Magicka Nightblade PVE Build
Table of Contents
- Description
- Armor Sets
- Skills
- Passive Skills
- Champion Points
- Consumables
- Info (Attributes-Mundus-Race-Vampire/Werewolf)
- Rotation
- More Nightblade Builds
Description
Shadowfire is a Magicka Nightblade PVE Build, with different setups for Solo and Group gameplay. A strong Magicka Nightblade PVE Build that requires practice to use properly.
For a Stamina Nightblade PVE Build take a look at Brawler.
If you are a new player, you can take a look at my Nightblade Beginner Guide.
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.
Armor Sets
One piece of Slimecraw for Group content to boost Critical Chance. Kjalnar’s Nightmare if you prefer a full Monster Set.
(Perfected)Whorl of the Depths: Strong Frost damage based Trial Set. (Perfected)Bahsei’s Mania or (Perfected) Mantle of Siroria as an alternative.
(Perfected)Crushing Wall: Powerful Ability Altering Set that boosts overall damage.
Kinras’s Wrath: Great DPS Set.
Mother’s Sorrow: Boosts Spell Critical and overall damage.
Harpooner’s Wading Kilt: Boosts Critical Chance and Critical Damage when dealing Direct Damage.
War Maiden: Great Set to boost our many Magic Damage based spells.
Sets Location
Slimecraw: Veteran Wayrest Sewers I, Maj Al-Ragath
(Perfected)Whorl of the Depths: (Veteran)Dreadsail Reef Trial
Kinras’s Wrath: Black Drake Villa 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
Mother’s Sorrow: Deshaan, Overland
Kjalnar’s Nightmare: Vet. Unhallowed Grave, Urgarlag Chief-Bane
War Maiden: Vvardenfell, Overland
Group Gameplay
Dedicated group focused build to 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 | Kinras's Wrath | Jewel | Bloodthirsty | Spell Damage |
Ring | Kinras's Wrath | Jewel | Bloodthirsty | Spell Damage |
Ring | Kinras's Wrath | Jewel | Bloodthirsty | Spell Damage |
Staff | Kinras's Wrath | Inferno | Precise | Flame Damage |
Staff | (Perfected) Crushing Wall | Inferno | Infused | Weapon Damage |
No-Trial Gear – Solo/Group Gameplay
No-Trial gear setup for easier solo/group gameplay that can complete almost every PVE content.
Piece | Set | Type | Trait | Enchantment |
---|---|---|---|---|
Head | Slimecraw/Kjalnar's Nightmare | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
Shoulders | Mother's Sorrow/Kjalnar's Nightmare | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
Hands | Mother's Sorrow | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
Legs | Harpooner's Wading Kilt/Mother's Sorrow | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
Chest | Mother's Sorrow | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
Waist | Mother's Sorrow | Light | Divines | Max. Magicka |
Feet | Mother's Sorrow | 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
A beginner but effective setup to use until you can farm better gear.
Ilambris: Veteran Crypt of Hearts I, Glirion The Redbeard
Law of Julianos: Wrothgar – Crafted
Armor of the Seducer: Grahtwood, Stormhaven, Deshaan – Crafted
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 |
Skills












Front Bar | Back Bar | |
---|---|---|
Skill 1 | Elemental Weapon/Swallow Soul | Twisting Path |
Skill 2 | Crippling Grasp | Unstable Wall of Elements |
Skill 3 | Impale | Barbed Trap |
Skill 4 | Merciless Resolve | Siphoning Attacks |
Skill 5 | Camouflaged Hunter | Dark Shade/Elemental Drain |
Ultimate Skill | Soul Harvest | Shooting Star/Ice Comet |
Elemental Weapon/Swallow Soul: Our main skill & spammable. You can use Swallow Soul for Solo gameplay.
Crippling Grasp: Deals good direct damage and has a strong DOT effect.
Impale: Our execute ability. You should start using this skill once the enemy’s health drops below 25%.
Merciless Resolve: 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: Slotted for the passives.
Soul Harvest: Primary Ultimate. Increases our damage to the enemy and generates Ultimate faster.
Twisting Path: One of our strong AOE-DOT skills.
Unstable Wall of Elements: Great Fire AOE damage skill.
Barbed Trap: Additional DOT damage but we are mainly using it for the boost to our Critical Damage.
Siphoning Attacks: Most important skill for our sustain.
Dark Shade: Summons a Shade that assists with Damage and debuffs enemies. You can replace it with Elemental Drain for Solo gameplay.
Shooting Star: Secondary Ultimate that deals great direct and DOT flame damage.
Passive Skills
- 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
Warfare
Slottable Stars: Deadly Aim, Master-at-Arms, Wrathful Strikes, Backstabber
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
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
We are using Clockwork Citrus Filet and Essence of Spell Power as Potions.
Info
Attribute Points
All points to Magicka
Mundus Stone
The Thief
Race
High Elf – Dark Elf – Khajiit – Breton
Vampire or Werewolf
Neither is necessary.
Rotation
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 Twisting Path, Unstable Wall of Elements.
Switch bars and continue with Assassin’s Will(if ready), Crippling Grasp, Elemental Weapon/Swallow Soul x3-5, Assassin’s Will, Twisting Path, 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