MagDK DPS Build Suggestions

Nightves

I've recently caught my magDK up to my CP246 stamNB, problem is I've been following deltia's Laceration magDK build and I'm not sure if that's the best one out there.
I plan to use this character for vet Dungeon runs and possibly PvP, and I know there is a variety of more experienced ESO players than me out there that can practically solo dungeons if they wanted to, so this is why I'm asking for a little push in the right direction if anyone is willing to give it.
The world could always use more heroes.

Jim_Pipp

"The world could always use more heroes." - have an awesome!

There are lots of good options for MagDK in PVE and PVP, but I can't think of a build that would be ideal in both.

Deltia's builds were never that great for endgame, and I don't know which ones were being updated by Gilliam the Rogue while Deltia was away. A current PVE meta build is available from Alcast, who has pretty meta builds for everything. THe PVE magDK build is here https://alcasthq.com/eso-magicka-dragonknight-build-pve/

Cybercore_Death

Hey man (apologies as this is a loooooong post but i've tried to be as detailed as i can for you).

First things first, CP's (based on 690 but we can tailor the most important bits for you at a lower CP level and of course its always up for criticism if there are any tweaks that would make it better):

Tower - 2 Warlord
Lover - 11 Mooncalf / 75 Arcanist / 65 Tenacity
Shadow - 37 Tumbling / 40 Shadow Ward
Apprentice - 37 Elfborn / 34 Spell Erosion / 49 Elemental Expert
Attronach - 35 Staff Expert
Ritual - 75 Thaumaturge
Steed - 34 Ironclad / 54 Spell Shield
Lady - 23 Light Armour Focus / 27 Hardy / 23 Thick Skinned / 49 Elemental Defender
Lord - 20 Bastion


Now, with the gear i use a 5-0-2 setup as i find it more beneficial overall for stats (5-1-1 will still be fine but the extra health and resistance are too good to pass up imo)

Front bar - Shock staff of Martial Knowledge - Charged (for more off balance) - Shock or Fire enchant (i use shock)
Back bar - Shock staff of Martial Knowledge - Nirnhoned (for that massive spell damage increase) - Weapon damage enchant

Head and Shoulder - Ilambris - Divines - Both heavy - Max mag enchant

Chest, Legs, Feet - Martial Knowledge (Only comes in light, and the 4 piece offers a good spell damage increase) - Divines - Max mag enchants

Hands, Belt - BSW (Only comes in light and its pretty much up straight back up on cool down) - Divines - Max mag enchants

Neck, Rings - BSW (Arcane, though i've never seen them drop in anything else anyway) - Spell damage enchants


With skills there are 2 setups i use (though the second one i haven't practiced the rotation much so i dont always nail it quite right). As i'm an Xbox player i've labelled the buttons that i use to but you can ignore these if you're a PC player. Also note that LA stands for Light Attack and these can be replaced with Heavy Attacks if you find you're running low on Magicka.

Skills and rotation 1 (my main)

Bar 1:

X - Flame Lash
Y - Engulfing Flames
B - Burning Embers
LB - Inner Light (passives only)
RB - Elemental Blockade
Ult - Shooting Star (purely for passives, though i do swap out for warhorn sometimes if its needed in trials etc)

Bar 2:

X - Harness Magicka (sometimes swapped for Elemental Drain or Volatile Armour depending)
Y - Eruption
B - Flames of Oblivion (swapped out for Draw Essence for trash mobs)
LB - Inner Light (passives only)
RB - Molten Armaments
Ult - Elemental Rage

Start on back bar - Molten Arms > LA > Eruption > LA > Flames > Bar Swap
Engulfing > LA > Embers > LA > Blockade > Lash then LA (x 5/6) > LA > Engulfing > LA > Embers > LA > Blockade > LA then Lash (x3) > Bar Swap and repeat

I usually drop Rage as soon as BSW procs (on Eruption or Flames). Molten i re apply every second full rotation.


Skills and rotation 2 (massive AoE damage, easier rotation but bar swapping more often)

Bar 1:

X - Elemental Drain (could be swapped for Harness Magicka or Flame Lash depending)
Y - Engulfing Flames
B - Burning Embers
LB - Inner Light
RB - Rearming Trap
Ult - Shooting Star (passives, could be swapped for Warhorn as before)

Bar 2:

X - Elemental Blockade
Y - Eruption
B - Flames of Oblivion
LB - Inner Light
RB - Molten Armemants
Ult - Elemental Rage

The rotation is a little bit of a pain cos of the bar swaps but it does make sense once it gets going and does some monster AoE damage as well. I've also linked in a video of a dude from the forums doing it as it makes more sense when you see it in action lol

Molten Arms > Bar Swap > Drain > Bar Swap > Flames > Bar Swap > Trap > Bar Swap > Rage > Blockade > LA > Eruption > Bar Swap > HA > Embers > HA > Engulfing > Bar Swap > Blockade > LA > Flames > Bar Swap > HA > Embers > HA > Engulfing > LA > Trap > Repeat


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQd1cguJV1w&t=1s


Lastly, my race is Dunmer (cos i have a thing for Dunmer lol) and i'm a Vamp stage 4 (cos i'm too lazy to keep it managed at stage 3). Also i used Solitude Salmon and Millet Soup for Max Mag and Health.

I dont think i've missed anything off but if you have any questions let me know. I hope this helps for you.

With all gear procs active your stats will be as follows:

Magicka - 39k
Health - 18.8k
Stamina - 10.5k

Mag Recovery - 750
Health Recovery - 180
Stamina Recovery - 580

Spell Damage 4396
(With BSW and Weapon Damage glyph proc. 3979 with just BSW proc)
Spell Crit - 45.7%
Weapon Damage - 1977
Weapon Crit - 32%

Spell Resist - 19.9k
Physical Resist - 12.7k
(Note that these will be higher if you have Volatile Armour on ad Active)