This guide explains how to use the best Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) One Bar PvE Magicka Nightblade 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 Nightblade Build?
The ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Nightblade build is a Heavy Attack build for Nightblade 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 Nightblade 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 Nightblade Features
Below are some of the features found using the Oakensoul Heavy Attack Nightblade in the Elder Scrolls Online:
- Class: Nightblade
- 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 Nightblade 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 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.
Refreshing Path (Morph of Path of Darkness | Skill Line : Shadow) – Refreshing Path is a great morph choice for solo play due to the massive and constant healing and speed it provides. The other morph, Twisting Path, provides much more damage but doesn’t have the healing component. Typically in solo play, you need a strong heal over time and or a burst heal. If you need more damage, and your survivability is great, swap morphs to Twisting.
Healthy Offering (Morph of Malevolent Offering | Skill Line : Siphoning) – When playing solo, having a burst self-heal or shield is a great idea. Since this build plays with medium armor, a strong shield isn’t possible. Healthy Offering remains the Nightblade’s best and most powerful heal. If you have reaction time, this should be your only healing. If it’s not doing enough or you can’t react quickly when taking pressure, make sure to maintain Refreshing Path healing over time to complement the burst healing of Healthy Offering.
Merciless Resolve (Morph of Grim Focus | Skill Line : Assassination) – The Nightblade class damage kit centres on light/heavy attacks to generate stacks for Merciless Resolve. At five stacks, you can fire off a super hard-hitting Spectral Bow. This, when in melee range, can also heal you for an incredible amount. When using a one-bar heavy attack build, a fully charged heavy attack typically accounts for two stacks on Merciless Resolve. So expect a Spectral Bow proc, after roughly three cycles of fully chagrining heavy attacks. This skill also has some benefits for merely slotting due to the Nightblade’s passives.
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 can get to this total without “spilling” or going over, the best your overall damage will be. Not only does Elemental Susceptibility reduce armor, but it applies three important status effects. An additional reason it remains powerful, 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. A flex skill in this location is Concealed Weapon, which by slotting and activating Refreshing or Twisting Path, gives you a unique 10% damage increase. This is better when playing with a group.
Shooting Star (Morph of Meteor | Skill Line : Mages Guild) – The strongest damage ultimate remains Shooting Star from the Mage’s Guide. The downside is, if the fight requires high mobility, or massive AoE, the ability doesn’t shine. Moreover, it’s very annoying to get Mage’s Guild skill line fully unlocked. But if you want the best range damage, this is your skill. An alternative and something I use in solo arena’s is Elemental Rage Destruction Staff skill line ultimate. The advantage here is it provides massive AoE, quick channel time and doesn’t require a target. Thus in solo arenas you can pre-cast the ability right as enemies spawn giving you a damage advantage.
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 simplisit damage over time or pets.
Blockade of Storms (Morph of Wall of Elements | Skill Line : Destruction Staff) – Used to proc our off-balance consistently and AoE damage while active.
Twisting Path (Morph of Path of Darkness | Skill Line : Shadow) – The best damage over time skill Nightblade has combined with Concealed Weapon, boosting overall damage by 10%.
Merciless Resolve (Morph of Grim Focus | Skill Line : Assassination) – This skill gives a burst damage ability with five stack proc Spectral Bow via heavy-attacking.
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.
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.
Shooting Star (Morph of Meteor | Skill Line : Mages Guild) – The highest burst damage on boss fights.
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.
Twisting Path (Morph of Path of Darkness | Skill Line : Shadow) – One of the best damage over time skill Nightblade, gives the group major expedition.
Merciless Resolve (Morph of Grim Focus | Skill Line : Assassination) – This skill gives a burst damage ability with five stack proc Spectral Bow via heavy-attacking.
Healthy Offering (Morph of Malevolent Offering | Skill Line : Siphoning) – Strong burst heal that will heal you or a group member.
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.
Shooting Star (Morph of Meteor | Skill Line : Mages Guild) – Highest burst damage on boss fights.
Passives Skills
Consider taking all of the passives in the below skill trees to increase your builds performance without slotting any skills:
- Assassination (class skill line)
- Shadow (class skill line)
- Siphoning (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 Nightblade 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 Nightblade 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 – ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Nightblade
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 Nightblade:
- Precision 10
- Wrathful Strikes (slottable) 50
- Extended Might – sub constellation – piercing 10
- Extended Might – sub constellation – Weapons Expert (slottable) 50
- Extended Might – sub constellation – Exploiter (slottable) 50
- Thaumaturge (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 Nightblade:
- Fortified (slottable) 50
- Boundless vitality (slottable) 50
- Rejuvenation (slottable) 50
- Sprinter 10
- Winder chaser – sub con – 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 Nightblade:
- 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 – ESO One Bar PvE Magicka Nightblade
Class: Nightblade
Race: Dark Elf
Attributes: 64 Magicka
Mundus Stone: Thief
Weapon: Lightning 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 1
- Elemental Blockade
- Refreshing Path
- Healthy Offering
- Merciless Resolve
- Elemental Susceptibility
- Shooting Star (Ultimate)
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