Could use some Nightblade insight.

Lynnessa · October 2015

Hello forumgoers. I haven't really played much since 1.6 ruined my character. Up to that point, I had a magicka/stamina hybrid Nightblade dps that was quite effective. After that... well, it wasn't so effective. I have done some experimentation since then, trying to recapture the same flavor my character had before 1.6.

I have conceived a build that has some of the same feel as before, but I'm not sure if it's viable for high level group content. It seems to do okay in dungeons and solo PvE, but I do want to join my guilds in trials/dsa/cyrodiil at some point.

My character is Breton, currently VR14. Here is what I want to do for my main setup:

Bar 1: Restoration staff: Swallow Soul, Combat Prayer, Dark Cloak, Concealed Weapon, Impale
Bar 2: Bow: Reaper's Mark, Shadow Image, Poison Injection, Lethal Arrow, Relentless Focus

Attributes would be split between health and magicka, armor would be all cloth, enchants would be mostly magicka with a few pieces enchanted for stamina.

I realize that bow skills scale from stamina, but I was hoping that putting champion points into Thaumaturge (+damage for poison, disease, and magic) would help with that.

Again, my question is whether this might be a viable single-target dps setup for endgame stuffses. I've never enjoyed crunching numbers for gaming. Any advice is appreciated, thanks.

TheNephilimCrow · October 2015

Basically, whatever you dump points into, Stam or Mag, will determine the overall damage to all of skills that scale off of it. So, what people generally do is make builds that build around the use of one resource. Basically using Magicka skills for damage *if mag based* and stam for buffs and vice versa.

You can do a hybrid build, which is both stam and mag, but you won't really excel in any one area.

Alucardo · October 2015

Hybrid builds are too inefficient at this moment. With all this new spell/weapon damage gear and jewellery, the current meta seems to revolve around getting as much DPS as possible, which you will not have looking at that build.
Not even CPs are going to help you with some of the stupid numbers people have their base damage at right now.
This is just a warning, not telling you what to do by any means - if you want to roll a hybrid, go for it, but you will find yourself seriously lacking in trials, DSA, and especially Cyrodiil.
If you need some practice I have a VR1 that'd be happy duel (if you're not DC), but I have a feeling I'd eat you alive.

Reeko · October 2015

Just fyi reapers mark and shadow image are kinda useless in trials.

Cody · October 2015

You are using a resto staff, so make use of the resto staff shield; as a NB that is the only effective damage shield/self-heal you can get. Using both shadow image and cloak at the same time is redundant; as cloak is far superior.(and tbh I don't use image; its too situational) Replace shadow image with something like draining shot; as you lack a knockback(you could also work Aspect of Fear into it if you desire)

what kind of armor do you wear, what reductions do you have? I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this build may not be sufficient with the current meta. A build split between magicka and stamina is not as effective as a build focusing mostly on one resource. If its mana you are after I suggest replacing that bow with a destro staff.

Shader_Shibes · October 2015

Bar 1 Destro staff: Funnel Health - Crippling Grasp - Entropy - Merciless Resolve - Inner Light - Ulti Ice Comet

Bar 2 DW or 2H: Sap Essence - Twisting Path - Impale - Siphon Attacks - Inner Light - Ulti Soul Harvest/Dawnbreaker of Smiting/Veil of Blades

Go full Magicka, Breton is up there with Altmer for magicka NB's.

Hybrids havent been good since 1.5

Lynnessa · October 2015

Wow, thanks for all the quick responses!

*sigh*

I suspected as much. I like the build, but the fact that it takes me several minutes to kill an average group of mobs in Craglorn already had me thinking I need to change it up to do endgame with my guilds.

Damn 1.6. Seriously ruined my character.

I guess I will respec and go with pure Magicka.

@Alucando , thanks for the offer to help me practice! I am DC though, and I am sure you would eat me alive, heh.

Another question--would it be possible to go with magicka dps and NOT use a destruction staff (i.e., use class abilities for dps and restoration staff for utility)? I mean, if I'm going to use destruction I think I'd rather just roll a sorc.

Lynnessa · October 2015

Cody wrote: »

what kind of armor do you wear, what reductions do you have? I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this build may not be sufficient with the current meta. A build split between magicka and stamina is not as effective as a build focusing mostly on one resource. If its mana you are after I suggest replacing that bow with a destro staff.

All light armor, with chest legs and head enchanted for stam and the rest enchanted for magicka. Not really sure what reductions I have--all I have done in the game has been solo PvE and pledges so far. I use some crafted sets (5 pc Torug's Pact and can't remember the other one atm) but I would hope those sets could be upgraded if I get a few drops from trials/dsa. Now that I'm done with Cadwell's, I need to make my character a worthwhile addition to groups!

I've been stubbornly trying to find a way to make magicka/stamina hybrid work, and finally have to admit that it just won't. Figured I'd hit up the forums for one last glimmer of hope

@Shader_Shibes - that does look along the lines of what I will be trying now.

Thanks again for the input!

Cody · October 2015

Lynnessa wrote: »

Cody wrote: »

what kind of armor do you wear, what reductions do you have? I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this build may not be sufficient with the current meta. A build split between magicka and stamina is not as effective as a build focusing mostly on one resource. If its mana you are after I suggest replacing that bow with a destro staff.

All light armor, with chest legs and head enchanted for stam and the rest enchanted for magicka. Not really sure what reductions I have--all I have done in the game has been solo PvE and pledges so far. I use some crafted sets (5 pc Torug's Pact and can't remember the other one atm) but I would hope those sets could be upgraded if I get a few drops from trials/dsa. Now that I'm done with Cadwell's, I need to make my character a worthwhile addition to groups!

I've been stubbornly trying to find a way to make magicka/stamina hybrid work, and finally have to admit that it just won't. Figured I'd hit up the forums for one last glimmer of hope

@Shader_Shibes - that does look along the lines of what I will be trying now.

Thanks again for the input!

well good luck to you. you are not the only one who misses hybrid builds.

Shader_Shibes · October 2015

Yeah, i missed my hybrid nb build also, but im loving how magicka nb's are atm. They really seem to be flavor of the month atm.

Good luck and check Amstel's and Mashinate's builds out on Tamriel Foundry.

tamrielfoundry.com/topic/pve-magicka-dps-by-iwm/

Amstel hasnt updated his in a while, though they were/are pretty similar anyway.

Reeko · October 2015

Shader_Shibes wrote: »

Bar 1 Destro staff: Funnel Health - Crippling Grasp - Entropy - Merciless Resolve - Inner Light - Ulti Ice Comet

Bar 2 DW or 2H: Sap Essence - Twisting Path - Impale - Siphon Attacks - Inner Light - Ulti Soul Harvest/Dawnbreaker of Smiting/Veil of Blades

Go full Magicka, Breton is up there with Altmer for magicka NB's.

Hybrids havent been good since 1.5

Haha this is exactly what i run for pve down to a T! Except i use clouding swarm on my DW bar.