ESO Magicka Nightblade PVE Build

Shadowfire is a Powerful Magicka Nightblade Staff Build for Solo and Group PVE Gameplay in ESO, with strong single target damage and execute skills! The Nightblade is the assassin-like Class of The Elder Scrolls Online that offers a powerful execute phase and can deal massive damage against single targets. This Staff Magicka Nightblade PVE Build offers various setups, that will help you clear harder Group content but also assist you in easier gameplay.

Shadowfire is a strong Magblade PVE Build that requires a decent level of Light Attack Weaving to deal good damage and assist your group. This is a Pure Class Build. For a Subclassing Build, you can take a look at my Magicka Nightblade Subclassing DPS Build! More Nightblade Builds and Guides you can read:

• Nightblade Beginner Guide
• Nightblade Builds
• Stamina Nightblade DPS Build

ESO Magicka Nightblade PVE Build Setup

Shadowfire offers various setups for different levels of difficulty.

Trials Group DPS

This setup is for dedicated group gameplay, is using harder to find Trial gear and aims to help you achieve the best damage possible!

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	Spell Damage
Staff	Pillar of Nirn	Inferno	Precise/Charged	Flame Damage
Staff	(Perfected) Crushing Wall	Inferno	Infused	Weapon Damage

No Trial Gear

The No-Trial Gear setup is meant for easier Solo but also easier Group PVE Gameplay. You can wear this setup if you are planning to play Overland content(Public Dungeons, World Bosses) or clear normal Dungeons. This setup is not strong enough to survive Solo Arenas like the Maelstrom Arena, Vateshran Hollows and Infinite Archive. For this purpose you should use a dedicated Nightblade Solo PVE Build.

Piece	Set	Type	Trait	Enchantment
Head	Kjalnar's Nightmare	Light	Divines	Max. Magicka
Shoulders	Kjalnar's Nightmare	Light	Divines	Max. Magicka
Hands	Order's Wrath	Light	Divines	Max. Magicka
Legs	Order's Wrath	Light	Divines	Max. Magicka
Chest	Order's Wrath	Light	Divines	Max. Magicka
Waist	Order's Wrath	Light	Divines	Max. Magicka
Feet	Order's Wrath	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	Spell Damage
Staff	Pillar of Nirn	Flame	Precise or Charged	Flame Damage
Staff	(Perfected) Crushing Wall	Flame	Infused	Weapon Damage

Armor Sets for Magicka Nightblade PVE Staff Build

These are the Best Armor Sets you can use with the Magicka Nightblade Build for Solo or Group Gameplay and a few good alternative options.

• Slimecraw: Veteran Wayrest Sewers I, Maj Al-Ragath
• Whorl of the Depths: (Veteran)Dreadsail Reef Trial
• Pillar of Nirn: Falkreath Hold Dungeon
• Harpooner’s Wading Kilt: Antiquities Reward
• Crushing Wall: (Veteran) Maelstrom Arena
• Kjalnar’s Nightmare: Vet. Unhallowed Grave, Urgarlag Chief-Bane
• Order’s Wrath: High Isle, Crafted

Skills for Magicka Nightblade PVE Build ESO

The Nightblade is a Class that excels in single target damage and execute! The Skills of the Build offer superb damage against tough enemies, especially when they are low on Health. Thanks to the strong self heal and sustain from the Siphoning Attacks skill, you can also clear successfully most easier Solo content! Good Light Attack Weaving is essential if you wish to maximize your potential as a Nightblade. This is because you can proc the deadly Spectral Arrow after every five Light Attacks and deal more damage! The Build is also using the Magical Soul Scribing skill to add more damage and effects to your play style!

• Elemental Weapon(Imbue Weapon): Powerful spammable. You can use Swallow Soul(Strife) for Solo gameplay.
• Twisting Path(Path of Darkness): Strong AOE-DOT skill.
• Impale(Assassin’s Blade): Powerful Execute ability. You should start using this skill once the enemy’s health drops below 25%-30%.
• Merciless Resolve(Grim Focus): Merciless Resolve can turn into a deadly Spectral Arrow after five light/heavy attacks that also heals.
• Barbed Trap(Trap Beast): Additional DOT damage that also boosts Critical Damage.
• Flawless Dawnbreaker(Dawnbreaker): Deals damage but also buffs you actively and passively.
• Debilitate(Cripple): Strong DoT Skill.
• Unstable Wall of Elements(Wall of Elements): Great Fire AOE damage skill.
• Magical Soul: Magic Damage+Lingering Torment+Breach
• Siphoning Attacks(Siphoning Strikes): Powerful Sustain ability.
• Dark Shade(Summon Shade): Summons a Shade that assists with Damage and debuffs enemies.
• Soul Harvest(Death Stroke): Primary Ultimate. Increases damage and generates Ultimate faster.

Rotation

Drink a potion, set your Barbed Trap, summon Dark Shade and attack with Debilitate, Unstable Wall of Elements and Magical Soul. Switch bars and continue with Spectral Arrow(if ready), Twisting Path, Elemental Weapon as your spammable. Keep attacking with Elemental Weapon and re cast the other skills when necessary! Use Siphoning Attacks if you need to restore Resources. Once the enemy’s health drops below 25%-30% replace Elemental Weapon with Impale as your spammable and start executing your target. Use Soul Harvest when ready and always Light Attack before every skill and action to boost your Damage!

Passive Skills

Passive skills are always important for every character and can help you maximize the potential of your Magicka Nightblade Build. Try to unlock them as fast as possible, so you can become stronger and tackle harder content faster. These are the Passive Skills you should unlock for the 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 Nightblade PVE Build

Below you will find the best Champion Points setup for the Build. When allocating Champion points to Slottable and Passive Stars your primary goal is to create paths! Allocate the minimum required points to stars along your path in order to reach your desired Slottable Stars faster.

Once you have unlocked all Stars, start allocating more Champion Points to them to fill them out. Focus on Slottable Stars first, then Passive Stars. 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, Exploiter
• Passive: Eldritch Insight, Piercing, Flawless Ritual, War Mage, Quick Recovery, Hardy, Elemental Aegis, Preparation, Precision, Blessed, Tireless Discipline

Craft

• Slottable Stars: Steed’s Blessing, Master Gatherer, Gifted Rider, War Mount
• Passive: Gilded Fingers, Fortune’s Favor, Wanderer, Steadfast Enchantment, Treasure Hunter(slottable, required for path), Rationer, Liquid Efficiency

Fitness

• Slottable Stars: Boundless Vitality, Rejuvenation, Fortified, Celerity
• Passive: Sprinter, Hasty, Tireless Guardian, Hero’s Vigor, Mystic Tenacity, Tumbling, Defiance

Food and Potions for Magblade PVE Build

Clockwork Citrus Filet is the Best Food for the Build while Essence of Spell Power is the best option as Potions.

Info for Magicka Nightblade PVE

Several important info for the 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.

Race

The Best Race for the Magicka Nightblade PVE Build in ESO is High Elf. Dark Elf, Khajiit and Breton are nice alternative Races you can use 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.

Best Companion

If you wish to play Solo with the Build, you can bring along a mighty Companion! Companions in ESO are helpful allies that can assist you in combat. Every Companion can fulfill every role in the game and help you enjoy ESO more by clearing content faster or by simply interacting with them and their charming personality! There are various Builds you can use for every available ESO Companion!

As a DPS focused character my recommendation is to bring along a Tank or Healer Companion! To find out which ESO Companion is the Best in every role you can take a look at my ESO Best Companion Guide! To further maximize the potential of your chosen Companion, you can wear the Telvanni Efficiency Set! A Crafted Set that reduces the cooldown of your Companions abilities, improving their damage and overall effects and assisting you further in combat.