Remember to treat this as a base to work from…
Always adjust as needed for YOUR specific situation!
Video guide is on YouTube!
the build basics
Make sure to read the notes along with the graphics as they are often JUST AS IMPORTANT!
attributes
64 Points into Magicka
top races
This is purely a ranking by top dps passives
Other passives can be beneficial too!
Examples:
Breton: Magicka Sustain + Resistances
Only 3-4% DPS behind Dark Elf for Magicka
ANY race can be FINE for DPS on all modes
mundus stone
The Thief is usually the strongest for PvE
food & drinks
Single Magicka Stat options are the highest DPS if you don’t need the additional Max Health OR sustain
Thrice-Baked Gorapple Pie for Magicka
However, I usually recommend Bi-Stat food instead as you only lose ~1% dps but gain 5395 Max Health
Melon-Baked Parmesan Pork for Magicka
Magicka + Magicka Recovery is great for damage and sustain if you don’t mind the missing Max Health
Ghastly Eye Bowl for Magicka
Most common for Trial Dummy Parsing
Health + Magicka + Magicka Recovery options are good compromises if you need more well-rounded stats
Clockwork Citrus / Witchmother’s for Magicka
Tri-Stat Health + Stamina + Magicka work great too
I use these when I need a little more of my Off-Resource pool to work with but don’t want to give up the Max Health
Bewitched Sugar Skulls or free Crown Fortifying Meals from Daily Login Rewards
Max Magicka + Stamina Recovery is also great if your Off-Resource is harder to sustain than your Main Resource
Crunchy Spider Skewer for Magicka
potions
UESP has a great Alchemy Calculator if you want to see all possible combinations
The Essence of Spell Power potions are recommended if you ARE NOT getting your Sorcery/Prophecy buffs from skills and you need the additional Magicka return
If you already have the Major Crit Chance and the Major Weapon/Spell Damage Buffs, you can craft the Tri-Stat Restoration Potions (also from Daily Login Rewards) to help with sustaining both your Stamina and Magicka
Heroism Potions can squeeze out more Ultimates, but the ingredients are very expensive
champion points
IMPORTANT NODES
Force of Nature
Top priority over the 4 shown if more Penetration is needed
Backstabber/Fighting Finesse
Top priorities over the 4 shown if under the Crit Dmg cap
Biting Aura
In for Deadly Aim for AoE Trash encounters
Exploiter
In for Thaumaturge if 25% or higher on Off-Balance such as on the Trial Dummy (31.8% uptime)
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
boss encounter SETUP #1
TWO 5 PC SETS, 1PC MONSTER SET + MYTHIC, ARENA SET FRONTBARRED
The 1pc monster set can also be run in the “shoulder” slot instead of the “head” slot - both options are equal
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-
Single Target
Pillar of NirnAoE
Whorl of the Depths
Mantle of SiroriaLarge Bosses Only
Flame BlossomSupport
Z’en’s RedressAoE (Short Burst)
Burning Spellweave -
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
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Destructive Impact (Master’s Ice Staff)
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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
Iceheart
Velidreth
StormfistSingle Target
Kjalnar’s Nightmare
Selene
Nerien’ethSituational
Balorgh (Short Burst)
Prior Thierric (Short AoE Burst)
boss encounter SETUP #2
5 PC SET, 2PC MONSTER SET, MYTHIC, 2 arena sets, 2PC cRIT CHANCE
With this setup, you give up your 2nd 5pc Set to allow for a Mythic, a full 2pc Monster Set, and 2 Arena Sets to be run together
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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
Frostbite
Pillar of NirnSupport
Roar of Alkosh -
AoE
Zaan
Iceheart
Velidreth
StormfistSingle Target
Kjalnar’s Nightmare
Selene
Nerien’ethSituational
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
-
Destructive Impact (Master’s Ice Staff)
-
Crushing Wall (Maelstrom Frost Staff)
Spectral Cloak (Blackrose Prison Daggers)If using Dual Wield, use Infused Flame and Poison enchantments and run a Frost enchantment on the front bar
AOE BOSS ENCOUNTER setup
TWO 5 PC SETS, 1PC MONSTER SET + MYTHIC, ARENA SET BACKBARRED
Similar to the Setup #1 except your Arena Set is changed and on the front bar instead of the back bar
-
-
-
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
-
Crushing Wall (Maelstrom Frost Staff)
-
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
Iceheart
Velidreth
StormfistSingle Target
Kjalnar’s Nightmare
Selene
Nerien’ethSituational
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
FOR single target fights
Master’s Ice Staff Preferred
easier loadout option
ALTERNATIVE SKILLS
Deep Fissure
If you are solo or in charge of the Major/Minor Breach for AoE encounters, this morph will outperform the Sub Assault Morph
Blue Betty
Nice if you need sustain help and also can be an alternate source of Major Brutality/Sorcery - It can replace:
Degeneration - this is your most flexible spot in this setup
Swap Fetcher Infection or Winter’s Revenge to the front bar
Cutting Dive though this will be a slightly larger DPS hit
Fetcher Infection if someone else is already running it and the Minor Vulnerability is accounted for
Lotus Blossom
Decent heal over time and source of Major Savagery/Prophecy if you are not getting it from potions - It can replace:
Degeneration as long as you are still getting your Major Sorcery/Brutality
Swap Fetcher Infection or Winter’s Revenge to the front bar
Cutting Dive though this will be a slightly larger DPS hit
Fetcher Infection if someone else is already running it and the Minor Vulnerability is accounted for
Channeled Acceleration/Lightweight Beast Trap
If you are playing at full range you can use one of these options in place of Barbed Trap
If using Channeled Acceleration, slot it on the back bar and swap Fetcher Infection or Winter’s Revenge to the front bar
Fetcher Infection
This can also be run on the front bar (swapped with Degeneration) if you need more crit damage on your main bar
for aoe encounters
High AoE Setup (Still for Boss Encounters)
ALTERNATIVE SKILLS
Deep Fissure
If you are solo or in charge of the Major/Minor Breach for AoE encounters, this morph will outperform the Sub Assault Morph
Blue Betty
Nice if you need sustain help and also can be an alternate source of Major Brutality/Sorcery - It can replace:
Scalding Rune / Inner Light - Will lose some AoE dps but gain sustain
Fetcher Infection if someone else is already running it and the Minor Vulnerability is accounted for
Lotus Blossom
Decent heal over time and source of Major Savagery/Prophecy if you are not getting it from potions - It can replace:
Fetcher Infection if someone else is already running it and the Minor Vulnerability is accounted for
Mystic Orb / Scalding Rune / Caltrops - Will lose some AoE DPS
Channeled Acceleration/Lightweight Beast Trap
If you are playing at full range you can use one of these options in place of Barbed Trap
If using Channeled Acceleration, slot it on the back bar and swap Winter’s Revenge or Mystic Orb to the front bar
Fetcher Infection
Can be dropped for heavy AoE focused encounters, but usually good to have for the main target if you need the Minor Vulnerability
Highest AoE Setup (Trash Encounters)
duration DPS skills
You can check out these spreadsheets here
ESSENTIAL PASSIVES
Running low on skill points? Click here for the essential passives to take
VIDEO guide
Want an in-depth break down of all the info? Check out the YouTube video guide
Thanks for stopping by
Thanks to UESP.net as well for the great tools for some of the screenshots
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