives for a stamina build.

Lefty_Lucy

DDuke wrote: »

Every single ability on your werewolf bar scales based on stamina & weapon damage (including Hircine's Bounty & Claws of Life), and most of the skills are incredibly expensive.

Why run 5 Heavy / 2 Light, when what you want is cheaper skill costs?

Also, you're getting literally zero stamina or weapon damage with that setup.


It's nice if this works for you, but I'd say it's far from "best" werewolf build.

In fact, wearing 6 Medium 1 Heavy, 5x Hunding's, 4x Morag, 2x Shadow Walker, 1x Blood Spawn I can deal over twice more damage & heal for twice more with Hircine's Bounty/Claws of Life, while also sustaining better thanks to 18% less expensive skills & 24% more stamina regeneration.

The very beginning of the video outlines the issue with using Werewolf in PvP and the mindset chosen when selecting the gear sets and armor types for this build.

The common decision is to use medium armor and use sets which increase weapon damage, exactly like the setup you just suggested. In PvE, those setups are optimal since you should have a dedicated healer, but Werewolf is only really effective for boss fights in PvE. However, in PvP, those DPS-focused werewolf builds leave you wanting MP sustainability if you have any desire to survive.

I am no stranger to running builds extremely similar to the one you have outlined. I feel this build is much more successful in PvP because it leverages the already insanely high DPS of Werewolf, while offering unparalleled survivability and MP sustain. I can still hit people with 10k Howl of Agony crits with this setup. Even tanky players die in seconds. Check out the end of the video in the original post for proof.

Warlock is invaluable for keeping your Magicka high enough to spam heals, and Whitestrakes heavy armor will prevent you from getting 1-shot from the current meta Stamina Nightblade's Venom Arrows. Malubeth adds DPS and HOT while also boosting your heals from Hircine's Fortitude.

The focus is survival. You don't need to pump weapon damage in Werewolf. Your damage is already super high. And cost reduction is still obtained in this build via enchantments.

I certainly respect your opinion to refute my "best" claim. I am simply saying that after months of playing Werewolf religiously, and after countless adjustments to builds, I have had much greater success in this build compared to the others I have tried (some of which are just like your suggestions).

This build offers a Werewolf PvP experience that is, overall, easier to use because it helps keep the player alive while leveraging the already very high weapon damage of Werewolf. Give it a try before shutting it down. Trust me.


EDIT: Supplemental info - I was livestreaming some Werewolf 1v1's of my Primal Instincts build versus another player's werewolf build which is based on pumping Weapon damage, like you have suggested. Notice how I still hit him extremely hard, but I am able to heal myself much more than he is able to heal himself. In some fights he even had to hide behind trees to stay alive!

One quick werewolf 1v1:
www.twitch.tv/leftylucy_pvp/v/7477023

Many werewolf 1v1s:
www.twitch.tv/leftylucy_pvp/v/7480430

Waylander

I am going to try out werewolf sorc when I level it as I have an imperial sorc:
- 5% stam cost reduction passive
- reduced ultimate cost passive
- bound ageis toggle (increased armour, heavy attack damage by 11% and 5% max stamina)
- Crit surge (rally is probably more beneficial whilst up)
- thundering presence

Looks interesting.

I also have an imperial NB so can compare two. Soon to add an imperial temp, so with a bit of time I should be able to compare those 3 classes as imperials.

Really fun duels Lefty. Any class combo's that are difficult to duel in werewolf form?

Do you get any passive carry over from weapons slotted before the morph? Do maces give you more penetration, daggers more crit change, swords more damage and axes additional bleeds? Sword and shield reduced block cost etc?

Waylander

Doesn't look like bound aegis stays toggled on when in wolf form which is crap. The skill isn't good enough to warrant a spot on the bar if it can't stay on during transformation.

Lefty_Lucy

Waylander wrote: »

I am going to try out werewolf sorc when I level it as I have an imperial sorc:
- 5% stam cost reduction passive
- reduced ultimate cost passive
- bound ageis toggle (increased armour, heavy attack damage by 11% and 5% max stamina)
- Crit surge (rally is probably more beneficial whilst up)
- thundering presence

Looks interesting.

I also have an imperial NB so can compare two. Soon to add an imperial temp, so with a bit of time I should be able to compare those 3 classes as imperials.

Really fun duels Lefty. Any class combo's that are difficult to duel in werewolf form?

Do you get any passive carry over from weapons slotted before the morph? Do maces give you more penetration, daggers more crit change, swords more damage and axes additional bleeds? Sword and shield reduced block cost etc?

Is that you Caius? Those duels were so amazing!

In Werewolf form, I have the most trouble dealing with Sorcerers, just because of their kiting and their mines. Once I get on them though, it's lights out.

As far as I know you only get the effects of class passives within Werewolf form.

Waylander

Nah mate, I was just referring to watching those duels on your twitch, inspiring stuff. They are intense as the DPS is so high that one mistake and it is over.

I am dragging out the werewolf ultimate on my sorc and nightblade as I have been inspired. Would be happy to get a bit of dueling practice in when I have levelled up the skills on the sorc. Character names are in my sig.

Sorc doesn't have much in the way of class passives that help then, just the 5% stam cost reduction (which isn't bad due to the high stam cost of werewolf abilities) and the 15 ultimate cost reduction to get into wolf form more often. No other passives help as far as I can see.

I might have to drop vamp on the nightblade as their passives are better suited.

#believethehype

Lefty_Lucy

Waylander wrote: »

Nah mate, I was just referring to watching those duels on your twitch, inspiring stuff. They are intense as the DPS is so high that one mistake and it is over.

I am dragging out the werewolf ultimate on my sorc and nightblade as I have been inspired. Would be happy to get a bit of dueling practice in when I have levelled up the skills on the sorc. Character names are in my sig.

Sorc doesn't have much in the way of class passives that help then, just the 5% stam cost reduction (which isn't bad due to the high stam cost of werewolf abilities) and the 15 ultimate cost reduction to get into wolf form more often. No other passives help as far as I can see.

I might have to drop vamp on the nightblade as their passives are better suited.

#believethehype

Sorcerer's also have Capacitor which increases MP recovery by 10% - not fantastic but any little bit helps when your key to survival is a MP based heal. Sorcerer's are actually my second-most-recommended class for Werewolves.

I do think that Nightblade's are best suited for Werewolf due to their passives; 30% stamina regeneration is just insane!

Waylander

Inspired by you Lefty, I have been a stamina Sorc werewolf lately.

Starting to get the hang of the fights, takes a while to get used to roll dodge animation being different and remembering to block.

Here is a quick 1 v 3 I had with the stam sorc/ww:

Stamina Sorc Werewolf - A Wolf at the Door

@Lefty_Lucy

Chrlynsch

Caius here,

Here's what I know from my rigorous 1.5 testing pretty sure are all still true as I haven't noticed otherwise.

What applies:
-Item sets
-Weapon enchants
-Buffs cast before entering werewolf
-Armor passives
-Fighters guild passives
-Race passives
-Weapon traits
-Armor traits
-Class passives not requiring slotting or activating abilities

Doesn't apply:
-Ability to activate synergy
-Mage guild passives
-Weapon passives
-Class passives requiring slotting or activating abilities
-Toggle abilities on human bar

All well and done I still think that the werewolf needs a little more padding especially the nerfs to block and roll dodge coming.

Kajimano_ESO

Pack leader is more vanity then useful for the werewolf using it, as it adds 2 seconds on to a friendly werewolf a timer when they use a heavy attack, but does nothing for you other then make you white.
IMO to increase your effectiveness as a werewolf I would suggest the following changes

Werewolf brezerker - increase bleed damage on light and heavy attacks
Hiracine's Rage - so its heals and increases your weapon damage by 20% for a few seconds

Lefty_Lucy

Kajimano_ESO wrote: »

Pack leader is more vanity then useful for the werewolf using it, as it adds 2 seconds on to a friendly werewolf a timer when they use a heavy attack, but does nothing for you other then make you white.
IMO to increase your effectiveness as a werewolf I would suggest the following changes

Werewolf brezerker - increase bleed damage on light and heavy attacks
Hiracine's Rage - so its heals and increases your weapon damage by 20% for a few seconds

Thanks for the suggestions! I believe the pack leader morph does give you the increased duration on your heavy attacks. I also am not strapped for damage on my WW; I am however strapped for heals, that's why I like the other morph for the heal!

Surfinginhawaii

Nice! I also enjoyed the video.

Lefty_Lucy

Surfinginhawaii wrote: »

Nice! I also enjoyed the video.

Thanks buddy!

Kajimano_ESO wrote: »

Pack leader is more vanity then useful for the werewolf using it, as it adds 2 seconds on to a friendly werewolf a timer when they use a heavy attack, but does nothing for you other then make you white.

I just re-checked this; you do receive the increased duration on your werewolf timer if you perform a heavy attack as a Pack Leader.

Alcast

Lefty_Lucy wrote: »

Surfinginhawaii wrote: »

Nice! I also enjoyed the video.

Thanks buddy!

Kajimano_ESO wrote: »

Pack leader is more vanity then useful for the werewolf using it, as it adds 2 seconds on to a friendly werewolf a timer when they use a heavy attack, but does nothing for you other then make you white.

I just re-checked this; you do receive the increased duration on your werewolf timer if you perform a heavy attack as a Pack Leader.

Yep works for yourself too.

Cyrediath

@Lefty_Lucy number #1 fan here. Watching your videos from tera and started eso after seeing you playing

Chrlynsch

Alcast wrote: »

Lefty_Lucy wrote: »

Surfinginhawaii wrote: »

Nice! I also enjoyed the video.

Thanks buddy!

Kajimano_ESO wrote: »

Pack leader is more vanity then useful for the werewolf using it, as it adds 2 seconds on to a friendly werewolf a timer when they use a heavy attack, but does nothing for you other then make you white.

I just re-checked this; you do receive the increased duration on your werewolf timer if you perform a heavy attack as a Pack Leader.

Yep works for yourself too.

Stacks with other friendly pack leaders too;)

ScardyFox

Recently came back, this guide still relevant in 2016?

JAMESLJNR

ScardyFox wrote: »

Recently came back, this guide still relevant in 2016?

Nope, pretty sure there's much better werewolf builds out there nowadays.

ScardyFox

JAMESLJNR wrote: »

ScardyFox wrote: »

Recently came back, this guide still relevant in 2016?

Nope, pretty sure there's much better werewolf builds out there nowadays.

Know any off the top of your head?

kfab7955

Does the race truly matter for this build or is it just a suggestion because I somewhat want to make my character a Khajit

CrazyWolf712

kfab7955 wrote: »

Does the race truly matter for this build or is it just a suggestion because I somewhat want to make my character a Khajit

I don't really think that race matters all that much. Races only offer a slight edge in certain circumstances. I myself am an Argonian Dragonknight Werewolf hybrid build. With my build, I can complete all vet content, excluding trials mainly because I've never tried them. I have never really had the desire to run them. But back to werewolves, we do PvP every week with a pack of werewolves of all different races and are able to do very well.

So I will tell you that the races are just a suggestion. Play as a Khajiit! That's how I started (with my Khajiit Nightblade) and then I made my Argonian because that was the only way I could get a werewolf bite at the time.

DragonBound

How viable are ww and vampires for pve?