[Top 3] ESO Best Dragonknight Builds for PvE

Unleash the Dragonknight glory with masterful builds for every playstyle in The Elder Scrolls Online!


What is the Dragonknight?

The Dragonknight is a class in The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO), offering a versatile playstyle with a focus on fire-based abilities and tanking capabilities. As a class, Dragonknights possess a unique combination of offensive and defensive skills, making them adaptable to various roles, including damage dealing, tanking, and support.

Dragonknight Importance in PvE

The Dragonknight is crucial in PvE content due to its ability to fulfil different roles effectively. Here are several reasons highlighting its importance:

  • Versatility: Dragonknights can seamlessly transition between damage-dealing, tanking, and support roles, making them adaptable to the diverse challenges of PvE content.
  • Fire-Based Damage: The class excels in fire-based attacks, providing a consistent and potent source of damage over time (DoT) effects, which is valuable in PvE encounters.
  • Sustainable Tanking: Dragonknights are renowned for their tanking capabilities, offering effective crowd control, damage mitigation, and self-sustain, making them reliable choices for leading groups in challenging PvE dungeons and trials.
  • Group Utility: The class brings valuable utility to groups, including crowd control abilities, group healing through synergies, and buffs that enhance the overall performance of the team.
  • Strong AoE Damage: Dragonknights boast powerful area-of-effect (AoE) abilities, enabling efficient clearing of groups of enemies in PvE scenarios, contributing to faster dungeon and trial runs.
  • Ultimate Synergy: Dragonknights have powerful ultimate abilities that synergize well with various group compositions, providing impactful effects such as damage boosts, crowd control, or group healing.
  • Resource Management: The class has effective resource management tools, helping both DPS and tanking roles to sustain their resources during prolonged encounters.
  • Searing Strike and DoTs: Searing Strike, a signature ability, is a potent spammable attack with a damage-over-time component. Combining this with other DoTs, Dragonknights can maintain high sustained damage.
  • Hard Crowd Control: Dragonknights possess crowd control abilities like Petrify and Fiery Grip, providing essential tools to control and manage enemies during encounters.
  • Excellent Synergy with Fire Staves: For Magicka-based Dragonknights, the class synergizes exceptionally well with fire staves, enhancing their fire damage capabilities and providing a thematic and powerful playstyle.

 

Magicka Dragonknight PvE Build: Magicka

Burn foes with style and set solo adventures ablaze with fire and finesse!

How does this build work, and why is it a great build:

This build thrives on a rotation that emphasises Damage over Time (DoT) skills, shields, and strategic resource management. Its greatness lies in its ability to deliver sustained damage, survivability, and resource sustain, making it an ideal choice for solo PvE content.

What the Magicka Dragonknight excels in:

In the expert's view, the ESO Solo Dragonknight Magicka Build is a powerhouse in solo gameplay. Its combination of potent DoTs, healing abilities, and resource sustain makes it a well-balanced and formidable option for tackling challenges alone.

  • Sustained Survival: The build excels in prolonged survival through a combination of healing skills, shields, and strategic resource management. Shields and healing abilities provide reactive and preemptive defence, ensuring resilience in the face of tough encounters.
  • Damage Over Time Dominance: With an emphasis on DoT skills like Degeneration and Barb Trap, the build delivers consistent and potent damage, making it highly effective in wearing down opponents over time. DoTs ensure a constant stream of damage, allowing for strategic play and resource management.
  • Versatile Playstyle: The build offers a versatile playstyle, adapting to different scenarios with a rotation that includes buffs, DoTs, and spammables, providing adaptability in solo PvE situations. Flexibility in skill choices and rotation allows for adjustments based on encounter dynamics.
  • Resource Management: While it may pose a challenge for beginners, the build's resource sustain becomes robust with unlocked class passives. Class passives contribute to efficient resource management, ensuring sustained performance without compromising on damage output.
  • Ultimate Flexibility: The build strategically incorporates ultimate skills like Flawless Dawnbreaker and Standard of Might, adding a dynamic element to combat scenarios and providing additional tools for overcoming challenges. Ultimate skills offer versatility in gameplay, allowing for strategic bursts of power when needed.

Gear Setup:

  • Head: Slimecraw (Divines, Magicka)
  • Shoulders: Perfected False Gods (Divines, Magicka)
  • Chest, Legs, Gloves, Boots, Belt: Perfected False Gods (Divines, Magicka)
  • Weapon One: Dagger (Pillar of Nirn, Nirn > Precise, Poison)
  • Secondary: Dagger (Pillar of Nirn, Charged, Flame)
  • Weapon Two: Inferno Staff (Perfected Crushing Wall, Infused, Berserker)
  • Necklace: Pillar of Nirn (Infused, Weapon Damage)
  • Ring 1: Pale Order (Infused, Weapon Damage)
  • Ring 2: Pillar of Nirn (Infused, Weapon Damage)

Front Bar (Dual Wield):

  • Draw Essence: AoE damage ability with resource regeneration and healing.
  • Burning Embers: Versatile skill offering healing and damage over time.
  • Flames of Oblivion: Flame damage ability enhancing magicka sustain.
  • Molten Whip: Main spammable single-target attack.
  • Engulfing Flames: Overall flame damage buff for debuffing targets.
  • Ultimate skills are personal preference.

Back Bar (Inferno Staff):

  • Elemental Susceptibility: Skill with armour reduction and status effects for substantial damage.
  • Barbed Trap: Provides a minor force buff and a hard-hitting stamina-based DoT.
  • Harness Magicka: Shield skill for reactive and preemptive use, enhancing survivability.
  • Eruption: Flame damage ability boosting spell damage and providing ultimate gain.
  • Blockade of Fire: Versatile skill with massive flame AoE damage and an explosion effect.
  • Ultimate skills are personal preference.

Passive Skills:

  • Earthen Heart
  • Draconic Power
  • Ardent Flame
  • Dual Wield
  • Destruction Staff
  • Light Armor
  • Medium Armor
  • Undaunted
  • Fighter’s Guild
  • Racial
  • Alliance War Support
  • Alliance War Assault

Champion Points:

Warfare:

  • Precision: 10
  • Wrathful Strikes: 50
  • Fighting Finesse: 50
  • Extended Might – sub constellation – Piercing: 10
  • Deadly Aim: 50
  • Master – at- Arms: 50
  • Piercing: 10
  • Tireless Discipline: 20
  • Eldritch Insight: 20
  • Blessed: 20
  • Quick Recovery: 20
  • Flawless Ritual: 40
  • War Mage: 30
  • Battle Mastery: 40
  • Mighty: 30
  • Elemental Aegis: 20
  • Hardy: 20
  • Preparation: 20

Fitness:

  • Fortified: 50
  • Boundless Vitality: 50
  • Rejuvenation: 50
  • Sprinter: 10
  • Wind Dancer – sub constellation – Hasty: 8
  • Hero’s Vigor: 10
  • Siphoning Spells: 50
  • Hero’s Vigor: 10
  • Tumbling: 30
  • Sprinter: 10
  • Defiance: 20
  • Hasty: 8
  • Tireless Guardian: 20
  • Fortification: 30
  • Nimble: 6
  • Mystic Tenacity: 50
  • Tempered Soul: 50
  • Piercing Gaze: 30
  • Savage Defense: 30
  • Bashing Brutality: 20

Craft:

  • Steed’s Blessing: 50
  • Breakfall: 10
  • Steadfast: 10
  • Treasure Hunter: 50
  • Rationer: 30
  • Liquid Efficiency: 75
  • Steadfast Enchantment: 40
  • Breakfall: 40
  • Wanderer: 60
  • Fortune's Favor: 50
  • Friends in Low Places: 25
  • Out of Sight: 30
  • Fleet of Phantom: 40
  • Soul’s Reservoir: 33
  • Gilded Fingers: 50
  • Fortunes Favor: 40
  • Inspiration Boost: 45
  • Infamous: 30

Race:

  • Dark Elf: Best option for balanced weapon and spell damage.
  • Khajiit: Great for burst damage and healing.
  • Attributes:
  • Health: 0
  • Stamina: 0
  • Magicka: 64
  • Mundus Stone:
  • Thief: Increases the Critical Strike rating by 1212.

Consumables:

Food: 

  • Clockwork Citrus Filet Effect: Increase Max Health by 3724, Health Recovery by 351, Max Magicka by 3458, and Magicka Recovery by 319 for 2 hours
  • (CHEAP): Witchmother’s Brew  Effect: Increase Max Magicka by 2856, Max Health by 3094, and Magicka Recovery by 315 for 2 hours.
  • Ghastly Eye Bowl Effect: Increase Max Magicka by 4256 and Magicka Recovery by 425 for 2 hours.

Potions:

  • Essence of Spell Power Effect: Grants major sorcery, increasing spell damage by 20% for 47.6 seconds. Grants major prophecy, providing 2191 spell critical rating for 47.6 seconds. Restores 7582 magicka immediately. Grants major intellect, boosting magicka recovery by 20% for 47.6 seconds. Potions have a 45 sec cooldown. Ensure three points in the Medicinal Use passive in alchemy crafting.

 

Stamina Dragonknight PvE Build: Stamina

Slay and play the Stamina Dragonknight dancing through enemies with might and mischief!
How the stamina build works and why its a great build:

The Stamina Dragonknight build excels through relentless melee attacks, intricate damage rotations, and strategic resource management, delivering potent sustained damage.

Stamina Dragonknight Build Excels in:

This build shines with high DPS potential, versatile solo play adaptability, and a touch of DragonKnight swagger.

  • Relentless DPS: Unleashes a barrage of powerful sustained damage through a combination of weapon skills, passives, and synergized abilities.
  • Versatile Solo Play: Thrives in solo PvE content, conquering diverse challenges with finesse, thanks to a robust skill set that balances offense and defense.
  • Strategic Resource Management: Masterful stamina use ensures the build's effectiveness in prolonged encounters, making it a reliable choice for sustained performance.
  • Melee Dominance: Excels in close-quarter combat, leveraging formidable weapon skills and Dragonknight abilities to dominate enemies up close.
  • Solo Swagger: Tackles foes with undeniable style, laughs in the face of danger, and emerges victorious, embodying the Dragonknight spirit with flair.

Gear Setup:

  • Head: Light - Slimecraw (Divines, Stamina)
  • Shoulders: Medium - Vicious Serpent (Divines, Stamina)
  • Chest, Legs, Gloves, Boots: Medium - Vicious Serpent (Divines, Stamina)
  • Belt: Medium - Pillar of Nirn (Divines, Stamina)
  • Dagger (Main Hand) - Pillar of Nirn (Nirn > Precise, Poison)
  • Dagger (Off Hand) - Pillar of Nirn (Charged, Flame)
  • 2H Sword (Back Bar) - Perfected Merciless Charge (Infused, Berserker)
  • Jewellery: Necklace - Pillar of Nirn (Infused > Bloodthirsty, Weapon Damage)
  • Rings - Pale Order (Infused > Bloodthirsty, Weapon Damage); Pillar of Nirn (Infused > Bloodthirsty, Weapon Damage)

Front Bar (Dual Wield):

  • Molten Whip: Buffs weapon damage and serves as a spammable attack.
  • Burning Embers: Inflicts damage over time and offers significant self-healing.
  • Noxious Breath: Deals poison damage and applies major fracture to enemies.
  • Flames of Oblivion: Provides powerful damage over time, stacking for increased DPS.
  • Whirling Blades: AoE damage for efficient mob clearing.

Back Bar (Two-Handed):

  • Barbed Trap: Inflicts damage over time and provides a substantial buff.
  • Carve: Delivers significant AoE damage and shields when healing is low.
  • Eruption: Offers potent damage over time; morph for extra healing if needed.
  • Stampede: Hard-hitting gap closer with massive AoE damage.
  • Resolving Vigor: Ensures strong healing over time for enhanced survivability.

Passive Skills:

  • Earthen Heart
  • Draconic Power
  • Ardent Flame
  • Dual Wield
  • Two-Handed
  • Light Armor
  • Medium Armor
  • Undaunted
  • Fighter’s Guild
  • Racial
  • Alliance War Support
  • Alliance War Assault

Champion Points:

Warfare:

  • Precision 10
  • Wrathful Strikes 50
  • Fighting Finesse 50
  • Extended Might (sub constellation) – Piercing 10
  • Thaumaturge 50
  • Master-at-Arms 50

Fitness:

  • Fortified 50
  • Boundless Vitality 50
  • Rejuvenation 50

Craft:

  • Steed’s Blessing 50
  • Breakfall 10
  • Wanderer 15
  • Treasure Hunter 50
  • Rationer 30
  • Liquid Efficiency 75

Race:

  • Best Choice: Khajiit - Top-tier damage for solo play.
  • Secondary Choice: Dark Elf - Balanced stats and increased weapon/spell damage.

Attributes:

  • Health: 0
  • Stamina: 64
  • Magicka: 0
  • Mundus Stone:
  • Thief - Increases Critical Strike rating by 1212.

Consumables:

Food:

  • Artaeum Takeaway Broth - Boosts Max Health, Health Recovery, Max Stamina, and Stamina Recovery for 2 hours.

Potion:

  • Essence of Weapon Power - Grants major brutality, major savagery, restores stamina, and increases stamina recovery for 47.6 seconds.

 

Healer Dragonknight PvE Build: Healer

Heal like a dragon boss! Our Dragonknight Healer brings flames and fabulous support magic!

How does this build work and why is it a great build?

The Dragonknight PvE Healer Build thrives on a combination of potent healing abilities and resource sustain. By utilising a restoration staff for main healing and a destruction staff for added utility, the build can deliver consistent healing, manage resources effectively, and contribute to group survivability

What the Healer DragonKnight Build Excels in:

An expert analysis reveals that the ESO Dragonknight PvE Healer Build excels in both survivability and resource management. Its unique toolkit, including major mending access, excellent stamina sustain passives, and robust survivability, positions it as a versatile support class. The build's power lies in its ability to control the battlefield with fiery magic while ensuring allies remain well-supported.

  • Sustained Healing Power: Access to major mending ensures consistent and powerful healing over time, making it an ideal choice for prolonged encounters.
  • Stamina Sustainability: The build's great stamina sustain passives contribute to overall resource management, allowing for sustained healing and utility.
  • Survivability: With good survivability, the Dragonknight Healer Build can withstand challenges, ensuring the healer's presence on the battlefield is enduring.
  • Group Support: The build's toolkit includes excellent group tools, making it a perfect choice for those seeking effective support in group gameplay.
  • Versatility in Gameplay: Whether unleashing fiery magic to damage foes or mending allies with healing abilities, the Dragonknight Healer Build offers a dynamic and engaging playstyle.

Gear Setup:

  • Head: Light, Symphony of Blades, Divines, Magicka
  • Shoulders: Light, Symphony of Blades, Divines, Magicka
  • Chest: Light, Jorvuld’s Guidance, Divines, Magicka
  • Legs: Light, Jorvuld’s Guidance, Divines, Magicka
  • Gloves: Light, Jorvuld’s Guidance, Divines, Magicka
  • Boots: Light, Jorvuld’s Guidance, Divines, Magicka
  • Belt: Light, Jorvuld’s Guidance, Divines, Magicka
  • Weapon One (Restoration Staff): Perfected Grand Rejuvenation, Powered, Absorb Magicka
  • Weapon Two (Frost > Fire > Lighting): Roaring Opportunist, Charged, Shock
  • Necklace: Roaring Opportunist, Arcane, Magicka Recovery
  • Ring 1: Roaring Opportunist, Arcane, Magicka Recovery
  • Ring 2: Roaring Opportunist, Arcane, Magicka Recovery

Front Bar (Restoration Staff):

  • Illustrious Healing : A powerful AoE heal over time with a wide radius, crucial for maintaining group health.
  • Combat Prayer: Essential AoE heal, providing Minor Berserk and Minor Resolve, boosting damage output and resistances.
  • Obsidian Shard: Strong burst heal that requires damaging an enemy to apply healing to yourself or allies.
  • Cauterize: Effective heal over time ability with added Major Prophecy, increasing Spell Critical.
  • Radiating Regeneration: Multi-targeting heal over time, vital for mobile encounters and proccing healer sets.
  • Reviving Barrier: Ultimate ability applying massive damage shields and healing over time to group members.

Back Bar (Destruction Staff - Ice):

  • Echoing Vigor: Used to proc Powerful Assault and provide a potent area heal over time.
  • Energy Orb: Main resource sustain synergy, offering a strong AoE heal over time for allies.
  • Fragmented Shield: Decent shield for you and allies, providing Major Mending for increased healing done.
  • Overflowing Altar: Applies Minor Lifsteal to enemies, healing you and allies when damaging them.
  • Elemental Blockade: Ground cast AoE ability, primarily used to apply status effects that debuff and weapon enchant, making it ideal to use Lighting or Ice staff.
  • Aggressive Horn: One of the most important ultimate abilities for a support role. Grants Major Force increasing critical damage by 20%, also increases Max Magicka and Stamina by 10% for you and your group members.

Champion Points:

Warfare:

  • Soothing Tide
  • Swift Renewal
  • Rejuvenator
  • Enlivening Overflow

Craft:

  • Treasured Hunter
  • Liquid Efficiency
  • Rationer

Fitness:

  • Boundless Vitality
  • Fortified
  • Spirit Mastery
  • Rejuvenation

Race:

  • Breton: Insane sustainability, lacks spell damage or increased healing.
  • Argonian: Great for pure healing and survival, lacks sustain, and has less Max Magicka.

Attributes:

  • Health: 0
  • Stamina: 0
  • Magicka: 64
  • Mundus Stone:
  • Atronach: Increases Magicka recovery by 310.

Consumables:

  • Ghastly Eye Bowl: Good healing, increasing Max Magicka and Magicka Recovery.
  • Bewitched Sugar Skulls: Boosts Max Health, Max Stamina, Max Magicka, and Health Recovery for a balanced stat increase.
  • Clockwork Citrus Filet: An expensive option for significant stat boosts, enhancing Max Health, Health Recovery, Max Magicka, and Magicka Recovery.

Potions: 

  • Essence of Spell Power Effect: Grants major sorcery, increasing spell damage by 20% for 47.6 seconds. Grants major prophecy, providing 2191 spell critical rating for 47.6 seconds. Restores 7582 magicka immediately. Grants major intellect, boosting magicka recovery by 20% for 47.6 seconds. Potions have a 45 sec cooldown. Ensure three points in the Medicinal Use passive in alchemy crafting.

The Big Conclusion:

For Dragonknight in The Elder Scrolls Online, the stamina build emerges as the most effective choice due to its superior damage output and versatility in various content. While the magicka build excels in spellcasting and ranged abilities, the stamina build, benefiting from powerful weapon skills and passives, offers higher sustained damage and overall performance. The healer build, emphasising support and survivability, is crucial for group dynamics, but the stamina build stands out as the optimal choice for solo play and damage-focused roles.

 

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