Magicka Arcanist DPS
Hydra is a powerful Magicka Arcanist DPS Build(Hybrid) for PVE Gameplay in ESO! The Arcanist is a Class of Eldritch Horror, that relies on Magic Damage and the Crux system to destroy its enemies! It can deal massive damage to single targets but also groups of enemies thanks to its powerful abilities. A flexible Class with strong offensive skills that use your primary resource. Hydra is a DPS Build that is offering different setups, depending on the difficulty of the content.
The Build is designed to use a combination of Arcanist Class skills and Weapon abilities in order to help you clear almost every PVE content in ESO. If you are a new player, you can take a look at my Arcanist Beginner Guide. If you are looking for a different setup, you can find more Arcanist Builds in the Arcanist Builds page.
Table of Contents
Magicka Arcanist DPS Build Setup
The Build offers different setups, depending on the difficulty of the content you wish to complete but also the gear you wish to wear! Below you can find setups for Trials Group DPS, a No Trial Gear Setup and a Beginner Setup(c160). The Magicka Arcanist may have some Magicka sustain issues but we can work around this with Magicka Recovery glyphs and Magicka restore abilities!
Trials Group DPS
This setup is for dedicated group gameplay, is using Trial gear and it aims to achieve the best damage possible. The goal of this setup is to help you clear harder PVE content, like Trials and Dungeons. You can use it in easier content if you wish. For a more traditional Magicka Build that is using two Staves, you can take a look at my Magicka Arcanist PVE Build Guide!
| Piece | Set | Type | Trait | Enchantment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head | Slimecraw | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
| Shoulders | (Perfected)Arms of Relequen | Medium | Divines | Max. Magicka |
| Hands | (Perfected)Arms of Relequen | Medium | Divines | Max. Magicka |
| Legs | Harpooner’s Wading Kilt | Medium | Divines | Max. Magicka |
| Chest | (Perfected)Arms of Relequen | Medium | Divines | Max. Magicka |
| Waist | (Perfected)Arms of Relequen | Medium | Divines | Max. Magicka |
| Feet | (Perfected)Arms of Relequen | Medium | Divines | Max. Magicka |
| Necklace | Pillar of Nirn | Jewel | Bloodthirsty | Spell Damage |
| Ring | Pillar of Nirn | Jewel | Bloodthirsty | Spell Damage |
| Ring | Pillar of Nirn | Jewel | Bloodthirsty | Magicka recovery |
| One Hand Weapon | Pillar of Nirn | Dagger | Nirnhoned | Fire Damage |
| One Hand Weapon | Pillar of Nirn | Dagger | Charged | Poison |
| Two Handed Weapon | (Perfected)Merciless Charge | Greatsword | Infused | Weapon Damage |
No Trial Gear
No-Trial Gear setup is a great alternative that is not using any Trial based Armor Set. You can use this instead of the dedicated Group Setup if you do not wish to farm Trials for gear!
| Piece | Set | Type | Trait | Enchantment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head | Kjalnar’s Nightmare | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
| Shoulders | Kjalnar’s Nightmare | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
| Hands | War Maiden | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
| Legs | War Maiden | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
| Chest | War Maiden | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
| Waist | War Maiden | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
| Feet | War Maiden | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
| Necklace | Pillar of Nirn | Jewel | Bloodthirsty | Spell Damage |
| Ring | Pillar of Nirn | Jewel | Bloodthirsty | Spell Damage |
| Ring | Pillar of Nirn | Jewel | Bloodthirsty | Magicka Recovery |
| One Hand Weapon | Pillar of Nirn | Dagger | Nirnhoned | Flame Damage |
| One Hand Weapon | Pillar of Nirn | Dagger | Charged | Poison |
| Two Handed Weapon | (Perfected)Merciless Charge | Greatsword | Infused | Weapon Damage |
Beginner Setup
There are various sets you can use as a beginner. Armor Sets that can help you understand the play-style while boosting your Stamina and Magicka offensive capabilities. Some of these sets include Stormfist, Selene, Ilambris as full Monster Sets. As well as Order’s Wrath, Hunding’s Rage, Law of Julianos, Night mother’s Gaze, Morkuldin or Armor of the Seducer.
| Piece | Set | Type | Trait | Enchantment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head | Ilambris/Stormfist | Heavy/Medium/Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
| Shoulders | Ilambris/Stormfist | Heavy/Medium/Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
| Hands | Law of Julianos | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
| Legs | Law of Julianos | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
| Chest | Law of Julianos | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
| Waist | Law of Julianos | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
| Feet | Law of Julianos | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
| Necklace | Hunding’s Rage | Jewel | Arcane/Robust | Magicka Recovery/Spell Damage |
| Ring | Hunding’s Rage | Jewel | Arcane/Robust | Magicka Recovery/Spell Damage |
| Ring | Hunding’s Rage | Jewel | Arcane/Robust | Magicka Recovery/Spell Damage |
| One Hand Weapon | Hunding’s Rage | Dagger | Nirnhoned/Precise | Fire Damage |
| One Hand Weapon | Hunding’s Rage | Dagger | Infused/Charged | Absorb Magicka or Stamina/Poison |
| Two Handed Weapon | Hunding’s Rage | Greatsword/Battle Axe | Infused | Weapon Damage |
Armor Sets for Magicka Arcanist DPS Build
- Slimecraw: Veteran Wayrest Sewers I, Maj Al-Ragath
- (Perfected)Arms of Relequen: (Veteran) Cloudrest Trial, Summerset
- Pillar of Nirn: Falkreath Hold Dungeon
- Harpooner’s Wading Kilt: Antiquities Reward
- (Perfected)Merciless Charge: (Veteran) Maelstrom Arena
- Kjalnar’s Nightmare: Vet. Unhallowed Grave, Urgarlag Chief-Bane
- War Maiden: Vvardenfell, Overland
Skills for Magicka Arcanist DPS Build
The following Skills will help you achieve great DPS for Group content but can also help you in easier Solo gameplay.
| Front Bar | Back Bar | |
|---|---|---|
| Skill 1 | Deadly Cloak | Stampede |
| Skill 2 | Writhing Runeblades | Carve |
| Skill 3 | Tentacular Dread | Fulminating Rune |
| Skill 4 | Barbed Trap | Runeguard of Freedom |
| Skill 5 | Inspired Scholarship | Spell Symmetry |
| Ultimate Skill | Flawless Dawnbreaker | The Tide King’s Gaze |
- Deadly Cloak(Blade Cloak): Strong DPS skill.
- Writhing Runeblades(Runeblades): Spammable that generates Crux.
- Tentacular Dread(Abyssal Impact): Consumes Crux and debuffs enemies with Abyssal Ink.
- Barbed Trap(Trap Beast): Very good DOT damage and a boost to Critical Damage.
- Inspired Scholarship(Tome-Bearer’s Inspiration): Deals damage and buffs you.
- Flawless Dawnbreaker(Dawnbreaker): Deals damage but also buffs you actively and passively.
- Stampede(Critical Charge): Powerful AOE damage skill.
- Carve(Cleave): Great Bleed damage skill that applies a shield.
- Fulminating Rune(The Imperfect Ring): Strong DoT ability that also provides a synergy.
- Runeguard of Freedom(Runic Defense): Defensive skill that also heals you.
- Spell Symmetry(Equilibrium): Heals and restores Magicka.
- The Tide King’s Gaze(The Unblinking Eye): Powerful Ultimate.
Passive Skills for Magicka Arcanist DPS Build
Very important passive skills that can help you maximize the potential of your Magicka Arcanist DPS Build.
- All Passive Skills from your Class’ Lines
- All Passive Skills from Weapon Lines you are using
- Passive Skills from Armor Lines you are using
- Passive Abilities from Guild lines(Fighters Guild, Mages Guild, Psijic Order) that affect your skills/Build
- Fighters Guild Passives: Intimidating Presence, Slayer, Banish the Wicked, Skilled Tracker
- Mages Guild Passives: Mage Adept, Everlasting Magic, Magicka Controller, Might of the Guild
- Undaunted Passives
- Your Racial Passives
- Medicinal Use Passive from Alchemy to boost the effectiveness of Potions
Champion Points for Magicka Arcanist DPS Build
Below you will find the best Champion Points setup for the Build. If you would like to learn more about Champion Points and how they work, you can read my ESO Champion Points Guide.
Warfare
- Slottable Stars: Deadly Aim, Master-at-Arms, Wrathful Strikes, Thaumaturge
- Passive: Tireless Discipline, Flawless Ritual, War Mage, Piercing, Battle Mastery, Mighty, Quick Recovery, Hardy, Elemental Aegis, Preparation, Precision, Blessed, Eldritch Insight
Craft
- Slottable Stars: Rationer, Liquid Efficiency, Master Gatherer, Steed’s Blessing
- Passive: Gilded Fingers, Fortune’s Favor, Wanderer, Steadfast Enchantment, Treasure Hunter(slottable, required for path)
Fitness
- Slottable Stars: Boundless Vitality, Rejuvenation, Fortified, Celerity
- Passive: Sprinter, Hasty, Tireless Guardian, Hero’s Vigor, Mystic Tenacity, Tumbling, Defiance
Consumables for Magicka Arcanist DPS Build
We are using Clockwork Citrus Filet or Orzorga’s Smoked Bear Haunch and Essence of Spell Power as Potions.
Info for Magicka Arcanist DPS Build
Several important info for the MagArc DPS PVE Build. What Mundus to use, the best race for the build and how to assign your attribute points.
Attribute Points
All points to Magicka
Mundus Stone
The Thief to boost Critical Chance.
What Race is best for Magicka Arcanist DPS Build
High Elf – Dark Elf – Khajiit – Breton is the best race for a DPS focused Build. Any Race with Magicka bonuses can work well though. You can find more about the playable races in my ESO Race Guide!
Vampire or Werewolf
Neither is necessary.
Rotation for Magicka Arcanist DPS Build
This is a dynamic rotation, relying on your spammable to deal damage while refreshing your other abilities when necessary! Buff yourself with Inspired Scholarship, Runeguard of Freedom, cast Deadly Cloak and place Barbed Trap. Attack with Stampede, Carve x3, Fulminating Rune. Switch bars, apply Abyssal Ink with Tentacular Dread and attack with Writhing Runeblades. Keep attacking with Writhing Runeblades as your spammable and refresh the other abilities when necessary. Restore Magicka with Spell Symmetry, use your Ultimate when ready and always Light Attack before skills to boost your DPS!
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