ESO Beginner Stamina Nightblade Build

Table of Contents

• Skills
• Rotation
• Gear
• Passives Skills
• Race
• Mundus Stone
• Champion Points
• Consumables
• Wrap Up

Last Updated: 2023-03-16

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.

If you’re looking for a group build click HERE, one bar build HERE or a PvP build HERE.  Also, consider watching me on Twitch where you can ask me questions about my current builds.

Last updated March 13th, 2023, for Update 37 and the Scribes of Fate DLC.

 

Should you play the ESO Beginner Stamina Nightblade Build?

Pros

• Hard hitting class abilities
• Great resource sustain
• Top tier melee damage

Cons

• Reliant on light attacks
• Difficult to play in melee

Important Tips when Starting!

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.

Priorities:

Your priority as soon as you’ve completed the tutorial story is follows:

• Take a boat or wayshrine to your main faction town. Daggerfall is Glenumbra zone, Daggerfall Town. Aldemri Dominion is Auridon zone, Vulkhel Guard town. Ebonheart Pact is Stonefalls zone, Davon’s Watch town.
• Speak with all the guilds, and acquire the introduction quests for Mages, Fighters and Undaunted.
• Now head to the main merchant area and if you have a tiny bit of gold, by three pieces of each armor type (light/tailor, medium/leatherworker and heavy/armorer).  Even if you don’t plan to use heavy, equip three, and the skill line will unlock.  Do the same for medium and light so you can progress and take important passives.
• For stamina users, use 5 medium armor, 1 light and 1 heavy.  This way you’ll not only level your class skill lines throughout your playthrough BUT armor which is very important at end game.
• Next, you’re going to do something similar with weapons. Stamina users, grab a dual wield (daggers), and two handed (sword) from the armorer vendor.  Leave the town and kill one enemy to unlock the skill line.  Change weapons to a Two Handed, do the same and get two skill lines unlocked.  After you get a skill point, place one skill each from Dual Wield and Two Handed on your bar and leave the Dual Wield Daggers equipped.
• The two handed skill line won’t be usable, BUT you’ll level the skill line regardless.  This will be helpful when you switch to two bars.  Some alternatives are sword and shield for tanking at end game, bow if you like range (not meta currently) or any weapon you think is interesting.

Ready to Go:

From here, you’ll have a great starting point for a new character.  You can “grind” mobs and get experience points very fast BUT you’ll lack the necessary skill points so it’s somewhat pointless.  Move from zone to zone, collecting skyshards for skill points and doing random normal dungeons via the dungeon finder at level 10.  This will give you huge XP, and a skill point for each new dungeon you complete.  This is great until reaching level 50 because THEN you’ll have tons of skill points and feel very powerful without the need to back track for 8 hours.

Experience Points Boosters & Grinds

Here’s how you can maximize your XP gains if you’re in a rush to end game.  I have a couple of different Grind Videos as well.  THIS ONE is for overland and Imperial City.  While THIS ONE is for BRP and Skyreach my preferred grinding spots.

• 10% from Each Armor & Weapon piece (purple quality)
• 10% ESO Plus Membership
• 10% from Marriage (to another player and have ring of Mara equipped)
• 10% for being in a group of two
• 1x Drink or XP Scroll Booster
  • 50% from Psijic Ambrosia Drink or EXP Scroll
  • 100% from Aetherial Ambrosia Drink or EXP Scroll
  • 150% from Mythic Aetherial Ambrosia Drink or EXP Scroll
• 100% ESO in game Events (Witches & New Life Festival etc.)

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.

Killers 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.

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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.

Killers 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.

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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) - burst damage after light/heavy attack weaving that heals when in range

Consuming Trap (Morph of Soul Trap | Skill line: Soul Magic) - A great magicka based sustain skill that can be used on low HP mobs for health and stamina. Consider this a flex spot and take Dark Shade for more damage.

Power Extraction (Morph of Drain Power | Skill line: Siphoning) - Great main spammable that buffs and debuffs the enemies.

Surprise Attack (Morph of Veiled Strike | Skill line: Shadow) - a great main spammable that hits very hard from the flank (side or back).

Killers Blade (Morph of Assassin's Blade | Skill line: Assassination) - Use as execute.

Incapacitating Strike (Morph of Death Stroke | Skill line: Assassination) - No change, amazing skill here.

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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) - massive AoE damage that cost magicka but scales with stamina. If you really struggle with survivability go with Refreshing Path but you'll lose a lot of DPS.

Carve (Morph of Cleave | Skill line: Two Handed) - Currently a DPS meta skill that gives a nice damage over time in a cone in front of you. Consider using this once and bar swapping.

Leeching Strikes (Morph of Siphoning Strikes | Skill line: Siphoning) - sustain tool keep up at all times.

Stampede (Morph of Critical Charge | Skill line: Two Handed) - Another DPS meta skill that pretty much all stamina user use. It's a gap closer, hits hard and does AoE damage.

Resolving Vigor (Morph of Vigor | Skill line: Assault) - This is a decent self heal. Every class has a healing option that you can swap to if you don't enjoy PvP. But do a few battlegrounds even if you get stomped, get this skill and be done with PvP if you don't like it.

Soul Tether (Morph of Soul Shred | Skill line: Siphoning) - Oh crap defensive ultimate. Work towards unlocking mages and fighters guild ultimates for better options here.

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Rotation

The nightblade has so many good DoTs and buffs it's hard to juggle.  Consider Carve/Stampede combo your go to back bar DoTs.  Front bar use the spammable and fire off your 5 stack shot when you need a heal.  Do AoE and execute using the back bar buffs for more damage and healing.

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Gear

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.

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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

1. Zaan’s = consider the best overall monster helm for DPS
2. Stormfist: = always works, easy to obtain and AoE DPS set.
3. Iceheart = great survivability
4. Selene = easy to obtain starter DPS monster helm and great for PvP

PROGRESSION 5pc SETS OPTIONS

1. Pillar of Nirn = best overall damage set
2. Briarheart: = Overland can be bought from traders great option for healing and weapon damage boost
3. Medusa = great damage set with always on minor force but you’ll need weapon and jewelry
4. Leviathan = great beginner dungeon set and base game
5. Order’s Wrath = best craftable option but High Isles set

MYTHIC PROGRESSION

1. Pale Order = best heals per second solo in the game
2. Oakensoul= the best one bar build for DPS – 5 Leads are here
3. Death Dealer’s Fete = high max stats and requires no effect but in combat

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Passives

Class Passives

Weapon Passives

Armor Passives

Guild Passives

Alliance Passives

World Passives

Make sure to focus on maxing out the following passives skills as they add performance to your character:

• Class skill lines
• Armor skill lines
• Undaunted (must have)
• Fighter’s Guild (optional)
• Mage’s Guild (optional)
• Psijic (optional)
• Crafting Alchemy (Medicinal Use for potion duration)
• Race

Races

Orc

Great bonuses for melee DPS with and health on dealing damage.

• Craftsman
• Brawny
• Unflincing Rage
• Swift Warrior

Imperial

Human appearing and god tier sustain which is very helpful starting out.

• Diplomat
• Tough
• Imperial Mettle
• Red Diamond

Khajiit

Considered the best overall for damage due to critical damage passive.

• Cutpurse
• Robustness
• Lunar Blessings
• Feline Ambush

Attributes

Mundus Stone

Thief - OPTIMAL: this will increase you damage and healing significantly. Increases the Critical Strike rating by 1333. With 7 Divines armor pieces: Increases the Critical Strike rating by 2167. Found Malabal Tor, Eastmarch and Alik'r Desert.

Warrior - ALTERNATIVE: this is a good balance between healing and damage Increases Weapon Damage by 238 (411 with 8 Legendary Divine Traits). Found in Malabal Tor, Alik'r Desert, Eastmarch.

Champion Points

Warfare

Endless Endurance (Passive) - 50
Increases your Max Stamina by 26 per stage.

Untamed Aggression (Slottable) - 50
Increases your Weapon and Spell Damage by 3 per stage.

Reaving Blows (Slottable) - 50
When you deal Direct Damage you heal for 7% of the damage done.

Master-at-Arms (Slottable) - 50
Increases your damage done with direct damage attacks by 3% per stage.

Flex Spot(s): I'm assuming you either have zero champion points or very few.  In that case, take the "unattached" CP which give you benefits straight away and work towards more optimal CP later on as you progress.  The most important passive that you should get straight away is in the sub constellation Staving Death and it's Preparation (20).  This will give you permanent 10% damage reduction and doesn't require a slottable!  The rest of the passives are below.

• Precision (20), Piercing (20), Eldritch Insight (20), Flawless Ritual (40), War Mage (30), Quick Recovery (20), Preparation (20), Elemental Aegis (20), Hardy (20), Blessed (20), Tireless Discipline (20), Battle Mastery (40), & Mighty (30)

Fitness

Boundless Vitality (Slottable) - 50
Grants 28 Max Health per stage.

Rejuvenation (Slottable) - 50
Grants 1.8 Health, Magicka, and Stamina Recovery per stage.

Fortified (Slottable) - 50
Grants 34.6 Armor per stage.

Bloody Renewal (Slottable) - 50
Restore 300 Stamina per stage, whenever you kill an enemy.

Flex Spot(s): I'm assuming you either have zero champion points or very few.  In that case, take the "unattached" CP which give you benefits straight away and work towards more optimal CP later on as you progress.  The rest of the passives are below.

• Tumbling (30), Mystic Tenacity (10), Hero’s Vigor (20), Shield Master (10), Defiance (20), Hasty (16), Tireless Guardian (20), Fortification (30), Sprinter (20), Nimble Protector (6), Savage Defense (30), Bashing Brutality (20), & Piercing Gaze (30)

Crafting

Steed's Blessing (Slottable) - 50
Increases your out of combat Movement Speed by .4% per stage.

Treasure Hunter (Slottable) - 50
Increase the quality of items you find in treasure chests.

Liquid Efficiency (Slottable) - 75
Whenever you use a potion or poison you have a 10% chance to not consume it.

Rationer (Passives) - 30
Adds 10 minutes to the duration of any food or drink that increases your character's stats per stage.

Flex Spot(s): I'm assuming you either have zero champion points or very few.  In that case, take the "unattached" CP which give you benefits straight away and work towards more optimal CP later on as you progress. The rest of the passives are below.

• Breakfall (50), Wanderer (75), Steadfast Enchantment (50), Fortune’s Favor (40), Gilded Fingers (50), & Inspiration Boost (45)

Consumables

Crown Refreshing Drink

Type: Foods

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

Type: Foods

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

Type: Foods

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.

Essence of Weapon Power

Type: Potions

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.

Wrap Up

LIGHT ATTACK WEAVING GUIDE

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