ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Dragonknight Build

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

ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Dragonknight Build

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

Why Should You Play ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Dragonknight Build?

The ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Dragonknight build is a Heavy Attack build for Dragonknight that relies on fully charged heavy attacks in combination with champion points, base game gear, and a mythic. This will destroy a parse dummy and any content.  Even though we are using “magicka” skills, we still use medium armor and sustain via fully charged heavy attacks, and with the hybrid changes, there’s a blending of stam/magicka, and that’s what you have with this optimal one-bar build.

In ESO, the One Bar Magicka Dragonknight is perfect for everyone, literally. It’s great for beginners, veterans, and players of any age and experience. It’s easy to understand and doesn’t require bar swapping—the game element that simplifies the gameplay without hurting the potential damage per second.

ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Dragonknight Features

Below are some of the features found using the Oakensoul Heavy Attack Dragonknight in the Elder Scrolls Online:


ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Dragonknight Build Playstyle

It requires you to charge heavy attacks in between abilities fully. You need to cast the wall of elements at the beginning of the fight and then refresh it to apply the off-balance buff on cooldown for the best and highest DPS.  This build must work. However, you’ll get used to the playstyle quickly, and applying the wall of elements will become second nature. You can also use the add-on “DebuffMe” on your PC to track your off-balance buff status.

Skills 1 – High Survivability

One Bar Lightning Staff – Solo | High Survivability Setup

Front Bar Weapon = We’ve tested them all and Lighting Staff does the most damage out of all the weapons REGARDLESS of class/passives.

  • Lightning Staff

This build rewards you for fully charging heavy attacks and building up stacks of Sergeants Mail. At 4 stacks, you’ll do HUGE heavy attack damage.  BUT you need to be constantly casting fully charged heavy attacks rather than many DoT.  Thus the best builds are ones with longer lasting DoTs and simplisit damage over time or pets.

Blockade of Storms (Morph of Wall of Elements | Skill Line : Destruction Staff) – Blockade acts as a massive damage ground base AoE and the tool we used to proc off balance. Off balance is key to high DPS with the build due to Champion Point passive Exploiter along with huge area damage. You can “spam” or repeatedly cast the skill for an instant explosion doing area damage during “trash” or multiple mob non-boss fights. Consider this an important damage over time to maintain, and remember, an off-balance proc has a 7-second up time and 15-second downtime.

Coagulating Blood (Morph of Dragon Blood | Skill Line : Draconic Power) – Most solo builds require a burst heal, and as a Dragonknight, Coagulating Blood remains the strongest option. The downside of this ability is it doesn’t do damage in addition to healing. If you don’t find yourself using this frequently, or it’s overkill, swap to Draw Essence. This does decent healing but big AoE as well. If you cast this when you dip below 50% along with Burning Embers, you should have strong healing with this build.

Burning Embers (Morph of Searing Strike | Skill Line : Ardent Flame) – Embers skill acts as a strong single-target damage over time and great healing per second. The damage from the other morph, Venomous Claw will outperform Burning Embers in damage. But, the sheer healing per second of this one DoT in conjunction with the damage that it does makes it a must for solo play.

Noxious Breath (Morph of Fiery Breath | Skill Line : Ardent Flame) – In Veteran PvE content, monsters have 18,200 resistances. The closer you can get to zero the better. This skill gives a major breach, which will increase your damage significantly. This is also an AoE skill and is great damage over time for single targets or a group of monsters. The downside is – it has no range, and you’ll need to play more melee and aggressively. If you don’t like that style, flex in Destruction Staff Elemental Susceptibility for a ranged major breach skill.

Eruption (Morph of Ash Cloud | Skill Line : Earthen Heart) – One of the strongest damage over time abilities in the game, Eruption is a must used for the Dragonknight. Not only does this do amazing damage, but it procs important passives in the Earthen Heart skill line. By using this you’ll get 10% more weapon damage and more ultimate. Consider the other morph, Cinder Storm, if you need even more healing.

Standard of Might (Morph of Dragonknight Standard | Skill Line : Ardent Flame) – Banner remains one of the best overall ultimates in the game. With huge area, damage reduction and damage increase while standing inside, this is perfect for melting bosses. The only downside, it’s not mobile at all. Swap to either Mage’s Guild Shooting Star for a lower-cost alternative or Elemental Rage from the Destruction Staff skill line.

Skills 2 – Parse Max Damage

One Bar Lightning Staff – Group | Optimal Damage Setup

Front Bar Weapon = We’ve tested them all and Lighting Staff does the most damage out of all the weapons REGARDLESS of class/passives.

  • Lightning Staff

This build rewards you for fully charging heavy attacks and building up stacks of Sergeants Mail. At 4 stacks, you’ll do HUGE heavy attack damage.  BUT you need to be constantly casting fully charged heavy attacks rather than many DoT.  Thus the best builds are ones with longer lasting DoTs and simplisit damage over time or pets.

Blockade of Storms (Morph of Wall of Elements | Skill Line : Destruction Staff) – Use this skill to proc off-balance status effect and extra area and DoT damage.

Engulfing Flames (Morph of Fiery Breath | Skill Line : Ardent Flame) – A unique ability that Dragonknight possess is increasing overall flame damage. Engulfing Flame will not reduce armor, but increase all your flame damage, including DoTs and your ultimate as well as your group!

Burning Embers (Morph of Searing Strike | Skill Line : Ardent Flame) – Since we are using Engulfing Flame, Burning Embers makes a logical morph choice. This DoT is also helpful for survivability.

Eruption (Morph of Ash Cloud | Skill Line : Earthen Heart) – Use this for good single target damage and the weapon buff when activating applies to your group as well.

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 resources 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. The main point for Mystic is you want players to activate the synergy to give them back resources and free AoE damage. Feel free to slot something else in this position if someone else is providing. Cauterize, the other morph of Flames of Oblivion, is a strong substitute if your group lacks survivability.

Standard of Might (Morph of Dragonknight Standard | Skill Line : Ardent Flame) – Banner remains one of the best overall ultimates in the game. With huge area, damage reduction and damage increase while standing inside, this is perfect for melting bosses. The only downside, it’s not mobile at all. Swap to either Mage’s Guild Shooting Star for a lower cost alternative or Elemental Rage from the Destruction Staff skill line.

Group Added Utility Skills

One Bar Lightning Staff – Group | Optimal Damage Setup

Front Bar Weapon = We’ve tested them all and Lighting Staff does the most damage out of all the weapons REGARDLESS of class/passives.

  • Lightning Staff

This build rewards you for fully charging heavy attacks and building up stacks of Sergeants Mail. At 4 stacks, you’ll do HUGE heavy attack damage.  BUT you need to be constantly casting fully charged heavy attacks rather than many DoT.  Thus the best builds are ones with longer lasting DoTs and simplisit damage over time or pets.

Elemental Blockade (Morph of Wall of Elements | Skill Line : Destruction Staff) – Use this skill to proc off-balance status effect and extra area and DoT damage.

Burning Talons (Morph of Dark Talons | Skill Line : Draconic Power) – Strong damage over time, with a hard hitting synergy.

Mystic Orb (Morph of Necrotic Orb | Skill Line : Undaunted) – The more synergies the team has in a group, the better. With undaunted passives giving back resources 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. Feel free to slot something else in this position if someone else is providing.

Coagulating Blood (Morph of Dragon Blood | Skill Line : Draconic Power) – Strong burst heal.

Eruption (Morph of Ash Cloud | Skill Line : Earthen Heart) – Use this for good single target damage and the weapon buff when activating applies to your group as well.

Standard of Might (Morph of Dragonknight Standard | Skill Line : Ardent Flame) – Banner remains one of the best overall ultimates in the game. With huge area, damage reduction and damage increase while standing inside, this is perfect for melting bosses. The only downside, it’s not mobile at all. Swap to either Mage’s Guild Shooting Star for a lower cost alternative or Elemental Rage from the Destruction Staff skill line.

Passives Skills

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

  • Ardent Flame (class skill line)
  • Draconic Power (class skill line)
  • Earthen Heart (class skill line)
  • Destruction Staff (weapon skill line)
  • Light Armor
  • Medium Armor
  • Heavy Armor
  • Undaunted
  • Mages Guild
  • Racial
  • Alliance War Support
  • Alliance War Assault
  • Crafting, Alchemy Medicinal Use

Gear – Best in Slot

Use the below gear setup for optimal damage with the ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Dragonknight Build:

SlotTypeSetTraitGlyph
HeadlightSlimecrawDivineMagicka
ShouldersmediumDeadly StrikeDivineMagicka
ChestheavySergeant’s MailDivineMagicka
LegsmediumDeadly StrikeDivineMagicka
GlovesmediumDeadly StrikeDivineMagicka
BootsmediumDeadly StrikeDivineMagicka
BeltmediumDeadly StrikeDivineMagicka
Weapon OneLightning StaffSergeant’s MailPrecisePosion
NecklaceSergeant’s MailBloodthirstySpell Damage
Ring 1MythicOakensoul ringBloodthirstySpell Damage
Ring 2Sergeant’s MailBloodthirstySpell Damage
Best in Slot Gear for Heavy Attack One bar Oakensoul Build

While this is a magicka build, we use Medium Armor specifically to avoid the penetration cap 18,500 in Veteran content. If you use more than two light armor in group content, you will likely spill over that 18.5k pen cap and have wasted stats. Thus, medium armor with specific gear sets will outperform light generally.

Monster Helms & Mythics

Slimecraw: obtained from Wayrest Sewers 1, a base game dungeon. The best 1pc critical damage bonus piece in the game.  Pen is also a good option, but this is considered best in slot for a one-piece.

Oakensoul: obtained through ESO Mythics/antiquities system.  You need 5 items to be able to create the Mythic item. 5 Leads are here. The best one-bar build for DPS because it gives an insane amount of buffs, freeing up bar spots and making us tankier with zero effort.

FLEX OPTIONS

Gear Sets

Deadly Strike: obtained in Bruma Elite Gear Vendor, Cyrodiil zone (base game). Best on the body damage option post Storm Master being nerfed.

Sergeant’s Mail: obtained in Wayrest Sewers I & II, dungeon, Stormhaven zone (base game). this builds stacks by heavy attacking; at 5x stacks, you’ll do huge damage in combination with off-balance and exploiter CP.  The downside is that it comes in heavy, thus putting on jewelry, weapons, and 1x body.

FLEX OPTIONS

Gear – Without Mythic

Use the below gear setup when you do not have the Oakensoul Mythic for the ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Dragonknight Build:

SlotTypeSetTraitGlyph
HeadlightMaw of the InfernalDivineMagicka
ShoulderslightMaw of the InfernalDivineMagicka
ChestmediumKinra’s WrathDivineMagicka
LegsmediumKinra’s WrathDivineMagicka
GlovesmediumKinra’s WrathDivineMagicka
BootsmediumKinra’s WrathDivineMagicka
BeltmediumKinra’s WrathDivineMagicka
Weapon OneLightning StaffQueen’s ElegancePreciseShock
NecklaceQueen’s EleganceBloodthirstySpell Damage
Ring 1Queen’s EleganceBloodthirstySpell Damage
Ring 2Queen’s EleganceBloodthirstySpell Damage
Gear Sets

Maw of the Infernal: obtained in Banished Cells II veteran for Monster  Helm (base game). Great damage when using pet loadout.

Kinra’s Wrath = obtained in Veteran Blackdrake Villa dungeon Flames of Ambition DLC. Gives us major berserks which is one of the best damage buffs and keeps us in medium armor for optimal damage.

Queen’s Elegance: obtained in overland zone Auridon base game. Give us the most important buff, empower that Oakensoul provides.

FLEX OPTIONS

Race

The best racial choice for the one bar heavy attack 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

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 One Bar PvE Magicka Dragonknight Build:

  1. Precision 10
  2. Fighting finesse (slottable) 50
  3. Extended Might sub-constellation – piercing 10
  4. Extended Might sub-constellation – weapons expert (slottable) 50
  5. Extended Might sub-constellation – exploiter (slottable) 50
  6. Master’s 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 One Bar PvE Magicka Dragonknight Build:

  1. Fortified (slottable) 50
  2. Boundless vitality (slottable) 50
  3. Rejuvenation (slottable) 50
  4. Sprinter 10
  5. Winder chaser sub-constellation – 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 One Bar PvE Magicka Dragonknight Build:

  1. Steed’s blessing (slottable) – 50
  2. Breakfall 10
  3. Wanderer 15
  4. Steadfast 10
  5. Treasure hunter 50 (slottable)
  6. Master gatherer 15
  7. Gifted rider (slottable) 100
  8. War mount (slottable) 120

This would be the bare minimum setup, spending 370CP (1110 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 10
  5. Rationer 10
  6. Friends in low places 25
  7. Out of sight 30
  8. Fleet of phantom 40
  9. Soul’s reservoir 33
  10. Gilded fingers 50
  11. Fortunes favor 40
  12. Inspiration boost 45
  13. Infamous 30

This would max out the crafting tree with all active passive champion points at 823 cp spent 2,469 total spent

Consumables

Food

Tomato Garlic Chutney

BEST DAMAGE: This comes with zero health, ideally used on a parse dummy only where HP and resources are not needed. Increase Max Magicka by 6048 for 35 minutes. Ingredients: Garlic (1), Tomato (1)

Bewitched Sugar Skulls

MAX STATS: use this if you don’t struggle with sustain and you want good damage and survivability. Increase Max Health by 4620, Max Stamina and Magicka by 4250, and Health Recovery by 462 for 2 hours. Ingredients: Bervez Juice (2), Flour (5), Honey (5), Scrib Jelly (2), Columbine (2)

Jewels of Misrule

RECOVERY: Cheap recovery food used at any level. Increase Stamina and Magicka Recovery by 357 and Max Health by 3927 for 2 hours. Ingredients: Bervez Juice (1), Lotus (1), Mint (1), Rose (1), Columbine (1)

Potions

Tri-Restoration Potion or Essence of Health (tri-stat)

SURVIAL: Remember oakensoul gives all your major buffs so you’re left with resto potion for survivability and resource sustain. 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.

Build Summary – Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) Magicka Dragonknight One Bar PvE

Class: Dragonknight

Race: Dark Elf

Attributes: Magicka 64

Mundus Stone: Thief

Weapon: Lighting Staff

Armor: 1 Light, 5 Medium, 1 Heavy

Set 1: Deadly Strike

Set 2: Sergeant’s Mail

Monster Helm: Slimecraw

Mythic: Oakensoul ring

Skill Bar

  • Coagulating Blood
  • Burning Embers
  • Noxious Breath
  • Eruption
  • Blockade of Storms
  • Shooting Star

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