vMA Build Advice

Oakclaw

Hello,

I've been searching for vMA builds for my DK. The problem I'm encountering is that every guide/build I find is made for someone at max veteran rank or someone that already has vMA gear.

Are there any guides or builds for someone without amazing gear and new to vMA? I'm currently rank 325 and would prefer to stay Magicka based if possible but will change if needed.

All help is appreciated.

Beardimus

vMA first clear is more about learning the mechanics, and your skills, auto healing, defence etc than gear, in my opinion. CP does help, but you can overcome it.

I dont know about much about DK's, but something like Julianos / Will power &. Monster Helm does the trick on other mag classes.

You need decent damage output to kill stuff, and tap I to whatever auto healing skill DK's use. Then you need to focus on what's killing you and beat those mechanics.

wakeyjimb16_ESO

I'm at a very similar level to you OP (same class and nearly same CP). Finally dipped my toe into VMA and it's fairly intimidating compared to the normal version. I'd built for Sustain and DPS whereas previously I'd stacked too much health but I fear I've gone too far. Rarely short on Mag (and never Stam) on my latest attempts but basic Health is around 16K (which looks to be way too low, especially for early attempts).

Can anyone recommend any decent 'progression' sets to get a nice balance (i.e. stuff I can use whilst I'm getting hold of better gear). Generally prefer Heavy to get the comfort blanket of survivability over max raw DPS from light (I know I'm probably gimping myself to an extent).

Currently running Julianos, Seducer and Willpower. All 3 is almost certainly overkill.

Joy_Division

vMA is just about learning the mechanics. The DPS gear you do dungeons for will be fine.

@Alcast has a video for 300 CP players https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2AfUHqmK7g&t=483s

He used: 5x Seducer, 3x Julianos, 3x Willpower.

Oreyn_Bearclaw

I will just put this out there. Props on wanting to dive into the arena, but magic DK is one of the tougher clears. It is absolutely doable at your CP level, and as others have said, you really don't need fancy gear. One reason alcast runs sustain sets like seducer is that DKs can struggle with resources in there (dont hoard your ultimates).

VMA really is more about learning the place the first few runs. If you have access to a Magic Sorc or Magic Nighblade, that process is significantly easier. Otherwise, good luck. Don't be afraid to use sigils. A lot of people dont realize it, but the speed sigil increases all stat regen, which can be very handy on a DK, and since you dont really have the passive heals of other classes, the healing sigil can be very nice as well.

wakeyjimb16_ESO wrote: »

I'm at a very similar level to you OP (same class and nearly same CP). Finally dipped my toe into VMA and it's fairly intimidating compared to the normal version. I'd built for Sustain and DPS whereas previously I'd stacked too much health but I fear I've gone too far. Rarely short on Mag (and never Stam) on my latest attempts but basic Health is around 16K (which looks to be way too low, especially for early attempts).

Can anyone recommend any decent 'progression' sets to get a nice balance (i.e. stuff I can use whilst I'm getting hold of better gear). Generally prefer Heavy to get the comfort blanket of survivability over max raw DPS from light (I know I'm probably gimping myself to an extent).

Currently running Julianos, Seducer and Willpower. All 3 is almost certainly overkill.

If you really want to wear heavy in there, I would give rattlecage a shot. I actually did a few runs with it on my DK a few months back. I prefer more of a min/max damage approach, but I could see rattlecage being very strong for people on their first few clears. You get tankiness, pretty solid damage, and you dont have to worry about spell pots or keeping a buff up for major sorcery.