Stamina Arcanist DPS
Cthulhu is a powerful Stamina 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. Cthulhu is a DPS Build that is offering different setups, depending on the difficulty of the content.
The Build is designed to use a combination of Arcanist Class skills and Weapon abilities in order to help you 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
Stamina Arcanist DPS 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. 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. Stamina |
Shoulders | (Perfected) Arms of Relequen/Kjalnar’s Nightmare | Medium | Divines | Max. Stamina |
Hands | (Perfected) Arms of Relequen | Medium | Divines | Max. Stamina |
Legs | Harpooner’s Wading Kilt/(Perfected) Arms of Relequen | Medium | Divines | Max. Stamina |
Chest | (Perfected) Arms of Relequen | Medium | Divines | Max. Stamina |
Waist | (Perfected) Arms of Relequen | Medium | Divines | Max. Stamina |
Feet | (Perfected) Arms of Relequen | Medium | Divines | Max. Stamina |
Necklace | Pillar of Nirn | Jewel | Bloodthirsty | Weapon Damage |
Ring | Pillar of Nirn | Jewel | Bloodthirsty | Weapon Damage |
Ring | Pillar of Nirn | Jewel | Bloodthirsty | Weapon Damage |
One Handed Weapon | Pillar of Nirn | Dagger | Nirnhoned | Fire Damage |
One Handed Weapon | Pillar of Nirn | Dagger | Charged | Poison |
Two Handed Weapon | (Perfected)Merciless Charge | Greatsword | 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 | Medium/Light | Divines | Max. Stamina |
Shoulders | Kjalnar’s Nightmare | Medium | Divines | Max. Stamina |
Hands | Order’s Wrath | Medium | Divines | Max. Stamina |
Legs | Order’s Wrath | Medium | Divines | Max. Stamina |
Chest | Order’s Wrath | Medium | Divines | Max. Stamina |
Waist | Order’s Wrath | Medium | Divines | Max. Stamina |
Feet | Order’s Wrath | Medium | Divines | Max. Stamina |
Necklace | Pillar of Nirn | Jewel | Bloodthirsty | Weapon Damage |
Ring | Pillar of Nirn | Jewel | Bloodthirsty | Weapon Damage |
Ring | Pillar of Nirn | Jewel | Bloodthirsty | Weapon Damage |
One Handed Weapon | Pillar of Nirn | Dagger | Nirnhoned | Fire Damage |
One Handed Weapon | Pillar of Nirn | Dagger | Charged | Poison |
Two Handed Weapon | (Perfected)Merciless Charge | Greatsword | Infused | Weapon Damage |
Beginner Setup
An effective gear setup that will help you play as a Stamina Arcanist early in the game!
Piece | Set | Type | Trait | Enchantment |
---|---|---|---|---|
Head | Stormfist | Heavy/Medium/Light | Divines | Max. Stamina |
Shoulders | Stormfist | Heavy/Medium/Light | Divines | Max. Stamina |
Hands | Hunding’s Rage | Medium | Divines | Max. Stamina |
Legs | Hunding’s Rage | Medium | Divines | Max. Stamina |
Chest | Hunding’s Rage | Medium | Divines | Max. Stamina |
Waist | Hunding’s Rage | Medium | Divines | Max. Stamina |
Feet | Hunding’s Rage | Medium | Divines | Max. Stamina |
Necklace | Night Mother’s Gaze/Morkuldin | Jewel | Robust | Stamina Recovery/Weapon Damage |
Ring | Night Mother’s Gaze/Morkuldin | Jewel | Robust | Stamina Recovery/Weapon Damage |
Ring | Night Mother’s Gaze/Morkuldin | Jewel | Robust | Stamina Recovery/Weapon Damage |
One Handed Weapon | Night Mother’s Gaze/Morkuldin | Dagger | Precise/Nirnhoned | Fire Damage |
One Handed Weapon | Night Mother’s Gaze/Morkuldin | Dagger | Precise/Charged | Absorb Stamina/Poison |
Two Handed Weapon | Night Mother’s Gaze/Morkuldin | Greatsword/Battle Axe/Bow | Infused | Weapon Damage |
Armor Sets for Stamina Arcanist DPS Build
- Slimecraw: Veteran Wayrest Sewers I, Maj Al-Ragath
- (Perfected)Arms of Relequen: (Veteran) Cloudrest Trial, Summerset
- Pillar of Nirn: Falkreath Hold Dungeon
- (Perfected)Merciless Charge: (Veteran) Maelstrom Arena
- Harpooner’s Wading Kilt: Antiquities Reward
- Kjalnar’s Nightmare: Vet. Unhallowed Grave, Urgarlag Chief-Bane
- Order’s Wrath: High Isle, Crafted
- Stormfist: Veteran Tempest Island, Glirion The Redbeard
- Hunding’s Rage: Reaper’s March, Bangkorai, The Rift – Crafted
- Night mother’s Gaze: Reaper’s March, Bangkorai, The Rift – Crafted
- Morkuldin: Wrothgar – Crafted
Skills for Stamina 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 | Deadly Cloak | Stampede |
Skill 2 | Writhing Runeblades | Carve |
Skill 3 | Tentacular Dread | Fulminating Rune |
Skill 4 | Barbed Trap | Runeguard of Freedom |
Skill 5 | Inspired Scholarship | Resolving Vigor |
Ultimate Skill | Flawless Dawnbreaker | The Tide King’s Gaze |
- Deadly Cloak(Blade Cloak): Strong DPS skill.
- 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.
- Stampede(Critical Charge): Powerful AOE damage skill.
- Carve(Cleave): Great Bleed damage skill that applies a shield.
- Fulminating Rune(The Imperfect Ring): Strong DoT ability that also provides a synergy.
- Runeguard of Freedom(Runic Defense): Defensive skill that also heals you.
- Resolving Vigor(Vigor): Healing ability.
- The Tide King’s Gaze(The Unblinking Eye): Powerful Ultimate.
Bow Back-Bar
If you wish to play with Bow as your Back-Bar Weapon, just replace Stampede and Carve with Endless Hail(Volley) and Poison Injection(Poison Arrow).
Passive Skills for Stamina Arcanist DPS Build
Very important passive skills that can help you maximize the potential of your Stamina 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 Stamina Arcanist DPS 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, Thaumaturge
- Passive: Tireless Discipline, Piercing, Battle Mastery, Mighty, Quick Recovery, Hardy, Elemental Aegis, Preparation, Precision, Blessed, Eldritch Insight
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 Stamina Arcanist DPS Build
We are using Artaeum Takeaway Broth as Food and Essence of Weapon Power as Potions.
Info for Stamina Arcanist DPS Build
Several important info for the StamArc DPS Build. What Mundus to use, the best race for the build and how to assign your attribute points.
Attribute Points
All points to Stamina
Mundus Stone
The Thief Mundus to boost Critical Chance.
What Race is best for Stamina Arcanist DPS Build
Dark Elf – Orc – Khajiit is the best Race for a DPS focused Build. Any Race with Stamina 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 Stamina Dragonknight DPS 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, cast Deadly Cloak and place Barbed Trap. Attack with Stampede, Carve x3, Fulminating Rune. Switch bars, apply Abyssal Ink with Tentacular Dread and attack with Writhing Runeblades. Keep attacking with Writhing Runeblades as your spammable and refresh the other abilities when necessary. Heal yourself with Resolving Vigor, use your Ultimate when ready and always Light Attack before skills to boost your DPS!
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