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Beam DPS Build
for every Class

DPS Nightblade Templar Arcanist Necromancer Dragonknight Sorcerer Warden Subclass Stamina Two Bar
Up to date for: Update 49 - 20th March 2026
Last changed: Update 49 - 20th March 2026

Beam DPS is a build for ESO Update 49 that works with every base class thanks to subclassing. It's built around Pragmatic FatecarverPragmatic Fatecarver from the Arcanist's Herald of the Tome skill line - a channeled beam that does full cleave in a 22 meter line and gives you a massive damage shield, making it the most practical setup for most encounters.

Most setups pair Herald of the Tome with Templar's Dawn's Wrath for Radiant GloryRadiant Glory as an execute and Solar BarrageSolar Barrage for a 5% class damage buff that buffs FatecarverFatecarver. Dragonknight is the exception - it drops Dawn's Wrath for Ardent Flame and Earthen Heart, trades the execute for stronger group utility, and still parses the highest at 147k.

The Dragonknight variant with Slivers of Null ArcaSlivers of Null Arca parses 147k DPS, Ansuul's TormentAnsuul's Torment hits 143k, Tide-Born WildstalkerTide-Born Wildstalker lands at 136k, and crafted-only gear still pulls 118k. All parses are on the 21 million dummy.

Subclassing

Base Class

You can use this build with any base class.

(Almost) Always Use These Two

Herald of the Tome
Arcanist
Dawn's Wrath
Templar

We will (almost) always use Arcanist's Herald of the Tome and Templar's Dawn's Wrath. Herald of the Tome gives us access to the core ability of this build - Pragmatic FatecarverPragmatic Fatecarver. Dawn's Wrath provides us with Radiant GloryRadiant Glory, an extremely strong execute, and Solar BarrageSolar Barrage, a skill which increases damage of class skills by 5% which will affect Pragmatic FatecarverPragmatic Fatecarver.

Dragonknight exception

Dragonknight exception

Dragonknight is an exception. It uses Ardent Flame and Earthen Heart skill lines instead of Dawn's Wrath.

3rd Skill Line

Choose one of these as your 3rd skill line. If your base class is Arcanist or Templar you can choose any of them, otherwise you're locked to a single possible combination

Aedric Spear
Templar
Storm Calling
Sorcerer
Assassination
Nightblade
Animal Companions
Warden
Grave Lord
Necromancer

Final Combinations

The DPS numbers below come from Iron Atronach dummy parses . Additional Benefits are bonuses that weren't reflected on a dummy parse, but can be useful in actual fights. For example, Aedric Spear's Piercing SpearPiercing Spear passive gives bonus Critical Damage, but it wasn't important on the dummy because it already has enough Critical Damage, but it will make a difference in actual content. Balanced WarriorBalanced Warrior is a defensive example - it grants Weapon and Spell Damage (which is already in the parse) plus Armor, so the Armor is the only additional benefit that's being mentioned.

Herald of the Tome
Herald of the Tome
Arcanist
Dawn's Wrath
Dawn's Wrath
Templar
Assassination
Assassination
Nightblade
DPS 145,350 DPS
Usable by Arcanist Templar Nightblade

Additional Benefits

10% Critical Damage from HemorrhageHemorrhage
Group Minor Savagery from HemorrhageHemorrhage
Great sustain in trash thanks to ExecutionerExecutioner passive
Ultimate generation on kills thanks to Soul HarvestSoul Harvest

Cons

Requires flanking enemies for Master AssassinMaster Assassin passive to work
Herald of the Tome
Herald of the Tome
Arcanist
Dawn's Wrath
Dawn's Wrath
Templar
Storm Calling
Storm Calling
Sorcerer
DPS 141,249 DPS
Usable by Arcanist Templar Sorcerer

Additional Benefits

Self-sufficient Major Resolve from HurricaneHurricane
Additional sustain from CapacitorCapacitor
Situational self-healing from Critical SurgeCritical Surge

Cons

N/A
Herald of the Tome
Herald of the Tome
Arcanist
Dawn's Wrath
Dawn's Wrath
Templar
Animal Companions
Animal Companions
Warden
DPS 144,621 DPS
Usable by Arcanist Templar Warden

Additional Benefits

Great sustain thanks to FlourishFlourish and Bull NetchBull Netch/Blue BettyBlue Betty
Additional Critical Damage from Advanced SpeciesAdvanced Species
Self-sufficient Major and Minor Breach thanks to Deep FissureDeep Fissure, helpful when playing with bad Tanks
Deep FissureDeep Fissure is a very good pre-cast ability for trash packs

Cons

Wild GuardianWild Guardian is a single target ultimate that has to be double-barred, so you can't bring The Languid EyeThe Languid Eye as a backup AoE ultimate
Herald of the Tome
Herald of the Tome
Arcanist
Dawn's Wrath
Dawn's Wrath
Templar
Grave Lord
Grave Lord
Necromancer
DPS 143,887 DPS
Usable by Arcanist Templar Necromancer

Additional Benefits

Extremely strong execute thanks to Death KnellDeath Knell
Additional penetration from DismemberDismember, helpful when playing with bad Tanks

Cons

Skills that interact with corpses are extremely buggy
Herald of the Tome
Herald of the Tome
Arcanist
Dawn's Wrath
Dawn's Wrath
Templar
Aedric Spear
Aedric Spear
Templar
DPS 145,890 DPS
Usable by Templar

Additional Benefits

12% Critical Damage from Piercing SpearPiercing Spear
6% Armor from Balanced WarriorBalanced Warrior

Cons

N/A
Herald of the Tome
Herald of the Tome
Arcanist
Ardent Flame
Ardent Flame
Dragonknight
Earthen Heart
Earthen Heart
Dragonknight
DPS 147,428 DPS
Usable by Dragonknight

Additional Benefits

Self-sufficient Major Resolve from Shatterspike MantleShatterspike Mantle
Supports the group with Standard of MightStandard of Might
Provides Major Brutality/Sorcery for the group thanks to Igneous WeaponsIgneous Weapons
2,974 Armor from Heart of StoneHeart of Stone passive
Doesn't lose cleave in execute, because it never switches from Pragmatic FatecarverPragmatic Fatecarver to Radiant GloryRadiant Glory

Cons

No execute ability

Skill Setups

Base Setup

A base setup that uses only Herald of the Tome and Dawn's Wrath skill lines and which should be your starting point to which you'll later add skills from your 3rd skill line

Cephaliarchs Flail Pragmatic Fatecarver Radiant Glory Quick Cloak Camouflaged Hunter The Languid Eye
Solar Barrage Fulminating Rune Inspired Scholarship Stampede Vampires Bane The Languid Eye
Front Bar Back Bar
Slot 1: Cephaliarch's Flail Slot 1: Solar Barrage
Slot 2: Pragmatic Fatecarver Slot 2: Fulminating Rune
Slot 3: Radiant Glory Slot 3: Inspired Scholarship
Slot 4: Quick Cloak Slot 4: Stampede
Slot 5: Camouflaged Hunter Slot 5: Vampire's Bane
Ultimate: The Languid Eye Ultimate: The Languid Eye
Info
Situational
Rotation

Final Setups

A few examples of final setups you could end up with

Assassination Skill Setups

Default setup

Cephaliarchs Flail Pragmatic Fatecarver Radiant Glory Quick Cloak Camouflaged Hunter Soul Harvest
Solar Barrage Fulminating Rune Inspired Scholarship Stampede Vampires Bane The Languid Eye
Front Bar Back Bar
Slot 1: Cephaliarch's Flail Slot 1: Solar Barrage
Slot 2: Pragmatic Fatecarver Slot 2: Fulminating Rune
Slot 3: Radiant Glory Slot 3: Inspired Scholarship
Slot 4: Quick Cloak Slot 4: Stampede
Slot 5: Camouflaged Hunter Slot 5: Vampire's Bane
Ultimate: Soul Harvest Ultimate: The Languid Eye
Info
Situational
Rotation

Passives

Class

Weapon

Armor

Guild

Racial

Craft

Class - Herald of the Tome

Fated FortuneFated Fortune - High Priority

Harnessed QuintessenceHarnessed Quintessence - High Priority

Psychic LesionPsychic Lesion - High Priority

Splintered SecretsSplintered Secrets - High Priority

Gear

Base Setup

A base setup that will work for most situations and which should be your starting point when making situational setups

Switching gear for trash packs isn't worth it unless you're using gear-swap addons

Gear Slot Set Weight/Type Trait Enchantment
HeadHead NerienethNerieneth Medium DivinesDivines StaminaStamina
ShouldersShoulders NerienethNerieneth Light DivinesDivines StaminaStamina
ChestChest Slivers of Null ArcaSlivers of Null Arca Medium DivinesDivines StaminaStamina
HandsHands Slivers of Null ArcaSlivers of Null Arca Medium DivinesDivines StaminaStamina
BeltBelt Slivers of Null ArcaSlivers of Null Arca Medium DivinesDivines StaminaStamina
LegsLegs Slivers of Null ArcaSlivers of Null Arca Medium DivinesDivines StaminaStamina
FeetBoots Slivers of Null ArcaSlivers of Null Arca Medium DivinesDivines StaminaStamina
NeckNecklace Velothi Ur-Mage's AmuletVelothi Ur-Mage's Amulet Jewelry BloodthirstyBloodthirsty Increase Physical HarmIncrease Physical Harm
RingRing Highland SentinelHighland Sentinel Jewelry BloodthirstyBloodthirsty Increase Physical HarmIncrease Physical Harm
RingRing Highland SentinelHighland Sentinel Jewelry BloodthirstyBloodthirsty Increase Physical HarmIncrease Physical Harm
MainhandFrontbar Main Hand Highland SentinelHighland Sentinel Dagger NirnhonedNirnhoned FlameFlame
MainhandFrontbar Off Hand Highland SentinelHighland Sentinel Dagger ChargedCharged PoisonPoison
MainhandBackbar Main Hand Merciless ChargeMerciless Charge Greatsword InfusedInfused Weapon DamageWeapon Damage
Situational
Alternative

Easier to obtain options while working towards the best gear

Crafted (tradable):

PvP (tradable):

Additional Info

Final Setups

A few examples of final setups you could end up with after applying situational rules to the base setup

This is the crafted gear setup you can start with

Gear Slot Set Weight/Type Trait Enchantment
HeadHead Order's WrathOrder's Wrath Medium DivinesDivines StaminaStamina
ShouldersShoulders Order's WrathOrder's Wrath Light DivinesDivines StaminaStamina
ChestChest Tide-Born WildstalkerTide-Born Wildstalker Medium DivinesDivines StaminaStamina
HandsHands Tide-Born WildstalkerTide-Born Wildstalker Medium DivinesDivines StaminaStamina
BeltBelt Tide-Born WildstalkerTide-Born Wildstalker Medium DivinesDivines StaminaStamina
LegsLegs Tide-Born WildstalkerTide-Born Wildstalker Medium DivinesDivines StaminaStamina
FeetBoots Tide-Born WildstalkerTide-Born Wildstalker Medium DivinesDivines StaminaStamina
NeckNecklace Order's WrathOrder's Wrath Jewelry BloodthirstyBloodthirsty Increase Physical HarmIncrease Physical Harm
RingRing Order's WrathOrder's Wrath Jewelry BloodthirstyBloodthirsty Increase Physical HarmIncrease Physical Harm
RingRing Order's WrathOrder's Wrath Jewelry BloodthirstyBloodthirsty Increase Physical HarmIncrease Physical Harm
MainhandFrontbar Main Hand Highland SentinelHighland Sentinel Dagger NirnhonedNirnhoned FlameFlame
MainhandFrontbar Off Hand Highland SentinelHighland Sentinel Dagger ChargedCharged PoisonPoison
MainhandBackbar Main Hand Highland SentinelHighland Sentinel Inferno Staff InfusedInfused Weapon DamageWeapon Damage

This setup parses 117.9k DPS. Use the Base Skill Setup with the changes shown below. When your setup needs to slot situational skills, replace Fulminating RuneFulminating Rune first, then Quick CloakQuick Cloak.

Skill Setup
Cephaliarch's Flail Pragmatic Fatecarver Radiant Glory Quick Cloak Barbed Trap The Languid Eye
Solar Barrage Fulminating Rune Inspired Scholarship Elemental Blockade Vampire's Bane The Languid Eye
Front Bar Back Bar
Slot 1: Cephaliarch's Flail Slot 1: Solar Barrage
Slot 2: Pragmatic Fatecarver Slot 2: Fulminating Rune
Slot 3: Radiant Glory Slot 3: Inspired Scholarship
Slot 4: Quick Cloak Slot 4: Elemental Blockade
Slot 5: Barbed Trap Slot 5: Vampire's Bane
Ultimate: The Languid Eye Ultimate: The Languid Eye

Champion Points

WarfareWarfare
Master-at-Arms
6% Direct Damage
Because more than 60% of your damage is Direct
Biting Aura
6% AoE Damage
Because more than 60% of your damage is AoE
Fighting Finesse
8% Critical Damage and Healing
Next strongest CP damage-wise
Wrathful Strikes
205 Weapon and Spell Damage
Next strongest CP damage-wise
Crit Cap
Replace Fighting FinesseFighting Finesse with ExploiterExploiter if your supports are providing enough Critical Damage for you to reach the 125% cap
More Healing
Reaving BlowsReaving Blows is a decent Champion Point if you need more HPS
FitnessFitness
Boundless Vitality
1400 Max Health
Survivability
Fortified
1731 Armor
Survivability
Bloody Renewal
1500 Stamina on kills
Sustain in fights with lots of adds
Rejuvenation
90 Health, Stamina and Magicka Recovery
Sustain
Movement Speed
Use CelerityCelerity in fights where you need more movement speed. Replace the CP which is least useful for that fight, for example Bloody RenewalBloody Renewal if a fight has no adds
Craft Craft
Steed's Blessing
20% Movement Speed out of combat
Extremely useful utility
Quality of Life
Green Champion Points don't affect Combat, choose whatever Quality of Life you prefer

Race

The difference between best and worst race is about 5% of DPS and there is no content in the entire game that you'd be blocked from completing because of choosing a bad race.

Dark Elf
Best for 12-Man
Dark Elf
Why pick this
Provides Max Magicka and Weapon/Spell Damage. In Trials that's usually stronger than Khajiit's Critical Damage racial, because with 4 supports your team will (usually) provide enough Critical Damage buffs for you to reach the cap regardless
Dynamic Dynamic 1910 Max Stamina & Magicka
Resist Flame Resist Flame 4620 Flame Resistance
Ruination Ruination 258 Weapon & Spell Damage
Khajiit
Best for 4-Man
Khajiit
Why pick this
Khajiit's Critical Damage is more valuable than Dark Elf's Weapon/Spell Damage in 4-man content, because it's unlikely your two supports (or in many cases a single support) will be able to provide enough Critical Damage buffs for you to reach the 125% Critical Damage cap
Feline Ambush Feline Ambush 12% Critical Damage
Nimble Nimble 915 Max Health, Stamina and Magicka
Robustness Robustness 90 Health, Stamina, Magicka Recovery

Other decent options

Orc
Orc
Brawny Brawny 1000 Max Stamina
Unflinching Rage Unflinching Rage 1000 Max Health, ≈531 Healing per Second
Swift Warrior Swift Warrior 258 Weapon & Spell Damage, -12% Sprint Cost, +10% Sprint Speed
High Elf
High Elf
Spell Recharge Spell Recharge ≈104 lower resource per second, 5% less damage taken while channeling
Syrabane's Boon Syrabane's Boon 2000 Max Magicka
Elemental Talent Elemental Talent 258 Weapon & Spell Damage
Wood Elf
Wood Elf
Hunter's Eye Hunter's Eye 950 Penetration, 5% Movement Speed
Y'ffre's Endurance Y'ffre's Endurance 258 Stamina Recovery
Resist Affliction Resist Affliction 2000 Max Stamina, 2310 Poison and Disease Resistance
Imperial
Imperial
Tough Tough 2000 Max Health
Imperial Mettle Imperial Mettle 2000 Max Stamina
Red Diamond Red Diamond Reduce cost of all abilities by 6%
Redguard
Redguard
Martial Training Martial Training 8% Reduced Weapon Skill Cost, 15% Reduced effectiveness of snares
Conditioning Conditioning 2000 Max Stamina
Adrenaline Rush Adrenaline Rush 201 Stamina per second

Mundus

The Thief
Default
The Thief
5.53% Critical Chance (9.04% with 7 Divines)
When to use
Use in all content

Attributes

You should always put all 64 attribute points into Stamina

Health
0
Stamina
64
Magicka
0
All points into Stamina

Food

Your sustain can vary greatly because it's impacted by your race, your chosen skill lines, the amount of synergies provided by your teammates, and by your armor type. Choose the food with more Stamina Recovery if you can't sustain.

Braised Rabbit with Spring Vegetables
Default
Braised Rabbit with Spring Vegetables
Max Health Max Stamina
Use for most content.
Artaeum Takeaway Broth
Need Sustain
Artaeum Takeaway Broth
Max Health Max Stamina Stamina Recovery
Use when you need more sustain. Dubious Camoran ThroneDubious Camoran Throne is a cheaper alternative.
Hearty Garlic Corn Chowder
Full Damage
Hearty Garlic Corn Chowder
Max Stamina
Max Stamina only. Use for parsing or content where you can get away without Max Health. Lava Foot Soup-and-SaltriceLava Foot Soup-and-Saltrice adds Stamina Recovery if needed, at the cost of some of the Max Stamina.

Potions

Tri-Stat Potion
Default Tri-Stat Potion
Restore Health Restore Stamina Restore Magicka

Most of the time you should use Tri-Stat potions. They'll greatly improve your sustain.

Craft with: Columbine Columbine Bugloss Bugloss Online:Mountain_Flower Mountain's Flower
Heroism Potion
Situational Heroism Potion
Minor Heroism Restore Stamina Restore Magicka

Heroism potions provide 100% uptime on Minor Heroism which generates Ultimate, but they're extremely expensive.

Craft with: Dragon Rheum Dragon Rheum Online:Dragon's_Blood Dragon's Blood Columbine Columbine

Parses

All parses are recorded on the 21 million Target Dummy

Dragonknight
147,428DPS
Target: 21mil Iron Atronach Dummy
Patch: Update 49
CMX Parse
CMX Parse - Dragonknight
CMX Setup
CMX Setup - Dragonknight
Recording
Parse recording
Storm Calling
141,249DPS
Target: 21mil Iron Atronach Dummy
Patch: Update 49
CMX Parse
CMX Parse - Storm Calling
CMX Setup
CMX Setup - Storm Calling
Recording
Parse recording
Assassination
145,350DPS
Target: 21mil Iron Atronach Dummy
Patch: Update 49
CMX Parse
CMX Parse - Assassination
CMX Setup
CMX Setup - Assassination
Recording
Parse recording
Animal Companions
144,621DPS
Target: 21mil Iron Atronach Dummy
Patch: Update 49
CMX Parse
CMX Parse - Animal Companions
CMX Setup
CMX Setup - Animal Companions
Recording
Parse recording
Grave Lord
143,887DPS
Target: 21mil Iron Atronach Dummy
Patch: Update 49
CMX Parse
CMX Parse - Grave Lord
CMX Setup
CMX Setup - Grave Lord
Recording
Parse recording
Ansuul's Torment
142,869DPS
Target: 21mil Iron Atronach Dummy
Patch: Update 49

Parsed with the Dragonknight subclass using the AoE gear setup. For comparison, the regular Null Arca setup does 147,428 DPS.

CMX Parse
CMX Parse - Ansuul
CMX Setup
CMX Setup - Ansuul
Aedric Spear
145,890DPS
Target: 21mil Iron Atronach Dummy
Patch: Update 49
CMX Parse
CMX Parse - Aedric Spear
CMX Setup
CMX Setup - Aedric Spear
Recording
Parse recording
Tide-Born Wildstalker
135,673DPS
Target: 21mil Iron Atronach Dummy
Patch: Update 49

Parsed with the Dragonknight subclass using the No Trial Gear setup. For comparison, the regular Null Arca setup does 147,428 DPS.

CMX Parse
CMX Parse - Tide-Born
CMX Setup
CMX Setup - Tide-Born
Crafted Only
117,854DPS
Target: 21mil Iron Atronach Dummy
Patch: Update 49

Parsed with the Dragonknight subclass using the Crafted Only gear setup. For comparison, the regular Null Arca setup does 147,428 DPS.

CMX Parse
CMX Parse - Crafted
CMX Setup
CMX Setup - Crafted

Gameplay

Here you can see this build tackling Veteran Dungeons and Trials with different subclasses

Kyne's Aegis
Trial
Bal Sunnar
Dungeon
Kyne's Aegis
Trial Veteran
Bal Sunnar
Dungeon Veteran Hard Mode
Dragonknight - Veteran Kyne's Aegis Veteran
Dragonknight - Veteran Hard Mode Bal Sunnar Veteran Hard Mode

FAQ

Is magicka arcanist viable in ESO?

Magicka Arcanist plays almost identically to Stamina Arcanist because most Arcanist skills change their cost based on your highest resource. The only difference is sustain - Cephaliarch's Flail skill icon - ESOCephaliarch's Flail always costs Stamina regardless of your build, which means Magicka Arcanist has worse sustain. This is why you won't find many Magicka Arcanist builds out there - most players see no reason to play the exact same build with the exact same playstyle except your resource bar is blue and your sustain is worse.

Which Fatecarver morph is better?

Pragmatic FatecarverPragmatic Fatecarver. It gives you a massive damage shield and interrupt immunity while channeling. Exhausting FatecarverExhausting Fatecarver does slightly more damage thanks to the extended duration, but it's harder to sustain and has no shield, making Pragmatic the better choice for almost all real content.

Is Pragmatic Fatecarver direct damage in ESO?

Yes. As of Update 46, all beam abilities including Pragmatic FatecarverPragmatic Fatecarver were changed from Damage over Time to Direct Damage. See the Update 46 patch notes for details.

Is Fatecarver AoE?

Yes. FatecarverFatecarver hits everything in a 22 meter line in front of you, dealing full damage. It doesn't lose single-target damage to hit multiple enemies, making it one of the strongest cleave abilities in ESO.

Changelog

Update 49 - 20th March 2026

  • Ardent Flame replaced by Dawn's Wrath as the 2nd staple skill line
  • Added separate Dragonknight setup
  • Added new parses and gameplay videos for all skill lines

Update 48 - 25th November 2025

  • Build published
See all DPS Builds


THANKS FOR READING

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