High Elf Class (somewhat noobish, but please read)

AstralSaiyan · September 2018

I am interested in playing a High Elf, my issue is that on one side I want to do stamina but on another side I know they have passives for magic. Now I have played a Magic Dragon Knight before so I want to switch it up. Any suggestions? Templar seems nice but I am not sure if it is good with dps, as that is what I want. I also don't want to go full light armor (I am sick of robes) I want to either go light or heavy. I do want to kind of be maybe on the battlemage side of things. Hit hard with magic but also be able to take hits. Maybe I should go Sorcerer? Some help here would be greatly appreciated.

Lightspeedflashb14_ESO · September 2018

Magic Damage = light armor. That is just the way the game is. Unless you are talking about overland stuff, then you can do whatever you want. If anything, I would switch your DK to a tank, that class is much more suitable to that, though with enough knowledge and skill, all the classes can do all roles.

If you really want to play a high elf, you could try a Templar tank, the regen would be help in spamming blazing shield. Though not much more than other magic races.

DoobZ69 · September 2018

High Elf is META for magicka because of the passives so you will be gimping yourself by trying to play a stamina and/or tank role. I experienced this issue when I played my Sorc tank as Brit. Switching to Redguard made it manageable.

Outfit system allows you to look like whatever you want to look like so you can look like a knight even while wearing robes.

This is exactly the problem with the racial passives but some people argue that lore takes precedence and somehow having more variety makes for less diversity. Best races are Argonian, Redguard for stamina, Highelf for magicka, others are for specific builds and rebellious players.

However, if you aren't aiming for making the most of your character then the choice is purely preferential. I for one welcome a HighElf tank (unless he joins my group while I'm tanking. The nub.)

Good luck in making the right choice.

HappyLittleTree · September 2018

Play the race you want...I for myself have done every vet content and am not depending on race passives for it.

Septimus_Magna · September 2018

Roll a High Elf Nightblade, its the best Battlemage type of playstyle.

You heal with blood magic when you deal dmg, sustain is great and dont need to rely on Cloak to mitigate dmg.

Jaimeh · September 2018

MegaToxic wrote: »

I am interested in playing a High Elf, my issue is that on one side I want to do stamina but on another side I know they have passives for magic. Now I have played a Magic Dragon Knight before so I want to switch it up. Any suggestions? Templar seems nice but I am not sure if it is good with dps, as that is what I want. I also don't want to go full light armor (I am sick of robes) I want to either go light or heavy. I do want to kind of be maybe on the battlemage side of things. Hit hard with magic but also be able to take hits. Maybe I should go Sorcerer? Some help here would be greatly appreciated.

If you want to go stamina the high elf passives will not help much neither the light armour. However, if you want to go magicka, a high elf sorc is a nice combination. The good thing is that unless you want to eventually become min-maxed in your stats, you can pretty much choose any race/class combo. You can mix up the armour weights, for example many pve sorc builds use 5 light, 1 medium, 1 heavy, because this way you benefit from both armour and undaunted skill line passives. Sorcs have generally big shields, so they can take a hit, even in their light armour. Also, you don't have to wear robes necessarily, on the one hand there are costumes, and on the other hand with the outfit system you can make your armour pieces look as though they are heavy or medium, even when they are actually light armour, so you can definitely achieve a battlemage aesthetic!

AstralSaiyan · September 2018

That is one thing I don't like about ESO. I want to be able to play any class stamina/magica and be able to min-max. But since I already played a dark elf magic DK I was looking to move to another faction.I was going to go nightblade wood elf, but I kind of want to role a high elf. I also want to go vampire. I just wish we had more freedom to really play how we want and still be able to min-max. It gets confusing because I see high elf npc in heavy armor and swords or dark elves with the same.

VaranisArano · September 2018

MegaToxic wrote: »

Love the community here. No one could lend some advice?

So you want to play a high elf battlemage?

MagSorc is the obvious option. Damage shields and lightning and explosions all the way.

MagBlade has potentially higher DPS, but a more complicated rotation. Also less access to damage shields.

Templar and Warden are better oriented towards healing, though you can do effective magicka DP. I'd look up DPS builds for these classes if that's what you want.

Stam classes are doable, but you won't get the benefits from the high elf passives. Stam Sorc is the most melee oriented battlemage of the stam classes, with hurricane, dark deal, crit surge, and mages fury all being useful.

AstralSaiyan · September 2018

VaranisArano wrote: »

MegaToxic wrote: »

Love the community here. No one could lend some advice?

So you want to play a high elf battlemage?

MagSorc is the obvious option. Damage shields and lightning and explosions all the way.

MagBlade has potentially higher DPS, but a more complicated rotation. Also less access to damage shields.

Templar and Warden are better oriented towards healing, though you can do effective magicka DP. I'd look up DPS builds for these classes if that's what you want.

Stam classes are doable, but you won't get the benefits from the high elf passives. Stam Sorc is the most melee oriented battlemage of the stam classes, with hurricane, dark deal, crit surge, and mages fury all being useful.

Yeah sorry about that, I forgot to refresh the page. I thought I edited it before anyone saw.

Finviuswe · September 2018

Usually you'd do high elf for magicka builds, the passives are more suited to that.

You can still roll a high elf for stam, but you will just be getting no benefit from racial passives.

VaranisArano · September 2018

MegaToxic wrote: »

That is one thing I don't like about ESO. I want to be able to play any class stamina/magica and be able to min-max. But since I already played a dark elf magic DK I was looking to move to another faction.I was going to go nightblade wood elf, but I kind of want to role a high elf. I also want to go vampire. I just wish we had more freedom to really play how we want and still be able to min-max. It gets confusing because I see high elf npc in heavy armor and swords or dark elves with the same.

I see.

As long as you can hit certain baselines of DPS, you can complete all the content. Its easier to do that with a min-maxed race/class combo, but not necessary.

I have a Breton Stam Sorc who does fine, but my Imperial stam sorc does better DPS, thanks to racial passives. Thats hasn't stopped me from enjoying my Breton stam sorc.

So unless you want to aim for top tier DPS, you'll probably be okay with whatever race/ class combo you want to play. The best character is the one you want to play. A min-maxed character you dont enjoy is no good - I know, having made and then deleted several.

Oreyn_Bearclaw · September 2018

MegaToxic wrote: »

I am interested in playing a High Elf, my issue is that on one side I want to do stamina but on another side I know they have passives for magic. Now I have played a Magic Dragon Knight before so I want to switch it up. Any suggestions? Templar seems nice but I am not sure if it is good with dps, as that is what I want. I also don't want to go full light armor (I am sick of robes) I want to either go light or heavy. I do want to kind of be maybe on the battlemage side of things. Hit hard with magic but also be able to take hits. Maybe I should go Sorcerer? Some help here would be greatly appreciated.

Let's dissect this a bit. You want to play a high elf, well okay. All their passives are centered around magic. In this game, that means light armor and staff. You can absolutely play any race as either magic or stamina. If your DPS is really important to you, then you will likely pick a race that compliments your play style. Altmer does not do this if you want to play stam. For DPS, your best stamina choice is redguard, but Imperial, orc, bosmer, Khajiit etc. can work as well.

You played a magic DK, and want to switch it up. What do you want to change? The reliance on staffs? the reliance on light armor? the reliance on being in melee range? Well any magic toon is going to need the first two, and stamina toon (save a bow bow build) is going to need the last one. Nothing wrong with a new class, just trying to narrow the focus a bit.

Templar is currently second place for sustained ST DPS in a PVE trial environment behind NB for both ranged magic and melee stam. Nothing wrong with playing a templar for damage. If you want the best damage class, it's nightblade by a decent margin.

You dont want to go full light armor, well, this game really requires you to pick 5 of the same armor type at a minimum. As a damage dealer, Heavy is off the table, so we are back to medium armor. Light armor = magic, medium armor =stam. Deviate, and your damage is going to suffer. You are a bit confusing because you say you dont want to go full light armor, then you say you want to go light or heavy. Well, again, heavy armor DPS stinks. A light armor user will typically go 5 light, 1 medium, 1 heavy. If its an aesthetic issue, well, you have outfits/costumes or you could make your chest heavy and pants medium (best for resistances that way) which will give you a tankier look.

You want to be able to hit hard and take hits. Well, any magic class can take a hit with their shield up. If you take DK off the table, the most damage from a magic character will be NB>Templar>Sorc>Warden. Altmer will work well for any of them, but if trying to min max, I would go dunmer for the NB at least.

TLDR: A stamina High Elf is viable but not optimal. A stamina DPS in all light or all heavy, is a pile of garbage you should try to avoid, at least in PVE.

Oreyn_Bearclaw · September 2018

MegaToxic wrote: »

That is one thing I don't like about ESO. I want to be able to play any class stamina/magica and be able to min-max. But since I already played a dark elf magic DK I was looking to move to another faction.I was going to go nightblade wood elf, but I kind of want to role a high elf. I also want to go vampire. I just wish we had more freedom to really play how we want and still be able to min-max. It gets confusing because I see high elf npc in heavy armor and swords or dark elves with the same.

You can absolutely do this. What you cannot do is min-max with any class or race combo you can think of. This has been the case in all TES games. Your race matters. It's not a deal breaker, but it matters. Min/max for damage means that every choice you make is the one that results in the most damage for you build, well, like it or not, race is one of those choices you need to make and is part of the min/max equation. Unless you area going for trial scores, min/maxing is certainly not a requirement.

AstralSaiyan · September 2018

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

MegaToxic wrote: »

I am interested in playing a High Elf, my issue is that on one side I want to do stamina but on another side I know they have passives for magic. Now I have played a Magic Dragon Knight before so I want to switch it up. Any suggestions? Templar seems nice but I am not sure if it is good with dps, as that is what I want. I also don't want to go full light armor (I am sick of robes) I want to either go light or heavy. I do want to kind of be maybe on the battlemage side of things. Hit hard with magic but also be able to take hits. Maybe I should go Sorcerer? Some help here would be greatly appreciated.

Let's dissect this a bit. You want to play a high elf, well okay. All their passives are centered around magic. In this game, that means light armor and staff. You can absolutely play any race as either magic or stamina. If your DPS is really important to you, then you will likely pick a race that compliments your play style. Altmer does not do this if you want to play stam. For DPS, your best stamina choice is redguard, but Imperial, orc, bosmer, Khajiit etc. can work as well.

You played a magic DK, and want to switch it up. What do you want to change? The reliance on staffs? the reliance on light armor? the reliance on being in melee range? Well any magic toon is going to need the first two, and stamina toon (save a bow bow build) is going to need the last one. Nothing wrong with a new class, just trying to narrow the focus a bit.

Templar is currently second place for sustained ST DPS in a PVE trial environment behind NB for both ranged magic and melee stam. Nothing wrong with playing a templar for damage. If you want the best damage class, it's nightblade by a decent margin.

You dont want to go full light armor, well, this game really requires you to pick 5 of the same armor type at a minimum. As a damage dealer, Heavy is off the table, so we are back to medium armor. Light armor = magic, medium armor =stam. Deviate, and your damage is going to suffer. You are a bit confusing because you say you dont want to go full light armor, then you say you want to go light or heavy. Well, again, heavy armor DPS stinks. A light armor user will typically go 5 light, 1 medium, 1 heavy. If its an aesthetic issue, well, you have outfits/costumes or you could make your chest heavy and pants medium (best for resistances that way) which will give you a tankier look.

You want to be able to hit hard and take hits. Well, any magic class can take a hit with their shield up. If you take DK off the table, the most damage from a magic character will be NB>Templar>Sorc>Warden. Altmer will work well for any of them, but if trying to min max, I would go dunmer for the NB at least.

TLDR: A stamina High Elf is viable but not optimal. A stamina DPS in all light or all heavy, is a pile of garbage you should try to avoid, at least in PVE.

Sorry for the confusion, I meant medium and heavy.

Yeah I kind of figured I would have to go magic if I want to get the best out of an Altmer. I honestly don't have an issue with going magic, but I also like to be upfront in battles as well.

If I remember correctly (it has been a while since I last played ESO) for a magic toon having a heavy chest piece is good with 5 light and then a medium. I am also more a fan of the lightning staves rather than the fire staves. I believe the ice staves agro but I do like them as well.

Since I played a Dunmer for my magic DK I want to stay with a different race (even though I like Dunmer) that is why I chose Altmer. I am thinking going Templar, though I always though Sorc was more dps than Templar (for magic that is).

susmitds · September 2018

If you really wanna make a stamina build with high elf, then I suggest going with Stamina Nightblade. In PvP, you want as high mag pool and mag regen possible for cloaking, as a Stamina Nightblade

AstralSaiyan · September 2018

I don't really play PVP, I have never really touched it.

Finviuswe · September 2018

susmitds wrote: »

If you really wanna make a stamina build with high elf, then I suggest going with Stamina Nightblade. In PvP, you want as high mag pool and mag regen possible for cloaking, as a Stamina Nightblade

lmao. Good point. And not to mention fear

Though I just cannot get it through my head why someone would want a stam high elf. Racial passives in this game are just too huge to pass up.

VaranisArano · September 2018

ESO_GOD wrote: »

susmitds wrote: »

If you really wanna make a stamina build with high elf, then I suggest going with Stamina Nightblade. In PvP, you want as high mag pool and mag regen possible for cloaking, as a Stamina Nightblade

lmao. Good point. And not to mention fear

Though I just cannot get it through my head why someone would want a stam high elf. Racial passives in this game are just too huge to pass up.

I made a high elf stam sorc because I wanted a high elf for role play reasons and a stam sorc because I love leveling as a stam sorc. For overland questing, the racial passives don't make enough of a difference to hinder the character.

Now, if I did any content that required min-maxing with this character, I would respec to a MagSorc.

Taleof2Cities · September 2018

MegaToxic wrote: »

That is one thing I don't like about ESO. I want to be able to play any class stamina/magica and be able to min-max.

Are you in a veteran Trials guild, @MegaToxic, and regularly participating in end game veteran Trial content on your Magicka DK?

Because a lot of players get too wound-up about min-maxing ... but then have never participated in the type of content min-maxing requires.

My suggestion is to roll a Stamina Altmer and enjoy clearing the 95%+ content that the game has to offer.

Once you start doing end game PvE, such as vMoL hard mode, you still have an out card with a race change token.

Finviuswe · September 2018

Taleof2Cities wrote: »

MegaToxic wrote: »

That is one thing I don't like about ESO. I want to be able to play any class stamina/magica and be able to min-max.

Are you in a veteran Trials guild, @MegaToxic, and regularly participating in end game veteran Trial content on your Magicka DK?

Because a lot of players get too wound-up about min-maxing ... but then have never participated in the type of content min-maxing requires.

My suggestion is to roll a Stamina Altmer and enjoy clearing the 95%+ content that the game has to offer.

Once you start doing end game PvE, such as vMoL hard mode, you still have an out card with a race change token.

You don't have to be doing the toughest content in the game to min maxing.

You can merely min-max if achieving better stats is a priority. You don't have to be doing the hardest content for min maxing to be okay. One can min-max for content that is still completable without doing so, if achieving higher stats is a goal for the player.

AstralSaiyan · September 2018

Taleof2Cities wrote: »

MegaToxic wrote: »

That is one thing I don't like about ESO. I want to be able to play any class stamina/magica and be able to min-max.

Are you in a veteran Trials guild, @MegaToxic, and regularly participating in end game veteran Trial content on your Magicka DK?

Because a lot of players get too wound-up about min-maxing ... but then have never participated in the type of content min-maxing requires.

My suggestion is to roll a Stamina Altmer and enjoy clearing the 95%+ content that the game has to offer.

Once you start doing end game PvE, such as vMoL hard mode, you still have an out card with a race change token.

When I played on my Magic Dk I was in a guild that would do trials, but it wasn't really a trials guild. I think I may have done one trial, I don't remember as it has been a while. But the guild leader got bored, mainly because he was Oceanic servers and they were laggy. So the guild fell apart and I left.

I have just always wanted to have a High Elf like the on in the ESO trailers, she uses a sword and some type of magic. I mean if it is still possible to play a stamina high elf and be able to do all content with not much of an issue and still dish out damage that would be great.

MLGProPlayer · September 2018

MegaToxic wrote: »

That is one thing I don't like about ESO. I want to be able to play any class stamina/magica and be able to min-max. But since I already played a dark elf magic DK I was looking to move to another faction.I was going to go nightblade wood elf, but I kind of want to role a high elf. I also want to go vampire. I just wish we had more freedom to really play how we want and still be able to min-max. It gets confusing because I see high elf npc in heavy armor and swords or dark elves with the same.

A high elf stamina character would reduce your max stamina by around 2-3k (compared to Redguard) as well as give you extremely poor sustain. That 2-3k stamina is the equivalent of 200-300 weapon damage, which is huge. The lack of sustain would also hurt in endgame, further lowering your DPS potential.

Have you considered getting the any-race-any-alliance upgrade? You could then be a Redguard in AD. Imperial, Orc, Khajiit, and Bosmer are all decent options too.

I agree that racial passives suck and ruin character customization.

Vaelen · September 2018

In what way do you think Heavy Armor (5+ pieces) in it's current form will help you on a magicka dps toon? It will just gimp you. Heavy Armor as a viability for dps is down the toilet, so just stick with Light Armor (5 pieces) and you can keep a heavy chest armor piece on and another medium armor piece for the undaunted passives. If you want more resist put CPs into light armor physical resistance to balance it out, but do not, I mean DO NOT go 5+ heavy armor on a dps toon in PvE because it is unneeded and stupid atm especially since they removed wrath and gimped block cost reduction as well. Also if you want more survivability on a magicka toon with high elf, then go Magsorc and play EZ Mode by ZOS.

Protossyder · September 2018

You should have clarified what content you actually wanted to play...

If you only plan on doing quests, overland content and normal dungeons you can play whatever you want. Nobody is going to stop you. Even in solo PvP, since you will be the only one dying if it doesn't work out.

But for more advanced group content like vet dungeons or vet trials you will have to come up with a proper build to not be a burden for your mates, which includes right class-race choice for your role, gear, skills, cp, etc.
So you said: race = Altmer, maybe sorc, dps, heavy/medium armor + stamina (that won't work out, unless you decide to switch race and go stamina sorc)
--> look up Alcast PvE Magicka Sorcerer builds for the current patch (Wolfhunter DLC)

AstralSaiyan · September 2018

Dang, why did they make High Elf with a sword and some form of magic in the ESO trailers is that isn't really viable for a High Elf!

I do feel like Skyrim gives you a lot more freedom in building a character no matter the race. I just wish ESO did the same.

So in conclusion I should go Magic Templar or Sorc for High Elf?

Lightspeedflashb14_ESO · September 2018

MegaToxic wrote: »

Dang, why did they make High Elf with a sword and some form of magic in the ESO trailers is that isn't really viable for a High Elf!

I do feel like Skyrim gives you a lot more freedom in building a character no matter the race. I just wish ESO did the same.

So in conclusion I should go Magic Templar or Sorc for High Elf?

Skyrim is a single player game, you can get away with whatever you want there because you are only impacting yourself, so losing damage from your racial is doesn't really matter but in an MMO, where you waste other peoples time, it matters more, though not to the extent that a lot of people make it out to be. You can be perfectly "viable" running a stamsorc with high elf. Though you are not going to be "optimal", you will lose much more DPS by not really have a good rotation.

AstralSaiyan · September 2018

Lightspeedflashb14_ESO wrote: »

MegaToxic wrote: »

Dang, why did they make High Elf with a sword and some form of magic in the ESO trailers is that isn't really viable for a High Elf!

I do feel like Skyrim gives you a lot more freedom in building a character no matter the race. I just wish ESO did the same.

So in conclusion I should go Magic Templar or Sorc for High Elf?

Skyrim is a single player game, you can get away with whatever you want there because you are only impacting yourself, so losing damage from your racial is doesn't really matter but in an MMO, where you waste other peoples time, it matters more, though not to the extent that a lot of people make it out to be. You can be perfectly "viable" running a stamsorc with high elf. Though you are not going to be "optimal", you will lose much more DPS by not really have a good rotation.

True but for the most part ESO is sort of single player its just online with a lot of other real people. I don't see why it should matter. Other than PvP.

But in all seriousness, which is better for High Elf magic Templar or magic Sorc?

VaranisArano · September 2018

MegaToxic wrote: »

Lightspeedflashb14_ESO wrote: »

MegaToxic wrote: »

Dang, why did they make High Elf with a sword and some form of magic in the ESO trailers is that isn't really viable for a High Elf!

I do feel like Skyrim gives you a lot more freedom in building a character no matter the race. I just wish ESO did the same.

So in conclusion I should go Magic Templar or Sorc for High Elf?

Skyrim is a single player game, you can get away with whatever you want there because you are only impacting yourself, so losing damage from your racial is doesn't really matter but in an MMO, where you waste other peoples time, it matters more, though not to the extent that a lot of people make it out to be. You can be perfectly "viable" running a stamsorc with high elf. Though you are not going to be "optimal", you will lose much more DPS by not really have a good rotation.

True but for the most part ESO is sort of single player its just online with a lot of other real people. I don't see why it should matter. Other than PvP.

But in all seriousness, which is better for High Elf magic Templar or magic Sorc?

Magicka Sorc has more elemental damage options.

But frankly, either class will work.

If you want to play a sunfire-chucking, spear-throwing, blazing holy mage who can swap between healer and warrior on a whim, go MagPlar.

If you want to play a mage who wrecks opponents with their dark powers, summons daedric minions to do your bidding, and fills the battlefield with lightning, play a MagSorc.

AstralSaiyan · September 2018

VaranisArano wrote: »

MegaToxic wrote: »

Lightspeedflashb14_ESO wrote: »

MegaToxic wrote: »

Dang, why did they make High Elf with a sword and some form of magic in the ESO trailers is that isn't really viable for a High Elf!

I do feel like Skyrim gives you a lot more freedom in building a character no matter the race. I just wish ESO did the same.

So in conclusion I should go Magic Templar or Sorc for High Elf?

Skyrim is a single player game, you can get away with whatever you want there because you are only impacting yourself, so losing damage from your racial is doesn't really matter but in an MMO, where you waste other peoples time, it matters more, though not to the extent that a lot of people make it out to be. You can be perfectly "viable" running a stamsorc with high elf. Though you are not going to be "optimal", you will lose much more DPS by not really have a good rotation.

True but for the most part ESO is sort of single player its just online with a lot of other real people. I don't see why it should matter. Other than PvP.

But in all seriousness, which is better for High Elf magic Templar or magic Sorc?

Magicka Sorc has more elemental damage options.

But frankly, either class will work.

If you want to play a sunfire-chucking, spear-throwing, blazing holy mage who can swap between healer and warrior on a whim, go MagPlar.

If you want to play a mage who wrecks opponents with their dark powers, summons daedric minions to do your bidding, and fills the battlefield with lightning, play a MagSorc.

The latter sounds more fun. Well thanks all.

Soris · September 2018

In OP you said you are sick of wearing robes... Try heavy armor magplar then. Altmer is still a good choice eventhough argonians are the best atm. Heavy armor sorc would not work at all tbh.

SilverIce58 · September 2018

I made an Altmer stamplar who uses a greatsword on the front bar (and probably a bow on the back, but idk), and even tho he's only lvl 25, i have more fun with him than an altmer magsorc i made a month before him(ive since deleted that magsorc) and had gotten to a higher level. So unorthodox class/races are honestly a lot more fun than sticking to the "meta".