Where is your favorite source of builds and why?

Tornaad · November 2021

In the past few months, I have been slowly trying to make my first effective build (aka not following someone else's build), and that got me wondering where do most people get their builds from and why?

phaneub17_ESO · November 2021

Trial and error, see which weapons or skills work with the class to find what feels most fluid. Highest damage is not my goal, its how comfortable it feels playing each character. I also like to keep a good balance between weapons so out of 6 stamina characters 2 1h-shield, 4 two-handed, 2 dual-wield, and 4 bows. The 1h-shield are Templar and Dragon Knight using class skills, 2 of the bows are AOE burst while the other 2 are single target Dotters.

I'm weird.

Elsonso · November 2021

I generally do my own builds, but two places that I like to refer to, and refer people to, are Xynode and Alcast

Kwoung · November 2021

Xynode has some fun builds, Hack has some great solo/one bar builds, Alcast is pretty much cookie cutter builds for end game and folks with perfect LA weaving skills. I have spent quite a bit of time learning how to make a good build and Hack & Xynode do a really good job of explaining their reasons for making the choices they did, and offer alternatives for tweaking as well, which were very informative.

I find a lot of folks feel slapping on a couple sets of armour and grabbing some skills they enjoy using or look cool is a "build", and I suppose technically it is. But a real build takes a ton of work to come up with and everything works together to reach the end result you are looking for. What skills on a bar for passives to kick in, which skills may activate other skills or sets, which CP to eek the most out of it and in what order do you cast those skills in a rotation to get the most from it. Then of course, does it do its job, can you solo, can you hit top DPS (the easiest builds IMHO), can you live through the encounter, can you sustain?

In the end, I generally start with a build that looks fun, make sure I fully understand the impact of every choice made in its creation, then tweak it to better suit my style of play, while keeping the parts of the build that attracted me to it and allow it to function, intact. Most would probably be surprised how many times just swapping one skill out or moving it to the other bar can literally wreck an entire build, or not being able to LA Weave with 90%+ accuracy will render that build close to useless.

lolo_01b16_ESO · November 2021

For my main characters I mostly create them myself and have some discussions about them with friends who play similar characters. If I want to play something I'm less familiar with I'll ask a guild mate who plays that build on his main for help.

Elsonso · November 2021

I have never used this build, but it seems like a good utility build that is easy to make. If people are looking for more of an "off the shelf" sort of build that they can use, or base their own builds on, Matygon has his DPS Dad Build.

kargen27 · November 2021

A couple of friends in one of my guilds are always tweaking new builds for a variety of reasons but usually for more DPS when we run trials. They like competing against each other with new builds. When one of them says they have a fun one I try it. I stumbled across a build I liked linked in Discord but I wrecked it while doing little tweaks here and there and now can't get back to it.
I don't really start a build from scratch but I do like tweaking builds guild mates suggest as a starting point. I almost always make the worse.
I do have a good survivable Templar build I fell into all on my own that I use. Probably others figured it out way before I did but what the hey eventually I got there.

Vevvev · November 2021

My brain..... Although sometimes I'll cross reference the forums and Alcast's website. I like to tinker with build combos but I won't know what sets to try without inspiration.

bmnoble · November 2021

Mostly just trial and error seeing what new sets look interesting and testing them out.

Sometimes I will have a browse of Alcast's YouTube channel or website to look into whether a set is worth farming or not or look for an explanation for changes to things in games with a recent patch that's about it.

ixthUA · November 2021

I've been in an endgame raiding elitist guild and they gave me idea that everything is about DPS, i tried it and indeed it is important. However i found out that survivability and sustain are also important.
I tried web guides, and at least for healers they are bad.
My own early builds were terrible, but now i think they are ok.
DDs can practice on a dummy to maximize their DPS.
As healer, 2 of my sets boost team mag/wep damage and one set recovers resources.
For my future tank, one set reduces armor of enemies and two sets boost team mag/wep damage.
I dont think there is better support for team.

FeedbackOnly · November 2021

Whatever Google gives me

Not to long ago found this strange yet interesting build

https://taseartreehouse.blogspot.com/2021/11/dungeon-sorcerer-healer-witch.html?m=1

Tannus15 · November 2021

I start with skinny cheeks or liko.gg to get an idea for the meta. then i start messing with my own things depending on what mini game i want to play

pretty much every end game dps set has it's own mini game which may or may not suit the content i'm wanting to do. I really don't like bahsei because more magicka is good magicka. i like rele because light attacking the boss is something i want to do. i don't like siroria because i like being able to move freely. etc

newtinmpls · November 2021

My favorite source is my brain.

I look at something - get an idea - and run with it. One of the most fun builds ever was my electro-sorta-tank build:

Thunderbug
Armor
Armor
Spell Damage (probably now both types of damage since they tweaked everything)
(5 items) When you take Physical Damage, you deal 4932 Shock Damage in a 5 meter radius around you. This effect can occur once every 3 seconds.

Storm Knight's Plate
Armor
Armor
Max Health
(5 items) When you take non-physical damage, you deal 2466 Shock Damage all to all enemies within 5 meters of you every 2 seconds for 6 seconds. This effect can occur once every 6 seconds.

and to top it off:

Stormfist
1- Stamina Recovery
2- When you deal damage, you have a 10% chance to create a thunderfist to crush the enemy, dealing 1699 Shock Damage every 1 second for 3 seconds to all enemies within 4 meters and a final 8470 Physical Damage when the fist closes. This effect can occur once every 8 seconds and scales off the higher of your Weapon or Spell Damage. The Shock damage dealt from this set bypasses Spell Resistance.

It's not the best in slot, but it's really really fun

DreamyLu · November 2021

I just needed something good enough for the content I do (no need for high performances). I did google on "solo magika templar" to have a basis. I did study what my CPs can bring for armor/combat boons. From there, I modified the build to my taste combined with CPs. Result is very much OK for me and I use it unchanged since several months by now.

aaisoaho · November 2021

Combat metrics, knowing what sets are popular and why, and what content I am planning on doing. If I'm going to go to a trial, I choose all the things making me slap hard - as in using a parse setup (but swapping food). If I'm going to a dungeon, I swap relequen to sulxan, since often I cannot fully benefit from relequen (except swap to max damage on fights like Dro'zakar). I also have options to add more group heals for times when I'm achievement hunting with 3dd+t. Being a good overall dd requires you to know how to adapt to content, to know what you can change and where you get information about things needing improving.

Hämähäkki · November 2021

It's all in my head

Darkstorne · November 2021

Yep, another vote for my own head

I generally browse https://eso-sets.com/ for an interesting set bonus (especially when new content drops), then get excited about finding two more set bonuses that would combine well with it, then spend countless hours/gold in-game putting it all together, only to go back to my trusty main once it's all done.

ArcaneScientius · November 2021

I try to build characters as I imagine them.

My stamorcsorc is based on my orc spellblade from tes5 skyrim that used one hand and spell, and dual wield. I didn't have that option in eso, so he turned into a s&s and dual wield. Kinda worked for most base game content but eventually made him two hand and s&s for debuffing with 2 heavy and 5 med armour. He rocks now, although I haven't cleared vet vat hollows yet.

My redguard magnecro I wanted to have as many summons as I could, so that is what I did. The idea was she had minor magic talent but was soul shriven before she could learn magic and became a necro in cold harbour.
Skeleton mage, spirit and of course blast bone. Front bar has resto staff but no resto skills, armour and summons and frost aoe that I can self activate for free damage and healing and I replenish magicka with heavies. Back bar is destro staff spammable and major breach, healing scythe, blastbones and the free damage from corpse skill.
She works surprisingly well for a redguard magic character and I have done most base game dungeons solo with her.

I have a bunch of others, like my orc warden who became a stam healer with advice from this forum. She still needs work to do good healing but is really good as a ranged bleed and poison damage dealer with dual wield front bar including ranged warden bleed skills and bow back for poison.

Hurbster · November 2021

As a predominantly solo player, I do like Hack's builds.

Jeremy · November 2021

Zuboko wrote: »

In the past few months, I have been slowly trying to make my first effective build (aka not following someone else's build), and that got me wondering where do most people get their builds from and why?

I just play the game, figure out what kind of play style I enjoy, then collect gear that compliments it.

That's pretty much how I approach all RPG games. I've never once looked at any build guide. I used to think up builds in my imagination and then try to imitate them. But that didn't work out so well. lol

Nanfoodle · November 2021

I also like Dotz Gaming. He has some fun and unique builds.

francesinhalover · November 2021

Zuboko wrote: »

In the past few months, I have been slowly trying to make my first effective build (aka not following someone else's build), and that got me wondering where do most people get their builds from and why?

alcast. but theres some cool youtubers out there doing 2handed ,dw builds.

I just don't see a point not following alcast, he knows the best. at least eventually.
but his build diversity is kind of meh, and that's fine, players should use their brains.

_Zathras_ · November 2021

phaneub17_ESO wrote: »

Trial and error, see which weapons or skills work with the class to find what feels most fluid. Highest damage is not my goal, its how comfortable it feels playing each character.

100% this. My personal builds are customized to how I play, not how someone else plays.

phaneub17_ESO wrote: »

I'm weird.

Naw. You can just think for yourself, rather than having your thoughts and opinions given to you.

All that said, a few years back I did look at Alcast and learned a bit more about synergy of some skills. I learned some valuable lessons. Then I did my own exploration, put together my own set combos, and it works very well for what I do in my everyday.

_Zathras_ · November 2021

newtinmpls wrote: »

My favorite source is my brain.

I look at something - get an idea - and run with it. One of the most fun builds ever was my electro-sorta-tank build:

Thunderbug
Armor
Armor
Spell Damage (probably now both types of damage since they tweaked everything)
(5 items) When you take Physical Damage, you deal 4932 Shock Damage in a 5 meter radius around you. This effect can occur once every 3 seconds.

Storm Knight's Plate
Armor
Armor
Max Health
(5 items) When you take non-physical damage, you deal 2466 Shock Damage all to all enemies within 5 meters of you every 2 seconds for 6 seconds. This effect can occur once every 6 seconds.

and to top it off:

Stormfist
1- Stamina Recovery
2- When you deal damage, you have a 10% chance to create a thunderfist to crush the enemy, dealing 1699 Shock Damage every 1 second for 3 seconds to all enemies within 4 meters and a final 8470 Physical Damage when the fist closes. This effect can occur once every 8 seconds and scales off the higher of your Weapon or Spell Damage. The Shock damage dealt from this set bypasses Spell Resistance.

It's not the best in slot, but it's really really fun

First thing that came to mind was DAoC's Thane class. LOVED it, even though they hit like a wet noodle.

fizl101 · November 2021

I'm not really into theory crafting and working out what set will proc what bonus based on what skill or passive beyond something obvious such as a maelstrom arena weapon

Fun themed builds like my superhero baker? Yup throw on 2 sets of gear that help define her superhero skills no problem.

Serious trials etc I start with someone like Alcast or Hack, then tweak to suit my style and what is realistic for me skill wise

allup8679 · November 2021

FeedbackOnly wrote: »

Whatever Google gives me

Not to long ago found this strange yet interesting build

https://taseartreehouse.blogspot.com/2021/11/dungeon-sorcerer-healer-witch.html?m=1

They have put in some work on that. If I had a healer, that would be where I go.

El_Borracho · November 2021

Alcast for a good base that I can tweak and Likos for pure damage and non-meta builds.

El_Borracho · November 2021

@newtinmpls I used to run something like that several years ago in PVP land. Used Livewire and Storm Master and Kragh (it was the style of the time). Tons of fun

perfiction · November 2021

esologs rankings + minmaxing in UESP build editor

ShawnLaRock · November 2021

I have only ever made my own builds (4 years XBOX; 9-ish months PC) - but if I had to choose someone, it would be the builds of Doomaflitchy / The Game Room, hands-down.

S.

Kwoung · November 2021

francesinhalover wrote: »

Zuboko wrote: »

In the past few months, I have been slowly trying to make my first effective build (aka not following someone else's build), and that got me wondering where do most people get their builds from and why?

alcast. but theres some cool youtubers out there doing 2handed ,dw builds.

I just don't see a point not following alcast, he knows the best. at least eventually.
but his build diversity is kind of meh, and that's fine, players should use their brains.

Alcast builds are pretty much generic or or end game trials, I find them unimaginative and boring as well. If he includes any sort of video to explain the build, it is generally a year or more out of date and uses sets other than are printed on his build page, his posted DPS parses are the same, they are done not even using a build close to whats on the build page in my experience. So I never use Alcast builds, not even as a base to start from. If you simply want to know what the 2-3 current "meta" sets are, Alcast is a great resource, as he uses them on pretty much every build.

For meta builds, I prefer SkinnyCheeks, Likko's and a few others.

geonsocal · November 2021

I enjoy reading through the forums to see what folks are calling "op" skills and sets...I try to incorporate some of that in to my builds...

Brrrofski · November 2021

For proper PVE content, skinny cheeks or something like that. It's math, I'll let someone else so it.

For pvp, trial and error. I understand a lot of the mechanics of the game and how a lot of the numbers work, so I can make an educated guess as to what will work. Then it's just fine tuning.

FeedbackOnly · November 2021

geonsocal wrote: »

I enjoy reading through the forums to see what folks are calling "op" skills and sets...I try to incorporate some of that in to my builds...

That sure is an interesting answer. I wonder if this is how sets grow in popularity

Franchise408 · November 2021

Myself, because online guides don't know what is fun and enjoyable for me, nor what playstyles I am good at.

jedtb16_ESO · November 2021

from my own head. because i'm the only person i fully trust.

The Elder Scrolls Online

Where is your favorite source of builds and why?

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