Are Molag Kena and Scathing Mage the new 'must have' for magicka builds?

ChefZero

Hello guy's,

I think these sets are the strongest for magicka dmg on PTS atm. Magicdmg bonuses on armors nerfed from 175 to 126 or something like that. So it's better to stack max magicka and use the procs of these two sets. What do you think?

Greetings ChefZero

Springt-Über-Zwerge

Spelldamage stacking is still more dps than max magicka

ScruffyWhiskers

It's going to be interesting to see how they pan out. I messed around with scathing mage a bit and it looks ok for PvE. The big problem for pvp is the fact that shields aren't critable at this point in time. Also with no jewelry pieces you have to use 5 armor slots. Acquiring the right pieces will be tough too if my experience with running VCoA to get the burning spell weave set is any indication. RNG (Random Number Gods) can be a harsh mistress.

Molag K requires the 2 consecutive light attacks to proc. I'm a magicka melee nb so that's going to be a little difficult in a pvp furball. If you have a play style that uses a ranged weapon like a destro staff or bow I think the set will be a lot more useful. Getting the head piece will require some grinding and the shoulders are RNG. I'm still trying to get the Engine Guardian shoulders to drop after months of gold keys. Finally gave up and got them saved up now so here is hoping the the RNG is merciful.

Forestd16b14_ESO

Any drop set is gonna be "the must have" since crafting got nerfed for no reason what so ever.

Septimus_Magna

Yes, there's an excellent post which compares scalding mage to pure spell dmg setup here: http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/209938/pts-2-1-2-sorcerer-arithmagic/p1

Molag kena's set is crazy strong combined with scalding mage, you will have 3.5k spell dmg fully buffed.

Ishammael

Molag kena, required for all pve and pvp builds? Pretty much.
Scarhing mage? Pve dps for sure. Pvp maybe not so much.

wrathofrraath

No

Mojmir

Every streamer will now commence with cookie cutter builds consisting of these pcs,and crafted fill-ins yes

ScruffyWhiskers

Wow scathing mage does not proc off of subsequent DOT ticks that crit. That seems like a pretty arbitrary decision or maybe a bug hopefully.

Erraln

ScruffyWhiskers wrote: »

Wow scathing mage does not proc off of subsequent DOT ticks that crit. That seems like a pretty arbitrary decision or maybe a bug hopefully.

The effect doesn't proceed from dots whatsoever, it's no more arbitrary than Nerien'eth's set behaving in the same fashion.

Lava_Croft

Mojmir wrote: »

Every streamer will now commence with cookie cutter builds consisting of these pcs,and crafted fill-ins yes

And afterwards people will call it a 'Sypher build'.

Wisler89

Tested Scathing Mage and Molag Kena and I have to say Scathing Mage looks good. At least single target. Have to test a little more but I have the impression that Pulsar (which I prefer to Elemental Ring, Sorc here :P ) counts as DOT and subsequently doesn't proc Scathing Mage. In single target fights with Force Pulse - LA - weave it appears to be up 90% of the time.
Molag Kena is strange. Read on the forum that you can proc it with Force Pulse - LA - weave. Tested it and have to say that this is only to 50% right. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. Will have to see how this set works out when this update comes live, the ping I have on the PTS makes testing a little difficult.
Important to note is neither set can proc as long as its effect is active.

kuscoe

Wisler89 wrote: »

Tested Scathing Mage and Molag Kena and I have to say Scathing Mage looks good. At least single target. Have to test a little more but I have the impression that Pulsar (which I prefer to Elemental Ring, Sorc here :P ) counts as DOT and subsequently doesn't proc Scathing Mage. In single target fights with Force Pulse - LA - weave it appears to be up 90% of the time.
Molag Kena is strange. Read on the forum that you can proc it with Force Pulse - LA - weave. Tested it and have to say that this is only to 50% right. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. Will have to see how this set works out when this update comes live, the ping I have on the PTS makes testing a little difficult.
Important to note is neither set can proc as long as its effect is active.

Pulsar and Ele ring do intial damage as well as a DoT and will proc scathing

IOUAT

Never heard of them

ScruffyWhiskers

Erraln wrote: »

The effect doesn't proceed from dots whatsoever, it's no more arbitrary than Nerien'eth's set behaving in the same fashion.

I wasn't aware that Nerieneth did not proc off of DOT's. But fwiw I think that is pretty arbitrary as well then.

Such an exception doesn't make sense logically if you read the tool tip. It says "when you deal critical damage." Why should DOT damage be exempt from that condition? I can only assume that the devs probably had a certain up time for the proc in mind and DOT's broke this expectation. So they just excluded them.

Now you could say no big deal just change the tool tip. Sure. Or they could lower the proc rate and allow DOT's? That would have been a nice touch especially since they nerfed Skoria so shamelessly.

Septimus_Magna

Overwhelming 4-set might be prefered for AOE fights because Scalding Mage doesnt proc on AOE and DOTs. Some bosses also have dmg shields or block phases in which case the Scalding Mage set would be a lot less effective. Another disadvantage of the Scalding Mage set is that is cannot re-proc while you have the spell dmg buff (essentially there's a 6 sec CD) so it will not be active all the time. This has been taken into account in the calculations but there will be always be a certain luck factor as in how quick you receive the spell dmg buff.

Septimus_Magna

Overwhelming 4-set might be prefered for AOE fights because Scalding Mage doesnt proc on AOE and DOTs. Some bosses also have dmg shields or block phases in which case the Scalding Mage set would be a lot less effective. Another disadvantage of the Scalding Mage set is that is cannot re-proc while you have the spell dmg buff (essentially there's a 6 sec CD) so it will not be active all the time. This has been taken into account in the calculations but there will be always be a certain luck factor as in how quick you receive the spell dmg buff.

Dracane

If they would at least update trial gear

Daveheart

Btw, has ZoS confirmed that Scathing Mage is working as intended?

wrathofrraath

I forsee kena for sorcs and scathing for nbs. Both of those set arent going to work for dks imo

Fecius

Septimus_Magna wrote: »

Yes, there's an excellent post which compares scalding mage to pure spell dmg setup here: http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/209938/pts-2-1-2-sorcerer-arithmagic/p1

Molag kena's set is crazy strong combined with scalding mage, you will have 3.5k spell dmg fully buffed.

Here are some pictures from 2.1.2 (in 2.1.3 numbers will be a bit different after some changes)

Stats in PvE location without buffs and procs with vr10 food:



Stats in PvE location with potion buff and all procs with vr10 food:



This is a really nice PvE combination and possible to use is Solo or small scale PvP, but it's not that easy to obtain full vr16 combination since you need to farm Vet Dungeons of IC. For vr15 it's enogth to farm easy normals.

P.S.: Mundus stone is Shadow

Wisler89

wrathofrraath wrote: »

I forsee kena for sorcs and scathing for nbs. Both of those set arent going to work for dks imo

I honestly don't think kena will be very popular. The cost increase for skills is easily negated with elemental drain on the boss but the increased cost of ultimates (including overload) and the resently discovered increased cost of dodging (and probably blocking too) will make nerieneth better in most cases. Or only one piece of kena for the spell/weapon damage. (someone know if the nerf to bonus damage from kena only applies to the 2-piece bonus?)
Scathing is best used on a Magicka build with Force Pulse / Crushing Shock. Tested it and FP doesn't count as dot, so you have 3 chances for a crit on a single skill use.
Depending if Overwhelming Surge 5 piece bonus is any good now, I think that will be the way to go for Magicka builds who use a class abilty as a spam skill (so every class except Sorc )

Iyas

How did you get so much reg?

Fecius

Iyas wrote: »

How did you get so much reg?

I have standart sorc/armor/guild passives, regeneration vr16 template jewellry and 75CP in Magica Regeneration. Second picture was done with Panacea of Spell Power potion that adds some magica regeneration too.

Iyas

Maybe you have the template jewellry with magicka enchantments slotted?

Fecius

Iyas wrote: »

Maybe you have the template jewellry with magicka enchantments slotted?

Ah, true, forgot about is. There is no template enchantment for vr16 on SPD that I tried to max out. I've added this info on previous post.

Derra

Actually there are: You have to take more glyphs out of the bag for them to appear! Hope that helps.

Edit: Honest question. Is ~1000 magica reg without cost reduction enchantments sustainable for extended pve fights?

Septimus_Magna

Fecius wrote: »

Septimus_Magna wrote: »

Yes, there's an excellent post which compares scalding mage to pure spell dmg setup here: http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/209938/pts-2-1-2-sorcerer-arithmagic/p1

Molag kena's set is crazy strong combined with scalding mage, you will have 3.5k spell dmg fully buffed.

Here are some pictures from 2.1.2 (in 2.1.3 numbers will be a bit different after some changes)

Stats in PvE location without buffs and procs with vr10 food:



Stats in PvE location with potion buff and all procs with vr10 food:



This is a really nice PvE combination and possible to use is Solo or small scale PvP, but it's not that easy to obtain full vr16 combination since you need to farm Vet Dungeons of IC. For vr15 it's enogth to farm easy normals.

P.S.: Mundus stone is Shadow

Wow, 4.3k spell dmg with 43k max magicka really sounds nice for a overload build. I guess I forgot to add the major sorcery buff (3.5k x 1.2 = 4.2k).

How do you feel about your sustain in pve while the Molag Kena's set is procced? And is it worth picking Force Pulse over Crushing Shock because of the bigger chance to proc the Scalding Mage set?

Fecius

Septimus_Magna wrote: »

Fecius wrote: »

Septimus_Magna wrote: »

Yes, there's an excellent post which compares scalding mage to pure spell dmg setup here: http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/209938/pts-2-1-2-sorcerer-arithmagic/p1

Molag kena's set is crazy strong combined with scalding mage, you will have 3.5k spell dmg fully buffed.

Here are some pictures from 2.1.2 (in 2.1.3 numbers will be a bit different after some changes)

Stats in PvE location without buffs and procs with vr10 food:



Stats in PvE location with potion buff and all procs with vr10 food:



This is a really nice PvE combination and possible to use is Solo or small scale PvP, but it's not that easy to obtain full vr16 combination since you need to farm Vet Dungeons of IC. For vr15 it's enogth to farm easy normals.

P.S.: Mundus stone is Shadow

Wow, 4.3k spell dmg with 43k max magicka really sounds nice for a overload build. I guess I forgot to add the major sorcery buff (3.5k x 1.2 = 4.2k).

How do you feel about your sustain in pve while the Molag Kena's set is procced? And is it worth picking Force Pulse over Crushing Shock because of the bigger chance to proc the Scalding Mage set?

In PvE you should prefer 10% more DMG from Force Pulse. But as for IC dungeons specifically it was much more convinient for me to use Crushing Shock.

In AoE Molag Kena does not feel good, I guess it would be better to use Nereneth. Molag Kena is still the best option for short solo target burst damage and as one piece item set for any DPS (if you don't want any of 2-piece set bonuses). But even when I tried to proc this set every 6 seconds I had full mana thx to Siphon Spirit. Still it feels not forth trying to 100% uptime Molag Kena buff with light attacks after ZOS will eventually fix it's weaving proc bug. You sacrifice time for Light Attacks you could spend Shock+Medium Attack+Shock or MAttack + Shock + MAttack for a 6 second burst. As for sorcs it’s really exceptionally great for Overload (even with 33% more cost of Ultimate).

P.S.: Should say that it's pretty hard to get both sets procs at once. I've spent about 5 min making 2nd screenshot.

Xeven

ChefZero wrote: »

Hello guy's,

I think these sets are the strongest for magicka dmg on PTS atm. Magicdmg bonuses on armors nerfed from 175 to 126 or something like that. So it's better to stack max magicka and use the procs of these two sets. What do you think?

Greetings ChefZero

Not impressive for magicka. Check out this thread.

http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/comment/2181389/#Comment_2181389

Septimus_Magna

Fecius wrote: »

P.S.: Should say that it's pretty hard to get both sets procs at once. I've spent about 5 min making 2nd screenshot.

So they fixed the bug where the Molag Kena's set would proc of weaving attacks with crushing shock for example?