PvP Stam DK

Thestephenmcraeub17_ESO

Hi all, I have a few questions regarding some good builds for stamina DKs for PvP. Right now, I have a Redguard DK who tanks in PvE, but I'm thinking of switching him over to PvP. I'm not interested in 'tanking' in PvP per se, mostly what I want to do is be able to 1v1 effectively, and maybe even some 1v2 kind of stuff. I don't like running in zergs, and I don't want to gank, but I love the idea of open-world AvA type stuff. Ideally, I would like to combine some measure of survivability with damage dealing capabilities, with greater emphasis on damage dealing (without being a glass cannon). So my questions...

1) Is redguard a good race for PvP stam DK? The racial passives are great for stamina, as I am well aware, but I just don't know if there is a "meta" race or anything. If so, should I re-roll, or is redguard good enough?

2) What kind of gear should I use? I see a lot of people running in heavy armor, but it's my understanding that heavy armor was recently nerfed (sometimes I can't keep up). And in addition to medium/heavy/light, what kind of sets should I run? I have a full 9-trait crafter, so if there are some decent PvP craftable sets, that would be great cause I can be up and running in a few minutes.

3) What kind of weapons should I use? For tanking on this character, I have maxed out 1h&s and 2h. Should I run dual wield, bow, 1h&s, 2h?

4) How much zerg-running in PvP is necessary to accumulate a decent number of AP? I'd love to collect the Akaviri pages for my master crafter, but I dread the idea of grinding AP in a zerg. Is it reasonable to try to get some 4 million AP in small group/solo open world?

5) What factors should play into choosing a home campaign? My first instinct is to go with the most popular one with CP enabled, but perhaps I'm missing out on some profound insights about what to look for in campaign selection.

6) Are there any kind of glaring imbalances in PvP right now that keep players out, or that frustrate you to the point of wanting to leave until they fix it?

7) Do you guys have or know of any tutorials for the basics of how to build a character for PvP? I know a million and one build videos exist, but hearing someone say "wear this" isn't really as useful as someone saying "here's why this is important/helpful in PvP situations."

And those are the questions I have regarding PvP for now, if I think of anything else, I will post in the thread. Thanks in advance everyone!

Gorrest

Gonna be a very long post so read through it carefully and it will contain alot of thinking on your part.

1. Redguard is one of the best races for for Stam DK because of the last passive allows them to sustain themselves since they have to block at certain times(For example getting Soul Assaulted).

2. This will be the longest part of this, so I will leave it for my 2nd post that I will post right after you know what weapons you like to use.

3. There are third types of weapons people run with Stam Dk.
1H&S+2H
2H+Bow(This one fell out of meta for a long time)
2H+Dual Wield

Each one has different playstyle, but with the 1H&S+S route there is the more tankiness route with spamming Ransack. Or you can do the more damage focus route with spamming Wrecking Blow. Play all of them and see which one you like better.

4. Zerging I would say is usually necessary until you hit Alliance Rank 5 which you then unlock Vigor(Your main heal)

5. If on PC NA, Vivec is pretty much the only populated CP campaign. But I would say home to the most popular one and guest to one that is less popular in order to escape the zergs and lag.

6. Generally people hate how we are in this "tank" meta. What people usually refer to this is how
1. Most people have more than 25k+ hp
2. Most people are wearing Heavy Armor
3. Defensive Ults generate more vaule than Offensive Ults
4. Most builds try to run One Handed and Shield
5. Defensive Skills outperform Offensive Skills

Including to this, some people hate the lack of build diversity(Might just be me). Most builds run the same 4-5 sets(For example Fury, Bone Pirate, Shacklebreaker, Clever, Skoria.) and run roughly the same skills(This mainly applies to Stamina Classes).
And there is the lag(About an hour and half ago of writing this all of Cyro crashed and got rerolled back 5 minutes.)

7. Not really, for most people its common knowledge how to build a PvP character and that gets passed around to friends who then pass that around(And the game hasnt changed how we build characters in PvP for the pass 2 years.) Its more case by case talk that usually teaches people how to build their PvP character and just learning what people looking for in PvP gear and stats.

Thestephenmcraeub17_ESO

@Gorrest thanks so much for your answers! I really have no preference of weapons, but I would say I'm pretty familiar with 1H&S, 2H, and on other characters I've leveled bow and dual wield all the way, so I feel pretty comfortable with everything. With that said, which gear sets might you recommend running?

Icy_Waffles

Fury, bloodspawn... idk what the 3rd five piece should be but fury on both bars

Ocelot9x

The way-to-go stamina DK build is sword and shield with fury 5 body,bloodspawn and werewolf hide (sword n shield+ jewelry) . this setup allows you to tank a lot of damage while still having good DPS.
Recently I switched to a self made build and so far I love it,keep in mind that I like to play heavily outnumbered.
I run:
5 pcies tava medium (crazy ultimate regeneration,also medium cause I roll a lot and I'm imperial,so no recovery bonus for me)
2h axe VMA with DMG/DMG poison
Bloodspawn (must have on a Stam dk)
5 pcies werewolf hide(another must have imho,so good)
To have enough burst I had to switch dizzying swing to wrecking blow but with WD glyph from back bar,and empower from wrecking blow I've seen 17k take flights (average is 9k)

Jawasa

Best heavy stam dk race is prob argonian because of the ehaling passivs and sustain of potions passiv. Combine with blood spawn or harvester and seventh legion. Then I'd go with a medium armour set for robust rings ( Drauger hulk, were wolf hide and witchman are all good choices.). Ritual mundus is great choice so is the tower and warrior. A friend of mine runs this and in a 1v1 his unkillable and he can burst down most builds. Major vitality pots ofc.

Thestephenmcraeub17_ESO

Would it be a good balance of tank-iness and damage capacity to run 5 medium (a set like armor master) with mighty chudan monster set? That way you get stamina and damage boost from medium armor and resistance from chudan, and every time you use shuffle, you get like 5k more resistance

Thestephenmcraeub17_ESO

and then Draugr Hulk jewelry sword n board?

Thogard

Thestephenmcraeub17_ESO wrote: »

Would it be a good balance of tank-iness and damage capacity to run 5 medium (a set like armor master) with mighty chudan monster set? That way you get stamina and damage boost from medium armor and resistance from chudan, and every time you use shuffle, you get like 5k more resistance

Too inefficient. If you go medium you should get defense through dodge roll or block, not building back up resistances.

Jawasa

Stamdk is not made for medium imo. It can be done but i think They are the worst class for it.

Ocelot9x

Jawasa wrote: »

Stamdk is not made for medium imo. It can be done but i think They are the worst class for it.

Before medium was killed everyone played his stam dk that way, now the only class that can easily 1vx In medium is nb. But I love rolling and having high mobility ,that's why I still playing my Stam dk in medium

Jawasa

@Ocelot9x Yeah but that was a long time ago. It's not impossible atm but it's not easy.

Lexxypwns

Thogard wrote: »

Thestephenmcraeub17_ESO wrote: »

Would it be a good balance of tank-iness and damage capacity to run 5 medium (a set like armor master) with mighty chudan monster set? That way you get stamina and damage boost from medium armor and resistance from chudan, and every time you use shuffle, you get like 5k more resistance

Too inefficient. If you go medium you should get defense through dodge roll or block, not building back up resistances.

See, I'm interested in hearing you expand on this. Why, in your opinion, is the light armor meta to go light but reincorporate resists back into your build, but it won't work with medium? something like
5x Impreg medium sturdy
2x Bloodspawn
5x damage set

That gives you similar resists to a heavy build, "perma block", better stam sustain, and better damage

AverageJo3Gam3r

I agree with @Lexxypwns. The additional resist from heavy ends up being something like 5% damage mitigation. This will tip the scales in very few fights. Running out of stamina will certainly doom your fights though.

Ocelot9x

Lexxypwns wrote: »

Thogard wrote: »

Thestephenmcraeub17_ESO wrote: »

Would it be a good balance of tank-iness and damage capacity to run 5 medium (a set like armor master) with mighty chudan monster set? That way you get stamina and damage boost from medium armor and resistance from chudan, and every time you use shuffle, you get like 5k more resistance

Too inefficient. If you go medium you should get defense through dodge roll or block, not building back up resistances.

See, I'm interested in hearing you expand on this. Why, in your opinion, is the light armor meta to go light but reincorporate resists back into your build, but it won't work with medium? something like
5x Impreg medium sturdy
2x Bloodspawn
5x damage set

That gives you similar resists to a heavy build, "perma block", better stam sustain, and better damage

It will be so much better in heavy; since you'll be blocking a lot you will lose all of your stamina regen (no constitution) and for the same reason less magicka to get stamina back through igneous shield.
The only reason I can run medium (and I've tester tons of setups) it's thanks to tava and ultimate spamming (so free block,resources back)

Jawasa

@Lexxypwns actually i think his stam sustain would be better in heavy. With no sustain set primary stam sustain would be of ult and heavys. Plus the magicka builds that do this still regen there main stat when blocking.

Thogard

Lexxypwns wrote: »

Thogard wrote: »

Thestephenmcraeub17_ESO wrote: »

Would it be a good balance of tank-iness and damage capacity to run 5 medium (a set like armor master) with mighty chudan monster set? That way you get stamina and damage boost from medium armor and resistance from chudan, and every time you use shuffle, you get like 5k more resistance

Too inefficient. If you go medium you should get defense through dodge roll or block, not building back up resistances.

See, I'm interested in hearing you expand on this. Why, in your opinion, is the light armor meta to go light but reincorporate resists back into your build, but it won't work with medium? something like
5x Impreg medium sturdy
2x Bloodspawn
5x damage set

That gives you similar resists to a heavy build, "perma block", better stam sustain, and better damage

that exact example is something i've run before, trying spriggans, seventh legion, and clever alchemist all as the damage set.

It just doesn't work as a DK against strong players. Even if you swap out bloodspawn for trollking. The main hit is that in medium, you dont get magicka back through the constitution passive. the whole igneous shield + vigor combo falls apart really fast when youre out of mag.

but hte biggest issue is that eventually youll have to swap to your 2h. and when you do, you'll die. Other classes like warden and stamsorc can get strong healing from other sources, and NBs have rolldodge. Templars are in teh same boat as DKs, but templars can really stack that wep dmg as well as have much higher burst due to their skill selection (also jabs will hit people who are dodgerolling). DKs aint got that..

i'm not saying its a bad build. but im saying that its a better build on almost any other class.

Qbiken

The last two weeks I´ve been looking around on youtube and the forums regarding Stamina DK´s in PvP. Espacially interested I got by shady´s/xintisis playstyle when it comes to staminaDK. Since they never relieved their builds me and a friend started to study their playstyle to figure out how it´s done (since we figured it´s 80% playstyle/tactic/mechanics and 20% gear, that makes it all possible). The only thing we can´t really figure out is how to regain stamina while blocking.....

As far as I know there´re a few ways to regain resources (especially stamina):
* Helping hands
* Battle roar
* Potions (especially if you´re an argonian)
* Heavy attacks (also Riposte proccing Redguard passive which gives stamina back)
* Poisons
* Constitution Passive
* then there´re a lot of sets that can give resources back but not going to mention all here

What baffles me is how people can regain stamina while blocking. Sure, it´s possible to invest a lot into block-cost reduction but I will still loose a lot of stamina. In some videos I´ve come across I see people gain as much as 2-4k stamina back within a 1-2 seconds without using any potions, poisons, ultimate or skills. Also wanted to add that the target was at 100% HP so no set that gives resources on low health was active (aka only blocking).
How is that even possible?? There´s no set in the game (unless a set is bugged and has 0 cooldown) that gives up to 2k stamina back aside from vicious ophidian but I don´t see that set being used on permablockers in PvP.

Thogard

Qbiken wrote: »

The last two weeks I´ve been looking around on youtube and the forums regarding Stamina DK´s in PvP. Espacially interested I got by shady´s/xintisis playstyle when it comes to staminaDK. Since they never relieved their builds me and a friend started to study their playstyle to figure out how it´s done (since we figured it´s 80% playstyle/tactic/mechanics and 20% gear, that makes it all possible). The only thing we can´t really figure out is how to regain stamina while blocking.....

As far as I know there´re a few ways to regain resources (especially stamina):
* Helping hands
* Battle roar
* Potions (especially if you´re an argonian)
* Heavy attacks (also Riposte proccing Redguard passive which gives stamina back)
* Poisons
* Constitution Passive
* then there´re a lot of sets that can give resources back but not going to mention all here

What baffles me is how people can regain stamina while blocking. Sure, it´s possible to invest a lot into block-cost reduction but I will still loose a lot of stamina. In some videos I´ve come across I see people gain as much as 2-4k stamina back within a 1-2 seconds without using any potions, poisons, ultimate or skills. Also wanted to add that the target was at 100% HP so no set that gives resources on low health was active (aka only blocking).
How is that even possible?? There´s no set in the game (unless a set is bugged and has 0 cooldown) that gives up to 2k stamina back aside from vicious ophidian but I don´t see that set being used on permablockers in PvP.

can you post a vid?

btw the answer is probably that they used an ultimate . That will trigger the battle roar passive and give a ton of stam back (more than 2k i think) depending on which ultimate they used. if they have bloodspawn and werewolf hide up, then they can pop an ulti pretty often, and that'll give them a good source of stam.

Qbiken

Thogard wrote: »

Qbiken wrote: »

The last two weeks I´ve been looking around on youtube and the forums regarding Stamina DK´s in PvP. Espacially interested I got by shady´s/xintisis playstyle when it comes to staminaDK. Since they never relieved their builds me and a friend started to study their playstyle to figure out how it´s done (since we figured it´s 80% playstyle/tactic/mechanics and 20% gear, that makes it all possible). The only thing we can´t really figure out is how to regain stamina while blocking.....

As far as I know there´re a few ways to regain resources (especially stamina):
* Helping hands
* Battle roar
* Potions (especially if you´re an argonian)
* Heavy attacks (also Riposte proccing Redguard passive which gives stamina back)
* Poisons
* Constitution Passive
* then there´re a lot of sets that can give resources back but not going to mention all here

What baffles me is how people can regain stamina while blocking. Sure, it´s possible to invest a lot into block-cost reduction but I will still loose a lot of stamina. In some videos I´ve come across I see people gain as much as 2-4k stamina back within a 1-2 seconds without using any potions, poisons, ultimate or skills. Also wanted to add that the target was at 100% HP so no set that gives resources on low health was active (aka only blocking).
How is that even possible?? There´s no set in the game (unless a set is bugged and has 0 cooldown) that gives up to 2k stamina back aside from vicious ophidian but I don´t see that set being used on permablockers in PvP.

can you post a vid?

btw the answer is probably that they used an ultimate . That will trigger the battle roar passive and give a ton of stam back (more than 2k i think) depending on which ultimate they used. if they have bloodspawn and werewolf hide up, then they can pop an ulti pretty often, and that'll give them a good source of stam.

Will send you the links with videos when I get the time for it

Jawasa

Heavy attacks is My guss @Qbiken

Qbiken

Jawasa wrote: »

Heavy attacks is My guss @Qbiken

@Jawasa
Will check those videos I´ve in mind and come back with my findings
But I know for sure that I´ve seen some videos where ppl facetank a lot of ppl and still gaining stamina while blocking. As far as I know not many sets in the game makes that possible and the constitution passive isn´t strong enough to help you with that anymore :P. Think it gives you around 800 stamina and magicka/tick when wearing 7 heavy.

Rohamad_Ali

I would encourage you to try something else in PVP . This is the most boring meta , requiring the least amount of knowledge to run efficiently . It truly is the very bottom pole on the skill bar .

Icy_Waffles

Rohamad_Ali wrote: »

I would encourage you to try something else in PVP . This is the most boring meta , requiring the least amount of knowledge to run efficiently . It truly is the very bottom pole on the skill bar .

Are you joking? Its much easier to put a couple sets together on mag sorc and pop shields and blast away.

Qbiken

Rohamad_Ali wrote: »

I would encourage you to try something else in PVP . This is the most boring meta , requiring the least amount of knowledge to run efficiently . It truly is the very bottom pole on the skill bar .

If you want to defeat the cheese you need to understand the cheese

Cybercore_Death

Rohamad_Ali wrote: »

I would encourage you to try something else in PVP . This is the most boring meta , requiring the least amount of knowledge to run efficiently . It truly is the very bottom pole on the skill bar .

What you recommend in this instance then?

Lexxypwns

Qbiken wrote: »

Jawasa wrote: »

Heavy attacks is My guss @Qbiken

@Jawasa
Will check those videos I´ve in mind and come back with my findings
But I know for sure that I´ve seen some videos where ppl facetank a lot of ppl and still gaining stamina while blocking. As far as I know not many sets in the game makes that possible and the constitution passive isn´t strong enough to help you with that anymore :P. Think it gives you around 800 stamina and magicka/tick when wearing 7 heavy.

I'm pretty sure xin runs no damage sets, instead relying on the classic heavy attack+crit rush synergy to open his burst with big damage. But last I watched his videos was a few patches ago so I could be wrong

Rohamad_Ali

Cybercore_Death wrote: »

Rohamad_Ali wrote: »

I would encourage you to try something else in PVP . This is the most boring meta , requiring the least amount of knowledge to run efficiently . It truly is the very bottom pole on the skill bar .

What you recommend in this instance then?

A healer is more of a introduction to PVP class so Templar or maybe warden .

edorfeus

I've tried a lot of combinations when i got back in the game since Morrowind launch and here's what I can say:


Best option for me for some reason is 2x Malubeth, 5x Seventh Legion, 5x Werewolf Hide (5 pieces on 1h+s bar and 4 on 2h bar, so you will get more ult while turtling). I've heard about some exploit of Malubeth and 7th Legion that gives you insane heals, but I didn't dig deep enough to research it, and I don't really like to use bugs.
I've tried 2x Bloodspawn before Malubeth, but for some reason Malubeth gives a better survavability due to major vitality procs.
I've also tried Fury instead of 7th legion but by the time you accumulate the full weapon dmg bonus, you're gonna get a ton of damage and a lot of stam trying to stay alive and breaking out of CC.
I won't mention other gear I tried, because it wasn't good enough to even mention it here.
The conclusion that I came to after playing all this time is if you're not a redguard, you're as good as dead as a heavy stamDK. And I don't want to play as a redguard. Basically any stam class is at a disadvantage if they're not a redguard since ZOS screwed up the resource management in Morrowind.

Jjitsuboy98

edorfeus wrote: »

I've tried a lot of combinations when i got back in the game since Morrowind launch and here's what I can say:


Best option for me for some reason is 2x Malubeth, 5x Seventh Legion, 5x Werewolf Hide (5 pieces on 1h+s bar and 4 on 2h bar, so you will get more ult while turtling). I've heard about some exploit of Malubeth and 7th Legion that gives you insane heals, but I didn't dig deep enough to research it, and I don't really like to use bugs.
I've tried 2x Bloodspawn before Malubeth, but for some reason Malubeth gives a better survavability due to major vitality procs.
I've also tried Fury instead of 7th legion but by the time you accumulate the full weapon dmg bonus, you're gonna get a ton of damage and a lot of stam trying to stay alive and breaking out of CC.
I won't mention other gear I tried, because it wasn't good enough to even mention it here.
The conclusion that I came to after playing all this time is if you're not a redguard, you're as good as dead as a heavy stamDK. And I don't want to play as a redguard. Basically any stam class is at a disadvantage if they're not a redguard since ZOS screwed up the resource management in Morrowind.

I actually paid to swap to argonian and like it much better than red guard on Stam DK and Dunmer on mag dk

Jjitsuboy98

Jjitsuboy98 wrote: »

edorfeus wrote: »

I've tried a lot of combinations when i got back in the game since Morrowind launch and here's what I can say:


Best option for me for some reason is 2x Malubeth, 5x Seventh Legion, 5x Werewolf Hide (5 pieces on 1h+s bar and 4 on 2h bar, so you will get more ult while turtling). I've heard about some exploit of Malubeth and 7th Legion that gives you insane heals, but I didn't dig deep enough to research it, and I don't really like to use bugs.
I've tried 2x Bloodspawn before Malubeth, but for some reason Malubeth gives a better survavability due to major vitality procs.
I've also tried Fury instead of 7th legion but by the time you accumulate the full weapon dmg bonus, you're gonna get a ton of damage and a lot of stam trying to stay alive and breaking out of CC.
I won't mention other gear I tried, because it wasn't good enough to even mention it here.
The conclusion that I came to after playing all this time is if you're not a redguard, you're as good as dead as a heavy stamDK. And I don't want to play as a redguard. Basically any stam class is at a disadvantage if they're not a redguard since ZOS screwed up the resource management in Morrowind.

I actually paid to swap to argonian and like it much better than red guard on Stam DK and Dunmer on mag dk

Also i have tried just about every set up and played around with Malubeth werewolf and seventh legion a lot with three block cost reduction glyphs. It was tanky but not enough damage. Main damage source I was using was wind up a heavy attack then ransack bash ani cancel. Keep reverb on opponents. Not impressed with Stam DK DO right now. I've seen the videos that are mentioned and it looks like a similar set up.