Mastering the Shadows: Choosing the Best Weapon for Your Nightblade in ESO

For aspiring Nightblades in The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO), the choice of weapon is paramount to mastering the shadows and unleashing devastating power. The best weapon for a Nightblade hinges on your chosen build: Magicka or Stamina. For Magicka Nightblades, the Destruction Staff (Inferno Staff) reigns supreme. For Stamina Nightblades, the Dual Wield setup (daggers) is generally considered optimal, though bows are also a viable and popular option.

Diving Deeper: Weapon Choices for Nightblades

The Nightblade class is versatile, allowing for a multitude of playstyles. However, certain weapons synergize better with the class’s core strengths and skill lines. Let’s explore the pros and cons of each.

Magicka Nightblade: Inferno Staff Mastery

The Inferno Staff is the undisputed king for Magicka Nightblades. Its benefits are multifold:

• Damage Type: Deals fire damage, which many Nightblade skills amplify.
• Range: Allows for safer positioning, crucial for a relatively squishy class.
• Destruction Staff Passives: These grant increased damage, magicka sustain, and area-of-effect (AoE) capabilities.
• Wall of Elements: Access to the Wall of Elements ability provides incredible AoE damage and applies status effects.

While a Restoration Staff is useful for leveling, it is not a viable endgame option for a DPS focused Magicka Nightblade. It’s primarily there to unlock the skill line, as mentioned in the intro.

Stamina Nightblade: Dual Wield Dominance or Bow Expertise

Dual Wield (specifically, daggers) is the standard for Stamina Nightblades focusing on melee damage. Here’s why:

• High Weapon Damage: Daggers offer the highest weapon damage of all one-handed weapons, crucial for Stamina builds.
• Dual Wield Passives: These enhance damage output and sustain.
• Flurry: The main spammable, Flurry, deals rapid attacks.

Alternatively, Bow builds offer a ranged Stamina option:

• Range and Mobility: Provides superior range and mobility, ideal for hit-and-run tactics in PvP or kiting enemies in PvE.
• Bow Passives: These provide a consistent damage boost.
• Poison Injection: A powerful Damage over Time (DoT) ability that excels in single target encounters.

Other Weapon Considerations

While Inferno Staves, Dual Wield, and Bows are the dominant choices, other weapons can be situationally useful:

• Two-Handed Weapons: Greatswords, mauls, and battle axes can be effective for burst damage and applying crowd control. Consider using them on a back bar for situational usage on a Stamina build.
• One-Handed and Shield: Viable for tanking, but sacrifices damage output for survivability, making it less ideal for DPS-focused Nightblades.

FAQs: Nightblade Weaponry

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to provide additional insights into weapon choices for Nightblades:

1. What’s the best weapon for leveling a Nightblade?

   • Early on, use whatever weapon you find most enjoyable. The Destruction Staff is good for Magicka, and Dual Wield for Stamina, but experimentation is key.

2. Can a Nightblade use a two-handed weapon effectively?

   • Yes, but it’s generally better suited for Stamina Nightblades and works best when used on the back bar for burst damage or specific skill usage.

3. Is a bow viable for a Magicka Nightblade?

   • Not optimally. Magicka Nightblades should focus on the Destruction Staff for its synergy with their class skills.

4. What enchantments should I use on my weapons?

   • For Inferno Staff, use a Weapon Damage or Magicka Recovery enchantment. For Dual Wield, use Poison or Weapon Damage enchantments on each dagger. For Bow use Poison or Weapon Damage.

5. Which weapon skill line should I level first as a Nightblade?

   • For Magicka, focus on the Destruction Staff skill line. For Stamina, prioritize the Dual Wield or Bow skill line, depending on your preference.

6. Is it worth investing in multiple weapon skill lines?

   • Yes, it’s beneficial to have multiple weapon skill lines leveled for versatility and to unlock useful passive abilities.

7. Can a Nightblade use a shield?

   • Yes, for tanking roles. However, it’s not recommended for DPS-focused builds.

8. Does weapon choice affect my armor?

   • No, but your armor choice (light, medium, or heavy) should complement your weapon and build.

9. What are the best traits for Nightblade weapons?

   • For staves, Infused or Precise. For dual wield, Precise or Sharpened. For bows, Precise or Infused.

10. How important is weapon level?

    • Crucial. Use weapons at your character level to maximize damage output. Upgrade whenever possible.

11. What skills complement the Destruction Staff for Magicka Nightblades?

    • Skills like Funnel Health, Merciless Resolve, and Twisting Path synergize well with the Destruction Staff’s AoE and damage capabilities.

12. What skills complement Dual Wield for Stamina Nightblades?

    • Skills like Surprise Attack, Killer’s Blade, and Relentless Focus enhance burst damage and mobility.

13. What skills complement the Bow for Stamina Nightblades?

    • Skills like Poison Injection, Endless Hail, and Leeching Strikes provide sustained damage and resource sustain.

14. How does weapon choice impact my sustain?

    • Some weapon passives and abilities (like those in the Destruction Staff tree) can improve sustain. Consider them when choosing a weapon.

15. Where can I learn more about Nightblade builds?

    • There are numerous online resources, including build guides on websites dedicated to ESO. You can learn about the theory behind the game at Games Learning Society.

Concluding Thoughts: Embrace the Shadows

Choosing the right weapon is just the first step in mastering the Nightblade class. Experiment with different builds, hone your skills, and embrace the shadows to become a truly formidable force in Tamriel. Your weapon of choice should complement your preferred playstyle, whether that’s weaving spells with a fiery staff or striking from the shadows with deadly daggers.