ESO Magicka Nightblade PvE Build

Table of Contents

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

Last Updated: 2023-03-23

The ESO Magicka Nightblade PvE Build remains one of the strongest PvE classes in the game. 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.  You’ll want to pick this up if you love the range caster playstyle with insane ultimate and survivability.

Related: Top 5 Tips for Increasing Your DPS

Last updated March 23rd, 2023, update 37 and the Scribes of Fate DLC: The ESO Magicka Nightblade PvE Build is still often used in dungeons and trials by many veteran players. In the current meta, the Nightblade class can provide excellent ultimate generation on top of great damage. We adjusted relevant item sets, Pillar of Nirn and Perfect Whorl of the Depths, along with changing the most effective parse bar and gear. The build lists a few gear options – for beginner players without access to all sets and/or DLCs and two best in-slot trial options. The champion points suggested are also assuming you want the most damage, not survivability. Adjust where you see fit, and make sure to use sets and skills that work better for your group combination and harder end-game content.

Magica Nightblade Playstyle in PvE

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.

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.

 

The Best PvE Magicka Nightblade Build

In ESO, the Magicka Nightblade is perfect for everyone who is looking for a challenging, fast class with high damage and great ultimate generation. So if the assassin playstyle and following “pros” is what you are looking for, this build is for you!

Pros

• Unmatched ultimate generation
• Incredible survivability
• Excels at single target and AoE

Cons

• Can be complex to master
• Top end gear difficult to obtain

Keep reading for all the details about Skills, Rotation, Gear, Passives and Champion points for the build! The Gear section will include options for Beginner, Intermediate, and Optimal set-ups, with plenty of flex options available for those still filling out their sticker books.

Skills

Front Bar (dual wield)

Front Bar Weapon Style Choices:

• Dual Wield = better passives and more raw damage due to Twin Blade and Blunt passive.
• Flame Staff = more range and hard hitting single target
• Lighting Staff = decent option on back bar for fully charge heavy attacking

Merciless Resolve (Morph of Grim Focus | Skill line: Assassination) - Mainly used to build up stacks and use at 5 for hard hitting damage ability.

Dark Shade (Morph of Summon Shade | Skill line: Shadow) - Hard hitting single target damage over time ability.

Barbed Trap (Morph of Trap Beast | Skill line: Fighters Guild) - Most damage possible single target on front bar. Swap Sap Essence during AoE pulls.

Concealed Weapon (Morph of Veiled Strike | Skill line: Shadow) - Update 35 changed the main spammable options including Nightblades. You can see more damage playing with main spammable in range but reduced healing than Swallow Soul.

Impale (Morph of Assassin's Blade | Skill line: Assassination) - replaces our main spammable at around 25%, switch to this until kill.

Soul Harvest (Morph of Death Stroke | Skill line: Assassination) - mainly slottable ultimate to generate ultimate on kills but cast for low cost burst with increased damage

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Back Bar (Fire Staff)

Back bar options:

• Inferno Staff = great all-around damage with Unstable Wall and fully charge heavy to sustain magicka
• Lighting Staff = good for beginners who lack magicka sustain because its easier to set off balance and fully charge heavy for resources
• Two Handed = incredible damage with stampede ability though hard to sustain stamina

Mystic Orb (Morph of Necrotic Orb | Skill line: Undaunted) - When in a group, the more synergies the team has, the better. With undaunted passives giving back resource every activation, and with Mystic Orbs providing huge damage it’s a must for most groups. This also aids in single target and area damage. We do recommend using Razor Caltrops in the event multiple players are running this orb so it doesn’t get redundant. The main point for Mystic is you want players to activate the synergy to give them back resources and free AoE damage. If someone else is providing, feel free to slot something else in this position.

Siphoning Attacks (Morph of Siphoning Strikes | Skill line: Siphoning) - After casting, your light and heavy attacks heal you, and give you back magicka resources

Harness Magicka (Morph of Annulment | Skill line: Light Armor) - A shield that absorbs damage for 6 seconds and helps you restore magicka when you take damage.

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

Unstable Wall Of Elements (Morph of Wall of Elements | Skill line: Destruction Staff) - Unstable does a lot of things like massive flame AoE damage and an explosion at the end. You can recast the ability to activate this explosion for a spammable AoE ability though we have sweeps. Commonly folks will use the VMA Maelstrom staff on their back bar with infused trait and spell damage glyph because it’ll proc the extra spell damage even when you swap bars. Consider this your most important back bar buff.

Shooting Star (Morph of Meteor | Skill line: Mages Guild) - Best back bar ultimate for boss burns, consider Destruction staff until you get this unlocked and leveled.

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Rotation

• Prebuff, Front Bar Merciless, Shade, swap, Channeled, Siphoning, ultimate to start
• Move into range, Twisting, Unstable bar swap
• light weave swallow soul and reaply buffs
• Fire off shot of Assassins’ will
• Go to back bar, recast unstable, twisting, siphoning, bar swap, shade, rinse and repeat

Rotation

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Gear

Best in Slot

Best in Slot Damage for group PvE

Slot	Type	Set	Trait	Glyph
Head	medium	Kjalnar's Nightmare	Divines	Magicka
Shoulders	light	Kjalnar's Nightmare	Divines	Magicka
Chest	light	Perfect Whorl of the Depths	Divines	Magicka
Legs	medium	Harpooner's Kilt	Divines	Magicka
Gloves	light	Perfect Whorl of the Depths	Divines	Magicka
Boots	light	Perfect Whorl of the Depths	Divines	Magicka
Belt	light	Perfect Whorl of the Depths	Divines	Magicka
Weapon One	Dagger	Perfect Whorl of the Depths	Nirnhoned > Precise	Flame
Secondary	Dagger	Pillar of Nirn	Charged	Poison
Weapon Two	Fire Staff	Pillar of Nirn	Infused	Spell Damage
Necklace		Pillar of Nirn	Bloodthirsty	Spell Damage
Ring 1		Pillar of Nirn	Bloodthirsty	Spell Damage
Ring 2		Pillar of Nirn	Bloodthirsty	Spell Damage

Desktop hover over gear for set bonuses, mobile click once for set bonuses

Kjalnar’s Nightmare: Veteran dungeon Unhallowed Gravek, Harrowstorm DLC.

• Why? great single target damage ONLY one player can have this in your group.

FLEX OPTIONS

1. Zaan – high DPS monster helm
2. 1pc Slimecraw and 1pc Harpooner’s Wading Kilt Set this setup still strong, make sure you don’t hit crit damage cap.
3. Kra’gh – one pc is great for pen, two piece does good single target damage

Harpooner’s Wading Kilt Set: obtained through mythic leads. You need five items/leads to complete the mythic gear piece.

• Why? overall the most DPS possible for a one-piece mythic.
• You need 5 items to be able to create the Mythic item Harpooner’s Wading Kilt. Location of the 5 pieces:
  • Murkmire – Wolf-Tail Sash Lead – Murkmire Foul Fishing Spots
  • Blackwood – Kothringi-Cut Leather Lead – World Boss Death Wart, World Boss Sul-Xan Ritualists
  • Shadowfen – Bog-Blue Jasper Fetish Lead – Ruins of Mazzatun Dungeon last boss
  • Shadowfen – Tide-Glass Beads Lead –  All water and alchemy nodes
  • Bal Foyen – Silverweave Cord Lead – Covenant Enemies, most likely all enemies

FLEX OPTIONS MYTHICS

1. Mora’s Whisper = Update 34, 10% critical chance for great damage boost
2. Death Dealer’s Fete = great option when taking damage

Pillar of Nirn: Obtained in Falkreath Hold dungeon, Horns of the Reach DLC.

• WHY? great proc damage set without having to light attack weave

FLEX OPTIONS BODY

1. Perfected Bahsei’s Mania = If you can manage around 20-50% magicka, you’ll get flat damage increase.
2. Perfected Mantle of Siroria = Update 35 made this popular again so consider using in parse/stationary trials.
3. Perfected False Gods = great resource sustain set.
4. Order’s Wrath = Crafted and best overall option for great damage.
5. Mother’s Sorrow = decent overland set for starters

Perfect Whorl of the Depths: obtained in Veteran Dreadsail Reef trial DLC High Isle.

• Why? one of the hardest-hitting proc sets in the game.

FLEX OPTION FRONT BAR

1. Kinras’s Wrath = good only if you can light attack weave constantly, though I have low uptime with this set.
2. Z’en’s Redress = group utility and damage for trials
3. Burning Spellweave = simple dungeon setup great front bar option

Perfected Crushing Wall: from Veteran Maelstrom Arena in Orsinium

• WHY? Increase your overall DPS massively due to wall of elements and light attack damage increase.

FLEX OPTIONS

1. Perfected Merciless Charge = must change out blockade for Stampede, considered meta, but struggle with sustain
2. Willpower = extra 2pc set

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Parse

Most single target Damage on target dummy possible

Slot	Type	Set	Trait	Glyph
Head	light	Zaan	Divines	Magicka
Shoulders	medium	Zaan	Divines	Magicka
Chest	light	Perfected Mantle of Siroria	Divines	Magicka
Legs	light	Perfected Mantle of Siroria	Divines	Magicka
Gloves	light	Perfected Mantle of Siroria	Divines	Magicka
Boots	light	Perfected Mantle of Siroria	Divines	Magicka
Belt	light	Perfected Mantle of Siroria	Divines	Magicka
Weapon One	Dagger	Perfected Arms of Relequen	Nirnhoned	Poison
Secondary	Dagger	Perfected Arms of Relequen	Charged	Fire
Weapon Two	Fire Staff	Perfected Merciless Charge	Infused	Weapon & Spell Damage
Necklace		Perfected Arms of Relequen	Bloodthirsty	Spell Damage
Ring 1		Perfected Arms of Relequen	Bloodthirsty	Spell Damage
Ring 2		Perfected Arms of Relequen	Bloodthirsty	Spell Damage

Desktop hover over gear for set bonuses, mobile click once for set bonuses

Zaan: Veteran dungeon Scalecaller Peak, Dragon Bone DLC.

• Why? The highest DPS monster helm currently which can out perform Harpooner’s Wading Kilt Set.

Harpooner’s Wading Kilt Set: obtained through mythic leads. You need five items/leads to complete the mythic gear piece.

• Why? overall the most DPS possible for a one-piece mythic.
• You need 5 items to be able to create the Mythic item Harpooner’s Wading Kilt. Location of the 5 pieces:
  • Murkmire – Wolf-Tail Sash Lead – Murkmire Foul Fishing Spots
  • Blackwood – Kothringi-Cut Leather Lead – World Boss Death Wart, World Boss Sul-Xan Ritualists
  • Shadowfen – Bog-Blue Jasper Fetish Lead – Ruins of Mazzatun Dungeon last boss
  • Shadowfen – Tide-Glass Beads Lead –  All water and alchemy nodes
  • Bal Foyen – Silverweave Cord Lead – Covenant Enemies, most likely all enemies

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Beginner

meant for the average player who can complete overland content and or craft basic gear

Slot	Type	Set	Trait	Glyph
Head	light	Withered Hand	Divines	Magicka
Shoulders	light	Withered Hand	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	Dagger	Willpower	Precise or Sharpened	Flame
Secondary	Dagger	Willpower	Charged	Poison
Weapon Two	Inferno Staff	Willpower	Infused	Weapon Damage
Necklace		Withered Hand	Arcane	Magicka Recovery
Ring 1		Withered Hand	Arcane	Spell Power
Ring 2		Withered Hand	Arcane	Spell Power

Desktop hover over gear for set bonuses, mobile click once for set bonuses

• 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.

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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
• Fighter’s Guild (optional)
• Mage’s Guild (optional)
• Undaunted (must have)
• Psijic (optional)
• Crafting Alchemy (Medicinal Use for potion duration)
• Race
• Alliance War
• World Vampire if using

Races

Dark Elf

• Ashlander
• Dynamic
• Resist Flame
• Ruination

Khajiit

• Cutpurse
• Robustness
• Lunar Blessings
• Feline Ambush

Attributes

Mundus Stone

Thief - Increases the Critical Strike rating by 1333. With 7 Divines armor pieces: Increases the Critical Strike rating by 2167

Champion Points

Warfare

Fighting Finesse (Slottable) - 50
Increases your Critical Damage and Critical Healing done by 4% per stage.

Deadly Aim (Slottable) - 50
Increase your damage done with single target attacks by 3% per stage.

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

Wrathful Strikes (Slottable) - 50
Grants 41 Weapon and Spell Damage to your damaging abilities per stage.

Flex Spot(s): If you can afford, take these passives as they add power without a slottable: 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

Siphoning Spells (Slottable) - 50
Restore 300 Magicka per stage, whenever you kill an enemy.

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

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

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

Flex Spot(s): If you can afford, take these passives as they add power without a slottable: 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.

Rationer (Passives) - 50
Adds 10 minutes to the duration of any food or drink that increases your character's stats per stage.

Liquid Efficiency (Slottable) - 50
Whenever you use a potion or poison you have a 10% chance to not consume it.

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

Flex Spot(s): If you can afford, take these passives as they add power without a slottable: Breakfall (50), Wanderer (75), Steadfast Enchantment (50), Fortune’s Favor (40), Gilded Fingers (50), & Inspiration Boost (45)

Consumables

Clockwork Citrus Filet

Type: Foods

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

Type: Foods

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)

Ghastly Eye Bowl

Type: Foods

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

Essence of Spell Power

Type: Potions

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)

Wrap Up

Additional Guides

Thank you for reading ESO Magicka Nightblade PvE Build!

Check our ESO builds and guides. Also, consider watching me on Twitch, where you can ask me questions about my current builds or check out the YouTube Channel.

• Complete Beginners Guide
  • Skill Points Guide
  • Champion Point System Guide
• PvP Beginner Guide
  • How to farm Alliance Points (AP)
  • How to farm Tel Var Stones
• Addons, UI, and Keybinds Guide for ESO
• Tales of Tribute Guide