Damage Dealer Builds

Pure-class damage dealers for each of the seven classes, drawn from top players' guides, each with a melee build and a ranged Heavy Attack build. Every build has a Boss setup for single targets and a Trash setup for packs, plus a subclassed Beam build any class can run.

Update 52 (PTS)16 builds

Update 52 (PTS) version

This page is the Update 52 version of the damage dealer builds. Update 52 is on the PTS until January 19, 2027, so numbers can still move. Skill and set tooltips still show the live Update 51 text; hover one that changes to see what's new. For what works in game today, switch to Update 51 in the version picker (top right, or in the menu on phones). The full list is in the Update 52 patch notes.

Pure class or subclassed?

A pure-class build uses only its own three class skill lines, so it plays the way the class was designed and is the easiest place to start. Subclassing swaps up to two of those lines for lines from other classes. It turns Class Mastery off, which costs a pure-class build its biggest damage passives, so the subclassed Beam is for a class you haven't mastered yet.

Pure class builds

Range

Resource

Arcanist Damage Dealer

Beginner · Herald of the Tome · Soldier of Apocrypha · Curative Runeforms

MeleeStaminaBeam

The beam. Build Crux, spend it on a 22-metre beam that hits a whole pack at full strength, and stand behind its shield while you do.

Arcanist Damage Dealer: Heavy Attack

Intermediate · Herald of the Tome · Soldier of Apocrypha · Curative Runeforms

RangedMagickaHeavy Attack

One bar and a Lightning Staff. Build Crux, spend it, and let Unbound Potential add 30% to every Heavy Attack in between.

Dragonknight Damage Dealer

Beginner · Ardent Flame · Draconic Power · Earthen Heart

MeleeMagickaBreath

Breathe fire and keep breathing. One channel does most of the damage, it cleaves a whole pack, and you take less damage while you hold it.

Dragonknight Damage Dealer: Heavy Attack

Beginner · Ardent Flame · Draconic Power · Earthen Heart

RangedMagickaHeavy Attack

One bar and a Lightning Staff, all from range. Molten Armaments adds fire to every Heavy Attack, and your Standard keeps the group safe.

Necromancer Damage Dealer

Intermediate · Grave Lord · Bone Tyrant · Living Death

MeleeStaminaCorpses

The corpse exploder. Your skills leave corpses, your next skills blow them up, and every explosion makes you stronger.

Necromancer Damage Dealer: Heavy Attack

Beginner · Grave Lord · Bone Tyrant · Living Death

RangedMagickaHeavy Attack

One bar, all from range. Heavy Attacks between a Boneyard, a skeleton and an archer, and the group's Major Breach and Minor Vulnerability for free.

Nightblade Damage Dealer

Advanced · Assassination · Shadow · Siphoning

MeleeMagickaStealth

The single-target assassin. Huge spammable hits out of stealth, a pet that never stops cutting, and the best execute in the game.

Nightblade Damage Dealer: Heavy Attack

Beginner · Assassination · Shadow · Siphoning

RangedMagickaHeavy Attack

One bar, one Lightning Staff, all from range. Heavy Attacks do most of the work, so it's the easiest Nightblade to play well and still sits at about 126k.

Nightblade Damage Dealer: Double Inferno

Intermediate · Assassination · Shadow · Siphoning

RangedMagickaInferno Staff

Two Inferno Staves and Swallow Soul, all from range. Damage over time on the boss, a shade that shoots from where you leave it, and no Light Attack weaving.

Sorcerer Damage Dealer

Advanced · Dark Magic · Daedric Summoning · Storm Calling

MeleeMagickaPet

Storm and summoning. Instant Crystal Fragments procs, a curse that explodes twice, and Font of Power turning every Sorcerer cast into damage.

Sorcerer Damage Dealer: Heavy Attack

Beginner · Dark Magic · Daedric Summoning · Storm Calling

RangedMagickaHeavy Attack

One bar, two pets and a Lightning Staff. Heavy Attacks from range, a curse for your pets to chase, and about 114k on the dummy.

Templar Damage Dealer

Intermediate · Aedric Spear · Dawn's Wrath · Restoring Light

MeleeMagickaJabs

Spears and sunlight. A strong execute, group Weapon and Spell Damage from Bright Harbinger, and Purify for anyone who needs a cleanse.

Templar Damage Dealer: Heavy Attack

Beginner · Aedric Spear · Dawn's Wrath · Restoring Light

RangedMagickaHeavy Attack

One bar, all from range. Heavy Attacks between three long-range Templar skills, with group Weapon and Spell Damage from Bright Harbinger.

Warden Damage Dealer

Advanced · Animal Companions · Green Balance · Winter's Embrace

MeleeStaminaCompanions

The highest single-target parse. A bear that never leaves, frost status effects on every tick, and your own Major Breach.

Warden Damage Dealer: Heavy Attack

Beginner · Animal Companions · Green Balance · Winter's Embrace

RangedMagickaHeavy Attack

One bar, all from range. Every Heavy Attack heals you through Lotus Blossom, and a cliff racer from range keeps the boss Off Balance.

Subclassed build

Subclassed Beam Damage Dealer

Beginner · Subclassed

MeleeStaminaBeam

Any class can beam. Herald of the Tome and Dawn's Wrath on every variant, with a third line that suits your class.

Comparison

Build	Difficulty	Signature buffs
Arcanist	Beginner	Major Brutality Major Savagery Minor Force
ArcanistHeavy Attack	Intermediate	Off Balance Major Brutality Major Savagery
Dragonknight	Beginner	Major Brutality Minor Brutality Major Savagery
DragonknightHeavy Attack	Beginner	Major Brutality Empower Minor Heroism
Necromancer	Intermediate	Major Breach Minor Breach Minor Vulnerability
NecromancerHeavy Attack	Beginner	Major Breach Minor Vulnerability Major Vulnerability
Nightblade	Advanced	Minor Savagery Major Brutality Major Savagery
NightbladeHeavy Attack	Beginner	Minor Savagery Off Balance Major Brutality
NightbladeDouble Inferno	Intermediate	Minor Savagery Major Breach Minor Maim
Sorcerer	Advanced	Major Brutality Major Savagery Major Resolve
SorcererHeavy Attack	Beginner	Exploitation Calculated Defense Off Balance
Templar	Intermediate	Bright Harbinger Illuminate Major Savagery
TemplarHeavy Attack	Beginner	Illuminate Bright Harbinger Off Balance
Warden	Advanced	Major Breach Minor Breach Major Brutality
WardenHeavy Attack	Beginner	Off Balance Minor Vulnerability Major Brutality
Subclass	Beginner	Minor Savagery Major Brutality Major Savagery