Overview
This High Elf Sorcerer No Pet DPS build utilizes the Oakensoul Ring to maximize solo performance in normal and DLC dungeons, delivering high burst and sustained damage with Zerith-var or another companion tank. Designed for efficiency and survivability, it excels in one-bar gameplay with a focus on Magicka-based shock damage.
Gear Setup
Head: Slimecraw (Heavy, Divines, Magicka glyph) – Boosts critical chance for higher damage output. Heavy to take advantage of Undaunted Mettle, use Light if you do not have that passive.
Chest: Deadly Strike (Medium, Divines, Magicka) – Provides weapon/spell damage and critical chance bonuses in addition to heavy-attack boosts.
- For a Crafted Set, lean into crits with Order's Wrath
Hands, Waist, Legs, Feet, Shoulders: Beacon of Oblivion (Light, Divines, Magicka) – Enhances damage and healing with no pet reliance. Light Armor is selected for penetration and DPS support, as well as extra Spell Resistance. If you aren't doing content that needs the penetration (overland, normal base game dungeons, public dungeons), Medium Armor would give a bit of a DPS boost. If you don't have this and/or want to swap out either for your base build or for specific fights:
- Alternate set Noble Duelist's Silks will provide more DPS-focused stats and a decent heavy attack boost
- Alternate set Sergeant's Mail will provide more defense as Heavy Armor, and a decent heavy attack boost only once you have maximum stacks (great for parsing and long boss fights after the initial setup phase, less good for trash clears, etc.)
- For a Crafted Set, double-down on crits with Tide-Born Wildstalker and still get a +12% boost to the final tick of the heavy attack, and direct damage from your Nightblade skills
Neck, Ring 1: Deadly Strike (Bloodthirsty, Spell Damage) – Adds weapon/spell damage and penetration for boss fights.
Weapon: Deadly Strike Lightning Staff (Precise, Shock Glyph) – Increases critical chance and applies status effects for AoE damage.
- [Destruction Staff] passives Penetrating Magic and Elemental Force support your DPS
- Specifically, Lightning Staff boosts from Tri Focus and Ancient Knowledge are optimal for a Heavy Attack build. +12% to Channeled and Direct attacks boosts most your damage.
Mythic: Oakensoul Ring – Cornerstone of a Heavy Attack build. Grants Empower and major/minor buffs for offense, defense and sustainability.
Attributes
64 Magicka, 0 Health, 0 Stamina – Maximizes Magicka for spell damage and sustain, relying on gear and skills for survivability.
Mundus Stone
[The Thief] – Boosts critical chance to amplify direct damage skills.
Champion Points
If you do not have enough Champion Points for everything, start first with the slottable items shown. Aside from those, the priorities are:
Warfare Tree:
Focus CP investment on [War Mage], [Mighty], [Precision], and [Piercing] first to maximize DPS, then add [Elemental Aegis] and [Hardy] for survivability. Allocate [Flawless Ritual] and [Battle Mastery] for status effect utility as you progress. Save [Eldritch Insight], [Tireless Discipline], [Blessed], [Quick Recovery], and [Preparation] for later, as they offer diminishing returns.
Fitness Tree:
Prioritize CP in [Hero's Vigor], [Tumbling], [Tempered Soul], and [Mystic Tenacity] to enhance health, dodge utility, resurrection, and status resistance, aligning with your solo needs. Invest in [Sprinter], [Tireless Guardian], and [Defiance] for mobility and rare defensive actions. Skip [Fortification], [Savage Defense], [Nimble Protector], [Hasty], [Piercing Gaze], and [Bashing Brutality] until you just have spare points to spend.
Craft Tree:
This tree is whatever you feel like, as always. [Breakfall] is just a good idea, and [Liquid Efficiency] is never bad, but the best food is very inexpensive.
Skills
Unstable Wall of Elements (Destruction Staff) – Core DoT for sustained DPS.
Relentless Focus (Rank 4) (Assassination) – Boosts weapon/spell damage and provides a strong heal when needed.
Banner Bearer Shocking Banner (Assault) – Adds direct damage buff to heavy attack's final tick, Relentless Focus, Reaper's Mark, and your companion's direct attacks. Class script adds shock damage, or heals if you have a pet out. Resolve script adds Minor Resolve for extra defense.
Reaper's Mark (Assassination) – Applies Major Breach for that extra penetration, and heals you to full when you drop a marked target.
Boundless Storm (Storm Calling) – Provides mobility and shock damage. Swap for Summon Twilight Matriarch to switch this up to a more healing/defensive build. Revealing Flare from the Support tree can also give a significant 10% damage reduction while maintaining your DPS focus.
Summon Charged Atronach (Storm Calling) – High-burst ultimate for boss damage and AoE control.
Rotation
Maintain Banner Bearer for damage buffs.
Cast Boundless Storm
Apply Reaper's Mark on biggest target for Major Breach, and/or quicker to drop targets to maintain full heal.
Cast Unstable Wall of Elements on area.
Heavy attacks to build Relentless Focus stacks.
Consume Relentless Focus for heal when health drops.
Deploy Summon Charged Atronach on cooldown for burst.
Consumables
Food: [Mistral Bunny-Banana Hash] – Boosts Health and Magicka for sustain and survivability.
Potion: [Triune Essence of Health] – Provides Health and healing buffs for tough fights.
Race
High Elf Racial Skills give that little bit of extra edge for DPS:
Highborn Increases your experience gain with the Destruction Staff skill line by 15%. Increases your experience gained by 1%.
Spell Recharge When you activate an ability, you restore 625 Magicka or Stamina, based on whichever is lowest. This effect can occur once every 6 seconds. When you are using an ability with a channel or cast time, you take 5% less damage.
Syrabane's Boon Increases your Max Magicka by 2000.
Elemental Talent Increases your Weapon and Spell Damage by 258.
Buffs and Passives
Rely on Oakensoul Ring for major buffs (Sorcery, Brutality, etc.).
Use light armor passives for penetration and cost reduction.
Why These Choices?
Beacon of Oblivion and Deadly Strike maximize Magicka DPS with no pet dependency.
Slimecraw enhances critical chance for burst damage.
Oakensoul Ring simplifies one-bar play with constant buffs.
[The Thief] Mundus boosts critical hits for direct damage skills.
Relentless Focus and Reaper's Mark provide damage and healing, and activate [Assassination] passives.
Banner Bearer’s Shock Script (+6% Direct Damage) targets your heavy attack and focus damage.