This guide explains how to use the best Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) Magicka Sorcerer PvP Build, skills, gear, champion points, and more!
This build has been updated for the Updated 42, the Gold Road Chapter of the Elder Scrolls Online (ESO).
Magicka Sorcerer PvP Gameplay in ESO
The Magicka Sorcerer (Magsorc) is for players looking to play PvP content with high mobility, burst, and survivability. Known for its high damage per second, burst potential, and unparalleled mobility, the Magsorc offers a dynamic and powerful playstyle. However, mastering the class requires skillful execution of combos and constant use of Streak for survival.
Sorcerer Class Pros
- Dominate at Range: Both Magicka and Stamina Sorcerers excel at ranged combat, using abilities like Force Pulse and Crystal Weapon to decimate targets from a distance.
- Best Mobility: Streak remains the most powerful mobility skill in ESO, allowing Sorcerers to quickly reposition, escape danger, or chase down enemies.
- Great Burst: Sorcerers can unleash devastating combos, delivering some of the highest burst damage in PvP. Although these combos can be challenging to execute, they are incredibly effective when performed correctly.
Sorcerer Class Cons
- Weak Healing: Despite recent buffs, Sorcerer healing is still not as dominant as that of other classes. This can make sustaining through prolonged engagements more challenging.
- Lower AOE: Magicka and Stamina Sorcerers differ significantly in their area damage potential, with Magicka Sorcerers generally having less effective AOE capabilities compared to other classes.
- Difficult to Play: The Sorcerer requires constant situational awareness and precise execution of abilities, making it a challenging class to master.
With its dominant ranged capabilities, unparalleled mobility, and devastating burst damage, the Magsorc is a formidable presence on the battlefield. While it requires skill and practice to overcome its challenges, the rewards of playing this class are well worth the effort for those seeking a dynamic and impactful PvP playstyle in ESO.
ESO Magicka Sorcerer PvP Features and Mechanics
Below are some of the features found using the ESO Magicka Sorcerer PvP in the Elder Scrolls Online:
- Class – Sorcerer
- Weapon One – Fire Staff
- Weapon Two – Restoration Staff
- Armor Types – 3 Light, 1 Medium, 3 Heavy
- Race: High Elf
- Attributes 32 health, 32 magicka
- Infection – Vampire Stage 3 (optional)
- Mundus Stone – Atronach
- Best Grimoire – Soul Burst
Related:
Skills
Front Bar
Front Bar Weapon Options: They are all good choices depending on your playstyle and needs. Experiment with what works best.
- Fire staff
- Lightning Staff
- Dual Wield
Streak (Morph of Bolt Escape | Skill Line : Storm Calling) – This ability is obviously an on-demand mobility tool. It’s used offensively to drop block by streaking through targets. You can also use it as a get away tool when in trouble. I try to dodge, streak together to use both resource pools for escaping.
Crystal Fragments (Morph of Crystal Shard | Skill Line : Dark Magic) – Frags is our bursting tool and with this build you should only used when “proc’d” meaning you hear a sound and see the skill change icons to purplish. You can always save a frag proc for a burst combo so don’t feel like you need to use it every single time immediately. We won’t have a spammable ability like traditional builds so “hard cast” if you have all your pressure DoTs up.
Crushing Shock (Morph of Force Shock | Skill Line : Destruction Staff) – Single target spammable ability pair with C-Frags and Fury for execute. You can also use Haunting Curse in this position as well.
Mages’ Fury (Skill Line : Storm Calling) – Our execute damage ability used to prep low health targets.
Summon Twilight Matriarch (Morph of Summon Winged Twilight | Skill Line : Daedric Summoning) – Our spammable burst heal that does great at distracting and off healing allies.
Power Overload (Morph of Overload | Skill Line : Storm Calling) – Single target damage-dealing ability.
Back Bar
Back Bar Weapon Options: You want a defensive option here either for block mitigation, healing or skills.
- Restoration Staff
- Frost Staff
- Sword and Shield
Hurricane (Morph of Lightning Form | Skill Line : Storm Calling) – Armor buff and mobility along with damage, makes you tankier and faster with long duration.
Summon Twilight Matriarch (Morph of Summon Winged Twilight | Skill Line : Daedric Summoning) – Doubled barred so it doesn’t come off.
Hardened Ward (Morph of Conjured Ward | Skill Line : Daedric Summoning) – Survivability when our health dips or is likely to dip cast. The trick to playing a sorc is constantly swapping to apply this buff then going on offensive for 6 seconds, rinse and repeat. If you don’t, you’ll be exposed because you have lower resistance than other builds. So either double bar or get use to bar swapping constantly.
Resolving Vigor (Morph of Vigor | Skill Line : Assault) – Good burst heal and it gives minor armor buff to be combined with major.
Dark Conversion (Morph of Dark Exchange | Skill Line : Dark Magic) – Infinite resource loop with a burst heal. You trade your stamina for magicka which is great since we have a large stamina pool. It also has some sustain over time so you can use this to top off and regen. Also, this acts as our burst heal so as long as we have a shield first, we can cast this and get a nice boost to healing.
Life Giver (Morph of Panacea | Skill Line : Restoration Staff) – Our panic button survival ultimate.
Scribing Skills & Grimoires – ESO Magicka Sorcerer PvP Build
Soul Burst is the best Grimoire (skills) for a Magicka Sorcerer PvP build. We typically recommend Traveling Knife; however, that requires dual wielding and doesn’t fit the typical Sorc playstyle. Moreover, the Destruction Staff Grimoire has a long channel time and can be useful for defending a keep but harder to pull off in the open field. Soul Burst is a helpful crowd control and buff skill. You can immobilize, pull, or snare targets and get your favorite minor buffs. Below are the suggested combination of Grimoires, focus, signature, and affix scripts:
- Soul Burst (soul magic) – Immobilize or Pull (focus script), Class Mastery or Hunter’s Snare (signature script), Courage or Expedition (Affix Script)
The Scribing System utilizes one of 11 new skills from the Gold Road Chapter called Grimoires. With Grimoires, you can customize spells via Scripts. The scribing feature requires the purchase of the Gold Road Chapter (sponsored link). To learn more about scribing, check out our full guide here.
Passives Skills
Consider taking all of the passives in the below skill trees to increase your builds performance without slotting any skills:
- Daedric Summoning (class skill line)
- Dark Magic (class skill line)
- Storm Calling (class skill line)
- Destruction Staff (weapon skill line)
- Restoration Staff (weapon skill line)
- Light Armor
- Medium Armor
- Heavy Armor
- Undaunted
- Fighters Guild
- Mages Guild
- Racial
- Alliance War Support
- Alliance War Assault
- Crafting, Alchemy Medicinal Use
Gear 1 – Best in Slot
Use the below gear setup for best in slot with the ESO Magicka Sorcerer PvP Build:
Slot | Type | Set | Trait | Glyph |
Head | Medium | Roksa the Warped | Infused | Prismatic |
Shoulders | Light | Roksa the Warped | Well-Fitted | Magicka |
Chest | Heavy | Way of Fire | Infused | Prismatic |
Legs | Heavy | Way of Fire | Infused | Prismatic |
Gloves | Light | Armor of the Trainee | Well-Fitted | Magicka |
Boots | Heavy | Way of Fire | Well-Fitted | Magicka |
Belt | Light | Rallying Cry | Well-Fitted | Magicka |
Weapon One | Fire Staff | Way of Fire | Sharpened | Shock |
Weapon Two | Restoration Staff | Rallying Cry | Powered | Weapon Damage |
Necklace | Rallying Cry | Infused | Spell Damage | |
Ring 1 | Death Dealer’s Fete | Infused | Spell Damage | |
Ring 2 | Rallying Cry | Infused | Spell Damage |
Monster and Mythic
Roksa the Warped: Obtained from Vet Bal Sunnar; Scribes of Fate DLC. This item set carries your survivability and resource sustain in a two-piece set, without Engine Guardian droid.
Death Dealer’s Fete: Obtained through the mythic system. Gives us much bigger stat pool increasing shield size and damage.
Alternatives
- Engine Guardian: Incredible selfish (just you) base game sustain set.
- Balorgh: Massive burst damage.
- Zoal the Ever-Wakeful: Counter gank.
- Magma Incarnate: Good all-around damage, sustain and resistance.
- Torc of Tonal Constancy: Sustain mythic.
- Gaze of Sithis: Survivability mythic through changes up setup.
Gear Sets
- Rallying Cry: Obtained from Cyrodiil rewards of the worth or guild traders. A great offensive and defensive set that lowers the burst damage you receive and increases your damage and healing.
- Way of Fire: Obtained from Craglorn overland zones, delves, and chest, along with guild traders. Gives insane burst damage single target.
- Armor of the Trainee: One piece extra stat; Druid’s is craftable if you don’t want to fuss with Trainee.
Alternative Sets
- Necropotence: Gives us the most max stats for pets.
- Grace of the Ancients: Gives the maximum magicka for a three-piece.
- Crafty Alfiq: Gain a big pool of magicka, but effective without pets.
- Wretched Vitality: Can back bar for resource sustain and use a different monster helm.
Gear 2 – Shield Stacking
Used to increase your max magicka and give massive shields for the Sorcerer in ESO PvP:
Slot | Type | Set | Trait | Glyph |
Head | Heavy | Roksa the Warped | Infused | Prismatic |
Shoulders | Medium | Roksa the Warped | Well-fitted | Magicka |
Chest | Light | Crafty Alfiq | Infused | Prismatic |
Legs | Light | Crafty Alfiq | Infused | Prismatic |
Gloves | Light | Armor of the Trainee | Well-fitted | Magicka |
Boots | Light | Crafty Alfiq | Well-fitted | Magicka |
Belt | Light | Crafty Alfiq | Well-fitted | Magicka |
Weapon One | Fire Staff | Ancient Grace | Sharpened | Weapon Damage |
Weapon Two | Restoration Staff | Ancient Grace | Powered | Escapist’s Poison IX |
Necklace | Ancient Grace | Arcane | Magicka Recovery | |
Ring 1 | Death Dealer’s Fete | Arcane | Magicka Recovery | |
Ring 2 | Crafty Alfiq | Arcane | Magicka Recovery |
- Roksa the Warped: Obtained from Vet Bal Sunnar; Scribes of Fate DLC. It carries your survivability and resource sustain in a two-piece set without an Engine Guardian droid.
- Death Dealer’s Fete: Obtained through ESO Mythics/antiquities system. Being in combat for prolonged periods of time rewards you with many max stats. This is good all around, damage and survivability but it’s not best for either.
- Crafty Alfiq: Obtained in the overland Elsweyr zone, Elsweyr DLC. Gain a big pool of magicka, but effective without pets.
- Grace of the Ancients: Obtained in Cropsford PvP Vendor or sold on traders. Gives the maximum magicka for a three-piece.
- Armor of the Trainee: Obtained in overland starter areas or trader. 1pc only used for little more stats.
Gear 3 – No Proc PvP
Meant for specific rule sets in Cyrodiil and Imperial City Campaigns.
Slot | Type | Set | Trait | Glyph |
Head | Heavy | Magma Incarnate | Infused | Prismatic |
Shoulders | Medium | Domihaus | Well-fitted | Magicka |
Chest | Light | Amber Plasm | Infused | Prismatic |
Legs | Light | Amber Plasm | Infused | Prismatic |
Gloves | Light | Amber Plasm | Well-fitted | Magicka |
Boots | Light | Amber Plasm | Well-fitted | Magicka |
Belt | Light | Amber Plasm | Well-fitted | Magicka |
Weapon One | Fire Staff | Crafty Alfiq | Sharpened | Shock |
Weapon Two | Restoration Staff | Crafty Alfiq | Defending | Escapist’s Poison IX |
Necklace | Crafty Alfiq | Arcane | Magicka Recovery | |
Ring 1 | Crafty Alfiq | Arcane | Magicka Recovery | |
Ring 2 | Crafty Alfiq | Arcane | Magicka Recovery |
- Magma Incarnate: Monster Set – helmet obtained from Veteran Dread Cellar dungeon (Blackwood zone), Waking Flame DLC. Shoulders obtained from Vendor: Urgarlag Chief-bane (Undaunted Pledge Master). WHY? great sustain for a one-piece item set.
- Domihaus: Monster Set – helmet obtained from Veteran Falkreath Hold dungeon (Craglorn zone), Horns of the Reach DLC. Shoulders obtained from Vendor: Urgarlag Chief-bane (Undaunted Pledge Master). WHY? Extra resource pool.
- Crafty Alfiq: Obtained from overland in Northern Elsweyr Zone, Elsweyr DLC or bought from traders. WHY? Gives us the most max stats for a five-piece.
- Amber Plasm: Obtained from Ruins of Mazzatun dungeon(Shadowfen zone), Shadows of the Hist DLC. WHY? Huge damage increase for no proc PvP, also solves sustain issues on magicka Sorcerer PvP.
Race
The best racial choice for the Magsorc PvP build is below:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
You should aim to reach 32,000 health; therefore, we recommend 32 health and 32 magicka attribute split.
Mundus Stone
The best mundus stone is the Atronach for resource sustain. You can use Thief or Apprentice if your damage is low. You can use the Mage if you want to stack magicka for larger shields.
Champion Points
Craft | Warfare | Fitness |
War Mount | Duelist’s Rebuff | Fortified |
Gifted Rider | Master-at-Arms | Bastion |
Rationer | Deadly Aim | Boundless Vitality |
Liquid Efficiency | Ironclad | Survival Instincts |
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 Magicka Sorcerer PvP Build:
- Precision 10
- Extended might – sub constellation – piercing 10
- Master-at-arms (slottable) 50
- Deadly Aim (slottable) 50
- Eldritch insight 10
- Staving death – sub constellation – quick recovery 10
- Staving death – sub constellation – Ironclad (slottable) 50
- Duelist rebuff (slottable) 50
This would be the bare minimum setup, spending 240 CP (720 total required). The next step is to max out passives, that do not require a slottable but increase performance.
- Precision 10
- Piercing 10
- Eldritch insight 10
- Tireless discipline 20
- Blessed 20
- Quick recovery 10
- 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 Magicka Sorcerer PvP Build:
- Fortified (slottable) 50
- Boundless Vitality (slottable)
- Tumbling – 15
- Survivor’s spite – sub-constellation – mystic tenacity 10
- Survivor’s spite – sub-constellation – Pain’s Refuge (slottable) 50
- Survival instincts (slottable) 50
This would be the bare minimum setup, spending 225 CP (675 total required). The next step is to max out passives, that do not require a slottable but increase performance.
- Hero’s vigor 20
- Tumbling 15
- Sprinter 20
- Defiance 20
- Hasty 16
- Tireless guardian 20
- Fortification 30
- Nimble 6
- Mystic tenacity 40
- 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 1,626 total spent.
Craft Constellation Champion Points
Below are recommended Craft Champion Point selections for the ESO Magicka Sorcerer PvP Build:
- Breakfall 10
- Wanderer 15
- Steadfast 10
- Rationer(slottable) 30
- Liquid Efficiency (slottable) 75
- Treasure hunter 50
- Master gatherer 15
- Gifted rider (slottable) 100
- War mount (slottable) 120
This would be the bare minimum setup, spending 425CP (1275 total required). The next step is to max out passives that do not require a slottable but increase performance.
- Steadfast enchantment 40
- Breakfall 40
- Wanderer 60
- Fortunes favor 10
- 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 868 cp spent 2,604 total spent.
Consumables – ESO Magicka Sorcerer PvP Build
The best consumables for the Magicka Sorcerer PvP build are Bewitched Sugar Skulls food and Essence of Health tri-stat potions. Bewitched Sugar Skulls give a massive boost to overall stats but sacrifices recovery. If you struggle with recovery, use Orzorga’s Smoked Bear Haunch or cheaper Jewels of Misrule. The essence of health or Tri-stat potions is the best to passively give you a flood of resources and tri-recovery with alchemy medicinal use. Immovability potions are also helpful. Below are our recommended food and potion choices:
- Bewitched Sugar Skulls: Increase Max Health by 4620, Max Stamina and Max Magicka by 4250, and Health Recovery by 462 for 2 hours. Ingredients: Scrib Jelly, Flour, Columbine, Bervez Juice, and Honey.
- Orzorga’s Smoked Bear Haunch (recovery): Increase Max Health, Health Recovery, and Stamina and Magicka Recovery (effects are scaled based on your level). Ingredients: Red Meat, Tomato, White Cap, Frost Mirriam, and Perfect Roe.
- Jewels of Misrule (cheap): Increase Stamina and Magicka Recovery and Max Health for 2 hours. Ingredients: Rose, Mint, Lotus, Columbine, and Bervez Juice.
- Essence of Health (tri-stat): Restore 7329 Health, 6618 Magicka, and 6618 Stamina immediately. Grants Major Fortitude, Major Intellect, and Major Endurance, which increase your Health Recovery, Magicka Recovery, and Stamina Recovery by 20% for 31.7 seconds. Ingredients: Bugloss, Columbine, Mountain Flower.
- Essecene of Immovability: Restores health and stamina and is immune to knockback effects. Ingredients: Namria’s Rot, Columbine, and Mountain Flower.
- Escapist’s Poison IX: Immobilizes your target and grants you unstoppable, rendering you immune to control effects for 1.6 seconds. Ingredients: Columbine, Namira’s Rot, Wormwood.
Build Summary – ESO Magicka Sorcerer PvP Build
Class: Sorcerer
Race: High Elf
Attributes: 32 Health, 32 Magicka
Mundus Stone: Atronach
Weapon One: Fire Staff
Weapon Two: Restoration Staff
Armor Set 1: Way of Fire
Armor Set 2: Rallying Cry
Monster Helm: Roksa the Warped
Mythic: Death Dealer’s Fete
Armor Weight: 3 light, 1 medium, 3 heavy
Potion: Essence of Health (tri-stat)
Food: Bewitched Sugar Skulls
Skill Bar 1
- Streak
- Crystal Fragments
- Crushing Shock
- Mages’ Fury
- Summon Twilight Matriarch
- Power Overload (Ultimate)
Skill Bar 2
- Hurricane
- Summon Twilight Matriarch
- Hardened Ward
- Resolving Vigor
- Dark Conversion
- Life Giver (Ultimate)
Scribing Grimoires and Scrips
Soul Burst
- Pull (focus script)
- Class Mastery (signature script)
- Courage (Affix Script)
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