Most viable and enjoyable stam build for new player?

Nebula9

Hi and thanks for reading.

Been messing about with different classes for a short while now and want to settle on a "main" to invest in.

I keep reading about the general superiority of magicka builds, but just find staves in ESO thoroughly unsatisfying. I just like the visceral "punch" of melee hits. So I feel like stamina is the better path for me. But one of the main challenges is knowing which class offers the most passives and stamina morphed option to best support a melee build.

A few preferences that I hope will result in some recommendations for what char to invest my time in:
- I prefer melee. Don't like ranged combat/kiting. I would be okay with ranged on a second weapon bar.
- I like to be busy in "active" combat (dodging, blocking, etc.).
- I prefer situational variety to a constantly repeated rotation.
- I enjoy CC and active healing.
- Don't like pets
- Don't need the "meta," but don't want to be gimped to the degree that groups will reject my char outright.
- More PvE than PvP, though will do a mix.
- Solo viability

I'm fully prepared for folks to wittily answer "magicka" to my request for the best stamina build. But I will feel compelled to go staff for damage/magicka regen, and I must have tried six staff builds, and I disliked them all.

Thanks in advance for your guidance.

Xvorg

Stam DK wearing witchman and hundings. Anytime you drop DBoS you get 10k stam and health back.

GrumpyDuckling

Xvorg wrote: »

Stam DK wearing witchman and hundings. Anytime you drop DBoS you get 10k stam and health back.

^Agreed. I had a similar setup where I paired Witchman's with Tava's Favor on 7 piece well-fitted medium armor. I dodge-rolled and Dragon Leaped for days. It was a lot of fun and paired really nice with the bow - but should be just as fine with melee.

Floki_Vilgerdarson

Orc race for the Mele bonus etc.

Xvorg

GrumpyDuckling wrote: »

Xvorg wrote: »

Stam DK wearing witchman and hundings. Anytime you drop DBoS you get 10k stam and health back.

^Agreed. I had a similar setup where I paired Witchman's with Tava's Favor on 7 piece well-fitted medium armor. I dodge-rolled and Dragon Leaped for days. It was a lot of fun and paired really nice with the bow - but should be just as fine with melee.

Yup

Hide of the WW is a good option, but you need to take dmg

Another good choice in witchman + bloodspawn + Potentates. Faster ulti gen

GrumpyDuckling

Nebula9 wrote: »

Hi and thanks for reading.

Been messing about with different classes for a short while now and want to settle on a "main" to invest in.

I keep reading about the general superiority of magicka builds, but just find staves in ESO thoroughly unsatisfying. I just like the visceral "punch" of melee hits. So I feel like stamina is the better path for me. But one of the main challenges is knowing which class offers the most passives and stamina morphed option to best support a melee build.

A few preferences that I hope will result in some recommendations for what char to invest my time in:
- I prefer melee. Don't like ranged combat/kiting. I would be okay with ranged on a second weapon bar.
- I like to be busy in "active" combat (dodging, blocking, etc.).
- I prefer situational variety to a constantly repeated rotation.
- I enjoy CC and active healing.
- Don't like pets
- Don't need the "meta," but don't want to be gimped to the degree that groups will reject my char outright.
- More PvE than PvP, though will do a mix.
- Solo viability

I'm fully prepared for folks to wittily answer "magicka" to my request for the best stamina build. But I will feel compelled to go staff for damage/magicka regen, and I must have tried six staff builds, and I disliked them all.

Thanks in advance for your guidance.

Another build worth considering for what you mentioned above is a Sword and Board Stamina Templar with the following setup, or something similar:

5 piece Dreugh King Slayer
5 piece Briarheart
2 piece Selene

- Dreugh King gives you major brutality at all times + major expedition upon kills.
- Biting Jabs gives you major prophecy and is clutch in Briarheart proc.
- Briarheart procs heal and give damage boost.
- Selene helps with burst.
- Beautiful CC with Binding Javelin.

The beautiful thing about the build is that you are opening up a lot of slots for skills because your Major Brutality and Major Savagery are taken care of by your armor and main damage skill. You get a lot of versatility in this build.

Other options to consider:
- Sellistrix instead of Selene's for group CC.
- Ravager set instead of Dreugh King on Dual Wield for even more damage.
- Run 2H on your back bar and you'll get Rally, so you don't need Dreugh King.

Darlgon

New player? Stam build?

Personally, my stam character works on Destro and Healing sticks early, when they take less points to level and mobs hit like wet tilet paper.. I will always be using the stam weapons later.

GrumpyDuckling

Nebula9 wrote: »

Excellent recommendations, thank you.

What about race? Orc was mentioned for the melee bonus. I like orc. But is redguard preferable or do you have enough sustain as is?

Also, one vote for sword and shield stamplar. Others were all DK. Is that with dual wield setups? Is 2H remotely viable?

Finally, nobody raised stamblade. Out of the picture? I heard NB can actually tank fairly well. Not true or is that magblade?

Thanks again! Hoping for further guidance.

I always suggest picking your favorite race, if you have one. Orc, Redguard, Nord, and Imperial are stam-heavy, tank options with passives that will fit your style.

Stamblade can be fun because you have added misdirection and utility options, but it's probably the hardest build to keep alive in end-game content - especially if you're looking to do some solo play.

When you look at the skills for each class, which class appears to have the skills that look the most fun? This might help you find the class that fits you best for the long haul - because you'll definitely want to have fun while experiencing this very grindy game.

GrumpyDuckling

Nebula9 wrote: »

GrumpyDuckling wrote: »

When you look at the skills for each class, which class appears to have the skills that look the most fun? This might help you find the class that fits you best for the long haul - because you'll definitely want to have fun while experiencing this very grindy game.

Reading through the skills, I suppose I'd have to lean DK. At the same time, it's hard to know which class and stamina or magicka combo will offer the most complex, varied, active and engaging play, which is what I find fun. This speaks directly to your point about this, like almost all MMOs, being a very grindy game. I'm trying to make the grind as involving, interesting and rewarding as possible.

This is why I favor an engaging and varying skill set -- ideally changed up some for different situations -- over, say, pure DPS from one never-changing, endlessly repeated rotation. That said, I don't want a character that can't handle solo content and/or will instantly get rejected by groups headed to fun group PvE content. So that's the challenge I'm seeking guidance for... What's both the most involving and viable (especially for a new player who will have to earn all his gear) char in ESO (with the caveat that I really dislike the feel of ESO's staves). If I had the option to attack, shield, dodge, heal self, CC, attack, etc., and achieve sound performance, that's the kind of play I'm looking for.

Thanks very much for the insight.

The more you describe what you'd like to do, the more I think you're making a good choice with Dragonknight. While leveling, you can even work towards a hybrid (which can be helpful while leveling and transitions well into end-game tanking). You can use Magicka for skills and healing, and Stamina for blocking and dodge rolling. Here are a couple low level morph recommendations while you level:

Single Target
- Burning Ember (dot with a heal at the end - and you can apply it to multiple targets at the same time)
- Obsidian Shard (CC and heal)

AOE
- Burning Talons (group dot and immobilize)
- Volatile Armor (defensive buff and dot on enemies)

All of these skills will use magicka, and then you can use your stamina for timely blocking, heavy/light attacks, and dodge rolls. Hope this helps. By the way, Dragon Leap is one of the most fun ultimates to use in the game - you'll have a blast!

Asardes

As a side note no stamina class is really enjoyable until you get vigor from PvP. There's really no replacement for that.

Nebula9

Excellent recommendations, thank you.

What about race? Orc was mentioned for the melee bonus. I like orc. But is redguard preferable or do you have enough sustain as is?

Also, one vote for sword and shield stamplar. Others were all DK. Is that with dual wield setups? Is 2H remotely viable?

Finally, nobody raised stamblade. Out of the picture? I heard NB can actually tank fairly well. Not true or is that magblade?

Thanks again! Hoping for further guidance.

Nebula9

GrumpyDuckling wrote: »

When you look at the skills for each class, which class appears to have the skills that look the most fun? This might help you find the class that fits you best for the long haul - because you'll definitely want to have fun while experiencing this very grindy game.

Reading through the skills, I suppose I'd have to lean DK. At the same time, it's hard to know which class and stamina or magicka combo will offer the most complex, varied, active and engaging play, which is what I find fun. This speaks directly to your point about this, like almost all MMOs, being a very grindy game. I'm trying to make the grind as involving, interesting and rewarding as possible.

This is why I favor an engaging and varying skill set -- ideally changed up some for different situations -- over, say, pure DPS from one never-changing, endlessly repeated rotation. That said, I don't want a character that can't handle solo content and/or will instantly get rejected by groups headed to fun group PvE content. So that's the challenge I'm seeking guidance for... What's both the most involving and viable (especially for a new player who will have to earn all his gear) char in ESO (with the caveat that I really dislike the feel of ESO's staves). If I had the option to attack, shield, dodge, heal self, CC, attack, etc., and achieve sound performance, that's the kind of play I'm looking for.

Thanks very much for the insight.

Nebula9

GrumpyDuckling wrote: »

The more you describe what you'd like to do, the more I think you're making a good choice with Dragonknight. While leveling, you can even work towards a hybrid (which can be helpful while leveling and transitions well into end-game tanking). You can use Magicka for skills and healing, and Stamina for blocking and dodge rolling. Here are a couple low level morph recommendations while you level:

Single Target
- Burning Ember (dot with a heal at the end - and you can apply it to multiple targets at the same time)
- Obsidian Shard (CC and heal)

AOE
- Burning Talons (group dot and immobilize)
- Volatile Armor (defensive buff and dot on enemies)

All of these skills will use magicka, and then you can use your stamina for timely blocking, heavy/light attacks, and dodge rolls. Hope this helps. By the way, Dragon Leap is one of the most fun ultimates to use in the game - you'll have a blast!

Extremely helpful. Really appreciate your truly reflecting on what I'm looking for. This is precisely what I had in mind. DK it is.

I guess I'll also have to look into the PvP requirements for Vigor.

Asardes

Note that most of your abilities damage and healing scales of either spell damage and are affected by spell critical if they use magicka or maximum magicka and or weapon damage and maximum stamina and are affected by weapon critical if they consume stamina. That's why hybrid builds are not a good idea. Most time survival is about killing mobs fast. If you can't kill them you will run out of resources and die anyway. That's why is best to spec in either stamina or magicka and pick the morphs that scale of that resource. Ex. Venom Claw on stamDK and surprise attack on stamNB.

Xvorg

Nebula9 wrote: »

Excellent recommendations, thank you.

What about race? Orc was mentioned for the melee bonus. I like orc. But is redguard preferable or do you have enough sustain as is?

Also, one vote for sword and shield stamplar. Others were all DK. Is that with dual wield setups? Is 2H remotely viable?

Finally, nobody raised stamblade. Out of the picture? I heard NB can actually tank fairly well. Not true or is that magblade?

Thanks again! Hoping for further guidance.

DW DK is hard to master in pvp (imho the hardest build in the game)since it has no reliable gap closer, so you end up burning your stam pool running. But you can try a set up with chains if you learn how to use them. 2H and S/B are good options because they have great gap closers. There's another gap closer in silver leash (FG skill line) which has a nice effect (dmg on pull) but you have to learn how to use it: you need to fire it twice. Since the first hit is a 28 mts projectile, it can be a pain in the *, because the second effect (pull) only works at 22mts. But is not that bad, since you can use the pull after using other skills (could be slotted in both bars, one for ranged dmg and the other for the gap closer)

gecimokus

GrumpyDuckling wrote: »

Nebula9 wrote: »

Hi and thanks for reading.

Been messing about with different classes for a short while now and want to settle on a "main" to invest in.

I keep reading about the general superiority of magicka builds, but just find staves in ESO thoroughly unsatisfying. I just like the visceral "punch" of melee hits. So I feel like stamina is the better path for me. But one of the main challenges is knowing which class offers the most passives and stamina morphed option to best support a melee build.

A few preferences that I hope will result in some recommendations for what char to invest my time in:
- I prefer melee. Don't like ranged combat/kiting. I would be okay with ranged on a second weapon bar.
- I like to be busy in "active" combat (dodging, blocking, etc.).
- I prefer situational variety to a constantly repeated rotation.
- I enjoy CC and active healing.
- Don't like pets
- Don't need the "meta," but don't want to be gimped to the degree that groups will reject my char outright.
- More PvE than PvP, though will do a mix.
- Solo viability

I'm fully prepared for folks to wittily answer "magicka" to my request for the best stamina build. But I will feel compelled to go staff for damage/magicka regen, and I must have tried six staff builds, and I disliked them all.

Thanks in advance for your guidance.

Another build worth considering for what you mentioned above is a Sword and Board Stamina Templar with the following setup, or something similar:

5 piece Dreugh King Slayer
5 piece Briarheart
2 piece Selene

- Dreugh King gives you major brutality at all times + major expedition upon kills.
- Biting Jabs gives you major prophecy and is clutch in Briarheart proc.
- Briarheart procs heal and give damage boost.
- Selene helps with burst.
- Beautiful CC with Binding Javelin.

The beautiful thing about the build is that you are opening up a lot of slots for skills because your Major Brutality and Major Savagery are taken care of by your armor and main damage skill. You get a lot of versatility in this build.

Other options to consider:
- Sellistrix instead of Selene's for group CC.
- Ravager set instead of Dreugh King on Dual Wield for even more damage.
- Run 2H on your back bar and you'll get Rally, so you don't need Dreugh King.

I know guys it might be a silly question . But when u wear the set above Dreugh king and u activate rally on 2 h weapon. Does it multiple the 20%extra weapon damage or it doesnt do anything at all?

GiuEliN0

gecimokus wrote: »

I know guys it might be a silly question . But when u wear the set above Dreugh king and u activate rally on 2 h weapon. Does it multiple the 20%extra weapon damage or it doesnt do anything at all?

U already get the same buff from the armour so will do nothing

Stannum

What role are you going to play? What you discribed is good for PvP. But in PvE (group) you will be ineffective as DPS. You still can go as PvE Tank but if you want to do good damage and self-healing warden is good choise (but warden still lack of good CC).