ESO Solo Nightblade Magicka Build for PvE

Table of Contents

• Skills
• Rotation
• Gear
• Passives Skills
• Race
• Mundus Stone
• Champion Points
• Consumables
• Wrap Up

Last Updated: 2023-03-23

The ESO Solo Nightblade Magicka Build for PVE is for players that want a high DPS class with good survivability and sustain. It has the unmatched ultimate generation, a strong main spammable that heals you, speed, resource sustain and more. This build and class can be surprisingly simple to use though advanced setups will reward you with massive damage.

Related: Top 5 Tips for Increasing Your DPS

Last updated March 23rd, 2023, update 37 and the Scribes of Fate DLC: The ESO Solo Magicka Nightblade PvE Build is extremely survival. You have the tools to self-sustain and heal yourself. As a result, the build is perfect for playing without a dedicated healer or tank. We adjusted relevant item sets, Pillar of Nirn and Perfected False Gods, along with changing the most effective skills bar and champion points. The build lists a few gear options – for beginner players without access to all sets and/or DLCs and two best in-slot trial options. The setup suggested also assumes you want the most survivability, not damage. Adjust where you see fit or want more damage. Also, make sure to use sets and skills that work better for you and harder end-game content.

 

Solo Magicka Nightblade Playstyle in PvE

Use the following rotation as the starter point. After, apply your buffs and cast the DoT skills on cooldown for the best, highest DPS. In total, the Damage over Time skills (DoTs) do more damage than your main spammable. Thus, they need to be cast less often and are easier to maintain, for example, The Degeneration from Mages Guild or the Barb Trap from Fighters Guild. Maintain DoTs and use your spammable skill as filler until you need to reapply the DoTS.

At certain percentages, replace your spammable with your in-class or weapon execute if you have one in this build. Executes are the skills that deal more damage the lower the health of the opponent becomes. Ideally, these are meant to replace your main spammable skill at anywhere between 35% (Radiant Oppression) all the way to 20% (Mages’ Fury). At a high level, execute skills become so strong that the lower the enemy’s health, the fewer DoTs you maintain because it does so much damage.

Use the healing skill when your health drops below 50% or the shield skill when you anticipate damage. Also, always use the suggested food and potions as they significantly increase your damage, survivability, and resource sustain.

If you run out of resources, do a heavy attack and return to your rotation. Remember that a heavy attack on off-balance enemies will return double the resources. Additionally, if you are a beginner or struggle with sustain, you can flex in the Consuming Trap skill instead of a DoT skill. The Consuming Trap gives you a flood of both resources when a target dies.

 

The Best Magicka Nightblade Build

In ESO, the Magicka Nightblade is perfect for everyone who is looking for a simple-rotation survival class with a complete set of tools for solo PvE gameplay. So if the shadow assassin with blood magic and following “pros” is what you are looking for, this build is for you!

Pros

• Unmatched ultimate generation
• Incredible survivability
• Excels at single target and AoE

Cons

• Can be complex to master
• Top end gear difficult to obtain

Keep reading for all the details about Skills, Rotation, Gear, Passives and Champion points for the build! The Gear section will include options for Beginner, Intermediate, and Optimal set-ups, with plenty of flex options available for those still filling out their sticker books.

 

Video Guide

Skills

Front Bar (Fire Staff)

Front Bar Weapon Style Choices:

• Dual Wield = most raw damage due to Twin Blade and Blunt passive BUT lacks resource return off heavy attacks
• Flame Staff = good single target damage and has range for easier survival but less damage.
• Lighting Staff = decent option on for front bar because fully charge heavy attacking gives resources and increase AoE damage.

Merciless Resolve (Morph of Grim Focus | Skill line: Assassination) - Increases your critical damage and healing by 2% for every light attack you hit on an enemy and lasts for 40 seconds. As a result, you are able to proc a bow attack after 5 light attacks, which also heals you

Swallow Soul (Morph of Strife | Skill line: Siphoning) - Great for single target damage and healing. This isn't the damage producing spammable, but it can be used at ranged with a fire staff.

Sap Essence (Morph of Drain Power | Skill line: Siphoning) - AoE damage along with massive ultimate generation and healing! Consider Barb Trap in this position when it's a single target fight.

Concealed Weapon (Morph of Veiled Strike | Skill line: Shadow) - Reworked in Update 35 to now hit very hard and passively boost your damage. If you decide the melee playstyle with Dual Wield use this. If not, go with Swallow Soul. You can also swap out another ability for Swallow Soul for the healing over time.

Impale (Morph of Assassin's Blade | Skill line: Assassination) - replaces our main spammable at around 25%, switch to this until kill.

Soul Harvest (Morph of Death Stroke | Skill line: Assassination) - mainly slottable ultimate to generate ultimate on kills but cast for low cost burst with increased damage

---

Back Bar (Inferno Staff)

Back bar options:

• Inferno Staff = great all-around damage with Unstable Wall and fully charge heavy to sustain magicka.
• Lighting Staff = good for beginners who lack magicka sustain because it's easier to set off balance and fully charge heavy for resources.
• Two Handed = incredible damage with stampede ability though hard to sustain stamina.

Elemental Susceptibility (Morph of Weakness to Elements | Skill line: Destruction Staff) - Update 36 saw a huge buff to this ability giving armor reduction and 3x status effects with high up time. This will do great damage solo or in a group.

Unstable Wall Of Elements (Morph of Wall of Elements | Skill line: Destruction Staff) - Massive AoE damage that explodes and procs our Maelstrom weapon on our back bar.

Siphoning Attacks (Morph of Siphoning Strikes | Skill line: Siphoning) - After casting, your light and heavy attacks heal you, and give you back magicka resources

Harness Magicka (Morph of Annulment | Skill line: Light Armor) - A shield that absorbs damage for 6 seconds and helps you restore magicka when you take damage.

Twisting Path (Morph of Path of Darkness | Skill line: Shadow) - An AOE damage ability that deals magic damage to enemies and grants you and your allies major expedition

Shooting Star (Morph of Meteor | Skill line: Mages Guild) - Best overall damage for a solo player, but you can swap to Elemental Rage.

---

Rotation

Main Rotation

---

Gear

Optimal

This is the best option for folks looking to solo arenas and Veteran dungeons

Slot	Type	Set	Trait	Glyph
Head	medium	Slimecraw	Divines	Magicka
Shoulders	light	Perfected Flase Gods	Divines	Magicka
Chest	medium	Pillar of Nirn	Divines	Magicka
Legs	light	Perfected False Gods	Divines	Magicka
Gloves	light	Perfected False Gods	Divines	Magicka
Boots	light	Perfected False Gods	Divines	Magicka
Belt	light	Perfected False Gods	Divines	Magicka
Weapon One	Inferno Staff	Pillar of Nirn	Precise	Flame
Weapon Two	Inferno Staff	Perfected Crushing Wall	Infused	Weapon Damage
Necklace		Pillar of Nirn	Infused	Spell Damage
Ring 1		Pale Order	Infused	Spell Damage
Ring 2		Pillar of Nirn	Infused	Spell Damage

Desktop hover over gear for set bonuses, mobile click once for set bonuses

Slimecraw: obtained in Wayrest Sewers I Veteran dungeon and Maj Undaunted Vendor.

• Why? gives us highest 1pc critical chance

FLEX OPTIONS (if you switch to monster setup, drop the ring and replace it with Vicious or flex piece)

1. Zaan = great damage from a proc set considered best damage for melee builds.
2. Nerien’eth = good damage and great option for range DPS with direct damage.
3. Balorgh = incredible for boss burns in Veteran Maelstrom Arena saving up ultimate for 500 burn.
4. Iceheart = great survivability

Pillar of Nirn: obtained in Falkreath Hold dungeon.

• WHY? one of the hardest hitting, easiest proc sets in the game.

FLEX OPTIONS

1. Scathing Mage = High spell damage set from dungeons
2. Mechanical Acuity = the highest burst combined with Balorgh for VMA boss nukes
3. Order’s Wrath = Crafted and best overall option for great damage
4. Medusa  = easy dungeon set if you’re not using minor force skill/buff

Perfected False Gods: obtained in Veteran Sunspire trial or normal for non perfected

• WHY? provides incredible resource sustain and mobility but lacks overall damage.  This is great for solo play or uncoordinated groups where you cannot relay on orbs/spears/sustain sets.

FLEX OPTIONS

1. Perfected Bahsei’s Mania = considered BiS for damage if you can run magicka low and keep it there.
2. Robes of the Withered Hand = Base game, overland and a great replacement for False Gods to get you started.
3. Bright-Throat’s Boast = decent sustain set if your using Witch Mother’s drink.
4. Mother’s Sorrow = overland option base game easy to get and good damage
5. Law of Julianos = decent craftable option

Perfected Crushing Wall: from Veteran Maelstrom Arena in Orsinium

• WHY? Increase your overall DPS massively due to wall of elements and light attack damage increase.

FLEX OPTIONS

1. Perfected Merciless Charge = must change out blockade for Stampede, considered meta, but struggle with sustain
2. Willpower = extra 2pc set

Ring of the Pale Order: Mythic obtained by collecting five pieces:

• Bangkorai – Aurmine Ancestral Signet – Chests
• Alik’r Desert – Direnni Elegy Loop – Coldrock Diggings Delve Boss
• Wrothgar – Onix Accent Stones – All World Bosses
• Glenumbra – Order-Etched Gallery Rail – Bad Man’s Hallow Trash Monsters
• The Reach – Pale Order’s Golden Band – Nighthollow Keep (Blackreach: Arkthzand Cavern start north of map)

Set bonus

• (1 item) Restore 20% of the damage you deal as Health. This value is decreased by 4% per ally you are grouped with. You cannot be healed by anyone but yourself.

FLEX OPTIONS

1. Death Dealer’s Fete = high max stats and requires no effect but in combat
2. Sea Serpent Coil = god tier damage if you can hang without Pale Order
3. Markyn Ring of Majesty = set and forget boost to spell damage and armor

---

Intermediate

Meant for someone who's familiar with the game and wants strongest solo build without mythics or trials gear

Slot	Type	Set	Trait	Glyph
Head	medium	Nerien'eth	Divines	Magicka
Shoulders	light	Nerien'eth	Divines	Magicka
Chest	light	Mother's Sorrow	Divines	Magicka
Legs	light	Mother's Sorrow	Divines	Magicka
Gloves	light	Mother's Sorrow	Divines	Magicka
Boots	light	Mother's Sorrow	Divines	Magicka
Belt	light	Mother's Sorrow	Divines	Magicka
Weapon One	Inferno Staff	Scathing Mage	Precise	Poison
Weapon Two	Inferno Staff	Perfected Crushing Wall	Infused	Berserker
Necklace		Scathing Mage	Bloodthirsty	Spell Damage
Ring 1		Scathing Mage	Bloodthirsty	Spell Damage
Ring 2		Scathing Mage	Bloodthirsty	Spell Damage

Desktop hover over gear for set bonuses, mobile click once for set bonuses

• Nerien’eth: obtained in Crypt of Hearts II.
• Scathing Mage: obtained in Imperial City Prison dungeon
• Mother’s Sorrow: obtained in Deshaan overland or from guild traders (delves, dolmans, world bosses, chest).
• Perfected Crushing Wall: from Veteran Maelstrom Arena in Orsinium

PROGRESSION

• Work on replacing Scathing Mage jewelry with  Mother’s Sorrow which can be found in Deshaan overland. A great option for solo play is to run  Mother’s Sorrow jewelry and front bar weapon with Pale Order ring to help with survivability.
• Next, focus on replacing Mother’s Sorrow body pieces with a trials set like Perfected False Gods found in trial Sunspire on veteran mode. Perfected False Gods will give you high damage and great sustain which is needed for solo play.
• Finally replace Nerien’eth with a slightly higher damage monster helm Slimecraw which can be found in Wayrest City Sewers I.

---

Beginner

This setup is for someone who just started and doesn't have access to Monsters, Mythics, Trials gear

Slot	Type	Set	Trait	Glyph
Head	light	Back-Alley Gourmand	Divines	Magicka
Shoulders	light	Back-Alley Gourmand	Divines	Magicka
Chest	light	Mother's Sorrow	Divines	Magicka
Legs	light	Mother's Sorrow	Divines	Magicka
Gloves	light	Mother's Sorrow	Divines	Magicka
Boots	light	Mother's Sorrow	Divines	Magicka
Belt	light	Mother's Sorrow	Divines	Magicka
Weapon One	Inferno Staff	Willpower	Precise	Shock
Weapon Two	Inferno Staff	Willpower	Infused	Berserker
Necklace		Back-Alley Gourmand	Arcane	Magicka Recovery
Ring 1		Back-Alley Gourmand	Arcane	Magicka Recovery
Ring 2		Back-Alley Gourmand	Arcane	Spell Damage

Desktop hover over gear for set bonuses, mobile click once for set bonuses

• Back-Alley Gourmand: Obtained in Galen and Y’ffelon overland zone or bought from traders. Why?  This set has great critical damage which is missing from light armor passives.   Flex in Order’s Wrath set if you prefer a crafting set.
• Withered Hand: obtained in Alik’r Desert overland or from guild traders (delves, dolmans, world bosses, chest).  WHY? If you’re new player, low champion points and lack trials gear, this gives great sustain and healing when killing mobs and is ideal for a newer player.
• Mother’s Sorrow: obtained in Deshaan overland or from guild traders (delves, dolmans, world bosses, chest). WHY? very easy set to obtain base game that adds tons of damage via extra critical chance.
• Willpower: obtained from Imperial City, Dungeon finder or from guild traders. WHY? very cheap and easy to obtain two piece that gives massive boost in magicka thus more damage and bigger shields.

PROGRESSION

• Work on replacing your Willpower weapons and Withered Hand jewelry with another 5pc set like Scathing Mage which is obtained in Imperial City Prison dungeon. Then you’ll have 2 5 piece sets and a spot to free up for you to use a monster helm.
• Some good options for monster helms include Iceheart which is found in the dungeon DIrefrost Keep and is great for survivability. Another option is Nerien’eth which is found in Crypt of Hearts II is great for damage.
• Then work on replacing your back bar weapon with a Maelstrom weapon like Perfected Crushing Wall from Veteran Maelstrom Arena in Orsinium This will provide you with more damage than just double barring another set

---

Passives

Class Passives

Weapon Passives

Armor Passives

Guild Passives

Alliance Passives

World Passives

Make sure to focus on maxing out the following passives skills as they add performance to your character:

• Class skill lines
• Medium armor skill lines
• Undaunted
• Fighter’s Guild (optional)
• Mage’s Guild (optional)
• Undaunted (must have)
• Psijic (optional)
• Crafting Alchemy (Medicinal Use for potion duration)
• Race
• Alliance War
• World Vampire if using

Races

Khajiit

Top tier damage for solo play due to passive critical damage bonus.

• Cutpurse
• Robustness
• Lunar Blessings
• Feline Ambush

Dark Elf

all around great if you want to switch between magicka/stamina build though lacks resources sustain

• Ashlander
• Dynamic
• Resist Flame
• Ruination

Attributes

Mundus Stone

Thief - Increases the Critical Strike rating by 1333. With 7 Divines armor pieces: Increases the Critical Strike rating by 2167.

Lover - Use this mundus stone to reach armor pen cap at 18,200 in Veteran content.

Champion Points

Warfare

Fighting Finesse (Slottable) - 50
Increases your Critical Damage and Critical Healing done by 4% per stage.

Deadly Aim (Slottable) - 50
Increase your damage done with single target attacks by 3% per stage.

Master-at-Arms (Slottable) - 50
Increases your damage done with direct damage attacks by 3% per stage.

Wrathful Strikes (Slottable) - 50
Grants 41 Weapon and Spell Damage to your damaging abilities per stage.

Flex Spot(s): Flex Spot(s): If you can afford, take these passives as they add power without a slottable: Precision (20), Piercing (20), Eldritch Insight (20), Flawless Ritual (40), War Mage (30), Quick Recovery (20), Preparation (20), Elemental Aegis (20), Hardy (20), Blessed (20), Tireless Discipline (20), Battle Mastery (40), & Mighty (30)

Fitness

Siphoning Spells (Slottable) - 50
Restore 300 Magicka per stage, whenever you kill an enemy.

Fortified (Slottable) - 50
Grants 34.6 Armor per stage.

Rejuvenation (Slottable) - 50
Grants 1.8 Health, Magicka, and Stamina Recovery per stage.

Boundless Vitality (Slottable) - 50
Grants 28 Max Health per stage.

Flex Spot(s): Flex Spot(s): If you can afford, take these passives as they add power without a slottable: Tumbling (30), Mystic Tenacity (10), Hero’s Vigor (20), Shield Master (10), Defiance (20), Hasty (16), Tireless Guardian (20), Fortification (30), Sprinter (20), Nimble Protector (6), Savage Defense (30), Bashing Brutality (20), & Piercing Gaze (30)

Crafting

Steed's Blessing (Slottable) - 50
Increases your out of combat Movement Speed by .4% per stage.

Rationer (Passives) - 50
Adds 10 minutes to the duration of any food or drink that increases your character's stats per stage.

Liquid Efficiency (Slottable) - 50
Whenever you use a potion or poison you have a 10% chance to not consume it.

Treasure Hunter (Slottable) - 50
Increase the quality of items you find in treasure chests.

Flex Spot(s): Flex Spot(s): If you can afford, take these passives as they add power without a slottable: Breakfall (50), Wanderer (75), Steadfast Enchantment (50), Fortune’s Favor (40), Gilded Fingers (50), & Inspiration Boost (45)

Consumables

Clockwork Citrus Filet

Type: Foods

OVERALL: Increase Max Health by 3724, Health Recovery by 351, Max Magicka by 3458 and Magicka Recovery by 319 for 2 hours.

Witchmother's Brew

Type: Foods

CHEAP: Increase Max Magicka by 2856, Max Health by 3094, and Magicka Recovery by 315 for 2 hours.

Ghastly Eye Bowl

Type: Foods

DPS Parse: Increase Max Magicka by 4256 and Magicka Recovery by 425 for 2 hours.

Wrap Up

Additional Guides

Thank you for reading ESO Solo Nightblade Magica Build for PvE!

Check our ESO builds and guides. Also, consider watching me on Twitch, where you can ask me questions about my current builds or check out the YouTube Channel.

• Complete Beginners Guide
  • Skill Points Guide
  • Champion Point System Guide
• PvP Beginner Guide
  • How to farm Alliance Points (AP)
  • How to farm Tel Var Stones
• Addons, UI, and Keybinds Guide for ESO
• Tales of Tribute Guide