Build Advice Needed - Dark Elf Vampire Nightblade

Kaleidoscope

Hello experts,

Before I get started, note two things:
1. I've literally just made this ESO forum account to seek personalised advice so if I've posted in the wrong section, forgive me.
2. I've recently just returned to ESO from a 2 year break just before Morrowinf dropped so I'm a bit outdated, so again, forgive me.

Now, I'm relatively new to the MMORPG genre, but not to RPG's/Skyrim etc and I'm honestly a bit overwhelmed by the amount of freedom and build paths there are in this game so I'm seeking some personalised advice as to what the best build for my character and play style would be.

I'd started a new character once I'd picked up on ESO again and vowed to run a Magicka-based Dark Elf Nightblade Vampire as I think they sync together well.

I am currently level 18 and am struggling to find a build or path that's right for me. I have invested all of my attribute points into Magicka and recently contracted vampirism that's giving me a bit of grief (granted I'm not feeding, my own fault).

My play style is up close and personal, trying to deal as much damage as I can in short burst whilst keeping myself alive at the same time. Currently duel welding and using most of the assaination/siphoning/shadow abilities as I don't have the stamina for anything else. I have entertained the thought of respec back to stamina but the magicka based build appeals more to me for my vampirism.

With this, is anyone able to shed some detailed light on what might be best for my character, build and play style for PvE at this stage (PvP later when I'm comfortable).

Ive looked at multiple builds and am just really a bit overwhelmed and lost.

Thanks in advance!
Mike
GT: II Kaleidoscope (Xbox One)

Oreyn_Bearclaw

Since you are relatively low level, I wont jump into end game metas. The best advice is try to experiment with all your skills.
Nightblades have a very impressive toolkit, as they have a skill for almost everything.

As a magic NB, you are really going to have 2 possible basic play styles:

Ranged
The first is going to be a ranged destruction staff build. This is also the standard go to in PVE group content or trials. You main source of damage will be funnel health/swallow soul. This will allow you to kite enemies and passively heal while you do damage. The trick in ESO for most damage dealing is cast DOTs (damage over times) and Buffs, and then use your spam skill until they need recast.

NB skills worth mentioning for this type of build:
Funnel Health/Swallow Soul: This is a classic spammable. It's cheap, can be cast over and over from range, and heals you. This is an all around great skill. You could literally beat the entire main quest with just this if you put your mind to it.

Crippling Grasp: This is a standard single target DOT that also gives you a speed buff. You dont want to spam this, but cast it on cooldown. This can also help with kiting enemies around when you are low level:

Twisting Path: This is an AOE DOT. It works a lot like blockade below. Simply put it on the ground and keep your enemies inside it. The other morph, Refreshing Path, gives a heal, so it might be more useful at early levels.

Prolonged Suffering: Not something worth using in group content, but as others have said, it shortens the odds on a fight as you can basically lock down the most powerful player. For example, you see a group of a DW, Sword and Board and Healer. You can stun the DW, take out the healer (always take out the healer), while the tank hits you like a wet noodle, then kill the tank, and now deal with the DW without any of his buddies. As you get more comfortable, you can drop this.

Reapers Mark: This is a great solo skill, but again, not super valuable in group play in PVE. It debuffs your target (something a tank will do) and gives you a nice heal when the target dies (something your healer will do).

Merciless resolve: This is the main damage buff for a nightblade. Simply casting it and letting it run will increase all your damage. If you get off 5 light attacks, you proc a spectral bow that hits like a truck. This is very important to end game damage dealers.

Impale: This is a ranged execute. basically, this becomes your spam skill when a target is below 25% health. Maybe not necessary when solo, as most skill will kill something at that health range, but one bosses this is highly useful.

Siphoning Attacks: This is your main tool for resources. Keep this buff up as much as possible.

Non Class Skills worth Mentioning:

Annulment: Light armor skill, which is basically just a shield. You will need this in group content and REALLY helps with survival.

Elemental Blockade: Destro staff skill, this is a ground based AOE and DOT. Every magic build in the game runs this in PVE. It is insanely strong. Put this down and keep your enemies inside this.

Destructive Clench: Destro skill. Basically a single target DOT. Probably wont make your bars early on, but it is part of most peoples end game DPS rotation.

Melee

The OTHER way to play mNB is with a melee style build. This is most often used by Gankers in PVP, but can be very fun to play. This will play a little differently. Some of the above skills are still very strong, but this is typically played with DW so destro skills might not make the cut.

Some Skills:

Surprise attack: This will be your main source of damage. It hits hard, but you must be up close. It also gives you defense passives once you have the skill points.

Sap Essence: This skill is perhaps not as popular as it used to be because of the way lighting staffs work, but this is basically funnel health in all directions. It can be very handy when soloing bigger groups. Its an AOE spam that heals you.

Cloak: Most will say this is really not a pve skill, but its not the worst idea when learning and sneaking around.

Lotus Fan: This is a standard gap closer. Useful when you dont have ranged skills. It hits hard and snares, not a bad way to open.

Your back bar can either be a second destro staff or a resto staff when alone. As for gear, dont over think it when low level. Training is always the best trait until you are at the CP cap. Sets like Julianos, Seducer, Magnus will all work just fine.

GrumpyDuckling

Hi! For now, while you're leveling, I highly suggest focusing on the two following skills, which should be easily accessible and are bread and butter for surviving:

- Invigorating Drain
- Swallow Soul

These 2 skills will help you get health back and stun an enemy. These are other very helpful skills while leveling:

- Prolonged Suffering (I only suggest it while leveling because you can use it on an enemy and entirely take them out of combat for a long period of time. It's very helpful when taking on 3 opponents at once, because as long as you don't attack the same target that you use Prolonged Suffering on, then that target just remains bound to the ground unable to attack you, which allows you to turn a 3v1 into a 2v1)
- Cloak (helpful for sneaking past enemies you don't want to engage)
- Reaping Mark (awesome because killing the marked enemy gives you health and a damage boost)

Kaleidoscope

Thanks for the feedback, I'll definitely incorporate those now. Am I on the right path, build-wise? Doesn't feel like I'm dealing much damage duel-wielding.

Narvuntien

If you want to do more damage you'll want to use inferno staff. Dual wield is fine though, although you'll want specifically swords.

I am not sure if you are on morrowind or not. If you are on vvandenfel pick up and use the war madien set it is good for Mag nightblades. If you are on the base game perhaps get someone to make you a crafted seducer training set, that should help you. Willpower jewerly is also good for nightblades, people often just give away the low level ones.

Don't worry about damage, you are low level you don't have some of your strongest abilities yet or just not enough damage abilities yet.
Just practice your mechanics.
If you turn on the buff tracker under the combat menu you will see when your damage over time abilities end and you can re apply them that typically gives you a boost in damage when you never let them fall.

Xvorg

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

Melee

The OTHER way to play mNB is with a melee style build. This is most often used by Gankers in PVP, but can be very fun to play. This will play a little differently. Some of the above skills are still very strong, but this is typically played with DW so destro skills might not make the cut.

Some Skills:

Surprise attack: This will be your main source of damage. It hits hard, but you must be up close. It also gives you defense passives once you have the skill points.

Concealed Weapon. SA is stam based

Kaleidoscope

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

Since you are relatively low level, I wont jump into end game metas. The best advice is try to experiment with all your skills.
Nightblades have a very impressive toolkit, as they have a skill for almost everything.

As a magic NB, you are really going to have 2 possible basic play styles:

Ranged
The first is going to be a ranged destruction staff build. This is also the standard go to in PVE group content or trials. You main source of damage will be funnel health/swallow soul. This will allow you to kite enemies and passively heal while you do damage. The trick in ESO for most damage dealing is cast DOTs (damage over times) and Buffs, and then use your spam skill until they need recast.

NB skills worth mentioning for this type of build:
Funnel Health/Swallow Soul: This is a classic spammable. It's cheap, can be cast over and over from range, and heals you. This is an all around great skill. You could literally beat the entire main quest with just this if you put your mind to it.

Crippling Grasp: This is a standard single target DOT that also gives you a speed buff. You dont want to spam this, but cast it on cooldown. This can also help with kiting enemies around when you are low level:

Twisting Path: This is an AOE DOT. It works a lot like blockade below. Simply put it on the ground and keep your enemies inside it. The other morph, Refreshing Path, gives a heal, so it might be more useful at early levels.

Prolonged Suffering: Not something worth using in group content, but as others have said, it shortens the odds on a fight as you can basically lock down the most powerful player. For example, you see a group of a DW, Sword and Board and Healer. You can stun the DW, take out the healer (always take out the healer), while the tank hits you like a wet noodle, then kill the tank, and now deal with the DW without any of his buddies. As you get more comfortable, you can drop this.

Reapers Mark: This is a great solo skill, but again, not super valuable in group play in PVE. It debuffs your target (something a tank will do) and gives you a nice heal when the target dies (something your healer will do).

Merciless resolve: This is the main damage buff for a nightblade. Simply casting it and letting it run will increase all your damage. If you get off 5 light attacks, you proc a spectral bow that hits like a truck. This is very important to end game damage dealers.

Impale: This is a ranged execute. basically, this becomes your spam skill when a target is below 25% health. Maybe not necessary when solo, as most skill will kill something at that health range, but one bosses this is highly useful.

Siphoning Attacks: This is your main tool for resources. Keep this buff up as much as possible.

Non Class Skills worth Mentioning:

Annulment: Light armor skill, which is basically just a shield. You will need this in group content and REALLY helps with survival.

Elemental Blockade: Destro staff skill, this is a ground based AOE and DOT. Every magic build in the game runs this in PVE. It is insanely strong. Put this down and keep your enemies inside this.

Destructive Clench: Destro skill. Basically a single target DOT. Probably wont make your bars early on, but it is part of most peoples end game DPS rotation.

Melee

The OTHER way to play mNB is with a melee style build. This is most often used by Gankers in PVP, but can be very fun to play. This will play a little differently. Some of the above skills are still very strong, but this is typically played with DW so destro skills might not make the cut.

Some Skills:

Surprise attack: This will be your main source of damage. It hits hard, but you must be up close. It also gives you defense passives once you have the skill points.

Sap Essence: This skill is perhaps not as popular as it used to be because of the way lighting staffs work, but this is basically funnel health in all directions. It can be very handy when soloing bigger groups. Its an AOE spam that heals you.

Cloak: Most will say this is really not a pve skill, but its not the worst idea when learning and sneaking around.

Lotus Fan: This is a standard gap closer. Useful when you dont have ranged skills. It hits hard and snares, not a bad way to open.

Your back bar can either be a second destro staff or a resto staff when alone. As for gear, dont over think it when low level. Training is always the best trait until you are at the CP cap. Sets like Julianos, Seducer, Magnus will all work just fine.

This is absolutely amazing feedback. Thank you for taking the time to impart your knowledge and just typing all of that out in general (and to the others as well, all amazing feedback and has really set me on the right path)

Oreyn_Bearclaw

Xvorg wrote: »

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

Melee

The OTHER way to play mNB is with a melee style build. This is most often used by Gankers in PVP, but can be very fun to play. This will play a little differently. Some of the above skills are still very strong, but this is typically played with DW so destro skills might not make the cut.

Some Skills:

Surprise attack: This will be your main source of damage. It hits hard, but you must be up close. It also gives you defense passives once you have the skill points.

Concealed Weapon. SA is stam based

Yep, sorry, was doing that off the top of my head. Definitely want Concealed Weapon and not Surprise Attack if going magic. Also, to be clear, I highly recommend going with a staff build at low level, and really anytime in PVE. I did have fun running the melee build for a bit, but it's never going to do the damage of a staff build in PVE content.