NB leveling and skills

SBC · February 2017

Hello all,
I am currently playing as a Nightblade and running with DW/Bow. I basically use the bow to hit with the 2 poisons, drop my AoE, then swap. It was working fine up until recently. I'm level 34 and seem to get beat up quite easily, so I feel as if I'm missing something. My sustain is terrible when there are more than 2 or 3 enemies. I have seen arguments for and against the 2H, and so many other variations. What setup would suffice for getting me to 50?

RavenSworn · February 2017

Honestly, while levelling, don't worry if you put some of your points into health to help you with mitigation or with sustain. That extra bit of health might be the difference to being alive or dead. However, I think the answer to this is probably your a) build b) gear.

Your gear does not have to be in a set piece but it can help. It is important though that your gear is up to the same level as you are. You can get by, by and large, by having blue lower level gear but ultimately, your gear needs to be updated.

Builds are a different beast altogether. You can put in a series of damage abilities and kinda breeze through the low levels. Once you do reach higher though, proper complementary abilities is really needed. Think of it as playing poker with your friends, and playing poker in the casino. What you want is a good combination of skills and abilities in your build.

Let me assume some stuff for you then. I do believe you would, by this time, unlock at least the fourth ability at each Nightblade skill lines. Since you are using bow and DW, I'm assuming that you will be melee range when the enemies are at execute phase. Double take, killer's blade, steel tornado for packs of mobs. Double take, surprise attack, killer's blade for single target.

Nightblade s play slightly different from other classes in which they do not have the proper tools for an all out attack on a pack of mobs. You need to prioritise and finish off the more important ones while shrugging off the attacks of the rest. If you do have reached Mark target from the Assassin tree, take reaper's mark for its morph. 65% of health on kill is a tremendous amount for a simple skill like Mark. Add that with killer's blade and it makes for a wonderful sustain tool.

Mirage + blade cloak = excellent mitigation.
Camouflage hunter + crouch + snipe = excellent one shot on light armor targets.

Ethasa · February 2017

Is all your gear up to snuff? If it isn't that might be your problem. Otherwise, are you using light, medium, or heavy armor? It's important to level the passives in whatever you are using.

SBC · February 2017

I don't even know. I'm using Bow of agility with that set. Dagger of agility and sunder flame on off hand. Stamina gear with mundus or stamina. I'm just far too squishy

Kinnahz · February 2017

Whilst leveling try this;

5 Nightmothers gaze (4 body - 1 dagger and bow)
4 Hundings Rage (3 body and one dagger)

Use 1 or 2 pieces of heavy armor (Either chest, head or legs)

Seraphayel · February 2017

I switched to Bow after hitting level 50 and what should I say... I die fairly often. Never had such issues as MagDK (thanks to Restoration Staff on the back bar) but I feel really squishy with medium armor and bow, even more than in light armor. I'm using Green Dragon Blood for self healing but it doesn't help that much.

I deal amazing ST damage and even 2 mobs are easy but 3, 4 or 5 mobs (when you unintentionally add some groups) are pretty tough for me to fight especially when I don't have my Ultimate ready.

What's the best way for bow builds to "survive"?

The Elder Scrolls Online

NB leveling and skills

Best Answer