The Elder Scrolls Online

Soloing Group Dungeons - Some Questions

Maintenance for the week of April 7:
• [COMPLETE] PC/Mac: NA and EU megaservers for patch maintenance – April 7, 4:00AM EDT (8:00 UTC) - 9:00AM EDT (13:00 UTC)
• [IN PROGRESS] ESO Store and Account System for maintenance – April 7, 9:00AM EDT (13:00 UTC) - 6:00PM EDT (22:00 UTC)
• ESO Store for maintenance – April 10, 12:00PM EDT (16:00 UTC) - 3:00PM EDT (19:00 UTC)
Leave a Reply
rb2001
rb2001
✭✭✭✭
Hi all,

After finishing the main quest, everything feels kind of.. lame, except for the challenging content (and optimizing my character for it).

I've healed every normal group dungeon and most vet ones, up to VR12 scaling.

I want to get into soloing the dungeons without skipping any encounters or groups, as a skill / build optimizing process (and for the fun).

I've had some success soloing the first few rooms of Wayrest Sewers, but the first mob of cutthroats ends me (I could do the thing where I kill one at a time and chip them away, each time I respawn, but that feels cheap to me).

My character:
  • VR5 NB siphoning/sap healer
  • Currently wear crafted sets and land at about 50% spell crit and 1500 spell damage (on dual dagger bar)
  • Primary bar is a healing staff
  • I rely on Healing Ward, Drain Power, Strife, Healing Springs and a few other tricks (the magicka morphs of anything listed that was unclear)
  • I keep Inner Light toggled
  • I used to use Siphoning Strikes, which I think I may need again for this to be viable
  • I wear light armor, and really, I mean light, as I eschew pieces based on aesthetics
  • My build intent is to optimize what I do (healer first, DPS second, all about sustain) within the acceptable loss of not wearing shoulder pads, not wearing certain gear levels because they are ugly
  • I keep my health at about 16k, and then buff magicka and health to ~3500 more each in dungeons

My questions:
  1. Is it reasonable to try to do this at VR5 with not very many CPs (14 in each of the 3), and with prioritizing looks more than stats on gear?
  2. Is it reasonable to expect to do this in light armor, or would switching in some med or heavy pieces help me in this mad endeavor?
  3. Would upping my base health to say 25k make a huge different from 16k for what I'm trying to do, or is it rubbish to have that without more armor?
  4. Should I expect to need to be swapping my skill bar per encounter? I generally don't like to do this, as my ultimate goal is to make one build that handles it all without swapping skills.

Thanks for any discussion.
Edited by ZOS_Icy on March 30, 2025 4:22PM
  • myrrrorb14_ESO
    myrrrorb14_ESO
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    Well, to be honest its not very reasonable to solo group dungeons any more since they scale to your level.

    The trash mobs are pretty easy. You can do them with any armor or weapon set. Make sure youhave some heals and crowd control slotted.

    The problen will come in the boss fights. Some are doable, but others I am not sure can be done solo.

    Have you soloed the craglorn dungeons? Those are fairly challenging
  • rb2001
    rb2001
    ✭✭✭✭
    I haven't tried much in Craglorn yet. Was saving that til after Cadwell's.
  • Shunravi
    Shunravi
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    ✭✭
    I would recommend the craglorn dungeons solo. There are indeed fun.

    Siphoning attacks will come in handy. As will a dodge buff like blur or evasion. I would have one bar for aoe and one for single target with sap essence and swallow soul as the main damagers one each respectively. You may want to have at least a heavy chest piece for the armor, and with siphoning attacks you could go for more than one....
    This one has an eloquent and well thought out response to tha... Ooh sweetroll!
  • Emma_Overload
    Emma_Overload
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    My build intent is to optimize what I do (healer first, DPS second, all about sustain) within the acceptable loss of not wearing shoulder pads, not wearing certain gear levels because they are ugly

    You're not going to enjoy much success in group dungeons, even the "normal" ones without a full set of the best gear possible for your level. What you have to realize about the instanced group dungeons (and the Craglorn delves) is that the game is RIGGED against solo players. You're going to need every tiny advantage you can cobble together, because the mobs in these dungeons do not fight fair. Bosses have mechanics that unfairly single out the solo players with unbreakable CCs that you need to be strong enough to live through. Weak gear is not going to cut it.

    Otherwise, your plan sounds good. I like that you are carrying a Resto Staff, because you're going to be using that Healing Ward... a lot. You will quickly find that you are going to have adopt a "run and gun" playstyle to handle groups of dungeon mobs, because you aren't going to be able to just stand there and slug it out. You will want to use any Nightblade skills that help you with mobility and evasion, because healing alone will not be enough to keep you out of trouble.

    Some dungeons are easier than others, so I would recommend trying them all at least once. Personally, I have the easiest time soloing Volenfell and Spindleclutch, so those might be good places for you to start. Direfrost Keep has multiple pressure pads that make it physically impossible to solo, so don't even bother with that one.

    #CAREBEARMASTERRACE
  • rb2001
    rb2001
    ✭✭✭✭
    Emma_Eunjung wrote: »
    show previous quotes

    You're not going to enjoy much success in group dungeons, even the "normal" ones without a full set of the best gear possible for your level. What you have to realize about the instanced group dungeons (and the Craglorn delves) is that the game is RIGGED against solo players. You're going to need every tiny advantage you can cobble together, because the mobs in these dungeons do not fight fair. Bosses have mechanics that unfairly single out the solo players with unbreakable CCs that you need to be strong enough to live through. Weak gear is not going to cut it.

    Otherwise, your plan sounds good. I like that you are carrying a Resto Staff, because you're going to be using that Healing Ward... a lot. You will quickly find that you are going to have adopt a "run and gun" playstyle to handle groups of dungeon mobs, because you aren't going to be able to just stand there and slug it out. You will want to use any Nightblade skills that help you with mobility and evasion, because healing alone will not be enough to keep you out of trouble.

    Some dungeons are easier than others, so I would recommend trying them all at least once. Personally, I have the easiest time soloing Volenfell and Spindleclutch, so those might be good places for you to start. Direfrost Keep has multiple pressure pads that make it physically impossible to solo, so don't even bother with that one.

    I appreciate the details.

    Soon, I'll be buying an Ancient Elf motif, which will alleviate a few gear issues.

    I'll keep experimenting with builds.
    Edited by rb2001 on August 11, 2015 4:54PM
  • newtinmpls
    newtinmpls
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    ✭✭✭✭
    rb2001 wrote: »

    Soon, I'll be buying an Ancient Elf motif, which will alleviate a few gear issues.

    How does a motif effect your gear issues?
    Tenesi Faryon of Telvanni - Dunmer Sorceress who deliberately sought sacrifice into Cold Harbor to rescue her beloved.
    Hisa Ni Caemaire - Altmer Sorceress, member of the Order Draconis and Adept of the House of Dibella.
    Broken Branch Toothmaul - goblin (for my goblin characters, I use either orsimer or bosmer templates) Templar, member of the Order Draconis and persistently unskilled pickpocket
    Mol gro Durga - Orsimer Socerer/Battlemage who died the first time when the Nibenay Valley chapterhouse of the Order Draconis was destroyed, then went back to Cold Harbor to rescue his second/partner who was still captive. He overestimated his resistance to the hopelessness of Oblivion, about to give up, and looked up to see the golden glow of atherius surrounding a beautiful young woman who extended her hand to him and said "I can help you". He carried Fianna Kingsley out of Cold Harbor on his shoulder. He carried Alvard Stower under one arm. He also irritated the Prophet who had intended the portal for only Mol and Lyris.
    ***
    Order Draconis - well c'mon there has to be some explanation for all those dragon tattoos.
    House of Dibella - If you have ever seen or read "Memoirs of a Geisha" that's just the beginning...
    Nibenay Valley Chapterhouse - Where now stands only desolate ground and a dolmen there once was a thriving community supporting one of the major chapterhouses of the Order Draconis
  • Emma_Overload
    Emma_Overload
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    newtinmpls wrote: »
    show previous quotes

    How does a motif effect your gear issues?

    He/she doesn't like shoulder pads that stick out, apparently, and Ancient Elf (light armor) doesn't have this issue :)
    #CAREBEARMASTERRACE
  • SirAndy
    SirAndy
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    You need CC ...

    I'm currently leveling a Night Blade (VR7) and i mainly use Steel Tornado, Mass Hysteria and Caltrops.
    I can solo through most of the group content at my level.
    :smile:
    Edited by SirAndy on August 11, 2015 5:22PM
  • rb2001
    rb2001
    ✭✭✭✭
    Emma_Eunjung wrote: »
    show previous quotes

    He/she doesn't like shoulder pads that stick out, apparently, and Ancient Elf (light armor) doesn't have this issue :)

    Bingo.

    The Ancient Elf shoulder piece is very nice. This will let me make another set piece and presumably shuffle bonuses around better, as well as stack more spell damage with 1 dagger, I think.
  • Waffennacht
    Waffennacht
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    Emma_Eunjung wrote: »
    show previous quotes

    He/she doesn't like shoulder pads that stick out, apparently, and Ancient Elf (light armor) doesn't have this issue :)

    Lmao, i like that.

    Best gear really helps, but not Necessary... i mean i did it with some low level peices and forgot to enchant. Just sayin its possible is all.

    Its fun to do, a good way to compare how your build is going. Kinda seems necessary in order to level undaunted some times
    Gamer tag: DasPanzerKat NA Xbox One
    1300+ CP
    Battleground PvP'er

    Waffennacht' Builds
  • rb2001
    rb2001
    ✭✭✭✭
    Waffennacht wrote: »
    show previous quotes

    Lmao, i like that.

    Best gear really helps, but not Necessary... i mean i did it with some low level peices and forgot to enchant. Just sayin its possible is all.

    Its fun to do, a good way to compare how your build is going. Kinda seems necessary in order to level undaunted some times

    This is good to hear.
  • AusarViled
    AusarViled
    ✭✭
    Just soloed the Fungal Grotto #1 with arcanist at level 30ish with 2 Star item level. Its doable but rough. Had to use epic food buffs, and cycle between heal and shield ultimate. Updating it for anyone who sees this in 2025.
  • SpiritKitten
    SpiritKitten
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    Holy necro!!!!
  • Varana
    Varana
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    ✭✭✭
    Please leave this thread open until it can celebrate its own 10 Year Anniversary, with events and giveaways and cakes and stuff.

    But burn @AusarViled at the stake as soon as possible. They're obviously an advanced user of necromancy.
    Edited by Varana on March 30, 2025 12:26PM
  • ZOS_Icy
    ZOS_Icy
    mod
    Greetings,

    We have closed this topic as it was originally created in August 2015. In many cases, it's better to create a new thread on a topic that you want to discuss as opposed to bumping one that is rather old.

    Thank you for your understanding.
    Staff Post
This discussion has been closed.