How does sword damage mechanics work?

Davor · July 2018

I know now when playing a sorcerer that to do more damage with spells I need more magika to do more damage. Now that I am playing a totally different play style that I am use to, playing as an Orc Dragonknight, sword and board I am not sure how sword damage works now. How does sword damage work? How do I increase it? Do I max out magika or stamina? Right now I am maxing out my health. I know some shield spells scale off with health so trying something different from a build I read.

Thing is, I am not sure if I am gimping myself now because my sword damage could be doing more instead of trying to increase my health. So I like to learn how to increase sword damage. Same for shields. What do I need to know about shield mechanics?

I am liking this new play style that I thought I would hate, so I like to learn how the mechanics work so I can have more fun. Not knowing how anything works is always cause for less fun.

Davor

VaranisArano · July 2018

Weapons that use stamina like One hand and shield, two hander, bow, and dual wield will scale from max stamina, just like staves do with magicka.

Unless you are building to he a high health tank, I'd focus on stamina over health.

Now, One hand and Shield is a great tanking skill line, but its not that effective for DPS. If you do like One hand and shield and want to do more DPS, I recommend putting a bow on your back bar and using endless hail as a DOT on mobs before fighting with One hand and shield. Dual wield/bow or 2H/bow are the more traditional DPS setups.

Now, that's pretty general advice, if you want specific advice for tanking dungeons or a different role, let us know.

Iselin · July 2018

With few exceptions (most of those of interest to tanks primarily) everything scales off magicka/spell damage or Stamina/Weapon damage.

The only weapons that scale off magicka/spell damage are staves, both destro and resto.

Skills scale off the resource they use and the corresponding xxx damage stat

So for more damage with your sword and board you want stamina/weapon damage. But be aware that sword and board are not really meant for good damage. No matter what you do they will never do as much damage as the other two melee weapon choices, 2HD and DW.

Davor · July 2018

Thank you so much. This has helped me a lot. I really appreciate the help.