ESO Solo Warden 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

ESO Magicka Warden PvE Build build is for players that are looking to complete solo content with a well-rounded class with great healing. This build is a great build for beginner players as it has a lot of buffs and healing built that doesn’t require potions or outside skill lines.

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 Warden 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 Warden 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 Solo Magicka Warden Build

In ESO, the Magicka Warden 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 frost druid with animal companions and following “pros” is what you are looking for, this build is for you!

Pros

• Great damage both AoE and single target
• Amazing passives and buffs
• Good healing

Cons

• Difficult to sustain
• Reliant on pet ultimate for optimal damage

 

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.

Skills

Front Bar (Ice Staff)

Front Bar Weapon Style Choices:

• Ice Staff = update 36 gave a huge boost of damage for Warden's using frost staff, 12% more damage.
• Dual Wield = second best 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.

Deep Fissure (Morph of Scorch | Skill line: Animal Companions) - Hard hitting and major debuff must keep up priority.

Blue Betty (Morph of Betty Netch | Skill line: Animal Companions) - Our sustain tool on front bar.

Growing Swarm (Morph of Swarm | Skill line: Animal Companions) - This skills is great to place on one or more target due to the debuff and damage over time. In combination with fissure, you’ll lower resistance and increase damage for your group just by maintaining these two abilities.

Screaming Cliff Racer (Morph of Dive | Skill line: Animal Companions) - A great ranged spammable that does some serious damage.

Bird Of Prey (Morph of Falcon's Swiftness | Skill line: Animal Companions) - Simply slot for increased damage.

Wild Guardian (Morph of Feral Guardian | Skill line: Animal Companions) - this ultimate is double bared so it does not come on and off. It’s absolutely incredible damage. I can hit 87,000 critical strikes sub 20% health on bosses due to it attacking like an execute. You’ll treat this ability like another attack because it’s ultimate cost of 75 is so low. Keep in mind to recast your bear if it dies or goes away. It will also stun enemies and attack as a decoy and I prefer this over any other ultimate of choice due to the reason above.

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Back Bar Ice Staff

Back bar options:

• Two Handed = incredible damage with stampede ability though hard to sustain stamina.  Warden's need help with magicka sustain so this frees up some much needed magicka using a stamina ability as our back bar weapon.
• Ice Staff = good for wardens thanks to the extra frost damage passive. A fully charged heavy attack will apply a damage shield.
• Inferno Staff = great all-around damage and sustain set
• Lighting Staff = good for beginners who lack magicka sustain

Channeled Acceleration (Morph of Accelerate | Skill line: Psijic Order) - Our critical damage buff, you can also use fighters guild barb trap which is very important for solo.

Dampen Magic (Morph of Annulment | Skill line: Light Armor) - Strong shield and a great survivability tool when doing damage.

Arctic Blast (Morph of Artic Wind | Skill line: Winters Embrace) - Your burst heal that can apply status effects. Maintain the 20 seconds of this ability's even if you don't need healing.

Winters Revenge (Morph of Impaling Shards | Skill line: Winters Embrace) - 12 second damage over time which applies Chilled status effect. This is great damage over time, chilled status effect increase chance and great snare. I’ll cast this before Unstable because it’s 12 second duration.

Unstable Wall Of Elements (Morph of Wall of Elements | Skill line: Destruction Staff) - AoE damage and acts as a AoE spammable.

Wild Guardian (Morph of Feral Guardian | Skill line: Animal Companions) - double bar this skill so it doesn’t turn off.

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Rotation

Main Rotation

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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 False 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	Frost Staff	Pillar of Nirn	Precise	Frost
Weapon Two	Frost 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

Pillar of Nirn: obtained in Falkreath Hold dungeon.

• WHY? one of the hardest hitting, easiest proc sets in the game.  People ask about “frost” type of 5pc gear sets, sure they may look cool or sound great, but Pillar will do way more damage.

FLEX OPTIONS

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

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 Drink
4. 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 = best overall damage but could be less survivability
3. Markyn Ring of Majesty = set and forget boost to spell damage and armor

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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	Health
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	Frost Staff	Medusa	Precise	Flame
Weapon Two	Frost Staff	Perfected Maelstrom	Infused	Berserker
Necklace		Medusa	Infused	Spell Damage
Ring 1		Medusa	Infused	Spell Damage
Ring 2		Medusa	Infused	Spell Damage

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

• Nerien’eth: obtained in Crypt of Hearts II.  Why? incredible single target and AoE.
• Mother’s Sorrow: obtained in Deshaan overland.  WHY? Adds critical chance and max magicka to increase damage and help with sustain.
• Medusa: obtained in Tempest Island dungeon.  WHY? adds critical and minor force.
• Perfected Crushing Wall: from Veteran Maelstrom Arena in Orsinium. WHY?  adds a massive amount of damage single target and AoE.

PROGRESSION

• Work on replacing Medusa 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.

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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	Withered Hand	Divines	Magicka
Shoulders	light	Withered Hand	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	Frost Staff	Willpower	Precise	Flame
Weapon Two	Frost Staff	Willpower	Infused	Berserker
Necklace		Withered Hand	Arcane	Magicka Recovery
Ring 1		Withered Hand	Arcane	Magicka Recovery
Ring 2		Withered Hand	Arcane	Spell Damage

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

• 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 Mother’s Sorrow which can be found in Deshaan overland. 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

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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

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.

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

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

Fortified (Slottable) - 50
Grants 34.6 Armor 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) - 30
Adds 10 minutes to the duration of any food or drink that increases your character's stats per stage.

Liquid Efficiency (Slottable) - 75
Whenever you use a potion or poison you have a 10% chance to not consume it.

Gifted Rider (Passives) - 100
Increases your Mount Speed by 2% per stage.

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.

Essence of Spell Power

Type: Potions

Grants major sorcery with increases spell damage by 20% for 47.6 seconds. Grants major prophecy which grants you 2191 spell critical rating for 47.6 seconds. Restore 7582 magicka immediately. Grants you major intellect which increases your magicka recovery by 20% for 47.6. Potions have a 45 second cool down and make sure you have three points into medicinal use passive in alchemy crafting.

Wrap Up

Additional Guides

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