About to roll my FIRST stam character.

Actually_Goku

Up until now I've only ever rolled magicka characters, due to my slow net and the dodge-roll > block bug on console (not so much a bug as a poor combination of button input choice by gameplay devs)

Anyway, I'm tossing up between Stamplar and Stamblade! Stam Sorc and Stam DK seem to reliant on Dizzying Swing as a DD and a CC, and the potential for Dawnbreaker into Jabs seems very tasty! I don't see many Stamplars around though, any hypothesis why? Hard to play, hard to manage..?

Could any stam-lovers out there point a brother in the right direction?

This question is mostly centred on endgame PVP.

For what it's worth I main a Mag DK!

DocFrost72

Stamplars have a harder time with stamina management than nightblades, especially if you're going to rely on block a lot. That said, you prefer open combat or stealth? (Assuming pvp with mentions of Dizzying/dawnbreaker combo)

Asardes

Well the question is a bit too general. PvE or PvP, just DD or also tank? The easiest resource management while maintaining high PvE DPS is actually stamina DK since you heavy attack constantly anyway. It's also decent for PvP. But it lacks burst being DoT based. Stamina NB and Templar both have burst. Stamina Warden is also interesting as shalks hit hard. Sorcerer is kinda weak single target but has a lot of AoE damage and good defense.

Actually_Goku

DocFrost72 wrote: »

Stamplars have a harder time with stamina management than nightblades, especially if you're going to rely on block a lot. That said, you prefer open combat or stealth? (Assuming pvp with mentions of Dizzying/dawnbreaker combo)

I'm not too fussed tbh man. Being that it's my first stam character I'll tailor my playstyle as I learn it, and situational etc. I do solo quite a bit though so I'd imagine Stamblade would win out in that respect. I feel as though Stamplar would be better for 1vX though cause of Repentance?

Actually_Goku

Asardes wrote: »

Well the question is a bit too general. PvE or PvP, just DD or also tank? The easiest resource management while maintaining high PvE DPS is actually stamina DK since you heavy attack constantly anyway. It's also decent for PvP. But it lacks burst being DoT based. Stamina NB and Templar both have burst. Stamina Warden is also interesting as shalks hit hard. Sorcerer is kinda weak single target but has a lot of AoE damage and good defense.

Apologies, I'll edit that in now. Endgame PVP. Damage

Xvorg

Actually_Goku wrote: »

Up until now I've only ever rolled magicka characters, due to my slow net and the dodge-roll > block bug on console (not so much a bug as a poor combination of button input choice by gameplay devs)

Anyway, I'm tossing up between Stamplar and Stamblade! Stam Sorc and Stam DK seem to reliant on Dizzying Swing as a DD and a CC, and the potential for Dawnbreaker into Jabs seems very tasty! I don't see many Stamplars around though, any hypothesis why? Hard to play, hard to manage..?

Could any stam-lovers out there point a brother in the right direction?

This question is mostly centred on endgame PVP.

For what it's worth I main a Mag DK!

Dks have access to petrify, one of the best CCs

SirAndy

DocFrost72 wrote: »

That said, you prefer open combat or stealth?

You can make a Stamblade without stealth. Mine is a brawler and doesn't have a single stealth related skill slotted.

Actually_Goku

Xvorg wrote: »

Actually_Goku wrote: »

Up until now I've only ever rolled magicka characters, due to my slow net and the dodge-roll > block bug on console (not so much a bug as a poor combination of button input choice by gameplay devs)

Anyway, I'm tossing up between Stamplar and Stamblade! Stam Sorc and Stam DK seem to reliant on Dizzying Swing as a DD and a CC, and the potential for Dawnbreaker into Jabs seems very tasty! I don't see many Stamplars around though, any hypothesis why? Hard to play, hard to manage..?

Could any stam-lovers out there point a brother in the right direction?

This question is mostly centred on endgame PVP.

For what it's worth I main a Mag DK!

Dks have access to petrify, one of the best CCs

It's just been changed to a 2-second stun, I haven't seen how that performs yet tbh. I feel as though I'd be pushing it, having that on either bar though, being a stam character. I'd probably use DK Volatile Armor and Igneous as well for major mending, so 3 Mag abilities might be pushing it.

In contrast, Binding Javelin scales with Stam

CyrusArya

Stamplar brings a lot of raw damage over an area, while still being able to shred single targets. Purge is obviously a game changer, but specific to stam builds it grants a lot of mobility. The defining weakness of the class is the poor sustain, and it requires you to either invest in regen or be meticulous in weaving heavy attacks.

Nightblade is the most lethal and elusive class in the game. It has the strongest damage skills, most abundant sustain, the best cc, the best buffs, and the ability to cloak. The best solo class in the game in my opinion. The value of a stamblade drops drastically however as fights get bigger.

Joy_Division

Stamina Warden is probably going to make the easiest transition for you.

Not only is it really strong in PvP, it has magicka type mechanics: A shield that absorbs projectiles (think your wings), a decent burst heal (not quite dragon's blood, but still good and it's AoE), and the Living Vines spell that allows for some suriviability not based on rolling everywhere.

firedrgn

Stam sorc. Grin

Betsararie

Stamplars are the 2nd best class in the game, stam warden is first. Both are OP.

Nightblade is decent enough but nowhere near stamplar.

Elsterchen

Hi there,
stamplar over here!

Given you suffer from movement-legastheny as well as poor connection (like me) I would like to push you towards a stamplar rather then nightblade. Simply spoken: stamplar builds can be effective (DPS-burst capability) and very forgiving concerning playstile/skill and lag. Nightblades are awesome, but they do require flawless combos to really do burst damage, they also require attention when using escape mechanisms and adding to it its rather hard to build nightblades for defence in a sense of "taking a stance". Imo stamplars are more flexible in their build choice. They have a very handy "passive" burster by just slotting their bread-and-butter damage skill (burning light and jabs) and offer another castable burster (PotL), adding to it you may use different class skill to build your defence in a way that utilizes the best-to-play-tactics (i.e. taking stance (turtle (formerly known as the wrobel house tent) or tank), healing through everything (note: hybrids have an easier time with this but its possible using vigor) or trying to escape (probably the hardest tactic for stamplars ... but javelline helps)).

That said, you will rely heavily on weapon skills to actually do damage, I haven#t tried 2H ... just because those ppl I consider hard enemies in PVP that use 2H, usually show a habit of dancing around my stamplar like yoda does when fighting - given my skill and bad connection combined i never bothered to even try a 2H build. I did play 1H+S in the beginning and its an interesting playstile, however i was never really satisfied with my dmg output (its quite some time ago and new sets have been introduced, so I guess my experience isn't up to date). Since some time I use DW only, concentrating on face-to-face and 2.nd line combat situations. Imo DW is easy to play, with at least one dmg synergy (hidden blade) that goes well, when followed by jabs (yes templar IS jabs, jabs and more jabs)... and very little need to rely on clunky (and broken) charges (blade and PotL do well for a stamplar and there is usually not much need to hurry as Sorcs will anyway streak away if they want to and NBs are gone if they manage to cloak ... yeah and usually DKs don't run away.)

... Ok, wardens will just heal through whatever-you-dish-out and send nasty little birdies to pick at you... but thats another story, I don#t know much about wardens.

Hope this helps.

Tormy

I've been enjoying my stamplar with well fitted impreg/cowards/troll king. 2h main bar and 5pc SnB cowards on back bar. Decent sustain and great escape and burst with POL+JABS+DBOS

KRBMMO

Stamblades' only heal is vigor really so you have to consider that with stamblade you cant do damage and heal with the same skill like a lot of classes can. Some stamblades try to use a 5 piece bonus like baharadas or briarheart to self heal but it's not ideal no matter what.

I played a stamplar until about level 25 and got bored to death and deleted him. I guess if you like just mashing one or two buttons that's the way to go though.

rossk25

I have a stamplar and its good fun. Very strong dmg, but I do have sustain issues. Repentance is great if you have alot of trashmobs around but useless in single target boss fights (although good for the 10% stam regen).

Apart from repentacne, there is no good stamina class heal, meaning you need to go PvP to get Vigor. Or use Weapon class HoT skills (such as Rally from 2H, with DW healing skills being relatively weak).

However, PoTL is one of my faviourite skills in the game. Its great in both PvP and PvE. It does pretty decent burst dmg.

If you use rune focus it does kind of forces you to stay in one spot and deal dmg. But I guess that is one difference between stamplar and stamblade, is stamblades have more moveability.

DocFrost72

SirAndy wrote: »

DocFrost72 wrote: »

That said, you prefer open combat or stealth?

You can make a Stamblade without stealth. Mine is a brawler and doesn't have a single stealth related skill slotted.

If I were making a ranged toon, I'd recommend a warden archer as it has multiple useful skills for that, making it the most effective choice.

On the same line, NBs scale better for stealth than templars by a country mile. And yes, I've made my share of knightblades before. Both can do both, but nightblades are the luxury sneak model.

OT, @Elsterchen has a fairly good write up of pros and cons here. My personal favorite is still NB, as I can choose my engagements- a real luxury when you first see that zerg, as I'm sure you know.

Oreyn_Bearclaw

I will always tell anyone thats about to roll their first stam toon to start with sorc. I think they have the shortest learning curve, and you certainly are not stuck running a 2H because they have great heals with crit surge. That said, if you dont want to go that route, I would say NB for a more elusive playstyle and templar for a more brawler playstyle. Of course you can brawl on a NB if you put your mind to it, but it doesnt play to their strengths quite as well IMO. For what it's worth, assuming a stamblade is unsuccessful in their opening burst, I find them to be an easier class to deal with than a well played stamplar.

I also wouldnt rule out a Stam Warden. Wardens have a very impressive PVP toolkit, and as @Joy_Division pointed out, it might play closer to what you are used to. Whether that is a good thing or not is up to you.

Jrk

In regards to who is the 'best class':
____________________________________

Dear Zos,

Rock is OP,
please nerf.
Paper is fine the way it is.

Sincerely,
Scissors

TheUndeadAmulet

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

I will always tell anyone thats about to roll their first stam toon to start with sorc. I think they have the shortest learning curve, and you certainly are not stuck running a 2H because they have great heals with crit surge. That said, if you dont want to go that route, I would say NB for a more elusive playstyle and templar for a more brawler playstyle. Of course you can brawl on a NB if you put your mind to it, but it doesnt play to their strengths quite as well IMO. For what it's worth, assuming a stamblade is unsuccessful in their opening burst, I find them to be an easier class to deal with than a well played stamplar.

I also wouldnt rule out a Stam Warden. Wardens have a very impressive PVP toolkit, and as @Joy_Division pointed out, it might play closer to what you are used to. Whether that is a good thing or not is up to you.

What this man said, stam sorc is easily the easiest stamina class to master, and you almost never die in PvE (if you're not being stupid) thanks to crit surge, which is literally a free 3k hp every second for dealing damage. Although I'm not "well versed" in PvP, stam sorcs are still fine in PvP from what I gather, primarily because of how mobile you can be.

Betsararie

TheUndeadAmulet wrote: »

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

I will always tell anyone thats about to roll their first stam toon to start with sorc. I think they have the shortest learning curve, and you certainly are not stuck running a 2H because they have great heals with crit surge. That said, if you dont want to go that route, I would say NB for a more elusive playstyle and templar for a more brawler playstyle. Of course you can brawl on a NB if you put your mind to it, but it doesnt play to their strengths quite as well IMO. For what it's worth, assuming a stamblade is unsuccessful in their opening burst, I find them to be an easier class to deal with than a well played stamplar.

I also wouldnt rule out a Stam Warden. Wardens have a very impressive PVP toolkit, and as @Joy_Division pointed out, it might play closer to what you are used to. Whether that is a good thing or not is up to you.

What this man said, stam sorc is easily the easiest stamina class to master, and you almost never die in PvE (if you're not being stupid) thanks to crit surge, which is literally a free 3k hp every second for dealing damage. Although I'm not "well versed" in PvP, stam sorcs are still fine in PvP from what I gather, primarily because of how mobile you can be.

In all honesty stam sorc is probably the weakest overall class in PvP. They actually need a buff in PvP.

Narvuntien

Stamplars fight you to your face, stand thier ground and try to beat you down.

Stamblades even the non gankers, are playing with shadows, hit hit hit, cloak dodge back avoid the retaliation, hit hit hit.

Lutallo

BRO YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO ME.
I used to have the dodge-block glitch due to my ping and I figured a way around it.
Dodge roll (LT+A) then while you're mid roll double tap the left trigger again.
So basically.. (LT+A, LT+LT) and you won't block after the dodge roll is completed.

zacvanm

I main Stamplar in PvP. I don’t have issues with sustain because I run Bone Pirate and heavy attack a lot. Redguard, 5 Bone Pirate, 3 Agility, 2 Selene (Heavy), Master bow, Asylum 2H sword.
2H: Rally, Reverse Slice, Power of the Light, Crit Rush, Jabs, DB Smiting.
Bow: Shuffle, Extended Ritual, Repentance, Resolving Vigor, Poison Injection, Ballista (bow ultimate). DB on mostly everyone, Ballista on tanks. Keep rally, shuffle, and vigor up. Poison Injection, PotL, Crit rush in, spam jabs, ultimate if needed, reverse slice to execute. I do just fine and love the in your face constant pressure play style.

Waffennacht

My Bowplar does just fine