A Full Damage/Glass Cannon Build Doesn't Kill Much

GrumpyDuckling

I have been messing around with builds where I invest everything I have into damage, and I am surprised how little extra damage you get from it. Aside from Nightblade bombing, I haven't been able to create any high risk vs. high reward damage builds that are that much more effective at doing damage than a well-rounded build. When I go full damage I am really easy to kill, so it's really risky, but I was surprised by how most of the time it's just simply not worth it. I thought I'd run into my fair share of players where smart game play and positioning would mean that I could capitalize on all of my extra damage, but many players are capable of shrugging off a full barrage of all-out attacks, healing, and countering without a problem.

Now I'm back to what it feels like this game has almost always been -- outlast your opponent until they have a resource problem or make a mistake, then punish them. The only class I haven't tried a glass cannon on yet has been Necromancer, but I imagine I'd run into the same problems. I had what I thought would be an awesome glass cannon Dragonknight build where I used:

2 Balorgh
5 Heem-Jas
5 Spriggans

Unfortunately, even when I lined things up perfectly (buffs/Balorgh/Heem-Jas), the results were pretty underwhelming. Does anyone else ever try going all out? If so, where do you find success?

KillsAllElves

Replace heem-crap with new moon acolyte.

GrumpyDuckling

KillsAllElves wrote: »

Replace heem-crap with new moon acolyte.

Is it really going to be that much better than Major Berserk on a Balorgh?

KillsAllElves

GrumpyDuckling wrote: »

KillsAllElves wrote: »

Replace heem-crap with new moon acolyte.

Is it really going to be that much better than Major Berserk on a Balorgh?

Yup. I also get more damage with out spriggans.
Deadly strike is no better than heem jas.

And depending on what youre trying to do 2x balorghs is worthless.

GrumpyDuckling

KillsAllElves wrote: »

GrumpyDuckling wrote: »

KillsAllElves wrote: »

Replace heem-crap with new moon acolyte.

Is it really going to be that much better than Major Berserk on a Balorgh?

Yup. I also get more damage with out spriggans.
Deadly strike is no better than heem jas.

And depending on what youre trying to do 2x balorghs is worthless.

Interesting. Thanks for the feedback.

KillsAllElves

@GrumpyDuckling i sent you a DM

nesakinter

Chances are you don't have a truly full damage build. A full damage build does not mean glass cannon necessarily.

Only class that can truly go full damage is stamina nightblade and trust me, a full damage stamblade will destroy any and everything open world

https://youtu.be/TaEEqVO5Wqo

This is an example of a full damage build.

Waffennacht

But to OPs point; it does rarely pay off.

Especially in a tanky meta

Master_Kas

nesakinter wrote: »

Chances are you don't have a truly full damage build. A full damage build does not mean glass cannon necessarily.

Only class that can truly go full damage is stamina nightblade and trust me, a full damage stamblade will destroy any and everything open world

https://youtu.be/TaEEqVO5Wqo

This is an example of a full damage build.

I've actually tested this build (slightly adjusted) and it does indeed melt even some meta builds (when it's not a very good player running it ofc). Problem is I still felt squishy :<

Langeston

Master_Kas wrote: »

nesakinter wrote: »

Chances are you don't have a truly full damage build. A full damage build does not mean glass cannon necessarily.

Only class that can truly go full damage is stamina nightblade and trust me, a full damage stamblade will destroy any and everything open world

https://youtu.be/TaEEqVO5Wqo

This is an example of a full damage build.

I've actually tested this build (slightly adjusted) and it does indeed melt even some meta builds (when it's not a very good player running it ofc). Problem is I still felt squishy :<

What sets does it use? They don't seem to be mentioned in the video. (I'm fairly certain Spriggan's is one of them.)

goldenarcher1

Langeston wrote: »

Master_Kas wrote: »

nesakinter wrote: »

Chances are you don't have a truly full damage build. A full damage build does not mean glass cannon necessarily.

Only class that can truly go full damage is stamina nightblade and trust me, a full damage stamblade will destroy any and everything open world

https://youtu.be/TaEEqVO5Wqo

This is an example of a full damage build.

I've actually tested this build (slightly adjusted) and it does indeed melt even some meta builds (when it's not a very good player running it ofc). Problem is I still felt squishy :<

What sets does it use? They don't seem to be mentioned in the video. (I'm fairly certain Spriggan's is one of them.)

Mechanical Acuity is one of the sets used.

jadarock

Automaton/spriggins 1pc kena 1veli 5divines
Is a build I've run for a while yet somehow feels underwhelming quite often

susmitds

@Langeston That's actually my build for which I have a full written guide.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/501408/stamina-nightblade-iron-cannon-pvp-build-1vx-2vx-video-max-possible-damage-build-dragonhold/p1

Amksed1991

I wouldn't necessarily blame it on a tanky meta but more along the fact that one person can be a Tank/Damage/Healer in PvP.

The holy Trinity is a little skewed in this game.

That said, I've been having fun with a Flame Destroy Heavy Attack DK.

Knight Slayer
Elegant
Flame Staff w/ Oblivion Enchant

Davadin

i got both builds on my stamDK. med build with sprigs and NMA, bursting 6.5k wep damage and 30k leap.....


....which is "ok" only against the tank meta these days... (update: it does work well against low rank newbie tho. they get one-shot with leap-execute combo)


or Ravager + NMA heavy (i tried Sprig + NMA heavy but its less effective) where I max out 5.2k wep damage, but a whole lot more heals and resistance.


honestly, heavy works better. they kill folks just the same, the only caveat is I gotta manage resource better and slot the poison claw to add pressure. while med glasscannon if i failed on my burst, im dead on the water. i cant even get away.

Iskiab

Glass canons don’t work primarily because the game’s been designed for them not to work really.

If you’re squishy and try melee you’ll get aoe spammed down. If you’re squishy and try ranged you’ll be using lots of projectiles that will be absorbed or have their damage reduced.

You’re far better off being balanced and using the standard one sustain, damage and tank set and then tweak your other stats and abilities around your playstyle. There are some things which are powerful/optimal so use them, sacrificing impen for divines is an example: you’re not going to get anywhere in divines so you do 5% more damage but take 20% more damage.

Langeston

susmitds wrote: »

@Langeston That's actually my build for which I have a full written guide.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/501408/stamina-nightblade-iron-cannon-pvp-build-1vx-2vx-video-max-possible-damage-build-dragonhold/p1

Ah, thank you. Do you play magblade at all?

validifyedneb18_ESO

Quoted post has been removed for being off topic.

yeah I sort of realised that halfway through writing it, but the same sort of applies, just in PVP you are limited to a slimmer rotation and cant use the stacking 'PVE only' sets. Mostly the same with the key difference being that some metas are just broken in that they pull the same dps wile adding equal dps to other options.

Old 7th legion was a perfect example, and the new Orc racials. One was a heavy armor set that gave 500+ damage and healing with 100% uptime, the other is a race that gets equal to the highest raw damage stats of any stamina focussed race, while also getting free healing racials too. Meanwhile other races get *** like 15% duration reduction on CC that you're always going to interrupt anyway.