Stamina Nightblade: Need Improvements

Marshaljm

Hello, I want to discuss some improvements and get some opinions on my Stam Nightblade. I want to have him completely geared toward a dps PvP build.
Some info: Vamp Nightblade running 2H/Bow
7 Medium Armor
4 Whitstrake's Retribution
3 Hunding's Rage
All attribute points in Stamina

2H bar
Executioner
Rally
Wrecking Blow
Ambush
Surprise Attack
Incapacitating Strike

Bow Bar
Dark Cloak
Grim Focus(Working on getting morph)
Piercing Mark
Magnum Shot
Lethal Arrow
Soul Tether

Any help or advice is appreciated. Thanks.

Ahzek

Came here thinking this is a buff NBs thread and was ready to rant (stam sorc here), but I see I was wrong and instead help you out with a bumb, since im not all that acustomed to stam NB myself.

One thing I can say is that you either want hundings or whitestrakes as a 5 piece and when you are V14(16 soon) you might also want to invest into getting a jewlery set, preferably one that also has armor pieces, so you can combine multiple set boni.

Reeko

Drop vamp and get ww. It will help out till IC patch atleast. Also you might try going 5/1/1 with your armor if you have the undaunted passive. You for sure need to go all 5 in Hundings if you want to dps, then maybe 3 in Ashen Grip.

Next try to fit Dark Cloak on your 2h bar. Maybe drop WB? That stun from Surprise is worth it imo. That will give you room to put Mass Hysteria on your bow bar for cc.

Finally, depending on what your hp is looking like, you may consider getting some hp enchants on your armor.

Junglejim82

Buff NBS

Mojmir

4 hundling,2 engine guard, 3 pc jewels shadow walker, weps hundling is what i use

Bloodgharm

I'd say to replace either wrecking blow or surprise attack on your 2h bar with dark cloak. You really don't need both because they both do pretty much the same thing (damage dealing skill with stun). Imo, I'd keep surprise attack since it has no windup time.

This then clears up your bow bar for mass hysteria. Also, just get rid of magnum shot. If someone rushes you, wep swap to 2h and cloak (following up with a surprise attack). Instead of magnum shot, slot Venom arrow so you can add a poison dot for extta damage to werewolves and to interrupt casters.

Marshaljm

Thank you for all the help. Ill be sure to make some changes.

Mojmir

replace wrecking blow with mass hysteria or dbl take

Marshaljm

Another question. Which would be better for my build, Focused Aim, or Lethal Arrow?

KenCleanAirSystem

They are both good, so just pick the one that fits better with your build/play style. I like the healing debut and poison damage you get with Lethal Arrow.

Set choices depend on what you are going for as well. For pure dps with 7 medium, 5 Hunding's, 4 Morag Tong, 2 Shadow Walker is a nice combination, and seemed to remain so from the bit I saw of 2.1 on PTS. It's a bit glass cannon, but can be made up for a bit using your Magicka pool for stuff like dodge chance and speed boost from Double Take (Blur morph), Mass Hysteria, and Dark Cloak.

Marshaljm

What about Shadow Cloak? I do like that dark cloak takes a negative affect off, but I was thinking, is shadowy disguise a better option?

Gunphu

Dark cloak is better all around. I only use the crit cloak when im going full glass cannon magicka NB proxy det suicide bomber build.

KenCleanAirSystem

Shadowy disguise gives you a guaranteed critical, but your weapon crit should already be pretty high, just from medium armor and Nightblade passives. Dark Cloak will save your ass, when fully leveled, it purges up to 4 DOT's in a single cast.

Marshaljm

Ok. So Ken, what abilities over all do you think I should run for 2H and Bow?

KenCleanAirSystem

Well that depends on what works for you, but I can share what works for me if it will help.

2 hand bar - ambush, mass hysteria, surprise attack, dark cloak (or sometimes killer's blade), rally, soul tether
Bow bar - lethal arrow, poison injection, bombard, double take, relentless focus, flawless dawnbreaker

Marshaljm

I don't know. To me, surprise attack seems like it doesn't do that much damage. RB seems like it doubles the damage and might be the better choice.

Marshaljm

Also, why bombard?

KenCleanAirSystem

It seems that way until you consider that you can almost get off 2 surprise attacks in the time it takes for the wrecking blow animation to play. I still use wrecking blow occasionally for PvE, but for PvP I've found Surprise Attack to be more effective.

Marshaljm

Ok. One more question, for your 2H, do you get enough damage to kill an enemy quickly who has a decent amount of health.
My run usually goes like this:
1. Pop Rally & Relentless Focus
2. Snipe+ Poison Injection
3. Ambush+ Surprise Attack
4. Cloak+ Surprise Attack until I get my ultimate
5. Cast Ultimate
6. Execute
When I do that though it takes to long to kill them. Either they get up and attack me and stun,(which is a problem because I'm squishy)or there friends show up and kill me anyways.

Marshaljm

I'm also a Vet 8 with 60 champion rank

KenCleanAirSystem

You can burst for loads of damage, especially if you stack weapon damage with your equipment and buff with rally and relentless focus. If the initial burst doesn't take down your enemy, that's where cc with mass hysteria, and another attack to finish or cloak and double take to get away... Of course, 2.1 is going to change things for this type of build dramatically, in PvP anyway.

Marshaljm

How so? I havent gotten around to reading the patch notes, and what platform are you on?

KenCleanAirSystem

I play on PC... Check the patch notes on the PTS forum for the list of changes coming to PvP with the 2.1 update. For the full details you will need to look at the 2.1.0 patch notes, the others only cover incimental changes to 2.1.0.

Essentially though, they are greatly reducing the damage that you do in Cyrodiil to increase Time to Kill, which is perceived by some as too fast under the current system.

Marshaljm

I see. Well thanks for the support on my questions!