Essence Thief Set discussion

Grianasteri

Hi,

Ever since I came across the Essence Thief Set, I have wanted to try it out on a stam build of some kind, but have always been focused elsewhere on other characters and roles. Now I am about to get my latest character, a stamsorc, to level 50 and I plan to finally try the set out.

On paper, it looks great for a light attack focused rotation, using LA weaves etc, with 15% proc rate its sure to proc each rotation, it seems. Perhaps combined with something like Relequen or one of the other sets that buff or benefit from light attacks.

[url="http://"]https://elderscrollsonline.wiki.fextralife.com/Essence+Thief+Set[/url]

Its providing max stam (skill damage), weapon damage, stam sustain, health/survivability and a final hefty 12% buff to all damage dealt. What is not to like? It has long seemed to me an over looked set, no one talks about it, no one uses it in builds I can see anywhere. Is there a reason? Have I missed something?

Just interested to know about what anyone elses experience with the set may be? What do folk who have used it think about it? Or Id just be interested to hear the communities thoughts?

(Note, I am not a min/maxer, I often like to deviate from best in slot to have some fun, but I always like my builds to "work". Just before any comments about how using the set would be "doing it wrong" or not best in slot etc).

Yakidafi

What is not to like is that the spawn is random and alot of times at very far or strange areas.

This set is also being reworked for elsweyr update, so your discussion might not lead to much long lasting knowledge about it.

Trinity_Is_My_Name

Well, it is going to be changed with Elsweyr if I remember correctly. Don't know what is going to be changed but hopefully it will be made useful.

As it is it's just not a useful set in my opinion. Tried it once a year or two ago. The "essence" you have to collect which makes it a bit awkward. Anyway, hope this set is changed for the better so it will see a future.

Grianasteri

Yakidafi wrote: »

What is not to like is that the spawn is random and alot of times at very far or strange areas.

This set is also being reworked for elsweyr update, so your discussion might not lead to much long lasting knowledge about it.

That would seem broken, if the spawn is not simply at the enemy defeated, which is my expectation, making it easy to collect. Depending on how long the essence is available, this actually creates the option to save it for when needed to a certain extent, making the set even more flexible.

But if what you say is true, the essence can spawn away from you or the enemy, that is an issue.

Grianasteri

Trinity_Is_My_Name wrote: »

Well, it is going to be changed with Elsweyr if I remember correctly. Don't know what is going to be changed but hopefully it will be made useful.

As it is it's just not a useful set in my opinion. Tried it once a year or two ago. The "essence" you have to collect which makes it a bit awkward. Anyway, hope this set is changed for the better so it will see a future.

Had no idea it is being re-worked, that is interesting. I'll get to use it in its present form, then after as well, which could be fun to compare.

Bladerunner1

I tested the set against a target dummy in the corner of a house long ago and got good results, but later learned that the orbs will float far and wide when there aren't obstacles in the way, cutting the up-time of the buff by a lot. Maybe it's BIS when you're fighting a tiny boss in a closet, or paired up with a tank who prefers being chased by a boss and you have the chance to zig and zag to collect orbs

Trinity_Is_My_Name wrote: »

Well, it is going to be changed with Elsweyr if I remember correctly. Don't know what is going to be changed but hopefully it will be made useful.

This is honestly why I'm a hoarder of sets

Toc de Malsvi

Grianasteri wrote: »

Yakidafi wrote: »

What is not to like is that the spawn is random and alot of times at very far or strange areas.

This set is also being reworked for elsweyr update, so your discussion might not lead to much long lasting knowledge about it.

That would seem broken, if the spawn is not simply at the enemy defeated, which is my expectation, making it easy to collect. Depending on how long the essence is available, this actually creates the option to save it for when needed to a certain extent, making the set even more flexible.

But if what you say is true, the essence can spawn away from you or the enemy, that is an issue.

It is true, the proc trickles off the target into a random direction. You have to identify it and then run and get it, it is very much feast or famine which is why virtually no one runs it.

Ragnarock41

Would be a viable set if it wasn't so RNG based, and I also hate chasing orbs.

Ender1310

Frustrating really. I think I just de commed it. I always thought it could be a really fun set with a really cool theme for a NB type of a character with small tweaks. Guess I should have hoarded better.

Grianasteri

Toc de Malsvi wrote: »

Grianasteri wrote: »

Yakidafi wrote: »

What is not to like is that the spawn is random and alot of times at very far or strange areas.

This set is also being reworked for elsweyr update, so your discussion might not lead to much long lasting knowledge about it.

That would seem broken, if the spawn is not simply at the enemy defeated, which is my expectation, making it easy to collect. Depending on how long the essence is available, this actually creates the option to save it for when needed to a certain extent, making the set even more flexible.

But if what you say is true, the essence can spawn away from you or the enemy, that is an issue.

It is true, the proc trickles off the target into a random direction. You have to identify it and then run and get it, it is very much feast or famine which is why virtually no one runs it.

OK, I think we have identified why no one talks about it and no one uses it lol!

I knew I would get to the bottom of things. I'll still give it a bash seen as how I have a full set just sat gathering dust. But yeah, this is an issue in terms of usability. Back to theory crafting!

Thanks to all commenters thus far. Its been helpful and thought provoking.

ChefZero

They will rework essence thief. They mentioned it on live stream 2 days ago.

NyassaV

It's a fun set, not a good set

Grianasteri

Last night I got my stamsorc to level 50 and put Essence Thief on.

My initial thoughts having run several dungeons:

It is underwhelming, for a number of reasons. The proc is released from the defeated target and travels quickly a short distance away, about 5m, this then forms a small circular rune on the ground. Passing over this rune collects the essence and provides the tool tip buffs/resources.

The main issue is that in the heat of battle, with adds and multiple visual effects all over the place, it is very difficult to spot the proc or the rune even when it lands. The rune does persist for a while, which means there is some flexibility in when to pick it up and there is time to look for it.

But as I say, its just not very practical when engaged in the heat of battle. Facing single target or more simple engagements increases the usability, as it is far easier to spot the proc and ensure you pick up the essence.

I will be very interested to see how they rework this set. For me the rune needs to drop right where the defeated enemy is, that would make it viable. Or better yet, just have the proc drop on you, but I guess some would argue that would make it too powerful.

I'll continue using it, Ive only had one evening so the above observations must be viewed with that in mind, it could be that I get really used to spotting and using the proc, negating the issues I have highlighted. We shall see.

ccfeeling

This set is fine with my WW

MartiniDaniels

That set has a wrong tooltip. It shows 15% change to proc that thingy, but in practice it's 6-8% (i killed several 6m dummies only with la's to test that. And no, it's not internal cd of set, it may actually spawn second glyph while first one is on the ground or on player. If they fix it, i.e. gave real 15% chance it will be amazing. Now it's too RNG imo.

Grianasteri

MartiniDaniels wrote: »

That set has a wrong tooltip. It shows 15% change to proc that thingy, but in practice it's 6-8% (i killed several 6m dummies only with la's to test that. And no, it's not internal cd of set, it may actually spawn second glyph while first one is on the ground or on player. If they fix it, i.e. gave real 15% chance it will be amazing. Now it's too RNG imo.

That is interesting and fits with my experience of the set last night, it did not feel like it was giving a proc anything like 15% of the time. I should have mentioned this in my summary earlier.

My rotation is light attack focused, but it felt like I couldnt get it to proc 15%, it seems like you have just explained why! I mean in theory every single rotation I should be getting a proc off of 15% chance, but I wasnt.

Grianasteri

Well, they buffed the set with a slight, but important change...

The essence now procs right next to the target under attack. I ran the set again for one evening doing dungeons and daily quests to get a feel for how usable it is, or is not, following the rework.

The rune landing right next to the target has certainly made it far easier to pick up, with far less thought or time involved in doing so. It is also fair to say that a significant percent of the time, the rune landed right on me, removing entirely the need to observe the rune and pass over it.

Unless one is a melee focused character, the set will remain largely unusable. To get the highest up time and usability from it you need to be in the targets face. There were still issues around actually identifying the rune when in busy fights. Also actually being able to get to the rune, due to adds etc was an issue in some content, I did miss the occasional proc as a result of this.

Note that once you do have the buff on, its easy to tell as you glow bright white on the arms etc.

I think I need a bit more time and research, I have not yet ran a DPS parse to compare with other build set ups for instance. Anecdotally, from one evening, I felt it was still underwhelming because despite the increased ease of use, the additional thought and effort required to pick up the buff still felt too awkward. It is possible that with practice, this issue would pass...

Id love to hear from anyone who has experimented...

Toc de Malsvi

Grianasteri wrote: »

Well, they buffed the set with a slight, but important change...

The essence now procs right next to the target under attack. I ran the set again for one evening doing dungeons and daily quests to get a feel for how usable it is, or is not, following the rework.

The rune landing right next to the target has certainly made it far easier to pick up, with far less thought or time involved in doing so. It is also fair to say that a significant percent of the time, the rune landed right on me, removing entirely the need to observe the rune and pass over it.

Unless one is a melee focused character, the set will remain largely unusable. To get the highest up time and usability from it you need to be in the targets face. There were still issues around actually identifying the rune when in busy fights. Also actually being able to get to the rune, due to adds etc was an issue in some content, I did miss the occasional proc as a result of this.

Note that once you do have the buff on, its easy to tell as you glow bright white on the arms etc.

I think I need a bit more time and research, I have not yet ran a DPS parse to compare with other build set ups for instance. Anecdotally, from one evening, I felt it was still underwhelming because despite the increased ease of use, the additional thought and effort required to pick up the buff still felt too awkward. It is possible that with practice, this issue would pass...

Id love to hear from anyone who has experimented...

Its not a PVE set really. Its an amazing dualing set and okay in other content. If you could reliably pick up the essence it would be the hands down best PVP set and a solid PVE option.

Taleof2Cities

I tested it during the Elsweyr PTS, @Grianasteri, and came to the same conclusion you did.

It’s not BiS or anything ... but it does synergize well with Wood Elf.

I have it on my Stamplar on Live for just derping around overland (paired with Morkuldin and Sellistrix). Also paired the “improved” Essence Thief with Morihaus on Live ... which works well too.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/469534/essence-thief-anyone-look-at-this

khajiitNPC

It works beautiful. Yes the pool Spawn can be a little annoying but...paired with certain sets, particularly in PvP. Wham bam thank you ma’am goodnight

Grianasteri

khajiitNPC wrote: »

It works beautiful. Yes the pool Spawn can be a little annoying but...paired with certain sets, particularly in PvP. Wham bam thank you ma’am goodnight

That is interesting and great to hear someone is enjoying the set and making it work.

I have yet to go back and really try to get used to it.

usmcjdking

Great in PVP.

Can be problematic in PVE.