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

However, I usually recommend Bi-Stat food instead as you only lose ~1% dps but gain 5395 Max Health

Magicka + Magicka Recovery is great for damage and sustain if you don’t mind the missing Max Health

Most common for Trial Dummy Parsing

Health + Magicka + Magicka Recovery options are good compromises if you need more well-rounded stats

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

Max Magicka + Stamina Recovery is also great if your Off-Resource is harder to sustain than your Main Resource

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

If these guides have been helpful to you, please consider checking out my Patreon!
A lot of work goes into these and the support really helps a ton!