This build is ok, i run simillar myself. Try to use the mechanics, you can burn this boss only and only if you are familiar with this round. I'd suggest take this one slowly, learn what adds spawn at what HP% of the boss. Kill them, kite the boss. Don't forget the trolls.

If only I could do a class change...

You can pull 30k self-buffed, single-target (using Blood Spawn as a benchmark) in a Scathing Mage setup.
5pc Scathing Mage
2pc Nerien'eth
3pc Willpower
1 vMA destro (sharpened or precise)
2 Torug's Swords (sharpened or precise)

These are rough approximations, but I used to be in your exact setup, and each time I changed one of these things I made note of the dps gain:

1. vMA Destro staff will add ~2k dps just from the extra light/heavy attack damage, plus extra SD.
2. Force Pulse + Twisting Path + Scathing Mage + Nerien'eth is an increase of ~5k over Julianos + Kena + Swallow Soul weave. Note that Refreshing Path does not proc Scathing, but Twisting Path does. Refreshing Path is better for vMA, while Twisting is better for trials dps.
3. Rearming Trap (trap beast morph), although a stamina skill, can fit into the rotation to supplement crit damage. I don't remember off-hand what the approx. increase is, but it is an increase nonetheless. If I recall correctly, it's ~500-1k.

The remaining difference in your current benchmark relative to mine can be attributed to various stat changes, like increased max magicka and SD, crit% and damage, etc.

Now here is the kicker: this setup is not useful in vMA. The setup you are currently using is ideal, although having a vMA destro is preferrable. In vMA, Julianos and TBS are equivalent. Nerien'eth is a viable option, but it's not ideal (sometimes it procs too late and enemies are already dead, and sometimes it's extremely convenient in its timing and damage, but it varies with rng).

The fifth arena of vMA is, at least in my opinion, the hardest one, except for the final boss (Matriarch Runa) for a magicka NB. There is a very specific list of priorities for this arena. If you'd like me to walk you through it step-by-step, I won't mind, but I'll spare you the details unless you ask.

WalksonGraves wrote: »

This is why I gave up as a mnb dps. Sorc can hit 40k per light attack with overload, nb can't compete with that.

I am running vMA with my magblade with a 520+ score. It is not the lack of DPS that kills you, it is ignoring the mechanics.

Beat this boss finally yesterday after a week and a half, the best advice I was given and it worked. You control the pace do enough damage to the boss to get the next set of adds to spawn and concentrate on them ,then repeat, start off on the floe with speed sidgil, then move to the one with healing, kill the nerid first and then on the last flo pick up the defence and damage sidgil and go all out on the boss.

Takes some practice and gets a bit frustrating, but who ever gave me the advice (forgot now) thank you it works

You really don't need 30k to beat stage 5. This is coming from a magblade as well stuck on Stage 6, not some elite outlook on things. I think I pulled 15k on the last boss fight, maybe. It really does come down to mechanics, and knowing when to burn adds and when to burn boss and ignore adds.

And use the bloody sigils if you arent! Save the defensive and offensive ones for the final burn so you can ignore adds and just spam impale and dots.

Vorcil wrote: »

Autolycus wrote: »

You can pull 30k self-buffed, single-target (using Blood Spawn as a benchmark) in a Scathing Mage setup.
5pc Scathing Mage
2pc Nerien'eth
3pc Willpower
1 vMA destro (sharpened or precise)
2 Torug's Swords (sharpened or precise)

These are rough approximations, but I used to be in your exact setup, and each time I changed one of these things I made note of the dps gain:

1. vMA Destro staff will add ~2k dps just from the extra light/heavy attack damage, plus extra SD.
2. Force Pulse + Twisting Path + Scathing Mage + Nerien'eth is an increase of ~5k over Julianos + Kena + Swallow Soul weave. Note that Refreshing Path does not proc Scathing, but Twisting Path does. Refreshing Path is better for vMA, while Twisting is better for trials dps.
3. Rearming Trap (trap beast morph), although a stamina skill, can fit into the rotation to supplement crit damage. I don't remember off-hand what the approx. increase is, but it is an increase nonetheless. If I recall correctly, it's ~500-1k.

The remaining difference in your current benchmark relative to mine can be attributed to various stat changes, like increased max magicka and SD, crit% and damage, etc.

Now here is the kicker: this setup is not useful in vMA. The setup you are currently using is ideal, although having a vMA destro is preferrable. In vMA, Julianos and TBS are equivalent. Nerien'eth is a viable option, but it's not ideal (sometimes it procs too late and enemies are already dead, and sometimes it's extremely convenient in its timing and damage, but it varies with rng).

The fifth arena of vMA is, at least in my opinion, the hardest one, except for the final boss (Matriarch Runa) for a magicka NB. There is a very specific list of priorities for this arena. If you'd like me to walk you through it step-by-step, I won't mind, but I'll spare you the details unless you ask.

Damn; any information would be great thank you. From all the videos on youtube that I've seen, everyone seems to be doing 35k dps and doing massive amounts of damage compared to me, despite the exact same setup, skills, race etc.

I still feel that even I did an extra 5k dps it wouldn't be enough for this fight

I think those dps metrics, while probably reliable to a reasonable extent, are difficult to take at face value because of the nature of the context. VMA is a fast-paced environment where burst damage is king, so it doesn't "surprise" me when someone does 30k+ on any given fight. That doesn't necessarily mean that you need that kind of dps to get through it. My first clear of vMA was on a magNB in the same gear you described previously (and when I say same, it's really close, probably down to the enchants). For round 5 specifically, it's not really a dps race.

Here is how I handle Matriarch Runa. Keep in mind that the order in which she destroys platforms is important:
1. Start on the platform with the speed sigil. You needn't take this sigil, but up to you. Prepare to kill the first troll that spawns (note: if you go into this round straight from the previous round, the troll will spawn a little sooner, which is actually easier to manage. If you had to rez and restart, the troll will spawn shortly after the boss. Either way, he is priority).
2. Once the troll is dead, dps the boss until her adds spawn. I think this is somewhere around 85%, but memory fails me. Prioritize the ranged add, then the melee.
3. After adds are dead, get Runa down to 75% to force the next mechanic, which is to smash the platform. During this mechanic, move to the platform with the healing sigil. Sometimes taking this sigil now makes the run smoother, especially if you're just trying to get through and not go for a score. Prioritize the neried add, and prepare to kill another troll.

Note: Trolls should always be top priority. Sometimes dots are enough to take them down, and you don't need to move. On a magblade, I've found that with near 100% major expedition (through Crippling Grasp) it's usually safest to move as needed to kill them, but remember to go back to the your "base" (whichever platform you are currently basing Runa).

4. After any trolls or nerieds have been disposed of, dps Runa until she spawns her next adds. Memory fails me a bit here, too, but I think it's around 65-70%. Again, prioritize the ranged add, then the melee.
5. After the adds are dead, proceed to dps Runa until she reaches 50%, which forces her into the platform-smashing mechanic. During this time, proceed to the final platform.
6. To err on the side of caution, be ready to kill a troll immediately after she smashes the second platform. It's imperative that you do not lose the final platform.
7. Take the defense sigil. Kill the troll. Go all-out ham on Runa at this point, ignoring all adds and relying on your defense sigil to keep you alive. Have as many aoes running as you can, and focus on Runa.

That's it, she should be dead! I recommend trying to commit to memory exactly where each of the adds spawns, especially ranged adds (for a magblade, ranged adds are usually more threatening, as a general theme in vMA). If you know where they spawn, you can position yourself so that the ranged adds will move either directly onto your platform (by standing on the opposite side) or very close, at least within melee range. This will help, because you won't need to spend time in the frozen water unnecessarily.

I hope this helps. If you have any specific questions, I will be happy to answer them if I can.

Asmael wrote: »

Round 5 is NOT a DPS race (unless going for leaderboards, which is not your case).

Take your time to clear the adds, as they appear at different %health stages of the boss' health. For the last platform, grab the defense sigil (can even pick offense one) and burn the boss, as you'll be able to reflect all ranged attacks.

It's you , I owe you a big ty for the info that helped me finally beat this round, was going all out dps on the boss before you informed me that all I was doing was making it hard for myself and to slow it down a notch..

you can have like 10k dps and be fine
just kill adds at 90%, 60% and 30% and keep an eye on her shatters

Destruent wrote: »

WalksonGraves wrote: »

This is why I gave up as a mnb dps. Sorc can hit 40k per light attack with overload, nb can't compete with that.

All classes (magicka/stamina) can do 40k+ on single targets. Sorcs also only barely use overload anymore, bc a normal rotation with meteor pulls better dps on longer fights...

How can a NB do that?

I've seen sorcs solo doing 40k a hit for minutes at a time. Not quite the same as for 10 seconds every minute if you are lucky.

ryanborror wrote: »

Vorcil wrote: »

Destruent wrote: »

WalksonGraves wrote: »

This is why I gave up as a mnb dps. Sorc can hit 40k per light attack with overload, nb can't compete with that.

All classes (magicka/stamina) can do 40k+ on single targets. Sorcs also only barely use overload anymore, bc a normal rotation with meteor pulls better dps on longer fights...

How can a NB do that?

With Raid Buffs And War horn. It's not likely you'll pull 40k sustained single target dps in maelstrom.

You will probably need raidbuffs, but even without any buffs from other players 30k+ is possible on all classes.

Vorcil wrote: »

Destruent wrote: »

WalksonGraves wrote: »

This is why I gave up as a mnb dps. Sorc can hit 40k per light attack with overload, nb can't compete with that.

All classes (magicka/stamina) can do 40k+ on single targets. Sorcs also only barely use overload anymore, bc a normal rotation with meteor pulls better dps on longer fights...

How can a NB do that?

Keep wall of elements > crippling > twisting path > relentless focus (+ procc), funnel wave in between, execute while keeping up crippling and wall of elements when boss is under 25%. Only use the bow-procc instead of funnel, not instead of your dots.
That's the basic NB-Rotation. some may alternate it slightly, but this should work.