Dragonknight Solo PVE: Good or Bad?

ADarklore · February 23

If good, MAGdk or STAMdk?

I keep seeing almost every ranking site has DK listed dead last for best solo PVE class; I remember just a few months ago many players were complaining that DK was OP, so what happened?

Araneae6537 · February 23

ADarklore wrote: »

If good, MAGdk or STAMdk?

I keep seeing almost every ranking site has DK listed dead last for best solo PVE class; I remember just a few months ago many players were complaining that DK was OP, so what happened?

It IS confusing! I’ve been looking at some of these lists too, trying to figure out what builds I might want to try and work on next, and even checking that they are from the past few months, they vary wildly. I would think that DK would be good for solo content where survivability is an issue, but maybe they offer greater group than solo utility? Still, I think they are well suited to the Infinite Archive, for instance.

Because of that survivability, DK’s are currently doing quite well in PvP (probably the source of complaints that they (and just about everything else) is OP).

I’m not sure what all is taken into account ranking classes for solo PVE content, and what is best for IA may well be quite different than for arenas (haven’t tried the latter in a while). I usually see magicka sorc listed as best/easiest for solo PVE content and this is what I’ve used most. Arcanist, especially stamina, would probably be a strong choice as well.

I would expect necromancer to be dead last as it seems impossible to do any decent damage with them.

Necrotech_Master · February 23

my mag dk is great for soloing, its the class i used to get the spirit slayer achievement with in vet vateshran (definitely wasnt using a meta setup for this either lol)

i dont really run meta builds on him, but hes always worked out pretty nicely for me

the only stam dk ive ever played is a tank, which isnt really ideal for soloing, but i still do it anyway lol, my ole reliable main lol

pretty sure you can easily solo almost any class with a build that your happy with

ADarklore · February 23

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

my mag dk is great for soloing, its the class i used to get the spirit slayer achievement with in vet vateshran (definitely wasnt using a meta setup for this either lol)

i dont really run meta builds on him, but hes always worked out pretty nicely for me

the only stam dk ive ever played is a tank, which isnt really ideal for soloing, but i still do it anyway lol, my ole reliable main lol

pretty sure you can easily solo almost any class with a build that your happy with

This is all good to hear. DK was my original class back in 2005, but I didn't play it long. Have tried DK another time, but just couldn't get into it back then... but now a lot has changed. Not just in skill changes, but hybridization, gear sets, mythics, companions. As @Araneae6537 pointed out, it's tough to decide which class to pursue based on the information that's out there right now.

Necrotech_Master · February 23

personally i cant say ive ever really looked at what other people rank stuff as, or even followed build guides lol

i have between 1 and 2 of each class (arcanist, templar, sorc are the ones i only have 1 of)

DK was my original class as well at launch, ive set him up mostly as a higher dps stam dk tank (i havent changed gear on him in virtually 8 years lol)

my mag dk is the one ive used different setups with, my first setup was kind of odd, i was using a monster set (i think it was zaan before the what i feel is a nerf to it) + auroran + death dealers fete + arena weapons (ive changed these a bit over time, but ive used variations combinations of the blackrose destro, vateshran destro, and maelstrom destro)

ive since decided to change up his build to lean more into dots right now, going with azureblight + runecarvers blaze + valkyn skoria which im enjoying right now (works OK on single target fights, amazing for aoe fights)

AcadianPaladin · February 24

I'd kind of like to try a MagDK also. But I'm NOT going to start any new characters. If I ever get to play a MagDK it will be by using a class change token on one of my fully trained up (Mount, Legardemain, Psiic, Guilds, Skyshards, etc) but unsuccessful retired characters.

moderatelyfatman · February 24

Dragon Knights are amazing at everything. Even when it comes to healing, they may not be top tier but their healing ticks are amongst the largest.

MidniteOwl1913 · February 24

I love MagDK for solo PVE. I have three of them one for each alliance (for those rare occasions that I go to Imperial City).

It is fun, easy to play and I really like the visuals.

Hotdog_23 · February 24

Dk’s biggest weakness in PVE is it’s in class AOE healing output. Cinder Storm is just too small and area and Cauterize, while good, only goes off every 5 seconds. Keeping a companion or another player alive is more difficult on my DK’s vs. other classes. Self-healing is great. Inhale and its morphs are great self-healing in a mob. Prefer the deep breath morph for the interrupt, as the extra healing is just not needed. The healing ticks from Burning Embers are nice. Venomous Claw has better damage, for sure, but solo Burning Embers is better because of the self-heal.

My solo/group MagDK is Oakensoul HA build, and she will not die most of the time. Solo any World Boss or event with her. Play melee range with her. The AOE damage and healing are just too good to play ranged.

Skills are Standard of Might, Deep Breath Burning Embers, Noxious Breath (for the Major Breach and damage). Burning Talons for the damage, high magic cost, but easy to maintain on a heavy attack build. My last skill is flex, but most of the time I use Resolving Vigor for the self-heal and Minor Resolve, increasing your Physical and Spell Resistance by 2974, for 20 seconds for extra tankiness. Carry nothing to heal a companion, so they must be able to self-heal. Most of the time, I use Isobel (Tank) or Azander (healer) because of this. I can't stand Bastion.

Sets are Sergeant's Mail (5), Order's Wrath (5), One Piece Slimecraw, and, of course Oakensoul Ring. Sure, other sets are more meta, but it gets the job done just fine. Use 1 heavy, 1 light and 5 Medium for the undaunted passive Undaunted Mettle. Most don’t do 5-1-1 anymore, but old habits die hard.

I actually have two different setups for her. One with 1 heavy, 1 light and 5 medium, and one with 5 heavy, 1 light and 1 Medium. It's why I use Order's Wrath as a second set, since it is craftable. The 5 heavy build has like 31k spell resistance and 28k physical unbuffed but only 40ish percentage crit chance. In the hardest bosses, I change to the heavy setup.

edit: Staff is sharp but carry a precise one for group content.

Stay safe and have fun

Zodiarkslayer · February 24

Soloing on a StamDK is fun. And powerful too. But you mustn't use the Whip.
The best spammable is Bloodthirst from Dual Wield and a Maelstrom 2Hander on the backbar to buff it to ridiculous levels of damage and self healing.

Ultimately you'll have to tank in melee range and DK offers a very good class kit for this.
The question for success is really how you'll get your penetration for the Boss Monsters. Sure there is Major Breach. But after that, there isn't anything else within the class. You'll have to look for gear with penetration to fill that gap. I like maces, one of thrm sharpened and one piece light armor Valkyn Skoria (The Classic).

ADarklore · February 24

I'm looking at several build loadouts just for variety. My main MAG gear is Order's Wrath and Mother's Sorrow w/Valkyn shoulders and Oakensoul running Shadow mundus; with this I have tons of Crit damage and pen. On my STAM characters, I typically run Order's Wrath with Briarheart, Slimecraw shoulders, with Lover mundus and Maul for the extra pen.

I do have a couple loadouts to use Pale Order 2-bar as well... but it's tough to justify losing all the extra buffs, just to add skills that offer a couple of the same buff and perhaps a smidge of extra damage but have to be manually activated. I'm not a big fan of sweaty combat, so Oakensoul is usually what I run most of the time.

@Hotdog_23 Helping to heal your companions can come through Echoing Vigor, especially when against difficult enemies. Otherwise, in open world, I have all companions setup with one self-heal. For World Bosses and such, I use Azandar for tank because he has great self-sustain- especially when paired with Telvanni Efficiency (which I only use against World Bosses, soloing Group Dungeons, World Events or Dragon hunting).

@Zodiarkslayer I honestly HATE Whip... it just looks dumb. For open world, I plan to 2H mostly- using Carve and Stampede with Noxious Breath, Venomous Claw, and Draw Essence. Venomous for the guaranteed poison status and I don't really need the self-heal in open world, but if I do, I'll also have Draw Essence.

Stampede and Carve are great AoE's and Carve works for protection. For Bosses, I'll be swapping out Stampede and Draw Essence for Eruption and Echoing Vigor.

My MAGdk open world build is Engulfing Flames, Eruption, Burning Embers, Unstable Wall and Draw Essence. I have more than enough pen that I don't need to run major breach- open world enemies only have 9K resistance.

LunaFlora · February 24

i like taking my magicka dragonknight to the infinite Archive

ADarklore · February 25

I wanted to post my observations on DK performance on my new character.

What I use for comparison is the MSQ "Valley of Blades" quest... because the ending of the quest has you fighting four sets of resurrected Redguard 'heroes' and is probably the most difficult quest of the initial MSQ IMO.

Typically I run this quest between levels 20-30 on new characters, using the same gear Heartland/Fortified Brass (4xLt/3xMed) in Training trait. I've recently created several new characters including- Arcanist, Templar, Sorc, and Warden; thus, the runs through this particular quest are fresh in my mind. Oh, and I also use Azandar as Tank.

I'd say in order ranking quickest completion to slowest: Arcanist was the fastest, then Templar, Sorc/Warden were pretty even, and the poor DK came in dead last. I'm not sure if it's the DK skills are just underpowered at this level or what. I will say that my health barely wavered on the DK and even as MagDK I was still fine in melee range. But the most important thing IMO, was that DK was also the FUNNEST. It may have taken longer, but I had more fun doing it.

Not sure how this will translate to fully leveled performance, I'm hoping with better gear and maxed skills the disparity between the classes won't be quite so noticeable. That being said, one of the things I hate about Arcanist is how I can approach a mob in open world, shoot them with the beam from a mile away, and as they run towards me (into the beam) they just drop dead before my companion even gets a hit in. It truly is a 'one skill' class, and IMO, that's NOT fun.

Necrotech_Master · February 26

a large amount of the DK spec is dots, with only a few "bursty" skills

whip is your primary if you want burst, while most of the other skills are dots

general survivability is extremely good on a DK, because they have class passives for increased resistance and block mitigation

mocap · February 26

Warden is million times better than DK for solo.

If you still want DK, then grab Pale Order Ring, make meta HA build (Sergeant + Duelist), use DK 30 seconds Empower and HA to death any content.

ADarklore · February 28

mocap wrote: »

Warden is million times better than DK for solo.

If you still want DK, then grab Pale Order Ring, make meta HA build (Sergeant + Duelist), use DK 30 seconds Empower and HA to death any content.

I think I'm going back to my Templar, honestly. I was a Templar main for years, and logging in on my newest Templar character felt like returning home.