Magicka or Stamina DK?

PieMaster1 · March 2017

First things first, I respectfully ask all replies to stay on topic. Thanks!

I have experimented with NB and..It's just not my style. I've tried in PvP, it does not suit me because I can't really fight on the front lines, or at all if there's more than 1 enemy. Not really one for squishiness or stalking in the shadows. So, I have decided to go roll a DK.

The question is..Which would better suit me? I hear Stam DK has higher burst and tankiness, while Mag is more group oriented. I would honestly be doing both, wandering on my own quite often but will join a fort attack mobilization if I'm confident we could take over. Probably would be on my own more though since Cyro is so large. Should I go Stam first just to see how good it can do? I can always respec to the other pool.

I have a few guilds that would like to craft sets for me, so which ones should I pick? Damage and good resource pool increase would be favorable, moreso the damage because of fast paced combat. Heavy armor for obvious reasons :P I would most likely go sword and shield as well.Thanks for any advice!

IcyDeadPeople · March 2017

They are both a lot of fun.

I suggest to make both and see which you enjoy more. Or if you have time to download PTS client, you can even make max level template characters to test.

Ghost-Shot · March 2017

Magicka DK, the true overlords of ESO

PieMaster1 · March 2017

Ghost-Shot wrote: »

Magicka DK, the true overlords of ESO

So let's say I'm not in a group, if group work makes magDKs shine how would they do solo on 1vAnything? Since they bring some buffs to other people, would they be capable of solo since technically the buffs can be used on themselves? Or are there issues with magicka damage compared to stam, etc.

Lynx7386 · March 2017

Health dk =p

PieMaster1 · March 2017

Lynx7386 wrote: »

Health dk =p

Nahhh. As much as I'd like to soak damage and not die, it would completely sacrifice any sort of damaging I could have done. It's like stabbing a boulder with a sword, but I'll be slinging around wet noodles as a sword

getemshauna · March 2017

Magicka DK is insanely strong in both contents.

MaxwellC · March 2017

Stamina is boring AF play Magicka since you'll have a lot more fun with skills but be warned both stamina/magicka have severe sustain issues.

Ghost-Shot · March 2017

CreamedPieYum wrote: »

Ghost-Shot wrote: »

Magicka DK, the true overlords of ESO

So let's say I'm not in a group, if group work makes magDKs shine how would they do solo on 1vAnything? Since they bring some buffs to other people, would they be capable of solo since technically the buffs can be used on themselves? Or are there issues with magicka damage compared to stam, etc.

I have mained a magicka DK since launch so it will always be favorite spec, I may be biased here. They have phenominal group damage and utility and they are decent solo, this holds equally true for PvP and PvE.

Compared to stam, the most well geared stam DK will out dps a magicka DK on pure single target, the second you add one additional add/mob magicka DK takes over. Magicka DK will always be prefered for a raid team because there is basically 1 pure single target raid boss in the game and magicka in general is much more useful to a raid.

In PvP I'd say both specs are pretty even, with a slight edge going to magicka DK after the recent buffs, magicka DK was god mode when the game launched and that was followed by about a year and a half of being hot ***, but the class is in a good spot right now.

Taleof2Cities · March 2017

They are both really fun in their own unique ways.

Ghost-Shot · March 2017

MaxwellC wrote: »

Stamina is boring AF play Magicka since you'll have a lot more fun with skills but be warned both stamina/magicka have severe sustain issues.

I think you are doing it wrong...

Banana · March 2017

mDK

hmsdragonfly · March 2017

Both are strong. MagDKs are also tanky right now.

Cadbury · March 2017

Personally I find MagDk more fun than StamDk. I find their rotations a bit more complicated, but of course ymmv.
I'm curious to how that will change once CP cost reduction has been removed.

Stannum · March 2017

I have mag DK with sun, spellweave and grothdarr and she really burns.
I have stam DK with viper, morag tong and mephala and she is really venomous.

Duiwel · March 2017

OP as a rule of thumb magicka characters are more fun. Also usually do more damage if you're using the right set combinations.

This is due to stamina almost always being the same:

Since you will usually rely on weapon skills for stamina where as with magicka you will mostly rely on the unique class skills.

Stam NB is only fun for bowgank.
Stam DK is only fun for 2h wrecking blow, spin to win.
Stam templar is only fun for crit jabs.
Stam Sorc is only fun for wrecking in PvP.

Magicka characters are fun all round

cpuScientist · March 2017

For pve DPS magicka is easier to get into. They do that require any VMA weapons to get the highest DPS. "Fun" is completely up to the person.

For PvP. Both are doing great.

MagDK pvp sustain is a bit hard to do, without specific sets, but since you have to go heavy on a mgaDK (to be on front lines like you said) if you go with a sustain set, you do pidly damage if you go with a DPS set it's hard to sustain. It's a balancing act. Now solo it lacks mobility outside of mistform, so you can get overrun until you learn to LOS. It's harder solo. But in a small group even just 1 person it is alot nicer.

StamDK PvP you have a bit more options. You can go two hand bow, or two hand sword and board. (These are most effective) I suggest two hand with sword and board. You can build for damage or tankiness or balance. Sustain is through helping hands passive and ultimates. You can spam wrecking blow puncture or low slash. Mobility is gained through the fact that you are Stam and can dodge roll and Sprint away.

Both builds are fine, it really is down to preference. I would suggest for pve magicka is just easier. Easier to setup and easier to execute at a high level. For PvP I would really suggest stamDK, so you can survive easier and have good damage/survivability...

DurzoBlint13 · March 2017

magDK FTW!
once you go magic, you'll never go.....oh wait that's not right. Lol

jakeedmundson · March 2017

DurzoBlint13 wrote: »

magDK FTW!
once you go magic, you'll never go.....oh wait that's not right. Lol

That's what i thought... i switched over to mag dk a few weeks ago... just switched back to stamina because i hate the play style. Just seems clunky and slow to me

I know a lot of people that love it.... but it just isn't for me i guess.

On the bright side, i switched to redguard... it was orc before i switched to magicka. I'm enjoying the better resource management

SneaK · March 2017

Make a Dark Elf and try out both.

SnubbS · March 2017

If you play solo pvp—StamDK. If you play group and/or pve—MagDK. Honestly, everyone overrates DKs so hard. StamDK is the worst Stambuild, and MagDK has some severe issues in terms of Sustain. Heavy Seducer, 100 into Arcanist and two cost reduction glyphs—and my whip costs like 1644 still—it's a joke.

If you really like the StamDK playstyle—if you really like using the worst spammable in the game as your DPS, go StamSorc. Better heals(Crit surge is better than Igneous), better utility, better damage, better movement, better sustain.

If you like the MagDK playstyle—go for it. It's at the very least unique, and it's not the worst class for open world anymore.