Remember to treat this as a base to work from…
Always adjust as needed for YOUR specific situation!

the build basics

Make sure to read the notes along with the graphics as they are often JUST AS IMPORTANT!

 

top races

 

This is purely a ranking by top dps passives
Other passives can be beneficial too!

Examples:

Breton: Magicka Sustain + Resistances

  • Only 3-4% DPS behind Dark Elf for Magicka

Imperial: 2k Health + 6% Cost Reduction

  • Only 3-4% DPS behind Dark Elf for Stamina

ANY race can be FINE for DPS on all modes

 

mundus stone

  • The Thief is usually the strongest for PvE

 

food & drinks

Single Primary Stat options are the highest DPS if you don’t need the additional Max Health or sustain

However, I usually recommend Bi-Stat food instead as you only lose ~1% dps but gain 5395 Max Health

Tri-Stat Health + Stamina + Magicka work great for both Stamina and Magicka stacking setups

I use these when I need a little more of my Off-Resource pool to work with but don’t want to give up the Max Health

Primary Stat + Recovery options are great for damage and sustain if you don’t mind the missing Max Health

Primary Stat + Off-Resource Recovery options are also great if your Off-Resource is harder to sustain than your Main Resource (also missing Max Health)

Health + Primary Stat + Recovery options are good compromises if you need more well-rounded stats

 

potions

UESP has a great Alchemy Calculator if you want to see all possible combinations

  • If you already have the Major Crit Chance and the Major Weapon/Spell Damage Buffs, you can craft the Tri-Stat Restoration Potions (also from Daily Login Rewards) to help with sustaining both your Stamina and Magicka

  • Heroism Potions are great in this scenario as well to squeeze out more Ultimates, but the ingredients are very expensive

The Essence of Spell Power potions are recommended if you ARE NOT getting your Sorcery/Prophecy buffs from skills and you need the additional Magicka return

The Essence of Weapon Power potions are recommended if you ARE NOT getting your Brutality/Savagery buffs from skills and you need additional Stamina return

 

champion points

IMPORTANT NODES

Force of Nature
Top priority over the 4 shown if more Penetration is needed

Backstabber/Fighting Finesse
Top priorities over the 4 shown if under the Crit Dmg cap

Biting Aura
In for Deadly Aim for Trash/AoE Heavy 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 into the “Crit Dmg CP” range, 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

The 1pc monster set can also be run in the “shoulder” slot instead of the “head” slot - both options are equal

 

setup #2: NO ARENA SETS

TWO 5 PC SETS (1 FRONT BAR + 1 BACK BAR) + 2PC MONSTER SET + MYTHIC

With this setup, you give up the Arena Set to allow for a Mythic and a full 2pc Monster Set to be run together

 

SETUP #3: DOUBLE ARENA SETS

5 PC SET, 2PC MONSTER SET, MYTHIC, 2 arena sets, 2PC cRIT CHANCE

With this setup, you give up your 2nd 5pc Set to allow for a Mythic, a full 2pc Monster Set, and 2 Arena Sets to be run together

 

SETUP #4: REVERSE TRADITIONAL

TWO 5 PC SETS, 1PC MONSTER SET + MYTHIC, ARENA SET front-BARRED

Similar to the “Traditional Setup” except the Arena Set is on the front bar instead of the back bar

additional NOTES

  • Configure the # of Medium/Light Armor pieces to your needs but always keep at least 1 Medium and 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 - standard boss encounters

ALTERNATIVE SKILLS

Replacing Degeneration

If you already have Major Brutality/Sorcery from Potions, Biting Jabs, or Igneous Weapons:

  • Solar Barrage - Okay AoE Damage but boosts all your class skill damage by 5%

  • Carve - AoE/ST option for Two-Handed back bar (Nice shield for survival too)

  • Elemental Susceptibility - ST option for Staff back bar (Nice if you need burning and breach)

  • Poison Injection - ST option for Bow back bar

  • Caltrops - AoE option (Razor if you need the Breach or Anti-Calvary otherwise)

  • Utility Skill - Can also use this slot to run a shield/heal/sustain skill if needed

Replacing Vampire’s Bane

If you already have Major Savagery/Prophecy from potions:

  • Same as above with Degeneration

Replacing Blade Cloak

You can move Blazing Spear or Degeneration to Blade Cloak’s spot if you want to fit another back bar skill like Carve

Or if you are already running it with Dual Wield back bar you can replace it with another DoT or Camo Hunter

SETUP #2 - SPEAR SPAM

ALTERNATIVE SKILLS

Replacing Degeneration

If you already have Major Brutality/Sorcery from Potions, Biting Jabs, or Igneous Weapons:

  • Carve - AoE/ST option for Two-Handed back bar (Nice shield for survival too)

  • Elemental Susceptibility - ST option for Staff back bar (Nice if you need burning and breach)

  • Poison Injection - ST option for Bow back bar

  • Caltrops - AoE option (Razor if you need the Breach or Anti-Calvary otherwise)

  • Utility Skill - Can also use this slot to run a shield/heal/sustain skill if needed

Replacing Vampire’s Bane

If you already have Major Savagery/Prophecy from potions:

  • Same as above with Degeneration

Replacing Blade Cloak

If you are already running it with Dual Wield back bar you can replace it with another DoT or Camo Hunter

SETUP #3 - EASIER TO MANAGE

ALTERNATIVE SKILLS

Replacing Degeneration

If you already have Major Brutality/Sorcery from Potions, Biting Jabs, or Igneous Weapons:

  • Solar Barrage - Okay AoE Damage but boosts all your class skill damage by 5%

  • Deadly Cloak - Move Barbed Trap from the front bar to this spot and slot Deadly Cloak

  • Carve - AoE/ST option for Two-Handed back bar (Nice shield for survival too)

  • Elemental Susceptibility - ST option for Staff back bar (Nice if you need burning and breach)

  • Poison Injection - ST option for Bow back bar

  • Caltrops - AoE option (Razor if you need the Breach or Anti-Calvary otherwise)

  • Utility Skill - Can also use this slot to run a shield/heal/sustain skill if needed

Inner Light

If you are stacking into Magicka you can swap out Camo Hunter for Inner Light but only if you are already getting Minor Berserk too

Replacing Power of the Light/Purifying Light

For more AoE Heavy encounters, you can replace this for another AoE Skill like Blade Cloak

Thanks for stopping by

Thanks to UESP.net as well for the great tools for some of the screenshots

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