New Player - Sustain Question

dioc21 · February 2021

Hi, I'm new to the game and looking to play a Magblade and Magsorc, but also want the ability to try out stam builds if I get to bored of purely magika. I like the looks of Dark Elfs and how they can switch back and forth easily. Everywhere I read I see that Bretons are the easiest as they have the best sustain. Coming from somebody who has never played before how hard is it going to be not being a Breton with their easy sustain, is it that game breaking or can I manage sustain no matter the race? As far as I can tell, sustain is how fast you can regen your magika power?

SpiritofESO · February 2021

AcadianPaladin · February 2021

Race is overrated unless you are interested in the final 1-2% of performance at elite levels and even then, more for dps than tanks or healers.

I play Bosmer - only Bosmer - and my four mages and several stamina archers all do fine. If a Bosmer can do it, any race can.

UntilValhalla13 · February 2021

My sorc and nightblades are dark elves and I sustain fine with blue food.

istvana · February 2021

I am newer than you are and therefore know even less about race/class choices.

I can add that the consensus opinion in almost all major MMOs has been that unless your goal is to be an endgame raider and join a guild that simply won't take "bad" race/class combinations, you are better off playing a class that you enjoy than one that you do not, even if the one that you do not is "better" by a marginal degree. You are better off playing a race that you enjoy than one you do not even if the one that you do not is "better" to a marginal degree.

Research over the last few days tells me that all or almost all combinations are viable even though, obviously, some work better than others. So while I do not doubt in the slightest that SpiritofESO is entirely correct, so too is UntilValhalla13.

El_Borracho · February 2021

Magblades have built-in sustain skills that when used with a decent rotation work very well. I run a dark elf magblade and love it. The burning immunity is great and I think trumps the high elf damage passive.

As for magsorcs, sustain depends on the build and your rotation. Heavy attackers have no sustain issues. Normal/light attack rotations typically work very well as most builds have a massive magicka pool to draw on.

Bretons are more suited to healer roles and mag DK DPS where sustain is an issue.

fred4 · March 2021

AcadianPaladin wrote: »

Race is overrated unless you are interested in the final 1-2% of performance at elite levels and even then, more for dps than tanks or healers.

I play Bosmer - only Bosmer - and my four mages and several stamina archers all do fine. If a Bosmer can do it, any race can.

Been playing for 5 1/2 years. I agree with this. Dunmer is fine nor is Breton optimal for everything.

tsaescishoeshiner · March 2021

Khajiit is also a hybrid race that gets bonuses to Magicka, Health, Stamina, and some recovery for all three. They're just as able as Dunmer to switch back and forth, but with some recovery. People differ as to which is better, especially when the next patch drops on March 8th with minor adjustments. I've used Khajiit for vet DLC trials and vet DLC dungeon hardmodes, as have many others.

And next week's patch also makes Argonians a hybrid race focused on sustain. They give you resources back when you drink a potion, which you should do every 45 seconds in PvE (to get the most sustain possible). Less damage than Khajiit, but more sustain. And more scales & feathers.

I have 2 characters of each class, 1 of which I tried to make a hybrid race. Play what you like, and use bonuses that sound good to you :~)