The Best Dragonknight Builds in ESO

Dragonknights have always been a great class in Elder Scrolls Online, and are known for being the best tanks out there. Their damage has been nerfed over time, but with Update 32, it looks like they’ll be making a much-needed comeback. All Dragonknight playstyles are easier now, so brush off your old Dragonknight toons (or create some new ones!). You’ll be a force to be reckoned with, especially when using one of the best Dragonknight builds in ESO listed below!

In this guide, we’ll cover the best builds for PvE content, hitting on each of the major roles (magicka DPS, stamina DPS, tanking, and healing). We’ll follow this up with the best solo builds for magicka and stamina Dragonknights, and end with the best builds for PvP. Since all item sets give hybrid stats, more build paths are open now — the Dragonknight builds we include will offer great stat bonuses and set you up to complete the hardest content with ease. Now that things are getting shaken up, watch for fun new ways to apply other sets into these builds as you play.

Let’s get started!

The Best Dragonknight Builds in ESO: The Top Picks

We’ll begin our list of ESO’s best builds for the Dragonknight with the king of DOTs — the Magicka Dragonknight.

1. PvE MagDK DPS Build

 PvE MagDK DPS Build
Image: Zenimax Online Studios via HGG

Race: High Elf (Khajiit or Dark Elf) | Mundus: Thief | Food: Solitude Salmon Millet Soup or equivalent (5395 health, 4936 magicka) | Attributes: 64 Magicka

This build is our top pick for the best Dragonknight DPS build. Magicka Dragonknights pack a punch with their heavy fire AOEs and respectable single-target damage. They’ve seen less play due to the various nerfs on DOT abilities, but you may see them start to dominate the scoreboards now.

MagDKs benefit most from magicka-intensive races, such as High Elf, Dark Elf, and even Khajiit. We’ve chosen High Elf for the high magicka pool and spell damage, but you’ll get very close damage if you choose to go with Dark Elf or Khajiit instead.

Skills

 PvE MagDK DPS Build - skill bars
(Main Bar) Relequen Flame Staff or Daggers(Back Bar) Crushing Wall Flame Staff
Molten WhipUnstable Wall of Elements
Burning EmbersEruption
Engulfing FlamesScalding Rune
Flames of OblivionBurning Talons
Barbed TrapMystic Orb
Shooting Star (Ult)Standard of Might (Ult)

Magicka Dragonknights really double down on the dragon theme, with almost all of their skills being flame damage. Most of their skills deal additional damage over time on top of their immediate damage. This pairs perfectly with the Champion Point Thaumaturge, which increases damage from DOTs by 10%.

The Combustion passive grants Dragonknights a 50% increase in damage to their burning and poison status effects, and either 500 magicka or stamina when they use a flame or poison ability. The World in Ruin passive also gives them a 6% damage boost to flame AOE abilities.

Build

SlotGearTrait
HeadSlimecraw (light) or ZaanDivines
ShoulderBahsei’s Mania or ZaanDivines
ChestBahsei’s ManiaDivines
LegsHarpooner’s Wading Kilt or Bahsei’s Mania with ZaanDivines
FeetBahsei’s ManiaDivines
HandsBahsei’s ManiaDivines
BeltBahsei’s ManiaDivines
JewelryArms of RelequenBloodthirsty
Weapon 1Arms of Relequen Staff or
Arms of Relequen Daggers
Precise (w/ flame damage enchantment)
Nirnhoned/Precise (w/ flame and poison
damage enchantment
Weapon 2(Perfected) Crushing WallInfused (w/ weapon damage enchantment)

Easy starting set alternative: 5 Law of Julianos (craftable), 5 Mother’s Sorrow (from Deshaan), 2 Monster Set / Willpower Set

(Perfected) Bahsei’s Mania (from Rockgrove) is the strongest magicka set out there if you can keep up its great bonus. You can deal massive damage with a damage increase of up to 15% against non-player enemies, depending on how much magicka you’re missing. You’ll want to keep your magicka pool low while still high enough to cast skills at full blast. Eruption costs 5670 magicka, so this is a good skill to use if you want to get your magicka down quickly.

Our second set is (Perfected) Arms of Relequen (from Cloudrest). It may be odd to use a stereotypically stamina-only set on a magicka class, but the current update allows us to do just that. While (Perfected) Mantle of Siroria (from Cloudrest) only works when you’re stationary, Relequen allows you to move around. Since it stacks off the higher of your spell or weapon damage, it’ll help you deal a lot more single-target damage when you need to.

Combining the Harpooner’s Wading Kilt (from scrying) and Slimecraw (from Wayrest Sewers 1) gives you the highest damage output. Dealing direct damage ten times gives you 10 stacks, which in turn gives you 1250 critical chance and a 10% boost to critical damage. Keep in mind that the Lilt requires you to avoid taking direct damage — doing so will take off 5 stacks. You’ll want to position yourself safely, but you can always use Zaan (from Scalecaller Peak) if you can’t get the Kilt to stack. It puts out some great single-target fire damage.

Champion Points (Essentials in Order)

Warfare: 20 Eldritch Insight, 20 Precision, 50 Master-At-Arms (slot), 50 Thaumaturge (slot), 20 Preparation, 50 Fighting Finesse (slot) , 20 Elemental Aegis, 20 Hardy, 20 Flawless Ritual, 30 War Mage, 50 Backstabber (slot (Deadly Aim instead if you can’t stand behind the boss)), 20 Blessed, 20 Tireless Discipline

Fitness: 20 Hero’s Vigor, 50 Boundless Vitality (slot), 50 Rejuvenation (slot (this can make Bahsei’s difficult, but you’ll want the health and stamina recovery), 50 Fortified (slot), 30 Tumbling, 20 Defiance, 30 Fortification, 20 Tireless Guardian, 50 Siphong Spells (slot)

Craft: 50 Steed’s Blessing (slot), 75 Liquid Efficiency (slot), 30 Rationer (slot), 50 Treasure Hunter (slot), 50 Steadfast Enchantment

2. PvE StamDK DPS Build

PvE StamDK DPS Build
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Race: Dark Elf (or Khajiit) | Mundus: Thief | Food: Garlic Cod with Potato Crust or equivalent (5395 health, 4936 stamina) | Attributes: 64 Stamina

Another one of the best DPS Dragonkight builds, stamina Dragonknights put out great DPS to solo targets with many heavy-hitting DOTs. They also use a range of damaging AOE abilities, helping clear trash fights quickly.

It’s fitting that Dragonknights be resistant to fire, so we suggest using Dark Elves for their 4620 flame resistance and 50% reduced damage taken from lava. They also have some pretty well-rounded stats with 1910 stamina/magicka and 258 weapon/spell damage. Khajiits nearly match Dark Elves for DPS, so they can be a great option as well.

Skills

PvE StamDK DPS Build skill bars
(Main Bar) Relequen Greatsword(Back Bar) Spectral Cloak Daggers
Wrecking BlowResolving Vigor
Venomous ClawRending Slashes
CarveNoxious Breath
ExecutionerDeadly Cloak
Flames of OblivionBarbed Trap
Flawless Danwbreaker (Ult)Standard of Might (Ult)

StamDKs take down enemies by stacking DOTs and dealing consistent AOE poison and fire damage. Venomous Claw will be one of your heaviest-hitting abilities. The attack itself deals poison damage immediately, then applies a poison DOT that increases its damage by 20% every two seconds. As it lasts ten seconds, you’ll want to recast it only after it completes its final ticks of DOT damage — don’t reset it too early, or you’ll miss out on the biggest damage numbers!

I keep Flames of Oblivion on my main bar to benefit most from Major Savagery and Prophecy, which give 2629 weapon and spell critical bonus. StamDKs have a large array of DOTs to keep track of, so getting a hang of knowing when the timers will fall off  is important. Using add-ons can help you as you perfect your rotation.

Build

SlotGearTrait
HeadSlimecrawDivines
ShoulderDeadly StrikeDivines
ChestDeadly Strike Divines
LegsHarpooner’s Wading KiltDivines
FeetDeadly Strike Divines
HandsDeadly Strike Divines
BeltDeadly Strike Divines
Jewelry Arms of Relequen Bloodthirsty
Weapon 1 Arms of Relequen’s GreatswordNirnhoned (w/ damage health poisons)
Weapon 2Spectral Cloak DaggersNirnhoned/Precise (w/ flame and poison
damage enchantment)

Easy starting set alternative: 5 Hunding’s Rage (craftable), 5 Leviathan (from Crypt of Hearts), 2 Monster Set / Agility Set

StamDKs don’t have access to a lot of single-target focused skills, so (Perfected) Arms of Relequen (from Cloudrest) helps a lot against bosses. Light and heavy attacks stack up damaging winds on an enemy, and stack up to 10. The damage is based on your weapon damage (as it’s the higher stat), so you’ll be dealing high amounts of damage over time once it gets rolling.

Deadly Strike (from PvP Bruma Vendor) is a classic set for Dragonknights, as it increases DOT abilities by 18%. Extended fights really show off the shine of this set. Kinras’s Wrath (from Black Drake Villa), and Advancing Yokeda (from Hel Ra Citadel) are great alternatives for more raw damage or extra crit chance, respectively.

The Harpooner’s Wading Kilt and Slimecraw seem to be the dominating combination. If you can get the stacks, the 1250 crit chance and 10% increased crit damage can’t be beat. Our back bar set is the Blackrose Prison Daggers, which provide Spectral Cloak after our Deadly Cloak has damaged an enemy. This effect reduces damage taken by 6% while increasing damage done by 6%, helping boost our overall DPS by a large margin.

Champion Points (Essentials in Order)

Warfare: 20 Tireless Discipline, 20 Precision, 50 Master-at-Arms (slot), 50 Backstabber (slot (Deadly Aim instead if you can’t stand behind an opponent)), 20 Preparation, 50 Thaumaturge (slot), 20 Hardy, 20 Elemental Aegis, 20 Battle Mastery, 30 Mighty, 50 Fighting Finesse (slot), 20 Blessed

Fitness: 20 Hero’s Vigor, 50 Boundless Vitality (slot), 50 Rejuvenation (slot), 50 Fortified (slot), 30 Tumbling, 20 Defiance, 30 Fortification, 20 Tireless Guardian

Craft: 50 Steed’s Blessing (slot), 75 Liquid Efficiency (slot), 30 Rationer (slot), 50 Treasure Hunter (slot), 50 Steadfast Enchantment

3. PvE StamDK Tank Build

PvE StamDK Tank Build
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Race: Imperial (or Nord) | Mundus: Lord or Lady | Food: Longfin Pasty with Melon Sauce or equivalent (4462 health, 4105 stamina / magicka) and Bewitched Sugar Skulls is a more expensive option for better survivability with more recovery (4620 health, 4250 magicka/stamina, and 462 health recovery) | Attributes: 40 Health, 24 Stamina

This is our top pick for the best Dragonknight tank build. Stamina Dragonknights are often considered the best tanks in ESO, and for good reason. Dragonknights provide great buffs for their team while maintaining nearly unkillable stats. This makes them great contenders for any veteran dungeon or trial group. Some argue that necromancers have taken the throne, but a group without a Dragonknight tank just feels less effective.

Imperials are the best race for StamDK tanks right now for their 2000 health, stamina, and 6% cost reduction on all skills. You can still tank well with other races — Nords, for example, boast a 2600 resistance buff.

Skills

PvE StamDK Tank Build skill bars
(Main Bar) Powerful Assault Sword/Shield(Back Bar) Powerful Assault Ice Staff
Pierce ArmorElemental Blockade
Heroic SlashResolving Vigor
Stone GiantChoking Talons
Igneous ShieldGreen Dragon Blood
Silver Leash / Unrelenting GripHardened Armor
Magma Shell (Ult)Aggressive Warhorn (Ult)

We’ll be focusing on the important Dragonknight tanking skills here, so check out our guide to tanking basics if you want more general tips.

Although you can use Unrelenting Grip as a chain, it costs magicka and I generally prefer to use Silver Leash for the fighter’s guild passives. Slayer gives you a nice 3% increase to weapon and spell damage, and Banish the Wicked gives you 3 ultimate whenever you kill an enemy. StamDKs have access to Stone Giant, a critical skill that increases your group’s damage. Once activated, you can throw up to three casts that deal damage and apply Stagger to the target, increasing their damage taken by 65 per stack. It may sound minimal, but 195 extra damage to each attack snowballs into some massive damage during a fight.

Igneous Shield, Hardened Armor, and Green Dragon Blood will keep you shielded up and healthy. Resolving Vigor is a redundant heal, but still heals a lot and is mainly used to get the Powerful Assault set to proc for increased group weapon/spell damage. Magma Shell makes you close to unkillable, as you only take up to 3% of your maximum health as damage from attacks for ten seconds. It also gives nearby allies a damage shield equal to their max health for the duration. You’ll want to use Aggressive Warhorn for most fights, but Magma Shell can be a life-saver in sticky situations.

Build

SlotGearTrait
HeadEncratis’s Reinforced
ShoulderEncratis’s Reinforced
ChestClaw of YolnahkriinReinforced
LegsClaw of YolnahkriinSturdy
FeetClaw of YolnahkriinSturdy
HandsClaw of YolnahkriinSturdy
BeltClaw of YolnahkriinSturdy
JewelryPowerful AssaultHealthy
Weapon 1 Powerful AssaultDecisive (w/ weakening enchantment), and Sturdy Shield
Weapon 2 Powerful AssaultInfused (w/ crusher enchantment)

Easy starting set alternative: 5 Ebon Armory (from Crypt of Hearts), 5 Plague Doctor (from Deshaan), 2 Monster Set / Endurance Set

The StamDK tank is generally very hardy, so we’ll focus on boosting group damage and healing through our sets. The (Perfected) Claw of Yolnahkriin (from Sunspire) is a great staple set that’s essential when running trials. It gives you and up to eleven group members Minor Courage after you taunt an enemy. The 215 increased weapon and spell damage boosts your team’s overall damage by quite a bit, and your healers will heal for more as well. The Minor Aegis you get that reduces Dungeon, Trial, and Arena damage to you by 5% is great as well.

In this same vein, our second set is Powerful Assault (from Imperial City coffers). It gives 307 weapon and spell damage boost to you and up to five other party members when you cast an assault skill. Aggressive Warhorn and Resolving Vigor both do this as well, so the uptime should be easy to manage. Consider switching to Aegis of Galanwe (from Cloudrest) for Trials, as it gives you and up to eleven others Empower when you successfully block. Empower increases the damage of light attacks by 40%, which gives better group damage than Powerful Assault. 

Monster helms on tanks depend on whether your group is more magicka- or stamina-based. Encratis’s Behemoth (from Black Drake Villa) increases a magicka group’s flame damage by 5% while also giving the group 5% flame resistance. As a Dragonknight, this is a very easy set to proc with all of your flame-based skill options. Tremorscale (from Volenfell) is better suited for stamina groups. This set reduces an enemy’s physical resistance by 2395 whenever you taunt them. Have both sets on hand so you can easily switch when your group tells you what they need. You can no longer tell just by looking at the number of staves or dual wields — many magicka classes are now running dual daggers, after all!

Champion Points (Essentials in Order)

Warfare: 20 Tireless Discipline, 20 Preparation, 50 Ironclad (slot), 50 Duelist’s Rebuff (slot), 50 Unassailable (slot), 50 Enduring Resolve (slot), 20 Eldritch Insight, 20 Hardy, 20 Elemental Aegis, 20 Blessed

Fitness: 20 Hero’s Vigor, 50 Boundless Vitality (slot), 50 Fortified (slot), 50 Rejuvenation (slot), 20 Tireless Guardian, 30 Fortification, 30 Tumbling, 20 Defiance, 50 Strategic Reserve (slot)

Craft: 50 Steed’s Blessing (slot), 75 Liquid Efficiency (slot), 30 Rationer (slot), 50 Treasure Hunter (slot), 50 Steadfast Enchantment

4. PvE MagDK Healer Build

PvE MagDK Healer Build
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Race: Breton (High Elf, Khajiit, or Argonian) | Mundus: Thief | Food: Solitude Salmon Millet Soup or equivalent (5395 health, 4936 magicka) | Attributes: 64 Magicka

Magicka Dragonknights can actually perform quite well as healers for teams that lack a Dragonknight. You’ll get some good use out of the Dragonknight passives that help your group deal more damage while you keep them alive.

Bretons will be your best bet for great magicka sustain at the cost of dealing less damage. High Elves, Khajiit, and Argonians are great alternatives that will buff your healing as well.

Skills

PvE MagDK Healer Build skill bars
(Main Bar) Grand Rejuvenation Restoration Staff(Back Bar) Scorion’s Feast Lightning Staff
Illustrious HealingElemental Blockade
Radiating RegenerationEnergy Orb
Combat PrayerElemental Drain
Fragmented ShieldObsidian Shard / Igneous Weapons
CauterizeCinder Storm
Reviving Barrier (Ult)Aggressive Warhorn (Ult)

DK healers focus on giving their group many different forms of heals and buffs over time. You’ll want to make sure your Fragmented Shield has 100% uptime for its shield and the Major Mending it provides. This 16% increased bonus to your healing is very beneficial to any healer. Cauterize is a great heal because it heals you or your allies every five seconds for fifteen seconds. This skill also gives you Major Prophecy while slotted, increasing your spell critical by 2629. With these skills combined, your group should be overhealed more often than not, giving you great uptimes on your Spell Power Cure set.

Obsidian Shard will get you some nice damage and group heals, but it’s not essential. Trade it out for Igneous Weapons if your group is running potions other than Major Brutality or Sorcery. Finally, your last Dragonknight skill is Cinder Storm, providing your team with a heal over time and also reducing enemy movement speed by 70%. This will allow your team to better manage add-pulls.

Build

SlotGearTrait
HeadSymphony of BladesDivines
ShoulderSymphony of Blades Divines
ChestSpell Power CureDivines
LegsSpell Power CureDivines
FeetSpell Power CureDivines
HandsSpell Power CureDivines
BeltSpell Power CureDivines
JewelryScorion’s FeastArcane
Weapon 1Grand RejuvenationPowered
Weapon 2Scorion’s FeastInfused (w/ weakening enchantment)

Easy starting set alternative: 5 Law of Julianos (craftable), 5 Sanctuary (Banished Cells), 2 Monster Set / Willpower Set

MagDK healers provide many overlapping heals that will keep your teammates at or near full health throughout fights. Spell Power Cure (from White Gold Tower) works perfectly with this, as it requires you to overheal a teammate to give them Major Courage. Major Courage grants you and your group 430 spell and weapon damage, helping to buff their damage as well as the potency of your heals.

Our second set is Scorion’s Feast (from The Dread Cellar), as it gives you and your group two great bonuses depending on what you need. When you heavy attack an enemy, you give you and up to three other group members Imbued Aura, which offers 307 stamina and magicka recovery for ten seconds. If you heavy attack again while you have Imbued Aura, it swaps to Overflow Aura, which gives 307 weapon and spell damage for ten seconds. These effects can only occur every twenty seconds, so it’s best to do your heavy attacks right before the ten-second timer is up. This way you’ll benefit from the majority of each bonus while also not missing out on that Overflow Aura.

Monster sets depend on content, but Symphony of Blades (from Depths of Malatar) will generally be your best bet. Earthgore (from Bloodroot Forge) will be for when your group is sustaining heavy damage and you want to avoid a party member’s death. Symphony of Blades activates when you heal an ally when their primary resource is below 50%. It gives them 570 stamina or magicka every second for six seconds, depending upon what their primary resource is. You may want to take off SoB if a group member is running Bahsei’s Mania so they can keep their magicka pool down. Earthgore causes an AOE heal whenever a party member drops below 50% and is healed by you, which is probably best for no-death runs.

Champion Points (Essentials in Order)

Warfare: 20 Eldritch Insight, 20 Blessed, 50 Soothing Tide (slot), 50 Swift Renewal (slot), 20 Precision, 50 Enlivening Overflow (slot), 20 Elemental Aegis, 20 Hardy, 20 Blessed, 50 Fighting Finesse (slot), 20 Tireless Discipline

Fitness: 20 Hero’s Vigor, 50 Boundless Vitality (slot), 50 Rejuvenation (slot), 50 Fortified (slot), 30 Tumbling, 20 Defiance, 30 Fortification, 20 Tireless Guardian

Craft: 50 Steed’s Blessing (slot), 75 Liquid Efficiency (slot), 30 Rationer (slot), 50 Treasure Hunter (slot), 50 Steadfast Enchantment

5. PvE MagDK Solo Build

PvE MagDK Solo Build
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Race: Khajiit (Dark Elf or High Elf) | Mundus: Thief  | Food: Solitude Salmon Millet Soup or equivalent (5395 health, 4936 magicka), and Bewitched Sugar Skulls is a more expensive option for better survivability with more recovery (4620 health, 4250 magicka/stamina, and 462 health recovery) | Attributes: 64 Magicka

Looking for the best solo PvE Dragonknight build in ESO? MagDKs do very well in solo content due to their mix of heavy-hitting and powerful defensive skills. Mixing powerful flame AOEs with skills that make Dragonknights the best tanks in ESO, you’ll be able to handle all content by yourself with ease.

We suggest using Khajiit for their high damage output and bonuses/recoveries to each resource pool. They feel well-rounded and allow you to roll-dodge or block some hits you may not have been able to on other races. Dark Elves and High Elves provide similar damage and are just as viable if you prefer to play them.

Skills

PvE MagDK Solo Build skill bars
(Main Bar) Medusa Flame Staff(Back Bar) Crushing Wall Flame Staff
Molten WhipUnstable Wall of Elements
Burning EmbersElemental Drain
Engulfing FlamesEruption
Flames of OblivionCoagulating Blood
Dampen MagickaVolatile Armor
Ferocious Leap (Ult)Magma Shell (Ult)

You’ll pull all aggro when soloing content, so how you choose to protect yourself and deal damage is entirely a matter of preference. Flame staves give you sustain and range, but daggers give you extra damage. MagDKs have great ultimates that keep them alive even when facing high damage from bosses, so do what you have to do to deal with all the aggro coming your way.

Ferocious Leap is a great damaging ability that deals flame damage in a eight-meter AOE and gives a damage shield based off of your max health. This allows you to focus on dealing damage and worry less about healing or shielding throughout fights.

Magma Shell is your “oh no” button that makes you basically unkillable for a short period of time. Keep in mind that you’ll still take at least 3% damage from high-damaging attacks, so it won’t prevent you from dying if you’re at <3% and health. If you’re not running Major Sorcery potions, be sure to put on Igneous Weapons in place of Elemental Drain or Eruption.

Build

SlotGearTrait
HeadSlimecraw (medium)Divines
ShoulderFalse God’s DevotionDivines
ChestMedusa (heavy)Reinforced
LegsFalse God’s Devotion Divines
FeetFalse God’s Devotion Divines
HandsFalse God’s Devotion Divines
BeltFalse God’s Devotion Divines
Jewelry2 Medusa, 1 Ring of the Pale OrderBloodthirsty
Weapon 1MedusaPrecise (w/ flame damage enchantment)
Weapon 2Crushing WallInfused (w/ weapon damage enchantment)

Easy starting set alternative: 5 Law of Julianos (craftable), 5 Mother’s Sorrow (from Deshaan), 2 Monster Set / Willpower Set

False God’s Devotion (from Sunspire) is a great soloing set for magicka classes because it reduces the cost of all of your magicka skills by 8%. When an enemy that you recently damaged dies, you gain 2454 magicka and Major Expedition. With better magicka management and 30% increased movement speed, you can kite enemies more effectively.

The second set is Medusa (from Arx Corinium) for the spell critical and Minor Force it grants. This set boosts your damage with 10% increased critical damage. With the extra spell critical from Medusa, you’ll be getting the benefit of Minor Force a lot.

Instead of a full monster set, we’ll use one piece of Slimecraw (from Wayrest Sewers 1) and Ring of the Pale Order (from scrying). Ring of the Pale Order gives you a massive healing bonus, where you get back 20% of the damage you deal as health. This boosts your survivability by a lot and let you focus on dealing more damage rather than using defensive skills to keep yourself alive. This ring will stop working in groups, and prevents you from being healed by others, so be sure to take it off before you run a daily dungeon.

Champion Points (Essentials in Order)

Warfare: 20 Eldritch Insight, 20 Preparation, 20 Precision, 50 Master-at-Arms (slot), 50 Biting Aura (slot), 20 Elemental Aegis, 20 Hardy, 50 Fighting Finesse (slot), 20 Flawless Ritual, 30 War Mage, 50 Thaumaturge (slot), 20 Blessed, 20 Tireless Discipline

Fitness: 20 Hero’s Vigor, 50 Boundless Vitality (slot), 50 Fortified (slot), 50 Rejuvenation (slot), 30 Tumbling, 20 Defiance, 50 Siphong Spells (slot), 30 Fortification, 20 Tireless Guardian, 30 Fortification

Craft: 50 Steed’s Blessing (slot), 75 Liquid Efficiency (slot), 30 Rationer (slot), 50 Treasure Hunter (slot), 50 Steadfast Enchantment

6. PvE StamDK Solo Build

PvE StamDK Solo Build
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Race: Imperial (Orc or Wood Elf) | Mundus: Thief | Food: Garlic Cod with Potato Crust or equivalent (5395 health, 4936 stamina) and Bewitched Sugar Skulls is a more expensive option for better survivability and more resources (4620 health, 4250 magicka/stamina, and 462 health recovery) | Attributes: 64 Stamina

Stamina Dragonknights get you through any type of content with a combination of damage, tankiness, and great self buffs. Dealing solid single-target and AOE damage and putting heavy DOTs on enemies, StamDks cut through enemies with ease.

We suggest going with Imperial because their passives make it so easy to manage their resource pools. You’d also do great with any other stamina-based race. Orcs, Wood Elves, Redgaurds, and Khajiit also provide great sustain and damage if you prefer to play on one of these instead.

Skills

PvE StamDK Solo Build skill bars
(Main Bar) Tzogvin’s Greatsword(Back Bar) Thunderous Volley Bow
BrawlerEndless Hail
Venomous ClawResolving Vigor
ExecutionerNoxious Breath
Hardened ArmorGreen Dragon Blood
Flames of OblivionMolten Armaments
Flawless Dawnbreaker (Ult)Standard of Might (Ult)

Stamina Dragonknights will want to play around Brawler. This lets you hit large areas of enemies and gain a great shield from each enemy hit, which stacks up to six times. Carve (the other morph of Brawler) deals more damage at the cost of survivability, so Brawler definitely wins out in most situations when playing solo.

Hardened Armor is a great skill that gives you physical and spell resistance as well as a damage shield based off of your max health. Pair this with the heals from Resolving Vigor and Green Dragon Blood, and you’ll find it hard to get overwhelmed by most content. Venomous Claw deals a significant part of your single-target damage, so make sure to let it run until it’s complete. If you recast before the full duration of the skill, you’ll lose out on the heaviest damage ticks.

Build

SlotGearTrait
HeadSlimecraw (heavy)Reinforced
ShoulderTzogvin’s WarbandDivines
ChestArms of RelequenDivines
LegsArms of Relequen Divines
FeetArms of Relequen Divines
HandsArms of Relequen Divines
BeltArms of Relequen Divines
Jewelry2 Tzogvin’s Warband, 1 Ring of the Pale OrderBloodthirsty
Weapon 1Tzogvin’s WarbandPrecise (w/ damage health poisons)
Weapon 2Thunderous VolleyInfused (w/ weapon damage enchantment)

Easy starting set alternative: 5 Hunding’s Rage (craftable), 5 Leviathan (from Crypt of Hearts), 2 Monster Set / Agility Set

This StamDK benefits from having more sources of single-target damage, so a great choice is (Perfected) Arms of Relequen (from Cloudrest). This set will help you take down bosses faster as you put damaging stacks on the enemy each time you light or heavy attack them, maxing at ten. If you would rather have sustain, you can switch to Vicious Serpent (from Hel Ra Citadel) to earn back 2454 stamina each time you kill an enemy. It also gives you Major Expedition when this happens, giving you great mobility during fights.

The second set is Tzogvin’s Warband (from Frostvault), which is the stamina version of Medusa. Tzogvin’s also gives a solid 1487 physical penetration that helps you hit the necessary penetration for soloing. Each time you deal critical damage, you gain a stack of 177 weapon critical. At ten, you gain Minor Force, increasing your critical damage by 10%. This is a great set to run, and replaces the need for having Barbed Trap on your weapon bar.

Slimecraw and Ring of the Pale Order will be our last sets, replacing the need for a full monster set. Slimecraw gives us some great critical chance, while Ring of the Pale Order provides amazing self healing. 20% of all the damage you deal comes back to you as health, so as long as you keep putting out high DPS, you’ll be safe. Remember, it can’t be used in groups as it prevents you from being healed by others! Its lifesteal is also reduced by 4% for each other party member.

Champion Points (Essentials in Order)

Warfare: 20 Tireless Discipline, 20 Preparation, 20 Precision, 50 Deadly Aim (slot), 50 Master-at-Arms (slot), 50 Thaumaturge (slot), 20 Hardy, 20 Elemental Aegis, 20 Blessed, 50 Fighting Finesse (slot), 20 Battle Mastery, 30 Mighty

Fitness: 20 Hero’s Vigor, 50 Boundless Vitality (slot), 50 Fortified (slot), 50 Rejuvenation (slot), 30 Tumbling, 20 Defiance, 50 Bloody Renewal (slot), 30 Fortification, 20 Tireless Guardian

Craft: 50 Steed’s Blessing (slot), 75 Liquid Efficiency (slot), 30 Rationer (slot), 50 Treasure Hunter (slot), 50 Steadfast Enchantment

7. PvP MagDK DPS Build

PvP MagDK DPS Build
Image: Zenimax Online Studios via HGG

Race: Dark Elf (Breton or Khajiit) | Mundus: Lover / Apprentice | Food: Solitude Salmon Millet Soup or equivalent (5395 health, 4936 magicka), and Bewitched Sugar Skulls is a more expensive option for better survivability with additional recovery (4620 health, 4250 magicka/stamina, and 462 health recovery). | Attributes: 64 Magicka

Our pick for the best Dragonknight PvP build in ESO is this PvP MagDK DPS build. As you already know, PvP has changed a lot recently with the addition of Dark Convergence, Hrothgar’s Chill, and Plaguebreak. These item sets are dominating the Meta, and you know how it goes — if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. MagDKs are very strong with the addition of these sets, and you’ll be able to wipe entire groups with them.

For the race, we suggest using Dark Elf for their great versatility with both 1910 magicka / stamina and 258 spell / weapon damage. Khajiits hit equally hard, while Bretons focus more on sustain. Bretons also give you that great 2310 spell resistance that doubles when you are burning, chilled, or concussed.

Skills

PvP MagDK DPS Build skill bars
(Main Bar) Destructive Impact Lightning Staff(Back Bar) Dark Convergence Restoration Staff
Flame LashRapid Regeneration
Engulfing FlamesEruption
FossilizeDragon Fire Scale
Burning TalonsCoagulating Blood
Destructive ClenchVolatile Armor
Ferocious Leap (Ult)Temporal Guard (Ult)

As a MagDK, you can deal huge amounts of AOE burst damage and stack DOTs on top burn down enemies quickly. This build focuses on dealing high AOE damage, trading out some staple single-target skills like Burning Embers. Destructive Clench should be cast every four seconds to keep up the 600 spell damage that Destructive Impact set gives. This also deals great AOE damage when used with a lightning staff, further playing into an AOE-focused build.

Eruption is the ground AOE skill that procs Dark Convergence on the back bar and sets up the rest of your combo. Burning Talons helps you CC groups of enemies and deal high damage, while Fossilize focuses more so on a single target. Once your enemies are in the Dark Convergence proc, following up with your AOE skills and Ferocious Leap will crush groups of enemies.

Build

SlotGearTrait
HeadGaze of SithisImpenetrable
ShoulderSlimecraw / Valkyn SkoriaImpenetrable
ChestBurning SpellweaveReinforced
LegsBurning Spellweave Impenetrable
FeetBurning Spellweave Impenetrable
HandsBurning Spellweave Impenetrable
BeltBurning Spellweave Impenetrable
JewelryDark ConvergenceBloodthirsty (w/ spell damage)
Weapon 1Destructive ImpactSharpened (w/ weapon damage enchantment)
Weapon 2Dark ConvergencePowered (w/ escapist poisons)

Easy starting set alternative: 5 Law of Julianos (craftable), 5 Spinner’s (from Malabal Tor), 2 Monster Set / Willpower Set

Dark Convergence (from PvP rewards of the worthy), allows for some really nasty gameplay. With the combo mentioned above, Eruption will proc this set. It applies a 60% snare to enemies while pulling them to the center, and stuns them for one second after a two-second delay. At four seconds, Dark Convergence will deal AOE damage around the center, dealing double damage to those within three meters of the center. The damage is further increased by 10% for each target inside, causing potentially disgusting amounts of damage to zergs.

Our second set focuses on giving us more damage, with the classic Dragonknight set Burning Spellweave (from City of Ash). After dealing damage with a flame ability, you apply the burning status effect to the enemy and gain 490 spell damage for eight seconds. This only occurs once every twelve seconds, so you have around 66% uptime, but those eight seconds are plenty to burst down enemies with your combo.

On the front bar, using (Perfected) Destructive Impact (from Dragon Star Arena), will boost your spell damage significantly. It gives you 600 spell damage for four seconds when you use destructive clench. The Master’s Lighting Staff is best for this type of set up, as it deals additional AOE damage. The flame and frost staff versions apply CC that we already have covered with other abilities.

Champion Points (Essentials in Order)

Warfare: 20 Eldritch Insight, 20 Precision, 50 Biting Aura (Slot), 50 Master-at-Arms (slot), 20 Elemental Aegis, 20 Hardy, 20 Blessed, 50 Ironclad (slot), 20 Flawless Ritual, 30 War Mage, 50 Duelist’s Rebuff (slot), 20 Tireless Discipline

Fitness: 20 Hero’s Vigor, 50 Boundless Vitality (slot), 50 Fortified (slot), 50 Slippery (slot), 50 Rejuvenation (slot), 30 Tumbling, 20 Defiance, 30 Fortification, 20 Tireless Guardian, 30 Piercing Gaze

Craft: 50 Steed’s Blessing (slot), 75 Liquid Efficiency (slot), 30 Rationer (slot), 50 Breakfall, 30 Out of Sight

8. PvP StamDK DPS Build

PvP StamDK DPS Build
Image: Zenimax Online Studios via HGG

Race: Imperial (Orc, Redguard, or Wood Elf) | Mundus: Lover or Thief | Food: Garlic Cod with Potato Crust or equivalent (5395 health, 4936 stamina) and Bewitched Sugar Skulls is a more expensive option for better survivability with additional recovery (4620 health, 4250 magicka/stamina, and 462 health recovery) | Attributes: 64 Stamina

Stamina Dragonknights excel in PvP with great mobility, damage, and tankiness. StamDKs are excellent brawlers, and do very well in 1v1 scenarios as well as 1vX. This build focuses on a mix of dueling and group scenario fights.

Playing Imperial or Orc will get you the best results, as they both have solid survivability. Imperials can manage their stamina better, while Orcs handle their health better. Other great options are races that provide stamina like Dark Elves, Wood Elves, Redguards, and Khajiit. You can make any of these races work well for your StamDK.

Skills

PvP StamDK DPS Build skill bars
(Main Bar) Clever Alchemist Greatsword(Back Bar) Puncturing Remedy Sword/Shield
Dizzying SwingResolving Vigor
Venomous ClawPierce Armor
Noxious BreathFossilize
ExecutionerGreen Dragon Blood
RallyUnrelenting Grip / Silver Leash
Dawnbreaker of Smiting (Ult)Temporal Guard (Ult)

StamDKs benefit a lot through controlling the battle with their strong CC abilities. Unrelenting Grip is a great initiator, as it deals flame damage while pulling an enemy to you. You also gain Major Expedition when it hits the enemy, allowing you to reposition as you want. Your dizzying swing won’t be able to knock them over once you CC them with the chain, but you can damage them heavily in the meantime.

Use Pierce Armor as soon as you pull the enemy to you. It will reduce their resistances by a ton and grant yourself resistances and healing due to your Master’s sword and shield. Lay down the Venomous Claw, Noxious Breath, and Dizzying Swings, and you’ll be putting the enemy in a tough situation as they melt from the DOTs. The final ticks of Venomous Claw deal the most damage, so plan to use your combos during this time with Dawnbreaker of Smiting.

Build

SlotGearTrait
HeadBalorgh (medium)Impenetrable
ShoulderBalorgh (medium)Impenetrable
ChestHrothgar’s Chill (heavy)Impenetrable
LegsHrothgar’s Chill (medium)Impenetrable
FeetClever Alchemist (medium)Impenetrable
HandsClever Alchemist (medium)Impenetrable
BeltClever Alchemist (medium)Impenetrable
JewelryHrothgar’s ChillBloodthirsty (w weapon damage)
Weapon 1Clever AlchemistSharpened (w/ damage health poisons)
Weapon 2Puncturing RemedyPowered (w/ escapist poisons), and Impenetrable Shield

Easy starting set alternative: 5 Hunding’s Rage (craftable), 5 Spriggan’s Thorns (from Bangkorai), 2 Monster Set / Agility Set

Clever Alchemist (craftable) gives us a huge boost to our damage during fights. The buff lasts for twenty seconds and grants a whopping 675 weapon/spell damage after consuming a potion during combat. Bursting down enemies with this set should be much easier, especially in combination with our other sets.

Hrothgar’s Chill (from PvP rewards of the worthy) gives us a very powerful burst. Stunning or immobilizing an enemy will cause them to burst with frost damage. This applies the chilled status effect, which reduces their damage done by 5% for four seconds. Most importantly, you’ll deal 26% of their physical and spell resistance as frost damage to them and enemies within eight meters of them.

The monster helm set is Balorgh (from March of Sacrifices) that boosts weapon/spell damage and physical/spell penetration. When you use your ultimate, the amount of ultimate you use up when casting will give you as much weapon/spell damage for twelve seconds. You’ll gain twenty-three times as much penetration. At max ultimate, this will be 500 weapon/spell damage and 11,500 penetration. This means you’ll cut through people like butter after you cast your Dawnbreaker of Smiting. Our backbar set is (Perfected) Puncturing Remedy (from Dragon Star Arena) that plays off of the Pierce Armor skill. When you use Pierce Armor, you’ll heal for five seconds based on your max health. On top of that, you’ll also gain physical and spell resistance equal to that amount healed.

Champion Points (Essentials in Order)

Warfare: 20 Tireless Discipline, 20 Precision, 50 Deadly Aim (slot), 50 Master-at-Arms (slot), 20 Hardy, 20 Elemental Aegis, 50 Ironclad (slot), 20 Battle Mastery, 30 Mighty, 50 Duelist’s Rebuff  (slot), 20 Blessed, 20 Eldritch Insight

Fitness: 20 Hero’s Vigor, 50 Boundless Vitality (slot), 50 Fortified (slot), 50 Slippery (slot), 50 Rejuvenation (slot), 30 Tumbling, 20 Defiance, 30 Fortification, 20 Tireless Guardian, 30 Piercing Gaze

Craft: 50 Steed’s Blessing (slot), 75 Liquid Efficiency (slot), 30 Rationer (slot), 50 Breakfall, 30 Out of Sight, 50 Treasure Hunter (slot), 50 Steadfast Enchantment

Join the High Ground

Dragonknights are an extremely powerful class when played correctly, and these builds will ensure you’re playing them to their full potential. We hope you enjoyed our guide about the best Dragonknight builds for ESO. For the latest on Elder Scrolls Online, follow us on social and subscribe to our newsletter.

Happy gaming!

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