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The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind eGuide
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Contents

  • Changelog
    • Updates
  • Training
    • Advice for New Adventurers
    • Races and Factions
      • Overview
      • Factions
      • Character Races
      • Classes
        • Overview
        • Dragonknight
        • Nightblade
        • Sorcerer
        • Templar
        • Warden (New Class)
          • Overview
          • Green Balance
          • Winter’s Embrace
    • Leveling
      • Leveling
    • Attributes
      • Overview
      • Active Effects
      • Buffs and Debuffs
        • About the Buff/Debuff System
        • Aegis
        • Berserk
        • Brutality
        • Empower
        • Endurance
        • Evasion
        • Expedition
        • Force
        • Fortitude
        • Gallop
        • Heroism
        • Intellect
        • Mending
        • Prophecy
        • Protection
        • Resolve
        • Savagery
        • Slayer
        • Sorcery
        • Toughness
        • Vitality
        • Ward
        • Applying Debuffs
      • Mundus Stones
    • Champions
      • The Champion System
      • Passive Effects
        • About Passive Abilities
        • Constellation Group: The Thief
        • Constellation Group: The Mage
        • Constellation Group: The Warrior
    • Curses: Vampires and Werewolves
      • Overview
      • Vampirism
      • Lycanthropy
      • Obtaining Curses
      • Removing Curses
    • Skills
      • Overview
      • Weapon Skill Lines
        • Overview
        • Two-Handed
        • One Hand and Shield
        • Dual Wield
        • Bow
        • Destruction Staff
        • Restoration Staff
      • Armor Skill Lines
        • Overview
        • Light Armor
        • Medium Armor
        • Heavy Armor
      • World Skill Lines
        • Soul Magic
        • Legerdemain
        • Vampire
        • Werewolf
      • Guild Skill Lines
        • Fighters Guild
        • Mages Guild
        • Undaunted
        • Thieves Guild
        • Dark Brotherhood
      • Alliance War Skill Lines
        • Assault
        • Support
        • Racial Skill Lines
        • Craft Skill Lines
    • Archetypes
      • Overview
      • Magicka DPS
        • The Mage
        • The Flameblade
        • The Bloodmage
        • The Fanatic
        • The Naturalist
      • Stamina DPS
        • The Assassin
        • The Beastmaster
        • The Depraved
        • The Tempest
        • The Zealot
      • Tanks
        • The Crusader
        • The Dragonscale
        • The Stormshield
        • The Icebreaker
        • The Reaper
      • Healers
        • The Devoted
        • The Druid
        • The Invoker
        • The Flamekeeper
        • The Shadowpriest
  • Combat, Crafting, and Activities
    • Combat
      • Initial Combat Tactics
      • Additional Combat Tactics
      • Damage Types and Potency
      • Crowd Control: Vulnerabilities and Death
    • Stealth and Sneaking
      • Sneaking
      • Stealth Combat: Sneak Attacks
    • Group Activities
      • Winning Friends
      • Influencing People (Know Your Role)
    • Player Guilds
      • About Player Guilds
    • The Alliance War (PvP)
      • About the Alliance War
      • Joining a Campaign
      • Alliance Border Keeps
      • Alliance Points and Rankings
      • Campaign Score
      • Alliance Bonuses
      • Exploring Cyrodiil
      • Capture Points
      • Siege and Defend
      • Temples and the Elder Scrolls
      • Types of Quests
      • Imperial City DLC
    • Morrowind: Battlegrounds (PvPvP)
      • Overview
      • Game Modes
      • Battlefields
      • Rewards and Medals
    • Crafting
      • Crafting Professions
      • Seeking Inspiration
      • Certification and Crafting Writs
      • Traits
      • Crafting Sites and Sets
      • Morrowind Crafting Motifs and Sets
    • Crafting Professions
      • Overview
      • Alchemy
      • Blacksmithing
      • Clothing
      • Enchanting
      • Provisioning
      • Woodworking
      • Equipment Professions: Your Gear’s Life Cycle
      • Power-Leveling
    • Homestead
      • Obtaining Your First Home
      • Example Costs and Sizes of Homes
      • Morrowind Homes
      • Furnishing Your Home
      • Homestead Visiting and Visitors
    • Other Activities
      • Exploration
      • Material Gathering
  • Adventuring Across Tamriel
    • Introduction
    • Currency and Holiday Events
    • Merchants and Services
      • Banks and Moneylenders
      • Crafting Stations
      • Dye Stations
      • Fences
      • Merchants
      • Navigators
      • Shrines
      • Stables
    • Making Money
      • Ways to Earn Money
    • Crime and Punishment
      • The Crimes
      • Infamy Meter
      • Stealth
      • Pickpocket
      • Lockpicking
      • Breaking and Entering
      • Theft
      • Safeboxes
      • Killing Livestock
      • Smuggling Contraband
      • Assault and Murder
      • Aiding in a Crime
      • Tamriel Guards: Paying Your Bounty
      • Outlaws Refuge
      • Treasure
      • Thieves Troves
      • Helpful Skills
    • Mounts
      • Mounts and Stables
    • Items of Note and Interest
      • Item Storage
      • Currency
      • Weapons
      • Apparel
      • Consumables
      • Crafting Materials
      • Miscellaneous
    • Factions (Major and Minor)
      • Major Guilds
      • Minor Factions
    • Locations
      • Provinces and Zones
      • Cities
      • Wayshrines
      • Housing
      • Navigators (Boatswains and Caravans)
      • Merchants
      • Crafting Stations
      • Crafting Sets
      • Guild Traders
      • Banks
      • Stables
      • Dye Station
      • Outlaws Refuge
      • Guild Halls
      • Shrines
      • Striking Locales
      • Settlements, Groves, Towns, Campfires
      • Museums
      • Dungeons
      • Group Bosses
      • Special Events
      • Dolmens (Dark Anchors)
      • Ayleid or Aetherial Wells
      • Mundus Stone
      • Cyrodiil Locations
      • Imperial City Locations
    • Dark Anchors (Dolmens)
      • About Dark Anchors
    • A Trove of Tamriel Tips
      • Skyshards
      • Tips
      • Glossary
  • Quests
    • Quest Map
    • Quest Types
      • Introduction
      • Main Story Quests
      • Aldmeri Dominion Story Quests
      • Daggerfall Covenant Story Quests
      • Ebonheart Pact Story Quests
      • Alliance War Quests (PvP)
      • Cyrodiil Quests (PvE)
      • Imperial City Quests (DLC)
      • Dark Brotherhood Quests (DLC)
      • Fighters Guild Quests
      • Mages Guild Quests
      • Thieves Guild Quests
      • Undaunted Quests
      • Aldmeri Dominion Side Quests
      • Daggerfall Covenant Side Quests
      • Ebonheart Pact Side Quests
      • Coldharbour Side Quests
      • Craglorn Quests
      • Wrothgar Quests
      • World Encounters
      • Crafting Quests
      • Holiday Events
      • Miscellaneous
    • Vvardenfell Main Story Quests
      • Broken Bonds (Tutorial)
      • Divine Conundrum
      • Divine Inquiries
      • Divine Delusions
      • Divine Intervention
      • Divine Disaster
      • Divine Restoration
      • Divine Blessings
    • Morag Tong Side Story Quests
      • Fleeing the Past
      • Of Faith and Family
      • A Purposeful Writ
      • Family Reunion
    • Telvanni Side Story Quests
      • A Hireling of House Telvanni
      • Rising to Retainer
      • Objections and Obstacles
      • The Magister Makes a Move
      • The Heart of a Telvanni
    • Vvardenfell Quests
      • A Melodic Mistake
      • Hatching a Plan
      • Haunted Grounds
      • Reclaiming Vos
      • At Any Cost
      • Ancestral Ties
      • If the Spell Fits
      • Bound by Love
      • The Memory Stone
      • Ancestral Adversity
      • Like Blood from a Stone
      • Nothing to Sneeze At
      • The Scarlet Judge
      • Breaking Through the Fog
      • An Armiger’s Duty
      • A Web of Troubles
    • Vector Quests
      • About Vector Quests
      • Ashlander Relations
      • A Friend in Need
      • A Late Delivery
      • For Glory!
      • To Tel Fyr
      • Crafting Consumables Certification
      • Crafting Equipment Certification
      • A Call for Aid
    • Daily Quests
      • Ald’ruhn Daily Relic-Preservation Quests
      • Ald’ruhn Daily Beast Hunt
      • Consumables Crafting Writs
      • Equipment Crafting Writs
      • Vivec City Group Boss Daily Quests
      • Vivec City Delve Daily Quests
    • Vivec City Museum Quests
      • The Ancestral Tombs
      • The Lost Library
    • Guild Quests
      • Fighters Guild: Anchors from the Harbour
      • Mages Guild: Long Lost Lore
      • Dark Brotherhood: Voices in the Dark
      • Thieves Guild: Partners In Crime
    • Delve Quests
      • A Smuggler’s Last Stand
      • A Hidden Harvest
      • A Dangerous Breed
    • Public Dungeon Quests
      • Echoes of a Fallen House
      • Forgotten Wastes Group Event
      • The Heart’s Desire
      • Nchuleftingth Group Event
    • Trial Quests
      • Forging the Future
      • Unique Monsters
      • Boss Fight 1: Hunter-Killer Fabricants
      • Boss Fight 2: Pinnacle Factotum
      • Boss Fight 3: Archcustodian
      • Boss Fight 4: Refabrication Committee Reactor, Reclaimer, and Reducer
      • Boss Fight 5: Assembly General
  • Interactive Maps
    • West Gash
    • Grazelands
    • Bitter Coast
    • Ashlands
    • Azura Coast (North)
    • Molag Amur
    • Ascadian Isles
    • Azura Coast (South)
  • The Atlas of Morrowind
    • Overview
    • Bitter Coast
      • Region Overview
      • Bitter Coast Collectibles Map
      • Bitter Coast Quest Map
      • Bitter Coast Fishing Map
      • Arenim Manor
      • Mallapi Cave
      • Aleft
      • Addadshashanammu
      • Ashalmimilkala
      • Hlormaren Stronghold
      • Ashurnibibi
      • Ahemmusa Camp
      • Shulk Ore Mine
      • Rethan Manor
      • Fishing Hovel
      • Zainsipilu
      • Firemoth Island
      • Sarys Ancestral Tomb
      • Andrano Ancestral Tomb
      • Seyda Neen Wayshrine
      • Seyda Neen
    • West Gash
      • Region Overview
      • West Gash Quest Map
      • West Gash Fishing Map
      • Yasammidan
      • Arkngthunch-Sturdumz
      • Ald Velothi Harbor House
      • Ashalmawia
      • Urshilaku Camp
      • Urshilaku Camp Wayshrine
      • Mysterious Ruin (Bethamez)
      • Maelkashishi
      • Drivam’s House (Gnisis)
      • Gnisis
      • Gnisis Wayshrine
      • Berandas
      • Salothan’s Council
      • Dushariran
      • Veloth Ancestral Tomb
      • Ashimanu Cave
      • West Gash Wayshrine
      • Randas Ancestral Tomb
      • Ularra
      • Khartag Point
      • Red Exile Camp
      • Hleran Ancestral Tomb
      • Ald’ruhn Wayshrine
      • Ald’ruhn
      • Mallapi Cave Back Tunnels
      • Ramimilk
      • Red Exile Tent
      • Kudanat Mine
      • Redoran Garrison
      • Nilthog’s Hollow
      • Assarnatamat
      • Boundary Bridge
      • Balmora
      • Balmora Wayshrine
    • Ascadian Isles
      • Region Overview
      • Ascadian Isles Collectibles Map
      • Ascadian Isles Quest Map
      • Ascadian Isles Fishing Map
      • Vassir-Didanat Mine
      • Foyada Quarry (INACCESSIBLE) (Arkngthand)
      • Fishing Lodge
      • Amaya Lake Manor
      • Mistress Dren’s Residence
      • Amaya Lake Docks
      • Ruined Ancestral Tomb
      • Quarry Bridge and Dam
      • Bal Ur
      • Suran Wayshrine
      • Suran
      • Inanius Egg Mine
      • Master Kharekh’s Residence
      • Ald Sotha
      • Vivec City Wayshrine
      • Vivec City
    • Ashlands
      • Region Overview
      • Ashlands Collectibles Map
      • Ashlands Fishing Map
      • Ashurnabitashpi
      • Ald Carac
      • Llando Ancestral Tomb
      • Falasmaryon
      • Valenvaryon
      • Ebernanit
      • Forgotten Wastes
      • Indaren Ancestral Tomb
      • Zergonipal
      • Valley of the Wind Wayshrine
      • Cavern of the Incarnate
    • Grazelands
      • Region Overview
      • Grazelands Collectibles Map
      • Grazelands Quest Map
      • Grazelands Fishing Map
      • Kushtashpi
      • Northern Farmstead
      • Poacher’s Treehouse
      • Vos
      • Tel Mora Wayshrine
      • Nchuleft
      • Scavenger’s Ruin
      • Pyroclastic Flow (Zainab Camp)
      • Dubdil Alar Tower
      • Zainab Camp
      • Sethan Ancestral Tomb
      • Aralen Ancestral Tomb
      • Pulk
      • An Unfortunate Experiment
      • Rubble-Filled Door
      • The Shoreline Farmstead
      • Falensarano Ruins
    • Molag Amur
      • Region Overview
      • Molag Amur Collectibles Map
      • Molag Amur Quest Map
      • Molag Amur Fishing Map
      • Library of Andule
      • Gimothran Ancestral Tomb
      • Zalkin-Sul
      • Mzanchend
      • Dulo Ancestral Tomb
      • Galom Daeus
      • Missir-Dadalit Egg Mine
      • Nchuleftingth Wayshrine
      • Nchuleftingth
      • Tusenend
      • Camp and Pyroclastic Flow
      • Sulipund Grange
      • Foyada Quarry
      • Ashunartes
      • Marandus
      • Vandus Ancestral Tomb
      • Erabenimsun Camp
      • Mountain Pass Tent (Mount Kand)
      • Alas Ancestral Tomb (Mount Kand)
      • Mountain Pass Ravine (Mount Kand)
      • Lower Mountain Arches (Mount Kand)
      • Inanius Egg Mine Back Entrance
      • Telasero
      • Red Exile Campsite
      • Dreudurai Glass Mine
      • Helan Ancestral Tomb
      • Molag Mar
      • Molag Mar Wayshrine
    • Azura’s Coast
      • Region Overview
      • Azura’s Coast (North) Map
      • Azura’s Coast (South) Map
      • Black Snail Smugglers’ Isle
      • Tel Mora
      • Esutanamus
      • Pinsun
      • Hanud Tower
      • Vassamsi Grotto and Mine
      • Hlervi Ancestral Tomb
      • Yansirramus
      • Tel Aruhn
      • Sadrith Mora
      • Sadrith Mora Wayshrine
      • Sadrith Mora Dock and Slave Field
      • Anudnabia
      • Halls of Fabrication (Tel Fyr)
      • Dreloth Ancestral Tomb
      • Kaushtarari
      • Tel Galen
      • Andalen Ancestral Tomb
      • Matus-Akin Egg Mine
      • Holamayan Monastery
      • Shashpilamat
      • Nchardumz (North)
      • Nchardumz (Southeast)
      • Almurbalarammi
      • Barilzar’s Tower
      • Red Exile Rock Camp
      • Grave Marker
      • Shrine of Azura
      • Mzahnch
      • Lady Laurent’s Camp
      • Bal Fell
      • Red Exile Toadstool Camp
      • Zaintiraris
      • Hlaalu Ancestral Tomb
      • Mawia
      • Abebaal Egg Mine (Abandoned)
      • Marvani Ancestral Tomb
      • Shipwreck Cove
      • Tel Branora Wayshrine
      • Tel Branora
      • Beran Ancestral Tomb
  • Bestiary
    • Overview
    • New Base Mob Enemies
    • Daedric Shrine Special Enemies
    • Vvardenfell Quest Enemies
    • Delve Quest Bosses
    • Public Dungeon Quest Enemies
    • Ald’ruhn Daily Beast Hunt Enemies
    • Delve Bosses
    • Forgotten Wastes Public Dungeon Champions
    • Nchuleftingth Public Dungeon Champions
    • Public Dungeon Group Event Enemies
    • Group Bosses
  • Appendices
    • Collections
    • Crafting Motifs
    • Crafting Sets
    • Equipment Sets
    • Furnishing Plans
      • Overiew
      • Furnishing Blueprints
      • Furnishing Designs
      • Furnishing Diagrams
      • Furnishing Formulas
      • Furnishing Patterns
      • Furnishing Praxes
    • Quest Rewards
    • Rare Fish
    • Survey Reports
    • Treasure Maps
    • Ancestral Tombs
    • Daedric Ruins
    • Housing
    • Merchants and Crafting Stations
    • Sermons
    • Shrines of the Seven Graces
    • Skyshards
  • Achievements
    • Overview of In-Game Achievements
    • Main Story Quests
    • Vvardenfell Quests
    • Ald’ruhn Daily Quests
    • Explore Vvardenfell
    • Public Dungeons
    • Ancestral Tombs Hunter
    • Tribunal Preacher
    • Morrowind Master Angler
    • Morrowind Skyshard Hunter
    • Morrowind Crafting Styles
    • The Pilgrim’s Path
    • Daedric Explorer
    • Strider Caravaner
    • Cliff Striders’ Bane
    • Group Bosses
    • Halls of Fabrication
    • Savior of Morrowind
    • Battlegrounds
    • Achievement Furnishings
    • Battlegrounds Achievement Furnishings
    • Console Achievements and Trophies
    • Xbox One Challenges
  • Concept Art
    • Locations
    • Vivec Statues
    • Dwarven Colossus
    • Armors and Weapons
    • Enemies

The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind Guide › Training › Archetypes › Magicka DPS

The Flameblade

Class: Dragonknight

Race: Dark Elf

Attribute Focus: Magicka

Weapon Types: Dual Swords, Destruction Staff

Armor Focus: Light

Mundus Stone: The Atronach

Bar 1: Dual Wield (Swords)

Key Abilities
Ability Description
Burning Embers: Morphed from Searing Strike (Dragonknight > Ardent Flame). Used mostly for its healing effect, but the Flame Damage over time certainly helps DPS. Use it as soon as you’re in range, and reapply as needed.
Engulfing Flames: Morphed from Fiery Breath (Dragonknight > Ardent Flame). A multi-target flame attack that applies damage over time while rendering affected targets more vulnerable to Flame Damage.
Molten Whip: Morphed from Lava Whip (Dragonknight > Ardent Flame). This is your primary single-target damage ability, and slotting it boosts the damage of all Ardent Flame abilities.
Flames of Oblivion: Morphed from Inferno (Dragonknight > Ardent Flame). Slotting this ability grants Major Prophecy and Major Savagery, which is the main reason it’s on the Bar. Activate it as needed to maximize your DPS.
Standard of Might: Morphed from Dragonknight Standard (Dragon Knight > Ardent Flame). This Ultimate Ability deals Flame Damage while reducing the damage you take. A great option for difficult encounters.

This is your primary damage Bar. Use it when you’re able to charge into the thick of the action. Get in close and apply those damage-over-time effects, then use Molten Whip to burn your enemies to the ground. You can boost your potential damage by slotting another Flame Damage-over-time effect. Otherwise, use the empty slot for additional utility or a more reliable heal.

Bar 2: Destruction Staff (Flame Staff)

Key Abilities
Ability Description
Elemental Drain: Morphed from Weakness to Elements (Destruction Staff). A free cast that inflicts your target with Major Breach and Minor Magickasteal. It’s a great way to kick off any fight, and it’s a big help with resource management during prolonged encounters.
Force Pulse: Morphed from Force Shock (Destruction Staff). This is your primary ranged attack.
Degeneration: Morphed from Entropy (Mages Guild). A ranged damage-over-time skill with some nice healing effects. Slotting it also grants Major Sorcery, boosting your Spell Damage.
Eruption: Morphed from Ash Cloud (Dragonknight > Earthen Heart). This long-range flame attack includes a Snare effect.
Shooting Star: Morphed from Meteor (Mages Guild). This long-range Ultimate Ability combines heavy area-of-effect Flame Damage with a bit of crowd control. It also generates Ultimate based on the number of enemies hit. A great way to deal with swarming enemies.

This is your ranged Bar. Use it to apply Elemental Drain to a target, then swap to your swords and charge into the fray. Swap back when you need to reapply Elemental Drain or put some distance between yourself and your enemies, or when you find yourself low on Magicka. Place an ability of your choice in the remaining Bar slot.

Priority Passives

Make sure you invest in Twin Blade and Blunt (Dual Wield) to increase your damage done while two swords are equipped. It’s the only reason this build favors swords for damage. The remaining Dual Wield Passives won’t be as useful. Dual Wield Expert gives a small boost to your melee attacks, but avoid anything that only affects Dual Wield abilities. Other than that, invest in each of your core Passives as they become available.

Champion Point Suggestions

Thief: Invest heavily in Arcanist (Lover) for improved Magicka Recovery. Tenacity (Lover) can also be very helpful.

Mage: Invest heavily in Elemental Expert (Apprentice) and Thaumaturge (Ritual) for great damage gains.

Warrior: The combination of Elemental Defender (Lady) and Hardy (Lady) is always a good option, but you can spend these points wherever you like.

Equipment Recommendations

Weapons
Priority Trait: Sharpened
Priority Enchantment: Spell Damage
Stick with swords for dual-wielding—at least once you unlock the TwinBlade and Blunt Passive Ability. Sharpened is your best trait for overall damage, but don’t shy away from any good sword with a useful trait.
For your main hand, look for something with a Spell Damage enchantment. You’ll want to go for something different on your off-hand weapon, but there are plenty of useful options out there.
Armor
Priority Trait: Divines
Priority Enchantment: Maximum Magicka
Even on the front lines, you’ll want to equip at least five pieces of light armor to take advantage of the skill line’s Passives. If you’ve invested in the Undaunted Mettle Passive Ability, remember to equip medium/heavy armor pieces in the remaining slots.
Equipment that grants suitable set bonuses is always your best option. Look for light armor that offers Maximum Magicka enchantments as you work toward obtaining high-level gear. Divines tends to be the Damage-Dealer’s best option, so make it your priority armor trait.
Jewelry
Priority Trait: Arcane
Priority Enchantment: Spell Damage
Until you manage to track down useful set pieces, use anything that increases Maximum Magicka and Spell Damage.

Archetype Advice

When it comes to race selection, the Dark Elf’s boost to Flame Damage is the main consideration, but the XP gain in the Dual Wield skill line also makes it easier to obtain the Twin Blade and Blunt Passive Ability.

The use of swords raises your damage potential, but it doesn’t help with sustainability. Swap to your Flame Staff and fire off a few heavy attacks when you need to recover some Magicka.

Don’t forget to use the occasional light attack while dual-wielding. It won’t do much damage with this build, but it’s essential for Ultimate generation.

The Atronach Mundus Stone is selected to help with Magicka Recovery during basic adventuring. If sustainability isn’t an issue for you, switch it out for a boon that improves your damage or survivability.

Your damage Bar should be enough to tear through common enemies, but get used to swapping weapons during difficult battles. Practice your attack rotation to maximize damage, sustainability, and survivability.

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