MagBlade Theorycrafting Changes Thread

Iskiab · October 2019

fred4 wrote: »

HaruKamui wrote: »

fred4 wrote: »

HaruKamui wrote: »

Pijng wrote: »

Jeez, thanks a lot to you guys. I'll try this out, hope I'll find my golden spot.

Don't stress too much about it though. As long as the spread is decent, go ahead and duel/play/practice. CPs don't make a great player.

Yes and no. I play the same character on PC NA as on PC EU. On EU I am CP810+. Templar Jabs have crit me for 2.1K, maybe 2.2K at the most. On PC NA I was around CP350 when Jabs crit me for 2.9K in one case. I have NEVER been hit for anywhere near that high on PC EU. That's one hell of a difference. Same gear, same build. The only difference was CP.

I didnt mean that CPs didnt matter. I said, as long as the CP spread is okay, you'll do fine as long as you practice your character.

Never did I say that a CP 300 is not at a disadvantage against a CP810, check my comment again xD

Sorry, I knew you'd say that and you are right. I used your post as a springboard to go off on various tangents and, in doing so, I misrepresented what you said. Sorry.

That said, I do think practice / experience / gameplay is equally important to overall buildcraft (of which CP is a part) or maybe 60% practice, 40% buildcraft. When a noob hits me like a wet noodle, it's often the case that they can't string together a proper burst. On the other hand I also notice a huge variation, from player to player, in the damage numbers of individual attacks that I take from them and that I dish out to them. It's to the point where I sometimes don't know how people do it, when I look at combat logs. Some are flat out tanky, no healing, no blocking, yet they dish out huge damage. No I'm not talking about Corrosive Armor or Onslaught. I'd recognise that. It could simply be Fury, but all in all I am convinced there are still things I don't know about. Possibly bugs and exploits, like allocating your CP in a certain order, and so on.

I CAN pass on the things I do know about. I terms of CP I would particularly stress staying away from the Armor Focus and Spell Shield points, certainly while Onslaught and Corrosive are in common use. The Exploiter passive is another one of those quite strong things that some people integrate into their playstyles.

The difference is crit I think. It’s often overlooked and a lot of builds in heavy have next to zero crit. There are always players around trying to skimp on crit resists to take advantage of making crit builds good.

Proc sets is the other. Things like clever alchemist on one bar and only going on offensive cycles when the buff’s up.

The other thing is going max stats. Defense has been repeatedly nerfed, a lot of times max stats will get you more incoming healing then defense will prevent.

Lastly cleanse. If there’s a healer using cleanse your average pvp spec using dots has zero chance at killing anyone.

darkblue5 · October 2019

Iskiab wrote: »

GhostofDatthaw wrote: »

ScruffyWhiskers wrote: »

Yeah, I've got a background in cs and game development so I understand your argument, and agree with your premise. The claim seems to have always been that it was the expanded complexity of the systems like the spammed skills (healing springs) or the assets (the deer) or the proc sets that have been the culprits behind the increasing latency issues. Not sure if the lighting engine change really is a factor tbh. The game has no doubt seen the introduction of many more and varied items, skills and abilities plus the CP system. I would rather they lock down their design and then work on the internals, architecture and netcode. Although if the DDOS service issue with their current choice is true, then that might not matter. I haven't really looked into that very much. And I have been out of the industry for a while so take my opinion for what it is worth.

Edit: Plus I really think a lot of the problems with open world prime time Cyrodiil are due to how they have laid the map out an channeled players to certain keeps. They need to rethink the geography and keep the 3 way dynamic while still spreading out the player density. Things like the hammer are a good start but even that often concentrates players instead of opening up the map. It could really use some tuning.

I'm a knuckle dragger when it comes to coding, but it terms on cyro pop and objectives, it's the way people play now that can be a problem. When I started and people actually cared about the map and campaign. There were alot of guilds running 10-20 man groups. They worked together pushing different objectives and in turn split the defense across the map out of necessity. Now it's just "faction stack zergling" and "pompous small man". Guilds died and cyro with it

I don’t agree with the faction stack zergling thing.

It’s a matter of perspective. It’s the most common complaint about my guild (Homicide) but it’s mainly because we’re effective so we’re winning.

We did very well in the non-CP campaign so guilds stopped coming, and so we dabbled in the CP campaign because there was no one left to fight. We’ve only been in there once but our strategy is just as effective there so it was business as usual.

Mostly complaints stem from losing and people not adapting to the game. People play with their friends and naturally become elitist over time, then with normal attrition they get stuck in smaller and smaller groups until they’re irrelevant. All we basicly do is give new players a chance to get better and play with them, so naturally get stronger.

Most complaints are from people having their ego put in check which is wrapped up in their performance. It comes down to ‘I lost’ and making excuses (they had more, lag, game changes, class, etc..). Plus accepting new players means less food for the small scale players who prey on new players which can’t make them happy.

Odd

fred4 wrote: »

HaruKamui wrote: »

fred4 wrote: »

HaruKamui wrote: »

Pijng wrote: »

Jeez, thanks a lot to you guys. I'll try this out, hope I'll find my golden spot.

Don't stress too much about it though. As long as the spread is decent, go ahead and duel/play/practice. CPs don't make a great player.

Yes and no. I play the same character on PC NA as on PC EU. On EU I am CP810+. Templar Jabs have crit me for 2.1K, maybe 2.2K at the most. On PC NA I was around CP350 when Jabs crit me for 2.9K in one case. I have NEVER been hit for anywhere near that high on PC EU. That's one hell of a difference. Same gear, same build. The only difference was CP.

I didnt mean that CPs didnt matter. I said, as long as the CP spread is okay, you'll do fine as long as you practice your character.

Never did I say that a CP 300 is not at a disadvantage against a CP810, check my comment again xD

Sorry, I knew you'd say that and you are right. I used your post as a springboard to go off on various tangents and, in doing so, I misrepresented what you said. Sorry.

That said, I do think practice / experience / gameplay is equally important to overall buildcraft (of which CP is a part) or maybe 60% practice, 40% buildcraft. When a noob hits me like a wet noodle, it's often the case that they can't string together a proper burst. On the other hand I also notice a huge variation, from player to player, in the damage numbers of individual attacks that I take from them and that I dish out to them. It's to the point where I sometimes don't know how people do it, when I look at combat logs. Some are flat out tanky, no healing, no blocking, yet they dish out huge damage. No I'm not talking about Corrosive Armor or Onslaught. I'd recognise that. It could simply be Fury, but all in all I am convinced there are still things I don't know about. Possibly bugs and exploits, like allocating your CP in a certain order, and so on.

I CAN pass on the things I do know about. I terms of CP I would particularly stress staying away from the Armor Focus and Spell Shield points, certainly while Onslaught and Corrosive are in common use. The Exploiter passive is another one of those quite strong things that some people integrate into their playstyles.

I'm 90% sure a lot of the cases of very tanky enemies not healing or blocking etc. are using the Lingering Health potions. The resistance potions (if they aren't nerfed) will likely be Dragonhold's version of the Lingering Health potions. I can say that there is a night and day difference between when I still had Lingering Health potions I decided to finally use and now that I've run out and don't exactly want to make more.

Lingering Health potions make me want to run sets like Robes of the Hist, Barkskin, and Alessian Order next patch... although the charm of the Lingering Health pots is that you don't need to dedicate a five piece to being very tanky from HoTs.

Iskiab · October 2019

darkblue5 wrote: »

Iskiab wrote: »

GhostofDatthaw wrote: »

ScruffyWhiskers wrote: »

Yeah, I've got a background in cs and game development so I understand your argument, and agree with your premise. The claim seems to have always been that it was the expanded complexity of the systems like the spammed skills (healing springs) or the assets (the deer) or the proc sets that have been the culprits behind the increasing latency issues. Not sure if the lighting engine change really is a factor tbh. The game has no doubt seen the introduction of many more and varied items, skills and abilities plus the CP system. I would rather they lock down their design and then work on the internals, architecture and netcode. Although if the DDOS service issue with their current choice is true, then that might not matter. I haven't really looked into that very much. And I have been out of the industry for a while so take my opinion for what it is worth.

Edit: Plus I really think a lot of the problems with open world prime time Cyrodiil are due to how they have laid the map out an channeled players to certain keeps. They need to rethink the geography and keep the 3 way dynamic while still spreading out the player density. Things like the hammer are a good start but even that often concentrates players instead of opening up the map. It could really use some tuning.

I'm a knuckle dragger when it comes to coding, but it terms on cyro pop and objectives, it's the way people play now that can be a problem. When I started and people actually cared about the map and campaign. There were alot of guilds running 10-20 man groups. They worked together pushing different objectives and in turn split the defense across the map out of necessity. Now it's just "faction stack zergling" and "pompous small man". Guilds died and cyro with it

I don’t agree with the faction stack zergling thing.

It’s a matter of perspective. It’s the most common complaint about my guild (Homicide) but it’s mainly because we’re effective so we’re winning.

We did very well in the non-CP campaign so guilds stopped coming, and so we dabbled in the CP campaign because there was no one left to fight. We’ve only been in there once but our strategy is just as effective there so it was business as usual.

Mostly complaints stem from losing and people not adapting to the game. People play with their friends and naturally become elitist over time, then with normal attrition they get stuck in smaller and smaller groups until they’re irrelevant. All we basicly do is give new players a chance to get better and play with them, so naturally get stronger.

Most complaints are from people having their ego put in check which is wrapped up in their performance. It comes down to ‘I lost’ and making excuses (they had more, lag, game changes, class, etc..). Plus accepting new players means less food for the small scale players who prey on new players which can’t make them happy.

Odd

fred4 wrote: »

HaruKamui wrote: »

fred4 wrote: »

HaruKamui wrote: »

Pijng wrote: »

Jeez, thanks a lot to you guys. I'll try this out, hope I'll find my golden spot.

Don't stress too much about it though. As long as the spread is decent, go ahead and duel/play/practice. CPs don't make a great player.

Yes and no. I play the same character on PC NA as on PC EU. On EU I am CP810+. Templar Jabs have crit me for 2.1K, maybe 2.2K at the most. On PC NA I was around CP350 when Jabs crit me for 2.9K in one case. I have NEVER been hit for anywhere near that high on PC EU. That's one hell of a difference. Same gear, same build. The only difference was CP.

I didnt mean that CPs didnt matter. I said, as long as the CP spread is okay, you'll do fine as long as you practice your character.

Never did I say that a CP 300 is not at a disadvantage against a CP810, check my comment again xD

Sorry, I knew you'd say that and you are right. I used your post as a springboard to go off on various tangents and, in doing so, I misrepresented what you said. Sorry.

That said, I do think practice / experience / gameplay is equally important to overall buildcraft (of which CP is a part) or maybe 60% practice, 40% buildcraft. When a noob hits me like a wet noodle, it's often the case that they can't string together a proper burst. On the other hand I also notice a huge variation, from player to player, in the damage numbers of individual attacks that I take from them and that I dish out to them. It's to the point where I sometimes don't know how people do it, when I look at combat logs. Some are flat out tanky, no healing, no blocking, yet they dish out huge damage. No I'm not talking about Corrosive Armor or Onslaught. I'd recognise that. It could simply be Fury, but all in all I am convinced there are still things I don't know about. Possibly bugs and exploits, like allocating your CP in a certain order, and so on.

I CAN pass on the things I do know about. I terms of CP I would particularly stress staying away from the Armor Focus and Spell Shield points, certainly while Onslaught and Corrosive are in common use. The Exploiter passive is another one of those quite strong things that some people integrate into their playstyles.

I'm 90% sure a lot of the cases of very tanky enemies not healing or blocking etc. are using the Lingering Health potions. The resistance potions (if they aren't nerfed) will likely be Dragonhold's version of the Lingering Health potions. I can say that there is a night and day difference between when I still had Lingering Health potions I decided to finally use and now that I've run out and don't exactly want to make more.

Lingering Health potions make me want to run sets like Robes of the Hist, Barkskin, and Alessian Order next patch... although the charm of the Lingering Health pots is that you don't need to dedicate a five piece to being very tanky from HoTs.

I can’t remember what I was replying to, but sounds about right.

We have CP 400s in guild who’re still learning and gearing up. Most established guilds in CP land have a 810 CP requirement. ESO is a complicated game and the difference is output between players can be staggering. When a guild first forms it’ll be a group who learns together, then as people leave they’ll look at replace with people just as experienced as them. Guilds naturally get smaller until they become irrelevant.

For a pvp guild to last it needs a way to sustain players. Living with low CP players procing vicious death results in short term loss for a long term gain. We still run with around 24 and fight numbers x4 our size so still do well.

fred4 · October 2019

Why do people complain about nightblades being cowardly and running away? Have they played one?

Example: I hear a sorc activating Overload, but I don't know how hard it's going to hit. Stupidly I do not cloak away. You want to know how hard it hit? 10K per second actual damage from Overload + Ele Weapon. I cannot outshield that and I'm not made of stamina for rolling or blocking. In fact blocking is pretty horrendous on a speed build. You can't move. If I let the sorc go into Overload, it's too late. All I can do is anticipate.

Granted I run a squishy build and this was on NA at only CP538. The regulars in this thread know I like to brawl. At this stage I've explored everything and, for me, speed and stam regen beats being tankier overall. It's just frustrating your attack window is so very short. In many a head-on damage exchange, I draw the short straw. Ganking puts people on the back foot, but many are tanky, perfectly able to recover, and they know it. Their offensive window is longer and the damage they can do is frequently higher than mine (unless they stay in a Zaan proc). The better players know this and will calmly take you down, unless you play ... cowardly.

Iskiab · October 2019

fred4 wrote: »

Why do people complain about nightblades being cowardly and running away? Have they played one?

Example: I hear a sorc activating Overload, but I don't know how hard it's going to hit. Stupidly I do not cloak away. You want to know how hard it hit? 10K per second actual damage from Overload + Ele Weapon. I cannot outshield that and I'm not made of stamina for rolling or blocking. In fact blocking is pretty horrendous on a speed build. You can't move. If I let the sorc go into Overload, it's too late. All I can do is anticipate.

Granted I run a squishy build and this was on NA at only CP538. The regulars in this thread know I like to brawl. At this stage I've explored everything and, for me, speed and stam regen beats being tankier overall. It's just frustrating your attack window is so very short. In many a head-on damage exchange, I draw the short straw. Ganking puts people on the back foot, but many are tanky, perfectly able to recover, and they know it. Their offensive window is longer and the damage they can do is frequently higher than mine (unless they stay in a Zaan proc). The better players know this and will calmly take you down, unless you play ... cowardly.

I know this isn’t the reply you want to hear, but if you like to brawl I’d level an alt on another class.

I’ve been testing lots of stuff on PTS and while defense hasn’t exactly been nerfed, both burst and healing has been buffed. The game is continuing on the same trajectory of weakening passive defense, and NBs lack self healing. Your window is about to get a lot smaller.

Without major defile my sorc can literally full heal itself in one cast (17k matriarch, 27k crits hitting two people) and pump out 10k tooltip overloads. You aren’t going to get far without high burst in a glassy spec.

DomiNate4NB · October 2019

Back from playing Stam for a bit. Definitely fun but missed the utility of mag.

The only viable option is burst and movement speed imo. Finding the balance between the 2 was the challenge. Used to run steed mundus for the extra separation.

Rat, cloack and concealed are all that are used for speed and I can move in and out like vintage Ali. "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee"

Having over 50% crit is crucial imo to having enough burst.

I would play nightblade how it was originally intended: stealth, burst and speed. Definitely prioritizing burst but ensuring you have snare removal and cloak. Rat is way better than escape as 2s is all you need with the movement speed buff for 4s. Add the minor force that definitely supplements your burst in pvp and it is a MUST have.

Rat is the catalyst to focus on burst and after being frustrated for the longest with magblade

Until there is better balance with other roles you will feel like a lesser version of the other classes whether it be dmg(dot or aoe), tank or healer. MBs still own direct damage.

Sounds like ZoS is already heading in that class identity direction (DKs getting dot passive potentially) so you will be ahead of the game as it relates to optimization.

Iskiab · October 2019

DomiNate4NB wrote: »

Back from playing Stam for a bit. Definitely fun but missed the utility of mag.

The only viable option is burst and movement speed imo. Finding the balance between the 2 was the challenge. Used to run steed mundus for the extra separation.

Rat, cloack and concealed are all that are used for speed and I can move in and out like vintage Ali. "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee"

Having over 50% crit is crucial imo to having enough burst.

I would play nightblade how it was originally intended: stealth, burst and speed. Definitely prioritizing burst but ensuring you have snare removal and cloak. Rat is way better than escape as 2s is all you need with the movement speed buff for 4s. Add the minor force that definitely supplements your burst in pvp and it is a MUST have.

Rat is the catalyst to focus on burst and after being frustrated for the longest with magblade

Until there is better balance with other roles you will feel like a lesser version of the other classes whether it be dmg(dot or aoe), tank or healer. MBs still own direct damage.

Sounds like ZoS is already heading in that class identity direction (DKs getting dot passive potentially) so you will be ahead of the game as it relates to optimization.

I agree completely, if you're really good and play a cloakblade you'll do okay if you're patient. What's out are brawlers and healers though most disagree with me about healers, and it'll take some playtime to see how things pan out. People complained about class diversity and it looks like cloakblade is where the class is going.

Speed's great, one thing I've noticed is good DKs and Templars have figured out they can add speed too. Stamsorcs are faster out of stealth, NBs need cloak to be fast. Speed isn't a NB strength without shadowy disguise and concealed.

I've also been having a lot of fun with the shadow mundus, high crit and onslaught. It's a great combination. find the glass canon PvE spec caster and make em pay. You can two shot them.

HEBREWHAMMERRR · October 2019

Admittedly, hardly played the game this patch. ESO got kind of stale and BL3 is a blast. Hopped on this weekend, didn’t have a game under 1mil damage and 250k healing. 5 crafty Alfiq, 5 lich, BRP resto and Skoria. Heavy dot build with double healing drain poisons front bar, +9% healing back bar. Been rolling over people in BGs and single handedly carrying teams. Just have to know when to cloak away, when to get aggressive and when to defensively put up a heal. Other than that stack dots, watch the skorias rain down and time up that burst 👍🏻

GhostofDatthaw · October 2019

HEBREWHAMMERRR wrote: »

Admittedly, hardly played the game this patch. ESO got kind of stale and BL3 is a blast. Hopped on this weekend, didn’t have a game under 1mil damage and 250k healing. 5 crafty Alfiq, 5 lich, BRP resto and Skoria. Heavy dot build with double healing drain poisons front bar, +9% healing back bar. Been rolling over people in BGs and single handedly carrying teams. Just have to know when to cloak away, when to get aggressive and when to defensively put up a heal. Other than that stack dots, watch the skorias rain down and time up that burst 👍🏻

Why would you run crafty over necro? Do you not use shade? I've also gone back to a more max mag based build on my argonian having a decent damage shield is the only way to survive outside of cloak spam. With my woodelf I'm still build around steed and Regen with high movement speed. I run both builds and the max mag is definitely better for standing and fighting. On my woodelf I have to constantly cloak image and roll around otherwise I get mollywhomped without a damage shield.

sandblack · October 2019

What do you guys think about this for no cp?
https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Special:EsoBuildData?id=181944

Lover mundus. Only use cloak vs 2 or more .
Problem comes when i need to heal. What do you guys think would be best in slot for healing up as a monster mask? TK?

GhostofDatthaw · October 2019

That's a strange build to run clench seemingly as the spammable but not running a master. As far has healing back up goes I've found if you build for Shields just run Regen. I like to run bs when I go high mag builds for the slight Stam Regen but really just for the shield resistances and the ult build, it synnergies well with funnel as a spammable.

Kaysha · October 2019

You have no spammable? Is that right?
drop reach or inner light for swallow soul. Healing should be enough then.

Iskiab · October 2019

sandblack wrote: »

What do you guys think about this for no cp?
https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Special:EsoBuildData?id=181944

Lover mundus. Only use cloak vs 2 or more .
Problem comes when i need to heal. What do you guys think would be best in slot for healing up as a monster mask? TK?

Looks okay, but a couple things:
1. Missing a Siphoning ability on your back bar, go with Soul Tether. It’s being buffed and will be decent and the better morph
2. You’re running necropence but I think it’s a mistake. With that level of mag recovery sustain will be a huge issue. You’re going to have issues escaping with the shade or using the BRP resto when you need it most
3. I’d try and up sustain and hit 2400 mag regen, it’s the sweet spot pre-patch and costs are going up on abilities not down
4. If you can run crit pots and drop inner light. Elemental weapon can be used as a ghetto burst ability going Ele - LA - x.
5. I’d consider willpower, drop spinners and weapon set on your front bar

Zevrro · October 2019

Iskiab wrote: »

sandblack wrote: »

What do you guys think about this for no cp?
https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Special:EsoBuildData?id=181944

Lover mundus. Only use cloak vs 2 or more .
Problem comes when i need to heal. What do you guys think would be best in slot for healing up as a monster mask? TK?

Looks okay, but a couple things:
1. Missing a Siphoning ability on your back bar, go with Soul Tether. It’s being buffed and will be decent and the better morph
2. You’re running necropence but I think it’s a mistake. With that level of mag recovery sustain will be a huge issue. You’re going to have issues escaping with the shade or using the BRP resto when you need it most
3. I’d try and up sustain and hit 2400 mag regen, it’s the sweet spot pre-patch and costs are going up on abilities not down
4. If you can run crit pots and drop inner light. Elemental weapon can be used as a ghetto burst ability going Ele - LA - x.
5. I’d consider willpower, drop spinners and weapon set on your front bar

2.4k regen seems overkill to me. With minor magickasteal and siphoning attacks 1.7k is plenty to sustain for me. Spinners with necro is a nice setup but I'd swap engine guardian for something that gives survivability like bloodspawn.

GhostofDatthaw · October 2019

I honestly hate how I am forced into using dark cloak with bar space so limited as it is. I would love to drop it for Regen but it's my only source to proc my ward passives besides spamming shade.

Iskiab · October 2019

Zevrro wrote: »

Iskiab wrote: »

sandblack wrote: »

What do you guys think about this for no cp?
https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Special:EsoBuildData?id=181944

Lover mundus. Only use cloak vs 2 or more .
Problem comes when i need to heal. What do you guys think would be best in slot for healing up as a monster mask? TK?

Looks okay, but a couple things:
1. Missing a Siphoning ability on your back bar, go with Soul Tether. It’s being buffed and will be decent and the better morph
2. You’re running necropence but I think it’s a mistake. With that level of mag recovery sustain will be a huge issue. You’re going to have issues escaping with the shade or using the BRP resto when you need it most
3. I’d try and up sustain and hit 2400 mag regen, it’s the sweet spot pre-patch and costs are going up on abilities not down
4. If you can run crit pots and drop inner light. Elemental weapon can be used as a ghetto burst ability going Ele - LA - x.
5. I’d consider willpower, drop spinners and weapon set on your front bar

2.4k regen seems overkill to me. With minor magickasteal and siphoning attacks 1.7k is plenty to sustain for me. Spinners with necro is a nice setup but I'd swap engine guardian for something that gives survivability like bloodspawn.

Well it’s up to you, if you can get by with 1700 then use 1700. Issue is moreso the magblade playstyle doesn’t really allow a lot of heavy attacking for sustain because of the fire staff. You could heavy attack with a resto but if you’re squishy it’s a bit dangerous.

One set that I’ve seen that I really like is that new maurader set too. If you’re using the BRP resto on your back bar the speed will be nice. An alternative to putting concealed blade on your back bar, or do both to really be fast.

It’s getting pretty standard for stam to run at least 1 swift. If you can’t outrun stam they’re going to stick on you and pop you out of stealth with aoes. I’d build to outrun a stamsorc, I think they’re going to be popular.

Koensol · October 2019

Zevrro wrote: »

Iskiab wrote: »

sandblack wrote: »

What do you guys think about this for no cp?
https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Special:EsoBuildData?id=181944

Lover mundus. Only use cloak vs 2 or more .
Problem comes when i need to heal. What do you guys think would be best in slot for healing up as a monster mask? TK?

Looks okay, but a couple things:
1. Missing a Siphoning ability on your back bar, go with Soul Tether. It’s being buffed and will be decent and the better morph
2. You’re running necropence but I think it’s a mistake. With that level of mag recovery sustain will be a huge issue. You’re going to have issues escaping with the shade or using the BRP resto when you need it most
3. I’d try and up sustain and hit 2400 mag regen, it’s the sweet spot pre-patch and costs are going up on abilities not down
4. If you can run crit pots and drop inner light. Elemental weapon can be used as a ghetto burst ability going Ele - LA - x.
5. I’d consider willpower, drop spinners and weapon set on your front bar

2.4k regen seems overkill to me. With minor magickasteal and siphoning attacks 1.7k is plenty to sustain for me. Spinners with necro is a nice setup but I'd swap engine guardian for something that gives survivability like bloodspawn.

I agree, but only with siphoning strikes and ele drain. With those 2 on my bars (which I usually have when playing dmg) my sweet spot is at 1.7k buffed too, as a breton that is. Without both I need at least 2k - 2.2k buffed. Magblade sustain is just garbage in no cp, unless you play a tankhealer in which case you need jack *** sustain

jimijac0me · October 2019

For me it depends which cloak I use, if I’m using Shadow Cloak I need a lot more (2-2.3k), if I’m playing non-cloak (Dark) I find 1.4-1.7 is plenty with siphoning

Edit: I’m Dunmer
Edit 2: Also talking unbuffed and I use tri-pots so would be a bit higher but not a lot

GhostofDatthaw · October 2019

I'm an argonian, sit at 1.7 unbuffed, use spell pots I dueled for like 3 hours last night and it's rough life. I run ele drain and strikes, lotta heavies

GhostofDatthaw · October 2019

I will say though i honestly kinda like the heal on mercy now. In duels I front bar my shield so I can keep it up easier and keep pressure with swallow weaves. Having both those and swallow on front bar alot of times I only had to bar bar to rebuff. I mean it's no minor berserk but it actually kept me alive a few times last night.

jimijac0me · October 2019

Yeah merciless defensively has always been strong, I can’t find the bar space to run a shield front bar or I’d run Marauder’s set this patch, really liked the idea of that set

GhostofDatthaw · October 2019

Shield on front bar is pretty easy to do in duels just swap it ad cripple really. Last night my bars were dampen, mercy, ele, swallow, clench, sh. Then dark cloak, siphon, shade, rat, cripple, life giver.

The only think I kinda consider doing. Is dropping cripple throwing shield back bar and slotting lotus, but idk I had that build last night and that's what I stuck with. I won probably 1/2 the duels but I kinda suck and there were some big pcna hitters in stormhaven last night. I did go to the test dummy afterwards and try that burst how it would work in theory and I was getting mercy crits of like 45k on the 3m dummy

GhostofDatthaw · October 2019

Idk about that set for duels but for openworld it might be ok for your sustain set, run it with necro for a bigger shield and maybe even mage since that has 2 recov passives

jimijac0me · October 2019

Oh yeah I never build for duels, was considering it with NMA but gunna stick with NMA body/BS/Spinners FB/BRP resto back, gotta max the dmg or we hit too soft and can get comfy regen with that combo

jimijac0me · October 2019

Using Ghastly food health is only 21kish but 4k is not going to make a big difference when evasion is your defense

GhostofDatthaw · October 2019

Yeah I've dropped spinners for now. I find it less damage if I am building Shields that max mag can be very underestimated. I'm in btb necro bs and it's working ok, I have a 40% uptime on bs for duels so I almost want to try some other defensive sets but will probably not find better. My problem with brp resto atm is it's linked to spinners or another 1 bar like spell strat or what have you. And it leaves you with bar space problems. You can't rely on just the shield for heals so you need to slot shadowy which is frowned upon in duels or protect it with dampen. You protect it with dampen then how do you keep your ward passives proced? You could technically do it with fear but that imo is a wasted skill in duels because it lacks damage, you can sneak a clench in easy now with the animation looking similar to light attacks and land that quick bow behind it.

So it comes down to how do you keep your ward passives up I started rambling. With brp I've found bar space problems that lead to a bad balance between healing defense and damage. As far as duels and places like ic it's easier to get by not using ward at all and using dark cloak. That way I can keep clench as my stun, keep close to 100% uptime on wards from passives because I know I'm not perfect. Imo brp resto clogs barspace too much

Iskiab · October 2019

If you’re looking for an alternative to bloodspawn Iceheart is a good one.

I’ve been liking crit and the shadow mundus, so I think it might depend on your build. Building for more crit increases the value of Iceheart and force pulse so you have to change up a lot of gear and your playstyle.

I’ve noticed the same thing about Bloodspawn. The uptime isn’t great as a magblade, but even then if you drop bloodspawn stamina regen pops up as an issue.

Woodelf is a good option. I made my sorc a woodelf and it lets you pile all into mag with your gear. It’s like getting amber plasm from your race. I’m not sure if it’s the best choice, I’m thinking altmer would have been the best for the offstat sustain.

HEBREWHAMMERRR · October 2019

GhostofDatthaw wrote: »

HEBREWHAMMERRR wrote: »

Admittedly, hardly played the game this patch. ESO got kind of stale and BL3 is a blast. Hopped on this weekend, didn’t have a game under 1mil damage and 250k healing. 5 crafty Alfiq, 5 lich, BRP resto and Skoria. Heavy dot build with double healing drain poisons front bar, +9% healing back bar. Been rolling over people in BGs and single handedly carrying teams. Just have to know when to cloak away, when to get aggressive and when to defensively put up a heal. Other than that stack dots, watch the skorias rain down and time up that burst 👍🏻

Why would you run crafty over necro? Do you not use shade? I've also gone back to a more max mag based build on my argonian having a decent damage shield is the only way to survive outside of cloak spam. With my woodelf I'm still build around steed and Regen with high movement speed. I run both builds and the max mag is definitely better for standing and fighting. On my woodelf I have to constantly cloak image and roll around otherwise I get mollywhomped without a damage shield.

No shade. No shields aside from Ward to proc BRP resto. Insane sustain, great healing, solid burst when timed with Skoria proc. 1.3 mil damage and 550k healing in my one BG I did last night. Lol

HEBREWHAMMERRR · October 2019

Idk magblade seems like it’s in a good spot, not quite on par with magplar but I’m leading damage every BG and as far as off heals I’m typically top for that as well. I have many people messaging me asking how tf I’m healing so much on magblade thinking I’m running refreshing path or something. Just resto ultis for team support and rapid regen for a rolling hot when I get focused to throw up a ward and top off, fear, cloak, reset when they get annoyed at chasing me.

GhostofDatthaw · October 2019

Idk how y'all manage to get by with just ward unless you're using shadowy.

Iskiab wrote: »

If you’re looking for an alternative to bloodspawn Iceheart is a good one.

I’ve been liking crit and the shadow mundus, so I think it might depend on your build. Building for more crit increases the value of Iceheart and force pulse so you have to change up a lot of gear and your playstyle.

I’ve noticed the same thing about Bloodspawn. The uptime isn’t great as a magblade, but even then if you drop bloodspawn stamina regen pops up as an issue.

Woodelf is a good option. I made my sorc a woodelf and it lets you pile all into mag with your gear. It’s like getting amber plasm from your race. I’m not sure if it’s the best choice, I’m thinking altmer would have been the best for the offstat sustain.

Yeah I have a woodelf magnb now that runs that high regen style. He is the one that tries to survive with just ward and once I get caught that's it... But this is all cp duels and IC it's where the bulk of my time is, I should start playing some bgs but I'm so used to cp