Arcanist Damage Dealer
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.
Update 52 (PTS) version
This page is the Update 52 version of this damage dealer build. 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.
Overview
The Stamina Arcanist is built around 
Pragmatic Fatecarver: a channelled beam that reaches 22 metres, deals full damage to everything in its line, and shields you while you hold it. 
Cephaliarch's Flail builds Crux for it, heals you and makes enemies take 5% more damage from you.
Unbound Potential makes you deal 30% more damage while Fated Fortune is up, which it nearly always is, and 
Fate Realigned refills your Crux and adds Weapon and Spell Damage when you spend it. Both masteries reward the same loop: Flail, Flail, Flail, beam.
It parses about 154k on the 21 million Health dummy and does just as well on trash, because the beam cleaves. The loop is simple and the beam's shield forgives mistakes, which makes it the easiest high-damage build to start with.
Strengths
- Full-strength damage on a whole pack with the same bars.
- Easy loop, and a shield while you beam.
Fulminating Rune gives three allies a damage synergy.
Weaknesses
- You stand still while you beam, so mechanics that make you move cost damage.
- The beam has to stay on the boss: turning away ends it.
- Slivers of the Null Arca comes from a veteran trial.
Buffs and debuffs you bring on bosses
Class Mastery
Pure-class characters with all three class lines at rank 50 can slot two Class Mastery passives (added in Update 50).
30% more damage while Fated Fortune is up, which it nearly always is while you build and spend Crux.
Spending Crux can refill it to full once every 15 seconds, with 300 Weapon and Spell Damage for 25 seconds.
What changes in Update 52
Update 52 is on the PTS (patch 12.2.0, from 26 October 2026) and goes live on 19 January 2027. This version follows the first PTS week, so numbers can still move. Skill and set tooltips on this page still show the live Update 51 text.
Class. No Arcanist changes in Update 52.
Traits. Nirnhoned weapons rise to 20% more weapon damage (from 15%) and Precise to 7.4% Critical Chance (from 7.2%), while Charged drops to 225% (from 235%). Nirnhoned main hands get a little stronger against Charged ones; the gear table stays as written until PTS numbers settle.
DPS Simulation
The Boss setup played by the DPS Simulator on the 21 million Health Trial dummy, with its group buffs and debuffs, Light Attack weaving and a full Ultimate bar to start. It's #3 of 16 for single target on the tier list, #2 overall.
- Simulated DPS
- 167,061
- Fight
- 125.7 s
- Front bar
- 7,521 damage · 55% crit · 125% crit damage
Where the damage comes from
- Pragmatic Fatecarver38.1%
- Cephaliarch's Flail9.8%
- LALight Attack8.1%
Stampede6.9%- Fulminating Rune4.6%
Inspired Scholarship4.4%
The Languid Eye4.2%- GLFlame glyph4.0%
- …Everything else20.1%
Damage type
- Frost1.3%
- Flame5.3%
- Magic54.6%
- Poison3.8%
- Physical35.1%
76.9% direct, 23.1% over time.
Group buffs it leans on most
Major Vulnerability−16.1k
Major Courage−12.5k
Major Slayer−12.1k
Minor Savagery−10.9k
Roar of Alkosh−10.9k
Minor Vulnerability−10.9k
DPS lost if the group didn't bring it.
A simulation, not a parse: it uses UESP tooltip numbers, plays a clean rotation and assumes you sustain it. Light Attack, status effect and pet damage are estimates. Open this run in the DPS Simulator to change gear, buffs or the rotation and see the full breakdown.
Skill Setups
Every damage dealer build has a Boss setup for single targets and a Trash setup that swaps a slot or two for packs. The gear stays the same for both.
Single target: every slot either hits the boss harder or buffs you. Keep your damage over time effects and buffs up, then spam your spammable in between.
What this setup brings
Front bar
Dual Wield
12
3
4
5
RBack bar
Two Handed · Greatsword
123
45R| Slot | Skill |
|---|---|
| Front 1 | Cephaliarch's Flail Herald of the Tome Cast time: 0.3 secondsCost: 2,984 Stamina Area hit that builds Crux, heals you, and makes enemies take 5% more damage from you. |
| Front 2 | Pragmatic Fatecarver Herald of the Tome Channel time: 4.5 secondsCost: 630 Magicka / 1s Your main damage: spend Crux on a 22-metre beam that hits everything in its line at full strength and shields you while you channel. |
| Front 3 | Camouflaged Hunter Fighters Guild Cast time: InstantDuration: 5 secondsCost: 5,130 Stamina Slotted for Major Savagery, Minor Berserk when you crit from the flank, and the Fighters Guild's Slayer passive. |
| Front 4 | Quick Cloak Dual Wield Cast time: InstantDuration: 30 secondsCost: 3,780 Stamina Major Evasion, a burst of speed, and 30 seconds of damage that procs your weapon glyphs while you can't Light Attack. |
| Front 5 | Banner Bearer Scribed as Shocking Banner Cast time: InstantCost: 459 Magicka and 459 Stamina every two seconds Toggle banner: 6% more direct damage, Weapon and Spell Damage from your Movement Speed, and Minor Heroism. It only stays up while it's on both bars. |
| Front R | Flawless Dawnbreaker Fighters Guild Cast time: 0.4 secondsDuration: 6 secondsCost: 125 Ultimate Slotted for the Slayer and Banish the Wicked passives. Cast it near the end of a fight if another Languid Eye won't be ready. |
| Back 1 | Stampede Two Handed Cast time: InstantRange: 22 metresDuration: 15 secondsCost: 4,590 Stamina Gap closer that leaves a burning patch under the boss. It procs your weapon glyph over and over, and with |
| Back 2 | Fulminating Rune Herald of the Tome Cast time: InstantRange: 22 metresDuration: 20 secondsCost: 3,510 Stamina A damage over time effect that also gives three allies a strong area damage synergy. |
| Back 3 | Inspired Scholarship Herald of the Tome Cast time: InstantDuration: 30 secondsCost: 4,455 Magicka Lots of damage, Major Brutality while slotted, and at least one Crux when your beam ends. |
| Back 4 | Ulfsild's Contingency Scribed as Fiery Contingency Cast time: InstantDuration: 22 secondsCost: 2,808 Magicka Scribed: area burn and Minor Force. It goes off with your next skill, or bash to set it off early. |
| Back 5 | Banner Bearer Scribed as Shocking Banner Cast time: InstantCost: 459 Magicka and 459 Stamina every two seconds Toggle banner: 6% more direct damage, Weapon and Spell Damage from your Movement Speed, and Minor Heroism. It only stays up while it's on both bars. |
| Back R | The Languid Eye Herald of the Tome Cast time: InstantRange: 15 metresDuration: 6 secondsCost: 175 Ultimate Area damage for 6 seconds that you can steer by pressing it again. It doesn't use a global cooldown. |
Scribing
Scribed skill
Fiery Contingency
Ulfsild's Contingency · Flame Damage / Lingering Torment / Force
- Cast time
- Instant
- Target
- Self
- Duration
- 22 seconds
- Cost
- 2,808 Magicka
Flame DamageFocus script: Deals 4,155 Flame Damage to enemies.
Lingering TormentSignature script: Deals 6,545 Magic Damage over 22 seconds to enemies.
ForceAffix script: Grants Minor Force for 22 seconds, increasing Critical Damage by 10%.
Area fire damage with a 22-second burn, and Minor Force for you. It waits for your next skill to go off, or a bash sets it off early.
Scribed skill
Shocking Banner
Banner Bearer · Shock Damage / Cavalier's Charge / Heroism
- Cast time
- Instant
- Radius
- 8 metres
- Cost
- 459 Magicka and 459 Stamina every two seconds
Shock DamageFocus script: Increases damage done with direct damage by 6%.
Cavalier's ChargeSignature script: Increase your Weapon and Spell Damage by 6 for every 1% bonus Movement Speed, up to a max of 450.
HeroismAffix script: Grants Minor Heroism, generating 1 Ultimate every 1.5 seconds.
6% more direct damage, 6 Weapon and Spell Damage for every 1% of Movement Speed you have (at least 60 from Celerity, much more right after a cloak), and Minor Heroism for faster Ultimates. Swap the affix to Berserk or Courage if you drink Heroism potions.
Open the Boss setup in the Build Editor to change skills, gear and stats.
Simulate it on the Trial dummy to see its DPS, where the damage comes from and what each buff is worth.
On trash, 
Proximity Detonation takes Ulfsild's Contingency's slot; the beam already hits the whole pack. With a destruction staff on the back bar instead, 
Elemental Blockade takes Stampede's slot and 
Elemental Rage the back-bar Ultimate.
What this setup brings
Front bar
Dual Wield
12345RBack bar
Two Handed · Greatsword
12345R| Slot | Skill |
|---|---|
| Front 1 | Cephaliarch's Flail Herald of the Tome Cast time: 0.3 secondsCost: 2,984 Stamina Area hit that builds Crux, heals you, and makes enemies take 5% more damage from you. |
| Front 2 | Pragmatic Fatecarver Herald of the Tome Channel time: 4.5 secondsCost: 630 Magicka / 1s Your main damage: spend Crux on a 22-metre beam that hits everything in its line at full strength and shields you while you channel. |
| Front 3 | Camouflaged Hunter Fighters Guild Cast time: InstantDuration: 5 secondsCost: 5,130 Stamina Slotted for Major Savagery, Minor Berserk when you crit from the flank, and the Fighters Guild's Slayer passive. |
| Front 4 | Quick Cloak Dual Wield Cast time: InstantDuration: 30 secondsCost: 3,780 Stamina Major Evasion, a burst of speed, and 30 seconds of damage that procs your weapon glyphs while you can't Light Attack. |
| Front 5 | Banner Bearer Scribed as Shocking Banner Cast time: InstantCost: 459 Magicka and 459 Stamina every two seconds Toggle banner: 6% more direct damage, Weapon and Spell Damage from your Movement Speed, and Minor Heroism. It only stays up while it's on both bars. |
| Front R | Flawless Dawnbreaker Fighters Guild Cast time: 0.4 secondsDuration: 6 secondsCost: 125 Ultimate Slotted for the Slayer and Banish the Wicked passives. Cast it near the end of a fight if another Languid Eye won't be ready. |
| Back 1 | Stampede Two Handed Cast time: InstantRange: 22 metresDuration: 15 secondsCost: 4,590 Stamina Gap closer that leaves a burning patch under the boss. It procs your weapon glyph over and over, and with |
| Back 2 | Fulminating Rune Herald of the Tome Cast time: InstantRange: 22 metresDuration: 20 secondsCost: 3,510 Stamina A damage over time effect that also gives three allies a strong area damage synergy. |
| Back 3 | Inspired Scholarship Herald of the Tome Cast time: InstantDuration: 30 secondsCost: 4,455 Magicka Lots of damage, Major Brutality while slotted, and at least one Crux when your beam ends. |
| Back 4 | Proximity Detonation Assault Cast time: 1 secondRange: 28 metresDuration: 4 secondsCost: 3,510 Magicka Cast it as you run in: it bursts for more the more enemies are near. |
| Back 5 | Banner Bearer Scribed as Shocking Banner Cast time: InstantCost: 459 Magicka and 459 Stamina every two seconds Toggle banner: 6% more direct damage, Weapon and Spell Damage from your Movement Speed, and Minor Heroism. It only stays up while it's on both bars. |
| Back R | The Languid Eye Herald of the Tome Cast time: InstantRange: 15 metresDuration: 6 secondsCost: 175 Ultimate Area damage for 6 seconds that you can steer by pressing it again. It doesn't use a global cooldown. |
Scribing
Scribed skill
Shocking Banner
Banner Bearer · Shock Damage / Cavalier's Charge / Heroism
- Cast time
- Instant
- Radius
- 8 metres
- Cost
- 459 Magicka and 459 Stamina every two seconds
Shock DamageFocus script: Increases damage done with direct damage by 6%.
Cavalier's ChargeSignature script: Increase your Weapon and Spell Damage by 6 for every 1% bonus Movement Speed, up to a max of 450.
HeroismAffix script: Grants Minor Heroism, generating 1 Ultimate every 1.5 seconds.
6% more direct damage, 6 Weapon and Spell Damage for every 1% of Movement Speed you have (at least 60 from Celerity, much more right after a cloak), and Minor Heroism for faster Ultimates. Swap the affix to Berserk or Courage if you drink Heroism potions.
Open the Trash setup in the Build Editor to change skills, gear and stats.
Simulate it on the Trial dummy to see its DPS, where the damage comes from and what each buff is worth.
Flex skills
Swap these in when the fight or your group calls for it.
Minor Force in single-target fights, in place of Ulfsild's Contingency.
The other Inspired Scholarship morph, if you run out of Stamina. About 2% less damage.
Self-heal for fights with constant damage. Takes Camouflaged Hunter's slot.
The best Ultimate for trash, with a destruction staff on the back bar.
Passives
The passives that shape this build. They come with the skill lines, so there's nothing to slot.
Offensive Penetration for each Herald of the Tome skill slotted: five here, counting The Languid Eye.
Your status effects deal 15% more damage and apply 55% more often.
Weapon and Spell Damage whenever you restore Magicka or Stamina.
Ultimate from kills, with Camouflaged Hunter or Dawnbreaker slotted.
Two daggers on the front bar: Critical Chance from each.
The back-bar greatsword adds Weapon and Spell Damage.
3% more Weapon and Spell Damage with a Fighters Guild skill slotted.
12% more Critical Damage from 6 Medium pieces.
Offensive Penetration from 1 Light piece.
Gear
The standard setup, about 147k on the simulator. 
Spattering Disjunction, the Arcanist class set from the Infinite Archive, puts two random status effects on the target and gives you Crux when your Arcanist skills hit. 
Slivers of the Null Arca on the jewellery and daggers adds Critical Chance and builds crystals from your crits, and 
Nerien'eth conjures exploding crystals with your direct damage. 
Merciless Charge on the back-bar greatsword turns Stampede into a damage buff.
Buffs and debuffs with this gear
Gold entries come from your gear; the rest come from your skills and passives.
Slots
| Slot | Set | Trait |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Nerien'eth Medium (monster) | Divines |
| Shoulders | Nerien'eth Light (monster) | Divines |
| Chest | Spattering Disjunction Medium | Divines |
| Hands | Spattering Disjunction Medium | Divines |
| Waist | Spattering Disjunction Medium | Divines |
| Legs | Spattering Disjunction Medium | Divines |
| Feet | Spattering Disjunction Medium | Divines |
| Neck | Slivers of the Null Arca Jewellery | Bloodthirsty |
| Ring 1 | Slivers of the Null Arca Jewellery | Bloodthirsty |
| Ring 2 | Slivers of the Null Arca Jewellery | Bloodthirsty |
| Front: main hand | Slivers of the Null Arca Dagger | Charged |
| Front: off hand | Slivers of the Null Arca Dagger | Charged |
| Back bar | Merciless Charge Greatsword (two-handed) | Infused |
Sturdy and Divines are interchangeable on armour. Tri-Stat glyphs on jewellery are a fine swap if you need more resources.
What the sets do
2 pieces · Crypt of Hearts II (veteran) + Undaunted chest
- (1 item)Adds 129 Weapon Damage and Spell Damage.
- (2 items)When you deal direct damage, you have a 15% chance to conjure a Lich crystal that explodes after 2 seconds, dealing 1360 Magic damage to all enemies within 4 meters. Once every 3 seconds.
5 pieces · Infinite Archive (Arcanist class set)
- (2 items)Adds 657 Critical Chance.
- (3 items)Adds 129 Weapon Damage and Spell Damage.
- (4 items)Adds 129 Weapon Damage and Spell Damage.
- (5 items)Dealing damage with an Arcanist ability applies two random status effects to your target and generates a Crux. This effect can occur once every 7 seconds. Dealing damage with a Herald of the Tome ability reduces this cooldown by 0.5 seconds, up to once every 1 second. Increases your damage done with status effects by 40%.
5 front / 3 back · Lucent Citadel
Full bonus on the front bar only.
- (2 items)Adds 657 Critical Chance.
- (3 items)Gain Minor Slayer, increasing damage done to monsters by 5%.
- (4 items)Adds 657 Critical Chance.
- (5 items)Dealing Critical Damage gives you a stack of Sliver for 10 seconds, up to once every 0.5 seconds. Upon gaining your third stack, they merge into a crystal that launches at the last enemy you damaged, dealing 1952 Physical damage. This effect scales off the higher of your Weapon Damage and Spell Damage, and you cannot gain Sliver for 4 seconds after the crystal is launched.
2 pieces · back bar · Maelstrom Arena (veteran)
- (2 items)Activating Critical Charge stirs up a barbarous lust for battle within you for 18 seconds, increasing your damage done with direct damage attacks by 1%, up to a maximum of 12%. This effect scales off the higher of your Weapon Damage and Spell Damage.
Alternative sets
Trial fallback for either set, from Sanity's Edge.
Trial fallback, from Rockgrove. Strong on trash.
Crafted fallback: Critical Chance while you stand still, which you do while beaming.
Dungeon fallback, from Unhallowed Grave.
Fallback for Slivers on the jewellery and daggers.
Champion Points
Slottable stars only. Spend passive points in each tree along the path to these stars.
- Biting Aura
More damage with area attacks. The beam and Flail are both area attacks, even on a single boss.
- Master-at-Arms
More direct damage.
- Wrathful Strikes
Weapon and Spell Damage on every damaging skill.
- Fighting Finesse
Critical Damage until your group's buffs take you to the 125% cap.
- Boundless Vitality
Max Health, so one-shot mechanics don't kill you.
- Fortified
Armor, for the hits you can't block.
- Celerity
10% Movement Speed, which
Banner Bearer's Cavalier's Charge turns into Weapon and Spell Damage. - Rejuvenation
Recovery for all three resources.
- Steed's Blessing
Run between pulls faster.
- Gifted Rider
Faster mount.
Good swaps
More damage over time, for builds whose damage is mostly DoTs.
Weapon and Spell Damage, in place of Fighting Finesse once you sit at the 125% Critical Damage cap.
Critical Damage when you hit from the flank. Strong when the tank turns the boss away.
More damage against Off Balance targets, if your group keeps Off Balance up.
Heals you when you kill an enemy. Good on trash with a fragile build.
Race
Max Magicka and Stamina, and more damage with flame. Damage simulations put it first.
- 4-player
KhajiitCritical Damage and Healing. Better in dungeons, where you rarely hit the Critical Damage cap.
Mundus
More Critical Chance. Divines on the armour makes it bigger.
- Penetration
The LoverPenetration, if your group doesn't bring Crusher, Alkosh or Tremorscale.
Attributes
Every skill you cast scales from Max Stamina and Weapon and Spell Damage. Food and Boundless Vitality give you enough Health for normal content; move points into Health only if you keep dying to mechanics while you learn a fight.
Food
Max Stamina with Stamina and Magicka Recovery, so the beam never runs dry.
- more Health
Braised Rabbit with Spring VegetablesMax Health and Max Stamina with Stamina Recovery, for content that hits hard.
Potions
Restores Stamina and gives Major Brutality and Major Savagery: Weapon and Spell Damage and Critical Chance. You need its Major Savagery if you drop Camouflaged Hunter.
- Ultimate
Heroism potionMinor Heroism for more Ultimate. Swap Banner Bearer's affix to Berserk or Courage when you drink these.
Gameplay
- 1Pre-cast Quick Cloak, Inspired Scholarship and Ulfsild's Contingency before the pull.
- 2Keep these up, most important first: The Languid Eye when it's ready, Ulfsild's Contingency, Stampede, Fulminating Rune, Quick Cloak, Inspired Scholarship.
- 3Otherwise cast Cephaliarch's Flail until you have three Crux, then beam with Pragmatic Fatecarver.
- 4Near the end of a fight, cast Flawless Dawnbreaker if another Languid Eye won't be ready.
FAQ
What's the difference between the Boss and Trash setups?
On trash, Proximity Detonation takes Ulfsild's Contingency's slot; the beam already hits the whole pack. With a destruction staff on the back bar instead, Elemental Blockade takes Stampede's slot and Elemental Rage the back-bar Ultimate. Your gear stays the same.
What gear do I need for the Arcanist damage dealer?
Nerien'eth, Spattering Disjunction, Slivers of the Null Arca, Merciless Charge. The Alternative sets list easier sets to start with.
Why is the beam good on trash too?
Pragmatic Fatecarver hits everything in a 22-metre line at full strength, so a stacked pack takes the same damage as a single boss. That's why the Trash setup only swaps one slot.