Magicka Arcanist PVE
Yidhra is a powerful Magicka Arcanist DPS Build 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. Yidhra is a DPS Build that is offering different setups, depending on the difficulty of the content.
A more traditional Magicka Arcanist PVE Build that is using two Staves as its weapons and a combination of Arcanist Class skills and other Damage over Time abilities to 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 PVE 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.
Piece | Set | Type | Trait | Enchantment |
---|---|---|---|---|
Head | Slimecraw/Kjalnar’s Nightmare | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
Shoulders | (Perfected)Whorl of the Depths/Kjalnar’s Nightmare | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
Hands | (Perfected)Whorl of the Depths | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
Legs | Harpooner’s Wading Kilt/(Perfected)Whorl of the Depths | Medium/Light | Divines | Max.Magicka |
Chest | (Perfected)Whorl of the Depths | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
Waist | (Perfected)Whorl of the Depths | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
Feet | (Perfected)Whorl of the Depths | 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 |
Staff | Pillar of Nirn | Inferno | Precise | Flame Damage |
Staff | (Perfected) Crushing Wall | Inferno | 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 |
Staff | Pillar of Nirn | Fire | Precise | Flame Damage |
Staff | (Perfected)Crushing Wall | Fire | Infused | Weapon Damage |
Beginner Setup
An effective gear setup that will help you play as a Magicka Arcanist early in the game! Order’s Wrath is a great alternative.
Piece | Set | Type | Trait | Enchantment |
---|---|---|---|---|
Head | Ilambris | Heavy/Medium/Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
Shoulders | Ilambris | 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 | Armor of the Seducer | Jewel | Arcane | Mag. Recovery/Spell Damage |
Ring | Armor of the Seducer | Jewel | Arcane | Mag. Recovery/Spell Damage |
Ring | Armor of the Seducer | Jewel | Arcane | Mag. Recovery/Spell Damage |
Staff | Armor of the Seducer | Flame | Precise | Flame Damage |
Staff | Armor of the Seducer | Flame/Lightning | Infused | Weapon Damage |
Armor Sets for Magicka Arcanist PVE Build
- Slimecraw: Veteran Wayrest Sewers I, Maj Al-Ragath
- (Perfected)Whorl of the Depths: (Veteran)Dreadsail Reef Trial
- Pillar of Nirn: Falkreath Hold Dungeon
- Harpooner’s Wading Kilt: Antiquities Reward
- (Perfected)Crushing Wall: (Veteran) Maelstrom Arena
- Kjalnar’s Nightmare: Vet. Unhallowed Grave, Urgarlag Chief-Bane
- War Maiden: Vvardenfell, Overland
- Order’s Wrath: High Isle, Crafted
- Ilambris: Veteran Crypt of Hearts I, Glirion The Redbeard
- Law of Julianos: Wrothgar – Crafted
- Armor of the Seducer: Grahtwood, Stormhaven, Deshaan – Crafted
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 | Degeneration | Unstable Wall of Elements |
Skill 2 | Writhing Runeblades | Fulminating Rune |
Skill 3 | Tentacular Dread | Mystic Orb |
Skill 4 | Barbed Trap | Runeguard of Freedom |
Skill 5 | Inspired Scholarship | Spell Symmetry |
Ultimate Skill | Flawless Dawnbreaker | The Tide King’s Gaze |
- Degeneration(Entropy): Strong DoT ability.
- 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.
- Unstable Wall of Elements(Wall of Elements): Great AOE damage skill.
- Mystic Orb: Good AOE damage skill. Can replace it with Elemental Drain(Weakness to Elements) for Solo gameplay!
- 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): Restores Magicka.
- The Tide King’s Gaze(The Unblinking Eye): Powerful Ultimate.
Passive Skills for Magicka Arcanist PVE Build
Very important passive skills that can help you maximize the potential of your Magicka Arcanist 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 PVE 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, Fighting Finesse/Thaumaturge
- Passive: Eldritch Insight, Piercing, Flawless Ritual, War Mage, Quick Recovery, Hardy, Elemental Aegis, Preparation, Precision, Blessed, Tireless Discipline
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 PVE Build
We are using Clockwork Citrus Filet or Orzorga’s Smoked Bear Haunch and Essence of Spell Power as Potions.
Info for Magicka Arcanist PVE 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 PVE 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 PVE 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 and place Barbed Trap. Attack with Unstable Wall of Elements, Fulminating Rune, Mystic Orb. Switch bars, apply Abyssal Ink with Tentacular Dread and attack with Degeneration and 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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