Magicka Warden PvP Build (Pigeon Cannon)

Hatoreehanzo · August 2017

This is my current Magicka Warden build. By no means am I sweaty enough to min/max every little mathematical detail, but it works well for 1vX scenarios in open world and I have a lot of fun with it. Great sustain and good burst.

Gear

5 Shacklebreaker (Set allows you to run Witchmother having good stam regen and adds to our Magicka pool)
5 Necro (The peanut butter to Magicka Warden's jelly)
2 Blood Spawn (Great Ult regen and increased tankiness) Engine Guardian could work here. Skoria would be great burst when or if they fix Fletcher as a DoT and not direct damage.

2 Shacklebreaker Swords (Sharpened PreHorns, Nirn or Precise PostHorns)
3 Light Shacklebreaker Body (Impen, Mag Enchants)
2 Light Necro Body (Impen, Mag Enchants)
3 Necro Jewelry (1 Spell Reduction, 2 Mag Recovery)
1 Light Bloodspawn Helm (Infused, Mag Enchant)
1 Light Bloodspawn Shoulder (Divines, Mag Enchant)
1 Maelstrom Restoration Staff (Decisive/Powered/Precise/Defending)

Of course you can do 5/1/1 for for max H/S/M with Undaunted passives, but this is a newer character that does not have them yet.
In addition, my stat sheet is with 6L 1H, 5 Impen, 1 Divines (Heavy Head), 1 Infused (Light Shoulders) and everything purple except for the weapons which are gold.

Skills

DW Bar
1: Screaming Cliff Racer (Bread and Butter Spammable)
2: Deep Fissure (Stun and Burst)
3: Fletcher Infection (DoT, Added Pressure, Direct Damage)
4: Inner Light (5% Max Magicka *+2% Max and 2% Regen w/ passives, Spell Crit, Stealth Pull)
5: Blue Betty (+20% Spell Damage, Magicka Regen, Pet)
Ult: Northern Storm (8% Max Magicka)

Restoration Bar
1: Dampen Magicka (Almost 10k Tooltip Shield in Cyro)
2: Leeching Vines (Heal, Lifesteal) *You can also slot Corrupted Pollen, Shimmering Shield or even Rapid Regen to work with Maelstrom Resto*
3: Ice Fortress (Major Resolve, Major Ward, Minor Protection)
4: Healing Ward (Shield, Heal)
5: Bird of Prey (Major Expedition *Movement*, Major Endurance, Minor Beserk)
Ult: Enchanted Forest (Cheap Heal, Ult Regen)

Food/Mundus

Witchmother's Brew or TriStat if you can't manage stamina.
Atronach for Bloodspawn or Shadow for Engine Guardian

Thank you kindly and be sure to catch me on Twitch if you care to.

Hatoreehanzo · August 2017

Since i'm showing this build without some passives and without ideal traits/type of armor on the monster set, here's with max stats, buffed with optimal pieces such as heavy chest infused, medium legs infused, all other light impen, everything gold.

Waffennacht · August 2017

It's a very good build. I think it's better than mine.

I fear for Warden OP threads now.

Looks very good. Plus imo leach is the better fit for this build over Trellis

Flips · August 2017

Looks great. Do you have a rotation to follow?

Countcalorie · August 2017

my build is almost Identical lol.Just replace bloodspawn with shadowrend and the skill setup slightly to have betty on the backbar and harness on the front and replace bird of prey with winters revenge.
also a different race so I have 4k less max magic(I'm an argonian).
Btw I heard sharpend is still best in slot.so I wouldn't worry about remaking those swords.
funny how closs the build is though.

Hatoreehanzo · August 2017

Waffennacht wrote: »

It's a very good build. I think it's better than mine.

I fear for Warden OP threads now.

Looks very good. Plus imo leach is the better fit for this build over Trellis

Thanks. Yea I find leech a great skill, especially for drawing off some heat. I also replace it with corrupted pollen if I'm working choke points when X'ing. That heal debuff is invaluable against the inevitable heavy armor heal bots.

Hatoreehanzo · August 2017

Flips wrote: »

Looks great. Do you have a rotation to follow?

Sure do. I usually buff up of course - blue betty, ice, prey and shield. First combo I start with it bugs, flies, bird. By that time bugs goes off as you can usually get in two skills between the bursts. Next rotation is bugs, birds, birds. Keep in mind the further you are away, the harder your birds hit. You'll also find it's natural for most people to dodge roll which is a KO against this class. If you're working a choke point with line of sight outnumbered, pop for bugs, northern storm and melt them down with birds following.

Hatoreehanzo · August 2017

Countcalorie wrote: »

my build is almost Identical lol.Just replace bloodspawn with shadowrend and the skill setup slightly to have betty on the backbar and harness on the front and replace bird of prey with winters revenge.
also a different race so I have 4k less max magic(I'm an argonian).
Btw I heard sharpend is still best in slot.so I wouldn't worry about remaking those swords.
funny how closs the build is though.

I'm used to running shields of back bar with my DW sorc. It seems rough at first, but I actually find it more natural. Plus you get extra damage having betty on the front damage bar. I haven't used winters revenge yet, but I might play around with it. I know it does crap for damage, but the movement reduction is sweet. Not sure what I would give up for it though. The reason I chose Breton is that High Elf shines with elemental damage, where you're doing very little with this setup and max magicka is invaluable. I'd be curious to see how Argonian plays with it.

Hatoreehanzo · August 2017

Here are some clips from yesterday showing it's potential. The other Magden in the group with me (Quflockaton) is running the same build as well. All are 3vX highly outnumbered.

https://clips.twitch.tv/BetterGenerousSushiPeoplesChamp

https://clips.twitch.tv/DoubtfulCuteBulgogiHassanChop

https://clips.twitch.tv/BoredPlumpOpossumMoreCowbell

Waffennacht · August 2017

I've tried every monster set and none of them seem worth giving up breaker + necro for. I haven't found an armor combo better than necro + shackle that involves a complete monster set and 2H.

I've been enjoying Stampede + Gripping Shards (though invasion's stun + gap closer is nice).

I also can't live without weaving staff attacks, so I'm running inferno + 2h.

Do you happen to have any suggestions? I'm always looking for more pizazzas

Hatoreehanzo · August 2017

Waffennacht wrote: »

I've tried every monster set and none of them seem worth giving up breaker + necro for. I haven't found an armor combo better than necro + shackle that involves a complete monster set and 2H.

I've been enjoying Stampede + Gripping Shards (though invasion's stun + gap closer is nice).

I also can't live without weaving staff attacks, so I'm running inferno + 2h.

Do you happen to have any suggestions? I'm always looking for more pizazzas

I know the 2hand momentum craze had everyone on momentum, but personally I'm not a fan. If you run dw or even snb you can get a 2p monster in there. With my resource management I rarely need to heavy resto attack, but it's there if I need it. If you're worried about CCs you can also slot mist, or shuffle. Currently I want people on me as they stand in my pollen and get hit with burst.

Bloodspawn is money. I could see Skoria being strong if we had flies fixed to be a DoT. Nerienth looks interesting post horns patch. You could also do pirate skeleton. All in all bloodspawn has me sold though. Great resistances, ult Regen compliments warden perfectly and the stamp Regen with shackle allows for max/max food or witch mother's.

Hutch679 · August 2017

Swords nirnhoned? Or precise?

Hatoreehanzo · August 2017

Hasn't dropped on PS4 yet so I'm not sure. I refuse infused. I'll likely try them all. Precise with shadow could be sweet, but cp allocation would change. If I went nirn maybe apprentice?

Hutch679 · August 2017

Hatoreehanzo wrote: »

Hasn't dropped on PS4 yet so I'm not sure. I refuse infused. I'll likely try them all. Precise with shadow could be sweet, but cp allocation would change. If I went nirn maybe apprentice?

If it were a staff then id for sure say infused, but for swords I would think either nirn or precise. Nirn would be cool. Never really used a nirn weapon in pvp before

Hatoreehanzo · August 2017

Nirn used to be BiS before sharpened for dps. About 3 months ago I deconstructed 30+ gold nirn weapons since sharpened was clearly not going anywhere. Clearly... until horns patch notes...

Hutch679 · August 2017

Hatoreehanzo wrote: »

Nirn used to be BiS before sharpened for dps. About 3 months ago I deconstructed 30+ gold nirn weapons since sharpened was clearly not going anywhere. Clearly... until horns patch notes...

#facepalm

Hatoreehanzo · August 2017

Hutch679 wrote: »

Hatoreehanzo wrote: »

Nirn used to be BiS before sharpened for dps. About 3 months ago I deconstructed 30+ gold nirn weapons since sharpened was clearly not going anywhere. Clearly... until horns patch notes...

#facepalm

I love their consistency. #feelsbadman

Koolio · August 2017

Nerien'eth nex tpatch should proc a lot with fletcher flies since it's considered a direct damage. Should work fantastic with growing swarm. Me personally I like crushing just to stop all the resurrecting. But great build

Hatoreehanzo · August 2017

Koolio wrote: »

Nerien'eth nex tpatch should proc a lot with fletcher flies since it's considered a direct damage. Should work fantastic with growing swarm. Me personally I like crushing just to stop all the resurrecting. But great build

Thanks. Crushing interrupt ftw, but DW tooltip makes me moist.

Koolio · August 2017

Yea you got about 1k on birds and 1.5-2k on fissure. Good to see wardens making it work.

Waffennacht · August 2017

Right?

I have sharp and infused already golded, probably gonna gold a nirn too.

I have too low crit or crit modifiers to get me to go precise.

I just don't like the feel of not having a staff bar, so meaning for me, to use a monster set and heavy I have very few options to pair with necro and spawn - really only alchemist (also no crit etc means needing damage sets) and in BGs alchemist does not perform nearly as well as in open world.

I have been running infer + SnB, which is fine - but the 2H ult and Passives look like SO much fun.

ATM testing shackle breaker + necro + 1 bloodspawn. Added Stam Regen allows for liberal use of Stampede and CC break. -. I do miss the SnB block at times...

Momentum just isn't good looking enough for me

I really don't mind being snared or rooted.

I like being rooted it literally makes lining up Shalks just requires a single heavy attack

The gap closer is all the mobility my hulk requires.

It's, stampede into gripping shards (roots + 60% snare + 30% snare, chill chance, and 300 dps lmfao) I suppose there could be synergy with the auto crit somewhere. Then maneuvering like a DK behind your opponent, Shalk, Racer, Pulse (until low health) swap into Ult.

I try running Pollen etc I just end up using it practically only for the defile - which seems like an expensive way just to get defile.

Hatoreehanzo · August 2017

Waffennacht wrote: »

Right?

I have sharp and infused already golded, probably gonna gold a nirn too.

I have too low crit or crit modifiers to get me to go precise.

I just don't like the feel of not having a staff bar, so meaning for me, to use a monster set and heavy I have very few options to pair with necro and spawn - really only alchemist (also no crit etc means needing damage sets) and in BGs alchemist does not perform nearly as well as in open world.

I have been running infer + SnB, which is fine - but the 2H ult and Passives look like SO much fun.

ATM testing shackle breaker + necro + 1 bloodspawn. Added Stam Regen allows for liberal use of Stampede and CC break. -. I do miss the SnB block at times...

Momentum just isn't good looking enough for me I really don't mind being snared or rooted.

I like being rooted it literally makes lining up Shalks just requires a single heavy attack

The gap closer is all the mobility my hulk requires.

It's, stampede into gripping shards (roots + 60% snare + 30% snare, chill chance, and 300 dps lmfao) I suppose there could be synergy with the auto crit somewhere. Then maneuvering like a DK behind your opponent, Shalk, Racer, Pulse (until low health) swap into Ult.

I try running Pollen etc I just end up using it practically only for the defile - which seems like an expensive way just to get defile.

What about the resto back bar? That gives you a staff. Or hell, run a destro back bar. DW feels too nice for me to give up and you get the perfect skill setup with it and the passives.

If you want raw damage, necro and julianos (DW) is on point and hits hard af, but you give up the sustain of shacklebreaker.

I don't know if you watched those clips, but most fights I am in aren't fair because I either run solo for with 2-3 people. I need to be able to sustain as well as dish it out when needed. I don't believe in ZOS' "you can be anything you want hybrid pitch," but I do believe that if you go the suggested routes (stam or mag) you can't go full blown into them and need to sustain.

However, people have different play styles. If you run in large groups or with pocket healers by all means go 5 necro, 5 julianos, 2 nerienth and melt the helpless down while aimlessly spamming pigeons. Just don't be surprised if you run into an experienced farm group or a couple super sweatys that peel your zerg and you find yourself SOL.

By the way, if a DK roots you and runs behind you for LoS, pop your bugs and hit flies. It automatically turns you towards them so be ready to follow with a pigeon.

Hatoreehanzo · August 2017

Oh and pollen is definitely an expensive defile concerning a skill slow, but for choke points against the masses it's golden. Multiple targets, low cost, heals at expiration, teammate can synergize and most people are dumb enough to stand in it to play whack-a-mole.

Waffennacht · August 2017

I get ya.

I see a difference too, I'm adjusting for BGs and duels - not open world (imo BGs are easier than Cyrodiil solo)

Resto I had, but only for Healing Ward - which is cool - but then I'm right back to the build I had when Morrowind dropped and I want pizazz! + Gap closer.

I also note you are comfortable having your primary bar be DW - I just love destro weaves too much now to give up a destro staff.

A few differences - because I'm heavy I don't run Fortress. I'm not a fan of Fletcher, it's a good ability that just doesn't do enough for me (except in like 1v1 type situations). I don't run bird o prey, I do love the mobility, but I find it too costly to keep up.

Instead I run: SnB - Invasion, 2H stampede, Gripping Shards, and then Pulse for the burst. Oh I also front bar Dampen.

Either way, all versions are pretty bamf

Hatoreehanzo · August 2017

Waffennacht wrote: »

I get ya.

I see a difference too, I'm adjusting for BGs and duels - not open world (imo BGs are easier than Cyrodiil solo)

Resto I had, but only for Healing Ward - which is cool - but then I'm right back to the build I had when Morrowind dropped and I want pizazz! + Gap closer.

I also note you are comfortable having your primary bar be DW - I just love destro weaves too much now to give up a destro staff.

A few differences - because I'm heavy I don't run Fortress. I'm not a fan of Fletcher, it's a good ability that just doesn't do enough for me (except in like 1v1 type situations). I don't run bird o prey, I do love the mobility, but I find it too costly to keep up.

Instead I run: SnB - Invasion, 2H stampede, Gripping Shards, and then Pulse for the burst. Oh I also front bar Dampen.

Either way, all versions are pretty bamf

Fa sho!

I actually race changed my Warden from Redguard to Breton. I wasn't a big fan on Stamdens. Magicka on the other hand is great. At some point I'll try a SnB setup, but for now I'm enjoying the burst.

Hutch679 · August 2017

Hatoreehanzo wrote: »

Waffennacht wrote: »

I get ya.

I see a difference too, I'm adjusting for BGs and duels - not open world (imo BGs are easier than Cyrodiil solo)

Resto I had, but only for Healing Ward - which is cool - but then I'm right back to the build I had when Morrowind dropped and I want pizazz! + Gap closer.

I also note you are comfortable having your primary bar be DW - I just love destro weaves too much now to give up a destro staff.

A few differences - because I'm heavy I don't run Fortress. I'm not a fan of Fletcher, it's a good ability that just doesn't do enough for me (except in like 1v1 type situations). I don't run bird o prey, I do love the mobility, but I find it too costly to keep up.

Instead I run: SnB - Invasion, 2H stampede, Gripping Shards, and then Pulse for the burst. Oh I also front bar Dampen.

Either way, all versions are pretty bamf

Fa sho!

I actually race changed my Warden from Redguard to Breton. I wasn't a big fan on Stamdens. Magicka on the other hand is great. At some point I'll try a SnB setup, but for now I'm enjoying the burst.

I went from woodelf to highelf. Stam was underwhelming for me

Waffennacht · August 2017

Hutch679 wrote: »

Hatoreehanzo wrote: »

Waffennacht wrote: »

I get ya.

I see a difference too, I'm adjusting for BGs and duels - not open world (imo BGs are easier than Cyrodiil solo)

Resto I had, but only for Healing Ward - which is cool - but then I'm right back to the build I had when Morrowind dropped and I want pizazz! + Gap closer.

I also note you are comfortable having your primary bar be DW - I just love destro weaves too much now to give up a destro staff.

A few differences - because I'm heavy I don't run Fortress. I'm not a fan of Fletcher, it's a good ability that just doesn't do enough for me (except in like 1v1 type situations). I don't run bird o prey, I do love the mobility, but I find it too costly to keep up.

Instead I run: SnB - Invasion, 2H stampede, Gripping Shards, and then Pulse for the burst. Oh I also front bar Dampen.

Either way, all versions are pretty bamf

Fa sho!

I actually race changed my Warden from Redguard to Breton. I wasn't a big fan on Stamdens. Magicka on the other hand is great. At some point I'll try a SnB setup, but for now I'm enjoying the burst.

I went from woodelf to highelf. Stam was underwhelming for me

I keep hearing this, on paper it should be stellar

2H: Crit rush, Rally/Vigor, Shalk, Pigeon, Executioner 2h ult or DboS
SnB: Slam (defile CC), Bull, Trellis, Shuffle/Stam Fungi heal?, Gripping Shards Healing Thicket

Hatoreehanzo · August 2017

Waffennacht wrote: »

Hutch679 wrote: »

Hatoreehanzo wrote: »

Waffennacht wrote: »

I get ya.

I see a difference too, I'm adjusting for BGs and duels - not open world (imo BGs are easier than Cyrodiil solo)

Resto I had, but only for Healing Ward - which is cool - but then I'm right back to the build I had when Morrowind dropped and I want pizazz! + Gap closer.

I also note you are comfortable having your primary bar be DW - I just love destro weaves too much now to give up a destro staff.

A few differences - because I'm heavy I don't run Fortress. I'm not a fan of Fletcher, it's a good ability that just doesn't do enough for me (except in like 1v1 type situations). I don't run bird o prey, I do love the mobility, but I find it too costly to keep up.

Instead I run: SnB - Invasion, 2H stampede, Gripping Shards, and then Pulse for the burst. Oh I also front bar Dampen.

Either way, all versions are pretty bamf

Fa sho!

I actually race changed my Warden from Redguard to Breton. I wasn't a big fan on Stamdens. Magicka on the other hand is great. At some point I'll try a SnB setup, but for now I'm enjoying the burst.

I went from woodelf to highelf. Stam was underwhelming for me

I keep hearing this, on paper it should be stellar

2H: Crit rush, Rally/Vigor, Shalk, Pigeon, Executioner 2h ult or DboS
SnB: Slam (defile CC), Bull, Trellis, Shuffle/Stam Fungi heal?, Gripping Shards Healing Thicket

Pigeon on Stam was extremely lackluster.

I ended up running 5 bone pirate, 2 bloodspawn, maelstrom greatsword and master bow. Became almost like a stam sorc setup, but worse. If I got off a swing, bug, DBoS and execute it was nice, but I hate dizzy swing for damage and cc. Also tried a dw setup with bow, but no matter what I did the heals felt like garbage with Warden, even with Trollking.

Hutch679 · August 2017

Waffennacht wrote: »

Hutch679 wrote: »

Hatoreehanzo wrote: »

Waffennacht wrote: »

I get ya.

I see a difference too, I'm adjusting for BGs and duels - not open world (imo BGs are easier than Cyrodiil solo)

Resto I had, but only for Healing Ward - which is cool - but then I'm right back to the build I had when Morrowind dropped and I want pizazz! + Gap closer.

I also note you are comfortable having your primary bar be DW - I just love destro weaves too much now to give up a destro staff.

A few differences - because I'm heavy I don't run Fortress. I'm not a fan of Fletcher, it's a good ability that just doesn't do enough for me (except in like 1v1 type situations). I don't run bird o prey, I do love the mobility, but I find it too costly to keep up.

Instead I run: SnB - Invasion, 2H stampede, Gripping Shards, and then Pulse for the burst. Oh I also front bar Dampen.

Either way, all versions are pretty bamf

Fa sho!

I actually race changed my Warden from Redguard to Breton. I wasn't a big fan on Stamdens. Magicka on the other hand is great. At some point I'll try a SnB setup, but for now I'm enjoying the burst.

I went from woodelf to highelf. Stam was underwhelming for me

I keep hearing this, on paper it should be stellar

2H: Crit rush, Rally/Vigor, Shalk, Pigeon, Executioner 2h ult or DboS
SnB: Slam (defile CC), Bull, Trellis, Shuffle/Stam Fungi heal?, Gripping Shards Healing Thicket

Pretty much exactly what you said here. It's garbage though. I ran a bunch of different builds and just didn't like it at all. The damage was weak. Birds don't hit for hardly anything and the survive in medium armor seemed almost impossible. Maybe I'm just better on mag builds though...

Hatoreehanzo · August 2017

Hutch679 wrote: »

Waffennacht wrote: »

Hutch679 wrote: »

Hatoreehanzo wrote: »

Waffennacht wrote: »

I get ya.

I see a difference too, I'm adjusting for BGs and duels - not open world (imo BGs are easier than Cyrodiil solo)

Resto I had, but only for Healing Ward - which is cool - but then I'm right back to the build I had when Morrowind dropped and I want pizazz! + Gap closer.

I also note you are comfortable having your primary bar be DW - I just love destro weaves too much now to give up a destro staff.

A few differences - because I'm heavy I don't run Fortress. I'm not a fan of Fletcher, it's a good ability that just doesn't do enough for me (except in like 1v1 type situations). I don't run bird o prey, I do love the mobility, but I find it too costly to keep up.

Instead I run: SnB - Invasion, 2H stampede, Gripping Shards, and then Pulse for the burst. Oh I also front bar Dampen.

Either way, all versions are pretty bamf

Fa sho!

I actually race changed my Warden from Redguard to Breton. I wasn't a big fan on Stamdens. Magicka on the other hand is great. At some point I'll try a SnB setup, but for now I'm enjoying the burst.

I went from woodelf to highelf. Stam was underwhelming for me

I keep hearing this, on paper it should be stellar

2H: Crit rush, Rally/Vigor, Shalk, Pigeon, Executioner 2h ult or DboS
SnB: Slam (defile CC), Bull, Trellis, Shuffle/Stam Fungi heal?, Gripping Shards Healing Thicket

Pretty much exactly what you said here. It's garbage though. I ran a bunch of different builds and just didn't like it at all. The damage was weak. Birds don't hit for hardly anything and the survive in medium armor seemed almost impossible. Maybe I'm just better on mag builds though...

I see it this way. The class lacks a good (stamina) attack, which leave you with 2H or DW skills. DW skills in PvP are underwhelming and 2H has dizzying swing. The same build on a stamsorc might work, but they also have movement, a passive execute, dark deal and better escape. Even a DK could use it and survive better. The burst is glorious don't get me wrong, but lining up bugs with dizzying can be seen miles away and only works on potatos. I've seen some interesting SnB builds, but I got see it having the damage to take out good players.

Hatoreehanzo · August 2017

Got a build video up.

https://youtu.be/OJeXxolg-hE