Remember to treat this as a base to work from…
Always adjust as needed for YOUR specific situation!
the build basics
This basic information that is consistent across all of the DPS Builds has been moved!
Check out this page here for the Top Races, Mundus Stone, Food/Drinks, and Potions
champion points
IMPORTANT NODES
Backstabber/Fighting Finesse
Top priorities over the 4 shown if under the Crit Dmg cap
Force of Nature
Priority over the 4 shown if more Penetration is needed
Biting Aura
EZ choice over Deadly Aim for AoE Trash encounters
Exploiter
In for Master-at-Arms if 25% or higher on Off-Balance
Need help with the Penetration and Crit Damage caps? Check out these charts
For short burst encounters, “Exploiter” moves up to the top, as long as Off-Balance is coordinated
If Off-Balance is NOT present, choose from the best of the other remaining 4 to the left of it
TOP GEAR Setups
For a full list of the best DPS sets, check out my tier list
For more details on when to use what, check out top DPS sets video
setup #1: TRADITIONAL
TWO 5 PC SETS, 1PC MONSTER SET + MYTHIC, ARENA SET BACKBARRED
(click the left/right arrows to cycle through examples)
Dual Wield Front-Bar Template
Non-Dual Wield Template
Dual Wield Back-Bar Template
Common Support DPS Setup Example
Boss Setup Example
AoE Heavy Boss Example
Light Armor / AoE Trash / Short Burst Example
Light Armor / AoE Trash Example
AoE Trash / Ult Dump Example
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Most Common
Harpooner’s Wading Kilt - S-Tier damage if bonus can be maintained
Velothi Ur-Mage's Amulet - S-Tier damage with no stacks or mini-game
Mora’s Whispers - A-tier damage with no stacks or mini-game
Ring of the Pale Order - Great for healing solo or in a small group with no healers
More Situational
Thrassian Stranglers - S-tier for damage for some solo or small group encounters if getting enough killing blows
Sea-Serpent’s Coil - S-Tier damage if maintaining/benefiting from both bonuses
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Top Backbar Arena Options
Crushing Wall (Maelstrom Inferno Staff)
Merciless Charge (Maelstrom Greatsword)
Thunderous Volley (Maelstrom Bow)
Caustic Arrow (Dragonstar Bow)
Spectral Cloak (Blackrose Prison Daggers) -
If you would prefer to run a full 2pc Monster Set
Single Target Priority
Zaan
Stormfist
Kjalnar’s Nightmare
Selene
Nerien’ethAoE Priority
Velidreth
Prior ThierricSituational
Balorgh (Short Burst)
Iceheart (Mix of Dmg/Survival)
setup #2: NO ARENA SETS
TWO 5 PC SETS (1 FRONT BAR + 1 BACK BAR) + 2PC MONSTER SET + MYTHIC
(click the left/right arrows to cycle through examples)
Dual Wield Front-Bar Template
Non-Dual Wield Front-Bar Template
Boss Setup Example
Boss Setup Example 2
Light Armor Boss Setup Example
Short Burst Setup Example
Solo, Small Group, or Support / Short Burst Setup Example
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Single Target
Pillar of NirnAoE/ST
Aegis Caller
Whorl of the DepthsLarge Bosses Only
Flame BlossomSupport
Master Architect
War Machine
Z’en’s RedressShort Burst
Burning Spellweave
Briarheart -
Most Common
Harpooner’s Wading Kilt - S-Tier damage if bonus can be maintained
Velothi Ur-Mage's Amulet - S-Tier damage with no stacks or mini-game
Ring of the Pale Order - Great for healing solo or in a small group with no healers
More Situational
Thrassian Stranglers - S-tier for damage for some solo or small group encounters if getting enough killing blows
Sea-Serpent’s Coil - S-Tier damage if maintaining/benefiting from both bonuses
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Single Target Priority
Zaan
Stormfist
Kjalnar’s Nightmare
Selene
Nerien’ethAoE Priority
Velidreth
Prior ThierricSituational
Balorgh (Short Burst)
Iceheart (Mix of Dmg/Survival)
SETUP #3: DOUBLE ARENA SETS
5 PC SET, 2PC MONSTER SET, MYTHIC, 2 arena sets, 2PC cRIT CHANCE
(click the left/right arrows to cycle through examples)
Dual Wield Front-Bar Template
Non-Dual Wield Template
Dual Wield Back-Bar Template
Double Dual Wield Template
Example Setup #1
Example Setup #2
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Trial Set is Recommended
Arms of Relequen
Sul-Xan’s Torment
Ansuul’s Torment
Whorl of the Depths
Bahsei’s Mania
Coral RiptideSupport
Roar of Alkosh
War Machine
Master ArchitectNon-Trial Set Options
Runecarver’s Blaze
Azureblight Reaper -
Single Target Priority
Zaan
Stormfist
Kjalnar’s Nightmare
Selene
Nerien’ethAoE Priority
Velidreth
Prior ThierricSituational
Balorgh (Short Burst)
Iceheart (Mix of Dmg/Survival) -
Most Common
Harpooner’s Wading Kilt - S-Tier damage if bonus can be maintained
Velothi Ur-Mage's Amulet - S-Tier damage with no stacks or mini-game
Ring of the Pale Order - Great for healing solo or in a small group with no healers
More Situational
Thrassian Stranglers - S-tier for damage for some solo or small group encounters if getting enough killing blows
Sea-Serpent’s Coil - S-Tier damage if maintaining/benefiting from both bonuses
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Top Front Bar Arena Options
Spectral Cloak (Blackrose Prison Daggers)
Executioner’s Blade (Vateshran Daggers)
Titanic Cleave (Master’s GS or Maul)
Virulent Shot (Blackrose Prison Bow) -
Top Backbar Arena Options
Crushing Wall (Maelstrom Inferno Staff)
Merciless Charge (Maelstrom Greatsword)
Thunderous Volley (Maelstrom Bow)
Caustic Arrow (Dragonstar Bow)
Spectral Cloak (Blackrose Prison Daggers)
SETUP #4: REVERSE TRADITIONAL
TWO 5 PC SETS, 1PC MONSTER SET + MYTHIC, ARENA SET front-BARRED
(click the left/right arrows to cycle through examples)
Dual Wield Front-Bar Template
Example Setup
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Single Target
Pillar of NirnAoE
Aegis Caller
Whorl of the DepthsLarge Bosses Only
Flame BlossomSupport
Master Architect
War Machine
Z’en’s RedressShort Burst
Burning Spellweave
Briarheart -
Most Common
Harpooner’s Wading Kilt - S-Tier damage if bonus can be maintained
Velothi Ur-Mage's Amulet - S-Tier damage with no stacks or mini-game
Mora’s Whispers - A-tier damage with no stacks or mini-game
Ring of the Pale Order - Great for healing solo or in a small group with no healers
More Situational
Thrassian Stranglers - S-tier for damage for some solo or small group encounters if getting enough killing blows
Sea-Serpent’s Coil - S-Tier damage if maintaining/benefiting from both bonuses
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Top Front Bar Arena Options
Spectral Cloak (Blackrose Prison Daggers)
Executioner’s Blade (Vateshran Daggers)
Titanic Cleave (Master’s GS or Maul)
Virulent Shot (Blackrose Prison Bow) -
If you would prefer to run a full 2pc Monster Set, drop the Mythic
Single Target Priority
Zaan
Stormfist
Kjalnar’s Nightmare
Selene
Nerien’ethAoE Priority
Velidreth
Prior ThierricSituational
Balorgh (Short Burst)
Iceheart (Mix of Dmg/Survival)
additional gear setup NOTES
The 1pc monster set can also be run in the “shoulder” slot instead of the “head” slot - both options are equal
Configure the # of Medium/Light Armor pieces to your needs but usually keep at least 1 Medium / 1 Light Armor piece
Body and jewelry pieces are always interchangeable as long as you are keeping the weights that you want
And finally, the options listed are just my favorites - there are plenty of other sets that work great too
skill bar setups
SETUP #1 - NO CRIT POTIONS
This is a setup for when you are NOT using potions that give Major Prophecy/Savagery
(Ex: Tri-Restoration or Heroism Potions)
ALTERNATIVE SPAMMABLES
Replacing Venom Skull or Silver Shards
Other options like Force Pulse, Ricochet Skull, Wrecking Blow and Whirling Blades can work well too
SETUP #2 - sTANDARD DPS
This is a setup for when you ARE using potions that give Major Prophecy/Savagery
Configured to make use of an actual spammable in the rotation
(click the left/right arrows to cycle through examples)
Two-Handed Back-Bar / Dual Wield Front-Bar
Bow Back-Bar / Dual Wield Front-Bar
Staff Back-Bar / Dual Wield Front-Bar
ALTERNATIVE CONFIG
Swapping Boneyard to Back & Barbed Trap to Front
Barbed Trap gives 3% Weapon/Spell Damage and Boneyard gives 8% Crit Chance in execute under 25%
Both bonuses are pretty even so you can decide which is better for your situation
Replacing Venom Skull or Silver Shards
Other options like Force Pulse, Ricochet Skull, Wrecking Blow and Whirling Blades can work well too
SETUP #3 - DAMAGE OVER TIME BUILD
This is a setup for when you ARE using potions that give Major Prophecy/Savagery
Configured to make use of Blastbones + Detonating Siphon as semi-spammables
(click the left/right arrows to cycle through examples)
Two Handed Back-Bar / Dual Wield Front-Bar
Bow Back-Bar / Dual Wield Front-Bar
Staff Back-Bar / Dual Wield Front-Bar
Bow Back-Bar / Bow Front-Bar
ALTERNATIVE CONFIG
Running Master’s Bow Front Bar?
Swap Poison Injection with Barbed Trap or Unnerving Boneyard
SETUP #4 - AoE HEAVY SCENARIOS
This is a setup for AoE Heavy (usually Trash) encounters
VIDEO GUIDES
Here are some demonstrations from other great content creators
Thanks for stopping by
Thanks to UESP.net as well for the great tools for some of the screenshots
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A lot of work goes into these and the support really helps a ton!