Elder Scrolls Online: Sorcerer Subclassing Build Guide

Subclass your Sorcerer into a Nightblade in Elder Scrolls Online for high burst damage and Magicka using this optimized PvP build.

Elder Scrolls Online: Sorcerer Subclassing Build Guide
Sorcerer-Nightblade subclassing for PvP (Image via Bethesda Softworks)

With the addition of subclassing in Elder Scrolls Online Update 46, the game’s meta has shifted dramatically. There are new ways to min-max builds for PvE and PvP with a combination of skill lines from different classes. One of the most potent examples is the Sorcerer subclassing into Nightblade for ridiculous burst damage output.

This article will outline a tanky Magicka Sorcerer build subclassing into a Nightblade skill line to deal devastating damage, perfectly suited to bringing down players with a few hits.

Sorcerer-Nightblade Subclassing Build in Elder Scrolls Online

Sorcerer-Nightblade build focuses on high burst damage and Magicka
Sorcerer-Nightblade build focuses on high burst damage and Magicka (Image via Bethesda Softworks)
  • Class – Sorcerer
  • Weapon One – Crafty Alfiq’s Lightning Staff
  • Weapon Two – Inferno Staff of Wretched Vitality
  • Armor Types – 6 Medium, 1 Heavy
  • Race – Dark Elf / Breton / High Elf
  • Attributes – 64 Magicka
  • Mundus Stone – Mage
  • Best Grimoires – Ulfsild’s Contingency, Traveling Knife, Soul Burst

Class Skill Lines 

  • Daedric Summoning
  • Storm Calling 
  • Assassination 

Subclassing

Using subclassing, replace the Dark Magic skill line of the Sorcerer class with Assassination from the Nightblade’s toolkit. Dropping Dark Magic means losing the valuable Crystal Shard burst skill and Dark Exchange sustain skill. However, Assassination will replace it with the higher burst damage of Merciless Resolve, combined with better passive abilities.

Assassination Passive Abilities

  • Master Assassin: Increases critical chance rating when flanking enemies.
  • Executioner: Restores Magicka when an enemy dies within two seconds of being damaged.
  • Pressure Points: Increases critical chance rating for every Assassination ability slotted.
  • Hemorrhage: Increased critical damage. 

Sorcerer-Nightblade Skills

Primary:

  • Shocking Soul 
  • Merciless Resolve 
  • Hardened Ward 
  • Streak 
  • Inner Light
  • Energy Overload (Ultimate)

Backup:

  • Vigor
  • Haunting Curse
  • Healing Contingency
  • Critical Surge
  • Bound Aegis
  • Summon Charged Atronach (Ultimate) 

Attributes

When slotting attribute points, the best choice is speccing into 64 Magicka, as it will increase healing, damage, and shields.

Mundus Stone

The Mage Mundus Stone is the best choice for this build, as it further enhances Magicka, scaling even higher with the percentage boosts that the Sorcerer benefits from.

Champion Points

Warfare Constellation Champion Points

  • Master-at-Arms
  • Weapons Expert
  • Deadly Aim
  • Arcane Supremacy 

Fitness Constellation Champion Points

  • Fortified
  • Pain’s Refuge 
  • Bastion
  • Celerity

Craft Constellation Champion Points

  • War Mount
  • Gifted Rider
  • Sustaining Shadows

Equipment

SlotTypeSet 
HeadMediumMighty Chudan
ShouldersMediumWretched Vitality
ChestHeavyArmor of the Trainee
LegsMediumWretched Vitality
GlovesMediumWretched Vitality
BootsMediumWretched Vitality
BeltMediumCrafty Alfiq
Weapon OneLightning StaffCrafty Alfiq
Weapon TwoInferno StaffWretched Vitality
NecklaceN/ACrafty Alfiq
Ring 1N/ACrafty Alfiq
Ring 2N/ADeath Dealer’s Fete

Consumables

  • Artaeum Pickled Fish Bowl: Increases Max Health and Max Magicka.
    • or Witch Mother’s Potent Brew: Increases Max Health, Max Magicka, and Magicka Recovery.
  • Health, Magicka, and Stamina potions. 

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