Magicka Nightblade PVE Build

Shadowfire is a Magicka Nightblade DPS PVE Build, with strong single target attacks and different setups. The Nightblade is an assassin-like Class in The Elder Scrolls Online that offers a powerful execute phase and can deal massive damage against single targets. Below you can find different setups depending on the type of content you wish to complete, the difficulty and the gear you wish to wear!

If you are a new player, you can take a look at my Nightblade Beginner Guide. For a Stamina Nightblade PVE Build take a look at Brawler.

If you are looking for a Solo PVE Build for Arenas like the Maelstrom Arena and Vateshran Hollows, take a look at my Magicka Nightblade Solo Build.

You can find more Builds in the Nightblade Builds page.

Table of Contents

• Build Setup
  • Trials Group DPS
  • No Trial Gear
  • Beginner Setup
• Armor Sets
• Skills
• Passive Skills
• Champion Points
• Consumables
• Info
• Rotation
• More Nightblade Builds

Magicka Nightblade 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).

Trials Group DPS

This setup is for dedicated group gameplay, is using Trial gear and it aims to achieve the best damage possible. You can also wear (Perfected)Bahsei’s Mania or (Perfected) Mantle of Siroria instead of (Perfected)Whorl of the Depths. Kinras’s Wrath is a nice alternative for Pillar of Nirn.

No Trial Gear

No-Trial Gear setup for easier solo/group gameplay that can complete almost every PVE content. This setup is perfect if you do not wish to farm Trials for specific Armor Sets.

Beginner Setup

An effective gear setup that will help you play as a Magicka Nightblade early in the game!

Armor Sets for Magicka Nightblade 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
• (Perfected)Bahsei’s Mania: (Veteran) Rockgrove Trial
• (Perfected) Mantle of Siroria: (Veteran) Cloudrest Trial
• Kinras’s Wrath: Black Drake Villa Dungeon
• Kjalnar’s Nightmare: Vet. Unhallowed Grave, Urgarlag Chief-Bane
• Order’s Wrath: High Isle, Crafted
• War Maiden: Vvardenfell, Overland
• 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 Nightblade PVE Build

The following Skills will help you achieve great DPS for Group content. There are also alternative skills for Solo Gameplay.

• Concealed Weapon(Veiled Strike) or Elemental Weapon(Imbue Weapon)/Swallow Soul(Strife): Our main skill & spammable. You can use Swallow Soul for Solo gameplay.
• Twisting Path(Path of Darkness): One of our strong AOE-DOT skills.
• Impale(Assassin’s Blade): Our execute ability. You should start using this skill once the enemy’s health drops below 25%.
• Merciless Resolve(Grim Focus): Strong self-buff. Merciless Resolve can turn into the deadly Assassin’s Will skill after five light/heavy attacks that also heals us.
• Camouflaged Hunter(Expert Hunter): Slotted for the passives.
• Soul Harvest(Death Stroke): Primary Ultimate. Increases our damage to the enemy and generates Ultimate faster.
• Mystic Orb: Good AOE damage skill.
• Unstable Wall of Elements(Wall of Elements): Great Fire AOE damage skill.
• Barbed Trap(Trap Beast): Additional DOT damage but we are mainly using it for the boost to our Critical Damage.
• Siphoning Attacks(Siphoning Strikes): Most important skill for our sustain.
• Dark Shade(Summon Shade): Summons a Shade that assists with Damage and debuffs enemies. You can replace it with Elemental Drain(Weakness to Elements) for Solo gameplay.
• Shooting Star(Meteor): Secondary Ultimate that deals great direct and DOT flame damage.

Passive Skills for Magicka Nightblade PVE Build

Very important passive skills that can help you maximize the potential of your Magicka Nightblade 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. 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: Rationer, Liquid Efficiency, Master Gatherer, Plentiful Harvest/Steed’s Blessing

Passive: Gilded Fingers, Fortune’s Favor, Wanderer, Steadfast Enchantment, Treasure Hunter(slottable, required for path)

Fitness

Slottable Stars: Siphoning Spells, Strategic Reserve, Rejuvenation, Boundless Vitality

Passive: Sprinter, Hasty, Tireless Guardian, Hero’s Vigor, Mystic Tenacity, Tumbling, Defiance

Consumables for Magicka Nightblade PVE Build

We are using Clockwork Citrus Filet and Essence of Spell Power as Potions.

Info for Magicka Nightblade PVE Build

Several important info for the Magicka Nightblade 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 Nightblade 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 Nightblade PVE Build

Buff yourself with Merciless Resolve, Siphoning Attacks(for dedicated group setup start using the skill when Magicka is below 30-40%), apply Elemental Drain(when solo), drink a potion, set your Barbed Trap, summon Dark Shade and attack with Mystic Orb, Unstable Wall of Elements.

Switch bars and continue with Assassin’s Will(if ready), Twisting Path, Concealed Weapon/Swallow Soul x3-5, Assassin’s Will, switch bars, Mystic Orb, Unstable Wall of Elements, Barbed Trap, Siphoning Attacks(if necessary), Dark Shade or Elemental Drain(when solo), switch bars and continue.

Reapply Merciless Resolve when necessary. Once the enemy’s health drops below 25% start executing with Impale. Use Soul Harvest when ready and always Light Attack before every skill/action.

More Nightblade Builds

• Cloak and Dagger – Nightblade Thief Build
• Spellblade – Melee Magicka Nightblade PVE Build
• Brawler – Stamina Nightblade PVE Build
• Magicka Nightblade Solo PVE Build
• Stamina Nightblade Solo PVE Build
• Lifestealer – Magicka Nightblade PVP Build
• Elusive Warrior – Stamina Nightblade PVP Build
• Shadowstrike – Magicka Nightblade Gank PVP Build
• Arbalest – Stamina Nightblade Bow Gank PVP Build

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