Breton/Templar Dual Wielding Question

Starkman · April 2016

Hey all,

At Deltia's Gaming (both regular and Youtube sites), he says that a (Breton)/Templar doing DW gives more spell damage, which is great for healers; they can DPS as well. I'm wondering though, if I never plan to do much DPS (man, it will be enough just to heal correctly), would Destro and Resto staves be sufficient?

Further, if I'm never going to use DW for direct combat (using skills instead), would I need to level up DW? Isn't doing so only going to be worthwhile if I'm using those weapons (be they axe, dagger, sword, what have you)?

Finally, wouldn't extra spell damage (or, for that matter, spell damage in general) apply only for DPS and not healing, even to the healing that may be bundled in a DPS skill? Or does the healing that comes with the skill get an increase from spell damage (thus more from DW) as well? If spell damage doesn't apply to healing, then aren't staves enough for just healing?

Thanks much

lolo_01b16_ESO · April 2016

Just for equiping 2 swords instead of a staff you get more spell damage which increases all healing and all damage you do. Additionally you can get one more set item to get another set bonus. So using dual wield as healer can make sense unless you need weapon skills of two different weapons (e.g. healing springs and elemental drain).

Starkman · April 2016

Okay, I got what you're saying, lolo.
Now, the last questions: can a resto and destro staves build be just as effective for healing, AND would a resto and destro staves build be enough to DPS your way into end game?

Thanks very much

hedna123b14_ESO · April 2016

Starkman wrote: »

Okay, I got what you're saying, lolo.
Now, the last questions: can a resto and destro staves build be just as effective for healing, AND would a resto and destro staves build be enough to DPS your way into end game?

Thanks very much

While you can definitely play as you like, as you progress in the game you will find pure healing really boring, because of how class setup is built. A lot of classes have built in self sustain where the best groups don't even run certain instances with a healer (or a tank). While to get comfortable you should definitely start as a pure healer and then try to dps more. As to your question regarding weapons. Leveling up as many skills as you can will always be a good idea in case you ever want to try something that requires a skill line you have not used before. For any 4 man content you could go Dual wield/destro/resto. For trials you will be required to have a resto staff and will either be resto/resto or destro/resto. DW/resto is possible for trials but is uncommon.

NBrookus · April 2016

A healer running Elemental Drain in the destro line can make a big difference in a group. IMO, it outweighs the extra spell damage from running DW. That's coming from a tank & DPS perspective; my templar healer hasn't really been challenged enough to form a preference.

That said, if you are soloing, questing or DPSing, DW rocks on a templar.

Starkman · April 2016

Alright then. This certainly helps.

Thanks very much

Acsvf · April 2016

Destro and Resto is perfectly fine. Of course, you'll want to spend a little more time weighing the benefits of Dual Wield, Restoration Staff and Destruction Staff come end game, as V16 equipment does not come cheap.

Flameheart · April 2016

As a templar magicka DD you will use Destro/DW (swords) as every other magicka DD build too (Sorc, NB and nowadays - after TG patch - even DKs), because 2 swords equipped will give you more spell damage. On the other side you can't weave as effectively as while using a staff. That's one reason why magicka DDs still use a staff on their first bar (the others are Elemental Blockade, or in the case of the Sorc -> Force Pulse and Pulsar as main spam attack for single target and AoE)

As a healer I strongly advice Restro/Destro, despite the fact that the spelldamage increase will apply to healing too. You will need restoration staff abilities - always - as a healer - especially in trials and even as a templar. Trials without Healing Springs and maybe even Siphon Spirit and a Mutagen here and there, I can't think of. Combat Prayer is nice too if the encounter suits to.

On your second bar you use a destruction staff (fire suits fine). On the one hand you are able to use Crushing Shock to add dps if there is not much to heal in 4-man-content (you might use Puncturing Sweep too, but sometimes it's risky to go melee as a healer and using a channeled skill...better stand at range, and use Crushing Shock and Shards/Spears to shoot at casters for Interrupts or AoE damage), on the other hand you are able to add Elemental Drain. The later buff helps a lot to support the ressource leaking magicka DKs and magicka Sorcs. I am convinced that a magicka DK is one of the most awesome DD class right now for trials, but it will work only with Drain Essence applied, especially in the Maw. In trials as the Maw (7min+ fight, alone the first boss on veteran), I rate that buff as necessary nowadays and not just a nice addition.

Starkman · April 2016

Thanks, Acsvf and Flameheart.

I have already switched to Destruction and Restoration staves. I do not want to concentrate too much on DPS; I'm quite content just healing as proficiently as possible, even if there are slow-going or boring times, which for me is not a problem.

I feel I'm on track now, so thanks so much for the input. Man, it helps! Especially when the skills for, say, two swords may talk about damage in what I immediately interpret (unless it's clearly stated otherwise) as damage applying solely to the swords. But then you find out, "Oh, no, it applies to all damage." How the hek would you know that?

So, thanks again!

Acsvf · April 2016

If anything just says "damage" then it's all damage.