NB need advice for PVP please!

Shardaxx · October 2015

I need some advice for PvP because I seem to get killed really quickly most of the time. My NB is stamina based, dual wield and bow. I get some kills with my bow mostly using Focused Aim, and occasionally I win melee battles, but mostly I die either from sorcerers using ranged "crystal fragments" (or something like that) spells and in melee, I get bashed with a 2-H sword and basically can't move until I'm dead. Holding the triggers doesn't seem to free me quick enough to avoid the next attacks.

I'm using skills like Shadow Cloak and Veiled Strike, which works great in PVE but against players they seem to become unstunned in about a nanosecond, I also use Flurry but its so long duration its hard to hit a player with all of the strikes, I've tried out Teleport Strike and some stuff from the Siphoning tree and various other skills, I like Hidden Blade for short range attacks and Assassins Blade for finishing enemies off, if I can get them low enough to use it.

My problem is that I don't seem to have a big hitter ability, and basically can't generate enough damage on people, and can't stun people for long enough to make it worthwhile. I also seem pretty squishy when it comes to getting hit, and get dropped in maybe 4-5 hits. I've got 26 points in Health, 20 in Stamina and 8 in Magicka (I only use that for cloaking) and a combination of stamina and health glyphs in my armour, so I *should* have plenty of health, but it doesn't seem like it in Cyrodil.

I'm currently VR6 and perhaps part of the problem is that a lot of people in Cyrodil are VR16, but I do try and avoid engaging with them and look for battles with people around my own level, I just don't feel that my character has much survivability. I have no healing aside from potions, and I'm not really sure where I can get healing from. I see other classes healing up from almost dead to full in a moment, but I can't find anything to do this for my class.

All comments, suggestions, calling me a n00b etc, are welcome!

olsborg · October 2015

Surprise attack is your bread and butter dps ability, drop Flurry.

Master_Kas · October 2015

Slot cloak and wreck any groups because it's that overpowered and there is no counters good enough for it

No but really drop flurry as the person above me said. Surprise attack is your main damage skill if you're stamina.

Slot fear, amazing AoE CC (affects 3 targets but only near you) and it's unblockable and reduces their damage + their movmentspeed.

Do a dodgeroll before you cloak or use teleport shade morph (Last skill in shadow skill line)

Try using blue regen drinks (magicka+stamina regen drinks) instead of food.

And ofcourse level up and get some v16 gear before you try to be competetive in the vet campaigns :P

Shardaxx · October 2015

I do use surprise attack usually in combo with shadow cloak, is surprise attack worth using without cloaking? The damage doesn't look that great but I guess its the best quick melee attack I have.

Sausage · October 2015

Learn to block and dodge, crystal fragment is one of the easiest to dodge.

Shardaxx · October 2015

Thanks Sausage I'll try, altho sometimes its hard to see it coming!

Master_Kas · October 2015

Shardaxx wrote: »

I do use surprise attack usually in combo with shadow cloak, is surprise attack worth using without cloaking? The damage doesn't look that great but I guess its the best quick melee attack I have.

It is your main dps even without cloak combo, reduces their armor/spellres AND gives you 5k armor after each use for a few seconds (shadow skilline passive shadow barrier).

Shardaxx · October 2015

Master_Kas wrote: »

Shardaxx wrote: »

I do use surprise attack usually in combo with shadow cloak, is surprise attack worth using without cloaking? The damage doesn't look that great but I guess its the best quick melee attack I have.

It is your main dps even without cloak combo, reduces their armor/spellres AND gives you 5k armor after each use for a few seconds (shadow skilline passive shadow barrier).

Thanks Kas I'll definitely use it more. I have all the passives.

Van_0S · October 2015

Use 2h/DW
2H use either executioner/Wrecking blow . Rally is a must
DW use either Rending Slashes/Flying blade/quick cloak. Steel tornado is a must.
NB abilites.
Dark cloak and Suprise attack is a must.
For buff use rally(cost more steam)/merciless resolve(deadly) / sap essence (mobs, u can use a combo of sap+steel tornado).

Cagro · October 2015

I had played a Nightblade without much success since June 2014 but after the Imperial City patch I created a Stamina build that is working great in both PVE and PVP.

My main Bow bar is Surprise Attack, Dark Cloak, Lethal Arrow, Piercing Mark, Camouflaged Hunter and Soul Tether.

My Two-Hander (buff) bar is Rally, Mirage, Harness Magicka, Relentless Focus, Siphoning Attacks and Bolstering Darkness.

The logic behind this build is to maintain all buffs and Nightblade passives active at all times, including the Shadow's armor and spell increase. Thus, you want to use Surprise Attack and Dark Cloak at least every four seconds to maintain you armor and spell buffs. You also want to switch to your two-hander bar to re-buff yourself about every 30 seconds or so, starting with Rally (36 or 33 seconds) and ending with Siphoning Attcks (15 seconds). When you see Mirage (big red circle) fading re-buff.

If enemy is far away hit Camouflaged Hunter, then Lethal Arrow, then Piercing Mark, and then spam Lethal Arrow.

If enemy is close, hit Camouflaged Hunter, Dark Cloak and Surprise Attack stun combo, spam surprise attack and light attack (animation canceling) until stun immunity is over, and then back to Dark Cloak and Surprise Attack stun combo.

If enemy is fleeing, make sure you use Piercing Mark, and then dodge roll to get Major Expedition from bow passive.

If in trouble, dodge roll and then spam Dark Cloak. If you are marked with Piercing Mark or overwhelmed, use Bolstering Darkness and re-buff until you can flee. If you are a wood elf in full medium armor like me, you can also dodge roll various times because your stamina regeneration is very high.

I do not know if is the fact that my rotation is SO SIMPLE but I had being doing so much better than before. I do not have room for a finisher, Ambush, Mass Hysteria, Shadow Image or Resolving Vigor but I feel that I have the advantage against most opponents I face. I am Veteran Rank 5 with about 46 Champion Points but I had beat most Veteran Rank 16 players I faced with this built. Actually, I do not remember the last time I lost a one on one fight.