Powerful Magicka Sorcerer Build for ESO – Damage Dealer DPS
Type: Dungeon, Trial, Arena & Overland
Buildname: Mystic
- Magicka Sorcerer Build Setup
- Resource Management
- Rotation
- AoE Setup
- Maelstrom Arena & Vatehshran Hollows
- Outfit Style Showcase
- Related Content
- Update Log
Welcome to the ESO Magicka Sorcerer Build for Elder Scrolls Online. This build is optimized for group content such as dungeons, trials & arenas and has a very glass cannon approach. The ESO Sorcerer Build is optimized for high dps maximum damage. The Sorcerer Build works best in a group. However, you can also play the setup solo with some minor adjustments.
Magicka Sorcerers are very powerful magicka users which benefit a lot from class abilities and passives. Powerful passives such as Energized and Amplitude already boost your damage sky high. Class damage abilities such as Crystal Fragment, Daedric Prey, Volatile Familiar, Twilight Tormentor, and Greater Storm Atronach are also beneficial to the overall high damage of a Magicka Sorcerer Build.
The Magicka Sorcerer Build has 3 different gear setups. Tier 1 with the best gear, Tier 2 with advanced gear and Tier 3 for beginners. If you are a new player I do recommend reading the Magicka Sorcerer Beginner Guide. If you are looking for a solo build then I recommend checking out the Solo Magicka Sorcerer Build.
- Double Destruction Staff Setup
- Amazing Single Target (ST) Damage
- Amazing Area of Effect (AoE) Damage
- Amazing Ranged Damage
- Good Sustain
- Easy Survivability due to Magicka Shield
- Optimized for Trials, Dungeons & Arenas
More Sorcerer Builds can be found in the Sorcerer class category.
Magicka Sorcerer Build Setup for ESO
Now let’s take a look at how you can recreate the Magicka Sorcerer Build for ESO.
5x Perf. Whorl of Depths, 5x Pillar of Nirn, 2x Kjalnar’s Nightmare, 1x Harpooner on a High Elf with Ghastly Eye Bowl buff food.
- Unbuffed: Out of combat and buff-food active.
- Buffed: In combat, Raid Target Dummy buffs, Spell Power Potion, Weapon Damage Enchant, and pets active.
Gear – Magicka Sorcerer Build
You will find 3 different setups for the Magicka Sorcerer Build. Setup 1 is the preferred setup. People who don’t have all the gear yet can use Setup 2 which is easier to obtain and beginners can use Setup 3.
- Setup 1 is the primary Gear setup
- Setup 2 is without Trial Gear
- Setup 3 is for Beginners
BiS – Gear Setup 1
- You can also wear Bahsei’s Mania, False God’s Devotion, Siroria, Mother’s Sorrow, and many more sets with this build.
- Pillar of Nirn automatically procs on any damage when you are on the back bar, it has a 10s cooldown.
- Perfected Whorl of Depths is another great set that automatically procs on your frontbar.
- Harpooner’s Wading Kilt Mythic is a great way to boost our overall Crit and Crit Damage.
- Kjalnar’s Nightmare is a great monster set that deals massive damage.
| Gear | Set | Weight | Trait | Enchantment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest | Perfected Whorl of Depths | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Belt | Perfected Whorl of Depths | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Shoes | Perfected Whorl of Depths | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Pants | Harpooner’s Wading Kilt | Medium | Divine | Magicka |
| Hands | Perfected Whorl of Depths | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Head | Kjalnar’s Nightmare | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Shoulder | Kjalnar’s Nightmare | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Necklace | Pillar of Nirn | Jewelry | Bloodthirsty | Spell Damage |
| Ring | Pillar of Nirn | Jewelry | Bloodthirsty | Spell Damage |
| Ring | Pillar of Nirn | Jewelry | Bloodthirsty | Spell Damage |
| Weapon 1 | Perfected Whorl of Depths | Fire | Precise | Fire Enchant |
| Weapon 2 | Pillar of Nirn | Fire | Infused | Weapon Damage Enchant |
Advanced – Gear Setup 2
The Gear setup 2 for the Magicka Sorcerer Build is made for players who don’t have access to trial gear.
| Gear | Set | Weight | Trait | Enchantment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest | Law of Julianos | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Belt | Law of Julianos | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Shoes | Law of Julianos | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Pants | Mother’s Sorrow | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Hands | Mother’s Sorrow | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Head | Maw of the Infernal | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Shoulder | Maw of the Infernal | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Necklace | Mother’s Sorrow | Jewelry | Bloodthirsty | Spell Damage |
| Ring | Mother’s Sorrow | Jewelry | Bloodthirsty | Spell Damage |
| Ring | Mother’s Sorrow | Jewelry | Bloodthirsty | Spell Damage |
| Weapon 1 | Law of Julianos | Fire | Precise | Fire Enchant |
| Weapon 2 | Law of Julianos | Fire | Infused | Weapon Damage Enchant |
Gear Setup 3 Beginner
The beginner setup for the Sorcerer Build is made for players that just started out, you can join a guild and ask someone to craft you Law of Julianos and Magnus’ Gift. Willpower can be bought in Guildstores for very little money.
| Gear | Set | Weight | Trait | Enchantment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest | Law of Julianos | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Belt | Law of Julianos | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Shoes | Law of Julianos | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Pants | Magnus’ Gift | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Hands | Magnus’ Gift | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Head | Magnus’ Gift | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Shoulder | Magnus’ Gift | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Necklace | Willpower | Jewelry | Arcane | Spell Damage |
| Ring | Willpower | Jewelry | Healthy | Spell Damage |
| Ring | Willpower | Jewelry | Arcane | Magicka Recovery |
| Weapon 1 | Law of Julianos | Fire | Precise | Fire Enchant |
| Weapon 2 | Law of Julianos | Fire | Infused | Weapon Damage Enchant |
Where can I get the gear?
Perfected Whorl of Depths: vDreadsail Reef Trial
Whorl of Depths: nDreadsail Reef Trial
Pillar of Nirn: Falkreath Hold
Kjalnar’s Nightmare: vUnhallowed Grave Dungeon
Mother’s Sorrow: Deshaan, Guildstores
Law of Julianos: Craftable
Willpower: Guildstore
Magnus’ Gift: Craftable
Mechanical Acuity: Craftable
Skills – Magicka Sorcerer Build
The Magicka Sorcerer Build has a straight forward skill layout. You can either run two, one or no pet with this setup. If you want to run 1 pet only I recommend removing the Summon Volatile Familiar and replace it with Bound Aegis on both bars. For the no pet setup look at the separate layout further below.
| Fire Staff Mainbar | Fire Staff bar |
|---|---|
| Slot 1: Crystal Fragments | Slot 1: Unstable Wall of Elements |
| Slot 2: Daedric Prey | Slot 2: Mystic Orb |
| Slot 3: Elemental Weapon | Slot 3: Channeled Acceleration |
| Slot 4: Volatile Familiar | Slot 4: Volatile Familiar |
| Slot 5: Twilight Tormentor | Slot 5: Twilight Tormentor |
| Ultimate: Shooting Star | Ultimate: Greater Storm Atronach |
Skills explanation:
- Crystal Fragments: Powerful single target damage ability. We only activate this when we get the instant proc “Casting Magicka abilities has a chance to make your next Crystal Fragments instant”.
- Daedric Prey: Always keep this active on the target, it deals great damage and also buffs the pets damage.
- Elemental Weapon: Your main spammable (Alternatively you can also use another spammable such as Force Pulse).
- Volatile Familar: Pet deals damage on its own and you can also activate it for extra damage.
- Twilight Tormentor: Another Pet that deals damage on its own.
- Shooting Star: We use this ultimate for trash packs, deals great AoE damage and also returns ultimate per enemy it.
- Unstable Wall of Fire: This needs to be on the ground all the times as it deals a lot of damage with a strong explosion and also buffs the damage of your Light Attacks if you have a Maelstrom Staff.
- Mystic Orb: Powerful single target and area of effect damage over time effect.
- Channeled Acceleration: Activate this to gain the Minor Force buff (In mobile fights we prefer Channeled Acceleration, in more stationary fights we recommend Barbed Trap).
- Greater Storm Atronach: Your main single target ultimate, deals amazing damage and allies can activate it to gain the Major Berserker buff.
Note: You can slot Hardened Ward instead of Channeled Acceleration if you feel uncomfortable with the above setup because it has no shield equipped. Also more info on how shields work can be found in the following guides: How do Shields Work?, How do Shields Scale?
Optional NON PET Sorcerer Setup
Here is a secondary non pet setup for the Mag Sorc Build. This is for ESO players that don’t like having pets active on their character. Most things are identical to the normal setup but instead of pets we have skills that boost our max magicka.
5x Perf. Whorl of Depths, 5x Pillar of Nirn, 2x Kjalnar’s Nightmare, 1x Harpooner on a High Elf with Ghastly Eye Bowl buff food.
- Unbuffed: Out of combat, pets and buff-food active.
- Buffed: In combat, Raid Target Dummy buffs, Spell Power Potion, Weapon Damage Enchant active.
| Fire Staff Mainbar | Fire Staff bar |
|---|---|
| Slot 1: Crystal Fragments | Slot 1: Unstable Wall of Elements |
| Slot 2: Haunting Curse | Slot 2: Mystic Orb |
| Slot 3: Elemental Weapon | Slot 3: Hardened Ward |
| Slot 4: Inner Light | Slot 4: Channeled Acceleration |
| Slot 5: Bound Aegis | Slot 5: Bound Aegis |
| Ultimate: Shooting Star | Ultimate: Greater Storm Atronach |
Skills explanation:
- Crystal Fragments: Powerful single target damage ability. We only activate this when we get the instant proc “Casting Magicka abilities has a chance to make your next Crystal Fragments instant”.
- Haunting Curse: Always keep this active on the target, it deals great damage, it explodes twice.
- Elemental Weapon: Your main spammable (Alternatively you can also use another spammable such as Force Pulse).
- Inner Light: Passively slotted to gain more max magicka via the skill and the Magicka Controller passive.
- Bound Aegis: Passively slotted to gain more max magicka.
- Shooting Star: We use this ultimate for trash packs. It deals great AoE damage and also returns ultimate per enemy it.
- Unstable Wall of Fire: This needs to be on the ground all the times as it deals a lot of damage with a strong explosion. It also buffs the damage of your Light Attacks if you have a Maelstrom Staff.
- Mystic Orb: Powerful single target and area of effect damage over time effect.
- Channeled Acceleration: Activate this to gain the Minor Force buff (In mobile fights we prefer Channeled Acceleration, in more stationary fights we recommend Barbed Trap).
- Greater Storm Atronach: Your main single target ultimate, deals amazing damage and allies can activate it to gain the Major Berserker buff.
Sorcerer Scribing Skills
The ESO Scribing System offers plenty of adjustable skills to add to our build. Right now none of the new ESO Scribing Skills maximizes our DPS. Therefore I don’t recommend slotting any of them. However, there are two viable options that you can test out and play with if you still want to give it a try. More great combos might be discovered over time because there are so many available combinations. Make sure to bookmark this ESO Sorcerer Build and check back later for changes.
Important: Please read here how to get Grimoires, Focus Scripts, Signature Scripts and Affix Scripts for the ESO Scribing System.
Base Scribing Skill:
- Destruction Staff: Elemental Explosion
- World: Wield Soul
To unlock the Elemental Explosion skill, you need to reach level 25 in the Destruction Staff skill line. To unlock the Wield Soul skill you need to complete the Scribing Tutorial Quest.
Elemental Explosion
Elemental Explosion turns into Fiery Explosion with our Scribing scripts.
- Focus Script
- Signature Script
- Lingering Torment (Damage over time)
- Affix Script
- Brittle (Applies Brittle to the enemy, increasing their Crit Damage taken)
Wield Soul
Wield Soul turns into Shocking Soul with our Scribing scripts.
- Focus Script
- Signature Script
- Lingering Torment (Damage over time)
- Affix Script
You can also test more combinations out with the ESO Scribing Simulator.
Champion Points – Magicka Sorcerer Build
Below you can find the Champion Points setup for this build. Work your way from top to bottom in your allocation. For more information on Champion Points, please visit the Champion Points Overview Page on ESO-Hub.com.
Hovering over each perk will give you insights on what it does. Presets are also provided for each of the allocations below.
Click the tab below to open the allocation.
Important Info for Magicka Sorcerer Build PvE
In this section of the Magicka Sorcerer Build we are going to take a look at buff-food, mundus stone, race, potions, passives and attributes. These things are very important for the Magicka Sorcerer Build as they help with damage and sustain.
Buff-food
You can use several good buff foods for this Magicka Nightblade Build in ESO. As a base we are using the Ghastly Eye Bowl if you want the highest max magicka and magicka recovery boost.
If you want more health in combination with max magicka and magicka recovery then you could also use Clockwork Citrus Filet or the much cheaper version Witchmother’s Potent Brew. All buff foods and drinks can also be found on the Buff Food and Drink Overview Page.
Ghastly Eye Bowl
(Max Magicka, Magicka Recover)
Clockwork Citrus Filet
(Max Health, Max Magicka, Magicka Recovery)
Witchmother’s Potent Brew
If you can’t afford Clockwork Citrus Filet, then I recommend getting the way cheaper Witchmother’s Potent Brew which has similar effects.
Mundus Stone
The Thief Mundus Stone increases our overall Spell Critical chance by a lot which will result in more overall damage. You can learn more about all the other Mundus Stones on the Mundus Stone Overview Page.
The Thief Mundus Stone (Increased Spell Critical Chance)
Race
Any race with magicka based passives will work with this setup. You can find out more about all the racial passives in the Racial Overview page.
Potions
Spell-Power Potions
(Spell-crit, Spell Damage, Magicka)
(Cornflower, Ladys Smock, Water Hyacinth)
Passives
You want to learn all the passives listed below for the Magicka Sorcerer Build.
- Dark Magic: Unholy Knowledge, Blood Magic, Persistence, Exploitation
- Daedric Summoning: Rebate, Power Stone, Daedric Protection, Expert Summoner
- Storm Calling: Capacitor, Energized, Amplitude, Expert Mage
- Destruction Staff: Tri Focus, Penetrating Magic, Elemental Force, Ancient Knowledge, Destruction Expert
- Light Armor: Grace, Evocation, Spell Warding, Prodigy, Concentration
- Mages Guild: Mage Adept, Everlasting Magic, Magicka Controller, Might of the Guild
- Psijic Order: (Only if you use Channeled Acceleration) Clairvoyance, Spell Orb, Concentrated Barrier, Deliberation
- Undaunted: Undaunted Command, Undaunted Mettle
- Racial: All
- Alchemy: Medicinal Use
Attributes
All into Magicka
Resource Management – Magicka Sorcerer Build
In our Magicka Sorcerer Build we use a mix of self sustain and sustain through group members such as the healer or tank.
- Dark Conversion
- Energy Orb Synergy
- Potions
- Heavy Attack
Dark Conversion is an optional skill that you can use to increase your sustain.
Energy Orb will always be present in a good group. When you get close to the Orb you can activate its synergy to regain resources.
Potions should always be used on cooldown. By activating them you gain 7000+ resources.
Heavy Attacks help you restore Magicka, if you drop low on resources do a few Heavy Attacks between skills to refill your Magicka.
Rotation for the Magicka Sorcerer Build
In this section of the Magicka Sorcerer Build we are going to take a look at a simplified rotation which explains the basics of a rotation. In the video example we are using a spammable, semi-spammable and one damage over time effect. All other skills not needed for the showcase are removed from the bars for easier visibility.
Showcase includes:
- Light Attack Weaving (Light Attack Animation Canceling)
- Weapon Swapping (Weapon Swap Animation Canceling)
- How to use your spammable
- How to use Crystal Fragments as semi-spammable.
- How to use your back bar damage over time effect.
Once you master these things you can start adding more abilities like the skills layout above to your bars for a complete dynamic rotation.
Pet Rotation
The rotation lasts for 10 second if you weave it perfectly. On the front bar it is important to activate Crystal Fragment once you get the proc condition on it. As long as you don’t have the proc condition you want to keep using Elemental Weapon.
Non Pet Rotation
The non pet setup has two changes, instead of Daedric Prey we are using Haunting Curse. And instead of the Summon Volatile Familiar we are using Mystic Orb. The rotation is based around 10 seconds, we only activate Haunting Curse every second rotation to benefit from both the damage ticks, if you don’t have to activate Haunting Curse, just use another Elemental Weapon ability.
Area of Effect Setup for the Magicka Sorcerer Build
Here you can find an optimized AoE setup for the build. There are plenty of other good options available. If you use Bahsei make sure to start the trash fights with half magicka, because otherwise Bahsei won’t really be useful.
| Gear | Set | Weight | Trait | Enchantment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest | Mechanical Acuity | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Belt | Mechanical Acuity | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Shoes | Mechanical Acuity | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Pants | Perfected Bahsei’s Mania | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Hands | Perfected Bahsei’s Mania | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Head | Slimecraw | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Shoulder | Iceheart | Light | Divine | Magicka |
| Necklace | Perfected Bahsei’s Mania | Jewelry | Infused | Spell Damage |
| Ring | Perfected Bahsei’s Mania | Jewelry | Infused | Spell Damage |
| Ring | Perfected Bahsei’s Mania | Jewelry | Infused | Spell Damage |
| Weapon 1 | Mechanical Acuity | Fire | Nirnhoned | Fire Enchant |
| Weapon 2 | Mechanical Acuity | Fire | Infused | Weapon Damage Enchant |
Skills
Maelstrom Arena & Vateshran Hollows
Please check out the Solo Magicka Sorcerer Build for the perfect Maelstrom Setup. The build here focuses on group setups. The Solo Magicka Sorcerer Build is better suited to face the dangers of the Maelstrom Arena. I also highly recommend reading the full in depth Maelstrom Arena Guide.
Same applies for the Vateshran Hollows Arena.
Outfit Style Showcase of the Mystic Sorcerer Build for ESO
Lets take a look at the outfit style of the Magicka Sorcerer PvE Build for ESO. You can find a close up shot, an image from the back and an image of the outfit editor dye station below.
- Welkynar Motif Style: Gloves, Sash, Staff
- Dead-Water Motif Style: Jerkin
- Sapiarch Motif Style: Shoes
- Dremora Kynreeve Style: Pauldrons
- Head Marking: Face Imprint of the Psijic Order
- Body Marking: Body Imprint of the Psijic Order
- Hair Style: Barbaric Windblown Hair
- Personality: Jester (/idle4 used for header image)
- Dyes: Void Pitch, Divine Gold
| Slot | Name |
|---|---|
| Head | Hidden |
| Shoulder | Dremora Kynreeve Motif |
| Chest | Dead-Water Motif |
| Hands | Welkynar Motif |
| Waist | Welkynar Motif |
| Legs | Dremora Motif |
| Feet | Sapiarch Motif |
| Weapon | Welkynar Motif |
| Head & Body Markings | Face and Body Imprint of the Psijic Order |
| Personality | Jester |
| Hair Style | Barbaric Windblown Hair |
| Dyes | Void Pitch, Divine Gold |
Related Content
More Magicka Sorcerer Builds & Guides:
Other Magicka DPS Builds:
- Magicka Arcanist
- Magicka Necromancer
- Magicka Nightblade
- Magicka Templar
- Magicka Dragonknight
- Magicka Warden
Update Log & Changes
11.08.2019 Updated the Build for the SCALEBREAKER DLC, Elsweyr Chapter, Magicka Sorcerer Build PvE.
20.10.2019 Updated the Build for the DRAGONHOLD DLC.
20.02.2020 Updated the Build for the HARROWSTORM DLC.
24.05.2020 Updated the Build for the GREYMOOR CHAPTER.
22.08.2020 Updated the Build for the STONETHORN DLC, Greymoor Chapter.
30.10.2020 Updated the Build for the MARKARTH DLC, Greymoor Chapter.
05.03.2021 Updated the Build for the FLAMES OF AMBITION DLC, Blackwood Chapter.
27.05.2021 Updated the Build for the BLACKWOOD CHAPTER.
13.08.2021 Updated the Build for the WAKING FLAME DLC, Blackwood Chapter.
02.09.2021 Updated the Champion Point links and added tooltips for the buff food links, WAKING FLAME DLC, Blackwood Chapter.
26.10.2021 Updated the Build for the Deadlands DLC, Blackwood Chapter.
10.03.2022 Updated the Build for the ASCENDING TIDE DLC, High Isle Chapter.
31.05.2022 Updated the Build for the HIGH ISLE CHAPTER.
15.08.2022 Updated the Build for the LOST DEPTHS DLC, High Isle Chapter.
28.10.2022 Updated the Build for the FIRESONG DLC, High Isle Chapter.
13.03.2023 Updated the Build for the SCRIBES OF FATE DLC, Necrom Chapter.
01.06.2023 Updated the Build for the ESO NECROM CHAPTER.
27.10.2023 Updated the Build for the Necrom Update 40.
08.03.2024 Updated the Build for the Scions of Ithelia DLC Update 41, Gold Road Chapter.
28.05.2024 Updated the Build for the Gold Road Chapter U42.
20.08.2024 Updated the Build for Update 43, Gold Road Chapter.
28.10.2024 Updated the Build for Update 44, Gold Road Chapter.
Tags: Magicka Sorcerer PvE Build, Magicka Sorc PvE Build, Mag Sorc Build PvE, Alcast Sorcerer Build Mystic.
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