This guide explains how to use the best Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) One Bar PvE Magicka Necromancer build, skills, gear, champion points, and more!
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 Necromancer Build?
The ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Necromancer build is a Heavy Attack build for Necromancer 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 Necromancer 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 Necromancer Features
Below are some of the features found using the Oakensoul Heavy Attack Necromancer in the Elder Scrolls Online:
- Class: Necromancer
- Weapon: Lighting Staff
- Armor Types: 1 Light, 5 Medium, 1 Heavy
- Race: Dark Elf
- Set 1: Deadly Strike
- Set 2: Sergeant’s Mail
- Mythic: Oakensoul ring
- Attributes: 64 Magicka
- Mundus Stone: Thief
Related:
ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Necromancer 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.
Elemental Susceptibility (Morph of Weakness to Elements | Skill Line : Destruction Staff) – In solo PvE content at the Veteran difficulty, enemies have 18,200 resistances. The closer you get to this total without “spilling” or going over, the better your overall damage will be. Not only does Elemental Susceptibility reduce armor, but it applies three important status effects. An additional reason it remains very strong, it costs zero resources and can be used at very long ranges. Normally this skill isn’t needed in group play because either your tank, healer or another damage dealer will reduce armor. In solo play, it’s all up to you. Razor Caltrops from the Alliance War skill line is a flex skill in this location. The advantage: it costs stamina, and it’s AoE damage, not a single target. This is a great option outside of boss fights.
Blighted Blastbones (Morph of Blastbones | Skill Line : Grave Lord) – Blastbones provides massive area and single target damage as well as corpse creation. Creating and using corpses does a lot for you, including generating ultimate and resource sustain. This morph deals damage. After the ability lands, make sure to consume a corpse using another skill for more damage or resource sustain.
Resistant Flesh (Morph of Render Flesh | Skill Line : Living Death) – Most solo builds require a burst heal, and as a Necromancer Resistance Flesh remains our best option. The morph choice boost our armor and you can cast this repeatedly when in trouble for massive self-healing.
Mortal Coil (Morph of Restoring Tether | Skill Line : Living Death) – As a solo player, we recommend a burst heal and a heal over time. Mortal Coil will do great healing over time, consume a corpse and generate resource sustain. If you feel you have too much survivability and lack damage, slot detonating Siphon in this position. That skill will give you a passive damage increase and massive AoE damage and damage over time when consuming a corpse.
Pestilent Colossus (Morph of Frozen Colossus | Skill Line : Grave Lord) – For our ultimate choice, we recommend Pestilence Colossus. This skill gives major vulnerability to any target hit, which significantly boosts your damage. Moreover, it has a massive area, so it’s great for single-target boss fights and trash or multiple enemy fights. Mage’s Guide Shooting Star and Destruction Staff Elemental Rage are other options in this position.
Skills 2 – Parse Max Damage
One Bar Lightning Staff – Parse | 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 simplistic damage over time or pets.
Elemental Blockade (Morph of Wall of Elements | Skill Line : Destruction Staff) – Used to proc our off-balance consistently and AoE damage while active.
Inner Light (Morph of Magelight | Skill Line : Mages Guild) – We merely slot Inner Light for the passive boost the max magicka. This makes the rotation easier and all the abilities high much harder.
Barbed Trap (Morph of Trap Beast | Skill Line : Fighters Guild) – A super hard-hitting damage ability that procs the hemorrhage status effect. Even though the buff is reduction (minor force), you are using this primarily for hemorrhage status effect which equals insane damage.
Blighted Blastbones (Morph of Blastbones | Skill Line : Grave Lord) – Blastbones provides massive area and single target damage as well as corpse creation. Creating and using corpses does a lot for you, including generating ultimate and resource sustain. This morph deals damage. After the ability lands, make sure to consume a corpse using another skill for more damage or resource sustain.
Detonating Siphon (Morph of Shocking Siphon | Skill Line : Grave Lord) – In group play, we recommend dropping a sustain or heal skill and picking up something that consumes corpses and does big damage. Detonating Siphon AoE, single target damage is stellar though you need to keep it maintained and try your best to position so it hits the maximum amount of targets.
Pestilent Colossus (Morph of Frozen Colossus | Skill Line : Grave Lord) – Colossus remains one of the strongest ultimates in the game due to Major Vulnerability. And in group settings, it’s even more coveted because everyone’s damage skyrockets, including yours. The trick with using this skill is the timing around difficult gameplay mechanics. Use this in conjunction with another play Aggressive Warhorn for Major Force, and bigger stats and huge damage to melt through boss phases.
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 simplistic 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.
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 recommend using Razor Caltrops if 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.
Blighted Blastbones (Morph of Blastbones | Skill Line : Grave Lord) – Blastbones provides massive area and single target damage as well as corpse creation. Creating and using corpses does a lot for you, including generating ultimate and resource sustain. This morph deals damage. After the ability lands, make sure to consume a corpse using another skill for more damage or resource sustain.
Blood Sacrifice (Morph of Render Flesh | Skill Line : Living Death) – The Necromancers have a very strong individual burst heal, and the morph Blood Sacrifice will help you or your group. Even with a healer in your group, we recommend some type of survivability skill, and this is a perfect fit. Repeatedly cast the skill if you dip low on health or point and aim it at an ally if they drop down.
Detonating Siphon (Morph of Shocking Siphon | Skill Line : Grave Lord) – In group play, we recommend dropping a sustain or heal skill and picking up something that consumes corpses and does big damage. Detonating Siphon AoE, single target damage is stellar though you need to keep it maintained and try your best to position so it hits the maximum amount of targets.
Pestilent Colossus (Morph of Frozen Colossus | Skill Line : Grave Lord) – Colossus remains one of the strongest ultimates in the game due to Major Vulnerability. And in group settings, it’s even more coveted because everyone’s damage skyrockets, including yours. The trick with using this skill is the timing around difficult gameplay mechanics. Use this in conjunction with another play Aggressive Warhorn for Major Force, and bigger stats and huge damage to melt through boss phases.
Passives Skills
Consider taking all of the passives in the below skill trees to increase your builds performance without slotting any skills:
- Grave Lord (class skill line)
- Bone Tyrant (class skill line)
- Living Death (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 Necromancer Build:
Slot | Type | Set | Trait | Glyph |
Head | light | Slimecraw | Divine | Magicka |
Shoulders | medium | Deadly Strike | Divine | Magicka |
Chest | heavy | Sergeant’s Mail | Divine | Magicka |
Legs | medium | Deadly Strike | Divine | Magicka |
Gloves | medium | Deadly Strike | Divine | Magicka |
Boots | medium | Deadly Strike | Divine | Magicka |
Belt | medium | Deadly Strike | Divine | Magicka |
Weapon One | Lightning Staff | Sergeant’s Mail | Precise | Posion |
Necklace | Sergeant’s Mail | Bloodthirsty | Spell Damage | |
Ring 1 | Mythic | Oakensoul ring | Bloodthirsty | Spell Damage |
Ring 2 | Sergeant’s Mail | Bloodthirsty | Spell Damage |
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
- Iceheart, Grundwulf, Stone Husk, Zaan – all one piece with critical chance, just not as much as Slimecraw.
- Lady Malygda, Valkyn Skoria – penetration sets which is great solo, not in coordinated groups.
- Pale Order – best heals per second solo in the game.
- Death Dealer’s Fete – high max stats and requires no effect but in combat.
- Markyn Ring of Majesty – set and forget boost to spell damage and armor.
- Velothi Ur-Mage’s Amulet – powerful damage mythic ideal for two bar builds.
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
- Perfected Ansuul’s Torment – good set and forget body set.
- Storm Master – Good DPS set though Deadly is better currently.
- Tarnished Nightmare – a powerful new set that does lower single target, but more area damage for one bar builds Update 41 set.
- Noble Duelist – longer and more consistent buff, but less dps.
- Undaunted Unweaver = a good option, especially with Barbed Trap skill.
- Undaunted Infiltrator = best for Stamina-focused builds.
- Pillar of Nirn – good front bar proc damage set.
- Arms Of Relequen = high proc damage when fully stacked.
Gear – Without Mythic
Use the below gear setup when you do not have the Oakensoul Mythic for the ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Necromancer Build:
Slot | Type | Set | Trait | Glyph |
Head | light | Maw of the Infernal | Divine | Magicka |
Shoulders | light | Maw of the Infernal | Divine | Magicka |
Chest | medium | Kinra’s Wrath | Divine | Magicka |
Legs | medium | Kinra’s Wrath | Divine | Magicka |
Gloves | medium | Kinra’s Wrath | Divine | Magicka |
Boots | medium | Kinra’s Wrath | Divine | Magicka |
Belt | medium | Kinra’s Wrath | Divine | Magicka |
Weapon One | Lightning Staff | Queen’s Elegance | Precise | Shock |
Necklace | Queen’s Elegance | Bloodthirsty | Spell Damage | |
Ring 1 | Queen’s Elegance | Bloodthirsty | Spell Damage | |
Ring 2 | Queen’s Elegance | Bloodthirsty | Spell 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
- Zaan = also god tier damage with or without pets
- Iceheart = Great survivability
- Magma Incarnate = blend of damage and damage reduction
- Sergeant’s Mail = another good heavy attack option
- Undaunted Unweaver = good option especially with Barbed Trap skill.
- Undaunted Infiltrator = best for Stamina focused builds.
- Infallible Mage = good thanks to buffs it provides.
- Medusa = easy dungeon set and has same critical damage bonus
- Pillar of Nirn = great proc damage set
- Order’s Wrath = new craftable set very good
- Storm Master = good heavy attack build choice.
- Arms Of Relequen = high proc damage when fully stacked
Race
The best racial choice for the one bar heavy attack PvE Build is below:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
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 Necromancer Build:
- Precision 10
- Fighting finesse (slottable) 50
- Extended Might sub-constellation – piercing 10
- Extended Might sub-constellation – weapons expert (slottable) 50
- Extended Might sub-constellation – exploiter (slottable) 50
- 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.
- Precision 10
- Piercing 10
- Tireless discipline 20
- Eldritch insight 20
- Blessed 20
- Quick recovery 20
- 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 One Bar PvE Magicka Necromancer Build:
- Fortified (slottable) 50
- Boundless vitality (slottable) 50
- Rejuvenation (slottable) 50
- Sprinter 10
- Winder chaser sub-constellation – hasty 8
- Hero’s Vigor 10
- 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.
- Hero’s Vigor 10
- Tumbling 30
- Sprinter 10
- Defiance 20
- Hasty 8
- Tireless guardian 20
- Fortification 30
- Nimble 6
- Mystic tenacity 50
- 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 and 1,626 total spent.
Craft Constellation Champion Points
Below are recommended Craft Champion Point selections for the ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Necromancer Build:
- Steed’s blessing (slottable) – 50
- Breakfall 10
- Wanderer 15
- Steadfast 10
- Treasure hunter 50 (slottable)
- Master gatherer 15
- Gifted rider (slottable) 100
- 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.
- Steadfast enchantment 40cp
- Breakfall 40 cp
- Wanderer 60
- Fortunes favor 10
- Rationer 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 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 Necromancer One Bar PvE
Class: Necromancer
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
- Blighted Blastbones
- Elemental Susceptibility
- Resistant Flesh
- Mortal Coil
- Blockade of Storms
- Pestilent Colossus
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