PVE TOP RANKING DPS BUILD - Herald / Assassination / Ardent Flame - Arcanist - ESO

Build Premise

The build functions by increasing all sources of direct-damage by as much as possible. Beam, Null Arca, Nerien'eth and Flames of Oblivion are all Direct-damage and are significantly buffed via Maelstrom + Shocking Banner + Ancient Knowledge. 

The build uses 4 piece Highland for more flat crit and to allow for Nerien'eth. 

Relentless Focus, Banner and Molten Whip are all used as passive skills buffing weapon damage. 

This build is close in single target damage to the more standard Beam Build using 5-piece Null Arca and 5-Piece Tideborn / Deadly. This build is better in trials with adds, such as vSS, vRG, vDSR etc due to Flames of Oblivion and Nerien'eth granting additional AoE.  

Rotation

1. Pre-buff with Flames of Oblivion + Inspired Scholarship
2. [Backbar] Cast Stampede 
3. [Frontbar] Followed by Venomous Claw 
4. [Backbar] Cast Standard for initial burst
5. [Frontbar] Cast flail until you have 3 Crux (I recommend getting crux counter addon) 
6. [Frontbar] Cast beam for it's full duration 
7. [Frontbar] Cast flail - you should only need 1 flail to have 3 Crux again after first beam because of Class Mastery on Banner 
8. [Frontbar] Beam again
9. [Backbar] Flames of Oblivion, followed by Stampede → Re-apply Venomous Claw when it runs out
10. Rinse and repeat → Re-cast Flames  of Oblivion, Venomous Claw and inspired Scholarship when these run out

Variants

Maelstrom Inferno-staff should replace Merciless Charge on backbar for trash fights. Slot Wall of elements instead of Stampede and swap Venomous Claw for Caltrops. 

Ansull / Sul-Xan are better options than Null Arca for trashfights.