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
In for Deadly Aim for AoE Trash encounters
Exploiter
In for Master-at-Arms if 25% or higher uptime 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
Single Target Boss Example
Boss Example 2
Non-Dual Wield Template
Bow/Bow 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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Single Target
Pillar of Nirn
Kvatch GladiatorAoE/ST
Deadly Strike
Sul-Xan’s Torment
Aegis Caller
Whorl of the Depths
Coral Riptide (if Azureblight, otherwise always active)
Ansuul’s Torment (if Azureblight, otherwise always active)
Berserking Warrior
Mantle of Siroria
Yandir’s MightShort Burst
Mechanical Acuity
Burning Spellweave
BriarheartLarge Bosses Only
Flame Blossom -
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
Spaulder of Ruin - Group buff option but no personal DPS gain
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Top Backbar Arena Options
Crushing Wall (Maelstrom Inferno Staff)
Caustic Arrow (Dragonstar Bow)
Thunderous Volley (Maelstrom Bow)
Merciless Charge (Maelstrom Greatsword)
Spectral Cloak (Blackrose Prison Daggers) -
If you would prefer to run a full 2pc Monster Set, drop the Mythic and move your Set A “shoulder” piece to your ‘legs” slot
Single Target Priority
Zaan
Stormfist
Nerien’eth
Selene
Kjalnar’s NightmareAoE Priority
Velidreth
Prior ThierricSituational
Balorgh (Amazing Short Burst)
Iceheart (Mix of Dmg/Survival)Support
Archdruid Devyric
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
Aegis Caller
Whorl of the Depths
Mantle of SiroriaLarge Bosses Only
Flame BlossomSupport
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
Nerien’eth
Selene
Kjalnar’s NightmareAoE Priority
Velidreth
Prior ThierricSituational
Balorgh (Amazing Short Burst)
Iceheart (Mix of Dmg/Survival)Support
Archdruid Devyric
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
Example Setup #1
Example Setup #2
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Trial Set is Recommended
Arms of Relequen
Sul-Xan’s Torment
Ansuul's Torment
Coral Riptide
Whorl of the Depths
Bahsei’s Mania
Yandir’s MightNon-Trial Set Options
Deadly Strike
Azureblight Reaper
Pillar of NirnSupport
Roar of Alkosh -
Single Target Priority
Zaan
Stormfist
Nerien’eth
Selene
Kjalnar’s NightmareAoE Priority
Velidreth
Prior ThierricSituational
Balorgh (Short Burst)
Iceheart (Mix of Dmg/Survival)Support
Archdruid Devyric -
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)
Caustic Arrow (Dragonstar Bow)
Point Blank Snipe (Vateshran Bow)
Virulent Shot (Blackrose Prison Bow) -
Top Backbar Arena Options
Crushing Wall (Maelstrom Inferno Staff)
Caustic Arrow (Dragonstar Bow)
Thunderous Volley (Maelstrom Bow)
Merciless Charge (Maelstrom Greatsword)
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/ST
Aegis Caller
Whorl of the Depths
Mantle of SiroriaLarge Bosses Only
Flame BlossomSupport
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
-
Top Front Bar Arena Options
Spectral Cloak (Blackrose Prison Daggers)
Executioner’s Blade (Vateshran Daggers)
Titanic Cleave (Master’s GS or Maul)
Caustic Arrow (Dragonstar Bow)
Virulent Shot (Blackrose Prison Bow)
Point Blank Snipe (Vateshran Bow) -
If you would prefer to run a full 2pc Monster Set, drop the Mythic and move your Set A “shoulder” piece to your ‘legs” slot
Single Target Priority
Zaan
Stormfist
Nerien’eth
Selene
Kjalnar’s NightmareAoE Priority
Velidreth
Prior ThierricSituational
Balorgh (Short Burst)
Iceheart (Mix of Dmg/Survival)Support
Archdruid Devyric
SETUP #5: 1 BAR ONLY SETUP
AN ASSORTMENT OF OPTIONS FOR USING ONLY 1 SKILL BAR
(click the left/right arrows to cycle through examples)
Non-DW Front Bar Template
Non-DW Front Bar / Heavy Attack Build Example
Dual Wield Front Bar Template
Dual Wield Front Bar Example
Non-DW Front Bar Arena + Monster Set Template
Non-DW Front Bar Arena + Monster Set Example
Dual Wield Arena + Monster Set Template
Dual Wield Arena + Monster Set Example
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Heavy Attack Builds Only
Sergeant’s Mail (Heavy Armor)
Noble Duelist’s Silks
Deadly Strike
Storm Master
Infallible Aether
Undaunted Infiltrator
Undaunted UnweaverLight or Heavy Attack Builds
Deadly Strike
Pillar of Nirn
Aegis Caller
Order’s Wrath
Kvatch Gladiator
Sul-Xan’s Torment
Ansuul's Torment
Arms of Relequen
Coral Riptide
Whorl of the Depths -
Oakensoul - Excellent for Damage and Survival but limits you to 1 skill bar
Velothi Ur-Mage's Amulet - Can potentially outperform Oakensoul on non-heavy attack 1-bar setups if you already have most of the buffs from Oakensoul in your setup -
Spectral Cloak (Blackrose Prison DW)
Point Blank Snipe (Vateshran Bow)
Executioner’s Blade (Vateshran DW)
Titanic Cleave (Dragonstar 2H)
Virulent Shot (Blackrose Prison Bow)
Crushing Wall (Maelstrom Staff)
Caustic Arrow (Dragonstar Bow)
Merciless Charge (Maelstrom 2H) -
Single Target Priority
Zaan
Nerien’eth
Stormfist
Selene
Kjalnar’s NightmareAoE Priority
Velidreth
Prior ThierricSituational
Balorgh (Amazing Short Burst)
Iceheart (Mix of Dmg/Survival)Support
Archdruid Devyric
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
If running staves, Lightning is usually preferred for the Front-Bar and Flame is usually the preferred Back-Bar option
Configure the # of Medium/Light Armor pieces to your needs to fully penetrate for the content you are doing
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 - MAGICKA OR STAMINA TEMPLAR
(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
Dual Wield Back-Bar
SETUP #2 - STAMINA BOWPLAR
(click the left/right arrows to cycle through examples)
5pc Set Front-Bar / Master's Bow Back-Bar
Master's Bow Front-Bar / Maelstrom Bow Back-Bar
SETUP #3 - EASIER TO MANAGE LOADOUT
Flexible to work with various weapon types
SETUP #4- 1-bar setup
Made for a traditional Light Attack Rotation, not a Heavy Attack build
VIDEO GUIDES
Here are some demonstrations from other great content creators
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