Relentless Focus

dan_lyleub17_ESO

Is there another ability that is competitive with relentless focus? I've tried to like this skill for over a year, and its not for me. I'm using ambush because its fun, but I'm not sure if something else would help kill faster. Pvp or pve

El_Borracho

Relentless Focus/Merciless Resolve is one of the major sources of damage and heals for PVE nightblades. I wouldn't run one without that skill.

Ambush is nice, but more of a PVP skill. But if you get a good LA skills rotation with Relentless or Merciless, that skill will do more damage. You could always run the two together as well as their status effects do not overlap

dan_lyleub17_ESO

So many skills in the game, so few slots to put them in, and Relentless Focus seems to be required. ..Damn, i'll keep looking for an addon or something to help me. Thanks.

El_Borracho

Check out this site if you have not already:

https://alcasthq.com/eso-stamina-nightblade-build-for-pve/

Yes, its the evil "meta." But it gives some good ideas for builds and explains why certain skills are used, slotted, etc. So maybe you could drop Trap and run Ambush instead or move some other skills around to accommodate your play style.

Thing is, a rotation is only as good as the player using it. What works for others might not work for you. I've played stamblade and magblade for years. It took a while to get that LA rotation down to consistently trigger the spectral arrow as its a dynamic rotation versus a static.

Play around with it, see what you like. But I'll say, that spectral arrow hits hard when you have the right setup, and hits frequently when you have a good rotation

Fennwitty

dan_lyleub17_ESO wrote: »

So many skills in the game, so few slots to put them in, and Relentless Focus seems to be required. ..Damn, i'll keep looking for an addon or something to help me. Thanks.

I also dislike 'having' to use the skill and would prefer alternatives.

But try Grim Focus Counter by g4rr3t

Took me a while to customize how I wanted it but really helps know when the ability falls off and how many ticks it was at.

I pair with BanditsUI which can make a sound when Grim Focus/Crystal Shards is ready.

MashmalloMan

If you don't want to actively use it, pick the stam morph for 60s.. just have the buff up, you don't ever need to fire it and you get constant 10% crit damage/healing. It's excellent to slot and not much could replace it, it's also a big part of the NB's class identity and mini game mechanic. If you don't like it, I'd question whether you like the class at all, but maybe you just like the sneakyness or something, idk.

The skill is rewarding because it does much more damage than a spammable, for half the cost. Thats why you use it, but just using it for the crit damage is great too.

blktauna

I've never been able to get the skill to fire so I stopped slotting it. In Cyrodil I basically roll 2 separate 1 bar builds because most pf the time my bar wont swap so I need to do it this way. Grim focus takes a slot I could use for something that works for me...

phaneub17_ESO

It works best with Bows, imo, as you may be also trying to maintain Hawkeye passive up at the same time. Two for one bonus!

Ippokrates

Or Cloak for guaranteed crit + optional Strike from Shadows & Frenzy

AcadianPaladin

I have a bowbow NB and a mag NB. For both of them, I've found that for me, properly using the spectral arrow gives me a dps loss due to the distraction of managing it. Even with an add on that reminds me when it is ready. Still have to interrupt my rotation and (usually) swap bars. Not a bad skill, just not for me.

Oreyn_Bearclaw

Relentless focus/merciless resolve, is the core ability for nightblade PVE DPS or PVP burst. If you don't like the skill, honestly pick another class. It is their class defining damage skill, and playing without it will gimp yourself a lot. It is also the reason that nightblades have the most difficult PVE rotation in the game, it is certainly not for everyone.

Especially in PVE, mag sorc is like "nightblade light" in terms of rotation difficulty. Crystal frags serves the same purpose for a mag sorc, but it is much easier on the fingers. Unfortunately, the new stam morph of Frags is just a lame copy of relentless focus, but is also somehow clunkier to play with. I wouldnt suggest stam sorc in PVE if you dont like nightblade in PVE.

Andre_Noir

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

If you don't like the skill, honestly pick another class.

The truth is that it's the skill that doesn't fit to any of NB themes.
Can someone even imagine an assassin that has to dance around 5s+ for preparing his burst ?
Or may be it's a silent tool ? Oh wait even when u fire it on base at Cyro even Molag Kena on the roof of WGT can heard it and set a timer so she can roll dodge it half minute later

hackdrag0n

If grim focus isn't for you and you want to reach competitive dps numbers - you need to roll a new character. It's a key part of the nightblade rotation,

Andre_Noir

hackdrag0n wrote: »

If grim focus isn't for you and you want to reach competitive dps numbers - you need to roll a new character. It's a key part of the nightblade rotation,

lol it's provide ~5-6% at best of overall damage (less then enchants btw) in vet trials that makes it the LEAST important active ability DPS-wise
Just a random fresh example

Rugby_hook

Andre_Noir wrote: »

hackdrag0n wrote: »

If grim focus isn't for you and you want to reach competitive dps numbers - you need to roll a new character. It's a key part of the nightblade rotation,

lol it's provide ~5-6% at best of overall damage (less then enchants btw) in vet trials that makes it the LEAST important active ability DPS-wise
Just a random fresh example

That's a little misleading since until you proc it is is also increasing all your crit damage by up to 10%, so it has a role in all the other numbers as well. You could make an argument that the proc damage isn't worth using, but it definitely is providing for more than what you accounted for.

El_Borracho

Rugby_hook wrote: »

Andre_Noir wrote: »

hackdrag0n wrote: »

If grim focus isn't for you and you want to reach competitive dps numbers - you need to roll a new character. It's a key part of the nightblade rotation,

lol it's provide ~5-6% at best of overall damage (less then enchants btw) in vet trials that makes it the LEAST important active ability DPS-wise
Just a random fresh example

That's a little misleading since until you proc it is is also increasing all your crit damage by up to 10%, so it has a role in all the other numbers as well. You could make an argument that the proc damage isn't worth using, but it definitely is providing for more than what you accounted for.

Exactly, and its a heal skill. The arrow is a great bonus as it can inflict massive damage

rbfrgsp

Andre_Noir wrote: »

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

If you don't like the skill, honestly pick another class.

The truth is that it's the skill that doesn't fit to any of NB themes.
Can someone even imagine an assassin that has to dance around 5s+ for preparing his burst ?
Or may be it's a silent tool ? Oh wait even when u fire it on base at Cyro even Molag Kena on the roof of WGT can heard it and set a timer so she can roll dodge it half minute later

Agreed, it doesn't fit the NB theme in its current form. It'd be nice if they could rework the morphs to make them more thematic.

What about something that feels more like Dim Mak death touch (Fist of the North Star, Kill Bill) for the Stam morph.

Requires you to land 5 melee light or heavy attacks to proc. Once at full stack, you press again to unleash the massive attack, which is undodgeable but also requires melee range.

Magic morph, something like a power surge. When you overheal you gain one stack. At five stacks, pressing the skill button again launches the energy burst which again is undodgeable, and ranged. Would require a suitable negative like you take a fraction of the damage inflicted, or you take vulnerability or silenced or something.

Right now, a lot of the NB skill book is very bland and wishy washy on the theme and the gameplay.

Oreyn_Bearclaw

Andre_Noir wrote: »

hackdrag0n wrote: »

If grim focus isn't for you and you want to reach competitive dps numbers - you need to roll a new character. It's a key part of the nightblade rotation,

lol it's provide ~5-6% at best of overall damage (less then enchants btw) in vet trials that makes it the LEAST important active ability DPS-wise
Just a random fresh example

Very misleading. On most pure parse fights, its closer to 9-10% of DPS. If used correctly, the bow proc is likely the third highest thing on your DPS behind your execute and your light attacks. It also buffs overall crit damage, which gets ignored in this analysis. I am not sure one cherry picked HM navi fight with tons of ST downtime to deal with adds is really the best indicator of what that skill can do. If it isnt high on a damage recap, the most likely explanation is that it wasn't used in an optimal manner. You can certainly play NB without it and pull acceptable damage to clear most content, but its like a sorc not using frags or a warden not using sub assault. You are leaving significant damage on the table.

So yes. If you dont like spectral bow, I would suggest another class. Just like if you dont like the 3 second nature of blastbones or sub assault and what that does to a rotation, I wouldnt suggest necro or warden. All classes have a unique flavor to their rotation based on the skills they have available. If you dont like the taste, there are 5 other options.

Andre_Noir wrote: »

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

If you don't like the skill, honestly pick another class.

The truth is that it's the skill that doesn't fit to any of NB themes.
Can someone even imagine an assassin that has to dance around 5s+ for preparing his burst ?
Or may be it's a silent tool ? Oh wait even when u fire it on base at Cyro even Molag Kena on the roof of WGT can heard it and set a timer so she can roll dodge it half minute later

I tend to disagree. Its not like all fights in this game are over in 2 seconds. If a Nightblade could just instant burst everything to death, it would be broken. High burst from a spectral bow seems to fit very well into a shadowy assassins' theme.

Djennku

OP, you can do what I do and use the skill once at the beginning of the fight and never touch it for the rest of combat. With that, you get to keep the 10% crit damage/healing the whole fight once it maxes out, as you don't need to recast it to keep the buff. You can always reactivate it when in need of an emergency heal. It's all about choice. Use the bow or keep the stacks, up to you. There are options.

El_Borracho

I'm certainly not trying to insult anyone, but proccing the Spectral Arrow is not that difficult. You light attack weave until the skill box for Relentless Focus lights up, indicating when the Spectral Arrow is ready. Yes, the rotation itself is difficult in that it will pop up at different points in the rotation which you have to be aware of, as well as the timers or some other skills.

But as to Relentless Focus/Spectral Arrow itself, its reliable and predictable. You could even make a static rotation that utilizes it. If you hit the skill every 2nd rotation and it would be better than not using it at all. I don't know why someone would run a PVE NB without this skill, especially in group content or VMA

blktauna

You say that yet I don't ever see it light, not that I mind carrying the crit bonus, but like I said, I prefer other things and don't find it useful at all.

I'm in a guild of nightblades and very few of us run spectral bow, so I'd beg to differ about it being defining. I get it you're a booster, go you, but it doesn't work for everyone and it doesn't have to.

I have several NBs over EU and NA and none of them use this yet they are all quite successful and I enjoy them more than any other class.

Andre_Noir

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

Andre_Noir wrote: »

hackdrag0n wrote: »

If grim focus isn't for you and you want to reach competitive dps numbers - you need to roll a new character. It's a key part of the nightblade rotation,

lol it's provide ~5-6% at best of overall damage (less then enchants btw) in vet trials that makes it the LEAST important active ability DPS-wise
Just a random fresh example

Very misleading. On most pure parse fights, its closer to 9-10% of DPS. If used correctly

Go check fresh top esologs and then talk about "very misleading"

MudcrabAttack

Relentless focus still has timing issues for ranged builds where you can use the 5th light attack then hit relentless focus, but instead of proccing assassin's scourge you wind up recasting relentless focus. So annoying.

As far as ranged archer builds go, the difference between using the skill (where you have to slow your rotation to make it fire on the 5th light attack) and not using the skill (while speeding through a rotation as fast as you please) is small. Just casting more lethal arrows at a faster pace is close enough to making up the difference.

For DW melee builds it's a must-have, surprise attack is much weaker compared to assassin's scourge. Assassin's will on a magic build is stronger than anything except for the execute skill, but it has to be recast more often.

Oreyn_Bearclaw

Andre_Noir wrote: »

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

Andre_Noir wrote: »

hackdrag0n wrote: »

If grim focus isn't for you and you want to reach competitive dps numbers - you need to roll a new character. It's a key part of the nightblade rotation,

lol it's provide ~5-6% at best of overall damage (less then enchants btw) in vet trials that makes it the LEAST important active ability DPS-wise
Just a random fresh example

Very misleading. On most pure parse fights, its closer to 9-10% of DPS. If used correctly

Go check fresh top esologs and then talk about "very misleading"

What point are you trying to prove? That Nightblades shoudlnt use this skill?

Shantu

While effective, I've tried liking this skill for years...and still find it annoying to use. My favorite part is when you go to shoot the arrow and it fires the skill instead, wasting time and resources. And the thing is almost impossible to use without an addon.

Kaurie

My only wish is that it's have a different animation. Feels weird shooting a bow when I don't use a bow as a magblade.

As for its use, I enjoy it. I like that it's a predictable count that you can make a rotation out if, rather than a random proc like crystal fragments.

Rugby_hook

Andre_Noir wrote: »

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

Andre_Noir wrote: »

hackdrag0n wrote: »

If grim focus isn't for you and you want to reach competitive dps numbers - you need to roll a new character. It's a key part of the nightblade rotation,

lol it's provide ~5-6% at best of overall damage (less then enchants btw) in vet trials that makes it the LEAST important active ability DPS-wise
Just a random fresh example

Very misleading. On most pure parse fights, its closer to 9-10% of DPS. If used correctly

Go check fresh top esologs and then talk about "very misleading"

So looking at the logs, it is definitely being used by nightblades (and is relatively high in percent on its own on quite a few - comparable to crystal frags), but it's not a straight damage skill so you can't just look at the numbers. You would need to see how many crits occurred throughout the fight and then figure out the percentage of that damage that was added by using this skill since it buffs all crit damage. Just posting where it is on a parse log is misleading because it only tells part of the story. This skill plays a role in almost all damage done when it's active.

kringled_1

Andre_Noir wrote: »

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

Andre_Noir wrote: »

hackdrag0n wrote: »

If grim focus isn't for you and you want to reach competitive dps numbers - you need to roll a new character. It's a key part of the nightblade rotation,

lol it's provide ~5-6% at best of overall damage (less then enchants btw) in vet trials that makes it the LEAST important active ability DPS-wise
Just a random fresh example

Very misleading. On most pure parse fights, its closer to 9-10% of DPS. If used correctly

Go check fresh top esologs and then talk about "very misleading"

Most of the fights I looked at, assassins will was about 8-11% of total damage, and only in the fights where a prismatic enchant is used (Rakkhat, falgravn) does the enchant come close to or beat assassins will. The specific log you linked earlier seems very unusual, both in that the player is running both bars infused to maximize enchant damage, but also they seem to be holding bow procs far more than the other mnb logs I looked at (10 casts of assassins will for 187 light attacks). I'd argue that the specific log you linked is so far from the norm that it's the one I'd call misleading.

Everest_Lionheart

kringled_1 wrote: »

Andre_Noir wrote: »

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

Andre_Noir wrote: »

hackdrag0n wrote: »

If grim focus isn't for you and you want to reach competitive dps numbers - you need to roll a new character. It's a key part of the nightblade rotation,

lol it's provide ~5-6% at best of overall damage (less then enchants btw) in vet trials that makes it the LEAST important active ability DPS-wise
Just a random fresh example

Very misleading. On most pure parse fights, its closer to 9-10% of DPS. If used correctly

Go check fresh top esologs and then talk about "very misleading"

Most of the fights I looked at, assassins will was about 8-11% of total damage, and only in the fights where a prismatic enchant is used (Rakkhat, falgravn) does the enchant come close to or beat assassins will. The specific log you linked earlier seems very unusual, both in that the player is running both bars infused to maximize enchant damage, but also they seem to be holding bow procs far more than the other mnb logs I looked at (10 casts of assassins will for 187 light attacks). I'd argue that the specific log you linked is so far from the norm that it's the one I'd call misleading.

I’m hitting 2 bow procs every rotation, rotation is either 11 or 12 skills long depending on incap cast. Every other rotation I get a bow proc with the incap boost. It is in fact my hardest hitting skill by far up until execute where we generally drop the proc completely and take advantage of the extra crit damage from maintaining max stacks. That makes it a bread and butter skill for nightblade, though you could make a case for building max stacks, shortening your rotation and stacking the extra crits for the entire fight as well. At the end of the day the dmg ceiling is much higher when you use the proc compared to when you don’t use it at all.

master_vanargand

If use Relentless Focus correctly, it can delayed burst in PvP.
Relentless Focus is great skill.

Delayed Burst of Relentless Focus
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/962668698?t=0h1m39s

kringled_1

Everest_Lionheart wrote: »

I’m hitting 2 bow procs every rotation, rotation is either 11 or 12 skills long depending on incap cast. Every other rotation I get a bow proc with the incap boost. It is in fact my hardest hitting skill by far up until execute where we generally drop the proc completely and take advantage of the extra crit damage from maintaining max stacks. That makes it a bread and butter skill for nightblade, though you could make a case for building max stacks, shortening your rotation and stacking the extra crits for the entire fight as well. At the end of the day the dmg ceiling is much higher when you use the proc compared to when you don’t use it at all.

How you describe your rotation is (more or less) how I've understood most good mNB rotations to run, I may fall short in actually performing it myself, but it's also what I aim for and it looks consistent with most of the higher mNB logs that I've seen.