How viable is an Imperial magDK?

Syy101 · December 2018

I have an Imperial DK toon from long ago that I don't really want to delete. I know Imperials are better for stam build but I already have a fully grown Imperial stam DK and I want to try something fun.

So how viable is an Imperial magDK, in either PVE or PVP? How much does it lose comparing to a dark elf magDK? By the looks of racial passives it seems Imperial loses about 10% damage, but the extra health and stamina maybe good in PVP?

RogueShark · December 2018

If you really want to play a certain race/class/spec combo, just do it. There's no reason any single race can't complete end-game content as any spec, even if their racials aren't BiS for it.
I play a khajiit sorc healer and have zero issues. Racials are so useless for him that I don't even fill out the weapon crit passive. There's no reason you can't be an imperial mag DK. It's not the most optimized, but it's not going to prevent you from performing your role perfectly fine.

Claudman · December 2018

It all depends on how you build it, my man. I personally prefer the Dragonknights of my roster to be either Argonians or Dunmer, but it's entirely your decision.

I'm sure you can still perform well enough on an Imperial MagDK if you're using the right sets and have your Champion Points allocated properly. The additional health will keep you in the fight longer and the stamina could help a small bit for breaks. Racial passives can be important, yes (especially the Tripot passive for Argonians, Speed Boost on Orsimer or the massive hunk of stamina Bosmer/Redguards get), but what matters is how you use your build. You'll rarely come across someone who is using exactly your build and is playing a Dunmer who has exactly your skill level. Someone could be playing a Dunmeri MagDK and be unable to beat you simply because they haven't properly geared or know the build, but not how to use it.

I could've sworn the best Magsorc in PvP was a Nord at one point...But, it's been a while.

idk · December 2018

As it currently stands I think only one passive benefits a magicka build, the max health. Not sure if any of the DK skills are considered melee which is required to proc the Red Diamond passive.

Zos has said they plan to rework racial passives in 2019 and that this may (or may not) make it so we have some choices that will be beneficial for whatever role we choose for that character.

We do not know how that will work out. I remember when Zos rebalanced weapon traits. DPS went from using sharpened except in certain cases where they would use precise. Tanks had a couple good choices. Now both roles use Infused almost exclusively.

mague · December 2018

Syy101 wrote: »

I have an Imperial DK toon from long ago that I don't really want to delete. I know Imperials are better for stam build but I already have a fully grown Imperial stam DK and I want to try something fun.

So how viable is an Imperial magDK, in either PVE or PVP? How much does it lose comparing to a dark elf magDK? By the looks of racial passives it seems Imperial loses about 10% damage, but the extra health and stamina maybe good in PVP?

I have an imperial Magplar. I dont play trials with it, thus i dont see any problems. PvE and normal dungeons is no problem at all. In PvP i have a little more sprint and dodge roll. I could use undauted bone shield if needed without using the main pool.

Ragnarock41 · December 2018

as viable as an altmer stamDk I would say. It would make a fine tank though.

Lightspeedflashb14_ESO · December 2018

Perfectly viable, though not optimal.

Syy101 · December 2018

Ok guys thanks for the replys! Seems worth a try. I promise I won’t get into a vet dungeon until I know what I am doing

SHADOW2KK · December 2018

Dunmer for magdk or nothing, although altmer and others are viable, Dunmer is best choice.

Vildebill · December 2018

Man play which race you want, it doesn't really matter if you just want to have fun. Far more important to learn how to play the class, and if you get so good at it that you see your race as an obstacle, just race change then or roll a new character.

Aisle9 · December 2018

As viable as any other race.

You will lose dps compared to a dunmer, but iirc what you get from race passives accounts for like 3k dps tops.

Bottom line, it's not that big of a deal, unless you really want to min-max it.

You won't be top of the leaderboards, but you can participate in every single piece of content in the game whilst maintaining top tier performances (if you apply yourself).

As for PvP, sustain is pretty important, much more important that a bit more damage on fire abilities, and while it's true that more damage means you kill people faster, it's also true that you don't actually need THAT much damage in the first place. High end fights are usually resolved by outsustaining your opponent, so imperial works.

Odovacar · December 2018

If you can have fun with Imperiel then hey, rock it out! I main a DK and prefer Dunmer hands down. Since we are mostly melee range you could benefit from more health in an already pretty tanky class I suppose.... GL OP!

rexagamemnon · December 2018

Imperials are the coolest race so you have that going for you!

yodased · December 2018

My mag dk is imperial, I have dps, healed and tanked all content in the game with him.

Red mountain is great for tanking, good resources and it is able to swap through roles easily.

Go for it, its fun

Syy101 · December 2018

rexagamemnon wrote: »

Imperials are the coolest race so you have that going for you!

Agree! The moment I saw the Imperial Edition I knew I would buy it! Too sad that such a noble race from previous TES games mainly serves as bad guys in ESO.

yodased wrote: »

My mag dk is imperial, I have dps, healed and tanked all content in the game with him.

Red mountain is great for tanking, good resources and it is able to swap through roles easily.

Go for it, its fun

Good to know someone who has some experience. Gonna go for it!

JumpmanLane · December 2018

You’d be gimping yourself in PvP. Dunmer just way to go. So many flame skills... best MagDk I know laughed and kept saying “roll a dunmer, roll a dunmer” when I wanted to convert my main imperial

Synnastix · December 2018

I have Imperial, Argonian, and Dunmer, BUT I don’t do high level content. My experience?

Tank: Argo > Imp > Dunmer
mDK: Dunmer > Argo > Imp
sDK: Dunmer > Imp > Argo
PVP: Argo > doesn’t matter

I thought my imperial tank was bad ass until I rolled my lizard up, that is just easy mode in comparison. Could be some CP allocation difference, but in the exact same gear and even with more skill points on my Imp It just feels easier on the snake. I think the bonus to healing received is what does it, but you get a roughly equal hp bonus as imp plus extra mag for flamey stuff.

The turtle lives longer in PVP too, it’s just master race there but I just don’t like to die, not going for the pvp murder spree. Could be the poison resist too helping out which others don’t get.

Regardless of what you do, try this: pair Vampire’s Kiss with Thunderbug, add Grothdarr monster set, slot Burning Embers. You can just walk through a lot of stuff with that and it’s gotten me so lazy I don’t even bother to clear delves until I get to the boss. I’ve accidentally solo-capped resources in PVP while trying to die due to the kiss heals and radiant damage. If you want to mass-murder trash mobs, add caltrops, ash cloud, and talons.

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How viable is an Imperial magDK?

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