The Elder Scrolls Online continues to be a battleground for competitive players seeking to optimize their builds and dominate PvP encounters. With Update 47, several damage sets have emerged as top contenders for the front bar, offering powerful bonuses that cater to various playstyles. In this guide, KlausMan66 will share his top five damage sets for PvP, ranked based on their effectiveness, versatility, and ease of use. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer looking to make an impact, these sets can help elevate your performance in Cyrodiil and beyond.
Number 5: Oakfather's Retribution
At number five, you might be surprised to see Oakfather's Retribution this low on the list, but it's still a solid set.
Oakfather's Retribution is a light armor set available in Cyrodiil; it used to be a reward from the "Rewards of the Worthy" but is now purchasable from the elite vendor. Earning alliance points to get this set is relatively easy.
The second piece bonus of this set grants you 129 weapon and spell damage, and the third and fourth pieces provide the same bonus, making it a strong choice overall.
The fifth piece grants 449 offensive penetration against enemies with a major buff active, along with 20 weapon and spell damage against those with a minor buff active. This makes it particularly effective against ball groups that frequently share buffs. However, its effectiveness diminishes when facing less organized teams, as you won't always get to utilize its full damage potential.
Additionally, it's worth noting that the stats displayed on the stat sheet for Oakfather's Retribution can be misleading, which is frustrating.
So, what does this set actually offer? In simpler terms, if you're up against an enemy with ten major buffs, you can expect around 4,490 penetration against them and about 200 weapon and spell damage if they have ten minor buffs. Generally, you won't see much higher numbers than that.
Oakfather's Retribution is great for bombing and ganking. It's powerful, especially when fighting opponents using one-bar builds, as they typically have multiple buffs active. Additionally, players using tri-stat potions gain three extra major buffs, which further enhances the set's effectiveness.
However, the inconsistency of this set is why it's ranked at number five. You won't always encounter opponents with all their buffs active, and often, players may not have their buffs up, especially if you catch them off guard. This lack of versatility contributes to its lower ranking on the list.
Number 4: Draugrkin's Grip
Draugrkin's Grip is particularly strong for very niche builds.
Second Piece: Grants 1,096 max magicka.
Third Piece: Provides 1,487 offensive penetration.
Fourth Piece: Offers 129 magicka recovery.
The bonuses from the second to fourth pieces are a mixed bag. While the extra magicka isn't highly sought after in this Update 47, the penetration buff is valuable, and the magicka recovery can be beneficial in certain scenarios.
The fifth piece increases your damage done by 330 but reduces your healing received by 10%. This is why Draugrkin's Grip should only be used on your front bar. A 10% reduction in healing on both bars is significant, especially when you're outnumbered and need to survive.
As for the damage boost, while 330 might not seem like much, it's a flat increase that gets amplified by any multipliers you have. This boost applies to all your attacks—light attacks, damage-over-time effects, and even every tick of your DoTs. It also enhances the effectiveness of your poisons.
While Draugrkin's Grip may not be as versatile as some other sets, it can be extremely oppressive in the right circumstances, especially with the right build and player. That's why it's placed at number four.
Number 3: Mechanical Acuity
Mechanical Acuity is a craftable set, making it relatively easy to obtain: You can craft it by yourself or buy it from a Guild Trader using your ESO gold coins.
Second Piece: Provides 1,096 max stamina.
Third Piece: Grants 1,096 max magicka.
Fourth Piece: Offers 129 weapon and spell damage.
The fifth piece is where things get interesting. When you deal non-critical damage, you gain a stack of Mechanical Acuity for 4 seconds, granting you 20% crit chance per stack, up to once every second, and stacking up to five times. Essentially, this can give you a 100% crit chance at its peak. If you know how to leverage this set effectively, you can take down opponents very quickly.
For this build, it is recommended to choose Warden as your base subclass and run Clever Alchemist on your back bar. You'll want to kite around, build up your Northern Storm or Destruction Staff ultimate, drop the charm, and then unleash your damage on your enemies.
Importantly, you should not stack crit chance with this build; instead, focus on crit damage. A Khajiit race is ideal for this setup, and using the Monomyth Reforged Mythic will enhance your performance. By doing so, you'll annihilate almost anyone you encounter!
So, why is this set ranked third among the last three? The answer is simple: not everyone will use Mechanical Acuity correctly. Many players will activate it on their front bar when they don't need to, similar to how they might mishandle Clever Alchemist by popping their potion too early for a burst window. This can lead to missed opportunities to maximize the buff.
While it's not the most beginner-friendly set, it is incredibly powerful in the right hands. The difficulty in mastering it is why it's placed at number three instead of number one. However, in the hands of an experienced player, it could very well be number one in most situations.
Number 2: Essence Thief
Essence Thief is a medium armor set that you can obtain from the White-Gold Tower, making it relatively easy to obtain.
Essence Thief is one of the older sets that continues to see widespread use today. Essence Thief has aged like fine wine; even the two-piece and three-piece bonuses, which grant max stamina, may not seem impactful, but players still love this set.
The fifth piece is where the set really shines. When you deal damage with a light or heavy attack, you draw essence from the enemy, creating a pool near them for 5 seconds. Drawing from this pool heals you for 4,356 health and restores 4,356 stamina. That's a significant boost for resource management! While you could run other sets, this healing and stamina restoration is a fantastic bonus.
Additionally, you gain a 10% increase in damage done for 10 seconds, and the pool can be created once every 10 seconds. Essentially, every 10 seconds, you're getting a burst of around 400 stamina recovery and 400 health—similar to the effect of a tri-stat potion for a magicka character. It's an impressive resource return!
Essence Thief is an extremely versatile set; it can be used on both front and back bars. You activate it by heavy attacking with an ice staff and applying elemental status effects to an enemy. It's the most adaptable and accessible set available. While it may not be the easiest set to master, it is highly effective and strong.
Number 1: Perfected Silvers of the Null Arca
Slivers of the Null Arca is likely the easiest option to use, but it's also one of the most difficult to obtain. If possible, it is recommended to use the perfected version, as it provides significant advantages over the regular version, which is still acceptable but not as beneficial.
Second Piece: Grants 657 crit chance.
Third Piece: Provides Minor Slayer at all times.
Fourth Piece: Also gives you 657 crit chance.
The perfected version is highly recommended because equipping five pieces of this set grants an additional 129 weapon and spell damage.
Once procced, the set hits hard: Dealing crit damage gives you a stack of Silver for 10 seconds, up to once every 0.5 seconds. Upon reaching three stacks, it transforms into a crystal that launches at the last enemy you damaged.
With the right build, you can pair it with the Aedric Spear to stun enemies, leading to devastating results. This set can be combined with almost anything on your back bar, providing strong weapon and spell damage, good penetration, and high crit damage, allowing you to dominate your opponents.
The cooldown is manageable, only about 4 seconds after you shoot the crystal. Since you gain stacks every half second, if you apply consistent pressure with damage over time (DoT) effects, you can expect to use this proc roughly every six seconds.
Null Arca is one of the strongest proc sets in the game, offering significant burst damage for minimal effort. You can maintain uptime on this proc for 6 to 8 seconds, particularly if you're applying pressure in combat. This set can lead to unexpected kills, enhancing your overall performance.
Conclusion
That concludes the overview of the top five damage sets for the front bar! While some sets are easier to acquire and use than others, Null Arca stands out for its impressive power and accessibility.
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