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Update 42 Scions of Ithelia is here, and these are the best 5 DPS builds in Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) for PvE content in 2024.
Update 42 Gold Road Chapter changed how damage is done in the Elder Scrolls online. In Scions of Ithelia, status effects greatly impact your overall DPS. The top DPS classes weren’t changed as much as you’d expect, but the builds themselves have some notable changes you’ll want to implement if you want to hit as hard as you did last patch.
This build has been updated for the Updated 42, the Gold Road Chapter of the Elder Scrolls Online (ESO).
What are the Best DPS Builds in ESO Update 42?
The best damage dealer build (DPS) in ESO Update 42 is the Stamina Arcanist. While the Fatecarver skill was nerfed, the class is the best overall due to its single target damage, cleave (area), and simplicity. You can play melee and range, and it’s simpler than others and still does the most damage overall in the game. The Magicka Dragonknight is second due to its high single-target damage and area damage over time. Third is the Stamina Templar, which has mind-numbing single-target damage.
The 5 best DPS builds for Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) Update 42:
- Stamina Arcanist – best overall damage single target, and cleave.
- Magicka Dragonknight – powerful damage over time that has built-in cleave area damage.
- Stamina Templar is one of the best single-target damage melee builds.
- Stamina Sorcerer – strong single target, though lacking AoE with pets.
- Magicka Templar – is a powerful single target with area damage.
5 Magicka Templar ESO Update 42 DPS Build
Below is our top Magicka Templar DPS build in Elder Scroll Online Update 42.
- Class: Templar
- Race: Dark Elf
- Attributes: 64 Magicka
- Mundus Stone: Thief
- Front Bar Weapon: Daggers
- Back Bar Weapon: Flame Staff
- Armor Type: 6 Medium, 1 Light
Templars are in a perfect spot in this patch; every group will want a Templar DPS. While they can’t put out the same cleave (area damage) as other builds on this list, the Magicka Templar’s single-target execute DPS is second only to one other build on this list.
Radiant Oppression is still the best execution in the game. While you will often want to run Radiant Glory in content, the Templar starts their execute rotation around 40% hp on the boss due to the heal. Executes are incredibly strong because they accelerate the end of the fight, and the Plar’s damage goes through the roof at the end of the fight.
This Magicka Templar build utilizes Deadly, Whorl of the Depths, and the Velothi Ur Mage’s Mythic. You can do slightly more DPS as a High Elf, but Dark Elf is still more optimal since you can change to Stamina without a DPS loss. Deadly Strikes and Perfected Whorl of the Depths are the Magicka Templar’s strongest combos for almost all content.
4 Stamina Sorcerer DPS Update 42 DPS Build
Below is our Stamina Sorcerer DPS build in Elder Scroll Online Update 42.
- Class: Sorcerer
- Race: Dark Elf
- Attributes: 64 Stamina
- Mundus Stone: Thief
- Front Bar Weapon: Daggers
- Back Bar Weapon: Flame Staff
- Armor Type: 6 Medium, 1 Light
The Stam Sorc is the master of the target dummy DPS again in Update 42, but the AO damage isn’t as strong as other classes. Still, ripping those high single-target numbers feels good, and the pets make for a fun playstyle.
In content, many groups often want one Sorcerer for reasons similar to the Templar’s. You gain Minor Prophecy as a group buff, and Sorcerers still output a ton of single-target damage on the boss, even if their AoE damage is lacking.
Our Stamina Sorcerer build utilizes Ansuul, Aegis Caller, and the Velothi Ur Mage’s Mythic. Ansuul is still our choice for ease of use, but Coral will outperform Ansuul if you manage your Stamina well. Sorc is very strong at keeping Stamina levels around 30%, so you may be able to swap to Coral without needing to play the sustain game intentionally.
Dark Elf is still the best Stamina race, but the utility and run speed of the Orc may be attractive to some without much DPS loss.
You could also consider running Martial Knowledge (MK) instead of Aegis Caller in group content. MK is a unique group buff that increases the group’s damage done to the boss. You must light attack under 50% stamina to apply the debuff to your target. Because of this, Coral/MK is a powerful combo; you’ll want to be under 50% stamina anyway. Your damage is slightly lower, which greatly increases the group’s damage.
3 Stamina Templar DPS Build
Below is our best Stamina Templar DPS build in Elder Scroll Online Update 42.
- Class: Templar
- Race: Dark Elf, Orc
- Attributes: 64 Stamina
- Mundus Stone: Thief
- Front Bar Weapon: Daggers
- Back Bar Weapon: Bow
- Armor Type: 6 Medium, 1 Light
Everything is true here about the Magicka Templar earlier in the list, except Stamina Templar is slightly better with the right gear.
With a Master’s bow back bar, Stamina Templars can sustain a few compelling bow skills with which the Magicka Templar has trouble. Notably, the Master’s Bow gives 330 weapon and spell damage to enemies affected by your Poison Arrow, meaning your beam rips through enemies in execute. Though Stamina Templars have had trouble sustaining beams, Radiant Glory does restore Magicka, so you can use that morph to sustain your execution.
Our Stamina Templar build utilizes Ansuul, Deadly, and the Velothi Ur Mage’s Mythic. This is also the only build on this list that uses a bow instead of a flame staff on the back bar. You can still run the Maelstrom Bow for better AoE, but the Master’s bow has a stronger execute.
2 Magicka Dragonknight ESO Update 42 DPS Build
Below is our best Magicka Dragonknight DPS build in Elder Scroll Online Update 42.
- Class: Dragonknight
- Race: Dark Elf
- Attributes: 64 Magicka
- Mundus Stone: Thief
- Front Bar Weapon: Daggers
- Back Bar Weapon: Flame Staff
- Armor Type: 6 Medium, 1 Light
The Magicka Dragonknight is a rewarding class, and it’s still hitting like a truck in this patch. DKs still deal almost all of their total single target DPS to multiple enemies in an area around them. While they can’t hit quite as high as other classes single-target, the DK gets pretty close while far surpassing most other classes when you add more high-priority targets.
Burning Talons is a powerful AOE skill cast used every four seconds to maximize DPS. You can also use Talons as a spammable if multiple enemies are around you. This is incredibly taxing on your magicka, which is why the Magicka DK is on this list, not the Stamina DK. Stacking into magicka allows for the highest overall DPS because of how much longer you can spam Talons in fights than the Stam DK. While stamina is still viable, the Magicka DK will hit harder.
Our Magicka DK build utilizes Ansuul, Aegis Caller, and the Velothi Ur Mage’s Mythic. Relequen will hit a harder single target, and Coral will hit harder with proper stamina management, but the ease of use of Ansuul wins out for this build.
Perhaps more surprising is that this class isn’t first on this list because of how strong the DK has been for a few patches. It hasn’t gotten worse; the Arcanist is just that good.
1 Stamina Arcanist ESO Update 42 DPS Build
Below is our best Stamina Arcanist DPS build in Elder Scroll Online Update 42.
- Class: Arcanist
- Race: Dark Elf, Orc
- Attributes: 64 Stamina
- Mundus Stone: Thief
- Front Bar Weapon: Daggers
- Back Bar Weapon: Flame Staff
- Armor Type: 6 Medium, 1 Light
Even with the damage nerfs to Fatecarver, the Arcanist hits like an absolute truck. While the single target on the Arcanist has gone down quite a bit, the huge range of Fatecaver means you’ll out-damage other classes except for purely single-target fights. The sweatiest of DKs can probably out DPS an Arcanist, but it’s still so close that the Arcanist wins out for us.
Our Stamina Arcanist build utilizes Ansuul, Deadly, and the Velothi Ur Mage’s Mythic. Coral is more significant damage, but not everyone likes to sustain the 33% threshold of Stamina. You should have a straightforward time sustaining trials, but Ansuul will keep you with higher resources for other content, meaning you’ll have the stamina to roll dodge when needed.
The other benefit of Arcanists is how consistently they can proc Azureblight in content. Because Fatecarver ticks so frequently, you’ll want to run Azureblight instead of Deadly in trials when enemies are stacked tightly. You would body Azure and run Ansuul/Coral daggers for the highest damage output.
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