ESO Magicka Warden PvE Build

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

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

Why Should You Play the ESO Magicka Warden PvE Build?

ESO Magicka Warden PvE Build is for players looking to complete solo or small group content with a well-rounded class. Additionally, this build is great for beginner players as it has a lot of shields and heals built into its toolkit, and it has great sustain with Blue Betty.

ESO Magicka Warden 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. 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 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 opponent’s health. 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.

Survival

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 floods both resources when a target dies.

ESO Magicka Warden PvE Build Features and Mechanics

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

  • Class – Warden
  • Weapon One – Frost Staff
  • Weapon Two – Frost Staff
  • Armor Types – 6 Medium, 1 Light
  • Monster Set – Zaan
  • Race – Dark Elf
  • Attributes – 64 Magicka
  • Mundus Stone – Thief

Skills

Front Bar – Frost Staff

Front Bar Weapon choice options:

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

Frost Reach (Morph of Destructive Touch | Skill Line : Destruction Staff) – Provides initial burst hit of magic damage, followed by a dot. Also applies the element’s status effect on hit and buffs our damage if using Master’s Staff.

Subterranean Assault (Morph of Scorch | Skill Line : Animal Companions) – This morph becomes a stamina ability that does AoE poison damage.

Cutting Dive (Morph of Dive | Skill Line : Animal Companions) – Stamina morph now causes additional DoT Bleed damage. Also causes Off Balance if you are more than 7 meters away from target.

Barbed Trap (Morph of Trap Beast | Skill Line : Fighters Guild) – Boost for slotting and minor force.

Scalding Rune (Morph of Fire Rune | Skill Line : Mages Guild) – Deals Flame damage to all enemies on burst, and also does additional damage over time.

Wild Guardian (Morph of Feral Guardian | Skill Line : Animal Companions) – This ultimate is double bared so it does not come on and off. It’s absolutely incredible damage. I can hit 87,000 critical strikes sub 20% health on bosses due to it attacking like an execute. You’ll treat this ability like another attack because it’s ultimate cost of 75 is so low. Keep in mind to recast your bear if it dies or goes away. It will also stun enemies and attack as a decoy and I prefer this over any other ultimate of choice due to the reason above.

Back Bar – Frost Staff

Back bar options:

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

Winter’s Revenge (Morph of Impaling Shards | Skill Line : Winter’s Embrace) – 12 second damage over time which applies Chilled status effect. This is great damage over time, chilled status effect increase chance and great snare. I’ll cast this before Unstable because it’s 12 second duration.

Blockade of Frost (Morph of Wall of Elements | Skill Line : Destruction Staff) – Massive AoE and explosion makes it a great DoT. With Maelstrom back bar staff, this is essential back bar buff to increase our overall dps. You can recast repeatedly for an explosion and AoE damage. Combine this with Winters Revenge, Mythic Orb and Fissure, you’ll have massive AoE damage.

Blue Betty (Morph of Betty Netch | Skill Line : Animal Companions) – Summons a netch which restores magicka and grants you Major Brutality.

Fetcher Infection (Morph of Swarm | Skill Line : Animal Companions) – 10 second damage over time that grants minor vulnerability. This skills is great to place on one or more target due to the debuff and damage over time. In combination with fissure, you’ll lower resistance and increase damage for your group just by maintaining these two abilities.

Arctic Blast (Morph of Arctic Wind | Skill Line : Winter’s Embrace) – Great AoE damage, stun and burst heal.

Wild Guardian (Morph of Feral Guardian | Skill Line : Animal Companions) – Double bar this skill so it doesn’t turn off.

Rotation and Parse

This Magicka Warden build is a fun playstyle that is solid in solo mechanics and dungeon content, where there isn’t another Warden in the group. You’ll want to use Spell Power Pots with this setup unless you have a DK providing Igneous Weapons to the group. The unique part of this playstyle is using Frost Reach as a spammable. The Master’s Ice Staff gives you a significant weapon and spell damage buff for four seconds after casting Destructive Reach, so the longer you can keep that skill up, the more overall dps you’ll crank out.

You also will want to cast Subterranean Assault every six skill casts, but not before then. This is because the Shalks hit in two waves, but the second wave doesn’t deal damage until six seconds have passed. Similar to the Sorcerer’s Daedric Prey, casting Subterranean Assault early will result in a substantial damage loss.

On your back bar, Arctic Blast heals you, and you’ll find this build to sustain quite a lot of passive healing, which is nice for dungeon content and solo mechanics in trials. Because of the passive Bond With Nature, you heal every time an Animal Companion skill expires. As long as you keep Shalks dealing damage, you’ll continue to pull in extra healing from that ability and your other Animal Companion abilities.

Status Effects and Rotation Explained

You will also keep Chilled up on almost every target, and your Bear will keep Hemorrhaging up consistently, dealing tons of damage over time. With the recent Hemorrhage nerfs, Wardens are one of the few classes that can consistently reach maximum stacks of Hemorrhaging because of the Wild Guardian.

Sustain is also very strong on this build because of your magicka regeneration from the Blue Betty, your Animal Companion passive Flourish, and an even split between magicka and stamina abilities. If you do find yourself running out of magicka trying to sustain Frost Reach, you can switch to Cutting Dive and use that ability as a stamina spammable.

To start a fight, you’ll want to pre-buff with Arctic Blast>Blue Betty> then engage the fight by casting Scalding Rune just before pulling>Subterranean Assault>Barbed Trap>Frost Reach>Bar Swap>Blockade>Fetcher’s Infection>Barswap>Frost Reach>Subterranean Assault>Wild Guardian>Bar Swap>Winter’s Revenge>Bar Swap>Frost Reach>Cutting Dive>then continue casting Frost Reach at least once every four casts, Subterranean Assault every six casts, and applying your DoTs as they expire. Unfortunately, this is a much more complicated “rotation” than many other builds, but this can be a very fun and dynamic playstyle that feels unique in the game right now.

Passives Skills

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

  • Winter’s Embrace (class skill line)
  • ‎Animal Companions (class skill line)
  • Green Balance (class 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 the ESO Magicka Warden PvE Build:

SlotTypeSetTraitGlyph
HeadMediumZaanDivinesMagicka
ShouldersLightZaanDivinesMagicka
ChestMediumPillar of NirnDivinesMagicka
LegsMediumPillar of NirnDivinesMagicka
GlovesMediumPillar of NirnDivinesMagicka
BootsMediumPillar of NirnDivinesMagicka
BeltMediumPillar of NirnDivinesMagicka
Weapon OneFrost StaffPerfected Crushing WallChargedFrost
Weapon TwoFrost StaffPerfect Whorl of the DepthsInfusedSpell Damage
NecklacePerfect Whorl of the DepthsBloodthirstySpell Damage
Ring 1Perfect Whorl of the DepthsBloodthirstySpell Damage
Ring 2Perfect Whorl of the DepthsBloodthirstySpell Damage
ESO Magicka Warden PvE Build Gear

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

Zaan: Drops from the final boss in Veteran Scalecaller Peak. High DPS Monster Helm.

FLEX OPTIONS

  1. Kjalnar’s Nightmare: Great single target damage, however only one player can have this in your group.
  2. Kra’gh: One piece is great for penatration, two-piece does good single-target damage.
  3. Stormfist: Always works, easy to obtain and  AoE DPS set.
  4. Mora’s Whisper = Update 34, 10% critical chance for great damage boost
  5. Death Dealer’s Fete = great option when taking damage
Gear Sets

Pillar of Nirn: Obtained in Veteran Falkreath Hold, Veteran dungeon, Horns of the Reach DLC. The most damage producing proc set and the easiest to maintain high up time on the proc.

Perfect Whorl of the Depths: Obtained in Dreadsail Reef trial, Haig Isle Chapter. Another S tier proc damage set.

FLEX OPTIONS

  1. Kinra’s Wrath = great damage boost if you can light attack weave consistently
  2. Perfected Arms of Relequen = the bust pure damage set in the game.
  3. Perfected Coral Riptide = god tier damage if you run low stamina (dodge roll a bit before pull)
  4. Order’s Wrath = great craftable option though watch for too much critical damage (125% cap)
  5. Leviathan = easy base game dungeon set with high critical

Gear – Beginner

This setup is great for beginners who started the game.

SlotTypeSetTraitGlyph
HeadlightWithered HandDivinesMagicka
ShoulderslightWithered HandDivinesMagicka
ChestlightMother’s SorrowDivinesMagicka
LegslightMother’s SorrowDivinesMagicka
GloveslightMother’s SorrowDivinesMagicka
BootslightMother’s SorrowDivinesMagicka
BeltlightMother’s SorrowDivinesMagicka
Weapon OneFrost StaffWillpowerPrecise or SharpenedFlame
Weapon TwoFrost StaffWillpowerInfusedWeapon Damage
NecklaceWithered HandArcaneMagicka Recovery
Ring 1Withered HandArcaneSpell Power
Ring 2Withered HandArcaneSpell Power
ESO Magicka Warden PvE Beginner Build

FLEX OPTIONS FOR BEGINNERS

  • 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 Warden 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. 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.
  3. 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

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 Magicka Warden PvE 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 Warden 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 Wardent 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 Warden 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 efficiency (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

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)

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)

Potions

Essence of Spell Power

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

Class: Warden

Race: Dark Elf

Attributes: 64 Magicka

Mundus Stone: Thief

Weapon One: Frost Staff

Weapon Two: Frost Staff

Armor Set 1: Pillar of Nirn

Armor Set 2: Perfect Whorl of the Depths

Monster Helm: Zaan

Armor Weight: 6 Medium, 1 Light

Skill Bar 1

  • Frost Reach
  • Subterranean Assault
  • Cutting Dive
  • Barbed Trap
  • Scalding Rune
  • Wild Guardian (Ultimate)

Skill Bar 2

  • Winter’s Revenge
  • Elemental Blockade
  • Blue Betty
  • Fetcher Infection
  • Arctic Blast
  • Wild Guardian (Ultimate)

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