Warden Class Skills (what we know so far - Updated!)

bg22

OP AF just from skill tips. XD lmao

clocksstoppe

Tabbycat wrote: »

Warden may end up being OP when first released, but ZOS will smack it too hard with the nerf bat and it will be useless for a while until they get around to fixing it.

Just like Templar.

Of course it will be broken OP on release, that's how they get more expansion sales. They will nerf it one month after.

SodanTok

roigseguib16_ESO wrote: »

Phatmattfu wrote: »

roigseguib16_ESO wrote: »

I'm quite concerned with the lack of Stamina/physical damage I see. I know it may be too early but the Ethernal Guardian deals magic damage, and we know about both its morphs (perma-reappearence vs damage burst). Is it likely than either one deals physical damage?
Same with most animal companion Skills.
I fear that we might end up with another stamina-morphs-are-second-skills class that relies in weapon/guild skills to be useful. Sure, Wardens will benefit of both stamina and magicka but at this very moment a purely stambuild seems unlikely

Well we don't know the morphs yet, you can be sure stamina will have some nice toys.

As for the ultimate, from the post it seems like the two morphs are almost baked into the base skill? I can understand your concern though, as personally I was worried the bear would be physical only. I seem to have gotten my wish of magic damage, but if i was a gambling man I'd wager they will give the bear a physical morph that will be heavy damage.

Well, my concern was: the images we got from PAX showcased a 20k damage hit every 75 ultimate with a PTS template (e.g. no damage). A well build character could be somewhat close to 40k base hit. Say 60k+ crit damage (1.5x basic multiplier). That is 20-30k hit in PvP, instakill in most cases for medium-low resistant players. Now add the fact that 75 ultimate is 3 kills (20 Ult - combat frenzy) or 10-12 seconds of active combat.

In my humble opinion, and as an admitted stamina oriented player, I hope the bear to have one morph of each, since I see it as the ONLY attractive skill for a PvP oriented stamina character. Its yet to be seen if Green Balance or Winter Embrace will bring any stamina juicy morphs and if Animal Companions bring some level of utility (bull=dark deal?) but as @Seraphyel has pointed out above, jack of all trades and master of none. If the Bear is magick damage and the utility skills are re-skins of other classes'/lines skills (e.g. major expedition, major ward, minor endurance), what's the point of playing Stamina PvP open world warden??

Where are you coming that it uses PTS template and that it means no damage. I am sure no matter the gear these are with, you wont increase both main damage and main resource to double.

Also lets not forget these things:

• It has applied passive 12% damage increase, because all animal companion abilities are slotted
• It requires you to slot it on both bars
• It requires AI driven bear to run to someone
• It requires someone to not dodge, block or shield getting attacked by huge bear
• Impen is armor trait of choice
• Its pre PTS build for showing on PAX
• It will have PTS

Cimadon

I think some of the skills were the morphed versions, actually my theory is that all the skills we saw were a morph. Eternal guardian sounds like a morph of a base ultimate (guardian?). "Eternal" meaning resummon.

roigseguib16_ESO

sodantokb16_ESO wrote: »

roigseguib16_ESO wrote: »

Phatmattfu wrote: »

roigseguib16_ESO wrote: »

I'm quite concerned with the lack of Stamina/physical damage I see. I know it may be too early but the Ethernal Guardian deals magic damage, and we know about both its morphs (perma-reappearence vs damage burst). Is it likely than either one deals physical damage?
Same with most animal companion Skills.
I fear that we might end up with another stamina-morphs-are-second-skills class that relies in weapon/guild skills to be useful. Sure, Wardens will benefit of both stamina and magicka but at this very moment a purely stambuild seems unlikely

Well we don't know the morphs yet, you can be sure stamina will have some nice toys.

As for the ultimate, from the post it seems like the two morphs are almost baked into the base skill? I can understand your concern though, as personally I was worried the bear would be physical only. I seem to have gotten my wish of magic damage, but if i was a gambling man I'd wager they will give the bear a physical morph that will be heavy damage.

Well, my concern was: the images we got from PAX showcased a 20k damage hit every 75 ultimate with a PTS template (e.g. no damage). A well build character could be somewhat close to 40k base hit. Say 60k+ crit damage (1.5x basic multiplier). That is 20-30k hit in PvP, instakill in most cases for medium-low resistant players. Now add the fact that 75 ultimate is 3 kills (20 Ult - combat frenzy) or 10-12 seconds of active combat.

In my humble opinion, and as an admitted stamina oriented player, I hope the bear to have one morph of each, since I see it as the ONLY attractive skill for a PvP oriented stamina character. Its yet to be seen if Green Balance or Winter Embrace will bring any stamina juicy morphs and if Animal Companions bring some level of utility (bull=dark deal?) but as @Seraphyel has pointed out above, jack of all trades and master of none. If the Bear is magick damage and the utility skills are re-skins of other classes'/lines skills (e.g. major expedition, major ward, minor endurance), what's the point of playing Stamina PvP open world warden??

Where are you coming that it uses PTS template and that it means no damage. I am sure no matter the gear these are with, you wont increase both main damage and main resource to double.

Also lets not forget these things:

• It has applied passive 12% damage increase, because all animal companion abilities are slotted
• It requires you to slot it on both bars
• It requires AI driven bear to run to someone
• It requires someone to not dodge, block or shield getting attacked by huge bear
• Impen is armor trait of choice
• Its pre PTS build for showing on PAX
• It will have PTS

Totally fair point, you are right. But I made assumptions based on the healing/damage/shield values being generally very low in comparison to current live server. Anyway, you make a very good counterargument and I admit I did not take that under consideration!

SodanTok

Cimadon wrote: »

I think some of the skills were the morphed versions, actually my theory is that all the skills we saw were a morph. Eternal guardian sounds like a morph of a base ultimate (guardian?). "Eternal" meaning resummon.

Well if you check the skill names from magazine (link
Some have different names, so some skills were probably morphed. Including guardian.

Vaoh

sodantokb16_ESO wrote: »

Cimadon wrote: »

I think some of the skills were the morphed versions, actually my theory is that all the skills we saw were a morph. Eternal guardian sounds like a morph of a base ultimate (guardian?). "Eternal" meaning resummon.

Well if you check the skill names from magazine (link
Some have different names, so some skills were probably morphed. Including guardian.

I'm hoping the same can be said for Expansive Ice Cloak!

Phatmattfu

Cimadon wrote: »

I think some of the skills were the morphed versions, actually my theory is that all the skills we saw were a morph. Eternal guardian sounds like a morph of a base ultimate (guardian?). "Eternal" meaning resummon.

Ah interesting, hadn't though about that. I think you may be right.
Hopefully they release some more info soon and throw the future stamina users a bone.

TX12001rwb17_ESO

roigseguib16_ESO wrote: »

Phatmattfu wrote: »

roigseguib16_ESO wrote: »

I'm quite concerned with the lack of Stamina/physical damage I see. I know it may be too early but the Ethernal Guardian deals magic damage, and we know about both its morphs (perma-reappearence vs damage burst). Is it likely than either one deals physical damage?
Same with most animal companion Skills.
I fear that we might end up with another stamina-morphs-are-second-skills class that relies in weapon/guild skills to be useful. Sure, Wardens will benefit of both stamina and magicka but at this very moment a purely stambuild seems unlikely

Well we don't know the morphs yet, you can be sure stamina will have some nice toys.

As for the ultimate, from the post it seems like the two morphs are almost baked into the base skill? I can understand your concern though, as personally I was worried the bear would be physical only. I seem to have gotten my wish of magic damage, but if i was a gambling man I'd wager they will give the bear a physical morph that will be heavy damage.

Well, my concern was: the images we got from PAX showcased a 20k damage hit every 75 ultimate with a PTS template (e.g. no damage). A well build character could be somewhat close to 40k base hit. Say 60k+ crit damage (1.5x basic multiplier). That is 20-30k hit in PvP, instakill in most cases for medium-low resistant players. Now add the fact that 75 ultimate is 3 kills (20 Ult - combat frenzy) or 10-12 seconds of active combat.

In my humble opinion, and as an admitted stamina oriented player, I hope the bear to have one morph of each, since I see it as the ONLY attractive skill for a PvP oriented stamina character. Its yet to be seen if Green Balance or Winter Embrace will bring any stamina juicy morphs and if Animal Companions bring some level of utility (bull=dark deal?) but as @Seraphyel has pointed out above, jack of all trades and master of none. If the Bear is magick damage and the utility skills are re-skins of other classes'/lines skills (e.g. major expedition, major ward, minor endurance), what's the point of playing Stamina PvP open world warden??

Your forgetting to consider that the Bear itself might be slow moving or very easy to dodge.

ArgoCye

Tasear wrote: »

@ZOS_GinaBruno


Enchanted Growth
Instantly grow a large area of mushrooms healing all allies in cone in front of you for X health.

Allies affected gain Minor Intellect and Minor Endurance, increasing Magicka and Stamina regeneration by 10% for 20 seconds.

Radius 20 meters

vs
Radiant Aura

Champion the cause of divine glory to apply Minor Magickasteal to all enemies around you for 16.5 secinds, causing you and your allies to restore 400 Magicka every 1 seconds when damaging them.
While slotted, you gain Minor Fortitude, Minor Endurance, and Minor Intellect, increasing Health, Stamina, and Magicka Recovery by 10%.

Radius 18 meters
vs
Emprowered Ward

Conjure globes of Daedric energy for protection, granting a damage shield for you and your pets that absorbs [x] damage for 10 seconds.
Also grants Minor Intellect to you and nearby allies, increasing your Magicka Recovery by 10% for 10 seconds.
Reduces the cost, increases the duration, and also grants you and your allies Minor Intellect.

:'( Emrprowed ward - needs a name change... it's not so powerful as it's duration is lowest, and effect is almost null compared to the other two :'(

Didn't take long for a sorc to start crying...smh. But aside form that, I wonder if it is templars who should be alarmed. Looks like the warden will give a templar healer and tank a run for their money.

Gilliamtherogue

Paul and I added many morphs on the original thread from Miss Biz that you can read and add to your OP.

Vaoh

Gilliamtherogue wrote: »

Paul and I added many morphs on the original thread from Miss Biz that you can read and add to your OP.

I'll check it out tonight! Tysm!

Vaoh

Gilliamtherogue wrote: »

Paul and I added many morphs on the original thread from Miss Biz that you can read and add to your OP.

@Gilliamtherogue Are a bunch of the skills I listed as base skills actually morphs instead. For example - Expansive Ice Cloak

Artis

ArgoCye wrote: »

Didn't take long for a sorc to start crying...smh. But aside form that, I wonder if it is templars who should be alarmed. Looks like the warden will give a templar healer and tank a run for their money.

Templar healers will be fine, they will give up 1 slot in a group, trial groups will have 1 warden and 1 templar most of the time, I think. We should see numbers first of course, but doesn't look like wardens will have analogues of templar's breath of life and cleanse. Also nova as ranged damage mitigation seems to still be there.

However, just by looking at unmorphed skills I can see how Nightblades - who are already the least needed class in trials - move from #4 to #5. There will simply be no reason to have a NB in a group. And sure sure, there are cool players, but let's be honest , those players could perform better on other classes (just look at the leaderboards).

And either way, ZOS really reserved them spots in groups (unlike NBs for example, but even regardless of them). Now let me explain after I say what I think of skills:

Vaoh wrote: »

Ult. Sleet Storm
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Area
Radius - 10 meters
Duration - 8 seconds
Cost - 200 Ultimate
All enemies near you are snared for 1 second, and take heavy X Frost Damage. Nearby allies gain Major Protection, reducing incoming damage by 30%.

Same is veil of blades. Unmorphed. Morhps give passive 8% magicka (could slot on front bar = NB's siphoning passive) or stun that could be op in pvp. Definitely stronger than veil.

Vaoh wrote: »

4. Crystallized Shield
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Self
Cast Time - 6 seconds
Absorbs spell projectiles, restoring X Magicka. This can happen up to 3 times.
Morph 1: ?
Morph 2: ?

Harness right away. If you morph - can get stam regen instead. Or add major heroism. Much better than the only NB defensive option. And, say, in vMOL you absorb projectiles all the time. While NB don't spam swallow soul to generate ulti a lot.

Vaoh wrote: »

5. Frozen Gate
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Ground
Range - 28 meters
Radius - 5 meters
Duration - 30 seconds
Summon a portal on the ground, when an enemy runs over it they are teleported to you and rooted for 2 seconds. If the target is immune they will take X Frost Damage.

You can only have 1 active at a time and is removed after activation
Morph 1: ?
Morph 2: ?

Not related to anything. Just a really cool skill. I think. Morph lets your ally teleport to you as well.

All passives are strong in this line. But look at this:

• Piercing Cold
Increase your Physical and Cold Damage by 6%
1) 6% physical damage? Just for being a warden? No need to slot anything etc. Could be op. But depends on how skills scale etc.
2) More importantly this. Cold damage. So their Force Pulses will hit harder. Not huge, but it all adds up.

---

---

Vaoh wrote: »

1. Enchanted Growth
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Cone
Radius - 20 meters
Instantly grow a large area of mushrooms healing all allies in cone in front of you for X health.

Allies affected gain Minor Inteect and Minor Endurance, increasing Magicka and Stamina regeneration by 10% for 20 seconds.
Morph 1: ?
Morph 2: ?

With nerf to CP sustain? That's a spot in a group right here.

Vaoh wrote: »

2. Corrupting Pollen
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Ground
Range - 28 meters
Radius - 8 meters
Duration - 6 seconds
Summon a field of flowers which heals X Health after 6 seconds. Only 1 can be active at a time.

Enemies who enter the field will get Major Defile, reducing healing recieved by 37% for 4 seconds.

Allies may activate the Healing Seed synergy to gain an instant heal for X Health.
Morph 1: ?
Morph 2: ?

AOE defile? Without having to wear that weird heavy armor set? Will be strong in pvp.

Vaoh wrote: »

• Nature's Gift
When Healing an ally with a Green Balance ability, gain 250 Magicka.

• Accelerated Growth
When healing an ally under 50% Health with a Green Balance ability, gain Major Mending, increasing your healing done by 25% for 8 seconds.

• Emerald Moss
Increase healing done by X% for each Green Balance ability slotted.

Endless magicka for warden healers. Definitely will be wanted in a group. And the numbers will be high too, looks like. Wonder if accelerated growth works on self. Good luck killing it in pvp.

Vaoh wrote: »

• Maturation
When healing an ally with a Green Balance ability, grant them Major Toughness increasing Max Health 10% for 20% seconds.

And here it is. Almost 100% reserved spot in a trials group. 20 seconds of 10% max hp increased which will probably scale with ebon. And you get it for what you are already doing anyway, so no need to make any sacrifices for making content much easier.

Or maybe I don't know something and it's not a unique buff and another class provides it?

---

---

Vaoh wrote: »

3. Growing Swarm
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Enemy
Range - 28 meters
Radius - 10 meters
Duration - 10 seconds
Unleash a swarm of fletcherflies to relentlessly attack an enemy, dealing X Magic Damage over 10 seconds.

When ability ends, flecherflies infect up to 6 new targets.

AoE dot that lasts until there's only 1 enemy left? Infecting 6 enemies for each enemy affected with every iteration? Sounds to easy to use. Hopefully the numbers aren't too big.

Vaoh wrote: »

4. Blue Betty
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Self
Duration - 25 seconds
Call a Betty Netch that restores X Magicka over 25 seconds. Gain Major Socrery increasing spell damage by 20% for 30 seconds.

This ability also removes 1 negative effect.



5. Bird of Prey
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Self
Duration - 10 seconds
Cater gains Major Expedition, increasing movement speed by 30% for 10 seconds and Major Endurance increasing stamina recovery for 20% over 10 seconds.

Gain Minor Beserk, increasing damage done by 8% for 10 seconds.

That seems just too much. Each of these 2 skills has too much in just 1 skill. Would definitely try it in pvp. Cleanse + magicka regen. Speed+ stam regen. Come on. Again, we'll see these running around rocks in Cyrodiil having endless sustain.

Vaoh wrote: »

• Savage Beast
Damaging an enemy with an Animal Companion ability grants 4 Ultimate. This effect has a cooldown of 8 seconds.

Again, if Major heroism wasn't enough - get 4 more ultimate every 8 seconds just because. While a NB can only get 2 ultimate in 8 seconds, because the only siphoning skill he uses in a rotation is Crippling Grasp, which is reapplied every 8 seconds.

Vaoh wrote: »

• Flourish
Increase your Magicka and Stamina recovery by 12% if an Animal Companion ability is slotted.

And you will have one slotted 100% - there's just no reason and nothing better than that growing swarm slotted for both recovery and ulti generation. Or betty/birds in PvP Or maybe that cliffracer if one of the morphs adds a dot.

---

If Warden was added like this in game right now, here's a build to go for a magicka DPS:

BSW x5, IA/moondancer x4, inferno vMA. Just like every other mage in game.

Main bar: Force Pulse, Growing Swarm, Elemental Blockade, Inner Light, Probably Crystallized Shield/Scalding Rune, Ulti: Sleet storm, morph that gives 8% magicka for being slotted.

Offbar: Trap/Guard, Scalding Rune/Crystallized shield, Flex, InnerLight, Birds of Prey for minor berserk?/flex, Ulti: Thunderous Rage.

Many flex slots to take advantage of passives - major toughness for the group in particular will probably be provided by a warden 100%.

Now as I said, lemme compare it with a NB, who has the same gear setup and very similar skill bars.

1) Force pulse hits harder, just cause.
2) Better sustain.
3) Providing Major Toughness to the group if needed or something else having a flex slot.
4) Same amount of magicka on the front bar if scalding rune goes there.
5) Much better ulti gen due to major heroism and Growing swarm ticking all the time compared to NBs 2 ulti per 8 seconds (the passive gives 2 per 4s, but if NB will insist on spamming Strife - he won't even get into a group because of very low DPS, which is lower than other existing classes in magicka builds anyway even with Force pulse), so he will drop ulti more often.

6) We could hope that the damage is balanced so that warden intentionally has less damage than magicka NB, especially seeing that warden has no execute, but no, ZOS specifically said that they want warden to be competitive DPS in trials, too.

So we see a class that will probably have more DPS (due to ulti gen, stronger force pulse and who knows how swarm scales) and better group utility. There would be no reason (already a case anyway) to take a NB dps in a group. His dps ceiling is already lower than what you can get with other classes. Now there's one more class with more group utility.

Let's hope that that lack of execute and swarms damage will be balanced so that warden's DPS is not higher than NB's (doubt it), but even that wouldnt' be enough. It has to be much lower for wardens not to be picked every time.

But let's see for PTS and numbers, of course.

So far - it's not looking good for magicka NBs. But definitely, the warden class looks very strong and fun to play. In solo or easy 4man dungeons can also use blue betty in the flex slot to get major sorcery without losing any of trial build skills and DPS(can't do that as a NB and have to drink expensive potions or slot Entropy and lose dps).

P.S. giving a mNB perspective as it's what I'm playing most of the time and seeing how it's still weaker than others even after that Path buff. Also the build is very rough of course as I didnt' see the actual numbers. Also, maybe would add another dot to a rotation (whatever's left doesn't looks that strong though but would need to test).

Vaoh

Artis wrote: »

ArgoCye wrote: »

Didn't take long for a sorc to start crying...smh. But aside form that, I wonder if it is templars who should be alarmed. Looks like the warden will give a templar healer and tank a run for their money.

Templar healers will be fine, they will give up 1 slot in a group, trial groups will have 1 warden and 1 templar most of the time, I think. We should see numbers first of course, but doesn't look like wardens will have analogues of templar's breath of life and cleanse. Also nova as ranged damage mitigation seems to still be there.

However, just by looking at unmorphed skills I can see how Nightblades - who are already the least needed class in trials - move from #4 to #5. There will simply be no reason to have a NB in a group. And sure sure, there are cool players, but let's be honest , those players could perform better on other classes (just look at the leaderboards).

And either way, ZOS really reserved them spots in groups (unlike NBs for example, but even regardless of them). Now let me explain after I say what I think of skills:

Vaoh wrote: »

Ult. Sleet Storm
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Area
Radius - 10 meters
Duration - 8 seconds
Cost - 200 Ultimate
All enemies near you are snared for 1 second, and take heavy X Frost Damage. Nearby allies gain Major Protection, reducing incoming damage by 30%.

Same is veil of blades. Unmorphed. Morhps give passive 8% magicka (could slot on front bar = NB's siphoning passive) or stun that could be op in pvp. Definitely stronger than veil.

Vaoh wrote: »

4. Crystallized Shield
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Self
Cast Time - 6 seconds
Absorbs spell projectiles, restoring X Magicka. This can happen up to 3 times.
Morph 1: ?
Morph 2: ?

Harness right away. If you morph - can get stam regen instead. Or add major heroism. Much better than the only NB defensive option. And, say, in vMOL you absorb projectiles all the time. While NB don't spam swallow soul to generate ulti a lot.

Vaoh wrote: »

5. Frozen Gate
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Ground
Range - 28 meters
Radius - 5 meters
Duration - 30 seconds
Summon a portal on the ground, when an enemy runs over it they are teleported to you and rooted for 2 seconds. If the target is immune they will take X Frost Damage.

You can only have 1 active at a time and is removed after activation
Morph 1: ?
Morph 2: ?

Not related to anything. Just a really cool skill. I think. Morph lets your ally teleport to you as well.

All passives are strong in this line. But look at this:

• Piercing Cold
Increase your Physical and Cold Damage by 6%
1) 6% physical damage? Just for being a warden? No need to slot anything etc. Could be op. But depends on how skills scale etc.
2) More importantly this. Cold damage. So their Force Pulses will hit harder. Not huge, but it all adds up.

---

---

Vaoh wrote: »

1. Enchanted Growth
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Cone
Radius - 20 meters
Instantly grow a large area of mushrooms healing all allies in cone in front of you for X health.

Allies affected gain Minor Inteect and Minor Endurance, increasing Magicka and Stamina regeneration by 10% for 20 seconds.
Morph 1: ?
Morph 2: ?

With nerf to CP sustain? That's a spot in a group right here.

Vaoh wrote: »

2. Corrupting Pollen
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Ground
Range - 28 meters
Radius - 8 meters
Duration - 6 seconds
Summon a field of flowers which heals X Health after 6 seconds. Only 1 can be active at a time.

Enemies who enter the field will get Major Defile, reducing healing recieved by 37% for 4 seconds.

Allies may activate the Healing Seed synergy to gain an instant heal for X Health.
Morph 1: ?
Morph 2: ?

AOE defile? Without having to wear that weird heavy armor set? Will be strong in pvp.

Vaoh wrote: »

• Nature's Gift
When Healing an ally with a Green Balance ability, gain 250 Magicka.

• Accelerated Growth
When healing an ally under 50% Health with a Green Balance ability, gain Major Mending, increasing your healing done by 25% for 8 seconds.

• Emerald Moss
Increase healing done by X% for each Green Balance ability slotted.

Endless magicka for warden healers. Definitely will be wanted in a group. And the numbers will be high too, looks like. Wonder if accelerated growth works on self. Good luck killing it in pvp.

Vaoh wrote: »

• Maturation
When healing an ally with a Green Balance ability, grant them Major Toughness increasing Max Health 10% for 20% seconds.

And here it is. Almost 100% reserved spot in a trials group. 20 seconds of 10% max hp increased which will probably scale with ebon. And you get it for what you are already doing anyway, so no need to make any sacrifices for making content much easier.

Or maybe I don't know something and it's not a unique buff and another class provides it?

---

---

Vaoh wrote: »

3. Growing Swarm
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Enemy
Range - 28 meters
Radius - 10 meters
Duration - 10 seconds
Unleash a swarm of fletcherflies to relentlessly attack an enemy, dealing X Magic Damage over 10 seconds.

When ability ends, flecherflies infect up to 6 new targets.

AoE dot that lasts until there's only 1 enemy left? Infecting 6 enemies for each enemy affected with every iteration? Sounds to easy to use. Hopefully the numbers aren't too big.

Vaoh wrote: »

4. Blue Betty
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Self
Duration - 25 seconds
Call a Betty Netch that restores X Magicka over 25 seconds. Gain Major Socrery increasing spell damage by 20% for 30 seconds.

This ability also removes 1 negative effect.



5. Bird of Prey
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Self
Duration - 10 seconds
Cater gains Major Expedition, increasing movement speed by 30% for 10 seconds and Major Endurance increasing stamina recovery for 20% over 10 seconds.

Gain Minor Beserk, increasing damage done by 8% for 10 seconds.

That seems just too much. Each of these 2 skills has too much in just 1 skill. Would definitely try it in pvp. Cleanse + magicka regen. Speed+ stam regen. Come on. Again, we'll see these running around rocks in Cyrodiil having endless sustain.

Vaoh wrote: »

• Savage Beast
Damaging an enemy with an Animal Companion ability grants 4 Ultimate. This effect has a cooldown of 8 seconds.

Again, if Major heroism wasn't enough - get 4 more ultimate every 8 seconds just because. While a NB can only get 2 ultimate in 8 seconds, because the only siphoning skill he uses in a rotation is Crippling Grasp, which is reapplied every 8 seconds.

Vaoh wrote: »

• Flourish
Increase your Magicka and Stamina recovery by 12% if an Animal Companion ability is slotted.

And you will have one slotted 100% - there's just no reason and nothing better than that growing swarm slotted for both recovery and ulti generation. Or betty/birds in PvP Or maybe that cliffracer if one of the morphs adds a dot.

---

If Warden was added like this in game right now, here's a build to go for a magicka DPS:

BSW x5, IA/moondancer x4, inferno vMA. Just like every other mage in game.

Main bar: Force Pulse, Growing Swarm, Elemental Blockade, Inner Light, Probably Crystallized Shield/Scalding Rune, Ulti: Sleet storm, morph that gives 8% magicka for being slotted.

Offbar: Trap/Guard, Scalding Rune/Crystallized shield, Flex, InnerLight, Birds of Prey for minor berserk?/flex, Ulti: Thunderous Rage.

Many flex slots to take advantage of passives - major toughness for the group in particular will probably be provided by a warden 100%.

Now as I said, lemme compare it with a NB, who has the same gear setup and very similar skill bars.

1) Force pulse hits harder, just cause.
2) Better sustain.
3) Providing Major Toughness to the group if needed or something else having a flex slot.
4) Same amount of magicka on the front bar if scalding rune goes there.
5) Much better ulti gen due to major heroism and Growing swarm ticking all the time compared to NBs 2 ulti per 8 seconds (the passive gives 2 per 4s, but if NB will insist on spamming Strife - he won't even get into a group because of very low DPS, which is lower than other existing classes in magicka builds anyway even with Force pulse), so he will drop ulti more often.

6) We could hope that the damage is balanced so that warden intentionally has less damage than magicka NB, especially seeing that warden has no execute, but no, ZOS specifically said that they want warden to be competitive DPS in trials, too.

So we see a class that will probably have more DPS (due to ulti gen, stronger force pulse and who knows how swarm scales) and better group utility. There would be no reason (already a case anyway) to take a NB dps in a group. His dps ceiling is already lower than what you can get with other classes. Now there's one more class with more group utility.

Let's hope that that lack of execute and swarms damage will be balanced so that warden's DPS is not higher than NB's (doubt it), but even that wouldnt' be enough. It has to be much lower for wardens not to be picked every time.

But let's see for PTS and numbers, of course.

So far - it's not looking good for magicka NBs. But definitely, the warden class looks very strong and fun to play. In solo or easy 4man dungeons can also use blue betty in the flex slot to get major sorcery without losing any of trial build skills and DPS(can't do that as a NB and have to drink expensive potions or slot Entropy and lose dps).

P.S. giving a mNB perspective as it's what I'm playing most of the time and seeing how it's still weaker than others even after that Path buff. Also the build is very rough of course as I didnt' see the actual numbers. Also, maybe would add another dot to a rotation (whatever's left doesn't looks that strong though but would need to test).

That's a looooong analysis there lol. Props on quoting so many separate sections!

It'd take me forever to respond to every remark, but I do have a few I gotta say:

- Wardens have been reported as seeming balanced in comparison to other classes by those who have played them (whom I've heard so far at least). They sound strong, but then again, remember what other classes offer. This new class will obviously see many tweaks but in general it looks very well thought out and awesome imo.
- Corrupting Pollen (Major Defile skill) might be a morph. It's also a stationary skill. It'll be nice for corridors but it's not the OP skill you may think it is.
- Warden *healers* will be very good. They were the intended healing class when ESO was being developed, but were apparently scrapped in Alpha or pre-Alpha. I can see organized groups running 1 Templar healer and 1 Warden healer everytime now to gain all of those useful group buffs, or perhaps a Warden Offtank instead of two DKs everytime.
- Warden Stamina and Magicka DPS sound nice, but we have no idea how they'll really turn out. At least they'll be unique and cool!

As for Magicka Nightblades, I feel it is rather simple to make them good and "wanted" or "needed" in raids with 2 simple buffs:
1. Allow Grim Focus's duration to reset when you fire off the proc, so it doesn't have to be recasted every 4 light attacks
2. Make enemies affected by Path of Darkness take 8% more Magic Damage done (similar to the DK group fire damage buff). Every trial group will have at least 1 Mag NB, and their DPS will absolutely increase and be on par.

Just my thoughts!

Gilliamtherogue

Vaoh wrote: »

Gilliamtherogue wrote: »

Paul and I added many morphs on the original thread from Miss Biz that you can read and add to your OP.

@Gilliamtherogue Are a bunch of the skills I listed as base skills actually morphs instead. For example - Expansive Ice Cloak

Correct, many of the skills capped from PAX were morphs, I have noted which ones I was 100% sure were base and which ones were morph options in the other thread.

Gilliamtherogue

I fixed which abilities were morphs and some of the added effects. @paulsimonps and @Deltia could probably help fill in anything

Vaoh wrote: »

***Note: These skills are in a pre-PTS state. They will most likely see significant changes. Some of these skills even have tooltip inconsistencies or badly written descriptions as well. Also, a handful of the "base skills" I've listed (such as Expansive Ice Cloak) are likely to be morphs. With that said, feel free to begin theorycrafting!

---

Warden

---

Winter's Embrace


Active Skills

Ult. Sleet Storm
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Area
Radius - 10 meters
Duration - 8 seconds
Cost - 200 Ultimate
All enemies near you are snared for 1 second, and take heavy X Frost Damage. Nearby allies gain Major Protection, reducing incoming damage by 30%.
Morph 1: Causes enemies who take 3-4 ticks of damage from this ability to become stunned/knocked down for a bit.
Morph 2: Passively grants 8% Max Magicka while slotted.

1. Arctic Wind
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Self
Duration - 10 second
Heal self for 11% of Max Health instantly and additional 2% Health every 2 seconds over 10 seconds.
Morph 1: Also deals AoE damage equal to the value healed.
Morph 2: Now heals an ally as well.

2. Ice Cloak (may be a morph)
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Area
Radius - 12 meters
Duration - 24 seconds
You and nearby allied gain Major Resolve, increasing Physical Resistance by 5280, and Major Ward, increasing Spell Resistance by 5280 for 24 seconds
Morph 1: Grants another buff to the caster.
Morph 2: Increases range to 28m for allied effect.

3. Impaling Shards
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Area
Radius - 6 meters
Duration - 10 seconds
Deal X Frost Damage to targets in the area every 1 second for 10 seconds. Targets become snared for 4 seconds.

Damage is done based on your Max Health.
Morph 1: Targets struck 4 times by this skill become rooted.
Morph 2: ?

4. Crystallized Shield
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Self
Cast Time - 6 seconds
Absorbs spell projectiles, restoring X Magicka. This can happen up to 3 times.
Morph 1: Now returns Stamina rather than Magicka.
Morph 2: Absorbing projectiles grants Major Heroism.

5. Frozen Gate
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Ground
Range - 28 meters
Radius - 5 meters
Duration - 30 seconds
Summon a portal on the ground, when an enemy runs over it they are teleported to you and rooted for 2 seconds. If the target is immune they will take X Frost Damage.

You can only have 1 active at a time and is removed after activation
Morph 1: Applies Major Maim for a short time to teleported enemies.
Morph 2: Allies may walk into the trap and activate a synergy to teleport to the Warden.


Passive Skills

• Glacial Presence
Increase chance of applying Chilled to enemies with Winter's Embrace abilities by 200%.

• Frozen Armor
Increase your Physical amd Spell Resistance by 500 for each Winter's Embrace abiliy slotted.

• Icy Aura
Reduce the effectiveness of snares applied to you by 15%

• Piercing Cold
Increase your Physical and Cold Damage by 6%

---

---

Green Balance


Active Skills

Ult. Healing Thicket
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Ground
Range - 28 meters
Radius - 8 meters
Duration - 6 seconds
Cost - 75 Ultimate
Instantly heals the lowest health ally in area by X, and then heals all allies in the area by X every 1 second over 6 seconds.

When effect ends Allies continue to recieve X healing over 4 seconds
Morph 1: Healing a low health ally returns 20 Ultimate.
Morph 2: Adds more healing over time.

1. Enchanted Growth
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Cone
Radius - 20 meters
Instantly grow a large area of mushrooms healing all allies in cone in front of you for X health.

Allies affected gain Minor Inteect and Minor Endurance, increasing Magicka and Stamina regeneration by 10% for 20 seconds.
Morph 1: ?
Morph 2: ?

2. Pollen (not real name)
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Ground
Range - 28 meters
Radius - 8 meters
Duration - 6 seconds
Summon a field of flowers which heals X Health after 6 seconds. Only 1 can be active at a time.


Allies may activate the Healing Seed synergy to gain an instant heal for X Health.
Morph 1: Synergy is stronger.
Morph 2: Enemies who enter the field will get Major Defile, reducing healing recieved by X% for 4 seconds.

3. Living Trellis
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Area
Area - 20 x 12 meters
Duration - 10 seconds
Grow vines to embrace you or the lowest health ally in front of you for 10 seconds. The vines heal the target for X health each time they take damage. This effect can occur once every 1 second.

When the vines expire, they heal the target for an additional X Health.

You can only have one Living Trellis active at a time.
Morph 1: Applies Minor Lifesteal to targets who damage allies within your Living Trellis.
Morph 2: ?

4. Lotus Blossom
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Area
Radius - 8 meters
Duration - 20 seconds
While active, 26% of damage caused by your Light and Heavy attacks also heal a nearby ally.

Caster also gains Major Prophecy, gaining Spell Critical by X for 20 seconds
Morph 1: Grants Major Savagery instead, increasing Weapon Critical.]/i]
Morph 2: ?

5. Nature's Embrace
Cast Time - Instant
Range - 22 meters
Pull yourself to a targeted ally. You and ally heal X every 1 second for 10 seconds.
Morph 1: Adds a burst heal once pulled.
Morph 2: ?


Passive Skills

• Nature's Gift
When Healing an ally with a Green Balance ability, gain 250 Magicka.

• Accelerated Growth
When healing an ally under 50% Health with a Green Balance ability, gain Major Mending, increasing your healing done by 25% for 8 seconds.

• Emerald Moss
Increase healing done by X% for each Green Balance ability slotted.

• Maturation
When healing an ally with a Green Balance ability, grant them Major Toughness increasing Max Health 10% for 20% seconds.

---

---

Animal Companions



Active Skills

Ult. Bear Guardian
Cast Time - 2.5 seconds
Target - Self
Summon a loyal grizzly to fight at your side. The grizzly's swipe deals X Magic Damage every 1 second until slain.

Once summoned, you can activate Guardian's Wrath for 75 Ultimate, causing X Magic Damage. targets under 25% health take 100% additional damage.
Morph 1: Increases execute damage value.
Morph 2: When killed the bear will instantly respawn, with a cooldown of 1 minute.

1. Cliff Racer
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Enemy
Range - 28 meters
Call a cliff racer to dive bomb the enemy, dealing X Magic Damage.
.
Morph 1:
If dealing damage from greater than 15m, deal 15% more damage
Morph 2: Converts into a Stamina skill.

2. Deep Fissure
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Area
Radius - 5 meters
Duration - 10 seconds
Summon a Haj Mota that charges ahead of you after 3 seconds and deals X Magic Damage to all enemies in its wake.


Morph 1: Also applies Major Fracture for 15 seconds and converts to a Stamina ability.
Morph 2: The first target hit is stunned for 3 seconds.

3. Flecherflies Swarm
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Enemy
Range - 28 meters
Radius - 10 meters
Duration - 10 seconds
Unleash a swarm of fletcherflies to relentlessly attack an enemy, dealing X Magic Damage over 10 seconds.


Morph 1: Can be recasted again before expiration to deal extra damage.
Morph 2: When ability ends, flecherflies infect up to 6 new targets.

4. Blue Betty
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Self
Duration - 25 seconds
Call a Betty Netch that restores X Magicka over 25 seconds. Gain Major Sorcery increasing spell damage by 20% for 30 seconds.

This ability also removes 1 negative effect.
Morph 1: Returns Stamina and grants Major Brutality instead. No longer purges.
Morph 2: ?

5. Bird of Prey
Cast Time - Instant
Target - Self
Duration - 10 seconds
Cater gains Major Expedition, increasing movement speed by 30% for 10 seconds and Major Endurance increasing stamina recovery for 20% over 10 seconds.


Morph 1: Gain Minor Beserk, increasing damage done by 8% for 10 seconds.
Morph 2: Also grants Minor Evasion (5% dodge chance).


Passive Skills

• Bond with Nature
When one of your animal companions is killed or unsummoned, you're restored 1386 Health.

• Savage Beast
Damaging an enemy with an Animal Companion ability grants 4 Ultimate. This effect has a cooldown of 8 seconds.

• Flourish
Increase your Magicka and Stamina recovery by 12% if an Animal Companion ability is slotted.

• Advanced Species
Increases your damage done for Animal Companion abilities by 2% for each Animal Companion ability slotted.

---

Should be much easier to read here than from the orginial link. Also big thank to @MissBizz who posted the pics of each Warden skill on her thread here.


Hope this helps! I'm hyped

Lynx7386

It's easy to cry op when just looking at, ability descriptions, but there's more to it than that.

Phatmattfu

Thanks to the Testers, PAX people for shedding some light and the OP for organizing.

It's really shaping up nicely. Can't wait to get my hands on one of these!

Vaoh

@Gilliamtherogue Wow tysm for that! You added things in very nicely. I only need to edit like 1 thing ("Ice Cloak" is probably Ice Fortress based on the magazine leak awhile ago) but anyway I'm gonna copy/paste that over my main post now

Artis

@Vaoh you're right, they might be balanced. I even found a place where. As you you see from my rough build for magicka Warden they have less offensive options + no execute. If ZOS wanted to, they could make them weaker to make up for so much utility.

But if their DPS is at least approximately equal to mNB, then tell me - why would anyone take a mNB? They are still the weakest + no utility, which hurts their popularity - just see leaderboards.

Either way, I'm not panicking just yet - we haven't even seen the PTS yet. And either way I can't afford not playing my NB. Already have too much achievement progress there, can't spend another 3 years just to catch up.

Orbital

Well every trial group is about to have a warden off tank!
This is so op it's stupid
Argonian warden tank incoming op heals for days

Vaoh

Artis wrote: »

@Vaoh you're right, they might be balanced. I even found a place where. As you you see from my rough build for magicka Warden they have less offensive options + no execute. If ZOS wanted to, they could make them weaker to make up for so much utility.

But if their DPS is at least approximately equal to mNB, then tell me - why would anyone take a mNB? They are still the weakest + no utility, which hurts their popularity - just see leaderboards.

Either way, I'm not panicking just yet - we haven't even seen the PTS yet. And either way I can't afford not playing my NB. Already have too much achievement progress there, can't spend another 3 years just to catch up.

Well I never said Mag NBs were in a very good place. Like I've said many times, Grim Focus should automatically restart its duration when you cast its proc. This alone may actually be enough.


Besides that, allowing Path of Darkness to apply a debuff to enemies which increases Magic Damage dealt to them would absolutely guarantee a spot for Mag NBs in trials again. A buff to Magic Damage like this would particularly boost DPS for Magicka NB and Magicka Templar. I honestly believe if those two changes were implemented to Magicka NBs, we would balance all of the Magical classes very nicely or at least much closer.

Stamina is the real area where we see a lack of viability though. Luckily they are all quite balanced amongst themselves since Homestead (even Stamplar and Stamblade). Because of this, Stamina needs a decently large buff but in way that supports PvE builds (not PvP) and which is not specific to class skill lines in order to make them wanted again. Some sort of stacking Critical Modifier/Weapon Damage would likely due the trick.

Joy_Division

After reading these descriptions, I can see why ZoS left a lot of tempalr skills crap like Eclipse and Healing Ritual.

wolfdoggie_ESO

Need Stamina ice attack morphs or i'll be sad little Warden. c.c Like for Impaling shards would be nice. Is there a useful Stamina ultimate as well?

roigseguib16_ESO

wolfdoggie_ESO wrote: »

Is there a useful Stamina ultimate as well?

Bear seems to have a Physical damage morph, the one with no respawn and higher execute damage!

Ep1kMalware

Honestly I'm not that impressed. Templar gives alot of the same bonuses. 'Balanced warrior' passivr gives 6% wd, temps give minor sorcery, etc. but nothing is concretr we wont know if it's solid or not until morrowind. Bit alot of the comments in this thread give me the im[ression that nobody reads the templar skill passives, which makes sense since most people suck at templar.

Idk, it looks like a decent heal tank build. But that's not really my thing. 8% dmg withojt a staff makes them very viable as a buff machine imo.

Leogon

Thank you @Vaoh! I can't wait to build both my magicka and stamina wardens.

paulsimonps

@Vaoh I just remember what the 2nd morph of Ice Fortress gave. Minor Protection. So the options are Larger Radius for the buff or minor protection for yourself.

Vaoh

@paulsimonps Ty! This thread is getting more and more updated overtime. Hopefully soon we'll have all of it soon enough.

I added the morph.