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Magicka Warden DPS - How to (possibly) make them viable!
Vaoh
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DPS tests on target skeletons have shown us a lot about class balance in Morrowind. We have acquired some rather interesting data about where each of the Magicka classes stand in terms of DPS builds for trial scenarios.
Though not exactly a good thing, it comes as little surprise to those of you on PTS or who have followed data from PTS users.
Magicka Warden is the true issue.
All of you Magicka NBs thinking you have it bad...... well say hello to the beautiful, animal-loving Magicka Warden!
They can dish out an astonishing 23-26K DPS, with a shot at 26-27K DPS if you build with your Bear (which you will not use in trials over Northern Storm/Elemental Rage) just to show off purely for-show, unrealistic single target damage.
Let's break down where Magicka Wardens are falling short! Here are the skills we use in a Magicka Warden DPS build:
Ty Alcast for the clear pictures! Visit his site for more info on Warden stuff! (here)
My suggestion:
Altogether, these suggestions would be able to hopefully grant Magicka Warden the insane 8-10K DPS they need to be generally on par with other classes, as well as promote (for the first time) one of the five DPS classes to be unique and effectively utilize an Ice Staff for DPS. Makes sense too you know.... since they are a frost class and all -_- Anyway, these are obviously my suggestions. People can certainly disagree, but I feel this is the best and only way to make Mag Warden strong enough for endgame PvE DPS without buffing them in PvP or causing other general balance issues.
Please Zenimax.... I want to main the Magicka Warden. I will be very sad to see this class so weak that I will be forced to use my Magicka Sorcerer over it in Morrowind when running trials. Balance these classes so all of them are viable for endgame PvE DPS! It is not as difficult as it sounds!
That is all. Ty
Edited by Vaoh on May 8, 2017 10:11AM Though not exactly a good thing, it comes as little surprise to those of you on PTS or who have followed data from PTS users.
• Magicka Sorcerer is well above the other classes (around 38-40K DPS)
• Magicka DK and Magicka Templar are meh (32K-34K DPS range)
• Magicka NB is mediocre (28K-30K range)
From testing, we have generally found Magicka Sorc to be too powerful and Magicka NB to be too weak. Who knows what direction will be taken in balancing them so all classes are allowed to DPS in trial scenarios.You will certainly be able to pull numbers a few thousand above or below what I listed, but this is the general idea of how they all fit together in dealing DPS. This is why I have created this thread.
• Magicka DK and Magicka Templar are meh (32K-34K DPS range)
• Magicka NB is mediocre (28K-30K range)
From testing, we have generally found Magicka Sorc to be too powerful and Magicka NB to be too weak. Who knows what direction will be taken in balancing them so all classes are allowed to DPS in trial scenarios.You will certainly be able to pull numbers a few thousand above or below what I listed, but this is the general idea of how they all fit together in dealing DPS. This is why I have created this thread.
Magicka Warden is the true issue.
All of you Magicka NBs thinking you have it bad...... well say hello to the beautiful, animal-loving Magicka Warden!
They can dish out an astonishing 23-26K DPS, with a shot at 26-27K DPS if you build with your Bear (which you will not use in trials over Northern Storm/Elemental Rage) just to show off purely for-show, unrealistic single target damage.Let's break down where Magicka Wardens are falling short! Here are the skills we use in a Magicka Warden DPS build:
• Screaming Cliff Racer - Good damage and burst. It would imbalance PvP to get buffed (already strong)
• Deep Fissure - Good damage and burst. It would imbalance PvP to get buffed (already strong)
• Fetcher Infection - A problematic DoT
• Winter's Revenge - A problematic DoT
• Bird of Prey - Grants 8% increased damage done for 10 seconds
• Rearming Trap - Good skill that is not in need of DPS buffs or rebalancing
• Northern Storm - Already strong in PvP. It is only slotted for the passive Max Magicka buff. We cast Elemental Rage instead.
• Blockade of Elements - Already strong, and universal across all Magicka classes. No need to buff.
• Elemental Rage - We do NOT need to buff this ultimate
• Eternal Guardian - High burst. Would imbalance PvP to be buffed.
• Northern Storm - Already strong in PvP. It is only slotted for the passive Max Magicka buff. We cast Elemental Rage instead.
• Elemental Rage - We do NOT need to buff this ultimate
• Eternal Guardian - High burst. Would imbalance PvP to be buffed.
Ty Alcast for the clear pictures! Visit his site for more info on Warden stuff! (here)
My suggestion:
From this, there some easy general ways we can buff Magicka Wardens that are reasonable.
- Winter's Revenge needs a damage buff. It also seems to have a much lower critical chance than what is displayed on character sheets, which is an odd issue seen very nearly in Alcast's Magicka Warden DPS tests (here)
- Fetcher Infection need a straight up DPS boost. It could also last 12 seconds to line up with Winter's Revenge (also granting more time to use instacast DPS skills without Fletcher Infection dropping off!). On top of this, one morph should be changed into a Cold Damage ability to line up with the Piercing Cold passive. Call it Frostfly Invasion or something
- Bird of Prey needs a very small buff, by increasing the duration on Minor Beserk to 12 seconds. This would line it up with Winter's Revenge (and the buffed version of Fletcherfly Infection). It is noteworthy that this skill is likely not slotted in trials, since Minor Beserk is provided by healers.
- Piercing Cold is a passive that need to be stronger. It currently is meant to boost DPS, but essentially adds up to a 6% damage increase to one skill for Magicka Warden DPS in particular (Winter's Revenge). I suggest upping the value of increased Cold Damage dealt to 12%. It would help buff other skills should they be given a Cold Damge morph, such as Fletcher Invasion. It would also buff Blockade of Ice to be viable against Blockade of Fire for this class.
- Chilled Status Effect needs small buff, which could possibly give Wardens in particular more damage when investing into an Blockade of Ice instead of Blockade of Fire. Targets that are chilled should take 8% more damage from Cold abilities only. In PvE, it would give Magicka Warden a nice DPS boost that rivals that of a DK's Engulfing Flames for Fire Damage. In PvP, it would not be too strong because Fire will always be best due to the prominence of Vampirism and the rare use of Frost Staves.
- Winter's Revenge needs a damage buff. It also seems to have a much lower critical chance than what is displayed on character sheets, which is an odd issue seen very nearly in Alcast's Magicka Warden DPS tests (here)
- Fetcher Infection need a straight up DPS boost. It could also last 12 seconds to line up with Winter's Revenge (also granting more time to use instacast DPS skills without Fletcher Infection dropping off!). On top of this, one morph should be changed into a Cold Damage ability to line up with the Piercing Cold passive. Call it Frostfly Invasion or something
- Bird of Prey needs a very small buff, by increasing the duration on Minor Beserk to 12 seconds. This would line it up with Winter's Revenge (and the buffed version of Fletcherfly Infection). It is noteworthy that this skill is likely not slotted in trials, since Minor Beserk is provided by healers.
- Piercing Cold is a passive that need to be stronger. It currently is meant to boost DPS, but essentially adds up to a 6% damage increase to one skill for Magicka Warden DPS in particular (Winter's Revenge). I suggest upping the value of increased Cold Damage dealt to 12%. It would help buff other skills should they be given a Cold Damge morph, such as Fletcher Invasion. It would also buff Blockade of Ice to be viable against Blockade of Fire for this class.
- Chilled Status Effect needs small buff, which could possibly give Wardens in particular more damage when investing into an Blockade of Ice instead of Blockade of Fire. Targets that are chilled should take 8% more damage from Cold abilities only. In PvE, it would give Magicka Warden a nice DPS boost that rivals that of a DK's Engulfing Flames for Fire Damage. In PvP, it would not be too strong because Fire will always be best due to the prominence of Vampirism and the rare use of Frost Staves.
Altogether, these suggestions would be able to hopefully grant Magicka Warden the insane 8-10K DPS they need to be generally on par with other classes, as well as promote (for the first time) one of the five DPS classes to be unique and effectively utilize an Ice Staff for DPS. Makes sense too you know.... since they are a frost class and all -_- Anyway, these are obviously my suggestions. People can certainly disagree, but I feel this is the best and only way to make Mag Warden strong enough for endgame PvE DPS without buffing them in PvP or causing other general balance issues.
Please Zenimax.... I want to main the Magicka Warden. I will be very sad to see this class so weak that I will be forced to use my Magicka Sorcerer over it in Morrowind when running trials. Balance these classes so all of them are viable for endgame PvE DPS! It is not as difficult as it sounds!
That is all. Ty
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vpy✭✭✭✭Mate,
We should focus on fixing the existing classes before critiquing a class that does not exist....yet
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Vaoh✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭Mate,
We should focus on fixing the existing classes before critiquing a class that does not exist....yet
We have a PTS out right now. Why try to balance 4 out of 5 classes when that fifth class will arrive next patch? All of the classes need to be balanced amongst each other. Not just 4 of them.Edited by Vaoh on May 8, 2017 9:37AM4 -
Vaoh✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭Anyone know when the new patch notes are out? Someone just told me they might be out by Monday. Looking forward to DPS across classes being more balanced!0 -
ADarklore✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭As noted today on ESO Live, big changes are coming to Warden but not on PTS, they will go LIVE with Early Access on the 22nd. Let's hope some of your ideas are included, as I'd like to see the Winter receive more DPS improvements... they already announced improvements to the Fetcher Flies skill, but that was it... rest will appear on Live.Edited by ADarklore on May 12, 2017 7:57PMCP: 2105 ** ESO+ ** ~~ ***** Strictly a solo PvE quester *****
~~Started Playing: May 2015 | Stopped Playing: July 2025 | Returned: March 2026~~0