ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Necromancer Build is for players that are looking to complete solo content with a well-rounded class and off heals.
This build has been updated for the Update 40 patch of 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 absolutely 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 Necromancer Build is perfect for everyone, and literally. Great for beginners, veterans, 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. So if a heavy attack builds playstyle and following “pros” is what you are looking for, this build is for you!
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Juggernaut AoE damage | No execute |
| Off balance with main spammable | Not enough bar slots for survivability and all DoT pressure |
| High survivability |
ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Necromancer Build Playstyle
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It requires you to do fully charge heavy attacks in between abilities. 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. It’s critical for this build to 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 addon “DebuffMe” on PC to track your off-balance buff status.
Skills
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.
Elemental Blockade (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.
Stalking 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 gives the most damage possible and benefits you when playing at range because it will deal more 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.
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.
Stalking 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 gives the most damage possible and benefits you when playing at range because it will deal more 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.
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) – Use this skill to proc off-balance status effect and extra area and DoT damage.
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.
Stalking Blastbones (Morph of Blastbones | Skill Line : Grave Lord) – During a parse on a 21 million trials dummy, Blastbones does some serious damage. The trick is to “pre-cast” the ability while channelling. How you do this is, to start pressing your Blastbones key prior to the entirety of your heavy attack channel. Usually, about mid-way through, this will fire off the ability as fast as possible. Once that’s complete, look to other skills that need to be maintained for optimal damage. If nothing else, Blastbone and heavy attack combo for huge damage.
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.
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.
Shooting Star (Morph of Meteor | Skill Line : Mages Guild) – Highest damage on single-target stationary fights. If you haven’t unlocked Mage’s Guild, go with Pestilence Colossus.
Gear Setup 1: Heavy Attack build, Optimal with Mythics
Use this if you want best in slot options
| Slot | Type | Set | Trait | Glyph |
| Head | light | Slimecraw | Divine | Magicka |
| Shoulders | medium | Storm Master | Divine | Magicka |
| Chest | heavy | Sergeant’s Mail | Divine | Magicka |
| Legs | medium | Storm Master | Divine | Magicka |
| Gloves | medium | Storm Master | Divine | Magicka |
| Boots | medium | Storm Master | Divine | Magicka |
| Belt | medium | Storm Master | Divine | Magicka |
| Weapon One | Lightning Staff | Sergeant’s Mail | Precise | Flame |
| Necklace | Sergeant’s Mail | Bloodthisrty | Spell Damage | |
| Ring 1 | Oakensoul ring | Bloodthisrty | Spell Damage | |
| Ring 2 | Sergeant’s Mail | Bloodthisrty | Spell Damage |
Desktop hover over gear for set bonuses, mobile click once for set bonuses
Slimecraw: obtained from Wayrest Sewers 1, a base game dungeon
- Why? the best 1pc critical damage bonus piece in the game. Pen is also a good option, but this is consider best in slot for a one piece.
FLEX OPTIONS
- Iceheart, Grundwulf, Stone Husk, Zaan = all are 1pc with critical chance, just not as much as Slimecraw.
- Lady Malygda, Valkyn Skoria = penetration sets which is great solo, not in coordinated groups.
Storm Master: obtained in the Tempest Island dungeon, Malabar Tor zone (base game dungeon).
- Why? overall the best DPS option for heavy attack builds, increases our damage for something we are already doing, heavy attacks.
FLEX OPTIONS
- Arms Of Relequen = high proc damage when fully stacked
- Kinra’s Wrath = good option with group utility
- Grave Inevitabilty = similar to Kinra’s Wrath, also this gives your build a lot of extra Critical Damage potential
Sergeant’s Mail: obtained in Wayrest Sewers I & II, dungeon, Stormhaven zone (base game).
- Why? this builds stacks buy heavy attacking, at 5x stacks you’ll due huge damage in combination with off balance and exploiter CP. The downside is, it comes in heavy thus putting on jewelry, weapons and 1x body.
FLEX OPTIONS
- Noble Duelist = longer and more consistent buff, but less dps.
- Undaunted Unweaver = good option especially with Barbed Trap skill.
- Undaunted Infiltrator = best for Stamina focused builds.
- Infallible Mage = good thanks to buffs it provides.
Oakensoul: obtained through ESO Mythics/antiquities system. You need 5 items to be able to create the Mythic item. 5 Leads are here:
- Igneous Inlays Volcanic Vents in the High Isle and Amenos zone (High Isle)
- Larimar Gems Titanclaw boss at Mudcrab Beach (south-west) (Stormhaven)
- Petrified Oak Loop Murkmire Strongboxes (Murkmire zone)
- Sacred Resin Any Mob (Malabal Tor)
- Stone Shank Frame Blacksmithing nodes in Glenumbra (High Isle) Click for Map
Why? 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
- 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
Gear Setup 2: Without Mythics
This is going to be decent damage without Oakensoul
| 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 | Bloodthisrty | Spell Damage | |
| Ring 1 | Queen’s Elegance | Bloodthisrty | Spell Damage | |
| Ring 2 | Queen’s Elegance | Bloodthisrty | Spell Damage |
Desktop hover over gear for set bonuses, mobile click once for set bonuses
This setup just gives you tons of survivability with Mythic.
Maw of the Infernal: obtained in Banished Cells II veteran for Monster Helm (base game).
- WHY? great damage when using pet loadout.
FLEX OPTIONS
- Zaan = also god tier damage with or without pets
- Iceheart = Great survivability
- Magma Incarnate = blend of damage and damage reduction
Kinra’s Wrath = obtained in Veteran Blackdrake Villa dungeon Flames of Ambition DLC.
- WHY? gives us major berserks which is one of the best damage buffs and keeps us in medium armor for optimal damage.
FLEX OPTIONS
- Storm Master = good heavy attack build choice.
- Arms Of Relequen = high proc damage when fully stacked
Queen’s Elegance: obtained in overland zone Auridon base game.
- WHY? give us the most important buff, empower that Oakensoul provides.
FLEX OPTIONS
- 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
Race
Best Choice
High Elf
High Elf just gives a little more spell damage and max stats than a Dark Elf making it slightly better for pure damage with this build.
Secondary Choice
Dark Elf
Best option for content like dungeons or trials. Khajiit will be at critical damage cap, and dunmer gives BOTH stat pools and good weapon/spell damage which is great combined with food choices for high stats.
Attributes
Health | Stamina | Magicka |
| 0 | 0 | 64 |
Mundus Stone
Thief – Increases the Critical Strike rating by 1212
Champion Points
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.
Passives
- All Class
- Heavy Armor
- Light Armor
- Medium Armor
- Destruction Staff
- Undaunted
- Race
- Medicinal Use (Alchemy)
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