Have Mage Blades been buffed since Homestead?

Jjitsuboy98

I remember everyone was complaining how they needed a buff back in homestead. But here lately it seems that I am running up against really tough mageblades with high burst and survivability. Now I have never played a Mage Blade but how do they do these days compared to other classes? Are they better than their stamina counter part?

I'm not real happy with my stamina classes atm (Stam blade/Stam DK) and am thinking of rolling one if they are good or rolling a mag sorc (trying to avoid this as I really dont like them and I see a ton of them around).

Lexxypwns

Mageblade is insanely strong. It's obviously the best choice for large scale damage specs and there is a ton of versatility.

You can run destro/resto as a slippery kiting spec or tanky brawler spec
You can run melee with 2h, dw, or SnB and build slippery, burst, or tanky.

It's also probably the best duel spec.

The only things lacking in mageblade kit are burst heals and an answer to being snared and rooted. You can easily use healing ward and mist to mitigate that.(shadow image is good for this as well, but it's not enough alone)

And since their spammable is a group HoT they're excellent in small groups since they can easily proc trans and still have exceptional burst with 1 or 0 damage sets

And lastly, @NightbladeMechanics

Jjitsuboy98

Lexxypwns wrote: »

Mageblade is insanely strong. It's obviously the best choice for large scale damage specs and there is a ton of versatility.

You can run destro/resto as a slippery kiting spec or tanky brawler spec
You can run melee with 2h, dw, or SnB and build slippery, burst, or tanky.

It's also probably the best duel spec.

The only things lacking in mageblade kit are burst heals and an answer to being snared and rooted. You can easily use healing ward and mist to mitigate that.(shadow image is good for this as well, but it's not enough alone)

And since their spammable is a group HoT they're excellent in small groups since they can easily proc trans and still have exceptional burst with 1 or 0 damage sets

And lastly, @NightbladeMechanics

Sounds awesome. How Would they heal if you ran melee?

Metemsycosis

Refreshing path, soul tether, offbar funnel health, reapers mark
transmutation

Healing ward and mutagen , resto ult

Jjitsuboy98

Few questions....

1. Are Mageblades better in heavy or light?
2. What type of sets are good to run. I have golded out Seducer, Bloodthorn, Will Power, Trainee. I think I might have a Julianos and maybe Jags. I really have no idea here.
3. I'm presuming Skoria for Burst or blood spawn for tankiness?

Metemsycosis

I like light. Spinners for damage, transmutation or riposte for defense. Amber for regen. In heavy i really like dragonguard and burning spellweave. You nailed it. Bloodspawn or skoria or nothing.

casparian

1. Definitely light.
2. Seducer and Juli are both good in PVP (Impen of course). Destro/resto mageblades get a lot of mileage out of utility sets like Wizard's Riposte and Transmutation. Melee mageblades benefit from the stam sustain provided by Amber Plasm and Shacklebreaker. Spinner's is killer. Necropotence is really good if you're using Shadow Image (the shade counts as a pet). There are many others -- mageblade is very flexible regarding gear choice.
3. Skoria is great burst. I also like Blood Spawn (stam sustain, ult gen, and resistances are a killer combo). I want to experiment with 1 Domihaus + 1 Iceheart as well.

Jjitsuboy98

Metemsycosis wrote: »

I like light. Spinners for damage, transmutation or riposte for defense. Amber for regen. In heavy i really like dragonguard and burning spellweave. You nailed it. Bloodspawn or skoria or nothing.

So would destro resto be a better choice than dualwield resto or sword and board resto?

Jjitsuboy98

casparian wrote: »

1. Definitely light.
2. Seducer and Juli are both good in PVP (Impen of course). Destro/resto mageblades get a lot of mileage out of utility sets like Wizard's Riposte and Transmutation. Melee mageblades benefit from the stam sustain provided by Amber Plasm and Shacklebreaker. Spinner's is killer. Necropotence is really good if you're using Shadow Image (the shade counts as a pet). There are many others -- mageblade is very flexible regarding gear choice.
3. Skoria is great burst. I also like Blood Spawn (stam sustain, ult gen, and resistances are a killer combo). I want to experiment with 1 Domihaus + 1 Iceheart as well.

I can use seducer for sustain but with destro resto I can only get a four piece bonus from something else with a monster set..........what is the main spammable with destro. Crushing shock?

Metemsycosis

I do not play a melee build. Dw ranged 2h melee is best imo. Destro necessary for that nasty ultimate though.

Jjitsuboy98

Metemsycosis wrote: »

I do not play a melee build. Dw ranged 2h melee is best imo. Destro necessary for that nasty ultimate though.

Could a set up like you are running still be good for tanking similar to a stam blade in cyrodil. And is your setup good for open world solo play?

I'm thinking of running 5 Seducer 3 Will power 2 skoria until I can get 4 Seducer 5 necropotence, 2 skoria.

Lexxypwns

I run 5/1/1 light trans+riposte+skoria on destro resto. Your healing comes from leaching/siphoning, path, healing ward, funnel, and resto ult.

This is actually Kena's build and after playing with a lot of setups it's my personal favorite. I switch to bloodspawn for small group though. It also works in BGs and no CP with only 2 glyph changes.

Damage sets for mageblade, ranked in order of my personal preference:
Skoria - all the damage you really need, skoria proc+assassins will+ulti is GG
War maiden - other than destro ult and maybe flame reach everything is magic damage. Don't run this on bombers
Julianos- Since mageblade doesn't need 5pc damage, julianos actually gives you insane burst and the crit is great for both offense and defense, particularly on barely HoT builds.
Grothdar- Big aoe DoT, more overall damage than skoria but less burst, well suited to melee builds
Spinners - the most possible damage with the biggest possible weakness, its ineffective against shields and if you're running adequate penetration and mark you'll waste the damage against squishier targets(inefficient but BiS on bombers)
Overwhelming surge- this is great in duels but probably BiS in BG, I run it back bar where the only non-class skill is healing ward, this let's me jump start my offense while being defensive and gives me resource free pressure
Alchemist - I really like this set since you can get the full bonus while it's on your back bar allowing you to run trans front bar and get better uptime on that buff for your allies, I only run alch in groups where someone has riposte already.

Destro resto you want to run 2 5 of and skoria using 4/4 on body and jewels and finishing 5 pieces on each bar. Usually you pair a defensive or sustain set with a long proc time(riposte, trans, etc) back bar with a damage or utility set front bar. This means you won't have full damage on your back bar but you want to play aggressively since you're rewarded with more heals for staying offensive.

Message me if you want to speak in depth about mageblade

Metemsycosis

Jjitsuboy98 wrote: »

Metemsycosis wrote: »

I do not play a melee build. Dw ranged 2h melee is best imo. Destro necessary for that nasty ultimate though.

Could a set up like you are running still be good for tanking similar to a stam blade in cyrodil. And is your setup good for open world solo play?

I'm thinking of running 5 Seducer 3 Will power 2 skoria until I can get 4 Seducer 5 necropotence, 2 skoria.

In heavy? I have not worn 5 heavy on mageblade since morrowind so i cant say from experience but that seems strong though with skoria for additional burst and shield ulti or resto ulti would be good. Btw my set up hasnt changed from trans+amber+skoria and it is no tank set up trust me.

thankyourat

Magblade hasn't been buffed its pretty much in the same spot it's been in forever. It's always been really good and really underrated. Alot of people think it's bad simply because they can't play it or it doesn't fit their playstyle. It is a steep learning curve but it's extremely smooth once you get the playstyle down. My favorite build so far has been 5 riposte 5 necro 2 skoria. The burst damage is crazy high I'm hitting about 8k soul harvest on average and I've crit as high as 15k. Heavy armor is just as good as well especially if you like to play a more tanky style magblade. 5 Heavy julianos 5 lich 2 skoria is a really good heavy armor build. I don't think light or heavy is better than the other it really just depends on your playstyle

Jjitsuboy98

Metemsycosis wrote: »

Jjitsuboy98 wrote: »

Metemsycosis wrote: »

I do not play a melee build. Dw ranged 2h melee is best imo. Destro necessary for that nasty ultimate though.

Could a set up like you are running still be good for tanking similar to a stam blade in cyrodil. And is your setup good for open world solo play?

I'm thinking of running 5 Seducer 3 Will power 2 skoria until I can get 4 Seducer 5 necropotence, 2 skoria.

In heavy? I have not worn 5 heavy on mageblade since morrowind so i cant say from experience but that seems strong though with skoria for additional burst and shield ulti or resto ulti would be good. Btw my set up hasnt changed from trans+amber+skoria and it is no tank set up trust me.

I didn't mean tanking I meant ganking. Phone auto correct is a pain.

Waffennacht

Don't call it a come back, they never left

Lexxypwns

Waffennacht wrote: »

Don't call it a come back, they never left

They never left and haven't been buffed much besides path, but all of their biggest threats get nerfed patch by patch so they are stronger relative to other classes than they have been in a long time. Routinely 600k damage 200k healing in BGs. When we get HotR those will both go up.

Metemsycosis

Juji. Mageblade ganking is arguably more viable than on a stamblade. But no, not with the setup i use (unless you soul assault people from their horses, which is funny to me but not really fun). For ganking i would choose alchemist stygian elegant necro spinners etc etc and either focus on buffing up concealed weapon and soul harvest or really big heavy attacks into reach and soul assault.

CaliMade

thankyourat wrote: »

Magblade hasn't been buffed its pretty much in the same spot it's been in forever. It's always been really good and really underrated. Alot of people think it's bad simply because they can't play it or it doesn't fit their playstyle. It is a steep learning curve but it's extremely smooth once you get the playstyle down. My favorite build so far has been 5 riposte 5 necro 2 skoria. The burst damage is crazy high I'm hitting about 8k soul harvest on average and I've crit as high as 15k. Heavy armor is just as good as well especially if you like to play a more tanky style magblade. 5 Heavy julianos 5 lich 2 skoria is a really good heavy armor build. I don't think light or heavy is better than the other it really just depends on your playstyle

I ran into you earlier on Xbox NA right??....ur builds A1, Tanky with good burst...

i was thinking of running 5 lich 5 Julianos/Scathing mage with 1 pc Infernal and 1pc Grothdarr destro/resto....

im not really a fan of skoria anymore...i dnt like having RNG in my burst, especially since it can't critically strike

Jjitsuboy98

Metemsycosis wrote: »

Juji. Mageblade ganking is arguably more viable than on a stamblade. But no, not with the setup i use (unless you soul assault people from their horses, which is funny to me but not really fun). For ganking i would choose alchemist stygian elegant necro spinners etc etc and either focus on buffing up concealed weapon and soul harvest or really big heavy attacks into reach and soul assault.

Sounds really powerful. I wasted so much money on Stam blade recently and Mag DK through the years. I can race change to Dunmer and level my destro resto up. I just want to find a good character I enjoy that has mobility for open world and can be a strong dueling spec.

Xsorus

I'm eventually going to swap my wizards, overwhelming, skoria setup from my Templar to my magicka nb at some point.
Just cause I think it'll be amusing.

altemriel

Julianos+Mother`s sorrow, or Spinner or some trial sets

thankyourat

CaliMade wrote: »

thankyourat wrote: »

Magblade hasn't been buffed its pretty much in the same spot it's been in forever. It's always been really good and really underrated. Alot of people think it's bad simply because they can't play it or it doesn't fit their playstyle. It is a steep learning curve but it's extremely smooth once you get the playstyle down. My favorite build so far has been 5 riposte 5 necro 2 skoria. The burst damage is crazy high I'm hitting about 8k soul harvest on average and I've crit as high as 15k. Heavy armor is just as good as well especially if you like to play a more tanky style magblade. 5 Heavy julianos 5 lich 2 skoria is a really good heavy armor build. I don't think light or heavy is better than the other it really just depends on your playstyle

I ran into you earlier on Xbox NA right??....ur builds A1, Tanky with good burst...

i was thinking of running 5 lich 5 Julianos/Scathing mage with 1 pc Infernal and 1pc Grothdarr destro/resto....

im not really a fan of skoria anymore...i dnt like having RNG in my burst, especially since it can't critically strike

Both builds sound good i think it would be better if you used trasmutation instead of lich though. It will make you and your group alot more tanky while also making you alot more survivalble 1v1. You still get the 2 lines of regen, but i think the lich proc is a little excessive on light armor destro magblade. On heavy armor i actually like lich this patch with the resource changes. I don't know how you feel about bloodspawn but i think it's the next best monster set on magblade you will have soul tether/destro ultimate up all the time. With julianos/transmutation/bloodspawn you will have about 39k max magicka 3000sd, 50 percent spell crit and 1800 spell regen with tri stat food 3500 crit resist, and your merciless tooltip will be about 20k fully buffed

Metemsycosis

Jjitsuboy98 wrote: »

Metemsycosis wrote: »

Juji. Mageblade ganking is arguably more viable than on a stamblade. But no, not with the setup i use (unless you soul assault people from their horses, which is funny to me but not really fun). For ganking i would choose alchemist stygian elegant necro spinners etc etc and either focus on buffing up concealed weapon and soul harvest or really big heavy attacks into reach and soul assault.

Sounds really powerful. I wasted so much money on Stam blade recently and Mag DK through the years. I can race change to Dunmer and level my destro resto up. I just want to find a good character I enjoy that has mobility for open world and can be a strong dueling spec.

Ok. If you use a destro AND concealed weapon ( a good ganker doesnt really need much self healing so you can drop the resto) you will practically fly around the battlefield, at range from your opponents. Add in shade with all that speed in cloak and see what i mean.

Metemsycosis

thankyourat wrote: »

CaliMade wrote: »

thankyourat wrote: »

Magblade hasn't been buffed its pretty much in the same spot it's been in forever. It's always been really good and really underrated. Alot of people think it's bad simply because they can't play it or it doesn't fit their playstyle. It is a steep learning curve but it's extremely smooth once you get the playstyle down. My favorite build so far has been 5 riposte 5 necro 2 skoria. The burst damage is crazy high I'm hitting about 8k soul harvest on average and I've crit as high as 15k. Heavy armor is just as good as well especially if you like to play a more tanky style magblade. 5 Heavy julianos 5 lich 2 skoria is a really good heavy armor build. I don't think light or heavy is better than the other it really just depends on your playstyle

I ran into you earlier on Xbox NA right??....ur builds A1, Tanky with good burst...

i was thinking of running 5 lich 5 Julianos/Scathing mage with 1 pc Infernal and 1pc Grothdarr destro/resto....

im not really a fan of skoria anymore...i dnt like having RNG in my burst, especially since it can't critically strike

Both builds sound good i think it would be better if you used trasmutation instead of lich though. It will make you and your group alot more tanky while also making you alot more survivalble 1v1. You still get the 2 lines of regen, but i think the lich proc is a little excessive on light armor destro magblade. On heavy armor i actually like lich this patch with the resource changes. I don't know how you feel about bloodspawn but i think it's the next best monster set on magblade you will have soul tether/destro ultimate up all the time. With julianos/transmutation/bloodspawn you will have about 39k max magicka 3000sd, 50 percent spell crit and 1800 spell regen with tri stat food 3500 crit resist, and your merciless tooltip will be about 20k fully buffed

How many regen glyphs?

CaliMade

Metemsycosis wrote: »

thankyourat wrote: »

CaliMade wrote: »

thankyourat wrote: »

Magblade hasn't been buffed its pretty much in the same spot it's been in forever. It's always been really good and really underrated. Alot of people think it's bad simply because they can't play it or it doesn't fit their playstyle. It is a steep learning curve but it's extremely smooth once you get the playstyle down. My favorite build so far has been 5 riposte 5 necro 2 skoria. The burst damage is crazy high I'm hitting about 8k soul harvest on average and I've crit as high as 15k. Heavy armor is just as good as well especially if you like to play a more tanky style magblade. 5 Heavy julianos 5 lich 2 skoria is a really good heavy armor build. I don't think light or heavy is better than the other it really just depends on your playstyle

I ran into you earlier on Xbox NA right??....ur builds A1, Tanky with good burst...

i was thinking of running 5 lich 5 Julianos/Scathing mage with 1 pc Infernal and 1pc Grothdarr destro/resto....

im not really a fan of skoria anymore...i dnt like having RNG in my burst, especially since it can't critically strike

Both builds sound good i think it would be better if you used trasmutation instead of lich though. It will make you and your group alot more tanky while also making you alot more survivalble 1v1. You still get the 2 lines of regen, but i think the lich proc is a little excessive on light armor destro magblade. On heavy armor i actually like lich this patch with the resource changes. I don't know how you feel about bloodspawn but i think it's the next best monster set on magblade you will have soul tether/destro ultimate up all the time. With julianos/transmutation/bloodspawn you will have about 39k max magicka 3000sd, 50 percent spell crit and 1800 spell regen with tri stat food 3500 crit resist, and your merciless tooltip will be about 20k fully buffed

How many regen glyphs?

none, high elf/breton Magblade

with the atronach, 50 points in Arcanist, 10% from racial and 15% from Shadow tree passives you would definitely have 1800