Magicka VS Stamina

GoldParadox

So, we all know magicka is currently a better choice for DPS in the meta. Stamina just requires much more effort and mastering compared to magicka. The nerf to cruel furry was too harsh and not needed, because stamina builds were already not the best. The last nerf only hammered the last nail to the coffin, so to speak. For info, I've been playing Stamina Nightblade for the last 3 years, done all trials, vMA and vDSA and got flawless conqueror, so I know what I'm experiencing isn't just my imagination.

Your thoughts? Are magicka and stamina balanced? If not, how can ZOS improve on this aspect?

ESO balance be like

greylox

There's things certain mag builds can do that some Stam builds could only dream of, soloing vet dungeons is easy with pet sorc but stamplar....Lol, night and day.

Shields are why.

kylewwefan

Big nerf needs to come to the whole Destruction Staff line. The ultimate is op af. Wall of elements is a big reason magic builds are stronger AOE. Now you can aim pulsar and stand back to add more powerful AOE. Lightning staff melting everything and adding AOE...etc. and they can do the whole thing while standing 28 meter away, while adding strong self heals and huge magic shields.

Magic AOE builds are just as strong if not stronger than Stam Single target. This is a big problem for "Balance"

Caltrops, endless Hail and trap beast all added together might be strong as Wall of elements. Flurry is not strong enough without Maelstrom weapons. Same with endless hail.

Lynx7386

Wall of elements is fine imo. The destro ultimate is fine except for the morph that follows the caster, and that's only a problem in pvp.

Magic builds -should- have better area damage, imo. It's always been the place of mages in rpg settings to focus on area attacks.

The real problem with stamina right now is that it's single target damage isn't enough to warrant the lack of damage shields, aoe damage, utility, or range. Those are all things stamina has to give up, and for no real benefit.

Imo, uppercut and morphs should be made instant. 2h's primary shortcoming in pve is lack of sustain because you can't properly weave or animation cancel with its primary spamable. Cleave also needs to have the bleed removed and all the damage up front. Bleed procs from using axes should be more reliable and stronger.

Dual wield is in a mostly good spot for pve but just needs some improvements to overall single target damage to make it worth using over a magicka build. Personally I'd like to see the aoe morph of hidden blade changed to a melee range burst damage ability to help dw out in pvp. For pve, axe bleed passive needs to be improved just like for 2h.

Also wish they'd give bow an actual spammable. Give up draining shot/magnum shot for it, nobody really uses those. Would be nice if the 1h/sh line had at least one decent damage ability as well, maybe just buff power bash.

EldritchPenguin

Actually, I think Cruel Flurry getting nerfed is an important aspect of balancing between Magicka and Stamina. Reason being, Magicka builds can do without them, but Stamina builds desperately need them to be competitive.

Bottom line is that Stamina builds need to be brought up in ways that do not involve Maelstrom weapons. The grind to get them is prohibitively difficult, and making Stamina builds reliant on them by keeping Maelstrom weapons extremely powerful won't make Stamina builds on par with Magicka builds.

I'm more or less of the opinion that Stamina should deal much more single target than Magicka, but I wouldn't be opposed to buffing Hail to be basically on par with Blockade. I also think that they should lower the cast time and damage of Snipe to make it a proper spammable attack, since one of the other key disadvantages of Stamina builds is that they cannot fight at range.

Gulkrim-mur

Im just giggling to myself reading this as my stamplar hits 25k dps unbuffed.