The ESO Stamina Dragonknight PvE Build relies heavily on damage over time effects and buffs.

This build has been updated for the Update 40 patch of the Elder Scrolls Online.
Why Should You Play the ESO Stamina Dragonknight PvE Build?
Welcome to our ESO Stamina Dragonknight PvE Build called the Butcher! The build relies heavily on damage over time effects and buffs. Consider this a hard-to-play, stamina-based, melee damage dealer because there are so many buffs and a complex rotation. However, I’ve listed flexible options to make it simpler and more survivable. High damage, you bet ESO Stamina Dragonknight PvE Build rocks!
Related:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Great damage over time | Difficult rotation |
Good survivability | Lacks great sustain |
High mobility |
The ESO Stamina Dragonknight PvE Build Playstyle
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.
Skills
Front Bar – Dual Wield
Front Bar Weapon choice options:
- Dual Wield
- Two-handed
- Bow
Flames of Oblivion (Morph of Inferno | Skill Line : Ardent Flame) – AoE and single target nuke that cost magicka.
Venomous Claw (Morph of Searing Strike | Skill Line : Ardent Flame) – Deals poison damage to an enemy and increases the damage over time effect
Noxious Breath (Morph of Fiery Breath | Skill Line : Ardent Flame) – Breathe a poisonous flame onto enemies dealing poison damage and inflicting them with major fracture
Molten Whip (Morph of Lava Whip | Skill Line : Ardent Flame) – Update 35 radically changed the main spammable options. Molten Whip is still great except you run out of magicka. Consider Silver Shard a hard hitting, spammable that increases your overall weapon damage for merely slotting and good AoE with range. Another option is Rapid Strikes from Dual Wield which is channel and optimal single target. Or you can go with your class skill like Molten Whip. This may seem odd at first, but it’s how the game is functioning optimally at end game.
Whirling Blades (Morph of Whirlwind | Skill Line : Dual Wield) – AoE damage that acts as an execute, dealing more damage to enemies below 50% health.
Flawless Dawnbreaker (Morph of Dawnbreaker | Skill Line : Fighters Guild) – The performance of Dawnbreaker is very good now that it grants a massive spell damage boost of 300 for 20 seconds. Not to mention added spell damage from Fighters guild, Slayer passive. This is a great ultimate to use that’s low cost.
Back Bar – Two Handed
Back Bar Weapon choice options:
- Two-handed
- Dual Wield
- Bow
Barbed Trap (Morph of Trap Beast | Skill Line : Fighters Guild) – a trap that immobilizes target, procs minor force buff and does good single target damage.
Carve (Morph of Cleave | Skill Line : Two Handed) – AoE hard hitting DoT.
Eruption (Morph of Ash Cloud | Skill Line : Earthen Heart) – Hard hitting DoT that cost magicka per second and is great if you can sustain the magicka cost. Consider this your flex spot.
Stampede (Morph of Critical Charge | Skill Line : Two Handed) – Gap closer with hard hitting dot that is amplified by back bar weapon.
Echoing Vigor (Morph of Vigor | Skill Line : Assault) – Strong heal overtime for you and your group and stacks with other group healing.
Standard of Might (Morph of Dragonknight Standard | Skill Line : Ardent Flame) – Deals flame damage to nearby enemies, applying major defile to them. You can stand in the area to reduce damage to you, and increase the damage given to enemies
Gear
Z’en’s DK
This is what everyone wants in their trial group because of the group buffs.
Slot | Type | Set | Trait | Glyph |
Head | medium | Zaan | Divines | Stamina |
Shoulders | light | Zaan | Divines | Stamina |
Chest | medium | Roar of Alkosh | Divines | Stamina |
Legs | medium | Roar of Alkosh | Divines | Stamina |
Gloves | medium | Roar of Alkosh | Divines | Stamina |
Boots | medium | Roar of Alkosh | Divines | Stamina |
Belt | medium | Roar of Alkosh | Divines | Stamina |
Weapon One | Dagger | Z’en’s | Nirnhoned>Precise | Fire |
Secondary | Dagger | Z’en’s | Charged | Poison |
Weapon Two | 2H Sword | Perfected Merciless Charge | Infused | Weapon Damage |
Necklace | Z’en’s | Bloodthirsty | Weapon Damage | |
Ring 1 | Z’en’s | Bloodthirsty | Weapon Damage | |
Ring 2 | Z’en’s | Bloodthirsty | Weapon Damage |
Desktop hover over gear for set bonuses, mobile click once for set bonuses
Zaan: Veteran dungeon Scalecaller Peak, Dragon Bone DLC.
- Why? The highest DPS monster helm currently which can out perform Harpooner’s Wading Kilt Set.
FLEX OPTIONS
- Kjalnar’s Nightmare – great single target damage ONLY one player can have this in your group.
- 1pc Slimecraw and 1pc Harpooner’s Wading Kilt Set this setup still strong, make sure you don’t hit crit damage cap.
- Kra’gh – one pc is great for pen, two piece does good single target damage
- Stormfist – always works, easy to obtain and AoE DPS set.
Z’en’s Redress: obtained in Lair of Maarselok, DLC Scalebreaker.
- Why? incredible damage buff for the entire group.
FLEX OPTIONS
- Pillar of Nirn = high damage producing proc set if you want to play selfish.
- Perfect Whorl of the Depths = another S tier proc damage set.
- Kinra’s Wrath = great damage boost if you can light attack weave consistently
Roar of Alkosh: obtained in Maw of Lorkhaj dungeon.
- Why? great armor reduction for entire group, especially for medium armor users.
FLEX OPTIONS
- Perfected Arms of Relequen = the bust pure damage set in the game.
- Perfected Coral Riptide = god tier damage if you run low stamina (dodge roll a bit before pull)
- Order’s Wrath = great craftable option though watch for too much critical damage (125% cap)
- Leviathan = easy base game dungeon set with high critical
Perfected Merciless Charge: obtained in Veteran Maelstrom Arena though you can do normal for a lesser version.
- Why? still one of the hardest hitting back bar arena weapons.
FLEX OPTIONS
- Perfected Thunderous Volley Set = great if you prefer range than melee back bar.
- Perfected Spectral Cloak = must change out blockade for Deadly Cloak, also niche but high damage
Best in Slot
This is the highest damage possible.
Slot | Type | Set | Trait | Glyph |
Head | medium | Zaan | Divines | Stamina |
Shoulders | light | Zaan | Divines | Stamina |
Chest | medium | Pillar of Nirn | Divines | Stamina |
Legs | medium | Harpooner’s Wading Kilt | Divines | Stamina |
Gloves | medium | Pillar of Nirn | Divines | Stamina |
Boots | medium | Pillar of Nirn | Divines | Stamina |
Belt | light | Perfect Whorl of the Depths | Divines | Stamina |
Weapon One | Dagger | Perfect Whorl of the Depths | Nirnhoned>Precise | Fire |
Secondary | Dagger | Pillar of Nirn | Charged | Poison |
Weapon Two | Greatsword | Pillar of Nirn | Infused | Weapon Damage |
Necklace | Perfect Whorl of the Depths | Bloodthirsty | Weapon Damage | |
Ring 1 | Perfect Whorl of the Depths | Bloodthirsty | Weapon Damage | |
Ring 2 | Perfect Whorl of the Depths | Bloodthirsty | Weapon Damage |
Desktop hover over gear for set bonuses, mobile click once for set bonuses
Zaan: Veteran dungeon Scalecaller Peak, Dragon Bone DLC.
- Why? The highest DPS monster helm currently which can out perform Harpooner’s Wading Kilt Set.
FLEX OPTIONS
- Kjalnar’s Nightmare – great single target damage ONLY one player can have this in your group.
- 1pc Slimecraw and 1pc Harpooner’s Wading Kilt Set this setup still strong, make sure you don’t hit crit damage cap.
- Kra’gh – one pc is great for pen, two piece does good single target damage
- Stormfist – always works, easy to obtain and AoE DPS set.
Pillar of Nirn: obtained in Falkreath Hold, DLC Scalebreaker.
- Why? incredible damage proc set.
FLEX OPTIONS
- Kinra’s Wrath = great damage boost if you can light attack weave consistently.
Perfect Whorl of the Depths: obtained in Dreadsail Reef trial, Haig Isle Chapter.
- Why? another S tier proc damage set.
FLEX OPTIONS
- Perfected Arms of Relequen = the bust pure damage set in the game.
- Perfected Coral Riptide = god tier damage if you run low stamina (dodge roll a bit before pull)
- Order’s Wrath = great craftable option though watch for too much critical damage (125% cap)
- Leviathan = easy base game dungeon set with high critical
Harpooner’s Wading Kilt Set: obtained through the Antiquity system, Blackwood Chapter. You need five items/leads to complete the mythic gear piece.
- Why? overall the most DPS possible for a one-piece mythic.
- You need 5 items to be able to create the Mythic item Harpooner’s Wading Kilt. Location of the 5 pieces:
- Murkmire – Wolf-Tail Sash Lead – Murkmire Foul Fishing Spots
- Blackwood – Kothringi-Cut Leather Lead – World Boss Death Wart, World Boss Sul-Xan Ritualists
- Shadowfen – Bog-Blue Jasper Fetish Lead – Ruins of Mazzatun Dungeon last boss
- Shadowfen – Tide-Glass Beads Lead – All water and alchemy nodes
- Bal Foyen – Silverweave Cord Lead – Covenant Enemies, most likely all enemies
FLEX OPTIONS MYTHICS
- Mora’s Whisper = Update 34, 10% critical chance for great damage boost
- Death Dealer’s Fete = great option when taking damage
Parse
Most single target Damage on target dummy possible
Slot | Type | Set | Trait | Glyph |
Head | medium | Zaan | Divines | Stamina |
Shoulders | light | Zaan | Divines | Stamina |
Chest | medium | Perfected Arms of Relequen | Divines | Stamina |
Legs | medium | Perfected Arms of Relequen | Divines | Stamina |
Gloves | medium | Perfected Arms of Relequen | Divines | Stamina |
Boots | medium | Perfected Arms of Relequen | Divines | Stamina |
Belt | medium | Perfected Arms of Relequen | Divines | Stamina |
Weapon One | Dagger | Pillar of Nirn | Nirnhoned | Poison |
Secondary | Dagger | Pillar of Nirn | Charged | Fire |
Weapon Two | 2H Greatsword | Perfected Merciless Charge | Infused | Weapon & Spell Damage |
Necklace | Pillar of Nirn | Bloodthirsty | Weapon Damage | |
Ring 1 | Pillar of Nirn | Bloodthirsty | Weapon Damage | |
Ring 2 | Pillar of Nirn | Bloodthirsty | Weapon Damage |
Desktop hover over gear for set bonuses, mobile click once for set bonuses
- Zaan: Veteran dungeon Scalecaller Peak, Dragon Bone DLC. Why? The highest DPS monster helm currently which can out perform Harpooner’s Wading Kilt Set.
- Perfected Arms of Relequen: Obtained in Veteran Cloudrest Trial Summerset chapter. The non-perfected version in normal difficulty. Why? most single target damage-producing set for stamina and magicka thanks to hybridization changes.
- Pillar of Nirn: obtained in Falkreath Hold dungeon. WHY? one of the hardest hitting, easiest proc sets in the game.
- Perfected Merciless Charge: from Veteran Maelstrom Arena in Orsinium DLC. WHY? Increase your overall DPS massively, must change out blockade for Stampede, considered meta, but struggle with sustain
Beginner
Starter setup for someone just starting ESO.
Slot | Type | Set | Trait | Glyph |
Head | medium | Briarheart | Divines | Stamina |
Shoulders | medium | Briarheart | Divines | Stamina |
Chest | medium | Hunding’s Rage | Divines | Stamina |
Legs | medium | Hunding’s Rage | Divines | Stamina |
Gloves | medium | Hunding’s Rage | Divines | Stamina |
Boots | medium | Hunding’s Rage | Divines | Stamina |
Belt | medium | Hunding’s Rage | Divines | Stamina |
Weapon One | Dagger | Agility | Precise or Sharpened | Damage Health Poison |
Secondary | Dagger | Agility | Precise or Sharpened | Damage Health Poison |
Weapon Two | 2H Sword | Agility | Infused | Weapon Damage |
Necklace | Briarheart | Robust | Stamina Recovery | |
Ring 1 | Briarheart | Robust | Weapon Damage | |
Ring 2 | Briarheart | Robust | Weapon Damage |
Desktop hover over gear for set bonuses, mobile click once for set bonuses
- Briarheart: obtained in overland Wrothgar (Orsinium DLC) or from traders. WHY? great burst damage and nice healing and easy to obtain set.
- Hunding’s Rage: craftable 6 traits, crafting stations found in Bangkorai, Reaper’s March, The Rift. WHY? Craftable set that has well-balanced stats.
- Agility: found in Imperial City with keys or Dungeon Finder via random dungeons and or traders sell. WHY? easy to obtain with massive stats as a two-piece set.
Race
Best Choice
Dark Elf
Best if you’re doing serious trials or parsing and don’t want to reach over 125% critical damage.
Secondary Choice
Khajiit
Best if you’re not doing serious trials and parsing.
Attributes
Health | Stamina | Magicka |
0 | 64 | 0 |
Mundus Stone
Thief – Increases the Critical Strike rating by 1212
Champion Points
Passives
- Class Passives
- Racial Passives
- Weapon Passives
- Dual Wield
- Two Handed
- Armor Passives
- Light
- Medium
- Heavy
- Guild Passives
- Fighters Guild
- Undaunted
- Mages Guild
- Psijic Order
- Alliance Passives
- Assault Support
- World Passives
- Soul Magic
Consumables
Lava Foot Soup-And-Saltrice
Type: Foods
SUSTAIN but NO HEALTH: Increase Max Stamina by 4575 and Stamina Recovery by 457 for 2 hours. (effects are scaled based on your level)
Artaeum Takeaway Broth
Type: Foods
OVERALL: Increase Max Health by 3326 and Health Recovery by 406 and Max Stamina by 3080 and Stamina Recovery by 338 for 2 hours. (effects are scaled based on your level)
Dubious Camoran Throne
Type: Foods
CHEAP: Increase Stamina Recovery by 319 and Max Stamina and Max Health by 3192 for 2 hours. (effects are scaled based on your level)
Essence of Weapon Power
Type: Potions
BEST DAMAGE: Grants major brutality with increases weapon damage by 20% for 47.6 seconds. Grants major savagery which grants you 2191 weapon critical rating for 47.6 seconds. Restore 7582 stamina immediately. Grants you major endurance which increases your stamina recovery by 20% for 47.6. Potions have a 45sec cooldown. IMPORTANT: make sure you have three points into medicinal use passive in alchemy crafting. (INGREDIENTS: Blessed Thistle, Dragonthorn and Wormwood)
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