ESO Magicka Necromancer PvE Build

This guide explains how to use the best Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) Magicka Necromancer PvE Build, skills, gear, champion points, and more!

ESO Lich Magicka Necro Build

This build has been updated for the Update 41 patch of the Elder Scrolls Online.

Why Should You Play the ESO Magicka Necromancer PVE Build?

The ESO Magicka Necromancer PVE build is for players looking to complete solo or small-group content with a well-rounded class. Firstly, the build shines in both single-target and AoE attacks, also, the damage output is insane! Necromancers can be challenging for beginners compared to other classes because some of their moves depend on corpses on the ground and keeping buffs up, but it is definitely doable!

The ESO Magicka Necromancer PVE Build 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) all the way 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.

Healing

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 Magicka Necromancer PvE Build Features and Mechanics

Below are some of the features found using the PvE Magicka Necromancer in the Elder Scrolls Online:

  • Class – Necromancer
  • Weapon One – Dual Wield
  • Weapon Two – Flame Staff
  • Armor Types: 6 Medium, 1 Light
  • Mythic: Velothi Ur-Mage’s Amulet
  • Race: Dark Elf
  • Attributes: 64 Magicka
  • Mundus Stone: Thief

Skills

Front Bar – Dual Wield

Front Bar Weapon Style Choices:

  1. Dual Wield
  2. Flame Staff
  3. Lighting Staff

Grave Lords Sacrifice (Morph of Blastbones | Skill Line : Grave Lord) – 15% increase in damage done with class abilities and damage over time effects for 20 seconds.

Ricochet Skull (Morph of Flame Skull | Skill Line : Grave Lord) – Our ranged main spammable ability.

Deadly Cloak (Morph of Blade Cloak | Skill Line : Dual Wield) – Reduces damage from AoE and deals AoE in return.

Detonating Siphon (Morph of Shocking Siphon | Skill Line : Grave Lord) – Uses a corpse for crazy AoE DoT.

Camouflaged Hunter (Morph of Expert Hunter | Skill Line : Fighters Guild) – Use for critical damage buff and minor berserker.

Flawless Dawnbreaker (Morph of Dawnbreaker | Skill Line : Fighters Guild) – Reworked in latest update to give spell damage of 300 for 20 seconds and passive spell damage of 3% for slotting on our spammable bar.

Back Bar – Fire Staff

Back bar options:

  1. Inferno Staff
  2. Lighting Staff
  3. Two Handed

Unnerving Boneyard (Morph of Boneyard | Skill Line : Grave Lord) – Damage over time that also debuffs mobs resistances.

Blockade of Fire (Morph of Wall of Elements | Skill Line : Destruction Staff) – AoE deals magic damage plus additional effect depending on type of staff

Skeletal Arcanist (Morph of Skeletal Mage | Skill Line : Grave Lord) – Summons skeleton mage for 20 seconds. Deals AoE shock damage to nearby enemies.

Anti Cavalry Caltrops (Morph of Caltrops | Skill Line : Assault) – Causes physical damage, movement reduction, and stamina drain.

Camouflaged Hunter (Morph of Expert Hunter | Skill Line : Fighters Guild) – Can be used as a flex spot for Resistant Flesh or Mortal Coil for a heal.

Glacial Colossus (Morph of Frozen Colossus | Skill Line : Grave Lord) – Colossus summon deals Frost damage in three smashes, and stuns enemies for 4 seconds in final blow. Also applies Major Vulnerability to all enemies hit for 17 seconds.

Rotation and Parse

The new necromancer is going to take some time getting used to. With the major rework of Blastbones, Grave Lord’s Sacrifice now buffs your class abilities and DoTs by 15% for 20 seconds, instead of being a skill you need to recast the skeleton every third skill. There was also an extra AOE added to the skill, causing your third Flame Skull cast to deal its damage in an area around your target. Because of this, Flame Skull is a pretty solid spammable.

While Magicka Necromancer is definitely a viable option, Stamina Necro will likely outperform it in AOE situations because of the changes made to disease and Venom Skull, but we’ll address those strengths later.

As a rotation, you can pre-buff a fight with Skeletal Arcanist, and Deadly Cloak, then you’ll want to press Grave Lord’s Sacrifice as soon as you enter combat. Unfortunately, you cannot cast this skill outside of combat. Then you’ll Bar Swap>Colossus>Elemental Blockade>Bar Swap>Detonating Siphon>Bar Swap>Unnerving Boneyard>Anti-Cavalry Caltrops>Bar Swap>then spam Ricochet Skull until you need to start applying DoTs again. If you end up needing more AOE damage or sustain, you can also cast Detonating Siphon early, as you get corpses to consume.

Passives Skills

Below are the lines of the passive skill that add power without requiring a skill slot while playing the ESO PvE Magicka Necromancer Build. Consider taking all the skill passives in the skill tree listed below:

  • Bone Tyrant  (class skill line)
  • ‎Grave Lord (class skill line)
  • Living Death (class skill line)
  • Dual Wield (weapon skill line)
  • Destruction Staff (weapon skill line)
  • Light Armor
  • Medium Armor
  • Undaunted
  • Fight’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 Pve Magicka Necromancer Build:

SlotTypeSetTraitGlyph
HeadMediumAegis CallerDivinesStamina
ShouldersLightSlimecrawDivinesStamina
ChestMediumPerfected Ansuul’s TormentDivinesStamina
LegsMediumPerfected Ansuul’s TormentDivinesStamina
GlovesMediumPerfected Ansuul’s TormentDivinesStamina
BootsMediumPerfected Ansuul’s TormentDivinesStamina
BeltMediumPerfected Ansuul’s TormentDivinesStamina
Weapon OneDaggerAegis CallerChargedFire
SecondaryDaggerAegis CallerChargedPoison
Weapon TwoFlame StaffPerfected Crushing WallInfusedWeapon Damage
NecklaceVelothi Ur-Mage’s AmuletBloodthirstyWeapon/Spell Damage
Ring 1Aegis CallerBloodthirstyWeapon/Spell Damage
Ring 2Aegis CallerBloodthirstyWeapon/Spell Damage
ESO Magicka Necromancer PvE Build

Magicka and stamina builds will run similar gear setups, including medium armor. Medium is more robust in trials due to the passive bonuses. If you don’t play with a coordinated trials team, you can swap to Light. However, it will suffer overall damage loss.

Monster Helms and Mythic

Veloth Ur-Mages Amulet: Mythic item requiring the Antiquies system and Necrom Chapter. Requires five leads; find them here. Incredibly strong passive damage in the current meta.

Slimecraw: Obtained in Wayrest Sewers I Veteran dungeon and Maj Undaunted Vendor. Gives us the highest critical chance for a one-piece item.

FLEX OPTIONS

  1. Harpooner’s Wading Kilt Set = Great mythic if avoiding damage and can keep the stacks up.
  2. Mora’s Whisper = This provides up to 10% critical chance but requires collections of Mages Guild Books on your specific character.
  3. Death Dealer’s Fete = Is a great option because it boosts max stats with zero downsides.
Gear Sets

Aegis Caller: Dungeon set that drops in Unhallowed Grave, Harrowstorm DLC. Passive Bleed damage and good bonuses for martial melee build.

Perfected Ansuul’s Torment: Obtained in Sanity’s Edge, Necrom Chapter Trial. It is the best overall damage-dealing set that comes in medium armor. If you struggle with resources, you can swap to a light armor setup but it will be less 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

  1. Pillar of Nirn: Obtained in Falkreath Hold dungeon, Horns of the Reach DLC.
  2. Perfect Whorl of the Depths: Trial set found in Dreadsail Reef, High Isle chapter.
  3. Kinra’s Wrath = Dungeon set that drops in Black Drake Villa, Flames of Ambition DLC.
  4. Perfected Arms of Relequen = the bust pure damage set in the game.
  5. Perfected Coral Riptide = god tier damage if you run low stamina (dodge roll a bit before pull)
  6. Order’s Wrath = great craftable option though watch for too much critical damage (125% cap)
  7. Leviathan = easy base game dungeon set with high critical

Gear – Beginner

This setup is great for beginners who do not have access to trials gear

SlotTypeSetTraitGlyph
HeadLightWithered HandDivinesMagicka
ShouldersLightWithered HandDivinesMagicka
ChestLightMother’s SorrowDivinesMagicka
LegsLightMother’s SorrowDivinesMagicka
GlovesLightMother’s SorrowDivinesMagicka
BootsLightMother’s SorrowDivinesMagicka
BeltLightMother’s SorrowDivinesMagicka
Weapon OneDaggerTrainee or WillpowerPrecise or SharpenedFlame
SecondaryDaggerTrainee or WillpowerPrecise or SharpenedPoison
Weapon TwoInferno StaffTrainee or WillpowerInfusedWeapon Damage
NecklaceWithered HandArcaneMagicka Recovery
Ring 1Withered HandArcaneSpell Power
Ring 2Withered HandArcaneSpell Power
PvE Magicka Necromancer Beginner Build
  • Withered Hand: obtained in Alik’r Desert overland  or from guild traders (delves, dolmans, world bosses, chest). WHY? If you’re new player, low champion points and lack trials gear, this gives great sustain and healing when killing mobs and is ideal for a newer player.
  • Mother’s Sorrow: obtained in overland zone Deshaan or from guild traders (delves, dolmans, world bosses, chest). WHY? easy to obtain and works well at every stage of the game including end game trials!
  • Willpower: obtained in Imperial City keys or dungeon finder rewards or on guild traders. Great two piece bonus.

Race

The best racial choice for the ESO Magicka Necromancer PvE Build is below:

  1. 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.
  2. 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%.
  3. 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.

Attributes

The best choice for slotting Attribute points is 64 magicka, which increases damage, healing, and shields.

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 PvE Magicka Necromancer Build

Warfare Constellation Champion Points

ESO Warfare Champion Tree

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 Magicka Necromancer PvE Build:

  1. Precision 10
  2. Wrathful Strikes (slottable) 50
  3. Fighting Finesse (slottable) 50
  4. Extended Might – sub constellation – piercing 10
  5. Deadly Aim (slottable) 50
  6. 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.

  1. Precision 10
  2. Piercing 10
  3. Tireless discipline 20
  4. Eldritch insight 20
  5. Blessed 20
  6. Quick recovery 20
  7. Flawless ritual 40
  8. War mage 30
  9. Battle mastery 40
  10. Mighty 30
  11. Elemental aegis 20
  12. Hardy 20
  13. 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

ESO Fitness Champion Tree

Below are recommended Fitness Champion Point selections for the ESO Magicka Necromancer PvE Build:

  1. Fortified (slottable) 50
  2. Boundless vitality (slottable) 50
  3. Rejuvenation (slottable) 50
  4. Sprinter 10
  5. Winder chaser – sub con – hasty 8
  6. Hero’s Vigor 10
  7. 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. 

  1. Hero’s Vigor 10
  2. Tumbling 30
  3. Sprinter 10
  4. Defiance 20
  5. Hasty 8
  6. Tireless guardian 20
  7. Fortification 30
  8. Nimble 6
  9. Mystic tenacity 50
  10. Tempered soul 50
  11. Piercing gaze 30
  12. Savage defense  30
  13. 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

ESO Craft Champion Tree

Below are recommended Craft Champion Point selections for the ESO Magicka Necromancer PvE Build:

  1. Steed’s blessing (slottable) – 50
  2. Breakfall 10 
  3. Wanderer 15
  4. Steadfast 10
  5. Treasure hunter 50 (slottable)
  6. rationer (slottable) 30
  7. 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.

  1. Steadfast enchantment 40cp
  2. Breakfall 40 cp
  3. Wanderer 60
  4. Fortunes favor 50
  5. Friends in low places 25
  6. Out of sight 30
  7. Fleet of phantom 40
  8. Soul’s Reservoir 33
  9. Gilded fingers 50
  10. Fortunes favor 40
  11. Inspiration boost 45
  12. 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

Ghastly Eye Bowl

DPS Parse: Increase Max Magicka by 4256 and Magicka Recovery by 425 for 2 hours. (effects are scaled based on your level)

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. (effects are scaled based on your level)

Witchmother’s Brew

CHEAP: Increase Max Magicka by 2856, Max Health by 3094, and Magicka Recovery by 315 for 2 hours. (effects are scaled based on your level)

Potions

Essence of Spell Power

Grants major sorcery with increases spell damage by 20% for 47.6 seconds. Grants 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 PvE Magicka Necromancer

Class: Necromancer

Race: Dark Elf

Attributes: 64 Magicka

Mundus Stone: Thief

Weapon One: Dual Wield

Weapon Two: Destruction Staff

Armor Set 1: Aegis Caller

Armor Set 2: Perfected Ansuul’s Torment

Monster Helm: Slimecraw

Mythic: Velothi Ur-Mage’s Amulet

Armor Weight: 6 Medium, 1 Light

Skill Bar 1

  • Grave Lord’s Sacrifice
  • Ricochet Skull
  • Deadly Cloak
  • Detonating Siphon
  • Camouflage Hunter
  • Flawless Dawnbreaker (Ultimate)

Skill Bar 2

  • Unnerving Boneyard
  • Elemental Blockade
  • Skeletal Arcanist
  • Anti-Cavalry Caltrops
  • Camouflage Hunter
  • Glacial Colossus (Ultimate)

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