This guide explains how to use the best Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) Solo Dragonknight Stamina PvE Build, skills, gear, champion points, and more!
This build has been updated for the Updated 42, the Gold Road Chapter of the Elder Scrolls Online (ESO).
Why Should You Play ESO Solo Dragonknight Stamina Build for PvE?
The Stamina Dragonknight relies heavily on damage over time effects and buffs and has good survivability and mobility. Consider this a hard-to-play stamina-based melee damage dealer because there are many buffs and a complex rotation. The DK got a decent sustain buff in the passive Combustion last patch, making it even easier to sustain the DK. Adding in the incredible class buffs and damage, the DK is one of the strongest classes in the game. It’s not quite as strong as the magicka DK, but it’s still very powerful.
Dragonknight Class Pros
- High AOE Damage: The DK hits like an absolute truck, putting that damage out in all directions.
- Unkillable: The DK always feels unkillable, but with Magma, you can become unkillable in the Infinite Archive.
- Great Class Buffs: The DK naturally sources all their critical buffs through their kit.
Dragonknight Class Cons
- Healing: The DK does heal a lot, but there are gaps in the burst healing from Deep Breath, which makes Ring of the Pale Order feel more necessary on this class.
- Higher Difficulty: DK feels very simple and powerful but has a high ceiling if you push Infinite Archive with Magma.
- Sustain: Despite the sustain buffs, it’s still difficult to sustain Talons and Deep Breath spamming. This is why magicka is usually the play on the DK.
The DK is in a great spot for solo content right now. Though it falls just slightly behind the Arc due to the Arc’s versatility, the DK does the things it does well better than any other class right now.
ESO Solo Dragonknight Stamina Build for PvE Playstyle
The Stamina Dragonknight really isn’t too difficult to play, it’s mastering it that’s so challenging. Stamina really has trouble sustaining Burning Talons, which is where the rotation gets more complicated, so we’ve dropped it completely from this build.
Instead, your aoe damage comes primarily from Noxious Breath and Flames of Oblivion. That makes your rotation laying Blockade, Razor Caltrops, then applying your front bar Damage Over Time (DoT) abilities and spamming Molten Whip until its time to start reapplying your DoTs. At a basic level, it’s really easy and puts out really good damage.
Sustain
Whenever you need to heal, you can work Draw Essence into your rotation for a little extra healing, but you shouldn’t spam it too much or you’ll run out of magicka pretty quickly.
If you run out of resources, a heavy attack on your front bar will restore stamina, and a heavy attack on your inferno staff back bar will restore magicka.
ESO Solo Dragonknight Stamina PvE Build Features and Mechanics
Below are some of the features found using the PvE Solo Dragonknight Stamina in the Elder Scrolls Online:
- Class – Dragonknight
- Weapon One – Dual Wield
- Weapon Two – Flame Staff
- Armor Types – 5 Medium, 2 Light
- Mythic – Pale Order
- Race – Dark Elf
- Attributes – 64 Stamina
- Mundus Stone – Thief
- Best Grimoires – Ulfsild’s Contingency, Traveling Knife
Related:
Skills
Dual Wield (Daggers)
Front Bar Weapon choice options:
- Dual Wield
- Two Handed
- Bow
Molten Whip (Morph of Lava Whip | Skill Line : Ardent Flame) – Mainly used to buff our bar with weapon damage but can use as spammable.
Noxious Breath (Morph of Fiery Breath | Skill Line : Ardent Flame) – Deals burst Flame Damage and as a DoT. Affected enemies also have Major Breach applied to them, reducing their resistances.
Flames of Oblivion (Morph of Inferno | Skill Line : Ardent Flame) – Great damage over time and works up to three stack whip for big DPS. Switch this to Bloodthirst if you need super survivability.
Venomous Claw (Morph of Searing Strike | Skill Line : Ardent Flame) – Stamina morph causes poison damage in initial burst and as a DoT. Also applies the Poisoned status effect.
Draw Essence (Morph of Inhale | Skill Line : Draconic Power) – Initial breath does damage and heals you based on damage caused. Exhale does burst damage.
Standard of Might (Morph of Dragonknight Standard | Skill Line : Ardent Flame) – Massive AoE nuke increasing your damage and reducing damage taken. Make sure the boss is stationary when you drop. An ally can activate the synergy for additional damage and to immobilize all targets inside the Standard.
Back Bar (Flame Staff)
Back Bar Weapon choice options:
- Inferno Staff
- Two Handed
- Dual Wield
- Bow
Blockade of Fire (Morph of Wall of Elements | Skill Line : Destruction Staff) – Provides strong AoE damage and acts as a good single target DoT that can be cast on the back bar.
Razor Caltrops (Morph of Caltrops | Skill Line : Assault) – Huge AoE deals Physical damage and slows movement speed. Applies Major Breech to enemies.
Hardened Armor (Morph of Spiked Armor | Skill Line : Draconic Power) – Gain an immediate damage shield after casting. Also gain Major Resolve for 20 seconds.
Igneous Weapons (Morph of Molten Weapons | Skill Line : Earthen Heart) – Increases your Weapon and Spell Damage by 20% for one minute.
Resolving Vigor (Morph of Vigor | Skill Line : Assault) – Strong heal over time costing stamina, can use Coagulating Blood if low on stamina.
Corrosive Armor (Morph of Magma Armor | Skill Line : Earthen Heart) – Deal poison damage and limit incoming damage to just 3% of your max health. Additionally, this ability and your direct damage attacks ignores enemy Physical and Spell Resistance
Scribing Skills & Grimoires
Ulfsild’s Contingency and Traveling Knife are the best Grimoires (skills) for a solo Stamina Dragonknight PvE build. Contingency grants powerful area-based damage and buffs. Traveling Knife gives you a ranged bleed attack that does damage on the return. You can also use the Bow Vault skill as an immobilization or mobility tool. Below are the suggested combination of Grimoires, focus, signature, and affix scripts:
- Ulfsild’s Contingency (Mage Guild) – Flame Damage (focus script), Lingering Torment (signature script), Vulnerability (Affix Script)
- Traveling Knife – Bleed (focus script), Lingering Torment (signature script), Berserk (Affix Script)
The Scribing System utilizes one of 11 new skills from the Gold Road Chapter called Grimoires. With Grimoires, you can customize spells via Scripts. The scribing feature requires the purchase of the Gold Road Chapter (sponsored link). To learn more about scribing, check out our full guide here.
Passives Skills
Below are the passive skills lines that add power without requiring a skill slot while playing the ESO Solo Dragonknight Stamina Build for PvE. Consider taking all the skill passives in the skill tree listed below:
- Earthen Heart (class skill line)
- Draconic Power (class skill line)
- Ardent Flame (class skill line)
- Duel Wield (weapon skill line)
- Destruction Staff (weapon skill line)
- Light Armor
- Medium Armor
- Undaunted
- Fighter’s Guild
- Racial
- Alliance War Support
- Alliance War Assault
- Crafting, Alchemy Medicinal Use
Gear – Best in Slot
The gear chart below represents the best gear for ESO Solo Dragonknight Stamina Build for PvE:
Slot | Type | Set | Trait | Glyph |
Head | Light | Perfected Whorl of the Depths | Divines | Stamina |
Shoulders | Light | Valkyn Skoria | Divines | Stamina |
Chest | Medium | Tzogvin’s Warband | Divines | Stamina |
Legs | Medium | Tzogvin’s Warband | Divines | Stamina |
Gloves | Medium | Tzogvin’s Warband | Divines | Stamina |
Boots | Medium | Tzogvin’s Warband | Divines | Stamina |
Belt | Medium | Tzogvin’s Warband | Divines | Stamina |
Weapon One | Dagger | Perfected Whorl of the Depths | Charged | Flame |
Secondary | Dagger | Perfected Whorl of the Depths | Charged | Poison |
Weapon Two | Flame Staff | Perfected Merciless Charge | Infused | Weapon Damage |
Necklace | Perfected Whorl of the Depths | Bloodthirsty | Weapon Damage | |
Ring 1 | Mythic | Pale Order | Bloodthirsty | Weapon Damage |
Ring 2 | Perfected Whorl of the Depths | Bloodthirsty | Weapon Damage |
Monster Helms and Mythic
Valkyn Skoria: obtained in City of Ash II veteran. Gives a mighty one-piece bonus for penetration. Alternative: Slimecraw.
Ring of the Pale Order: Mythic obtained by collecting five pieces. This gives great healing for doing damage and allows you to focus on pure damage.
FLEX OPTIONS (if you switch to monster setup, drop the ring and replace it with Vicious or flex piece)
- Stormfist – always works, easy to obtain and AoE DPS set.
- Balorgh = is incredible for boss burns in Veteran Maelstrom Arena saving up ultimate for 500 burns.
- Kra’gh – one piece is great for a pen, two-piece does good single-target damage
- Iceheart = is great for survivability.
- Perfected Merciless Charge = must change out Unstable Blockade for Stampede, good damage but requires melee skills.
- Perfected Thunderous Volley = good alternative to play at range with back bar. Swap out Unstable Blockade for Endless Hail bow skill.
- Agility = Base game set that gives you extra damage.
- Velothi Ur-Mage’s Amulet: new mythic that is incredible damage if you have good survivability and don’t require Pale Order.
- Mora’s Whisper = set and forget high critical mythic but requires a collection of Mages Guild books.
- Death Dealer’s Fete = high max stats and requires no effect but in combat.
Gear Sets
Perfected Whorl of the Depths: Found in Dreadsail Reef trial, part of High Isle chapter. Light attack and create AoE summon once every 18 seconds.
Tzogvin’s Warband: Dungeon set that drops in Frostvault, part of Wrathstone DLC. Boosts Critical chance and critical damage.
Perfected Crushing Wall: from Veteran Maelstrom Arena in Orsinium. Increase your overall DPS due to the ability of the wall of elements and more damage.
FLEX OPTIONS
- Vicious Serpent = Best sustain set for stamina along with movement speed.
- Perfected Coral Riptide = god tier damage if you run low stamina (dodge roll a bit before pull)
- Perfected Sul-Xan = insane damage if you can reliably pick up the essence/soul (blue orb) left behind
- Briarheart = (OVERLAND) Overland can be bought from traders great option for healing and weapon damage boost
- Order’s Wrath = (CRAFTING)Best overall crafting damage option
- Pillar of Nirn = (DUNGEON) great overall proc set damage.
- Spriggan’s Thorns = (OVERLAND) Base game and decent penetration on the front perfect for a beginner offensive set
- Mechanical Acuity = (CRAFTING) the highest burst combined with Balorgh for VMA boss nukes
Gear – Beginner Build
This setup is for someone who just started and doesn’t have access to Monsters, Mythics, Trials Gear:
Slot | Type | Set | Trait | Glyph |
Head | Medium | Hunding’s Rage | Divines | Stamina |
Shoulders | Medium | Hunding’s Rage | Divines | Stamina |
Chest | Medium | Spriggan’s Thorns | Divines | Stamina |
Legs | Medium | Spriggan’s Thorns | Divines | Stamina |
Gloves | Medium | Spriggan’s Thorns | Divines | Stamina |
Boots | Medium | Spriggan’s Thorns | Divines | Stamina |
Belt | Medium | Spriggan’s Thorns | Divines | Stamina |
Weapon One | Daggers | Agility | Precise | Flame |
Secondary | Daggers | Agility | Charged | Poison |
Weapon Two | Flame Staff | Agility | Infused | Weapon Damage |
Necklace | Hunding’s Rage | Robust | Weapon Damage | |
Ring 1 | Hunding’s Rage | Robust | Weapon Damage | |
Ring 2 | Hunding’s Rage | Robust | Weapon Damage |
- Hunding’s Rage: Craftable set, base game. Easy to increase overall damage can also do Order’s Wraith.
- Spriggan’s Thorns: Adds penetration base game set dropping in Bangkorai.
- Agility: Adds max stamina base game from Dungeon Finder.
Race
The best racial choice for the Solo Stamina Dragonknight is below:
- Dark Elf: Gain max magicka, stamina, and weapon and spell damage. The flame resistance is also helpful and considered the strongest overall PVE DPS race.
- Orc: Gain weapon damage and max stamina, though no magicka bonus exists.
- Khajiit: This race gets recovery, max stats, and critical damage and healing. Consider the Khajiit a great option if you aren’t over the critical cap of 125%.
Attributes
The best choice is 64 stamina, which increases damage, healing, and DoTs.
Mundus Stone
The Thief is the best Mundus Stone for PvE Builds because it gives an Increased Critical Strike chance.
Champion Points – ESO Solo Dragonknight Stamina Build for PvE
Craft | Warfare | Fitness |
Steed’s Blessing | Fighting Finesse | Bloody Renewal |
Rationer | Force of Nature | Boundless Vitality |
Treasure Hunter | Master-at-Arms | Rejuvenation |
Liquid Efficiency | Wrathful Strikes | Fortified |
Warfare Constellation Champion Points
Below is a step-by-step method for slotting your champion points in the Warfare tree (blue). We have used the minimum possible to reach 4 slottable selections all maxed out. If you have more CP, consider taking more in the passives for optimal performance.
Below are recommended Warfare Champion Point selections for the ESO Solo Dragonknight Stamina Build for PvE:
- Precision 10
- Wrathful Strikes (slottable) 50
- Fighting Finesse (slottable) 50
- Extended Might – sub constellation – piercing 10
- Thaumaturge (slottable) 50
- Master – at- Arms (slottable) 50
This would be the bare minimum setup, spending 220 CP (660 total required). The next step is to max out passives, that do not require a slottable but increase performance.
- Precision 10
- Piercing 10
- Tireless discipline 20
- Eldritch insight 20
- Blessed 20
- Quick recovery 20
- Flawless ritual 40
- War mage 30
- Battle mastery 40
- Mighty 30
- Elemental aegis 20
- Hardy 20
- Preparation 20
This would max out the Warfare tree with all active and passive champion points at 520 spent 1,560 total spent.
Fitness Constellation Champion Points
Below are recommended Fitness Champion Point selections for the ESO Solo Dragonknight Stamina Build for PvE:
- Fortified (slottable) 50
- Boundless vitality (slottable) 50
- Rejuvenation (slottable) 50
- Sprinter 10
- Winder chaser – sub con – hasty 8
- Hero’s Vigor 10
- Bloody Renewal (slottable) 50
This would be the bare minimum setup, spending 228 CP (684 total required). The next step is to max out passives, that do not require a slottable but increase performance.
- Hero’s Vigor 10
- Tumbling 30
- Sprinter 10
- Defiance 20
- Hasty 8
- Tireless guardian 20
- Fortification 30
- Nimble 6
- Mystic tenacity 50
- Tempered soul 50
- Piercing gaze 30
- Savage defense 30
- Bashing brutality 20
This would max out the fitness tree with all active passive champion points at 542 cp spent and 1,626 total spent.
Craft Constellation Champion Points
Below are recommended Craft Champion Point selections for the ESO Solo Dragonknight Stamina Build for PvE:
- Steed’s blessing (slottable) – 50
- Breakfall 10
- Wanderer 15
- Steadfast 10
- Treasure hunter 50 (slottable)
- rationer (slottable) 30
- liquid efficiency (slottable) 75
This would be the bare minimum setup, spending 240CP (720 total required). The next step is to max out passives, that do not require a slottable but increase performance.
- Steadfast enchantment 40cp
- Breakfall 40 cp
- Wanderer 60
- Fortunes favor 50
- Friends in low places 25
- Out of sight 30
- Fleet of Phantom 40
- Soul’s Reservoir 33
- Gilded fingers 50
- Fortunes favor 40
- Inspiration boost 45
- Infamous 30
This would max out the crafting tree with all active passive champion points at 723 cp spent 2,169 total spent.
Consumables
The best consumables for the Stamina Dragonknight PvE build are Braised Rabbit with Spring Vegetables food and Heroism potions. Braised Rabbit with Spring Vegetables gives the most damage possible, though Artaeum Takeaway Broth is good for resource sustain if you struggle. A third balanced option for more hybrid resource pools is Bewitched Sugar Skulls. The best potion if you have weapon critical and weapon power buff is Heriosm (the essence of magicka). Another option is Weapon Power potions if you lack the buffs or tri-stat Essence of Health. Below are our recommended food and potion choices:
- Braised Rabbit with Spring Vegetables (best damage no sustain) – Increase health and stamina. Crafted with Provisioning ingredients Small Game, Greens, and Seasoning.
- Artaeum Takeaway Broth – increase max health, health recovery, max stamina, and stamina recovery. Crafted with provisioning from ingredients Fish, Melon, Torchbug Thorax, and Powdered Mother of Pearl.
- Dubious Camoran Throne (cheap sustain) – increases stamina recovery, max stamina, and max health. Crafted with provisioning from ingredients of White Meat, Beetle Scuttle, Insect Parts, and Guts.
- Bewitched Sugar Skulls (tri-max stats) – increases max health, stamina, magicka, and health recovery. Crafted with provisioning from ingredients of Scrib Jelly, Flour, Columbine, Bervez Juice, and Honey.
- Heroism Potion – Restores stamina and magicka and grants minor heroism for a time. Crafted with Alchemy from ingredients of Columbine, Dragon’s Blood, and Dragon Rheum.
- Essence of Weapon Power – grants major brutality, major savagery, and stamina recovery. Crafted with alchemy from ingredients such as Blessed Thistle, Stinkhorn, and Water Hyacinth (other combinations).
- Tri-Pots – grants immediate health, stamina and magicka, along with tri-recovery. Crafted with Alchemy from ingredients of Bugloss, Columbine, and Mountain Flower.
Build Summary – ESO Solo DragonKnight Stamina PvE Build
Class: Dragonknight
Race: Dark Elf
Attributes: 64 Stamina
Mundus Stone: Thief
Weapon One: Dual Wield
Weapon Two: Flame Staff
Armor Set 1: Perfected Whorl of the Depths
Armor Set 2: Tzogvin’s Warband
Monster Helm: Valkyn Skoria
Mythic: Pale Order
Armor Weight: 5 Medium, 2 Light
Food: Braised Rabbit with Spring Vegetables
Potion: Essence of Magicka with Minor Heroism
Skill Bar 1
- Molten Whip
- Noxious Breath
- Flames of Oblivion
- Venomous Claw
- Draw Essence
- Standard of Might (Ultimate)
Skill Bar 2
- Blockade of Fire
- Razor Caltrops
- Hardened Armor
- Igneous Weapons
- Resolving Vigor
- Corrosive Armor (Ultimate)
Scribing Grimoires and Scripts
- Ulfsild’s Contingency (Mage Guild)
- Flame Damage (focus script)
- Lingering Torment (signature script)
- Vulnerability (Affix Script)
- Traveling Knife (Dual Wield)
- Bleed (focus script)
- Lingering Torment (signature script)
- Berserk (Affix Script)
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