Thoughts on NB stam build using Bow as primary

shawn.macgillivaryb16_ESO · May 2017

I hope this doesn't to nobbish but I have only played until level 45 and last time I played was about a year ago.

I have been looking for some builds that use bow as primary as this is what I enjoy. But most of the builds I'm finding are melee heavy.

This is mostly for solo PVE and not raiding or pvp.

Links to builds would be preferred if possible

Thanks

SodanTok · May 2017

This is something you should "aspire" to https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/278880/noss-bo-bo-stamblade-pve-guide-homestead-dlc-ready
but overall just follow any stam nb builds. Gear wise there is no difference. Only skills are different and you will probably figure out what out of mere 5 bow skills you will need.

Anyway, be prepared to hear very very often how primary bow sux. (They are slightly worse than classic DW/bow setup indeed, but far from being bad)

geonsocal · May 2017

just to keep it simple...until you hit cp160 - you might want to stick with dropped or crafted sets...

for an archer type I'd go with 5 pc hundings and 3 pc night mother's gaze...try hitting guild traders to find either a cheap endurance or agility jewelry set...

once you hit cp160 the world's your oyster as far as what sets to pick next...

GrumpyDuckling · May 2017

Bow is beautiful when used with Nightblade in PVE. I used it exclusively on my first ever build.

1) Reaper's Mark my target from a distance to lower their defense.
2) Buff up using Relentless Focus.
3) Attack from stealth with quick combination of Heavy Attack + Poison Injection.
4) Light attacks to proc Relentless Focus.
5) Relentless Focus boom-hammer.
6) Ambush in if they're still not dead.
7) Killer's Blade for the finisher and massive heal combo of Killer's Blade + Reaper's Mark.

Sounds like a lot, but once I got the rotation down it played out quickly and looked gorgeous. Definitely the most fun I've had while leveling.

shawn.macgillivaryb16_ESO · May 2017

GrumpyDuckling wrote: »

Bow is beautiful when used with Nightblade in PVE. I used it exclusively on my first ever build.

1) Reaper's Mark my target from a distance to lower their defense.
2) Buff up using Relentless Focus.
3) Attack from stealth with quick combination of Heavy Attack + Poison Injection.
4) Light attacks to proc Relentless Focus.
5) Relentless Focus boom-hammer.
6) Ambush in if they're still not dead.
7) Killer's Blade for the finisher and massive heal combo of Killer's Blade + Reaper's Mark.

Sounds like a lot, but once I got the rotation down it played out quickly and looked gorgeous. Definitely the most fun I've had while leveling.

Do you happen to have a link to your build with all the other passive skills you took also?

And thanks to Geonsocal and Sodanko for your input

GrumpyDuckling · May 2017

shawn.macgillivaryb16_ESO wrote: »

GrumpyDuckling wrote: »

Bow is beautiful when used with Nightblade in PVE. I used it exclusively on my first ever build.

1) Reaper's Mark my target from a distance to lower their defense.
2) Buff up using Relentless Focus.
3) Attack from stealth with quick combination of Heavy Attack + Poison Injection.
4) Light attacks to proc Relentless Focus.
5) Relentless Focus boom-hammer.
6) Ambush in if they're still not dead.
7) Killer's Blade for the finisher and massive heal combo of Killer's Blade + Reaper's Mark.

Sounds like a lot, but once I got the rotation down it played out quickly and looked gorgeous. Definitely the most fun I've had while leveling.

Do you happen to have a link to your build with all the other passive skills you took also?

And thanks to Geonsocal and Sodanko for your input

By the time I hit 50 in my main skill lines (almost exclusively through questing), I had enough skill points to unlock all the passives in bow, and the 3 Nightblade skill lines.

My build is a little outdated now because my entire back bar is changed due to the Leeching Strikes change that is coming out, but this was the skill setup:

Main Bar
UT - Incapacitating Strike
1 - Reaper's Mark
2 - Merciless Resolve
3 - Poison Injection
4 - Ambush
5 - Killer's Blade

Back Bar
UT - Ballista
1 - Leeching Strikes
2 - Resolving VIgor
3 - Poison Injection
4 - Endless Hail
5 - Razor Caltrops

My main bar was played in the way that I described above, while my back bar was played in a "defensive/dodge rolling" survival style. What you could do is make it an AOE bar by adding a skill like Acid Spray in place of Leeching Strikes.

Gear - Pick whatever you want, really, but this setup is pretty fun.
5 piece Night Mother's Gaze (crafted set)
5 piece Briarheart (a lot of fun in PVE, and adds some survival with crit heals)
1 piece Velidreth or Kena

If you're a stealth fan, it might also be worth checking out:
3 piece Night Terror
5 piece Night Mother's Embrace

You'll be very difficult to detect while sneaking.

geonsocal · May 2017

great write up @GrumpyDuckling super useful - thanks for taking the time to write this all down

shawn.macgillivaryb16_ESO · May 2017

Awesome thanks so much

GriMTriAd · May 2017

At CP 160 for solo play, I ran 5 pc Hundig's (6 trait craftable set) and 5 Piece Spriggan's (2x body and 3x jewelry) with the weapons as Hundig's since you can craft them yourself. I also have one piece Kra'Gh from Veteran Fungal Grotto 2 which is an easy one to farm (you can go in there with 6-8k DPS and still do fine even on Vet). You'll want all divines on the gear. Using blue jewelry from Spriggan's is a good way to save money until you're comfortable and then you can farm the purple jewelry in Bang'Korai. You'll want to re-enchant the jewelry with weapon damage.

My build incidentally landed about the same as the Bow/Bow build linked above. I have Grim Focus as I haven't finished leveling it (it's really slow for some reason...) and I prefer silver shards as a spammable though I'm going to look at using both Silver Shards and Poison Spray to see if letting the dot tick gives better numbers.

With my setup I can easily hit 15k DPS self buffed, with no pots, no major fracture, and only 250 CP. Expect about 12k at 160CP.

For leveling, I used Whitestrakes (4 trait craftable) as a buffer for getting low on life and Draining Shot for my heal. That worked until I got rally (used a 2h on the back bar until I got Vigor from PvP).

To get Vigor, go into a battle ground and try to find a large fight, then ask for a group. Murderball (zerg) until you reach Rank 5 in the Assault tree. You'll eventually want rank 6 to get Caltrops, but that's not as important as having a good heal.

If you join a good guild (you can have several) you'll usually be able to find someone willing to craft for you for free or just mats if they are running low.

_WAter_

shawn.macgillivaryb16_ESO · May 2017

Really nice builds and all but would you have something more for a noob. I have never gotten past level 45 and never seen vet levels or champion points. I am really lost with some of these builds. And none of them even mention where to put all my passive skills.

Thanks again