magNB - Gear Choices with change to 2h weapons. What's everyone running?

DomiNate4NB · June 2018

I tried heave armor destro/resto and it is by far the most enjoyable imo. I'm still tinkering with set options but currently running sload/baharas/valkyn. I know there are much better options but it's great support (snare city) and there is plenty of damage to get kills.

Magblade felt noticably more squishy after summerset.

To my fellow magblades highly recommend giving heavy armor a shot.

@Lexxypwns - I appreciate you pointing me in that direction. Got to farm duroks as that will be complete devastation.

#nocloaknoproblemcuzheals

Lexxypwns · June 2018

DomiNate4NB wrote: »

I tried heave armor destro/resto and it is by far the most enjoyable imo. I'm still tinkering with set options but currently running sload/baharas/valkyn. I know there are much better options but it's great support (snare city) and there is plenty of damage to get kills.

Magblade felt noticably more squishy after summerset.

To my fellow magblades highly recommend giving heavy armor a shot.

@Lexxypwns - I appreciate you pointing me in that direction. Got to farm duroks as that will be complete devastation.

#nocloaknoproblemcuzheals

Everyone is squishier post summerset because damage is so high. The change to light attack scaling and the fact that many builds get to add 2pc willpower/agility or use vma/master/Asylum weapons and still have 2x 5pc has pushed damage to very dangerous levels.

I’m glad my suggestions have helped you, I’ve been one of the main proponents of light armor mageblade since Morrowind, pushing it as meta when everyone was still clinging to heavy. But this patch, light armor mageblade just isn’t the same. We can’t rely on cloak because Sloads, Shields aren’t noticeably stronger(2pc willpower increases your harness size by like 100), but damage is at its highest in ages. It’s still viable, but heavy is just so strong and arguably benefits more from the light attack changes/slotting sload because they let you still push out adequate damage without those juicy light armor passives.

I still have more testing to do with jewelry traits, particularly protective and triune, but I can’t see anything that’s going to make me move away from heavy.

HowlKimchi · June 2018

NightbladeMechanics wrote: »

I'm back to running my old destro juggerblade style. Heavy armor healy pew pew builds do nicely into proc set cancer. Vid inc o/

Woot cant wait

Metemsycosis · June 2018

I think for bgs light armor is still viable granted you have zero margin for error against any player or multiple players with high end burst. On the other hand the offensive threat you pose in light armor is so real, undeniably higher burst and crit dots, outside of procs. Tru Heavy armor can kinda help stop the 1 shots + nb healing at its strongest, but even with sloads I think some players will miss the strength of their spammables. Only case in which this might not be true is with heavy duroks, as defile decreases effective health of opponent /increases the value of outgoing damage.

Akinos · June 2018

DomiNate4NB wrote: »

@Akinos - damn....tell me more lol

"Star Breaker" build
http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Special:EsoBuildData?id=66973

DomiNate4NB · June 2018

I am of the opinion, with damage so high, "zero margin for error" applies to every class sans stamDK, magPlar or magDen.

With most not running those classes, heavy armor is really the only viable option imo. Not saying I'm a top tier theorycrafter but I have tried a ton of different flavors of magblade. I am confident that from a majority of players perspective, HA gives you the best chance to be successful in PvP.

Always exceptions to the rule so I encourage everyone to explore all options. But if your holding onto LA because you're already geared-up, you might be doing yourself a disservice.

Akinos · June 2018

DomiNate4NB wrote: »

I am of the opinion, with damage so high, "zero margin for error" applies to every class sans stamDK, magPlar or magDen.

With most not running those classes, heavy armor is really the only viable option imo. Not saying I'm a top tier theorycrafter but I have tried a ton of different flavors of magblade. I am confident that from a majority of players perspective, HA gives you the best chance to be successful in PvP.

Always exceptions to the rule so I encourage everyone to explore all options. But if your holding onto LA because you're already geared-up, you might be doing yourself a disservice.

The stats on the build are basically the same in heavy. Take your pick.
http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Special:EsoBuildData?id=67650

DomiNate4NB · June 2018

@Akinos - Looks really strong! Stats are super good. Only concern is that procs seem to rule the roost this patch. How's it performing? Have you tried a proc based build?

I've always built for stats but with summerset, seems like it procs or bust.

Curious your thoughts dude!

Akinos · June 2018

DomiNate4NB wrote: »

@Akinos - Looks really strong! Stats are super good. Only concern, is that procs seem to rule the roost this patch. How's it performing? Have you tried a proc based build?

I've always built for stats but with summerset, seems like it procs or bust.

Curious your thoughts dude!

Only proc set I've really been using lately is Pirate Skeleton. I haven't used Sloads that much or even Valkyn this patch.
The only pure proc build I ever tested was mad tinkerer, valkyn and flame blossom together on my magdk.

I was never a big fan of proc sets but I use them when I think I need them, which is rare.

Metemsycosis · June 2018

DomiNate4NB wrote: »

I am of the opinion, with damage so high, "zero margin for error" applies to every class sans stamDK, magPlar or magDen.

With most not running those classes, heavy armor is really the only viable option imo. Not saying I'm a top tier theorycrafter but I have tried a ton of different flavors of magblade. I am confident that from a majority of players perspective, HA gives you the best chance to be successful in PvP.

Always exceptions to the rule so I encourage everyone to explore all options. But if your holding onto LA because you're already geared-up, you might be doing yourself a disservice.

Nah. Stamsorc and stamplar in fortified brass are tough to take down. Stamwarden has few weaknesses generally. Magsorc still shield stacks and streaks and can wear sloads too. Also some of the light armor defense sets are still really good. Trans, riposte, desert rose are a few that stand out.

But if you're a magblade caught with shields down in light armor there's a good chance you're dead. It wouldn't be like that in heavy armor, with base resistance + strong selfhealing. I just don't see heavy armor blades doing anywhere near the damage of a light armor mageblade, except via procs. To me the procs are not enough.

Akinos · June 2018

Metemsycosis wrote: »

Nah. Stamsorc and stamplar in fortified brass are tough to take down. Stamwarden has few weaknesses generally. Magsorc still shield stacks and streaks and can wear sloads too. Also some of the light armor defense sets are still really good. Trans, riposte, desert rose are a few that stand out.

But if you're a magblade caught with shields down in light armor there's a good chance you're dead. It wouldn't be like that in heavy armor, with base resistance + strong selfhealing. I just don't see heavy armor blades doing anywhere near the damage of a light armor mageblade, except via procs.

DomiNate4NB wrote: »

I am of the opinion, with damage so high, "zero margin for error" applies to every class sans stamDK, magPlar or magDen.

With most not running those classes, heavy armor is really the only viable option imo. Not saying I'm a top tier theorycrafter but I have tried a ton of different flavors of magblade. I am confident that from a majority of players perspective, HA gives you the best chance to be successful in PvP.

Always exceptions to the rule so I encourage everyone to explore all options. But if your holding onto LA because you're already geared-up, you might be doing yourself a disservice.

To me the procs are not enough.

Yeah I try not to rely on procs either. Even when everybody else is.

DomiNate4NB · June 2018

@Metemsycosis - I've tried riposte and trans and I agree that they are strong for LA. Heavy keeps me in the fight though.

I'm sure it comes down to playstyle and skill but I wasn't able to find a way to survive well in light. 99% sure the reason is that my defense was based around cloak since morrowind. This game is definitely not one size fits all, so perspective is much appreciated.

In heavy I'm running a ton of dots (flame reach, blockade, cripple, refreshing path, baharas, sload, shade and double dot poisons) that is damage o'plenty.

Most of that is happening when I line up skoria, incap, mercy bow.

Metemsycosis · June 2018

I use and abuse them but I understand they do not take the place of my damage they add to the damage I'm already doing.

Metemsycosis · June 2018

DomiNate4NB wrote: »

@Metemsycosis - I've tried riposte and trans and I agree that they are strong for LA. Heavy keeps me in the fight though.

I'm sure it comes down to playstyle and skill but I wasn't able to find a way to survive well in light. 99% sure the reason is that my defense was based around cloak since morrowind. This game is definitely not one size fits all, so perspective is much appreciated.

In heavy I'm running a ton of dots (flame reach, blockade, cripple, refreshing path, baharas, sload, shade and double dot poisons) that is damage o'plenty.

Most of that is happening when I line up skoria, incap, mercy bow.

And im glad you are having success in heavy then, there might be balance between armor types. I dislike it when there's a meta build or gtfo.

From my perspective dots on magblade are only strong due to crit damage, which heavy can't really achieve on magblade except in bursts. Neither can you sustain cloak enough in heavy to sustain consistent critting, as with light armor. So in light I can apply alllll those same dots as you, but well over half will crit, as opposed to 25% in heavy? That's aside from the burst too which will yield obviously thousands more damage. Also imo teleport shade + cloak makes resistances basically obsolete. You can be untouchable.

DomiNate4NB · June 2018

I fought doing the "meta shuffle" but it's not so bad when you embrace it. I actually am enjoying eso more now as it was getting a little stale.

I'm pretty open minded as there are a ton of variables in this game. Aligning game changes with optimizing for individual playstyle is half the fun.

Happy to keep this convo train rolling as I am getting a lot of good perspective and hopefully others are too! Thanks to those who have contributed so far.

Styxiii · June 2018

DomiNate4NB wrote: »

@thankyourat - I appreciate the feedback as I definitely had some limitations that I wasn't taking into consideration.

Switched to 2h/resto and it started off disastrous. Usually I do pretty well on K/D in BGs with destro/resto. 2h was super tough (3 - 16 over 3 matches) and I was about to switch back but decided to tough it out.

Fast forward 2 hours later and I started getting the hang of it. FM is absolutely amazing with cloak!! Started performing really well.

Open world was amazing fun as I was dropping tons of people solo. Only dies twice. Once to a zerg (my fault for being over aggressive) and a 1v3 where I got stuck in a revealing flare spam and was burned down.

Here is my set up:

Gear - shackle, war maiden, grothdaar (skorioa instead?)

Front: concealed, cloak, FM, cripple, mercy, Soul Harvest(prefer damage amp over stun since running war maiden. fear and concealed are hard CC)

Back: lotus, fear (use those back-to-back when grothdaar procs from cripple spam), purge, shrewd offering, healing ward, rest ult

Thanks for responses and there is a lot to figure out.

Still want to try heavy armor build from @Lexxypwns but haven't farmed the gear yet

Hey buddy what is your CP set up lookin like im curious

kaithuzar · June 2018

@Akinos
Do you enjoy playing with shields? Nerfed ones at that.

Idk man, your light setup has no real defense considering cc is everywhere & shields are what? 3 seconds?

Your heavy build I find hard to believe you're killing good players with 5k penetration rating...

Your builds are decent so don't take what I'm saying the wrong way, just saying imo they need improvement for min/maxing

Akinos · June 2018

kaithuzar wrote: »

@Akinos
Do you enjoy playing with shields? Nerfed ones at that.

Idk man, your light setup has no real defense considering cc is everywhere & shields are what? 3 seconds?

Your heavy build I find hard to believe you're killing good players with 5k penetration rating...

Your builds are decent so don't take what I'm saying the wrong way, just saying imo they need improvement for min/maxing

Normally I only use healing ward when I play my NB. Shields are 6 seconds btw. Anyways, the build I posted had great survivalbility in the short time I tested it. I don't remember testing the heavy version of the build but I've killed good players with less spell pen then that before. On my magblade, dk and my templar. Peneration is good but having good timing and control of your burst is better.

I didn't spend much time playing the builds I linked, I kinda just randomly put them together because they looked really good on paper but they aren't the strongest builds I've ever used. I usually keep those to myself xD
But yeah, theres always room for improvement. I managed to make my DK build even better a few days ago.