Magicka Nightblade PVE Build
Shadowfire is a Magicka Nightblade DPS PVE Build in ESO, 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
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.
| 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 | Flame Damage |
| Staff | (Perfected) Crushing Wall | Inferno | Infused | Weapon Damage |
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.
| 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 | War Maiden | Jewel | Bloodthirsty | Spell Damage |
| Ring | War Maiden | Jewel | Bloodthirsty | Spell Damage |
| Ring | War Maiden | Jewel | Bloodthirsty | Spell Damage |
| Staff | War Maiden | Flame | Precise | Flame Damage |
| Staff | (Perfected) Crushing Wall/War Maiden | Flame | Infused | Weapon Damage |
Beginner Setup
An effective gear setup that will help you play as a Magicka Nightblade early in the game!
| 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/Lightning | Precise | Flame/Shock Damage |
| Staff | Armor of the Seducer | Flame/Lightning | Infused | Weapon Damage |
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
- 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.
| Front Bar | Back Bar | |
|---|---|---|
| Skill 1 | Concealed Weapon or Elemental Weapon/Swallow Soul | Mystic Orb |
| Skill 2 | Twisting Path | Unstable Wall of Elements |
| Skill 3 | Impale | Barbed Trap |
| Skill 4 | Merciless Resolve | Siphoning Attacks |
| Skill 5 | Camouflaged Hunter/Elemental Drain | Dark Shade |
| Ultimate Skill | Flawless Dawnbreaker | Soul Harvest |
- 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): 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. You can replace it with Elemental Drain(Weakness to Elements) for Solo gameplay.
- Flawless Dawnbreaker(Dawnbreaker): Deals damage but also buffs you actively and passively.
- 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.
- Soul Harvest(Death Stroke): Primary Ultimate. Increases our damage to the enemy and generates Ultimate faster.
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, 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 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 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 as your spammable. Keep attacking with Concealed Weapon and re cast the other skills 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.
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