Sorcerer: Breton or Imperial?

spoqster · March 2015

Hi! I am looking for thoughts/advice.

I want to start a new sorcerer character. I don't want to roll an Altmer cause I have that on another sorc character, so it will be either Breton or Imperial.

My problem is that I don't know yet how I will play exactly, otherwise the call would be easier. I am planning to run a magicka focused build, but knowing that I don't like the destro staffs much I might end up using TH and DW anyway. Also, I find the idea of a battle mage/storm knight very appealing. So you can tell how these thoughts pull me from Breton towards Imperial.

But then I read that Imperial sorcerers got gimped with update 6 and I already have an endgame tank and an Imperial DK running TH and DW, so I might not need more of those.

My questions

Is Imperial still a good choice for sorcs after update 6?
Is the Breton's Increase Spell Resistance passive still as useless as before update 6? Or is it powerful now?
Are hybrid builds really impossible now and why?
Can I do top of the line magicka-based dps on the sorc without using a destro staff and how? (So using class abilities alone)
What do you think is the build with the highest possible dps on a sorc? (mag/stam, race, weapon, main abilities)

Thank you so much for your help and don't worry mentioning that the race choice is not so important. I know that I can be competitive in trials with either choice, so it's more theory crafting - but I do feel like the choice is more important now that the softcaps are gone.

Snit · March 2015

You're overcomplicating this, as the answer is quite simple:

- If you plan to be a stamina build, likely 2H-Medium Armor, Imperial is the best due to his health and stamina bonuses
- If you want to be a caster, then Breton is better due to his magicka bonus and cast-cost reduction (and he will absolutely use staves -- they're not optional for caster sorcs in most situations)
- Hybrid builds were killed by the removal of softcaps. You can still draw utility/ buff spells from both resources, but all your damage skills should be from the same resource

Other races work in these roles, too. Redguards and Altmer are excellent choices (and Altmer is a tiny bit better for magicka DPS).

Ourorboros · March 2015

I'm a Breton sorcerer, and am finding my build is better in 1.6 than it was before, even with the 'nerf'. I have full passive on resistance, and it definitely helps. I know there are those who hate pets, but in 1.6, pets rock. They finally perform as they should have from beta, holding aggro while I stand at a distance casting at range. And they are much tougher than before.

MasterSpatula · March 2015

1.6 hit right around the same time I decided to train Heavy Armor and melee weapons on my previously-a-caster Breton Sorc. I've got attributes mostly in health and magica. Using 2-Handed, I use Surge, Charge into battle, lay down a couple of Storm Calling AoE Dots, and wail on them with my sword. I'm finding it quite effective.

The character is VR4, currently leveling up in Cadwell's silver. I'm probably doing more damage with magica abilities, keeping stamina for rolling and blocking, though I'll use Sweep every now and then, too.

Hypertionb14_ESO · March 2015

magic, breton or High Elf.

Imperial for any other build.

breton and Helf have the same pool, Breton has spell resist and cost reduction while High Elf has Magicka regen and Extra damage with elements..

its pretty dead even between them as a result... im not sure if the bonus regen is overall better or worse than the reduction.

spoqster · March 2015

Hypertionb14_ESO wrote: »

magic, breton or High Elf.

Imperial for any other build.

breton and Helf have the same pool, Breton has spell resist and cost reduction while High Elf has Magicka regen and Extra damage with elements..

its pretty dead even between them as a result... im not sure if the bonus regen is overall better or worse than the reduction.

Thanks for the input. I had figured that part out already, though. :-)

The real question is: Can you be a magicka-based sorc without using a destro staff?

Aett_Thorn · March 2015

Can you be a Magika-based sorc without using staff? Yes.

HOWEVER, you will not be as effective as if you were using a staff. This is because you will be using a stamina-based weapon for attacking, and you won't have as many points into stamina, making those attacks a bit weaker. Can you be effective? Absolutely. You just won't be AS effective as some other builds.