This is a Nightblade Magicka DPS build for ESO, intended for most players. The build is updated for Elsweyr. If you have any questions about the Nightblade Magicka DPS build, leave a comment below.
Magicka Nightblades have awesome melee and ranged damage, both single target and AOE damage.
See our ESO Builds section for more builds.
Nightblade Magicka DPS Build Index
Guide Contents
Nightblade Magicka DPS Build Basics
Best Nightblade Magicka DPS Race: High Elf (Altmer) > Breton > Dark Elf
Nightblade Magicka DPS Attributes: All Magicka
Should I play as a Vampire as a Nightblade Magicka DPS: Yes.
Best Mundus Stone for a Nightblade Magicka DPS: The Shadow (Increased Spell Critical Damage)
Best Potion for Nightblade Magicka DPS: Essence of Spell Power (Cornflower, Lady’s Smock, Water Hyacinth)
Best Food for Nightblade Magicka DPS:
Double Bloody Mara or Witchmother’s Potent Brew.
Nightblade Magicka DPS Build Skills
What are the best weapons to use as a Nightblade Magicka DPS? It is recommended that you Destruction Staff (Fire) on both bars.
Nightblade Magicka DPS Main Bar – Fire Staff:
Slot 1: Crippling Grasp
Slot 2: Merciless Resolve
Slot 3: Elemental Weapon
Slot 4: Impale
Slot 5: Dark Shade
Ultimate: Incapacitating Strike
Nightblade Magicka DPS Alternate Bar – Fire Staff:
Slot 1: Elemental Blockade
Slot 2: Twisting Path
Slot 3: Harness Magicka
Slot 4: Siphoning Attacks
Slot 5: Channeled Acceleration
Ultimate: Shooting Star
Nightblade Magicka DPS Build Passive Skills
Assassination Passives: All
Shadow Passives: All
Siphoning Passives: All
Destruction Staff Passives: All
Light Armor Passives: All
Heavy Armor Passives: Resolve – Constitution – Juggernaut
Medium Armor Passives: Dexterity – Wind Walker – Improved Sneak – Athletics
Vampire Passives: Supernatural Recovery – Undeath – Dark Stalker
Psijic Order Passives: Spell Orb – Concentrated Barrier – Clairvoyance
Mages Guild Passives: All
Fighters Guild Passives: Banish the Wicked
Undaunted Passives: All
Racial Passives: All
Alchemy Passives: Medicinal Use
Nightblade Magicka DPS Build Champion Points
The first bolded number indicated below is for a
If you need to gain more champion points fast, see our ESO Leveling Guide.
The Mage Champion Points (Blue)
The Ritual: 40 (31) Thaumaturge
The Atronach: 66 (20) Master-At-Arms – 13 (2) Staff Expert
The Apprentice: 56 (27) Elemental Expert – 66 (20) Elfborn – 29 Spell Erosion
The Thief Champion Points (Green)
The Shadow: 60 Shadow Ward – 58 Tumbling
The Lover: 100 (49) Arcanist
The Tower: 52 (2) Warlord
The Warrior Champion Points (Red)
The Lady: 49 (23) Hardy – 49 (23) Elemental Defender – 48 (23) Thick Skinned
The Steed: 81 (31) Ironclad – 43 Spellshield
Nightblade Magicka DPS Build Gear
There is a lot of Sorcerer Stamina gear to choose from. Below is a selection of viable gear, and below that a suggested end-game setup.
- Grothdarr – Vault of Madness
- Law of Julianos – Crafted
- The Maelstrom’s Inferno Staff – Maelstrom Arena
- Master Architect – Halls of Fabrication
- Molag Kena – White Gold Tower / Undaunted Chest
- Moondancer – Maw of Lorkhaj
- Mother’s Sorrow – Deshaan
- Perfect Asylum Inferno Staff – Asylum Sanctorium
- Perfect False God’s Devotion – Veteran Sunspire
- Perfect Mantle of Siroria – Cloudrest
- Spell Strategist – Rewards of the Worthy /
Guildstore - Spinner’s Garments – Malabal Tor
- Valkyn Skoria – City of Ash 2
- Willpower –
Guildstore - Zaan –
Scalecaller Peak
If you need gold to buy gear for your build, check out our ESO Gold Farming Guide, with tips on how to make tons of ESO gold.
Head: Zaan – Grothdarr – Valkyn Skoria Weight: Heavy Trait: Divines Enchant: Magicka
Shoulders: Zaan – Grothdarr – Valkyn Skoria Weight: Medium Trait: Divines Enchantment: Magicka
Chest: Perfect False God’s Devotion – Burning Spellweave – Law of Julianos – Perfect Mantle of Siroria – Mother’s Sorrow – Master Architect Weight: Light Trait: Divines Enchant: Magicka
Gloves: Perfect False God’s Devotion – Burning Spellweave – Law of Julianos – Perfect Mantle of Siroria – Mother’s Sorrow – Master Architect Weight: Light Trait: Divines Enchant:Magicka
Legs: Perfect False God’s Devotion -Burning Spellweave – Law of Julianos – Perfect Mantle of Siroria – Mother’s Sorrow – Master Architect Weight: Light Trait: Divines Enchant: Magicka
Belt: Perfect False God’s Devotion – Burning Spellweave – Law of Julianos – Perfect Mantle of Siroria – Mother’s Sorrow – Master Architect Weight: Light Trait: Divines Enchant: Magicka
Boots: Perfect False God’s Devotion – Burning Spellweave – Law of Julianos – Perfect Mantle of Siroria – Mother’s Sorrow – Master Architect Weight: Light Trait: Divines Enchant: Magicka
Necklace: Perfect False God’s Devotion – Spell Strategist – Mother’s Sorrow – Perfect Mantle of
Rings: Perfect False God’s Devotion – Spell Strategist – Mother’s Sorrow – Perfect Mantle of Siroria Trait: Arcane Enchant: Spell Damage
Fire Staff One: Spell Strategist – Mother’s Sorrow Trait: Infused Enchant: Fire
Fire Staff Two: The Maelstrom’s Inferno Staff Trait: Infused Enchant: Absorb Magicka
This Nightblade Magicka build is continuously updated, leave a comment if you have any questions or suggestions!