Maximum Rank: Destruction Staff Rank 50
Maximum Investment: 22 Skill Points
Of the two Magicka-based weapon skill lines, Destruction Staff is easily the better option for Damage-Dealers. With options for direct damage, area-of-effect damage, and damage over time, plus a bit of utility, this skill line has plenty to offer.
Most Destruction Staff abilities change based on your currently equipped staff. Inferno Staves, Ice Staves, and Lightning Staves can have wildly different effects—especially once you’ve invested in the available Passive Abilities. When you’re trying to figure out whether a Destruction Staff ability deserves a slot on your Action Bar, make sure you review all of the available effects.
The Destruction Staff skill line features Magicka abilities. If damage is your priority, invest in Maximum Magicka, Magicka Recovery, Spell Damage, and Spell Critical.
Ultimate Ability
Elemental Storm
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Elemental Storm is a very powerful long-range AoE/DOT attack. It’s best used against stationary targets, but it has a fair radius and an impressive damage-tick. Your currently equipped staff determines the type of damage featured in the attack, as well as the bonus effect granted by the Elemental Rage morph. |
Available Morphs
| Icon | Name | New Effect |
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Elemental Rage |
Increases the damage and gains a new effect depending on your staff type. |
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Eye of the Storm |
The storm is cast above you instead, and follows you wherever you move. |
Active Abilities
Force Shock
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Dealing Flame Damage, Frost Damage, and Shock Damage with each attack, Force Shock is an excellent option for your primary damage ability. It works well in virtually any spell rotation, and the available morphs make it a popular ability with DPS casters. |
Available Morphs
| Icon | Name | New Effect |
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Crushing Shock |
Interrupts spells, putting the caster off-balance. |
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Force Pulse |
Deals increased damage, and damages nearby enemies that are burning, chilled, or concussed. |
Wall of Elements
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Wall of Elements is an AoE/DOT attack that features different effects based on your currently equipped staff. It only affects a narrow area in front of you, and it has a fairly short duration, but it can deal a lot of damage to enemies that favor close combat. |
Available Morphs
| Icon | Name | New Effect |
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Unstable Wall of Elements |
The wall explodes with it expires, dealing additional damage. |
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Elemental Blockade |
Increases the size and duration of the wall. |
Destructive Touch
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Destructive Touch mixes direct-damage, damage-over-time, and crowd-control effects. Depending on your currently equipped staff, you can inflict Knocked Back, Immobilized, or Stunned. If you’re looking for a versatile single-target crowd-control ability, Destructive Touch is worth considering. |
Available Morphs
| Icon | Name | New Effect |
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Destructive Clench |
Each element gains additional effects. |
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Destructive Reach |
Increases the range. |
Weakness to Elements
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Weakness to Elements is a straightforward debuff ability that afflicts your target with Major Breach, reducing their Spell Resistance by 5280. It’s also an instant, long-range ability with no casting cost. If you can spare the Action Bar slot, there’s no reason to avoid using this ability. |
Available Morphs
| Icon | Name | New Effect |
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Elemental Susceptibility |
Any damage you deal to the enemy refreshes the effect to its maximum duration. |
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Elemental Drain |
Also applies Minor Magickasteal to the enemy. |
Impulse
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Impulse is widely considered the Destruction Staff skill line’s best area-of-effect attack. It has a fairly small radius, but it’s an instant cast that offers a nice burst of area damage for relatively little Magicka. |
Available Morphs
| Icon | Name | New Effect |
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Elemental Ring |
Deals damage at a target location instead of around you. |
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Pulsar |
Applies Minor Mangle to enemies, reducing their Maximum Health. |
Passive Abilities
The Destruction Staff skill line features five Passive Abilities, each of which has two ranks.
While none of the available Passives are tied to specific abilities, two Destruction Staff abilities are greatly affected by the type of staff you’re using. The value offered by Tri Focus and Ancient Knowledge may change based on the equipment available to you, but it’s recommended that Destruction Staff users invest in all of this skill line’s Passive Abilities.
Destruction Staff Passive Abilities
| Name | Effect |
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| Tri Focus | Grants a bonus effect based on your staff type. |
| Penetrating Magic | Your Destruction Staff abilities ignore a percentage of the enemy’s Spell Resistance. |
| Elemental Force | Increases your chance to apply the Burning, Concussion, and Chilled effects while you have a Destruction Staff equipped. |
| Ancient Knowledge | Gain bonus effects based on your staff type while you have a Destruction Staff ability slotted. |
| Destruction Expert | You restore Magicka when you kill an enemy with a Destruction Staff ability. |