The ESO One Bar Magicka Sorcerer PVE build shines in both single target and AOE attacks and has fairly good sustain.
This build has been updated for the Update 40 patch of the Elder Scrolls Online.
Why Should You Play ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Sorcerer Build?
The ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Sorcerer build is a Heavy Attack build for Sorcerer 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 Magicka Sorcerer 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 |
|---|---|
| The Simplest and most effective one-bar build | Nearly forced to use pets |
| Ultra simple | Need to use morphs/skill that either do single target or AoE hard to do both |
| Raw single target |
ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Sorcerer Build Playstyle
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.
How Much Can One Bar Magicka Sorcerer Parse?
This ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Sorcerer Build is designed to get well over 90,000 and is capable of 100,000 damage. This is the best one bar damage dealer in the game.
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Skills
One Bar Lightning Staff – Solo | High Survivability Setup
ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Sorcerer Build Weapon Choices 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.
Summon Twilight Matriarch (Morph of Summon Winged Twilight | Skill Line : Daedric Summoning) – This critter is the healing morph and does a little bit of damage but acts as a burst heal when in trouble. Great for solo and awesome in group play. The other morph does a lot more damage, but be safe and keep this one for solo play.
Summon Volatile Familiar (Morph of Summon Unstable Familiar | Skill Line : Daedric Summoning) – This can be cast for big AoE and single-target damage. It only needs to be recast every 20 seconds, and you can use it prior to fights. We take the damage morph here as the Matriarch bird will heal us, so there is no need to have two healing morphs.
Daedric Prey (Morph of Daedric Curse | Skill Line : Daedric Summoning) – This is your priority, DoT, as it really cranks up your pet’s damage, which does most of the work for you. Keep this your #1 priority, though realize it’s single-target heavy. I do swap this out from time to time on AoE fights when it’s not boss burn dependent. Something that helps the group is Mystic Orbs from the Undaunted skill line or Razor Caltrops for massive AoE damage. Don’t sleep on Hurricane if playing in Melee range as well.
Critical Surge (Morph of Surge | Skill Line : Storm Calling) – Crit Surge carries our survival passively and boosts our overall damage by slotting it. Another great option for a single target is Elemental Susceptibility from destruction staff, which is purely single target.
Unstable Wall of Elements (Morph of Wall of Elements | Skill Line : Destruction Staff) – Unstable is the main staple of any heavy attack build. It set’s off balance which gives us a 7-second window into huge damage. Off balance increases our heavy attack damage via the Exploiter CP passive, along with double resource sustain. This is one reason to use an Unstable wall, and it can be recast instantly for a burst AoE damage ability. Consider this a must up keep DoT for HUGE damage increase during off balance. Off-balance has a 7-second uptime and a 15-second down time shown by a circle above the boss/mob’s head.
Greater Storm Atronach (Morph of Summon Storm Atronach | Skill Line : Daedric Summoning) – Insane single target damage and a nice AoE stun. Go with Mages Guild Shooting Star if you’re not using Daedric Pray or care for the pet builds.
One Bar Lightning Staff – Parse | Optimal Damage Setup
ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Sorcerer Build Weapon Choices 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.
Hurricane (Morph of Lightning Form | Skill Line : Storm Calling) – Believe it or not, this skill does way more damage (second most) and it procs off balance when up close. Unstable Blockade is still a good skill, but you’ll get a hard-hitting DoT and off balance, so I swap out this for parsing.
Daedric Prey (Morph of Daedric Curse | Skill Line : Daedric Summoning) – This is your priority DoT, as it really cranks up your pets damage, which do most of the work for you.
Barbed Trap (Morph of Trap Beast | Skill Line : Fighters Guild) – This skill is the third most important when it comes to our damage sources. Not necessarily for the buff it provides, but the physical damage and hemorrhage status effect. That, combined with its long duration, provides insane damage. This is our 3rd priority.
Summon Volatile Familiar (Morph of Summon Unstable Familiar | Skill Line : Daedric Summoning) – Pet that deals damage, use it to activate a special ability that deals extra AoE damage to enemies near him. This should be maintained last and isn’t super essentially for high damage.
Summon Twilight Tormentor (Morph of Summon Winged Twilight | Skill Line : Daedric Summoning) – Pet that deals single target damage, use it to activate a special ability that deals more damage to targets under 50% health. I only use this at the start of fights and don’t maintain it. You can if you wish, but its sometimes a waste of a cooldown when I’d rather heavy attack.
Greater Storm Atronach (Morph of Summon Storm Atronach | Skill Line : Daedric Summoning) – Insane single target damage and a nice AoE stun. Go with Mages Guild Shooting Star if you’re not using Daedric Pray or care for the pet builds.
One Bar Lightning Staff -Group | Damage and Utility
ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Sorcerer Build Weapon Choices 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.
Summon Volatile Familiar (Morph of Summon Unstable Familiar | Skill Line : Daedric Summoning) – Keep this high damage dealing morph and cast every 20 seconds.
Daedric Prey (Morph of Daedric Curse | Skill Line : Daedric Summoning) – Keep this ability on the primary target, especially when Greater Storm Atronach is active.
Mystic Orb (Morph of Necrotic Orb | Skill Line : Undaunted) – This skill is used to supplement our lack of AoE and provide a great group synergy buff that does damage and gives resources back to the team.
Summon Twilight Matriarch (Morph of Summon Winged Twilight | Skill Line : Daedric Summoning) – We choose this morph in groups in case we are playing with or without a healer and need high survivability.
Unstable Wall of Elements (Morph of Wall of Elements | Skill Line : Destruction Staff) – Used for AoE damage and proc off balance. I don’t use Hurricane in a group, as it requires too much melee focus.
Greater Storm Atronach (Morph of Summon Storm Atronach | Skill Line : Daedric Summoning) – This morph is the best for a pure single target. I swap this to Destruction Staff ultimate when there’s more AoE required from my ultimate.
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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