Wardens in pve

Steveowatt

Hi All

Just a curious question. Playing over the last few days and i see people mentioning that Wardens (mainly stam) are not great as PVE DPS? Is that the case?

Was thinking of levelling a warden stam or mag but was just curious of peoples thoughts.

Currently on a stamplar and Magdk but wardens always appealed to me due to EQ Beastlords.

Nanfoodle

Any class can be good dps, Orc stam bow/bow is killer dps on a Warden. That bear really helps as it's like 70 Ultimate to use it.

Kahnak

Go for it.

Mag Warden in PvE is still doing fine. The only one lagging behind a little is Stam Warden. That being said, the difference in DPS only emerges at the very high end. Both specs are perfectly viable. Skill goes a long way in this game and it's not difficult to outperform a meta setup if you know your class better. The difference is between them and other setups may be something like 3k-5k and that's only if you're doing over 80k DPS. Considering that 60% of the people that play this game have difficulty doing over 30K, that might as well be almost nothing.

Steveowatt

Awesome might have to give one a go still a little torn between stam and mag den will have a play around me thinks

StormeReigns

Steveowatt wrote: »

Awesome might have to give one a go still a little torn between stam and mag den will have a play around me thinks

Do both honestly. Both are fun, and offer similarities while being uniquely different in play styles.

WrathOfInnos

Magden is fun, but not in a great place for PVE DPS. Expect to do about 10% less damage than MagDK or Stamplar. For most content this won’t matter too much, but it is noticeable.

Danikat

Are you planning on playing it in vet dungeons and trials?

If not then it doesn't really matter, all other areas of the game allow for a lot more flexibility. Even if you don't have the best possible DPS all it means is you might end up pushing a few extra buttons in each fight.

Lysette

Steveowatt wrote: »

Awesome might have to give one a go still a little torn between stam and mag den will have a play around me thinks

there is no need to make a decision now - you can easily respec your attribute and skill points at any time for a little coin - for example in the Wayrest cathedral. so just try things out and what feels best at the time is good to go - and if you start not liking it anymore, make adjustments or even learn something totally new - warden is a very versatile class with many options.

And just to add it - you are not even boúnd to use the bear at all - warden can be played without it as well. There are a few reasons why eventually - for example you don't need to block 1 slot each on your bars to keep the bear out even when bar swapping. And the bear is at times a little stubborn and wanders off to fight something on the way before joining you again.

xshatox

It’s rare to see warden in PVE, especially DPS. Most warden in PVE are either healer or tank even then most healer are templar and tank are DK. Although veteran trial something requires healers to be warden.

In PVP warden is one of most popular class, they are very tanky and has good damage.

ESO_Nightingale

Warden PvE DPS are somewhat lackluster in endgame PvE. From what I've heard from others and seen for myself, it's usage in endgame pve is lacking on both specs. More so for stamina warden. It doesn't offer anything the group doesn't have already from other classes or the warden healers and tanks. Healer and Tank wardens are just better at providing warden's group benefit. Additionally, a sizeable portion of it's damage comes from Deep Fissure which can miss a lot in fights with a lot of stuns, immobilises or mechanics that require moving etc. I think in actual dungeons it's still one of the lowest damaging DPS classes. despite the decent spot Magden is in when it comes to parsing.

But if you're just looking to play something because you think it's cool (for whatever reason) any DPS class in the game works for that purpose.

Aznarb

Don't worry about that.
Every stam class can reach 80k and it's enough to clear everything in the game.
If we speak about max potential, it's a bit lower than Stam ;Templar, Necro, Sorc.

So just play what you like and try to be good at it, that all, like said before, most of DDs player in eso are very low anyways, so it doesn't matter what you play.

ESO_Nightingale wrote: »

Warden PvE DPS are somewhat lackluster in endgame PvE. From what I've heard from others and seen for myself, it's usage in endgame pve is lacking on both specs. More so for stamina warden. It doesn't offer anything the group doesn't have already from other classes or the warden healers and tanks. Healer and Tank wardens are just better at providing warden's group benefit. Additionally, a sizeable portion of it's damage comes from Deep Fissure which can miss a lot in fights with a lot of stuns, immobilises or mechanics that require moving etc. I think in actual dungeons it's still one of the lowest damaging DPS classes. despite the decent spot Magden is in when it comes to parsing.

But if you're just looking to play something because you think it's cool (for whatever reason) any DPS class in the game works for that purpose.

What you speak about is : Scoring.
No one care to have every buff and class if you don't do scoring, it's not even necessary to clear vHM trial, speed run or no death.
Scoring is not end-game, it's just a little part of it.

That said, I agree, if the OP purpose is to join scoring raid run, then yeah, not the best choice.

AcadianPaladin

@Lysette is right. My first warden learned both stam and mag while trying to decide. After respeccing a couple times back and forth, I broke down and simply made a second warden- committing one to mag and one stam. My plan was to bring them both up and see which I prefer.

Well, I prefer them both. Lol. I generally play solo PvE and build for survivability, sustain and dps (in that order). Both wardens do well on all three counts and I find both to be very flexible and great fun to play.

For me, it took some time to learn how to optimize the bear. These days I send him in to a group, then take a few seconds to buff up while the bear draws aggro and the trash all gathers on him. Then I drop an AoE killing zone on the bear and close the distance as some of them begin to shift focus to me. This works great everywhere but group dungeons where all foes ignore pets and pets are invincible. In group dungeons the bear is not as helpful, but he is good for sending over to occupy and kill specific adds (like Chokethorn's baby healing stranglers).

ESO_Nightingale

Aznarb wrote: »

Don't worry about that.
Every stam class can reach 80k and it's enough to clear everything in the game.
If we speak about max potential, it's a bit lower than Stam ;Templar, Necro, Sorc.

So just play what you like and try to be good at it, that all, like said before, most of DDs player in eso are very low anyways, so it doesn't matter what you play.

ESO_Nightingale wrote: »

Warden PvE DPS are somewhat lackluster in endgame PvE. From what I've heard from others and seen for myself, it's usage in endgame pve is lacking on both specs. More so for stamina warden. It doesn't offer anything the group doesn't have already from other classes or the warden healers and tanks. Healer and Tank wardens are just better at providing warden's group benefit. Additionally, a sizeable portion of it's damage comes from Deep Fissure which can miss a lot in fights with a lot of stuns, immobilises or mechanics that require moving etc. I think in actual dungeons it's still one of the lowest damaging DPS classes. despite the decent spot Magden is in when it comes to parsing.

But if you're just looking to play something because you think it's cool (for whatever reason) any DPS class in the game works for that purpose.

What you speak about is : Scoring.
No one care to have every buff and class if you don't do scoring, it's not even necessary to clear vHM trial, speed run or no death.
Scoring is not end-game, it's just a little part of it.

That said, I agree, if the OP purpose is to join scoring raid run, then yeah, not the best choice.

Yep. Unlike in PvP, The only place where class choices really matter in pve is the scoring in the very endgame which only a small percentage of players actually play.

shack80

TBH any class is good enough if you master it.

For the scoreruns it is not the best option as stamplar and necro are overperforming other stam classes atm, but like said if you habe the right gear and master your rotation you can hit 85+ with warden.

I like to play with Warden because netch gives nice sustain. The bear on the other hand can be quite annoying but like said it depends what you want todo.

Icy_Waffles

I don’t know... stam wardens have a very easy rotation, and with the right gear can be very effective. Definitely a good class for people newer to stam dps.

Lixiviant

I think Stam Wardens are still a strong class, but play what you enjoy. The rotation is definitely a plus.

JanTanhide

Stamina Wardens are fine. Very strong and fun to play. I've completed a ton of Veteran content on mine. So go for it! Enjoy the class.

Cirantille

What they mean is that other classes can pull 1582 dps whereas warden does 1581.5

Warden and necros are capable of everything!

Lysette

shack80 wrote: »

TBH any class is good enough if you master it.

For the scoreruns it is not the best option as stamplar and necro are overperforming other stam classes atm, but like said if you habe the right gear and master your rotation you can hit 85+ with warden.

I like to play with Warden because netch gives nice sustain. The bear on the other hand can be quite annoying but like said it depends what you want todo.

i use the bear, but i don't have it summoned all the time. in most cases my wardens do well without the bear. just when i think it could be a bit hairy, I summon it to get a little support or that he distracts a couple of foes until I'll have time to deal with them. Otherwise, while exploring, I don't have the bear out - especially not in towns - it would be annoying for other people.

shack80

Lysette wrote: »

shack80 wrote: »

TBH any class is good enough if you master it.

For the scoreruns it is not the best option as stamplar and necro are overperforming other stam classes atm, but like said if you habe the right gear and master your rotation you can hit 85+ with warden.

I like to play with Warden because netch gives nice sustain. The bear on the other hand can be quite annoying but like said it depends what you want todo.

i use the bear, but i don't have it summoned all the time. in most cases my wardens do well without the bear. just when i think it could be a bit hairy, I summon it to get a little support or that he distracts a couple of foes until I'll have time to deal with them. Otherwise, while exploring, I don't have the bear out - especially not in towns - it would be annoying for other people.

Yh, but on console taking pets off is really annoying 😕

shack80

Cirantille wrote: »

What they mean is that other classes can pull 1582 dps whereas warden does 1581.5

Warden and necros are capable of everything!

Well stamwarden 85 against stamplar or necro around 95 is quite big difference but like discussed these numbers only matter on the top team score runs.

tsaescishoeshiner

Magicka Wardens have been buffed over the past few patches, and are in a really good spot now, especially for certain trial objectives. They USED to be much lower in endgame DPS, and a lot of people still have that impression
If you check out the ESO Logs website, some of the highest vet Sunspire DPS numbers are actually from magden

I personally also think they can add a lot of group support (Leeching Vines, Lotus Blossom, Minor Vulnerability, AoE Major Breach, AoE Minor Maim, Minor Lifesteal, Minor Toughness) especially in non-optimized trial set-ups

They're great for solo content and vet dungeons

Runefang

Both specs are in a bad spot for end game PvE. Despite what some said above it’s not just about score runs, when you’re in a progression group which is struggling just know you could be doing more for your group on another class. Just about any other class.

DKs are top dps. Sorcs bring a unique synergy and major berserk. Necros bring major vulnerability. Templars are good dps and Magplars are amazing in execute. Nightblades do great single target dps and are still the best users of master architect.

Nerouyn

tsaescishoeshiner wrote: »

Magicka Wardens have been buffed over the past few patches, and are in a really good spot now

Maybe some of their abilities been juiced up a bit numerically, but they're still poorly designed. So no, they're not in a really good spot now. Especially not compounded with the destruction staff problems.

As a mag warden, you'll only actually use about a third of your abilities. The others are gimmicky rubbish or tedious buffs.

One of the main appeals for me of ESO over other MMOs like WOW and it's many clones is that you're not just watching cooldowns tick down or performing monotonous rotations. But buffs take you there.

Thematically and visually I love them. Enough to have made half of my characters wardens. But I was misled by the low level abilities which give a false impression of the class.

Classic bait and switch.

End of the skill lines are just those gimmicky useless abilities and tedious arsed buffs.

Steveowatt

I ended up having a crack at a stamden and have enjoyed it magden just something about it didnt click which was weird as I in the beginning felt more drawn to magden...

I have however been having a crack at a magblade and absolutly loving it which I really did not expect to.... so currently having a good bit of time with a stamden and magblade

Odd really because I didnt think I would really enjoy stamden over magden and never thought I would enjoy magblade at all!