Thoughts on Magicka Nightblades Post 1T

TheElf · October 2016

My magicka Nightblade is a level 35 khajiit, and up to now, I've really enjoyed playing him. However, I can't make heads or tails of how to turn this guy into anything remotely close to a DPS class.

I've sunk all of my attribute points into magicka (something like 44), switched to using a destruction staff as my main, and restoration staff as the off. My abilities I'm depending on are Siphon Strikes (haven't unlocked Siphon Attacks yet), Debilitate, Destructive Touch, Wall of Elements, and Impale for my Destruction staff bar, and Siphon Strikes, Debilitate, Regeneration, Swallow Soul, and Impale for my restoration staff.

I'm using FTC's combat log feature to study my DPS output and try as I might I'm barely breaching 3000 dps according to that meter. All these enemies feel like bullet sponges but I've been watching others (mostly veteran rank individuals) slaughter my enemies before me. I mean the time to kill is DRASTICALLY shorter than what it takes me.

Coincidentally, I respec'd just after 1T came out because I read that my spells and staff effectiveness scales off my magicka attribute selection. They really should make such a feature more prominent as I hadn't heard anything of the sort until just the other day (and I've been playing off and on since the beta); not to mention that's never been the case with any other Elder Scrolls games. Anyway, before I respec'd my build was a rather interesting dual-wield/bow setup that relied heavily on spells. It was like a stamina-weapon/magicka-class build. And before 1T, it felt really cool to play. Maybe it wasn't the most efficient, but it was fun for me doing just solo PvE stuff. And right before I respec'd I checked my DPS output using the same metric and was hitting 3500 average. Given my weapon loadout, the fact that my attribute points were a hectic mix of magicka, health, and stamina, I'm having a hard time understanding why this mixed build was working infinitely better than a build that seems more lore-appropriate (and was inspired by builds other have suggested for magicka nightblades).

I find myself losing the desire to keep grinding through this, despite how much I'm enjoying the nicer gear and drops, as I'm obviously either missing something very vital or I'm playing a class that is just completely underwhelming. Is there anyone in a similar situation that can comment on their success/failure with this build and confirm if I'm just missing something or if they feel like they're under-performing as well? I'm not talking about people that have 300CP that are obviously way more into this game than I am at the moment. But rather someone starting out as a magicka nightblade? (I'm essentially just starting out myself after my respec.) From what I've been reading, this update has been smooth sailing for people that already have level 50+ characters but trying to grind levels when all your toons are level 35 and under has been unreedemably punishing.

Thanks, y'all!

Memnock · October 2016

Here's the basic setup for mage NBs for when you hit max level : http://www.esohead.com/calculator/skills#1.mczz9s8IOWe8hMyM8IPyQ8GUl38A4hi8A4h38IPnB8IrTk8IPyL8GFtV8A4hd8A4hZ8e7mMaqj8C7JNzqa6IzqG8D7GIzds8F7JIzrJ6Ibuy6Ibux6Ibut8O7ackP6ddeF8zc7zzgeXm8zf7zzNbo8zu7zzHfYE6zHfZd8zG7zzHQ3F8zI7zzJIoX6zJIkL8zN7zzJZcY8zA7zzKpUN8zL7zzK4EX

Swallow soul is a very potent self heal and its your main spam skill as a mage; elemental blocade does a but load of damage , is useful for both aoe and single target. Crippling grasp is a nice dot that also give you control over your enemies ; merciless resolve is your big hitter when you proc it and the 5th slot is usually occupied by inner light for more crit and magicka but this can be a flex spot in solo pve stuff use here whatever you feel the need for. This bar is your destro staff setup

For your second bar , you can either go for a resto staff for even more self heals, or dual wield swords/ another destro staff.
This is your aoe , sustain and execute bar and you can see why from the skill setup :

Sap essence , spam this thing when you are surrounded and you won't really die since the more enemies are on you , the stronger the heals you get , then if you feel in need of more healing , use refreshing path , which provides additional heals and does decent dmg.

Siphoning attacks , for your resource sustain and impale for finishing stuff off.

For your 5th , its the same as your single target bar ; for dungeons its gonna be filled by inner light and for your world exploration needs , its up to you what you want here.

With this setup , you should be able to solo everything on the overland map ( maybe except world bosses , since those have been changed to be a challenge for grups now ) and you will be ready for dungeons as well.

As for a rotation , the most basic one is : you activate merciless resolve to get your dmg buff up , then blockade , then crippling , then shallow soul and you use light attacks between the skills and that's it.

TheElf · October 2016

Hi Memnock,

I appreciate your feedback. It's in line with everything I've been reading so far. I guess my problem is that I started off a play style that did well for me until 1T hit but it's not doing enough damage now to be viable. But if I switch to your approach, I've essentially respec'd and don't have all of the abilities you're recommending unlocked yet. Which puts me in the position of being between a rock and a hard place because in order to unlock them I need experience, and in order to get experience I need to survive, but my survivability is shite compared to my other play style.

I wish there were a training area with lower level mobs I could go to and use them to practice and level up some and unlock some of these useful skills (for instance, no merciless resolve or sap essence unlocked yet). Patience is really the key thing here, I know. But thank you for your input - I'll put it to good use.

Shanjijri · October 2016

I recommend you to use Healing Ward (morph of Steadfast Ward from the restoration staff line) to keep you alive during your grinding.