Contents

• Table of Contents
• Other Pages
• ESO Update 48 Mid-tier Build Guides
  • Support Loadouts
    • Main Tank
    • Off Tank
    • ROJO or MA/PA Healer
    • SPC/PP or MA Healer
    • Support Zen/Colo DPS
  • Update 48 DPS Loadouts
    • Meta Beam Arcanist (Assassination variant)
    • Meta Beam Arcanist (Aedric Spear variant)
    • Meta Beam Arcanist (Dawn’s Wrath variant)
    • Runeblades (Ardent Flame variant)
    • Blastbones
• Why Do I Use These Skills?
  • Main Tank Skills
    • Front Bar
    • Back Bar
    • Situational Tank Skills
    • Overall Outcomes
  • Off Tank Skills
    • Front Bar
    • Back Bar
    • Situational Tank Skills
  • Green Balance Healer Skills
    • Front Bar
    • Back Bar
    • Situational Healer Skills
  • Restoring Healer Skills
    • Front Bar
    • Back Bar
    • Situational Healer Skills
  • Beam Skills
    • Front Bar
    • Back Bar
• ESO Update 48 Mid-tier Trial Rosters
• Notes
  • Guiding Principles
  • Buff Calculations
  • Other Approaches
  • Changelog

This is a work in progess; last updated 2025-12-17.

These represent Paradoxdruid’s best attempt at capturing the mid-tier meta for U48 (groups who regularly do vet and vet HM content; not trifecta progs or scorepushing attempts).

Table of Contents

Guide Section	Why Do I Want To Read This?
• U48 Build Guides   • Support Build Guides   • DPS Build Guides	I want to see skill bars, subclassing, and commonly worn armor sets to get up and running fast. (Start here!)
• Why Do I Use these Skills	I want to see the details of why certain skills are used, and see alternative skills and breakdowns
• U48 Trial Rosters	I plan to lead a trial, and I’d like a discord-ready roster template with roles, sets, and trial specific roles and group organization
• Notes	I want to understand how these builds reach penetration and crit damage cap, if there’s other approaches that might work, or better understand assumptions made here

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Other Pages

Other Page	Why Do I Want To Read This?
• U48 Parses	I want to see how some of these builds perform on the target dummy, dummy optimized and in-content setups. (Start here!)
• Top DPS Skills and Gear	I want to see the the most used skills and gear for DPS players on each boss, pulled from esologs.com data
• Top Support Skills and Gear	I want to see the the most used skills and gear for Tank and Healer players on each boss, pulled from esologs.com data

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Wait, you’ve got it all wrong! Yeah, maybe I do, that’s totally fair. And in any case, there’s lots of good approaches and strategies, and not a one-size-fits-all approach that will always apply. Thanks for all the feedback I’ve received to date!

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ESO Update 48 Mid-tier Build Guides

See Guiding Principles and Buff Calculations for explanations of set selections.

Approach and Assumptions

• In this standard setup, we rely on most DPS being Arc/NB/Ardent, and/or bringing Cro/Plar lines.
• Because of this, Penetration and Crit Damage can be capped without some previously excellent support sets.

Support Loadouts

See also Why Do I Use These Skills? for details on why different skills are selected.

Main Tank

Class Lines	Skill Bars	Typical Sets	Notes
Winter’s Embrace (Warden), Soldier of Apocrypha (Arcanist), Earthen Heart (Dragonknight)	FB: Lingering Flare, Igneous Shield, Inner Rage, Polar Wind, Stone Giant, Reviving Barrier BB: Expansive Frost Cloak, Elemental Blockade, Leashing Soul, Elemental Susceptibility, Runeguard of Still Waters, Aggressive Warhorn MT skill bars	Pearl/Lucent/Naz	• Can use Inner Rage taunt instead of Runic Sunder if increased range is needed • Typical Ult: Aggressive Warhorn • Wield Soul: Pull / Druid’s Resurgance / (Cowardice or Maim)

Off Tank

Class Lines	Skill Bars	Typical Sets	Notes
Daedric Summoning (Sorcerer), Soldier of Apocrypha (Arcanist), Siphoning (Nightblade)	FB: Runeguard of Still Waters, Spiteward of the Lucid Mind, Runic Sunder, Resolving Vigor, Trample, Soul Siphon BB: Cruxweaver Armor, Elemental Blockade, Leashing Soul, Elemental Susceptibility, Siphoning Attacks, Summon Charged Atronach OT skill bars	Saxhleel Champion/Powerful Assault/AD	• Typical Ult: Summon Charged Atronach • Wield Soul: Pull / Druid’s Resurgance / (Cowardice or Maim) • Paired with Runic Sunder, Spiteward is an almost free shield and heal

ROJO or MA/PA Healer

Class Lines	Skill Bars	Typical Sets	Notes
Siphoning (Nightblade), Restoring Light (Templar), Flex (typically Curative Runeforms or Daedric Summoning)	FB: Illustrious Healing, Extended Ritual, Radiating Regeneration, Combat Prayer, Warding Burst, Soul Siphon BB: Siphoning Attacks, Elemental Blockade, Echoing Vigor, Radiant Aura, Energy Orb, Reviving Barrier ROJO skill bars	• RO (BB)/JO (body)/ Master’s Resto (FB)/ Symphony of Blades • MA (body)/PA (FB)/Pearls	• Typical Ult: Reviving Barrier • May drop Radianting Regen for Overflowing Altar • Siphoning ability on each bar for +6% resources • Warding Burst: Damage Shield / Anchorite’s Potency / Minor Expedition

SPC/PP or MA Healer

Class Lines	Skill Bars	Typical Sets	Notes
Green Balance (Warden), Siphoning (Nightblade), Curative Runeforms (Arcanist)	FB: Illustrious Healing, Warding Burst, Radiating Regen, Budding Seeds, Combat Prayer, Soul Siphon BB: Siphoning Attacks, Elemental Blockade, Echoing Vigor, Chakram of Destiny, Energy Orb, Glyphic of the Tides SPC skill bars	SPC (FB)/MA (or PP) (BB)/Pearls/Ozezan or the Blind	• Typical Ult: Glyphic of the Tides • May drop Radiating Regen for Overflowing Altar • If paired with ROJO healer, SPC/PA also can work • Siphoning ability on each bar for +6% resources • Warding Burst: Damage Shield / Anchorite’s Potency / Minor Expedition

Support Zen/Colo DPS

Class Lines	Skill Bars	Typical Sets	Notes
Ardent Flame (Dragonknight), Gravelord (Necromancer), Assassination (Nightblade)	FB: Quick Cloak, Relentless Focus, Traveling Knife, Killer’s Blade, Unnerving Boneyard, Incapacitating Strikes BB: Stampede, Carve, Flames of Oblivion, Venomous Claw, Engulfing Flames, Glacial Colossus Zen skill bars	• Zen/Null Arca • Zen/Kosh	• Provides Major Vuln • Can wear Encratis monster set • Zen DoTs: Knife, Venom Claw, Engulfing, Carve, Burning, Poison • Traveling Knife: Multitarget / Lingering Torment / Off Balance

Update 48 DPS Loadouts

See also Why Do I Use These Skills? for details on why different skills are selected.

Meta Beam Arcanist (Assassination variant)

Class Lines	Skill Bars	Typical Sets	Notes
Herald of the Tome (Arcanist), Assassination (Nightblade), Ardent Flame (Dragonknight)	FB: Quick Cloak, Venomous Claw, Cephaliarch’s Flail, Pragmatic Fatecarver, Camo Hunter, Ult: Incapacitating Strike BB: Inspired Scholarship, Blockade of Fire, Flames of Oblivion, Fulminating Rune, Molten Whip, Ult: Standard of Might Beam skill bars	• AOE: Ansuul’s Torment/Deadly Strikes/Velothi/1 light Slimecraw/Maelstrom Inferno • Single-Target: Null Arca/Tideborn/Velothi/1 light Slimecraw/Maelstrom Greatsword	• Replace Camo Hunter and Molten whip if running Banner (Shock/Cavaliar’s Charge/Courage)

Meta Beam Arcanist (Aedric Spear variant)

Class Lines	Skill Bars	Typical Sets	Notes
Herald of the Tome (Arcanist), Aedric Spear (Templar), Ardent Flame (Dragonknight)	FB: Quick Cloak, Venomous Claw, Cephaliarch’s Flail, Pragmatic Fatecarver, Camo Hunter, Ult: Crescent Sweep BB: Inspired Scholarship, Blockade of Fire, Flames of Oblivion, Fulminating Rune, Molten Whip, Ult: Standard of Might Beam skill bars	• AOE: Ansuul’s Torment/Deadly Strikes/Velothi/1 light Slimecraw/Maelstrom Inferno • Single-Target: Null Arca/Tideborn/Velothi/1 light Slimecraw/Maelstrom Greatsword	• Replace Camo Hunter and Molten whip if running Banner (Shock/Cavaliar’s Charge/Courage)

See Parse Examples for the Beam Arcanist

Meta Beam Arcanist (Dawn’s Wrath variant)

Class Lines	Skill Bars	Typical Sets	Notes
Herald of the Tome (Arcanist), Assassination (Nightblade), Dawn’s Wrath (Templar)	FB: Quick Cloak, Radiant Glory, Cephaliarch’s Flail, Pragmatic Fatecarver, Banner Bearer, Ult: Incapacitating Strike BB: Inspired Scholarship, Stampede, Solar Barrage, Fulminating Rune, Banner Bearer, Ult: Languid Eye Beam skill bars	• AOE: Ansuul’s Torment/Deadly Strikes/Velothi/1 light Slimecraw/Maelstrom Inferno • Single-Target: Null Arca/Tideborn/Velothi/1 light Slimecraw/Maelstrom Greatsword	• Banner Bearer: Shocking / Cavaliar’s Charge / Courage

Runeblades (Ardent Flame variant)

Class Lines	Skill Bars	Typical Sets	Notes
Herald of the Tome (Arcanist), Assassination (Nightblade), Ardent Flame (Dragonknight)	FB: Quick Cloak, Tentacular Dread, Escalating Runeblades, Relentless Focus, Killer’s Blade, Ult: Incapacitating Strike BB: Inspired Scholarship, Stampede, Flames of Oblivion, Venomous Claw, Molten Whip, Ult: Standard of Might Runeblades skill bars	Null Arca/Tideborn/Velthi/1 piece light Slimecraw/Maelstrom Greatsword	Can also use the new Warmask mythic.

Blastbones

Class Lines	Skill Bars	Typical Sets	Notes
Ardent Flame (Dragonknight), Assassination (Nightblade), Gravelord (Necromancer)	FB: Quick Cloak, Detonating Siphon, Killer’s Blade, Relentless Focus, Blighted Blastbones, Ult: Incapacitating Strike BB: Skeletal Archer, Stampede, Flames of Oblivion, Venomous Claw, Molten Whip, Ult: Standard of Might Blastbones skill bars	Null Arca/Tideborn/Velthi/1 piece light Slimecraw/Maelstrom Greatsword	Can also use the new Warmask mythic.

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Why Do I Use These Skills?

• Main Tank Skill explanations
• Off Tank Skill explanations
• Green Balance Healer Skill explanations
• Restoring Light Healer Skill explainations
• Beam DPS Skill explanations

Main Tank Skills

Disclaimer: As always, the “right” abilities will depend on group composition (what skills the other tank and the healers are running), what content you are doing (mechanics, boss specific needs, are you going to need to chain things), and other factors. This is just a starting point!

Front Bar

Icon	Name	Explanation
	Runic Sunder	Your bread and butter Taunt. It has long-range, gives the group extra penetration, applies Minor Maim, generates crux, and reduces your damage taken.
	Runeguard of Still Waters	Group Minor Resolve, reducing damage taken by ~4% (although this should be provided by healers from Combat Prayer), as well as 5% damage reduction from Minor Protection for yourself. Also gives you a self-heal when your health goes down, and Immobilizes small adds. From passives, also increases your armor by 3000 while active, and grants the group Minor Evasion, reducing AoE damage by 10%. (Can be swapped backbar with the flex spot)
	Igneous Shield	A decent damage shield that also shields allies. Greatly increases your self-healing. Through passives, it also restores Stamina and grants the group Minor Brutality (+4% damage bump). Shields are a great spammable to lessen hits, and give time for your health bar to refill from HoTs.
	Lingering Flare	Passively provides Major Protection for 10% damage reduction. Very useful if you anticipate a lot of DoT damage.
	Polar Wind	Your self-heal. It heals a big chunk upfront, and applies a strong HoT effect as well. Your spammable heal, usually cast right after Igneous Shields to maximize the healing.
	Ultimate: Reviving Barrier	This serves two purposes. First, it usually is just used for the passive, which will give +10% Magicka recovery. Second, it’s a good “oh shit” button if you or especially the group is taking too much damage, to buy some breathing room.

Back Bar

Icon	Name	Explanation
	Blockade of Frost	This is one of your most important debuff skills, and should always be active. It applies minor breach to chilled enemies and gives a projectile shield to your team, as well as proccing your weapon enchantment (Crusher for pen)
	Elemental Susceptibility	This is your most important debuff skill, and should always be active on important enemies. It applies Major Breach (increasing team damage by more than 10%) and the Burning, Chilled and Concussed status effects. These status effects provide Minor Maim, Minor Brittle and Minor Vulnerability. This skill also pairs well with wall of elements: Wall of Frost (from yourself) snares and reduces the armor of Chilled enemies and Wall of Storms (from a healer) sets Concussed enemies Off Balance.
	Leashing Soul	This scribed skill is the best Pull / chain in the game; long-range, cheap (with the Druid’s script), and can apply Major Maim or Major Cowardice, reducing boss damage by up to 10%. I use this even on bosses I’ve taunted, to keep Major Maim up.
	Expansive Frost Cloak	Group-wide Major Resolve, which reduces damage taken by ~9%. It needs to always be up.
	Flex spot:
		Stone Giant: This ability increases group damage as you stack it; at full stacks it’s roughly 4k dps per damage dealer. The first cast has a cast time which drops your block requiring caution and attention when using this skill.
		Igneous Weapons: Provides Major Brutality, which is massive damage boost (~+10%). However, most DPS can source this themselves from Inspired Scholarship, Skeletal Archer, or potions, so it’s being run less and less.
		Ulfsild’s Contingency: A strong choice for survivability, it gives a good damage shield to you and allies, as well as a brief 8% unique damage reduction buff, and can give you Minor Mag & Stam recovery if you’re far from group or healer isn’t providing it.
	Ultimate: Aggressive Horn	Provides Major Force, which (if needed) gives ~4% damage to group –though many groups can reach crit cap without, as well as +10% max resources, which is another ~3% damage boost.

Situational Tank Skills

Icon	Name	Explanation
	Razor Caltrops	In trash, this replaces Ele Sus, to apply Major Breach to the whole group. It also slows small adds, giving DPS time to burn them before they get hit.
	Goading Throw	If you run sword and shield, this taunt is a stamina-based alternative that can also provide a variety of useful tools as needed. The strength of this skill is its customisability. If you need a heal, resources or a specific debuff that may be difficult to source otherwise it is very simple to put it on this skill.
	Runic Sunder	Can replace Inner Rage as your taunt. It has shorter range and doesn’t provide the powerful Radiate synergy, but applies Minor Maim, reducing boss damage 5%, a unique 2% damage reduction for you, and some penetration if your group needs it.
	Charging Maneuver	Gives your group +45% speed for running through long trials.
	Impervious Runeward	A massive shield that can allow you to use Magicka instead spending stamina on a roll dodge to survive heavy attacks if you time it right.
	Temporal Guard	A good FB ultimate for passive Minor Protection (not needed if using Runeguard skill) and a 5K shield that recharges after 10 seconds not blocking.
	Race Against Time	Immediately removes slows, which can be very useful for some add packs or bosses.
	Other Class Lines	Instead of Earthen Heart, some groups prefer Siphoning skill line. If so, you lose Igneous Shield and Stone Giant, so you might use:
		Soul Siphon ultimate to replace Barrier FB. Passively slotted, gives you +6% Mag and Stam, +3% self-healing, and it’s again a great “oh shit” button.
		Warding Burst: A replacement spammable shield FB, it is both a shield and a HoT.
		Siphoning Attacks: A BB passive skill that keeps up the +6% Mag & Stam when you bar swap, and any damage you deal (like, constantly from Blockade) heals you and restores resources. Can also be cast to restore resources.

Overall Outcomes

If you keep up all the skills above, you provide the group with:

• Buffs: Major Resolve, Minor Resolve, Minor Brutality, Igneous Shields ally shields, Polar Wind ally heal, Blockade of Ice projectile shields, Radiate Synergy, Horn resources.
• Enemy Debuffs: Major Breach, Minor Breach, Minor Brittle, Major Maim, Minor Maim, Off-Balance and Minor Vulnerability (with healer lightning staff), Crusher.

This gives roughly:

• Groupwide +18% damage, and consistent off-balance windows on boss for Exploiter bonus
• Groupwide -15% damage taken, and -10% more from AoEs
• Projectile shields for allies, igneous shields for allies, and Polar Wind heals; all small but add up
• Boss dealing -15% damage

Off Tank Skills

Disclaimer: As always, the “right” abilities will depend on group composition (what skills the other tank and the healers are running), what content you are doing (mechanics, boss specific needs, are you going to need to chain things), and other factors. This is just a starting point!

Front Bar

Icon	Name	Explanation
	Runic Sunder	Bread and butter taunt; applies Minor Maim, reducing boss damage 5%, a unique 2% damage reduction for you, and some penetration if your group needs it. Also generates Crux to heal with Runeward.
	Runeguard of Still Waters	Group Minor Resolve, reducing damage taken by ~4% (although this should be provided by healers from Combat Prayer), as well as 5% damage reduction from Minor Protection for yourself. Also gives you a self-heal when your health goes down, and Immobilizes small adds. From passives, also increases your armor by 3000 while active, and grants the group Minor Evasion, reducing AoE damage by 10%. (Can be swapped backbar with the flex spot)
	Spiteward of the Lucid Mind	A massive shield that can allow you to use Magicka instead spending stamina on a roll dodge to survive heavy attacks if you time it right. Spiteward also heals some but spends crux.
	Resolving Vigor	A powerful heal and HoT you can spam as needed. Also gives Minor Resolve, but so does Runeguard.
	Flex Spot:
		Trample: Provides Major Heroism to help you spam ults.
		Ulfsild’s Contingency: A strong choice for survivability, it gives a good damage shield to you and allies, as well as a brief 8% unique damage reduction buff, and can give you Minor Mag & Stam recovery if you’re far from group or healer isn’t providing it.
		Blinding Flare: Passively provides Major Protection for 10% damage reduction. Very useful if you anticipate a lot of DoT damage.
	Ultimate: Soul Siphon	This serves two purposes. Passively slotted, it gives you +6% Mag and Stam, +3% self-healing. Second, it’s a good “oh shit” button if you or especially the group is taking too much damage, to buy some breathing room.

Back Bar

Icon	Name	Explanation
	Cruxweaver Armor	Your source of Major Resolve, also procs Minor Breach on enemies and generates Crux for damage reduction.
	Blockade of Frost	This is one of your most important debuff skills, and should always be active. It applies minor breach to chilled enemies and gives a projectile shield to your team, as well as proccing your weapon enchantment (Crusher for pen)
	Elemental Susceptibility	This is your most important debuff skill, and should always be active on important enemies. It applies Major Breach (increasing team damage by more than 10%) and the Burning, Chilled and Concussed status effects. These status effects provide Minor Maim, Minor Brittle and Minor Vulnerability. This skill also pairs well with wall of elements: Wall of Frost (from yourself) snares and reduces the armor of Chilled enemies and Wall of Storms (from a healer) sets Concussed enemies Off Balance.
	Leashing Soul	This scribed skill is the best Pull / chain in the game; long-range, cheap (with the Druid’s script), and can apply Major Maim or Major Cowardice, reducing boss damage by up to 10%. I use this even on bosses I’ve taunted, to keep Major Maim up.
	Siphoning Attacks	A passive skill that keeps up the +6% Mag & Stam when you bar swap, and any damage you deal (like, constantly from Blockade) heals you and restores resources. Can also be cast to restore resources.
	Ultimate: Summon Charged Atronach	A powerful ult that also provides a synergy to give groupwide Major Berserk (+10% damage).

Situational Tank Skills

Icon	Name	Explanation
	Razor Caltrops	In trash, this replaces Ele Sus, to apply Major Breach to the whole group. It also slows small adds, giving DPS time to burn them before they get hit.
	Goading Throw	If you run sword and shield, this taunt is a stamina-based alternative that can also provide a variety of useful tools as needed. The strength of this skill is its customisability. If you need a heal, resources or a specific debuff that may be difficult to source otherwise it is very simple to put it on this skill.
	Charging Maneuver	Gives your group +45% speed for running through long trials.
	Temporal Guard	A good FB ultimate for passive Minor Protection (not needed if using Runeguard skill) and a 5K shield that recharges after 10 seconds not blocking.
	Race Against Time	Immediately removes slows, which can be very useful for some add packs or bosses.
	Other Class Lines	Instead of Siphoning, some groups prefer Earthern Heart or Winter’s Embrace skill line on OT. If so, you lose Soul Siphon and Siphoning Attacks, so you might use:
		Reviving Barrier ultimate: This serves two purposes. First, it usually is just used for the passive, which will give +10% Magicka recovery. Second, it’s a good “oh shit” button if you or especially the group is taking too much damage, to buy some breathing room.
		Igneous Shield: A decent damage shield that also shields allies. Greatly increases your self-healing. Through passives, it also restores Stamina and grants the group Minor Brutality (~1% damage bump). Shields are a great spammable to lessen hits, and give time for your health bar to refill from HoTs.
		Stone Giant: This ability increases group damage as you stack it; at full stacks it’s roughly 4k dps per damage dealer. The first cast has a cast time which drops your block requiring caution and attention when using this skill.
		Expansive Frost Cloak: Group-wide Major Resolve, which reduces damage taken by ~9%. It should always be up.
		Polar Wind: A very strong self-heal. It heals a big chunk upfront, and applies a strong HoT effect as well. Your spammable heal, usually cast right after Igneous Shields to maximize the healing.

Green Balance Healer Skills

Disclaimer: As always, the “right” abilities will depend on group composition (what skills the other tank and the healers are running), what content you are doing (mechanics, boss specific needs, are you going to need to chain things), and other factors. This is just a starting point!

Note: Just by having the Green Balance class line (specifically the maturation passive), all of your healing applies Minor Toughness to allies, an important and unique +10% max health buff.

Front Bar

Icon	Name	Explanation
	Illustrious Healing	This is one of your primary ground heal over time (HoT) spells; it should always be up for the group. It smart targets, unlike the other morph.
	Budding Seeds	This is your other primary ground HoT. This also provides a good healing synergy. Often, you will keep this ability focused on the MT, so they have a synergy available to restore resources.
	Combat Prayer	Your main healing spammable and probably most-cast ability. It heals everyone in a large rectangle in front of you, as well as providing Minor Resolve (~3% damage reduction) and Minor Berserk (5% damage increase). If in doubt, spam this during heal checks.
	Warding Burst	This provides a useful damage shield for HoTs to heal the group under, and with Anchorite’s Potency gives you and the group ultimate generation.
	Flex Spot:
		Radiating Regeneration: This is a good semi-spammable for keeping magicka low and to provide a sticky heal when folks need to leave group for mechanics.
		Warding Contingency: With Damage Shield and Growing Impact, this skill can give groupwide Minor Protection (5% damage reduction) or Minor Mag & Stam recovery, if a healer with Restoring Light isn’t providing it.
		Healthy Offering: This is a strong heal for single-target heal checks like Tombs, and will generate ultimate from passives.
		Overflowing Altar: One healer should always be running this strong heal and provider of massive heal synergy, preferably near the Tank.
	Ultimate: Soul Siphon	This serves two purposes. Passively slotted, it gives you +6% Mag and Stam, +3% self-healing. Second, it’s a good “oh shit” button if you or especially the group is taking too much damage, to buy some breathing room.

Back Bar

Icon	Name	Explanation
	Energy Orb	A very strong HoT and source of an essential recovery synergy. It should always be up and active, usually aimed and near to tanks. (can switch with flex spot FB)
	Blockade of Lightning	This is an important debuff skill. It sets concussed enemies (sourced from Tank’s Ele Sus) off balance, and procs the Crusher or Weakening enchantment on your BB staff. Skill can be dropped sometimes, if you have a DPS with off-balance Knife skill, or just need barspace for Altar or situational skills.
	Echoing Vigor	A very strong sticky HoT (so good to cast before dps run off to do mechanics) that is Stamina based, to help manage resources.
	Chakram of Destiny	A good spammable shield skill. It also generates Crux, which increases all your healing by up to 12%. (can switch with flex spot FB)
	Siphoning Attacks	A passive skill that keeps up the +6% Mag & Stam when you bar swap, and any damage you deal (like, constantly from Blockade) heals you and restores resources. Can also be cast to restore resources when low.
	Ultimate: Glyphic of the Tides	One of the strongest HoT effects in the game, and importantly it ticks every 1 second, when many heals tick every 2 seconds. Great for heal checks like vKA Falgravn HM 3rd floor. It also boosts group damage more than Pearlescent Ward or Xoryn’s set effects; worth casting anytime group is fighting even if they don’t need the heals.

Situational Healer Skills

Icon	Name	Explanation
	Reviving Barrier BB ultimate	This serves two purposes. First, it passively gives +10% Magicka recovery. Second, it is a very strong shield and HoT for heavy damage moments, and is very useful for groupwide damage checks.
	Healing Thicket	A strong extra HoT. Importantly, it’s very cheap to cast, so if you need spammable extra healing, like vSE Ansuul HM, it’s worth considering.
	Zenas’ Empowering Disc	Minor Courage and Mag & Stam recovery is very nice, but only hits six targets. Useful for dungeons or trials with split Bosses like vLC Garg/Scorp.
	Efficient Purge	Purges harmful effects which can make some fights easier, such as in the first boss in vHoF. Many effects you would expect to be purgable in other trials… aren’t.
	Elemental Susceptibility	For some trials, healers will need to slot this to debuff side adds, such as Protectors in vAS+2. Applies Major Breach, and will proc Off-Balance if your Blockade of Lightning is on the target.
	Leashing Soul	Sometimes healers need to taunt; using a Pull skill allows you to taunt without fear of stealing taunt from the Boss and you can apply Major Cowardice or Major Maim to reduce enemy damage.
	Trample	An alternative source of Major Heroism instead of the Pearls of Ehlnofey Mythic.
	Mystic Guard	Powerful damage reduction for a Tank, used in certain boss fights, like vDSR Twins HM.

Restoring Healer Skills

Disclaimer: As always, the “right” abilities will depend on group composition (what skills the other tank and the healers are running), what content you are doing (mechanics, boss specific needs, are you going to need to chain things), and other factors. This is just a starting point!

Front Bar

Icon	Name	Explanation
	Illustrious Healing	This is one of your primary ground heal over time (HoT) spells; it should always be up for the group. It smart targets, unlike the other morph.
	Extended Ritual	Your other primary ground HoT. Extremely strong and long-lasting, and also provides a group-wide synergy for resource recovery.
	Combat Prayer	Your main healing spammable and probably most-cast ability. It heals everyone in a large rectangle in front of you, as well as providing Minor Resolve (~3% damage reduction) and Minor Berserk (5% damage increase). If in doubt, spam this during heal checks.
	Warding Burst	This provides a useful damage shield for HoTs to heal the group under, and with Anchorite’s Potency gives you and the group ultimate generation.
	Flex Spot:
		Radiating Regeneration: This is a good semi-spammable for keeping magicka low and to provide a sticky heal when folks need to leave group for mechanics.
		Warding Contingency: With Damage Shield and Growing Impact, this skill can give groupwide Minor Protection (5% damage reduction) or Minor Mag & Stam recovery, if a healer with Restoring Light isn’t providing it.
		Healthy Offering: This is a strong heal for single-target heal checks like Tombs, and will generate ultimate from passives.
		Overflowing Altar: One healer should always be running this strong heal and provider of massive heal synergy, preferably near the Tank.
	Ultimate: Soul Siphon	This serves two purposes. Passively slotted, it gives you +6% Mag and Stam, +3% self-healing. Second, it’s a good “oh shit” button if you or especially the group is taking too much damage, to buy some breathing room.

Back Bar

Icon	Name	Explanation
	Energy Orb	A very strong HoT and source of an essential recovery synergy. It should always be up and active, usually aimed and near to tanks. (can switch with flex spot FB)
	Blockade of Lightning	This is an important debuff skill. It sets enemies Concussed (to get off-balance with Tank’s Ele Sus cast), and procs the Crusher or Weakening enchantment on your BB staff. Skill can be dropped sometimes, if you have a DPS with off-balance Knife skill, or just need barspace for Altar or situational skills.
	Echoing Vigor	A very strong sticky HoT (so good to cast before dps run off to do mechanics) that is Stamina based, to help manage resources.
	Radiant Aura	A super-long lasting buff that provides important Minor Mag & Stam recovery for the group.
	Siphoning Attacks	A passive skill that keeps up the +6% Mag & Stam when you bar swap, and any damage you deal (like, constantly from Blockade) heals you and restores resources. Can also be cast to restore resources when low.
	Ultimate: Reviving Barrier	This serves two purposes. First, it passively gives +10% Magicka recovery. Second, it is a very strong shield and HoT for heavy damage moments, and is very useful for group-wide damage checks.

Situational Healer Skills

Icon	Name	Explanation
	Ultimate: Summon Charged Atronach	A powerful ult that also provides a synergy to give groupwide Major Berserk (+10% damage).
	Zena’s Empowering Disc	Minor Courage and Mag & Stam recovery is very nice, but only hits six targets. Useful for dungeons or trials with split Bosses like vLC Garg/Scorp.
	Efficient Purge	A few trials require this skill to purge harmful effects, notably vHoF. Many effects you would expect to be purgable in other trials… aren’t.
	Elemental Susceptibility	For some trials, healers will need to slot this to debuff side adds, such as Protectors in vAS+2. Applies Major Breach, and will proc Off-Balance if your Blockade of Lightning is on the target.
	Leashing Soul	Sometimes healers need to taunt; using a Pull skill allows you to taunt without fear of stealing taunt from the Boss and you can apply Major Cowardice or Major Maim to reduce enemy damage.
	Trample	An alternative source of Major Heroism instead of the Pearls of Ehlnofey Mythic.
	Mystic Guard	Powerful damage reduction for a Tank, used in certain boss fights, like vDSR Twins HM.

Beam Skills

Disclaimer: As always, the “right” abilities will depend on group composition (what skills and gear the other players are running), what content you are doing (mechanics, boss specific needs, are you going to need to chain things), and other factors. This is just a starting point!

Front Bar

Icon	Name	Explanation
	Quick Cloak	This important close-range DoT provides the important Major Evasion buff (-20% damage from AoEs), and procs both of the enchantments on your frontbar daggers.
	Cephaliarch’s Flail	Your essential skill for building Crux. You should almost always follow the pattern (with Inspired Scholarship running) of “Flail, Flail, Beam”. It also heals you if it hits an enemy, and gives a +5% damage taken to enemies hit.
	Pragmatic Fatecarver	Your core skill and typical over 50% of your total damage. ABB: Always Be Beaming. It gives you a strong damage shield as well. To survive extended AoE damage (vAS, vSS Lokke, etc), you can cast beam, tap Bash to cancel the beam, and immediately recast Beam to refresh the shield repeatedly.
	Camouflaged Hunter or Banner Bearer	Slotted purely for the passives and never cast. You get Minor Berserk for +5% damage attacking enemies from behind, and +3% Weapon Damage for having it slotted. Can be replaced by Banner Bearer (typically Shock/Cavalier’s Charge/Heroism). In fights like vSS, where you can never get behind the boss, it’s less useful.
	Flex spot:
		Engulfing Flames: A decent DoT that makes enemies take +6% fire damage from all sources, and can refresh your Molten Whip stacks.
		Venomous Claw: A very strong DoT that refreshes whip stacks. Because it’s damage ramps up, you generally don’t want to recast it early.
		Barbed Trap: A very strong DoT and source of hemorrhage status damage which provides +3% Weapon Damage from passives.
		Resolving Vigor: A self heal and source of Minor Resolve, useful for portals or other mechanics where you’ll be far from healer.
	Ultimate: Incapacitating Strike or Soul Harvest	This serves two purposes. Passively slotted, it gives you +10% Crit Damage, and provides Minor Savagery (+6% Crit Chance). Second, it’s a good “need damage now” skill or if you know you won’t save enough ultimate to use Standard of Might before the fight ends. The morph choice depends on the content. When doing content with many enemies, such as dungeons and certain trials, soul harvest is the preferred morph due to its unique passive of giving 10 ultimate upon dealing a killing blow.

Back Bar

Icon	Name	Explanation
	Inspired Scholarship	A critical buff that passively provides Major Brutality (+20% damage done), generates a free Crux every time you spend Crux, and gives extra direct damage hits.
	Weapon Skill:	This is the most important backbar skill to keep up because it procs your infused backbar weapon damage enchantment (regardless of sets/arena weapons).
		Stampede: If using Maelstrom Greatsword, this skill gives a guaranteed Crit hit, a decent DoT, but more importantly gives up to +12% direct damage done from Maelstrom set. Note that the small ground-based DoT is what needs to deal damage to proc your enchantment.
		Blockade of Fire: If using Maelstrom Inferno Staff, this skill gives a very, very high damage DoT (often in the top 3 or 4 sources of total dps).
	Flames of Oblivion	Passive Major Savagery for slotting, a very important buff, as well as a strong DoT when active. Also refreshes whip stacks.
	DoT Spot:
		Venomous Claw: A very strong DoT that refreshes whip stacks. Because it’s damage ramps up, you generally don’t want to recast it early. Definitely what to put here if it isn’t on your front bar.
		Fulminating Rune: A good DoT that also provides a good synergy to your team. This skill is a group dps net gain over other options if group members take the synergy. Its cost is tied to the lower of your maximum resources, which can help balance out sustain issues especially if using a Greatsword backbar.
		Anti-Cavalry Caltrops: A good damage, large AoE DoT. Useful in large add packs.
	Molten Whip or Banner Bearer	Slotted purely passively, it provides +300 Weapon Damage if stacks are kept up. Can be replaced by Banner Bearer (typically Shock/Cavalier’s Charge/Courage). Could also be replaced by a DoT especially if whip stacks can’t be kept at 3x (which is common).
	Ultimate: Standard of Might	A very strong DoT effect that also gives you +15% damage done and -15% damage taken, as well as provides allies with a synergy. It’s only downsides are that it’s expensive to cast and immobile, so make sure not to cast it right before a boss moves or goes into an invuln stage. Particularly potent when combined with Pillager’s or Crypt due to the stacking damage done effects of both Standard and your Incapacitating Strike.

---

ESO Update 48 Mid-tier Trial Rosters

These rosters should be ready to copy and paste into Discord, though you may need to check the custom icons based on your servers and emoji availability. (Click to expand)

Maw of Lorkhaj

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**Reqs**: Please state role(s) when signing up. Dps must parse 90K. Will take 3 without clear.

**Addons**: Crutch Alerts, Ody's Support Icons, Hodors (for supports)

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:red_point: MT (Winter/Soldier/Earthen) `[Yolna/Pearl/Naz]` (Horn):  
:red_point: OT (Bone/Summon/Flex) `[Lucent/PA/AD]` (Atro):

:yellow_point: Healer (Green/Siphon/Curative) `[SPC/PP/Pearls]` (Glyphic):
:yellow_point: Healer (Restoring/Siphon/Summon) `[RO/JO/Symph]` (Barrier):

:green_point: DPS M1:
:green_point: DPS R1:
:green_point: DPS M2:
:green_point: DPS R2:
:green_point: DPS M3:
:green_point: DPS R3:
:green_point: DPS M4:
:green_point: DPS R4: `[Zen]` (Colo)
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Runners
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Halls of Fabrication

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**Reqs**: Please state role(s) when signing up. Dps must parse 90K. Will take 3 without clear.

**Addons**: Crutch Alerts, Ody's Support Icons

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**RIGHT STACK (Reactor)**
:red_point: MT (Winter/Soldier/Earthen) `[Yolna/Pearl/Naz]` (Horn):  
:yellow_point: Healer (Restoring/Siphon/Summon) `[MA/PA/Pearls/Ozezan]` (Barrier):  
:green_point: DPS:
:green_point: DPS:
:green_point: DPS:
:green_point: DPS:
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**LEFT STACK (Reducer)**
:red_point: OT (Bone/Summon/Siphon) `[Lucent/PA/AD]` (Atro):  
:yellow_point: Healer (Green/Siphon/Curative) `[SPC/MA/Pearls/Symph]` (Glyphic):
:green_point: DPS:
:green_point: DPS:
:green_point: DPS:
:green_point: DPS: `[Zen]` (Colo)
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Portals
N:
E:
S:
W:
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Fill:

Asylum Sanctorium

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**Reqs**:

**Addons**: Asylum Sanctorium Status Panel, Asylum Tracker, Elms Markers

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:red_point: MT (Soldier/Earthen/Restoring) `[Yolna/Pearl/Naz]` (Horn):  
:red_point: OT (Winter/Summon/Flex) `[Lucent/PA/BZ]` (Atro): (Crushing Shock)

:yellow_point: Group Healer (Green/Restoring/Siphon) `[SPC/PP/Pearls]` (Barrier):
:green_point: Front Kite (Herald/Ardent/Survivability Flex [Soldier or Winter]):

:green_point: DPS 1:
:green_point: DPS 2:
:green_point: DPS 3 `[WM]`:
:green_point: DPS 4: (Crushing Shock)
:green_point: DPS 5:
:green_point: DPS 6 `[WM]`:
:green_point: DPS 7:
:green_point: DPS 8:
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Fill:

Cloudrest

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**Reqs**: Please state role(s) when signing up. Dps must parse 95K. Will take 3 without clear.

_(NO OAKENSOUL)_

**Addons**: HowTo Cloudrest, Ody's Support Icons, Lock Weapon Swap Updated

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:red_point: Mini Tank (Winter/Soldier/Earthen) `[Yolna/Lucent/Naz]` (Horn):  
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:red_point: Portal Tank 1 (Bone/Summon/Siphon) `[Pearl/PA/AD]` (Atro), Steed mundus - Ele Sus Z'Maja/Crystal:
:red_point: Portal Tank 2 (Bone/Summon/Siphon) `[Pearl/PA/AD]` (Atro), Steed mundus - Ele Sus Z'Maja/Crystal:
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Healers
:yellow_point: R Group Healer (Restoring/Siphon/Summon) `[MA/PA/Pearl/Ozezan]` (Barrier):  
:yellow_point: L Kite Healer (Green/Siphon/Curative) `[SPC/MA/Pearls/Symph]` (Glyphic):
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PORTAL 1
:green_point:L DPS CW:
:green_point:L DPS CCW:
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PORTAL 2
:green_point:L DPS CW:
:green_point:L DPS CCW:
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:green_point:R BACKUP PORTAL 1 DPS:
:green_point:R BACKUP PORTAL 2 DPS: `[Zen]` (Colo)
:green_point:R GRAPE SLAYER:

Sunspire

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**Reqs**: Please state role(s) when signing up. Dps must parse 95K. Will take 3 without clear.

**Addons**: HowTo Sunspire, Crutch Alerts, Ody's Support Icons, Hodors

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
:red_point: MT (Winter/Soldier/Earthen) `[Lucent/Pearl/Naz]` (Horn):  
:red_point: OT (Bone/Summon/Flex) `[Sax/PA/AD]` (Atro):  
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**HEAD STACK**
:yellow_point: Healer (Green/Siphon/Curative) `[SPC/MA/Pearls]` (Glyphic):
:green_point:DPS 1:
:green_point:DPS 2:
:green_point:DPS 3:  
:green_point:DPS 4:

**WING STACK**
:yellow_point: Healer (Restoring/Siphon/Summon) `[MA/PP/Symph]` (Barrier):  
:green_point:DPS 5:
:green_point:DPS 6:
:green_point:DPS 7:
:green_point:DPS 8: `[Zen]` (Colo)
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PORTAL:
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M:
R:
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TOMBS:
T1:
T2:
T3:
Backup:
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Fill:

Kyne's Aegis

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**Reqs**: Please state role(s) when signing up. Dps must parse 95K. Will take 3 without clear.

**Addons**: HowTo Kynes, Crutch Alerts, Ody's Support Icons, Hodors
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
:red_point: MT (Winter/Soldier/Earthen) `[Lucent/Pearl/Naz]` (Horn):  
:red_point: OT (Bone/Summon/Siphon) `[Sax/PA/AD]` (Atro):

:yellow_point: Healer (Green/Siphon/Curative) `[SPC/PP/Pearls]` (Glyphic):
:yellow_point: Healer (Restoring/Siphon/Summon) `[RO/JO/Symph]` (Barrier):

:green_point: DPS M1:
:green_point: DPS R1:
:green_point: DPS M2:
:green_point: DPS R2:
:green_point: DPS M3:
:green_point: DPS R3:
:green_point: DPS M4: (boat)
:green_point: DPS R4: `[Zen]` (Colo)
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Fill:

Rockgrove

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**Reqs**: Please state role(s) when signing up. Dps must parse 105K. Will take 3 without clear.

**Addons**: Qcells Rockgrove Helper, Crutch Alerts, Ody's Support Icons, Hodors

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
:red_point: MT (Winter/Soldier/Earthen) `[Lucent/Pearl/Naz]` (Horn):  
:red_point: OT (Bone/Summon/Siphon) `[Sax/PA/AD]` (Atro):  
:yellow_point: Kite Healer (Green/Siphon/Curative) `[SPC/PP/Pearls]` (Glyphic):
:yellow_point: Group Healer (Restoring/Siphon/Summon) `[RO/JO/Symph]` (Barrier):

:green_point: Guard DPS:

:green_point: DPS 1.1:
:green_point: DPS 1.2:
:green_point: DPS 1.3:

:green_point: DPS 2.1:
:green_point: DPS 2.2:
:green_point: DPS 2.3:

:green_point: DPS 8 (Ardent/Herald/Grave): `[Zen]` (Colo)
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Fill:

Dreadsail Reef

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**Reqs**: Please state role(s) when signing up. Dps must parse 95K. Will take 3 without clear.

**Addons**: Qcell's Dreadsail Reef Helper, Crutch Alerts, Ody's Support Icons

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
**RIGHT STACK**
:red_point: MT (Winter/Soldier/Earthen) `[Lucent/Pearl/Naz]` (Horn):  
:yellow_point: Healer (Green/Siphon/Curative) `[SPC/MA/Pearls]` (Glyphic):
:green_point:M1 top right:
:green_point:M2 bottom right:
:green_point:M3 dome swap:  
:green_point:M4: (Colo)

**LEFT STACK**
:red_point: OT (Bone/Summon/Siphon) `[Sax/PA/AD]` (Atro):  
:yellow_point: Healer (Restoring/Siphon/Summon) `[MA/PP/Symph]` (Barrier):  
:green_point:M1 top left:
:green_point:M2 bottom left:
:green_point:M3 dome swap:
:green_point:M4:

**BOSS 2 RUNNERS**
1:
2:
3:
Backup 1:
Backup 2:

**BOSS 3 BRIDGES**
1:
2:
3:

Sanity's Edge

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**Reqs**: Please state role(s) when signing up. Dps must parse 95K. Will take 3 without clear.

**Addons**: Crutch Alerts, Ody's Support Icons, Hodor's

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
:red_point: MT (Winter/Soldier/Earthen) `[Lucent/Pearl/Naz]` (Horn):  
:red_point: OT (Bone/Summon/Siphon) `[Sax/PA/AD]` (Atro):

:yellow_point: Healer (Green/Siphon/Curative) `[SPC/PP/Pearls]` (Glyphic):
:yellow_point: Healer (Restoring/Siphon/Summon) `[RO/JO/Symph]` (Barrier):

:green_point: DPS 1:
:green_point: DPS 2:
:green_point: DPS 3: (portal)
:green_point: DPS 4: (portal)
:green_point: DPS 5: (portal)
:green_point: DPS 6:
:green_point: DPS 7:

:green_point: DPS 8 (Ardent/Herald/Grave): `[Zen]` (Colo)
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Lucent Citadel

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**Reqs**: Please state role(s) when signing up. Dps must parse 95K. Will take 3 without clear.

**Addons**: Crutch Alerts, Ody's Support Icons, Hodor's

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
**GARGOYLE**
:red_point: MT (Winter/Soldier/Earthen) `[Lucent/Pearl/Naz]` (Horn):  
:yellow_point: Healer (Green/Siphon/Curative) `[SPC/PP or MA/Pearls]` (Glyphic): (W 90 /S 60)

:green_point:S DPS:
:green_point:SW DPS:
:green_point:W DPS: `[Zen]` (Colo)
:green_point:NW DPS:

**SCORPION**
:red_point: OT (Bone/Summon/Siphon) `[Sax/Xoryn/AD]` (Atro): (kite boss 2)
:yellow_point: Healer (Restoring/Siphon/Summon) `[(ROJO or MA)/PP/Pearls/Symph]` (Barrier): (E 90 / N 60)

:green_point:N DPS:
:green_point:NE DPS:
:green_point:E DPS:  
:green_point:SE DPS:
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Knot:
1
2
3
4
5
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Ossein Cage

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**Reqs:** Please state role(s) when signing up. Dps must parse 120K. Will take 3 without clear.

**Addons:** Crutch Alerts, Ody's Support Icons, Hodor's, Ossein Cage Helper by Wondernuts

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
**SKORKHIF**
:red_point: MT (Winter/Soldier/Earthen) `[Lucent/Pearl/Naz]` (Horn):  
:yellow_point: Healer (Green/Siphon/Curative) `[SPC/PP/Pearls]` (Glyphic) (boss 3 stay):
:Reply: `[SPC/MA/Pearls/Ozezan]` on Boss 2
:green_point: DPS R1:
:green_point: DPS R2 (boss 1 portal):
:green_point: DPS R3 (boss 1 portal):
:green_point: DPS R4:

**JYNORAH**
:red_point: OT (Bone/Summon/Siphon) `[Sax/PA/AD]` (Atro):  
:yellow_point: Healer (Restoring/Siphon/Summon) `[RO/JO/Symph]` (Barrier):  
:Reply: `[SPC/MA/Pearls/Symph]` on Boss 2
:green_point: DPS B1:
:green_point: DPS B2 (boss 1 portal):
:green_point: DPS B3:
:green_point: DPS B4: `[Zen]` (Colo)
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Fill:

---

Notes

Guiding Principles

• Most dps will be in meta Herald/Ardent combos, which feature high penetration and crit damage. With Pragmatic Fatecarver and/or Reaving Blows CP, they have high innate survivability.
• Due to meta classes being Arc/Ardent/NB or Aedric, there is limited need for Roar of Alkosh, Elemental Catalyst, or Crimson Oath’s Rive sets in most fights (see calculations below).
• With the changes to Zenas’ (targets 6, not smart targeting), sourcing Minor Courage requires a change. The primary method of achieving this is through the courage affix on two Banner Bearer DPS. The recovery buffs from Zenas’ are moved to a healer running Radiant Aura.

Buff Calculations

• Typical Meta Penetration (Arc/NB/Aedric):

  • Major Breach (Ele Sus) 5,948
  • Minor Breach (Cruxweaver on MT or good Wall/Ele Sus uptimes) 2,974
  • Crusher 2,108
  • Piercing Blue CP 700
  • (Null Arca and Deadliy Strikes have no Pen lines)
  • Velothi: 1,650
  • Arcanist passives, 2 abilities slotted (Flail and Beam): 2,480
  • 1 Light Armor 939
  • Ansuuls or Tideborn 1,487
  • TOTAL: 18,286
  • Overcap with no need for Kosh or Crimson

• Typical Meta Crit Damage (Arc/NB/Aedric):

  • Base 50%
  • Minor Brittle 10%
  • Velothi / Minor Force 10%
  • 6 Medium armor 12%
  • Nightblade passive 10% or Aedric Spear FB 12%
  • Arcanist passive 12%
  • Lucent Echoes 11%
  • Saxhleel Champion / Major Force 20%
  • TOTAL: 133% or 135%
  • Overcap with no need for EC

Other Approaches

• A common composition is to put minor heroism on banner and source minor courage from the Yolnahkriin set. Why I don’t recommend:
  • Minor heroism is a luxury buff that can be sourced through potions. It is not a requirement, nor is it overly impactful. The buff itself provides 40 ultimate every 60 seconds.
  • We give up a 5 piece slot on a tank that could be used to source another more impactful buff such as Major Force from Saxhleel Champion, 307 Weapon Damage from Powerful Assault or 180 Weapon Damage from Pearlescent Ward.
  • Most fights in trials and dungeons are burst or phased fights. A set that provides a contant minor buff is less impactful and important than one which provides a stronger buff for a short time.
  • If we decide to give up a set like Saxhleel we need to change other parts of our build as well as the builds of others to compensate.
    • DPS have to change their CP, for example by dropping Wrathful Strikes (205 Weapon Damage) for Fighting Finesse (8% Critical Damage).
  • Using Yolnahkriin is always a damage loss, and the expected value loss in certain circumstances is huge.
  Explanation and Calculations: (click to expand)

  • The ultimate generation of minor heroism increases DPS by approximately 4.5/60 * 14% = 1.05%
    • The ultimate generation from minor heroism provides approximately (40/70) * 8s = 4.5s of 20% bonus damage from Incap every 60 seconds.
    • This is diluted down to ~14% bonus damage done due to other buffs which are always active such as minor berserk and our CPs (and even further with temporary buffs such as Major Berserk).
  • The DPS gain from keeping our wrathful strikes CP and using Saxhleel to reach crit cap in the important burst phases is ~2.5%.
    • When we don't have the Major Force from Saxhleel, our damage is only ~0.67% worse at 115% crit damage.
    • We can calculate the expected value (whether this is worth it) with this formula: E(T) = (1-T) * -0.67% + T * 2.5% where T is the uptime of Major Force.
    • The absolute minimum uptime is 20%, because we generate 3 ultimate per second from light attacking, however our class passives, skills (such as Trample and Exhilarating Drain) and the decisive trait can increase this.
      • If we take a conservative ultimate generation per second value of 4, our expected value from using Saxhleel is (1-0.267) * -0.67% + 0.267 * 2.5% = 0.18%, which only goes up the more you and your group improves.
      • The absolute minimum uptime of 20% is only a (1-0.2%) * -0.67 + 0.2% * 2.5 = -0.036% damage loss, which is almost negligible and highlights how pointless it is to use Yoln.
      • This minimum uptime also doesn't account for being able to start a fight phase with some ultimate already which can dramatically increase the uptime of Major Force.

Changelog

• 2025-12-17: Added links to parses, top dps, and top support skills and sets
• 2025-12-14: Updated main tank to use Runic Sunder
• 2025-11-23: Incorporated extensive cleanup and insights from TheMrPancake. Thank you!
• 2025-11-19: Tweaked MT skills and added more explanations of scribing skills and Zen’s dots to support setups
• 2025-11-14: Incorporate great feedback from Matthis and others
• 2025-11-13: Updated DPS guides to U48; revised support load outs to reflect knowledge gained in the last few months
• 2025-06-07: Revised support skill lines; made the meta of Ansuuls + 1 piece light armor the standard
• 2025-05-31: Added Dawn’s Wrath variant meta Beam arcanist
• 2025-05-30: Explicitly list Master’s Resto for MA/Sax / ROJO Healer; remove confusing Alternative loadouts; removed MK recommendation; clarify penetration minor breach
• 2025-05-28: Made ROJO a more explicit option (dang it); listed growing impact contigency option; switched OT to siphoning
• 2025-05-25: Fixed Support DPS skill bars, credit Banyu
• 2025-05-22: Explicitly listed alternative support loadout with Lucent and DPS with spear skill, to ditch Major Force.
• 2025-05-21: Made a support DPS explicit. Pointed out that MAPA Healer can use ROJO if desired.
• 2025-05-19: Revised support skills and gear loadouts for clarity. Added more discussin of other approaches and assumptions.
• 2025-05-17: Reverted usage of JO based on feedback, changed to Sax. Added scribed skills per suggestions.
• 2025-05-16: Added Other approaches section, fully gave up on Pillager’s in suggested setups.
• 2025-05-15: Fixed Tank mentions of required Runic Sunder. Added note that Beam arcs can slot spear for increased crit damage.
• 2025-05-14: Adjusted Healer roles and sets to reflect the ability to spam Barrier and maximize Major Slayer uptimes. Swapped Tank sets for Sax and no TT.
• 2025-05-13: Added Buff calculations to explain why certain sets aren’t needed; added explanation of Yolnakriin meta. Changed skill layouts to table form to include notes.
• 2025-05-12: Moved Glacial Colossus to SPC Healer; kept Reaving Blows CP requirement only for vAS; revised MT and OT lines to move Winter’s Embrace to MT and add Siphoning to OT
• 2025-05-11: Initial setups