If you're looking to dominate the PvP scene in The Elder Scrolls Online Update 46, you've come to the right place. With the latest changes shaking up the meta, it's crucial to have the right gear to maximize your potential. In this guide, AnimeBoopz shows you the five best sets that will turn you into an absolute powerhouse in PvP by utilizing subclassing. The good news is that some of these sets can be purchased from guild traders, as long as you have enough TESO coins.
5. Order's Wrath
Order's Wrath is a crafted set requiring only three traits, making it super easy to obtain. It comes in all armor weights: light, medium, and heavy.
2-piece bonus: Adds 657 crit chance (about 3% crit chance).
3-piece bonus: Adds 129 weapon and spell damage.
4-piece bonus: Another 657 crit chance.
5-piece bonus: Adds 943 crit chance and boosts your critical damage and critical healing by 8%.
For a crit damage meta build, this set is perfect for maximizing your crit potential, especially since the Assassination skill line has received some buffs. The 10% crit chance from Order's Wrath, combined with the extra 8% crit damage and crit healing, gives you a significant advantage. It's typically used on the front bar, enhancing heals like Vigor, Rune Focus, or Critical Surge. This set pairs exceptionally well with Monomyth Reforged, the new mythic item that provides an additional 20% crit damage. Overall, Order's Wrath remains a solid choice for a crit damage focused build.
4. Perfected Silvers of the Null Arca
The Silvers of the Null Arca drops from the Lucent Citadel trial. It features a medium armor set and includes weapons and jewelry.
2-piece bonus: Adds 657 critical chance
3-piece bonus: Grants minor slayer
4-piece bonus: 657 critical chance
5-piece Bonus: When perfected, it grants 129 weapon and spell damage. All these bonuses effectively match the 2-4 piece bonuses of Order's Wrath.
Additionally, Null Arca has a proc mechanic: Every four seconds, you can gain stacks of Silver, which combine at three stacks to unleash a powerful proc that deals significant damage. In PvP, this can hit opponents for over 11k damage, with an average hit around 7k on the lower end. Since its release about a year ago, this set has arguably been the best proc set in the game, though many players overlooked it in favor of other options like Tarnished Nightmare.
Null Arca is now a staple in many meta builds. While Order's Wrath remains strong, it has fallen just outside the meta. If you're looking for a top-tier proc set, Null Arca is the way to go.
3. Mechanical Acuity
Mechanical Acuity requires six traits to craft and is available in all armor weights.
2-piece bonus: Adds max stamina.
3-piece bonus: Adds max magicka.
4-piece bonus: Adds weapon and spell damage.
5-piece bonus: When you deal non Critical Damage, you gain a stack of Mechanical Acuity for 4 seconds, granting you 20% critical strike chance per stack, up to once every 1 second, and stacking up to 5 times. This means you can reach 100% crit chance if you stack all five.
When building your setup, you typically focus on full crit. It's important not to include major savagery buffs, major crit buffs, or any minor crit buffs, as you will want to maximize your chances of reaching five stacks. If your front bar has only a 20% crit chance where Acuity should be, you won't achieve five stacks effectively, which diminishes the set's potential.
Mechanical Acuity was meta last patch and remains strong in the current one. It pairs well with any mythic item and is a favorite among many players.
2. Essence Thief
Essence Thief has always been strong, and it has now solidified its position as the ultimate meta front bar set. It comes from the White-Gold Tower and features medium armor, which is arguably the best weight in the game. The bonuses include:
2-piece: Adds 1,096 max stamina
3-piece: Adds 1096 max stamina
4-piece: Adds 129 weapon and spell damage
5-piece: Dealing damage with a light or heavy attack draws essence from the enemy that pools near them for 5 seconds. Drawing from the pool heals you for 4,356 health, restores 4,356 stamina, and increases your damage done by 10% for 10 seconds. A pool can only be created once every 10 seconds, theoretically allowing for 100% uptime.
Having 4,300 stamina every 10 seconds offers incredible sustain—it's truly remarkable. This is why Wretched Vitality is no longer essential; it has dropped out of the top five, remaining only in the top ten. It's effective mainly when paired with Rallying Cry.
Essence Thief is the go-to front bar set. The 10% damage boost is substantial, and this set provides all the sustain you could ever need. Whether you're using Storm Calling or pairing it with Rune and Bull Netch for even more sustain, you can roll dodge endlessly without dying.
In summary, Essence Thief is your ticket to becoming a formidable player. It enhances your recovery, boosts your damage, and helps ensure you don't get knocked out in dueling tournaments.
1. Rallying Cry
Rallying Cry is incredibly powerful and has arguably been the best in the game since its release. It's a light armor set available from Cyrodiil vendors and guild traders.
2-piece bonus: Adds 657 critical chance
3-piece bonus: Adds 1,096 max magicka
4-piece bonus: 657 critical chance
5-piece bonus: When battle spirit is active and you critically heal yourself, you and group members within 12 meters gain 1,650 critical resistance and 300 weapon and spell damage. Additionally, each affected group member reduces weapon and spell damage by 15 and critical resistance by 83. The effect can occur once every 15 seconds, ensuring nearly 100% uptime as long as your buffs are maintained.
To effectively counter a critical damage meta build, it is essential to have a critical defense set. If you aim to excel in PvP, Rallying Cry is a must-have. With 1,650 critical resistance, you can effectively counter Monomyth Reforged's 20% critical damage from major force. Additionally, the extra 300 weapon and spell damage serve as a valuable bonus for a defensive set. This set excels in both group and solo play, giving you a significant advantage during PvP encounters.
This is your go-to back bar set that pairs perfectly with the last four sets discussed. If you have any of those on your front bar, Rallying Cry should be on your back bar for that added weapon and spell damage, crit resistance, crit chance, and a bit of magicka. For example, when using Wretched Vitality on your front bar, keep Rallying Cry on your back bar for unlimited sustain while maintaining tankiness and gaining an extra 300 weapon and spell damage. It's like having a free version of Hunting's Rage!
Rallying Cry outperforms many other sets, and with the prevalence of crit damage in the current meta, it's hard to justify not using it. Additionally, if you're considering purchasing this set, be prepared to spend a significant amount of gold coins, as the price of Rallying Cry has tripled since the release of Monomyth Reforged!
Honorable Mention – Oakfather's Retribution
Oakfather's Retribution provides a significant boost to weapon and spell damage, along with substantial penetration. It's arguably one of the best stat-based sets in the game, if not the absolute best.
The only reason it didn't make the top five is that it's a light armor set, and it's hard to incorporate another back bar set besides Rallying Cry. While you can use four light pieces, it's not always the most practical choice.
Final Thoughts
Whether you're crafting sets like Order's Wrath or farming trials for Null Arca and Essence Thief, these PvP sets are guaranteed to elevate your gameplay in ESO Update 46. From crit-focused builds to sustain-heavy setups, there's something here for every playstyle.
Now go out there and conquer Cyrodiil—you've got the tools to become a true PvP legend! Last but not least, please subscribe to AnimeBoopz's channel for more content related to The Elder Scrolls Online.
