Hidden Blade or Dreuger King Slayer for a HA NB (DW build)

lukoi

So, I really want to ensure I've got Major Brutality up as much as possible on my HA NB, and to do it without pots (I want to have tri-pots available at all times). As Ilevel this char, I've found myself all too often in trouble, while a brutality pot timer wears off, wishing I could tap the tri-pot (and currently, I'm a bit too low level to have vigor on the bar, but that's about to be rectified, but even then it only does HP and more often I'm needing the stam a tri-pot can provide).

I originally intended to go Ravager for the fun/novelty of it (and after witnessing an absolutely beast mode player using it repeatedly in BG's when he wasn't running a similar DW/Bow build running Air+Red Mountain, which I thought was interesting but not optimal -- his skill made up for it against us relatively newer players), but considering DKS now to keep the Major Brutality up full time (and save me a bar slot for something else like Rend).

Any insights appreciated.

lukoi

Just realized, there's no actual question - just an implied one.

Is this a viable, effective PvP option? To go DKS with the NB and do well with it. Seems like the assured 100% uptime of around 500 via Major brutality outweighs the 8% but higher # from Ravager. But obviously if I could time pots better I could have the best of both.

Iskiab

Sounds like you need to level your alchemy crafting. If you do there’s a passive that extends the duration of potions.

Royaji

The opportunity cost of dedictaing a full 5 piece to an easily available buff is too high in a vast majortiy of cases.

lukoi

Iskiab wrote: »

Sounds like you need to level your alchemy crafting. If you do there’s a passive that extends the duration of potions.

I've got it. That's not my concern. If a MB pot is running, I cannot override it with a tripot if I need to can I? That's the part I'm trying to get around.

I imagine Ravager is probably the preferred choice but I'm looking for ideas here based on the option limits ingame. Or am I misunderstanding how potions work in combat (I thought tripots and MB pots are in the same category)?

lukoi

Ok, so I've gotten some more feedback and basically I am being coached that relying on vigor, the KB arrow for heals and using brutality pots is the way to go, no matter what.

geonsocal

I used DKS on my stamblade for a while...i liked it a lot...similar to rattlecage - it's a great "beginners" set...
Dreugh King Slayer
(2 items) Adds 129 Weapon Damage
(3 items) Adds 129 Weapon Damage
(4 items) Adds 833 Weapon Critical
(5 items) Gain Major Brutality at all times, increasing your Weapon Damage by 20%. When you kill an enemy, you gain Major Expedition for 8 seconds, increasing your Movement Speed by 30%.

the truth is though - you probably should be using hidden blade or potions...hidden blade though can be tough to work in with your bow and optimizing that particular type of damage (which DKS takes care of)...

as someone mentioned above:

Royaji wrote: »

The opportunity cost of dedicating a full 5 piece to an easily available buff is too high in a vast majority of cases.

this is a cheap option for a brutality pot...
ALLIANCE BATTLE DRAUGHT
LEVEL 1-CP160
Restore 238-6986 Stamina immediately.
Grants Major Endurance which increases your Stamina Regeneration by 20% for 8-34.9 seconds.
Grants Major Brutality which increases your Weapon Damage by 20% for 8-34.9 seconds.

lukoi

@geonsocal - thanks for the insight man, very helpful.

I can make essence of weapon power currently (brutality, critical, stam), but that endurance version would be great too. Where can you purchase it?

susmitds

For PvP, Power Extraction will be enough.

geonsocal

howdy @lukoi the cyro siege and battlegrounds merchants sell em for about 200 AP each I think...

the merchant in daggerfall is pretty close to the wayshrine there...

I only really use the good stuff when I'm in a tough dungeon situation or battlegrounds, overland/questing and regular cyrodiil, the cheap stuff (there's a health and spell draught version also) is just fine for me...

with imperial city, it just depends on the situation, if things get personal (about the only place they really ever do for me - not a bad thing ) - I'm gonna take some time to go over my rotations and make sure I have the best, of whatever I got, equipped...

Metemsycosis

Don't forget power extraction (I use this on console and recommend it)

lukoi

Not sure how I missed PE, so will level that up and get a feel for it, but in the end its soaking a slot that could goto another skill.

Appreciate the help all, it definitely shows that whether I go pots or PE for Brutality, I should get it without spending my 5-piece on it. Right now I'm trying to finish off BPT to go with Ravager set, and then optimize the resources with glyphs.

Stx

Power extraction is a great skill to have on your bar even of you dont need the brutality, it does a lot of aoe damage and can apply defile on any target it hits.

lukoi

Stx wrote: »

Power extraction is a great skill to have on your bar even of you dont need the brutality, it does a lot of aoe damage and can apply defile on any target it hits.

Is defile a new addition to PE? As I was already using DW's WB skill, the second AoE didnt seem as pertinent to me in pvp (but probably so on pve), which is probably part of why I originally didnt consider it.

If it does add defile as well as trigger brutality, then I will definitely add it and go to tripots instead of using weapon essence pots.

Lightspeedflashb14_ESO

lukoi wrote: »

Stx wrote: »

Power extraction is a great skill to have on your bar even of you dont need the brutality, it does a lot of aoe damage and can apply defile on any target it hits.

Is defile a new addition to PE? As I was already using DW's WB skill, the second AoE didnt seem as pertinent to me in pvp (but probably so on pve), which is probably part of why I originally didnt consider it.

If it does add defile as well as trigger brutality, then I will definitely add it and go to tripots instead of using weapon essence pots.

All disease damage can proc major defile. Pretty sure power extraction is a 10% chance per hit.

glavius

Lightspeedflashb14_ESO wrote: »

lukoi wrote: »

Stx wrote: »

Power extraction is a great skill to have on your bar even of you dont need the brutality, it does a lot of aoe damage and can apply defile on any target it hits.

Is defile a new addition to PE? As I was already using DW's WB skill, the second AoE didnt seem as pertinent to me in pvp (but probably so on pve), which is probably part of why I originally didnt consider it.

If it does add defile as well as trigger brutality, then I will definitely add it and go to tripots instead of using weapon essence pots.

All disease damage can proc major defile. Pretty sure power extraction is a 10% chance per hit.

5% since it is AoE

lukoi

Thanks all, good info.

geonsocal

Power Extraction
Cast Time - Instant
Duration - 20 sec
Target - Area
Range - 8m radius
Cost - 2754 Stamina

Siphon the vigor from your enemies’ blood, dealing 496 Disease Damage to all nearby enemies.
If an enemy is hit, you gain Major Brutality, increasing Weapon Damage by 20% of 20 seconds.
Converts into a Stamina ability, that deals increased damage done.

the only problem with drain power - is it doesn't really help you if you are starting off with a ranged attacked (bow, destro staff) because of the short range (8 m) and necessity for hitting a target to proc major brutality of sorcery...

if you have a dual wield/bow set up - flying blade (28 m range) can be a nice way to kick the party off, although you lose any surprise you may have had before you can fire off a half dozen lethal arrows ...

susmitds

geonsocal wrote: »

Power Extraction
Cast Time - Instant
Duration - 20 sec
Target - Area
Range - 8m radius
Cost - 2754 Stamina

Siphon the vigor from your enemies’ blood, dealing 496 Disease Damage to all nearby enemies.
If an enemy is hit, you gain Major Brutality, increasing Weapon Damage by 20% of 20 seconds.
Converts into a Stamina ability, that deals increased damage done.

the only problem with drain power - is it doesn't really help you if you are starting off with a ranged attacked (bow, destro staff) because of the short range (8 m) and necessity for hitting a target to proc major brutality of sorcery...

if you have a dual wield/bow set up - flying blade (28 m range) can be a nice way to kick the party off, although you lose any surprise you may have had before you can fire off a half dozen lethal arrows ...

@geonsocal

Not actually a problem at all. There is a big misconception about the importance of Major Brutality. It increases damage on average from 5-10%, even lesser with bigger stamina pools. The initial Poison Injection hit is insignificantly low in damage and would hit only around 100 harder in PvP, with Major brutality. Same goes for the following ambush. Your burst combo starts with Power Extraction, so by the time, you are actually dealing major damage, you have it already.

geonsocal

susmitds wrote: »

geonsocal wrote: »

Power Extraction
Cast Time - Instant
Duration - 20 sec
Target - Area
Range - 8m radius
Cost - 2754 Stamina

Siphon the vigor from your enemies’ blood, dealing 496 Disease Damage to all nearby enemies.
If an enemy is hit, you gain Major Brutality, increasing Weapon Damage by 20% of 20 seconds.
Converts into a Stamina ability, that deals increased damage done.

the only problem with drain power - is it doesn't really help you if you are starting off with a ranged attacked (bow, destro staff) because of the short range (8 m) and necessity for hitting a target to proc major brutality of sorcery...

if you have a dual wield/bow set up - flying blade (28 m range) can be a nice way to kick the party off, although you lose any surprise you may have had before you can fire off a half dozen lethal arrows ...

@geonsocal

Not actually a problem at all. There is a big misconception about the importance of Major Brutality. It increases damage on average from 5-10%, even lesser with bigger stamina pools. The initial Poison Injection hit is insignificantly low in damage and would hit only around 100 harder in PvP, with Major brutality. Same goes for the following ambush. Your burst combo starts with Power Extraction, so by the time, you are actually dealing major damage, you have it already.

my rotations leave much to be desired - but, i understand what you're saying...that is a flipping awesome explanation...thank you very much