This post will be quite long, so here is the TLDR; Stamina sorcerer is in need of a class spammable and/or execute as well as more buff availability, because being forced to run specific weapon/gear combinations to obtain buffs that most other classes have on their own extremely limits build diversity and class effectiveness.


Dear @ZOS_Wrobel ,

On the most recent ESO live, you said that you and your team were more likely to accept suggestions for buffs/nerfs if we provide logical and constructive posts to support our requests. Well, on this post, I hope you will look into some kind of buff to my favorite class and forever main: stamsorc. I appreciate the few buffs stamsorc had received in what I think was Dark Brotherhood (please correct me if I am wrong); however, I feel this is one of the classes that suffers most into being pigeon-holed into very specific setups/ bar allocation due to it's lack of buff availability and it's own class spammable/execute/ultimate. Let's begin.

Class Spammable/buff availability

Firstly, lets start with what I believe to be the most "controversial" potential buff; a class spammable. Without a class spammable like stam/mag Temp, stam/mag NB, stam/mag Warden, and mag DK, this hinders the potential for build diversity because not all of the available weapon lines provide equal potential diversity and effectiveness as classes that contain a class spammable. For example, lets specifically talk about stamina nightblades first. Stamina nightblades have Surprise Attack as a class spammable ability. Not only does this allow to class to effectively run any weapon setup and not rely on the less effective weapon spammables, but it also provides many other advantages. Surprise attack also afflicts Major Fracture, gives the NB Major resistances due to the passive Shadow Barrier, and also stuns the target if used from stealth. On the large list of buffs nightblades have available to them, Major Fracture attached to their spammable is arguably one of the best, as this is one of the most effective forms of damage amplification in the game and is efficiently tied to their spammable, resulting in almost 100% uptime when targeting someone. Compare what is available in one skill on a Nightblade to what is necessary for a Stamsorc to obtain. If I want a CC, I have to use an ability such as Reverberating bash... but I have to be using S&B to obtain the stun. I could also use Dizzying Swing... but I am then forced to use 2H. I could use streak... but then I am out of range of the target for melee abilities and depletes a limited magicka pool. How about Major Fracture? I could use Pierce armor... but then I am forced to run S&B. I could run Spriggan's Thorns... but I am giving up a FULL ARMOR SET to obtain a penetration value that is not even equal to the amount provided through Surprise Attack. On top of having a class spammable, they ALSO have a class execute! And don't get me started on how strong Incapacitating Strike is *cough cough* High burst damage 70 ult cost that applies Major Defile, stuns, and makes you do 20% bonus damage to them! *cough cough*...Ahem, excuse me, something was caught in my throat. See what I'm getting at?

Some may think that nightblade is too extreme of an example because they are one of the best classes for single target damage (and they would be right), so lets use a class that is not as popular; Stamplar. Stamplar's class spammable is Puncturing Sweeps. This ability is quite effective in AOE but is even better for focusing single targets because the closest target hit takes 140% additional damage. On top of being good AOE and single target, this provides the user with Major Savagery granting them ~10% crit chance, has 2 opportunities to proc burning light, and slowing the target for 70% for 2 seconds after the final hit. Lets say I wish to obtain some of the buffs/effects stamplar obtains by JUST using a class spammable. I want good AOE? I could use Steel tornado or shrouded daggers... but then I am forced to run dual wield. I could use Reverse Slice as a good execute and AOE... but then I am forced to run 2H. Lets say I want Major Savagery. I could slot Evil Hunter... but I am forced to drop a skill slot. I could run Toothrow... but I am forced to give up a FULL ARMOR SET for it. Lets say I want a snare. I could use Rending slashes or Stampede... but I have to run 2H or Dual Wield to obtain it.

My point in these two examples is to evidence that in order to obtain essential damage buffs, other classes obtain them PASSIVELY by using their class spammables or other abilities in their class skill lines which is two-fold; allowing them to run a wide variety of gear sets, but ALSO the complete freedom to run weapon combinations simply for even more damage potential such as DOT's or snares. As a Stamsorc, I must choose a weapon line that contains an effective spammable, and a set that provides buffs and still find a way to have damage bonuses AND some form of survivability. Dizzying swing is ineffective as it has a cast time that is easily avoided by skilled players, Flurry is ineffective because it lacks burst but does have some potential for good healing, and Ransack is arguably the "best" because it is instant and applys major fracture... but the skill line as a whole does not provide as much potential damage as the others. I realize that not every class should have simple class access to every buff in the game, but it is quite absurd that Stamsorc only has access to FOUR minor/major buffs (minor expedition and Major Resistances from Hurricane, Major brutality from crit surge, Minor Resolvefrom Bound Armaments) with no class spammable, execute, OR ultimate.

Class survive-ability

One struggle with Stamsorc is survive-ability (specifically in medium armor, but I know medium armor is an issue for most classes in the game). Lets keep Nightblade and Templar as our examples. A nightblade can go invisible at will and has access to minor maim from 2 sources (Mass Hysteria and Shadow Image), causing the enemy to take 15% less damage. How about stamplar? They have 8% damage mitigation from Restoring Focus, and the ONLY class with quick access to a Purge (Extended Ritual costs WAY less and removes 3 more effects than even efficent purge does). One could argue that stamsorc's survive-ability comes from it's mobility, through minor expedition and streak, which would be true... if this game weren't plagued with an over abundance of snares tied to already amazing skills (but that is a rant for another day); and streak has limited use on mag sorc because of the 50% cost increase before 4 seconds, so imagine how it feels on stamsorc... not great. "Well Yubarius", you might say, "Stamsorc has crit surge for self healing while in combat! There is their survival, right!?" Unfortunately, not anymore. This ability was once a TRULY unique, but ALSO effective heal in PvP. When it would heal you for 60% of your damage done with direct damage on crits. This was nice because when using 2H for example, getting crits on a Dizzying Swing meant a decent chunk heal, but required that you are on constant offense to obtain said heal, which keep in mind was only on crits. This was an amazing ability because the uniqeness of having to stay on the offense in a fight in order to survive was a different playstyle, and building for crit meant better heals, while sacrificing base damage. This ability now gives a flat heal of 3000 outside cyrodiil, but this becomes so insanely weak it is almost never used. I did some testing and, when in full medium with no bonuses to healing received, I was getting a 1600 heal non-crit, and 2433 crit. With Major defile applied and no points into Befoul, I was getting 1159 non-crit and 1738 crit. This ability can proc off of DOT's which is nice, but the fact that the heal is SO low and ONLY comes from a crit means it is ineffective in heavy armor and is not nearly as useful as what the old version did. The ability to obtain a burst heal was better because passive smaller healing is quickly out-damaged by high burst, which is what this game is centered around. High burst heal counteracts High burst damage. Ever wonder why Rally is so widely used in PvP? It's because the large burst heal can save you from the claws of death.

The good (kinda)

While I feel Stamsorc could use a buff, I recognize that they also have some decent skills/buffs themselves; however, some are available to the other classes already (such as Major Resistances) and many of our "good" skills are quite underwhelming. Dark Deal is most likely the first thing that comes to mind when examining the good skills of a stamsorc. This ability converts mana into stamina and health, but is easily countered by smart players who interrupt, and the fact that most sorcs have limited magicka and regen. This ability is quite good as it allows us to almost entirely rely on dark deal as means of sustaining. Another example is implosion. Many players get frustrated when they die to implosion because it is a passive execute that does large amounts of damage... but when you look at the passive, it is not nearly as good as it seems from an outside lense. It procs when the enemy is under 15% health, takes physical or shock damage.... and only has a SIX PERCENT CHANCE TO PROC.... how can this be considered an "effective" or "reliable" execute, since if a player is under 15% health they are likely dead anyway from other execute spam like Reverse Slice or Steel Tornado, and only has a 6% chance to proc??? Come on, I should get a better reward for getting them to 15% other than a SIX DARN PERCENT CHANCE to do damage that, also why why why, is it based off MY health???? One thing that is COMPLETELY unique to the sorcerer class is access to a third bar. This is nice as it allows the use of 5 additional skills... but there are not many useful ones to slot and they are unavailable if you have just used your DPS ultimate.

Suggestions for buffs

I will try to keep this section as "un-OP" as possible, but if you feel I am getting that way, please call it out (however I don't feel like what I am asking for is that much considering most classes already have access to them or buffs that are in line with my suggestions). First up is active abilities. I propose that Crystal Blast be changed into a stamina ability called Crystalized Punch (or something to that effect). This will have a 5 meter range and instant cast, dealing [x] physical damage to the target and (this is where I leave it to you, Wrobel, to decide which buff to give to stamsorc) [Apply Major fracture to the target for 12 seconds] OR [Grants you Major Savagery for 12 seconds] OR [Grants you Minor Berserk for 12 seconds]. Changing this to a stamina ability would not hurt magicka sorcs because it is probably the most unused morph of any ability in the game because Crystal Fragments is so much better. This would solve 2 of what I feel are the biggest shortcomings of the stamsorc, ZERO access to essential damage buffs and a class spammable to open up build diversity. Another buff I would like is perhaps making Mage's Wrath into a stamina execute. This could have a 10 meter range with the same effect as the current verison but deals physical damage instead. Again, opening diversity to allow more weapon combos instead of being forced to run 2H or Steel Tornado as an execute. Onto Critical surge... sigh. Please just return this ability to it's previous state, honestly. Nobody asked for this change and I am surprised it was never changed back after it was first implemented. If you still want it to be applicable by DOT's, fine, then at least buff the heal by quite a bit, but maybe only allow it every 1.5 or 2 seconds to balance it out. I just want more reliable, bigger heals on it.

Wrobel, maybe you take all of my suggestions and alter them in some way, maybe you only take one, maybe you make completely different changes to what I have suggested. In any case, I hope that I have clearly provided enough evidence to justify a buff to the Stamsorc class and that you make good but fair buffs to them. If you give us good damage buffs, perhaps tone down some things in our kit, like making you lose resources when interrupted while attempting to cast dark deal.

Best Regards,

Yubarius (A hopeful stamsorc main)