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Break free doesn't work or works terribly
Gendizer
✭✭✭
In 90% of cases, break free doesn't work at all, neither in PvE nor in PvP content, or it activates with a huge delay. While in PvE the issue can be partially mitigated with the Slippery star, in PvP you just stand there stunned for 4–5 seconds and die.
11
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Dragonnord✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭Doesn't happen to me anymore, neither in PvP nor in PvE.
Why? Because there was a time I thought it was happening but it was my fault, because when CC'ed I kept "bashing" my keyboard and mouse in both PvE and PvP hitting several keys/buttons trying to do stuff.
So I calmed down, stopped bashing my keyboard and mouse, and just pressed the right combination for the CC break, instead of doing several actions at the same time and so sending different imputs to the server, and know what? It worked flawlessly.
So try that. Once you get CC'ed, stop your actions, take a second, and then CC break. It will work.
Then it will work super fast as you will be automated and super used to "calm down and not send a lot of imputs at the same time to the server", and just press what you need to press to break free.
Edited by Dragonnord on March 22, 2025 9:43AM2 -
Gendizer✭✭✭Dragonnord wrote: »Doesn't happen to me anymore, neither in PvP nor in PvE.
Why? Because there was a time I thought it was happening but it was my fault, because when CC'ed I kept "bashing" my keyboard and mouse in both PvE and PvP hitting several keys/buttons trying to do stuff.
So I calmed down, stopped bashing my keyboard and mouse, and just pressed the right combination for the CC break, instead of doing several actions at the same time and so sending different imputs to the server, and know what? It worked flawlessly.
So try that. Once you get CC'ed, stop your actions, take a second, and then CC break. It will work.
Then it will work super fast as you will be automated and super used to "calm down and not send a lot of imputs at the same time to the server", and just press what you need to press to break free.
Over many years of playing, I've developed reflexes—pressing all buttons several times, since almost nothing ever triggers on the first attempt, including "Break Free." It'll be very difficult to retrain myself, especially since this used to work fine before. But thanks for the advice.3 -
LootAllTheStuff✭✭✭✭✭If I understand how the game functions correctly, there's a time limit to how soon events can fire. So mashing the buttons rapidly can result in a queue of actions, with your break free right at the end. If that is correct, it means your break free would appear to not work. You can also run into situations with network lag that would yield similar results.
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Pixiepumpkin✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭Ya, I don't think "slowing down" is going to help for a number of reasons.
A. I have already "slowed down" and pressed break free, ultimate and even basic attacks or heals and not had them fire.
B. I have died in massive over resistance 47k tank builds in 2 second. Anything under that can get literally globaled. Often I don't even see the attack coming. So even if I were not slowing down, the end result would be the same. ESO PVP combat is fast. I can not express how many times I have died with a shield "active" and or heals never landning even those the magicka was spent becasue of latancy/netcode/bad server performance.
The other day I went to press my ultimate, I was not engaged with anyone as I had just entered the battle. I had to press it 5 times before it would fire.
"Class identity isn’t just about power or efficiency. It’s about symbolic clarity, mechanical cohesion, and a shared visual and tactical language between players." - sans-culottes4 -
Artim_X✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭I stopped having issues with it when I dedicated a single button press to just interrupt/bash/break free.(AD) Artim X/Xirtām/Måtrix |PC/NA| Casual staff wielding vampire sorcerer/templar/arcanistElectric-Stunhttps://media.giphy.com/media/Av0zcKH3i2BkaY1GXW/giphy.gif/https://c.tenor.com/jQHdFftrgwMAAAAC/tenor.gifElectric-Pets- Roleplay Damage Dealing Build.
- Gear: 5 Infallible Aether (All apparel light and Divines with Max Mag Enchants), 1 Slimecraw Guise for max spell critical (Divines, light, Max Mag Enchants), Maelstrom's Perfected Lightning Staff (infused/shock enchant), and Kinras's jewelry (bloodthirsty with spell damage enchant)/lightning staff (infused/flame/weapon damage enchant). 1 Mora's Whispers.
- Ability-Bar 1: Critical Surge, Boundless Storm, Mages' Wrath, Lightning Flood, Shocking Soul (Shock damage, Class Mastery Signature Script, and Empower), and Power Overload.
- Ability-Bar 2: Storm Pulsar, Streak, Shock Reach, Unstable Wall of Storms, Shocking Burst (Shock Damage, remove 1 negative effect, and interrupt) and Thunderous Rage.
Solo: Use Kinras's chest, replace Mora with Ring of the Pale Order, and use a heavy Slimcraw piece for max critical.
https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExNHVjemwxZHI2ZmQ2bTg1ZG0xOTZ3b2QwajBzNGxmaHh6OXRpN3p6YSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/eBgWizk5dmZRS/giphy.gifElectric-Heal- Stress free one bar pet build .
- Gear: 5 Infallible Aether (All apparel light and Divines with Max Mag Enchants. No chest piece), 1 medium Slimecraw for max spell critical (Divines, medium, Max Mag Enchants), Lightning Staff of the Sergeant (precise/shock enchant), Sergeant's chest (Divines and max magicka enchant), and Sergeant ring and necklace (bloodthirsty with spell damage enchant), Oakensoul ring (bloodthirsty with spell damage enchant)
- Ability-Bar: Daedric Prey, Summon Volatile Familiar, Bound Armaments, Unstable Wall of Storms, Summon Twilight Matriarch, and Greater storm Atronach.
https://media.giphy.com/media/5ibGIHneWS6ek/giphy.gifElectric-Ward- My Healer Build.
- Gear: 5 Spell Power Cure (All apparel light and Divines with Max Mag Enchants), 1 Slimecraw Guise for max spell critical (Divines, light, Max Mag Enchants), Maelstrom's Perfected Lightning Staff (Charged/shock enchant), and Infallible Aether jewelry (arcane with spell damage enchant)/restoration staff (Powered with absorb magicka enchant). 1 Mora's Whispers.
- Ability-Bar 1: Power Surge, Boundless Storm, Blessing of Restoration, Energy Orb, Twilight Matriarch, and Replenishing Barrier.
- Ability-Bar 2: Dark Deal, Overflowing Altar, Elemental Drain, Blockade of Storms, Twilight Matriarch, and Aggressive Horn.
https://media.giphy.com/media/Wa0TGmtDvwW3e/giphy.gifElectric-Vamp- My Meme Tank Build that uses high resistance and variety of wards.
- Gear: 5 Brands of Imperium (All body pieces except Head and Shoulders, with Divine trait, and with Prismatic Defense Enchants), full Iceheart (1 light and 1 medium. Divines and Prismatic Enchant), and Combat Physician jewelry (bloodthirsty with Prismatic Recovery Enchants), Combat Physician restoration staff (Infused with hardening enchant), and combat physician ice staff (Infused with crusher enchant).
- Ability-Bar 1: Critical Surge, Bound Aegis, Deep Thoughts, Boundless Storm, Healing Ward, and Replenishing Barrier.
- Ability-Bar 2: Silver Leash (Elemental Drain if healer isn't running it), Bound Aegis, Frost Clench, Blockade of Frost, Empowered Ward, and Temporal Guard.
https://media.giphy.com/media/ukDQiYZzRAxMZKcK86/giphy.gifDawnfang- Tanky stage 4 vampire utility focused PvP healer that can take down very inexperienced players but is primarily focused on working alongside others in an organized group, PUGs, or zergs.
- Gear: 5 Torug's Pact (medium chest and body pieces light. All Impenetrable with Prismatic Enchants). Gaze of Sithis and 1 light Mighty Chudan/Pirate Skeleton (light shoulders, and impenetrable with Prismtaic Enchants). Knight Slayer (Swift with spell damage enchant)/lightning staff (infused with oblivion enchant)/restoration staff (infused with oblivion enchant).
- Ability-Bar 1: Structured Entropy, Boundless Storm, Soul Splitting Trap, Radiating Regeneration, Healing Ward, and Life Giver.
- Ability-Bar 2: Drain Vigor (Elemental Susceptibility), Race Against Time, Rune Cage, Radiant Magelight, Regenerative Ward, and Shatter Soul.
https://media.tenor.com/ogWfvDdsqBIAAAAd/anime-black-clover.gifDuskfang- My casual one bar heavy attack Templar build that primarily utilizes Aedric Spear abilities.
- Gear: 5 Noble Duelist (Head or Shoulder and body pieces except Chest. All body pieces Divines with Max Mag Enchants), 1 light Slimecraw for max spell critical (Divines, light, Max Mag Enchant), Lightning Staff of the Sergeant (precise/shock enchant), Sergeant's chest (Divines and max magicka enchant), and Sergeant's Mail jewelry (One Ring and one Neck. Both bloodthirsty with spell damage enchant). 1 Oakensoul Ring (bloodthirsty with spell damage enchant).
- Ability-Bar 1: Puncturing Sweep, Aurora Javelin, Toppling Charge, Blazing Spear, Radiant Ward/Breath of life, and Crescent Sweep.
https://media.tenor.com/Jo8aG_ouy_oAAAAd/ac-odyssey.gifEye of the Queen- Tanky stage 4 vampire utility focused PvP healer that can take down very inexperienced players but is primarily focused on working alongside others in an organized group, PUGs, or zergs.
- Gear: 5 Torug's Pact (Heavy Chest with light Head, Waist, Hands, and Feet. All body pieces Impenetrable. Health enchant on chest/head/legs and everything else Prismatic Enchants), 1 Medium Mighty Chudan/Pirate Skeleton Shoulder (Impenetrable, Prismatic Enchant), Knight Slayer Restoration Staff (Infused/Decrease Health enchant), and Knight Slayer jewelry (One Ring and one Neck. Both Swift with spell damage enchant). 1 Oakensoul Ring (Swift with Spell Damage Enchant).
- Ability-Bar 1: Radiant Oppression, Race Against Time, Aurora Javelin, Breath of Life, Resolving Vigor, and Life Giver.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/fd/44/1c/fd441c8242af6ec35ada94496feb0901.gifEye of the King- My casual one bar heavy attack Arcanist build that primarily utilizes Herald of the Tome abilities.
- Gear: 5 Noble Duelist (Head or Shoulder and body pieces except Chest. All body pieces Divines with Max Mag Enchants), 1 light Slimecraw for max spell critical (Divines, light, Max Mag Enchant), Lightning Staff of the Sergeant (precise/shock enchant), Sergeant's chest (Divines and max magicka enchant), and Sergeant's Mail jewelry (One Ring and one Neck. Both bloodthirsty with spell damage enchant). 1 Oakensoul Ring (bloodthirsty with spell damage enchant).
- Ability-Bar 1: Escalating Runeblades, Pragmatic Fatecarver, Cephaliarch's Flail, Rune of Displacement, Inspired Scholarship/Evolving Runemend, and The Languid Eye.
https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExOTAzdjV1eTgwbDFmM3lrZmxuMXRqdDR3Y3h1ZDRpajR0M3VjZzQ3NSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/zXmbOaTpbY6mA/giphy.gifPvE Starter Gear- Tanky stage 4 vampire utility focused PvP healer that can take down very inexperienced players but is primarily focused on working alongside others in an organized group, PUGs, or zergs.
- Gear: 5 Torug's Pact (Heavy Chest with light Head, Waist, Hands, and Feet. All body pieces Impenetrable. Health enchant on chest/head/legs and everything else Prismatic Enchants), 1 Medium Mighty Chudan/Pirate Skeleton Shoulder (Impenetrable, Prismatic Enchant), Knight Slayer Restoration Staff (Infused/Decrease Health enchant), and Knight Slayer jewelry (One Ring and one Neck. Both Swift with spell damage enchant). 1 Oakensoul Ring (Swift with Spell Damage Enchant).
- Ability-Bar 1: Escalating Runeblades, Race Against Time, Rune of Uncanny Adoration, Evolving Runemend, Resolving Vigor, and Life Giver.
https://media.giphy.com/media/6CovzgyTig7M4/giphy.gifRace- Gear: 5 Law of Julianos (heavy chest, gloves/belt light, and the rest can be light or 1 medium piece if you're not wearing medium anywhere else on your body. All in training if grinding for XP or divines), Armor of the Seducer or Magnus' Gift head, shoulder, and staves (light with 1 medium piece if you are not already wearing 1 medium Julianos piece. All in training or divines. The staves should be training or infused), and 3 purple Willpower Jewelry with Arcane trait (can be bought from trading guilds for relatively cheap.
- Check tamrieltradecentre.com for the best deals if you're not using a price checking addon).
https://media.giphy.com/media/sdEkeWpiaGz0A/giphy.gifMundus Stones- High elf, since you will not have issues with sustain, but other mag based races are also fine so this is more of a personal choice.
https://media.giphy.com/media/cT3wMhLGQWdKU/giphy.gifCurrent Champion Points- PvP: The Steed for speed. Gotta go fast!
- PvE Healing/Damage: The Thief for decent crit rate.
- PvE Tanking: The Lady to get close to resistance cap.
https://media.giphy.com/media/l4FGDAx6u3hthMhgI/giphy.gifFavorite Foods and Potions- DPS: Shadowstrike/ Master Gatherer, Meticulous Disassembly/Plentiful Harvest, Steed's Blessing, Sustaining Shadows, Exploiter, Weapons Expert, Fighting Finesse, Master-at-Arms, Celerity, Rejuvenation, Fortified, Boundless Vitality.
- Healer Sorc: Shadowstrike/ Master Gatherer, Meticulous Disassembly/Plentiful Harvest, Steed's Blessing, Sustaining Shadows, Enlivening Overflow, Hope Infusion, Weapon's Expert, Arcane Supremacy, Celerity, Rejuvenation, Fortified, Boundless Vitality.
- Tanky Sorc: Shadowstrike/ Master Gatherer, Meticulous Disassembly/Plentiful Harvest, Steed's Blessing, Sustaining Shadows, Ironclad, Enduring Resolve, Reinforced, Duelist's Rebuff, Bastion, Ward Master, Rejuvenation, Fortified.
- PvP Sorc: Shadowstrike/ Master Gatherer, Meticulous Disassembly/Plentiful Harvest, Steed's Blessing, Sustaining Shadows, Enlivening Overflow, Weapon's Expert, Occult Overload, Arcane Supremacy, Bastion, Rejuvenation, Fortified, Boundless Vitality.
- PvP Temp/Arcanist: Shadowstrike/ Master Gatherer, Meticulous Disassembly/Plentiful Harvest, Steed's Blessing, Sustaining Shadows, Enlivening Overflow, Weapon's Expert, From the Brink, Arcane Supremacy, Celerity, Rejuvenation, Fortified, Boundless Vitality.
https://media.giphy.com/media/3otPoTggaYFNd1FdAI/giphy.gif- Parse Food for PvE:(DPS) Ghastly Eye Bowl (increases Max Magicka by 4592 and Magicka Recovery by 459 for 2 hours).
- Gold/Purple Food for Sorc PvP and Meme Tanking:(PvP) Clockwork Citrus Filet (increases Max Health by 3326, Health Recovery by 406 [useful if stage 1 vampire], Max Magicka by 3080, and Magicka Recovery by 338 for 2 hours). Witchmother's Potent Brew (Increase Max Magicka by 2856, Max Health by 3094, and Magicka Recovery by 315 for 2 hours.
- Trash Potions when feeling cheap: Regular CP150 Essence of Magicka pots that I obtain frequently from playing the game or Crown Tri-Restoration Potion obtained from dailies.
- Crafted Potions: Essence of Spell Critical (Bugloss, Lady's Smock, and Water Hyacinth). Without magelight this is my primary means of obtaining Major Prophecy on my Sorc, which increases my Spell Critical Rating. This also heals and restores magicka. Essence of Immovability (Columbine, Corn Flower, and Wormwood). I use this in PvP, since this gives me stealth detection, knockback immunity, and restores magicka (better to use it when competent allies are nearby, since it might reveal that you are surrounded by multiple players in stealth and you will not have an emergency pot available after use). Essence of Invisibility with only 2 ingredients (Blue Entoloma, Namira's Rot, Nirnroot, or Spider Egg). I use this in PvE content that requires stealth and if I need more speed I'll use Rapid Maneuver before using the potion. Essence of Invisibility with 3 ingredients (Blessed Thistle, Blue Entoloma, and Namira's Rot). Very useful in PvP alongside the vampire Dark Stalker passive, since you'll be invisible, ignore movement speed penalty while in Crouch, and you'll have a 30% movement speed boost from Major Expedition (I always have this slotted when riding from point A to B in PvP land, since gankers are always lurking). My templar/arcanist will mostly use Essence of Health (Tri-Stat Potion) Ingredients: (Mountain Flower, Columbine, and Bugloss).
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Pixiepumpkin✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭I stopped having issues with it when I dedicated a single button press to just interrupt/bash/break free.
Thats what I do."Class identity isn’t just about power or efficiency. It’s about symbolic clarity, mechanical cohesion, and a shared visual and tactical language between players." - sans-culottes0 -
Gendizer✭✭✭I stopped having issues with it when I dedicated a single button press to just interrupt/bash/break free.
It works for me, thanks! But it means that there is a bug with LMB+RBM.0 -
DenverRalphy✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭Only time it doesn't work for me is when I don't have enough stamina left. Otherwise it's pretty reliable for me. But then too, I usually have a pot ready to fire as I'm not one of the 100% uptime potion junkies.
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Tandor✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭I've never had any trouble or delays with mouse or keyboard presses, but I do use wired mouse and keyboard and I used to have some issues with games in the days when I used wireless ones.0 -
Thumbless_Bot✭✭✭✭✭
✭Dragonnord wrote: »Doesn't happen to me anymore, neither in PvP nor in PvE.
Why? Because there was a time I thought it was happening but it was my fault, because when CC'ed I kept "bashing" my keyboard and mouse in both PvE and PvP hitting several keys/buttons trying to do stuff.
So I calmed down, stopped bashing my keyboard and mouse, and just pressed the right combination for the CC break, instead of doing several actions at the same time and so sending different imputs to the server, and know what? It worked flawlessly.
So try that. Once you get CC'ed, stop your actions, take a second, and then CC break. It will work.
Then it will work super fast as you will be automated and super used to "calm down and not send a lot of imputs at the same time to the server", and just press what you need to press to break free.
I actually put the controller/mouse down mentally. Then I call a meeting to discuss strategy with the various internal stakeholder. We talk about things like. "What kind of cc is this", "do I need to break free or am I just imobilized ", "can I still block, heal, and attack", and we set up a separate meeting to discuss and review our existing enemy... "what are their strengths and weaknesses and how does this CC play into those".
These meetings tend to provide clear direction on strategy. Once we have that, I raise the proposal with my executive leadership for a go no go decision and we ensure adequate funding (stamina, magicka). Then, and only then do i carefully push buttons.
All kidding aside, good players do all of the above in a few milliseconds and act accordingly. You do not have to break free from every form of cc. It takes time to get to a point where you can not panic and run through all these variables and make a sound decision. Once you realize that the worst thing that can happen is your toon dying, and that that's not that bad, you will be better able to deal with any and all situations and not waste resources and/or any gcds panicking and mashing buttons.Edited by Thumbless_Bot on March 23, 2025 3:05PM1 -
katanagirl1✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭You probably won’t see it in PvE, but in PvP it often seems to not work (probably because of lag) and just further drains your stamina.
Khajiit Stamblade main
Dark Elf Magsorc
Redguard Stamina Dragonknight
Orc Stamplar PVP
Breton Magsorc PVP
Dark Elf Necromancer
Dark Elf Magden
Khajiit Stamblade
Khajiit Stamina Arcanist
PS5 NA3 -
Stx✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭This game has never had responsive combat. Break free is extremely unreliable when compared to similar mechanics in other games such as the PvP trinket in wow or a stunbreak in guild wars 2.
I don’t know if it’s a server issue, or just how the game is programmed but with a lot of combat mechanics in eso there is major lag even when you die sometimes your health bar doesn’t even keep up lol.2 -
Pixiepumpkin✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭This game has never had responsive combat. Break free is extremely unreliable when compared to similar mechanics in other games such as the PvP trinket in wow or a stunbreak in guild wars 2.
I don’t know if it’s a server issue, or just how the game is programmed but with a lot of combat mechanics in eso there is major lag even when you die sometimes your health bar doesn’t even keep up lol.
Agreed.
I played wow (well still do) since 2004. I never had an issue with my PVP trinket not working, or Every Man for himself the human racial, or Rocket Jump the Goblin racial, or any defenisve move like scatter shot, freezing trap etc.
I was farther from the WOW servers (Chicago) than I was from the ESO servers (I lived in Texas between Austin and Dallas), so I have to rule out it being a latancy thing.
"Class identity isn’t just about power or efficiency. It’s about symbolic clarity, mechanical cohesion, and a shared visual and tactical language between players." - sans-culottes0 -
SilverBride✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭I used to have a lot of trouble with break free. I would hold down the buttons and nothing would happen. Then I noticed that it didn't break me free until I released the buttons. So I started holding them down for a couple of seconds then releasing and now it works for me.PCNA0 -
Pixiepumpkin✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭SilverBride wrote: »I used to have a lot of trouble with break free. I would hold down the buttons and nothing would happen. Then I noticed that it didn't break me free until I released the buttons. So I started holding them down for a couple of seconds then releasing and now it works for me.
I use a single keybind (tilde...same keybind I used for the "trinket" in WOW since roughly 2005, I am well versed at pressing that key appropriately). Mine still does not go off instantly."Class identity isn’t just about power or efficiency. It’s about symbolic clarity, mechanical cohesion, and a shared visual and tactical language between players." - sans-culottes0 -
Poss✭✭✭✭✭I posted something similar a few weeks ago. You’re basically stun-locked and cannot so anything https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/672830/drastic-increase-in-unbreakable-stuns-ccs-in-pve-right-now#latest0
