Subclass your Sorcerer into a Nightblade in Elder Scrolls Online for high burst damage and Magicka using this optimized PvP build.
Sorcerer-Nightblade subclassing for PvP (Image via Bethesda Softworks)
With the addition of subclassing in Elder Scrolls Online Update 46, the game’s meta has shifted dramatically. There are new ways to min-max builds for PvE and PvP with a combination of skill lines from different classes. One of the most potent examples is the Sorcerer subclassing into Nightblade for ridiculous burst damage output.
This article will outline a tanky Magicka Sorcerer build subclassing into a Nightblade skill line to deal devastating damage, perfectly suited to bringing down players with a few hits.
Sorcerer-Nightblade build focuses on high burst damage and Magicka (Image via Bethesda Softworks)
Class – Sorcerer
Weapon One – Crafty Alfiq’s Lightning Staff
Weapon Two – Inferno Staff of Wretched Vitality
Armor Types – 6 Medium, 1 Heavy
Race – Dark Elf / Breton / High Elf
Attributes – 64 Magicka
Mundus Stone – Mage
Best Grimoires – Ulfsild’s Contingency, Traveling Knife, Soul Burst
Class Skill Lines
Daedric Summoning
Storm Calling
Assassination
Subclassing
Using subclassing, replace the Dark Magic skill line of the Sorcerer class with Assassination from the Nightblade’s toolkit. Dropping Dark Magic means losing the valuable Crystal Shard burst skill and Dark Exchange sustain skill. However, Assassination will replace it with the higher burst damage of Merciless Resolve, combined with better passive abilities.
Assassination Passive Abilities
Master Assassin: Increases critical chance rating when flanking enemies.
Executioner: Restores Magicka when an enemy dies within two seconds of being damaged.
Pressure Points: Increases critical chance rating for every Assassination ability slotted.
Hemorrhage: Increased critical damage.
Sorcerer-Nightblade Skills
Primary:
Shocking Soul
Merciless Resolve
Hardened Ward
Streak
Inner Light
Energy Overload (Ultimate)
Backup:
Vigor
Haunting Curse
Healing Contingency
Critical Surge
Bound Aegis
Summon Charged Atronach (Ultimate)
Attributes
When slotting attribute points, the best choice is speccing into 64 Magicka, as it will increase healing, damage, and shields.
Mundus Stone
The Mage Mundus Stone is the best choice for this build, as it further enhances Magicka, scaling even higher with the percentage boosts that the Sorcerer benefits from.
Champion Points
Warfare Constellation Champion Points
Master-at-Arms
Weapons Expert
Deadly Aim
Arcane Supremacy
Fitness Constellation Champion Points
Fortified
Pain’s Refuge
Bastion
Celerity
Craft Constellation Champion Points
War Mount
Gifted Rider
Sustaining Shadows
Equipment
SlotTypeSet HeadMediumMighty ChudanShouldersMediumWretched VitalityChestHeavyArmor of the TraineeLegsMediumWretched VitalityGlovesMediumWretched VitalityBootsMediumWretched VitalityBeltMediumCrafty AlfiqWeapon OneLightning StaffCrafty AlfiqWeapon TwoInferno StaffWretched VitalityNecklaceN/ACrafty AlfiqRing 1N/ACrafty AlfiqRing 2N/ADeath Dealer’s Fete
Consumables
Artaeum Pickled Fish Bowl: Increases Max Health and Max Magicka.
or Witch Mother’s Potent Brew: Increases Max Health, Max Magicka, and Magicka Recovery.
Health, Magicka, and Stamina potions.
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