This is a build update to the previous Stamina Nightblade DPS build for The Elder Scrolls Online, again by Inquisitor Mordrak who showcases the best possible damage setup one could do on the Raid Dummies and on actual Trial bosses whenever possible as a Stamblade.
This written guide along with the accompanying video guide will not only go over how to perform your DPS rotation as a Stamina Nightblade in an optimal setting but also go over alternative setups for different scenarios such as Trial trash, Dungeons, Solo instances and Arenas.
Recommended race for this build is Dunmer / Dark Elf.
Recommended Mundus Stone is The Thief.
Recommended Potions to use for this build will be Essence of Weapon Power.
Recommended foods to use for this build will vary such as Lava Foot Soup-and-Saltrice (parsing) or any bi-stat food (Health + Stamina) for content that requires you to do so. You can also do Artaeum Takeaway Broth or Dubious Camoran Throne if need be depending on your sustain!
The best race will be Dark Elf. Behind Dunmer is Orc (~0,8% difference in damage). Khajiit closes the top 3 (~1.5% difference), but in Solo content, Arenas and Dungeons, the Khajiit will be a good choice, since it will be difficult to reach the Critical Damage cap, which gives the main passive ability of the race.
But remember, this difference is relative to the maximum results of the class and if you are a beginner or an average player, then feel free to choose a race for aesthetic reasons.
As with Update 35 due to the many combat changes, much of our damage power during Update 36 (which sees no change from Update 35) will come from proc sets such as Relequen, Pillar of Nirn, Siroria, Zaan and so forth perhaps pushing aside some use of some Mythics such as Harpooner's Wading Kilt.
It's no surprise here that for the single target setup we are using Pillar of Nirn, Relequen, Maelstrom's Greatsword and Kjalnar's (the last option which can only be used by one person in a raid group).
With 5/2 Light you get to the Critical Damage cap of 125% along with the Critical chance bonus from light armor which is just better than the 2% Weapon/Spell Damage from 2 medium armor pieces.
Kjalnar is better on the Stamblade compared to Zaan because it has one powerful proc that often deals damage during the buff from Incapacitating strike/Exploiter star/Concealed Weapon whereas Zaan's ticks often don't match these buffs and get fewer bonuses.
But in real content, we recommend wearing Zaan if you already have another player with Kjalnar (they don't stack as previously mentioned) or Stormfist if Zaan doesn't work (on the targets with a large hitbox such as SS dragons or Taleria in DSR) or if you need more passive cleave damage.
For alternative gear setups, you can refer to them below on this build page.
You'll need to swap Deadly Cloak in for Stampede on the backbar, replacing Carve with a Fighters Guild ability and replace Twisting Path with Camouflaged Hunter. You will need to go with Spectral Cloak on the backbar instead of Maelstrom Two Hander.
Instead of Concealed Weapon (since you won't have Twisting Path), you can use Silver Bolt instead as your spammable. If you need cleave, you can use the morph called Silver Shards.
Use Killer's Blade instead of Silver Bolt starting at 38% of the target's health.
Stop using the Merciless bow proc once you hit 23% of the target's health while ensuring you have the 5 stacks built up on the Merciless Resolve and use Killer's Blade.
Only recast Shade and Debilitate up until 20% of the target's health.
Ignore recasting anything else besides your KB after 6% of the target's health.
The following should be cast in order of priority from highest to lowest:
Carve
Merciless
Stampede
Barbed Trap
Twisting Path
Debilitate
Shade
Always use Incap in the first 1-2 seconds of the target being Off-Balanced. Always remind yourself to not reapply no more than 2 Damage over Time skills during the timeframe of Off Balance.
Use Killer's Blade instead of Silver Bolt starting at 38% of the target's health.
Stop using the Merciless Resolve bow proc once you hit 23% of the target's health while ensuring you have the 5 stacks built up on the Merciless Resolve and use Killer's Blade as the only spammable.
Recast Shade, Carve and Debilitate up until 20% of the target's health.
Stop recasting Twisting Path at 15% of target's health.
Only cast your KB after 6% of the target's health.
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Craft
PvE Combat (Craft)
Professional Upkeep
(50)
Steed's Blessing
(50)
Liquid Efficiency
(75)
Rationer
(30)
For a general Craft allocation for PvE.
Warfare
Stamina Nightblade PvE (Warfare)
Master-at-Arms
(125)
Deadly Aim
(125)
Wrathful Strikes
(50)
Exploiter
(10)
General Warfare Slottables for PvE Stamina Nightblade DPS. Check your Critical Damage value for deciding on Backstabber and Fighting Finesse in content.
Fitness
Stamina PvE DPS (Fitness)
Fortified
(50)
Rejuvenation
(50)
Boundless Vitality
(50)
Sustained by Suffering
(50)
General Fitness Slottables for a PvE Stamina DPS spec. Alternative slottables include Spirit Mastery or others depending on situations.
Use Biting Aura instead of Exploiter, Force of Nature if there is not enough penetration.
Use Backstabber and Fighting Finesse stars instead of Wrathful Strikes and Biting Aura if there are no supports in the group with Elemental Catalyst set and Minor Brittle debuff.
Below are the optimal setups for all content with various alternatives.
But remember that there is a unique setup for each boss, so if you want the maximum result, use ESOLogs where you can see builds for any boss in both strong and average groups.
Replace Coral Riptide set with Whorl of the Depths (3 jewelry + weapons because it's a Light Armor set) if you have a more static fight and all targets are in a tight stack.
Power Extraction skill is a very good area spammable now which also gives Minor Courage and Major Brutality buffs by 30 sec. With Camouflaged Hunter skill you can drink Tri-stat potions for a comfortable magicka sustain too, because we use a lot of magic skills.
You can easily use daggers here but the staff gives more comfort. Especially at Maelstrom Arena.
Introduction
This is a build update to the previous Stamina Nightblade DPS build for The Elder Scrolls Online, again by Inquisitor Mordrak who showcases the best possible damage setup one could do on the Raid Dummies and on actual Trial bosses whenever possible as a Stamblade.
This written guide along with the accompanying video guide will not only go over how to perform your DPS rotation as a Stamina Nightblade in an optimal setting but also go over alternative setups for different scenarios such as Trial trash, Dungeons, Solo instances and Arenas.
Recommended race for this build is Dunmer / Dark Elf.
Recommended Mundus Stone is The Thief.
Recommended Potions to use for this build will be Essence of Weapon Power.
Recommended foods to use for this build will vary such as Lava Foot Soup-and-Saltrice (parsing) or any bi-stat food (Health + Stamina) for content that requires you to do so. You can also do Artaeum Takeaway Broth or Dubious Camoran Throne if need be depending on your sustain!
The best race will be Dark Elf. Behind Dunmer is Orc (~0,8% difference in damage). Khajiit closes the top 3 (~1.5% difference), but in Solo content, Arenas and Dungeons, the Khajiit will be a good choice, since it will be difficult to reach the Critical Damage cap, which gives the main passive ability of the race.
But remember, this difference is relative to the maximum results of the class and if you are a beginner or an average player, then feel free to choose a race for aesthetic reasons.