This guide gives skills, champion points, and gear for an ESO Beginner Stamina Nightblade Build, intended for the new or returning player!
This build has been updated for the Update 40 patch of the Elder Scrolls Online.
Why Should You Play the ESO Beginner Stamina Nightblade Build?
Welcome to the ESO Beginner Stamina Nightblade Build for The Elder Scrolls Online.  This build is intended for the new or returning player who wants a starting build with flexible options for skills and gear! Pickup the build if you want an ultra simple, easy and hard hitting build that can dominate in any content.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Hard hitting class abilities | Reliant on light attacks |
| Great resource sustain | Difficult to play in melee |
| Top tier melee damage |
ESO Beginner Stamina Nightblade Build Playstyle
This skill setup is extremely important to start off ESO on the correct path. At this stage, I’m assuming you’re level three and have completed the tutorial with three skill points to spend. From here, you’ll want to slot one skill from each of your class skill lines, regardless if you use or like the skill. Why? Because you want to reach level 50 with most of your class skill lines leveled up or at least close to max. You only level the skill lines in your class if you have one or more skills equipped. That way you can acquire skill points and max out all the passives which make you stronger WITHOUT having to slot a skill.
Skills
Level 3 Starter – Brand New Character – Dual Wield
Work towards advancing and unlocking skills. It’s especially helpful to change out skills and at least get them to the “morphed” stage. You can always change these later for a very small fee so don’t worry if you make a mistake.
Swallow Soul (Morph of Strife | Skill Line : Siphoning) – An insane heal over time, even though it cost magicka, it’s worth casting every 10 seconds just for the heal over time. You’ll get more defensives and healing later, early on keep it on the bar.
Surprise Attack (Morph of Veiled Strike | Skill Line : Shadow) – One of the best spammables in the game. The only issue is, do you have enough healing? Early on use Bloodthirst if you struggle otherwise still with this as your primary attack.
Killer’s Blade (Morph of Assassin’s Blade | Skill Line : Assassination) – A single target execute that should be used at or below 25% of the enemies HP. This is super helpful due to the healing.
Bloodthirst (Morph of Flurry | Skill Line : Dual Wield) – This is a main spammable that you shouldn’t sleep on. If you struggle with healing use this as a main spammable because it heals you so well. No, it’s not the most damage, but it’s better than being dead! Your goal is to work towards Whirlwind in the skill line for big AoE
Uppercut (Skill Line : Two Handed) – This skill is simply slotted for quick leveling of the two handed skill line. I don’t really morph or use this right away. This will be a “dead” unusable skill without a two handed equipped, but trust me it’ll save you massive amount of time later and only at level 15 you’ll get a back bar then it becomes VERY useful. Use Bow if you plan on doing a ranged build or another weapon type of your choice.
Incapacitating Strike (Morph of Death Stroke | Skill Line : Assassination) – You won’t be able to get this skill right away, but it’ll be a game changer for damage and sustain and should be your primary target when you unlock ultimate’s.
Level 15 – Front Bar – Dual Wield
At this stage, you should have the ability to bar swap. This comes in very handy to have leveled two handed, because you can put high damage abilities on your secondary bar and also use two handed stampede as a gap closer and huge damage. I’ll list front bar skills, but in general put armor, healing, mobility, and consuming trap from world soul magic skill line on the back bar. You won’t be getting much XP since nearly all your kills should be on the front.
Healthy Offering (Morph of Malevolent Offering | Skill Line : Siphoning) – The only way I’d take off Swallow Soul is for Healthy Offering burst heal. Swap in Swallow Soul here if you like the extra damage and or put it on the back bar for even more healing.
Surprise Attack (Morph of Veiled Strike | Skill Line : Shadow) – Keep this on and level up the skill line, swap to this as main attack if you have good healing.
Killer’s Blade (Morph of Assassin’s Blade | Skill Line : Assassination) – A single target execute that should be used at or below 25% of the enemies HP. This is super helpful due to the healing.
Stampede (Morph of Critical Charge | Skill Line : Two Handed) – At this point, continue to level and morph skills even though it’s a dead skill on the bar. Stampede is a great back bar gap closer and AoE DoT. Cycle this to either another skill line, weapon, or work towards unlocking Cleave and morph it to Carve. This is another end game meta DPS ability and it’ll be useful to have on the back bar. If it’s too difficult swap to another skill but it’ll help out tremendously at end game when most of the line is maxed.
Whirling Blades (Morph of Whirlwind | Skill Line : Dual Wield) – Used as your main AoE skill though keep on Bloodthirst if you don’t have enough healing.
Incapacitating Strike (Morph of Death Stroke | Skill Line : Assassination) – Great ultimate choice here. You can put Soul Shred morphed into Soul Tether on the back bar for survivability if you prefer.
End Game Level 50 – Front Bar – Dual Wield
Now you’ve hit level 50. Continue to progress the skill lines and max out important passives. I’d also work on leveling skills in your flex spot on your front bar, and just swap something in more useful when doing serious content. Now you’ll have options for front bar magicka DPS weapons. Front Bar Weapon Style Choices:
- Dual Wield = best overall damage due to passive like twin blade and blunt
- Two Handed = best back bar weapon due to Carve and Stampede
- Bow = good back bar with Endless Hail skill and range
- Sword & Shield = mainly just tank and PvP defensive skill line
For beginners I highly recommend dual wield. Not only does it have a main spammable Bloodthirst which can heal you, but a ultra powerful ultimate Rend that heals you for 16 seconds!
- Relentless Focus (Morph of Grim Focus | Skill line: Assassination)
- Consuming Trap (Morph of Soul Trap | Skill line: Soul Magic)
- Power Extraction (Morph of Drain Power | Skill line: Siphoning)
- Surprise Attack (Morph of Veiled Strike | Skill line: Shadow)
- Killers Blade (Morph of Assassin’s Blade | Skill line: Assassination)
- Incapacitating Strike (Morph of Death Stroke | Skill line: Assassination)
End Game Level 50 – Back Bar – Two Handed
This loadout assumes you have a decent hang of the combat but might need a bit more healing/survival than a group or solo master setup. You can put a bow, restoration staff, or even sword and shield on the back bar. Also consider a one bar setup to get the hang of things.
- Twisting Path (Morph of Path of Darkness | Skill line: Shadow)
- Carve (Morph of Cleave | Skill line: Two Handed)
- Leeching Strikes (Morph of Siphoning Strikes | Skill line: Siphoning)
- Stampede (Morph of Critical Charge | Skill line: Two Handed)
- Resolving Vigor (Morph of Vigor | Skill line: Assault)
- Soul Tether (Morph of Soul Shred | Skill line: Siphoning)
Gear 1
Leveling
If you have crafting on another character, or can ask a guild member, this will help you out tremendously!
| Slot | Type | Set | Trait | Glyph |
| Head | medium | Armor of the Trainee | Training | Stamina |
| Shoulders | light | Armor of the Trainee | Training | Stamina |
| Chest | heavy | Vampire’s Kiss | Training | Stamina |
| Legs | medium | Vampire’s Kiss | Training | Stamina |
| Gloves | medium | Vampire’s Kiss | Training | Stamina |
| Boots | medium | Vampire’s Kiss | Training | Stamina |
| Belt | medium | Vampire’s Kiss | Training | Stamina |
| Weapon One | Daggers > Swords | Heartland Conqueror | Training | Flames |
| Secondary | Daggers > Swords | Heartland Conqueror | Training | Poison |
| Weapon Two | Two Handed Sword | Heartland Conqueror | Training | Berserker (spell damage) |
| Necklace | Heartland Conqueror | Robust | Stamina Recovery | |
| Ring 1 | Heartland Conqueror | Robust | Weapon Damage | |
| Ring 2 | Heartland Conqueror | Robust | Weapon Damage |
Desktop hover over gear for set bonuses, mobile click once for set bonuses
This gear setup is designed to get you the most experience possible without dying frequently while leveling. Use this as a template for max XP gains while leveling.
Vampire’s Kiss: five trait craftable item. Locations are Alik’r Desert, Eastmarch, Malabal Tor.
- This is base game and gives great healing received upon kill which is a big issue when playing stamina early on.
Heartland Conqueror: craftable set in Blackwood,7 traits required. If you don’t own Blackwood, you can have someone craft or buy from traders.
- Why? this unique set doubles weapon trait effectiveness, giving you even more benefit for using the training trait. See flex options below if you don’t have this set.
Armor of the Trainee: obtained in the starter zones in the game from chest and enemies. Location Bal Foyen, Betnikh, Bleakrock Isle, Khenarthi’s Roost and Stros M’Kai.
- Why? gives set bonuses per piece and comes in training trait.
ALTERNATIVE OVERLAND SETS (these are all base game no DLC required)
- Witchman Armor: obtained in the Rift Zone, Ebonheart Pact faction or you can buy from guild traders. Drops from delves, world bosses, public dungeons and dark anchors in that zone.
- Why? Great sustain and survival set when using an ultimate to get a flood of resources.
- Spriggan’s Thorns: obtained in Bangkorai, Daggerfall Covenant faction or you can buy from guild traders. Drops from delves, world bosses, public dungeons and dark anchors in that zone.
- Why? One of the best overland damage sets.
- Shadow of the Red Mountain: obtained in Stonefalls, Ebonheart Pact faction or you can buy from guild traders. Drops from delves, world bosses, public dungeons and dark anchors in that zone.
- Why? Incredible proc damage in both PvE and PvP
- Way of Air: obtained in Craglorn. Drops from delves, world bosses, public dungeons and dark anchors in that zone.
- Why? Niche stamina set but works great in PvP.
- Soulshine: obtained in Reaper’s March drops from delves, world bosses, public dungeons and dark anchors in that zone.
- Why? An awesome 5pc for templar who’s main spammable is a channel.
ALTERNATIVE CRAFTING BASE GAME
- Hunding’s Rage: six trait craftable item set. Locations Bangkorai, Reaper’s March, The Rift.
- Why? The staple in PvE DPS for stamina beginners.
- Shacklebreaker: six trait craftable item set. Location Morrowind.
- Why? Gives a great blend of sustain and max stats which equals damage.
- Night Mother’s Gaze: six trait craftable item set. Locations Bangkorai, Reaper’s March, The Rift.
- Why? Great damage set IF your class doesn’t have major breach through a skill.
- Torug’s Pact: three trait craftable item set. Locations Deshaan, Grahtwood, Stormhaven.
- Why? Great damage set to pair with a duel wield playstyle running flame/Poison enchants.
- Ashen Grip: two trait craftable item set. Locations Auridon, Glenumbra, Stonefalls.
- Why? Great AoE damage IF playing a melee build. Also a great PvP set.
- Oblivion’s Foe: eight trait craftable item set found in Coldharbour.
- Why? Top notch proc set damage and one of the best in late game PvP to this day. Must use soul trap skill from world skill line.
- Twice-Born Star: nine trait craftable item set found in Craglorn.
- Why? This use to be meta DPS set due to two mundus (shadow/thief). Still good just takes very long time to craft.
Level 50 Gear Sets
Use this as a template until you can progress to better gear sets.
| Slot | Type | Set | Trait | Glyph |
| Head | medium | Hunding’s Rage | Divines > Any | Stamina |
| Shoulders | light | Hunding’s Rage | Divines > Any | Stamina |
| Chest | medium | Hunding’s Rage | Divines > Any | Stamina |
| Legs | medium | Hunding’s Rage | Divines > Any | Stamina |
| Gloves | medium | Spriggan’s | Divines > Any | Stamina |
| Boots | medium | Spriggan’s | Divines > Any | Stamina |
| Belt | medium | Hunding’s Rage | Divines > Any | Stamina |
| Weapon One | Dagger | Agility | Precise | Flame |
| Secondary | Dagger | Agility | Charged | Poision |
| Weapon Two | Two Handed Sword | Agility | Infused | Berserker (spell damage) |
| Necklace | Spriggan’s | Robust | Stamina Recovery | |
| Ring 1 | Spriggan’s | Robust | Weapon Damage | |
| Ring 2 | Spriggan’s | Robust | Weapon Damage |
Desktop hover over gear for set bonuses, mobile click once for set bonuses
The premise in ESO is base game overland is the easiest gear to obtained. Because at any level, you can go to zone and farm it. Crafting is second as it takes time to unlock traits and my require DLC. Dungeons, on normal are third because it takes certain level requirements or DLC to access so that will be the priority of gear in general. Your priority after obtaining the below gear sets is as follows:
- Start doing undaunted pledges and obtain a base game damage monster helm. My two favorite are Stormfist from Tempest Island for damage or Ice Heart from Direfrost Keep for survival.
- Next target is to remove Vampire’s Kiss with a higher producing damage set. I suggest checking out the builds page for more suggestions.
- Now start working on obtaining dungeons, trials ,and mythics for more damage sets.
Hunding’s Rage: six trait craftable item set. Locations Bangkorai, Reaper’s March, The Rift
- Why? The staple in PvE DPS for stamina beginners.
Spriggan’s Thorns: obtained in Bangkorai, Daggerfall Covenant faction or you can buy from guild traders. Drops from delves, world bosses, public dungeons and dark anchors in that zone.
- Why? One of the best overland damage sets.
Agility: obtained in Imperial City, dungeon finder or bought for very cheap on build traders.
- Why? great base game two piece se that gives huge stat bonuses.
ARENA WEAPON PROGRESSION
Perfected Merciless Charge: from Veteran Maelstrom Arena in Orsinium. Do normal mode if you cannot complete Veteran, there’s not much of a difference in performance.
- WHY? huge damage with Stampede on your back bar using a two handed.
MONSTER HELM PROGRESSION
- Zaan’s = consider the best overall monster helm for DPS
- Stormfist: = always works, easy to obtain and AoE DPS set.
- Iceheart = great survivability
- Selene = easy to obtain starter DPS monster helm and great for PvP
PROGRESSION 5pc SETS OPTIONS
- Pillar of Nirn = best overall damage set
- Briarheart: = Overland can be bought from traders great option for healing and weapon damage boost
- Medusa = great damage set with always on minor force but you’ll need weapon and jewelry
- Leviathan = great beginner dungeon set and base game
- Order’s Wrath = best craftable option but High Isles set
MYTHIC PROGRESSION
- Pale Order = best heals per second solo in the game
- Oakensoul= the best one bar build for DPS – 5 Leads are here
- Death Dealer’s Fete = high max stats and requires no effect but in combat
Race
Best Choice
Orc
Great bonuses for melee DPS with and health on dealing damage.
Secondary Choice
Imperial
Human appearing and god tier sustain which is very helpful starting out.
Attributes
Health | Stamina | Magicka |
| 0 | 64 | 0 |
Mundus Stone
Thief – Increases the Critical Strike rating by 1212
Champion Points
Consumables
Food
Crown Refreshing Drink
FREE OPTION: these come from daily reward logins and are great starting out because you can get at level 1, carries your sustain. I wouldn’t recommend buying these, but if you get for free use this or the Crown Fortifying Meal.
Dubious Camoran Throne
CHEAP: this is another level 1 drink you can get BUT you can also buy from traders or someone can give to you. I’d highly recommend saving up and getting some from the traders, Deshaan is typically the hub in ESO. Increase Max Magicka by 2856, Max Health by 3094, and Magicka Recovery by 315 for 2 hours. Ingredients Nightshade, White Meat, Beetle Scuttle, Insect Parts, Guts.
Chicken Breast
VENDOR: this is a level one option you can buy from the provisioning vendor and or you can learn recipe and make at low level. It gives a buff to health, but it’s better than nothing starting out.
Potions
Essence of Weapon Power
BEST: These potions can be bought from traders or you can get PvP ones via Cyrodiil Vendor. They are best because they giving you important buffs for which you don’t need to slot an ability or use level Fighters Guild or Mages Guild. Until you get them, just use stamina “trash” pots the simple blue potions that you find throughout the world. Grants major brutality with increases weapon damage by 20% for 47.6 seconds. Grants major savagery which grants you 2191 weapon critical rating for 47.6 seconds. Restore 7582 stamina immediately. Grants you major endurance which increases your stamina recovery by 20% for 47.6. Potions have a 45 second cool down and make sure you have three points into medicinal use passive in alchemy crafting.
Passives
- Class Passives
- Weapon Passives
- Dual Wield
- Two Handed
- Armor Passives
- Light
- Medium
- Heavy
- Guild Passives
- Fighters Guild
- Undaunted
- Mages Guild
- Psijic Order
- Alliance Passives
- Assault
- Support
- World Passives
- Soul Magic
Looking For More ESO Builds?
Thank you for reading ESO Beginner Stamina Nightblade Build Guide. We provide the latest news and create guides for ESO. Also, watch me play games on Twitch or visit my YouTube channel!