This guide explains how to use the best Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) Solo Nightblade Magicka PvE Build, skills, gear, champion points, and more!
This build has been updated for the Update 41 patch of the Elder Scrolls Online.
Why Should You Play ESO Solo Nightblade Magicka Build for PvE?
The ESO Solo Nightblade Magicka Build for PVE is for players who want a high DPS class with good survivability and sustain. It has the unmatched ultimate generation, a strong main spammable that heals you, speed, resource sustain, and more. This build and class can be surprisingly simple to use though advanced setups will reward you with massive damage. In ESO, the Magicka Nightblade is perfect for everyone who is looking for a simple-rotation survival class with a complete set of tools for solo PvE gameplay.
ESO Solo Nightblade Magicka Build for PvE Playstyle
Use the following rotation as the starter point. After, apply your buffs and cast the DoT skills on cooldown for the best, highest DPS. In total, the Damage over Time skills (DoTs) do more damage than your main spammable. Thus, they need to be cast less often and are easier to maintain, for example, The Degeneration from Mages Guild or the Barb Trap from Fighters Guild. Maintain DoTs and use your spammable skill as filler until you need to reapply the DoTS.
At certain percentages, replace your spammable with your in-class or weapon execute if you have one in this build. Executes are the skills that deal more damage the lower the health of the opponent becomes. Ideally, these are meant to replace your main spammable skill at anywhere between 35% (Radiant Oppression) to 20% (Mages’ Fury). At a high level, execute skills become so strong that the lower the enemy’s health, the fewer DoTs you maintain because it does so much damage.
Use the healing skill when your health drops below 50% or the shield skill when you anticipate damage. Also, always use the suggested food and potions as they significantly increase your damage, survivability, and resource sustain.
If you run out of resources, do a heavy attack and return to your rotation. Remember that a heavy attack on off-balance enemies will return double the resources. Additionally, if you are a beginner or struggle with sustain, you can flex in the Consuming Trap skill instead of a DoT skill. The Consuming Trap gives you a flood of both resources when a target dies.
ESO Solo Nightblade Magicka PvE Build Features and Mechanics
Below are some of the features found using the PvE Solo Nightblade Magicka in the Elder Scrolls Online:
- Class – Nightblade
- Weapon One – Flame Staff
- Weapon Two – Lightning Staff
- Armor Types – 5 Medium, 2 Light
- Mythic – Pale Order
- Race: Dark Elf
- Attributes – 64 Magicka
- Mundus Stone – Thief
Related:
Skills
Front Bar – Flame Staff
Front Bar Weapon Style Choices:
- Flame Staff
- Lighting Staff
- Dual Wield
Swallow Soul (Morph of Strife | Skill Line : Siphoning) – Great for single target damage and healing. This isn’t the damage producing spammable, but it can be used at ranged with a fire staff.
Impale (Morph of Assassin’s Blade | Skill Line : Assassination) – Replaces our main spammable at around 25%, switch to this until kill.
Relentless Focus (Morph of Grim Focus | Skill Line : Assassination) – When slotted Light and Heavy attacks build stacks of Relentless Focus which can be discharged to deal Disease damage and heal.
Power Extraction (Morph of Drain Power | Skill Line : Siphoning) – Becomes a Stamina ability that now deals Disease Damage. Gain Major Brutality and debuff enemy on hit.
Camouflaged Hunter (Morph of Expert Hunter | Skill Line : Fighters Guild) – Use for critical damage buff and minor berserker.
Incapacitating Strike (Morph of Death Stroke | Skill Line : Assassination) – Low cost ultimate that gives us a small burst window and extra resource sustain for slotting.
Back Bar – Lightning Staff
Back bar options:
- Lighting Staff
- Inferno Staff
- Two Handed
Blockade of Storms (Morph of Wall of Elements | Skill Line : Destruction Staff) – AoE deals magic damage plus additional effect depending on type of staff
Twisting Path (Morph of Path of Darkness | Skill Line : Shadow) – An AOE damage ability that deals magic damage to enemies and grants you and your allies major expedition
Dark Shade (Morph of Summon Shade | Skill Line : Shadow) – Hard hitting single target damage over time ability.
Mirage (Morph of Blur | Skill Line : Assassination) – Gain Major Evasion and Minor Resolve. Also taking direct damage reduces the cost of your next dodge roll.
Siphoning Attacks (Morph of Siphoning Strikes | Skill Line : Siphoning) – Convert health into stamina. Additionally, while slotted all damage you deal heals you and restores some stamina.
Soul Tether (Morph of Soul Shred | Skill Line : Siphoning) – Cause AoE damage inside a rune and heal for half the damage done. Also stuns for four seconds. Additionally, siphon health from tethered enemies for up to 8 seconds.
Passives Skills
Below are the passive skills lines that add power without requiring a skill slot while playing the ESO Solo Nightblade Magicka Build for PvE. Consider taking all the skill passives in the skill tree listed below:
- ‎Siphoning (class skill line)
- ‎Shadow (class skill line)
- Assassination (class skill line)
- Destruction Staff (weapon skill line)
- Light Armor
- Medium Armor
- Undaunted
- Mage’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 Nightblade Magicka Build for PvE:
Slot | Type | Set | Trait | Glyph |
Head | Light | Perfected Whorl of the Depths | Divines | Magicka |
Shoulders | Light | Valkyn Skoria | Divines | Magicka |
Chest | Medium | Tzogvin’s Warband | Divines | Magicka |
Legs | Medium | Tzogvin’s Warband | Divines | Magicka |
Gloves | Medium | Tzogvin’s Warband | Divines | Magicka |
Boots | Medium | Tzogvin’s Warband | Divines | Magicka |
Belt | Medium | Tzogvin’s Warband | Divines | Magicka |
Weapon One | Flame Staff | Perfected Whorl of the Depths | Charged | Flame |
Weapon Two | Lightning 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 |
In PvE, high-end DPS builds, magicka, and stamina builds run similar gear setups, including medium armor. Medium is more robust due to not reaching the penetration cap of light armor. However, Light armor can provide a shield with greater sustain. Below are various options.
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.
- 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
- Perfected False Gods Devoton – is best for resource sustainability.
- Order’s Wrath = (CRAFTING)Best overall crafting damage option
- Pillar of Nirn = (DUNGEON) great overall proc set damage.
- Mechanical Acuity = (CRAFTING) the highest burst combined with Balorgh for VMA boss nukes
- Mother’s Sorrow: = overland option base game easy to get and good damage
- Medusa = easy dungeon set if you’re not using barb trap
- Scathing Mage = High spell damage set from dungeons.
- Perfected Bahsei’s Mania = considered BiS for damage if you can run magicka low and keep it there.
- Robes of the Withered Hand = Base game, overland, and a great replacement for False Gods to get you started.
- Bright-Throat’s Boast = decent sustain set if you’re using Witch Mother Drink.
- Law of Julianos = decent craftable option.
- Willpower = extra 2pc set
Gear – Beginner
This setup is for someone who just started and doesn’t have access to Monsters, Mythics, Trials Gear
Slot | Type | Set | Trait | Glyph |
Head | light | Back-Alley Gourmand | Divines | Magicka |
Shoulders | light | Back-Alley Gourmand | Divines | Magicka |
Chest | light | Mother’s Sorrow | Divines | Magicka |
Legs | light | Mother’s Sorrow | Divines | Magicka |
Gloves | light | Mother’s Sorrow | Divines | Magicka |
Boots | light | Mother’s Sorrow | Divines | Magicka |
Belt | light | Mother’s Sorrow | Divines | Magicka |
Weapon One | Inferno Staff | Willpower | Precise | Shock |
Weapon Two | Inferno Staff | Willpower | Infused | Berserker |
Necklace | Back-Alley Gourmand | Arcane | Magicka Recovery | |
Ring 1 | Back-Alley Gourmand | Arcane | Magicka Recovery | |
Ring 2 | Back-Alley Gourmand | Arcane | Spell Damage |
Race
The best racial choice for the Magicka Nightblade 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.
- High Elf: Gain resource sustain passive, max magicka, and weapon and spell damage. The downside of High Elf is a lack of stamina or flame resistance.
- 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 magicka, which increases damage, healing, and DoTs.
Mundus Stone
The Thief is the best Mundus Stone for PvE Builds because it gives Increases Weapon and Spell Critical Strike a chance.
Champion Points – ESO Solo Nightblade Magicka Build for PvE
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 Nightblade Magicka PvE Build:
- Precision 10
- Wrathful Strikes (slottable) 50
- Fighting Finesse (slottable) 50
- Extended Might – sub constellation – piercing 10
- Deadly Aim (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 Nightblade Magicka PvE Build:
- Fortified (slottable) 50
- Boundless vitality (slottable) 50
- Rejuvenation (slottable) 50
- Sprinter 10
- Winder chaser – sub con – hasty 8
- Hero’s Vigor 10
- Siphoning Spells (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 Nightblade Magicka PvE Build:
- Steed’s blessing (slottable) – 50
- Breakfall 10
- Wanderer 15
- Steadfast 10
- Treasure hunter 50 (slottable)
- rationer (slottable) 30
- liquid effiency (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
Food
Clockwork Citrus Filet
OVERALL: Increase Max Health by 3724, Health Recovery by 351, Max Magicka by 3458 and Magicka Recovery by 319 for 2 hours.
Witchmother’s Brew
CHEAP: Increase Max Magicka by 2856, Max Health by 3094, and Magicka Recovery by 315 for 2 hours.
Ghastly Eye Bowl
DPS Parse: Increase Max Magicka by 4256 and Magicka Recovery by 425 for 2 hours.
Potions
Essence of Spell Power
Grants major sorcery with increases spell damage by 20% for 47.6 seconds. Major prophecy which grants you 2191 spell critical rating for 47.6 seconds. Restore 7582 magicka immediately. Grants you major intellect which increases your magicka recovery by 20% for 47.6. Potions have a 45sec cooldown. Make sure you have three points into medicinal use passive in alchemy crafting. (INGREDIENTS: Corn Flower, Lady’s Smock and Namira’s Rot)
Build Summary – ESO Solo Nightblade Magicka PvE Build
Class: Nightblade
Race: Dark Elf
Attributes: 64 Magicka
Mundus Stone: Thief
Weapon One: Destruction Staff
Weapon Two: Destruction 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
Skill Bar 1
- Swallow Soul
- Impale
- Relentless Focus
- Power Extraction
- Camouflaged Hunter
- Incapacitating Strike (Ultimate)
Skill Bar 2
- Elemental Blockade
- Twisting Path
- Dark Shade
- Mirage
- Siphoning Attacks
- Soul Tether (Ultimate)
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