Magicka NB - Burst Damage

vpy

Hi,

I am at CP 110 with my Stam NB (2H/DW) and so far having blast (pun intended).
2H's heavy burst + AOE awesomeness of DW are highly incredible but lately I have been missing the sneaky aspect of my Mag Blade.
As Stam NB my DPS is somewhere around 10k even while questing (Epic weapons equipped)

This is my Mag Blade setup



I used to run with double destro staff (Bar 1: Flame (mostly single target spells) Bar2 : Lightning (AOE)) but I can peak around 6k dps and I am not seeing the "burst" damage from my Mag blade when compared to Stam NB.

My question is it possible to have a burst spec for Mag Blade and if my abilities need to be changed to get burst do advise so...or is Mag Blade mainly for slow AOE dotting alone ??
I do have few extra abilities to provide me healing/surv as I dont have resto off bar.

Tx

leepalmer95

vpy wrote: »

Hi,

I am at CP 110 with my Stam NB (2H/DW) and so far having blast (pun intended).
2H's heavy burst + AOE awesomeness of DW are highly incredible but lately I have been missing the sneaky aspect of my Mag Blade.
As Stam NB my DPS is somewhere around 10k even while questing (Epic weapons equipped)

This is my Mag Blade setup



I used to run with double destro staff (Bar 1: Flame (mostly single target spells) Bar2 : Lightning (AOE)) but I can peak around 6k dps and I am not seeing the "burst" damage from my Mag blade when compared to Stam NB.

My question is it possible to have a burst spec for Mag Blade and if my abilities need to be changed to get burst do advise so...or is Mag Blade mainly for slow AOE dotting alone ??
I do have few extra abilities to provide me healing/surv as I dont have resto off bar.

Tx

Pve?

Use some aoe, the nb magicka aoe that deals dmg, use wall of elements destro aoe
Use merciless resolves to get burst.

Knootewoot

For PvE single target I get (without animation cancelling because I suck at it) around 15k dps at bosses.

All I use then is destroy staff medium attack weaved with swallow soul and the occasional merciless resolve. I use magicka drain+siphoning attacks for sustain and wear grothdar and am therefore in melee range. I also use sap essence once in a while to get major sorcery.

I could get more dps if I used some dots like cripple and entropy but I did not have room for those.

I wear Warmaiden+Shacklebreaker and grothdar in PvE.

Huyen

Seems to me you got 2 spammable attacks on your main (fire) bar wich isnt handy. Either go with the Swallow Soul, or the destro-staff one, dont use both.

Flameheart

vpy wrote: »

Hi,

I am at CP 110 with my Stam NB (2H/DW) and so far having blast (pun intended).
2H's heavy burst + AOE awesomeness of DW are highly incredible but lately I have been missing the sneaky aspect of my Mag Blade.
As Stam NB my DPS is somewhere around 10k even while questing (Epic weapons equipped)

This is my Mag Blade setup



I used to run with double destro staff (Bar 1: Flame (mostly single target spells) Bar2 : Lightning (AOE)) but I can peak around 6k dps and I am not seeing the "burst" damage from my Mag blade when compared to Stam NB.

My question is it possible to have a burst spec for Mag Blade and if my abilities need to be changed to get burst do advise so...or is Mag Blade mainly for slow AOE dotting alone ??
I do have few extra abilities to provide me healing/surv as I dont have resto off bar.

Tx

If this is for PvE, those are real strange bars...In PvE your goal is not burst damage, it's high damage per second (dps)

You have 3 single target spam skills on your first bar and 2 AoE spam skills on your second, thats totally counter productive because you are able to use just one instant spam skill at a time and it takes away slots for damage over time skills or other usefull stuff (dots).


You might use 2 different bar setups, depending on the gear you wear. I presuppose that you play your magblade as ranged DD.

1) Scathing Mage (+ 3 or 4 pieces Aether / Moondancer for Minor Slayer, Ilambris):

Bar 1 (flame staff): Merciless Resolve / Force Pulse / Crippling Grasp / Inner Light / Elemental Blockade / Shooting Star
Bar 2 (lightning staff): Siphoning Attacks / Impale / Twisting Path / Jokerslot (Inner Light, Harness Magicka) / Sap Essence / Soul Harvest

You might make you two bar setups for the second bar in Dressing Room / Alpha Gear, one with Sap Essence for AoE Encounters, one without and maybe with Harness Magicka as a replacement for single target dps.

2) Julianos or War Maiden (+ 3 or 4 pieces Aether / Moondancer for Minor Slayer, Nerieneth or Valkyn):

Almost the same, except that you use Funnel Health / Swallow Soul as spam skill and a different undaunted set.

There are several modifications of the above builds. I know people who do not bother anymore with Soul Harvest, but slot Elemental Rage for more AoE dps on your second (lightning staff) bar, because Elemental rage itself counts as Destruction Staff skill. In addition you might slot Impale on your first bar (fire staff) for even more single target damage from it (8%) by switching it with Elemental Blockade.

You have to weave LAs between your dots and In addition you have to do a heavy attack with your lightning staff in your rotation.

A guild friend is able to acieve 39k+ dps on the target dummy with the Scathing Mage / Elemental rage setup.

The art is to get 5 attacks for Assassin's Will from Merciless Resolve and being on the right bar at the right time to execute it.

laksikus

Some truths and some crap.
If you have lightning staff slotted you dont need sap essence
And most people dropped force Pulse for funnel cos funnel is cheaper with more dps

And how the *** do you think a cp 110 would be able to get moondancer juwelry or even moondancer staffs?

Flameheart

laksikus wrote: »

Some truths and some crap.
If you have lightning staff slotted you dont need sap essence
And most people dropped force Pulse for funnel cos funnel is cheaper with more dps

And how the *** do you think a cp 110 would be able to get moondancer juwelry or even moondancer staffs?

Sap Essence is still a nice AoE dps skill with included self healing. It has a larger range as just lightning staff heavies. You can't spam it anymore for eternity but it's good enough for solo and 4-man-stuff and if you have a tank that is not that good at piling up mobs (almost 80% of all tanks I encounter in PUGs have no clue to do that imho). It's a joker slot, you can replace it with Harness especially in single target fights.

Force Pulse still works. Only because Mashinate uses Funnel on Tamriel Foundry, doesn't mean there aren't other options. Force Pulse affects your Ilambris and somewhat your Scathing Mage procs and it is sustainable for the most bosses.

I missed the 110 CP, but ok, then he should go with Julianos and some crafted helm, shoulders and weapons and some random jewelry. As another crafted set every magicka set might do it (Seducer, Mara etc.). To be honest from his post it's pretty confusing to get a clue for what he was asking in general (burst? PvP? soloplay ? duelling ?).

On the other side, oh wise man, why should I tell you that ? Seems as if you lurk in the forum shadows - allknowing - to call other posts crap.

laksikus

Flameheart wrote: »

laksikus wrote: »

Some truths and some crap.
If you have lightning staff slotted you dont need sap essence
And most people dropped force Pulse for funnel cos funnel is cheaper with more dps

And how the *** do you think a cp 110 would be able to get moondancer juwelry or even moondancer staffs?

Sap Essence is still a nice AoE dps skill with included self healing. It has a larger range as just lightning staff heavies. You can't spam it anymore for eternity but it's good enough for solo and 4-man-stuff and if you have a tank that is not that good at piling up mobs (almost 80% of all tanks I encounter in PUGs have no clue to do that imho). It's a joker slot, you can replace it with Harness especially in single target fights.

Force Pulse still works. Only because Mashinate uses Funnel on Tamriel Foundry, doesn't mean there aren't other options. Force Pulse affects your Ilambris and somewhat your Scathing Mage procs and it is sustainable for the most bosses.

I missed the 110 CP, but ok, then he should go with Julianos and some crafted helm, shoulders and weapons and some random jewelry. As another crafted set every magicka set might do it (Seducer, Mara etc.).

On the other side, oh wise man, why should I tell you that ? Seems as if you lurk in the forum shadows - allknowing - to call other posts crap.

i main a mabnb for more than 2 years now, i dont need a mashinate to tell me whats good.

1. your bar setup doesnt have destro abilities on both bars, missing alot dps that way, swapping soul harvest on back bar to destro ult is a bad idea cos you want it for op ulti regen, that leaves only elemental blockade to slot on back bar

2. you want elemental on back bar anyway, so you get the enchant or poison proc on mainbar for more dps

3. Ilambris is quite weak on magblade, skoria is handy for extra health too and can outperform grothdar. Nerieneth is a joke

4. even concealed weapon hits harder than force pulse at the same cost. 1,5k more tooltip damage. But thats sstill not worth sloting it over funnel which is 700 mag cheaper

5. refreshing is OP for any content were you dont have a reliable healer. so anything apart trials and dungeons with a good guild group. I would take that anytime over twisting on low cp. Scathing doesnt proc of refreshing and war maiden doesnt affect your own healing, which is quite alot even without refreshing.

Flameheart

laksikus wrote: »

Flameheart wrote: »

laksikus wrote: »

Some truths and some crap.
If you have lightning staff slotted you dont need sap essence
And most people dropped force Pulse for funnel cos funnel is cheaper with more dps

And how the *** do you think a cp 110 would be able to get moondancer juwelry or even moondancer staffs?

Sap Essence is still a nice AoE dps skill with included self healing. It has a larger range as just lightning staff heavies. You can't spam it anymore for eternity but it's good enough for solo and 4-man-stuff and if you have a tank that is not that good at piling up mobs (almost 80% of all tanks I encounter in PUGs have no clue to do that imho). It's a joker slot, you can replace it with Harness especially in single target fights.

Force Pulse still works. Only because Mashinate uses Funnel on Tamriel Foundry, doesn't mean there aren't other options. Force Pulse affects your Ilambris and somewhat your Scathing Mage procs and it is sustainable for the most bosses.

I missed the 110 CP, but ok, then he should go with Julianos and some crafted helm, shoulders and weapons and some random jewelry. As another crafted set every magicka set might do it (Seducer, Mara etc.).

On the other side, oh wise man, why should I tell you that ? Seems as if you lurk in the forum shadows - allknowing - to call other posts crap.

i main a mabnb for more than 2 years now, i dont need a mashinate to tell me whats good.

1. your bar setup doesnt have destro abilities on both bars, missing alot dps that way, swapping soul harvest on back bar to destro ult is a bad idea cos you want it for op ulti regen, that leaves only elemental blockade to slot on back bar

2. you want elemental on back bar anyway, so you get the enchant or poison proc on mainbar for more dps

3. Ilambris is quite weak on magblade, skoria is handy for extra health too and can outperform grothdar. Nerieneth is a joke

4. even concealed weapon hits harder than force pulse at the same cost. 1,5k more tooltip damage. But thats sstill not worth sloting it over funnel which is 700 mag cheaper

5. refreshing is OP for any content were you dont have a reliable healer. so anything apart trials and dungeons with a good guild group. I would take that anytime over twisting on low cp. Scathing doesnt proc of refreshing and war maiden doesnt affect your own healing, which is quite alot even without refreshing.

to 1. it was an ad hoc build, surely you can go with Elemental Rage on the second bar for a destruction skill on each bar. When you read carefully you will recognize that in my above post. You can even switch Elemental Blockade to bar 2 and Rage to 1 and switch the staffs. Some peope just find it handy to have Blockade on bar 1, some want all dots on bar 2. Just personal comfortness. At best it would even be, that Impale is on that bar where your Fire staff is. From the sort of question the TO placed here I wasn't convinced that he asked for the meta trial build.

to 3. As I said - in my post above - there are different options and alternatives. Sure Valkyn is better as Nerieneth, but it depends on what the TO has. Between nothing and Nerieneth, Nerieneth is still the better option.

to 4. Force Pulse counts as 3 attacks which can independently proc Scathing Mage on crit for higher uptimes and Ilambris. Both forms of Ilambris procs can run simultanously (the fire and the lightning form). Usually it's 2 crits out of that 3 attacks. I know your option and it's surely not a bad one, but better ? Maybe equal. For a CP 110 I admit that Funnel might be better for self heals and without much points into sustain CP stars. I admit that your build is easier to sustain.

to 5. Exactly because Scathing does not proc on Refreshing you should use twisting, but I agree for 110 CP and for solo and PUG stuff Refreshing is better. War Maiden is easy to get, it's just an option.

Maybe we agree on the fact that TOs should ask questions in a useful and understandable form.

The magblade was once my main, but due to the lack of ranged slots in our raid group I have to play a magDK now. Somebody has to pull the adds in vMoL.

PS4_ZeColmeia

vpy wrote: »

Hi,

I am at CP 110 with my Stam NB (2H/DW) and so far having blast (pun intended).
2H's heavy burst + AOE awesomeness of DW are highly incredible but lately I have been missing the sneaky aspect of my Mag Blade.
As Stam NB my DPS is somewhere around 10k even while questing (Epic weapons equipped)

This is my Mag Blade setup



I used to run with double destro staff (Bar 1: Flame (mostly single target spells) Bar2 : Lightning (AOE)) but I can peak around 6k dps and I am not seeing the "burst" damage from my Mag blade when compared to Stam NB.

My question is it possible to have a burst spec for Mag Blade and if my abilities need to be changed to get burst do advise so...or is Mag Blade mainly for slow AOE dotting alone ??
I do have few extra abilities to provide me healing/surv as I dont have resto off bar.

Tx

Personally, I'd change concealed weapon to lotus fan or merciless resolve, and I would put either baleful mist or blur instead of the LA bubble. My reasoning:

Single target bar: concealed weapon is good burst but is very expensive when paired with shadowy disguise. You will likely only use this as an opener. The off balance can be achieved with lightning staff so I would do that instead for the damage bonus. Merciless will give burst and overall damage increase, lotus will give a gap closer and add to your aoe damage all in one.

AOE bar: The LA bubble is nice on certain bosses, but if the idea is to reduce damage while sitting in the ground AOE, blur will give you minor and major protection when used in conjunction with path morph (I would make sure to go 2HA/1 LA or switch to 5HA/1/1) or you use baleful mist to add another hit while taking less damage. Baleful Mist is better with HA since you can pop out with a heavy attack and get the most return possible since your magicka doesn't regen while in mist form.

BigBadVolk

Atm I'd recommend for first bar : Merciless - impale - funnel/swallow (if you have a good healer friend/guildmate) - wall of elements - Soul Harvest (and its mainly inferno bar)
back bar: siphoning - cripple - harness for bosses/sap for adds - twisting/refreshing . plus inner light on both bars second ulti is destro ult because its *** op in PVE
for gear at cp 110 I'd recommend Julianos over Scathing, and when you reach 160 began to farm Scathing ez to get a group nowadays for nICP.
Also Force Pulsi only for group dungeons and nTrials there it is sustainable, but if you plan to do vTrials one day swap it for funnel or swallow because you'll just run dry there in a half second or so at least with inexperienced groups, but even maybe in better groups, and you will rely on has which is a huge dps loss for magblades.
Edit: Monster set: If you're mellee run grothdarr if you're ranged Skoria and Ilambris. Ilambris only gives you 2-3k more dps.

supaskrub

Flameheart wrote: »

The art is to get 5 attacks for Assassin's Will from Merciless Resolve and being on the right bar at the right time to execute it.

Five attacks from assassins will is not an art, it is an out and out dps loss and apart from that it is almost nigh impossible to pull off five spectral bow shots from one cast even on a static dummy (infact i have never heard of anyone who can put 5 assassins will together from one 20 second cast of merciless resolve, 4 yes and only just and with no time to do anything else, but 5 i find almost unbelievable. but never say never so i give you the benefit of the doubt).

The best way by far is to aim for 2-3 procs of spectral bow during one cast of merciless resolve, this gives plenty of time to reapply your dots. Blockade, swallow soul and cripple will need applying at least twice during one cast of merciless resolve, (not to metion twisting path and sap), in more probability three times and that is a far bigger gain than even getting a proc of assassins will of 4 or 5 times will give you. I'm hitting the dummy for 51k max with the bow but if it dosnt crit (and my crit is 72%, which is pretty good) thats an even bigger dps loss if I'm not backing up my damage with something else.

Flameheart

supaskrub wrote: »

Flameheart wrote: »

The art is to get 5 attacks for Assassin's Will from Merciless Resolve and being on the right bar at the right time to execute it.

Five attacks from assassins will is not an art, it is an out and out dps loss and apart from that it is almost nigh impossible to pull off five spectral bow shots from one cast even on a static dummy (infact i have never heard of anyone who can put 5 assassins will together from one 20 second cast of merciless resolve, 4 yes and only just and with no time to do anything else, but 5 i find almost unbelievable. but never say never so i give you the benefit of the doubt).

The best way by far is to aim for 2-3 procs of spectral bow during one cast of merciless resolve, this gives plenty of time to reapply your dots. Blockade, swallow soul and cripple will need applying at least twice during one cast of merciless resolve, (not to metion twisting path and sap), in more probability three times and that is a far bigger gain than even getting a proc of assassins will of 4 or 5 times will give you. I'm hitting the dummy for 51k max with the bow but if it dosnt crit (and my crit is 72%, which is pretty good) thats an even bigger dps loss if I'm not backing up my damage with something else.

Not 5 Assassin's Will procs, the 5 LAs/HAs to proc Assasin's Will and the art to be on the right bar at the right time again to execute the proc. Sry, when that was not clear.

Example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edo72qOvIVg

I admit that I never played my NB that perfect like my guild buddy in the above video. The dps summarize in the Combat Metrix screen concerning the Assassin's Will proc dps is pretty insightful.

supaskrub

Ahhh i see, my bad i had'nt had my morning coffee and a cig before i saw your post ,

insightful video by the way and thanks for posting it, far different set up to my build (dw bar and a destro bar) running 5x war maiden + 5x julianos + 2pc Kena on dw bar gives me a massive amount of spell damage when switching to back assassins from my destro bar. Tried moondancer with war maiden (though not with a dw) but testing did'nt give me results as good as what I'm getting now.. still needs perfecting thogh.

Flameheart

supaskrub wrote: »

Ahhh i see, my bad i had'nt had my morning coffee and a cig before i saw your post ,

insightful video by the way and thanks for posting it, far different set up to my build (dw bar and a destro bar) running 5x war maiden + 5x julianos + 2pc Kena on dw bar gives me a massive amount of spell damage when switching to back assassins from my destro bar. Tried moondancer with war maiden (though not with a dw) but testing did'nt give me results as good as what I'm getting now.. still needs perfecting thogh.

2 full 5-pieces-sets is a solution if you can't get trial stuff. You don't wear Moondancer for the 5x set bonus, you wear it for the Minor Slayer 3x set bonus (and maybe the 4x set bonus if you can get a proper Aether or Moondancer staff). As far as I know Minor Slayer + Undaunted procs are still superior to any 5x set bonus with spell damage. As more dps you do as more effective the Minor Slayer will be.

supaskrub

Flameheart wrote: »

supaskrub wrote: »

Ahhh i see, my bad i had'nt had my morning coffee and a cig before i saw your post ,

insightful video by the way and thanks for posting it, far different set up to my build (dw bar and a destro bar) running 5x war maiden + 5x julianos + 2pc Kena on dw bar gives me a massive amount of spell damage when switching to back assassins from my destro bar. Tried moondancer with war maiden (though not with a dw) but testing did'nt give me results as good as what I'm getting now.. still needs perfecting thogh.

2 full 5-pieces-sets is a solution if you can't get trial stuff. You don't wear Moondancer for the 5x set bonus, you wear it for the Minor Slayer 3x set bonus (and maybe the 4x set bonus if you can get a proper Aether or Moondancer staff). As far as I know Minor Slayer + Undaunted procs are still superior to any 5x set bonus with spell damage. As more dps you do as more effective the Minor Slayer will be.

yeah i ran the Moondancer as a 4 piece due to lack of a decent staff vMA or otherwise , like you say 4th piece was just for the 4pc bonus but i was more concerned about the 3pc (as everyone is).

Drachenfier

Really aggravates me that the only magicka weapons are staves.

Balsagna

Drachenfier wrote: »

Really aggravates me that the only magicka weapons are staves.

That's pretty typical for most mmos

Drachenfier

Balsagna wrote: »

Drachenfier wrote: »

Really aggravates me that the only magicka weapons are staves.

That's pretty typical for most mmos

True, but in most MMO's they don't hold the staff like an inbred that's never seen one before, either

But anyway, there are plenty of MMO's where a sword and board or dual wield class can wield magic effectively. That's just almost impossible in ESO.

Flameheart

Drachenfier wrote: »

Balsagna wrote: »

Drachenfier wrote: »

Really aggravates me that the only magicka weapons are staves.

That's pretty typical for most mmos

True, but in most MMO's they don't hold the staff like an inbred that's never seen one before, either

But anyway, there are plenty of MMO's where a sword and board or dual wield class can wield magic effectively. That's just almost impossible in ESO.

Formerly there were at least builds for dualwielding swords on one bar to get the damage bonus from the Twin Blade and Blunt passive, but after the change of the destruction staff passives (8% single target damage from fire staffs, 8% AoE damage from lighting staffs -> Ancient Knowledge) and the AoE damage change for lighting staffs (Tri Focus), now leaves staffs as meta. Actually I do like those changes, because they buffed magicka classes a lot.

I still watch magicka 1hand+shield wearers in PvP though, so it's not totally dead.

ItsNebula

Watch a build video or a rotation video.

My MagBlade can pull 36k in PvE on a 3mil (self buffed)
StamBlade can pull about 44k self buffed on a 3mil.

MagBlade has the hardest rotation