Remember to treat this as a base to work from…
Always adjust as needed for your specific situation!
the build basics
Make sure to read the notes along with the graphics as they are often JUST AS IMPORTANT!
top races
mundus stone
food & drinks
potions
UESP has a great Alchemy Calculator if you want to see all possible combinations
champion points
Need help with the Penetration and Crit Damage caps? Check out these charts
For short burst encounters, “Exploiter” moves up into the “Crit Dmg CP” range, as long as Off-Balance is coordinated
If Off-Balance is NOT present, choose from the best of the other remaining 4 to the left of it
TOP GEAR setups
For a full list of the best DPS sets, check out my tier list
For more details on when to use what, check out top DPS sets video
setup #1: TRADITIONAL
TWO 5 PC SETS, 1PC MONSTER SET + MYTHIC, ARENA SET BACKBARRED
-
-
Single Target
Pillar of NirnAoE/ST
Deadly Strike
Sul-Xan’s Torment
Whorl of the Depths
Mantle of Siroria
Kinras’s WrathAoE
Aegis Caller
Tzogvin’s WarbandLarge Bosses Only
Flame Blossom -
Most Common
Harpooner’s Wading Kilt - S-Tier damage if bonus can be maintained
Sea-Serpent’s Coil - S-Tier damage if bonus can be maintained
Mora’s Whispers - A-tier damage with no stacks or mini-game
Ring of the Pale Order - Great for healing solo or in a small group with no healers
More Situational
Thrassian Stranglers - S-tier for damage for some solo or small group encounters if getting enough killing blows
Death Dealer’s Fete - C-Tier for damage but a nice bit of extra health
-
Top Backbar Arena Options
Crushing Wall (Maelstrom Inferno Staff)
Merciless Charge (Maelstrom Greatsword)
Thunderous Volley (Maelstrom Bow)
Caustic Arrow (Dragonstar Bow)
Spectral Cloak (Blackrose Prison Daggers)If using Dual Wield, use Infused Flame and Poison enchantments and run Double Ravage Health Poisons on the front bar
-
If you would prefer to run a full 2pc Monster Set, drop the Mythic and move your Set A “shoulder” piece to your ‘legs” slot
AoE
Zaan
Velidreth
Iceheart
StormfistSingle Target
Nerien’eth
Kjalnar’s Nightmare
SeleneSituational
Balorgh (Short Burst)
Prior Thierric (Short AoE Burst)
setup #2: NO ARENA SETS
TWO 5 PC SETS (1 FRONT BAR + 1 BACK BAR) + 2PC MONSTER SET + MYTHIC
-
-
Single Target
Pillar of NirnAoE
Whorl of the Depths
Aegis Caller
Mantle of SiroriaLarge Bosses Only
Flame BlossomAoE (Short Burst)
Burning Spellweave
BriarheartTop Weapon Types: Greatsword, Inferno Staff, or Bow
-
Most Common
Harpooner’s Wading Kilt - S-Tier damage if bonus can be maintained
Sea-Serpent’s Coil - S-Tier damage if bonus can be maintained
Ring of the Pale Order - Great for healing solo or in a small group with no healers
More Situational
Thrassian Stranglers - S-tier for damage for some solo or small group encounters if getting enough killing blows
Death Dealer’s Fete - C-Tier for damage but a nice bit of extra health
-
AoE
Zaan
Velidreth
Iceheart
StormfistSingle Target
Nerien’eth
Kjalnar’s Nightmare
SeleneSituational
Balorgh (Short Burst)
Prior Thierric (Short AoE Burst)
SETUP #3: DOUBLE ARENA SETS
5 PC SET, 2PC MONSTER SET, MYTHIC, 2 arena sets, 2PC cRIT CHANCE
-
Trial Set is Recommended
Arms of Relequen
Sul-Xan’s Torment
Whorl of the Depths
Bahsei’s Mania
Coral Riptide
Mantle of SiroriaNon-Trial Set Options
Deadly Strike
Azureblight Reaper
Pillar of NirnSupport
Roar of Alkosh -
AoE
Zaan
Velidreth
Iceheart
StormfistSingle Target
Nerien’eth
Kjalnar’s Nightmare
SeleneSituational
Balorgh (Short Burst)
Prior Thierric (Short AoE Burst) -
Most Common
Harpooner’s Wading Kilt - S-Tier damage if bonus can be maintained
Sea-Serpent’s Coil - S-Tier damage if bonus can be maintained
Ring of the Pale Order - Great for healing solo or in a small group with no healers
More Situational
Thrassian Stranglers - S-tier for damage for some solo or small group encounters if getting enough killing blows
Death Dealer’s Fete - C-Tier for damage but a nice bit of extra health
-
Top Front Bar Arena Options
Spectral Cloak (Blackrose Prison Daggers)
Executioner’s Blade (Vateshran Daggers)
Titanic Cleave (Master’s GS or Maul)
Virulent Shot (Blackrose Prison Bow)For Non-Dual Wield options, the trait will be Precise or Charged and the enchantment will be Poison
-
Top Backbar Arena Options
Crushing Wall (Maelstrom Inferno Staff)
Merciless Charge (Maelstrom Greatsword)
Thunderous Volley (Maelstrom Bow)
Caustic Arrow (Dragonstar Bow)
Spectral Cloak (Blackrose Prison Daggers)If using Dual Wield, use Infused Flame and Poison enchantments and run Double Ravage Health Poisons on the front bar
SETUP #4: REVERSE TRADITIONAL
TWO 5 PC SETS, 1PC MONSTER SET + MYTHIC, ARENA SET front-BARRED
-
-
Single Target
Pillar of NirnAoE
Whorl of the Depths
Aegis Caller
Mantle of SiroriaLarge Bosses Only
Flame BlossomAoE (Short Burst)
Burning Spellweave
BriarheartTop Weapon Types: Greatsword, Inferno Staff, or Bow
-
Most Common
Harpooner’s Wading Kilt - S-Tier damage if bonus can be maintained
Sea-Serpent’s Coil - S-Tier damage if bonus can be maintained
Mora’s Whispers - A-tier damage with no stacks or mini-game
Ring of the Pale Order - Great for healing solo or in a small group with no healers
More Situational
Thrassian Stranglers - S-tier for damage for some solo or small group encounters if getting enough killing blows
Death Dealer’s Fete - C-Tier for damage but a nice bit of extra health
-
Top Front Bar Arena Options
Spectral Cloak (Blackrose Prison Daggers)
Executioner’s Blade (Vateshran Daggers)
Titanic Cleave (Master’s GS or Maul)
Virulent Shot (Blackrose Prison Bow)For Non-Dual Wield options, the trait will be Precise or Charged and the enchantment will be Poison
-
If you would prefer to run a full 2pc Monster Set, drop the Mythic and move your Set A “shoulder” piece to your ‘legs” slot
AoE
Zaan
Velidreth
Iceheart
StormfistSingle Target
Nerien’eth
Kjalnar’s Nightmare
SeleneSituational
Balorgh (Short Burst)
Prior Thierric (Short AoE Burst)
additional NOTES
Configure the # of Medium/Light Armor pieces to your needs but always keep at least 1 Medium and 1 Light Armor piece
Body and jewelry pieces are always interchangeable as long as you are keeping the weights that you want
And finally, the options listed are just my favorites - there are plenty of other sets that work great too
skill bar setups
SETUP #1 - standard boss encounters
ALTERNATIVE SKILLS
Replacing Degeneration
If you already have Major Brutality/Sorcery from Potions, Biting Jabs, or Igneous Weapons:
Carve - AoE/ST option for Two-Handed back bar (Nice shield for survival too)
Elemental Susceptibility - ST option for Staff back bar (Nice if you need burning and breach)
Poison Injection - ST option for Bow back bar
Caltrops - AoE option (Razor if you need the Breach or Anti-Calvary otherwise)
Utility Skill - Can also use this slot to run a shield/heal/sustain skill if needed
Replacing Vampire’s Bane
If you already have Major Savagery/Prophecy from potions:
Same as above with Degeneration
Replacing Deadly Cloak
You can move Blazing Spear or Degeneration to Deadly Cloak’s spot if you want to fit another back bar skill like Carve
Or if you are already running it with Dual Wield back bar you can replace it with another DoT or Camo Hunter
SETUP #2 - SPEAR SPAM
ALTERNATIVE SKILLS
Replacing Degeneration
If you already have Major Brutality/Sorcery from Potions, Biting Jabs, or Igneous Weapons:
Carve - AoE/ST option for Two-Handed back bar (Nice shield for survival too)
Elemental Susceptibility - ST option for Staff back bar (Nice if you need burning and breach)
Poison Injection - ST option for Bow back bar
Caltrops - AoE option (Razor if you need the Breach or Anti-Calvary otherwise)
Utility Skill - Can also use this slot to run a shield/heal/sustain skill if needed
Replacing Vampire’s Bane
If you already have Major Savagery/Prophecy from potions:
Same as above with Degeneration
Replacing Deadly Cloak
If you are already running it with Dual Wield back bar you can replace it with another DoT or Camo Hunter
SETUP #3 - EASIER TO MANAGE
ALTERNATIVE SKILLS
Replacing Degeneration
If you already have Major Brutality/Sorcery from Potions, Biting Jabs, or Igneous Weapons:
Deadly Cloak - Move Barbed Trap from the front bar to this spot and slot Deadly Cloak
Carve - AoE/ST option for Two-Handed back bar (Nice shield for survival too)
Elemental Susceptibility - ST option for Staff back bar (Nice if you need burning and breach)
Poison Injection - ST option for Bow back bar
Caltrops - AoE option (Razor if you need the Breach or Anti-Calvary otherwise)
Utility Skill - Can also use this slot to run a shield/heal/sustain skill if needed
Inner Light
If you are stacking into Magicka you can swap out Camo Hunter for Inner Light but only if you are already getting Minor Berserk too
Replacing Power of the Light/Purifying Light
For more AoE Heavy encounters, you can replace this for another AoE Skill like Deadly Cloak
duration DPS skills
You can check out these spreadsheets here
ALSO CHECK OUT THESE VIDEO GUIDES FROM OTHER CREATORS
Thanks for stopping by
Thanks to UESP.net as well for the great tools for some of the screenshots
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