Replies: 114
Hello! so i have noticed some awesome guides on here for pve and pvp, but i figured i would toss one up for how i do stuff as well (even though alot of it is the same as most builds). This will be a work in progress over the next few days and and casually updated thread for as long as i play the game, because hey now, min maxing is sweet, and it takes a ton of work, and much respect to @Amstel and @Mashinate and @xBlackroxe and others for their build guides as i share alot of similarities and took a lot of ideas from theirs first, but i am a realist, i dont have the time, or the skill to hit those top numbers in dps. So im going to write a mini-guide for each style that i have played which includes Dps, Tank, and Healer in both pve and pvp (i am working on an optimal bar for healing in pvp). I have completed all past and current end game content with my dps build, tanked almost all dungeons (including vWGT), and healed all pre IC patch dungeons and DSA.
*****My goal with this build is to have all crafted body gear, fairly accessable jewelry price wise, and rare use of spell power pots to keep cost down with zero grind time and still attain respectable results in each roll.*****
LEVELING:
[spoiler]It is my opinion and the opinion of most other end game players that it is very important and save alot of time by leveling all skills, armor types, and weapon types while getting up to max level, so you can adjust and change your build and you see fit without having to grind the skills later. To this end i actually started as a stamina build, my attribute points went 2/1 stam/health. i tried to wear 5 pieces of medium 1 light and 1 heavy just to level up each armor type as i played. you want to keep 1 skill from each nightblade tree on your front bar, (this includes the ult) i decided to level dw/bow first. around level 10 i unlocked my first ult, and started to level 2h as well. at level 16 i started using crafted sets. i went with 5 Nights Silence/3-4 Ashen Grip. as skills maxxed, i rotated them out to always maintain 3 weapon skills and 3 class skills at all times. this allowed me to have all my class skills, melee weapon skills, and all the passives leveled to 50 right around level 50/vr1. At vr1 i respecced to magicka. all attribute points went into magicka. My armor choices became 5 Light 1 medium and 1 heavy. I had crafted armor remade every 2 VR levels and it was always 4 Magnus/4 Mara. if you ever plan on tanking i recommend slotting a skill or 2 on your bars from 1h&s as well. mandatory skills leveling for me were: Tornado, snipe, funnel health, cloak (to get out rid of aggro for a moment) concealed weapon, Sap, lotus fan, path, and impale. best ult for solo is easily soul tether. Please feel free to ask questions about leveling if you feel i didnt cover what you need to know.[/spoiler]
RACE:
I am Dunmer, i feel this is absolutely the best race for a nightblade for the casual player and the min/maxer magicka build. You can effortlessly switch between magicka and stam builds with ease, gain some extra resist, and our inferno attacks hit the hardest for weaving.it is in my opinion also the best race for magicka nb tank. I PLAY NON VAMP ATM. HOWEVER THIS IS RECENT, THIS BUILD DOES WORK WITH VAMP. I CURED BECAUSE NONE OF THE SKILLS WORK WELL ENOUGH FOR ME ON MY BARS TO JUSTIFY THE REGEN NOW THAT YOU HAVE TO SLOT A SKILL TO GET IT.
Champ Points: 384 currently
My champ points stay the same regardless of the roll i am filling or if im pve or pvp here they are:
The Lord- 30 quick recovery The Lady- 58 hardy – 15 elemental defender The Steed- 10 block resist – 10 spell shield – 10 resistant
The Ritual-98 Thaumaturge The Apprentice-10 spell erosion – 20 elfborn
The Tower-93 Magician The Lover-30 Arcanist
DPS:
PVE:
[spoiler] I currently am in all gold vr16 armor with gold weapons for dps. I run 5 Pieces of Julianos, 3-4 Pieces of Torug’s, and 3x Willpower. 5 light, 1 Heavy chest, 1 Medium legs. arcane neck, healthy rings, all spell damage enchants. I play with Inferno Staff nirn trait enchanted with poison on the front bar and Dual Wield swords nirn/precise with no enchants on back bar. All armor pieces are Divines and enchanted with Magicka. If i ever get a divines light Kena Shoulder from the chests i will run that, but with my current setup i can pull over 20k dps if im decent on rotation PLUS OVER 10K HEALING PER SECOND, and for the average/above average player for all practical purposes, i feel like anything over 15k is very respectable for most groups. i dont think grinding for any of the helms is worthwhile unless you want to eek every bit of damage out of your rotation and you have a dedicated group that is all on top of their game. my dedicated group completes everything as long as both dps do over 15k and the tank and healer contribute some as well. i use spell power pots only at the beginning of a boss fight and i buff with Max hp/mp food and use THE THEIF mundus.
Unbuffed:
[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s630/liv3mind/Screenshot_20160107_205518_zps9iwqetiq.png[/IMG]
Buffed:
[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s630/liv3mind/Screenshot_20160107_205529_zpslmltnaz9.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s630/liv3mind/Screenshot_20160107_205534_zps7e5qugav.png[/IMG]
My current bars for dps are setup as follows:
[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s630/liv3mind/1-7-2016%204-11-16%20PM_zpsl2zqm4op.png[/IMG]
Bar1: Merciless Resolve, Structured Entropy, Cripple, Funnel Health, Inner Light, ULT- Shooting Star
Bar2: Impale, Siphoning Attacks, Twisting Path, Sap Essence, Inner Light, ULT- Soul Harvest
My rotation usually goes like this:
Mr>pot>shootingstar>ha>entropy>ma>cripple>ma>fh>ma>fh>ma>fh>ma>cripple>ma>fh>ma>fh>ma>fh>ma>Mr proc>(end 1 rotation) ma>Mr>ma>entropy> etc etc etc keep repeating till execute, during execute i use Soul Harvest when its up between implales.
for aoe i us Siphon Attacks, drop path and spam Sap
Again this is nothing new, as pretty much all mageblade pve dps does this or somthing similar. [/spoiler]
PVP:
[spoiler] In Pvp i actually run a couple builds that i run on my group size or solo play, but the armor is use is identical to my pve armor and it works VERY well (albeit a little squishy). I buff with tristat regen drinks, vr15 health potions, and THE ATRONACH mundus. my typical is either destro/resto or dw/resto. i typically run destro/resto when im in a group and dw/resto when im playing solo. With the regen numbers you see i can sneak permanently and never drop ANY stam, and my Magicka is rarely below 60%. I have not once needed a pot for stam or magicka with my playstyle.
[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s630/liv3mind/Screenshot_20160104_193349_zpsvjcxfgz7.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s630/liv3mind/Screenshot_20160104_194326_zps1qg0u3zw.png[/IMG]
Destro/Resto:
The idea behind this is more group orientated, i usually try to play sidelines and pick healers/other nightblades to target, unless i catch someone trying to escape to regen health then anyone is fair game. keep up back bar buffs, weave heavy attacks with funnel, and keep cripple on them to drain stam, at low heath i lotus fan>soul harvest/dawnbreaker and that almost always finishes.
[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s630/liv3mind/1-12-2016%201-14-34%20PM_zpsg2r1flu3.png[/IMG]
Bar1: Dark Cloak, Lotus Fan, Cripple, Funnel Health, Mass Hysteria, ULT- Soul Harvest (or Dawnbreaker of Smiting)
Bar1: Blessing of Restoration, Mutagen, Harness Magicka, Double Take, Piercing Mark, ULT- Shooting Star
DW/Resto:
This is my solo loadout, and i wont go into details on how i play it, but its very similar to everyone elses pvp builds that are magicka based, only i dont use ward. if you want a great pvp build to take i recommend my guildmates build which can be found here: http://tamrielfoundry.com/topic/pvp-magic-nb-orsinum/
[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s630/liv3mind/1-12-2016%201-16-01%20PM_zps4vrmyfow.png[/IMG]
Bar1: Dark Cloak, Lotus Fan, Cripple, Concealed Weapon, Mass Hysteria, ULT- Soul Harvest
Bar2: Blessing of Restoration, Shadow Image, Harness Magicka, Double Take, Piercing Mark, ULT- Shooting Star [/spoiler]
HEALING:
PVE:
[spoiler] Most important sentence: You can have have an extremely rewarding and much faster run playing with a nb healer who knows how to use their class, but it will require THE WHOLE GROUP to play the game correctly, this means synergizing, paying attention to mechanics, ground aoe, and overall not being lazy players.
Healing is imho the funnest roll to fill as mageblade because it is the most challenging. Why then do you ask dont i run healing more often? simple: in the current meta, templar healers are almost always what people want that roll filled with, its amazing to join group as healer and be immediately dropped from group under the explanation “ive run with a nb healer and it was horrible” or “nb healers suck” or “i need shards” or “i need repentance”. Well here is the truth on those statements. There is a real argument for needing shards and repentance for stam users, although if they are good with resource management it usually is not an issue. People that say they have run with nb healers and did not like it are most likely lazy players who do not synergize things, do not block certain mechanics, and do not pay attention to ground aoe. NB healers are the second most powerful healer in the game, in my opinion more powerful in some cases. Sure we dont have BoL, or the major regen skills, but we bring a massive dps gain to the group WHILE healing with the same skills, we can provide excellent mitigation ult (better than templar imho), we have access to better regen and our healing ultimate does a good sized heal and gives a great buff. The important thing to remember is at times there can be quite a bit of bar swapping, and it is a very active build, you cant just stand around and spam skills, you have to try to keep everyone grouped to benefit from all the heals.
I actually use the exact same gear for healing as i do for dps. 5 Julianos/3 Torug’s the only difference is i run dual restorations staves of Torug’s Pact nirn/precise and i have an extra set of willpower jewelry (arcane neck, healthy rings) 1 enchanted with spell cost reduction, and 2 enchanted with magicka recovery.
My bars look like this:
[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s630/liv3mind/1-12-2016%201-02-48%20PM_zps7qsxpu5d.png[/IMG]
Bar1: Siphon Spirit, Mutagen, Healing Ward, Funnel Health, Inner Light ULT-Veil of Blades
Bar2: Impale, Blessing of Restoration, Healing Springs, Sap Essence, Inner Light ULT-Soul Siphon
For rotation it is very situational, i do try to remind everyone but the tank to stay stacked on me if possible. I can say that during aoe i stay on bar 2, and during boss fights i am 75% on bar 1 and 25% on bar 2 (roughly) its important to keep the buff from Blessing and Siphon Spirit up, but for single target i just keep the hots (heal over time) up and light attack weave with funnel health. occasionally i swap to second bar and put healing springs on the tank. if i need a burst heal, healing ward crits for over 20k and works great, for aoe, i buff everyone with blessing, and spam sap ftw. for hard aoe pulls i will slot Mystic Orb for the group if anyone needs the sustain. if you need extra healing in aoe, drop healing springs every few seconds between sap. i try not to need Soul Siphon but it does happen (only on hard trash pulls) so be aware of that, and when the group need mitigation, drop veil and everyone will be stoked! remember to be taking cheap magicka pots all the time and you will have ults up insanely often, if you dont need the emergency ult heal you can slot shooting star on the aoe bar and basically always have an ult up (i run like this with good groups). [/spoiler]
PVP: Still Working on Bars
TANKING:
PVE:
[spoiler] this tanking build is only good for the dailies up to vCOA, in its current form (gear) i have completed vWGT (very hard) but not the prison. I tottally suggest this route if your a dps just looking to pick up more groups for dailies because everyone is always looking for tanks!
For gear i am in V14 PURPLE 5h/1m/1l for the undaunted passive. both bars are 1h&s. I use 5 pieces of Twilights Embrace/4 Magnus on the front bar and 5 Twilights/2 magnus/3 endurance. Nirn chest legs and sheild, infused on the rest. Enchanted big pieces hp and the rest mp. jewelry is 2x willpower healthy (spell dmg) 1x endurance (stam recovery). This build has a ton of healing received especially because im speced into quick recovery as well. you can literally just dps the entire time, i still regularly pull 8k while tanking on boss fights. for single target, pop siphon attacks, taunt, debuff, path, and start spamming funnel. i only block during heavy attacks and tend to not pay attention to red circles too much. for AOE siphon attacks, path, sap essence spam. i keep double take up at all times, as well as path for shadow barrier buff. at 25%hp on bosses i retaunt and go into execute while perma-blocking. i use v15 food +hp/mp and regular stam/mag pots v15 situational, but with siphon up i rarely need them. I use THE ATRONACH mundus. In order to complete vWGT i actually had to run the Bloodspawn set in order to proc extra mitigation, so if your feeling squishy try that set and feel like a tank again! (dps numbers will drop accordingly)
[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s630/liv3mind/Screenshot_20160110_191150_zps802jdonn.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s630/liv3mind/Screenshot_20160110_192134_zps76fpxcvi.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s630/liv3mind/pvetank_zpskvgmufyj.png[/IMG]
Bar1: Structured Entropy, Ransack, Twisting Path, Funnel Health, Inner Light, ULT-Shooting Star
Bar2: Impale, Siphon Attacks, Double Take, Sap Essence, Inner Light, ULT-Soul Tether [/spoiler]
PVP:
[spoiler] For pvp i run the same build as my pve setup, but i move sap to my front bar to replace ransack, and my back bar becomes resto staff and i slot healing springs for the group heals when in a zerg. i also run +hp/mp in pvp with this armor. i end up with over 30k hp and over 30k mp. I do not zerg often unless its guild event, really not my playstyle, but when i do this setup pulls through for me really well.
[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s630/liv3mind/Screenshot_20160104_192147_zps9p3ow6xj.png[/IMG] [/spoiler]
DPS SCREENSHOTS:
as you can see the sustain is good, and dps stays very stable regardless of time of the fight
[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s630/liv3mind/Screenshot_20160111_212925_zpsl6pyjw9z.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s630/liv3mind/Screenshot_20160110_214444_zpsdz7civcp.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s630/liv3mind/Screenshot_20160110_220918_zpsmhzwtcia.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s630/liv3mind/Screenshot_20160121_223702_zpsengfdips.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s630/liv3mind/Screenshot_20160121_234940_zpsmyi3osck.png[/IMG]
And This is the first screenshot of using elemental blockade, i averaged higher dps with no empower tonight using elemental than i did with structured entropy. i am going to start using elemental instead, i expect numbers to increase as i relearn my rotation.
[IMG]http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s630/liv3mind/Screenshot_20160131_201808_zpsl2hcvzr9.png[/IMG]
VIDEOS:
HERE IS A VIDEO OF THE VERY FIRST RUN I DID IN BANISHED CELLS AFTER MY V16 ARMOR WAS MADE AND I STARTED THIS BUILD IN IT CURRENT FORM. YOU WILL NOTICE I USED TO USE SHADES AS A DOT FOR BEGINING OF FIGHTS, THAT IM STILL TESTING, BUT IM CURRENTLY USING THE OTHER MORPH FOR PVP. I HOPE TO HAVE SOME MORE VIDEOS UP SOON WITH MY NOW IMPROVED DPS NUMBERS.
Sanctum Video of Mantikora, this is my 5th run ever on this Trial!
First 2 Vicp bosses
Elden Hollow Speed Run
New Sanctum Full Run
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liv3mind.
