Hyperioxes
Hyperioxes

Magicka Warden DPS Build | 187k DPS | ESO Guide

DPS Two Bar Magicka Pure Class Warden
Up to date for: Update 50 - 30th July 2026
Last changed: Update 50 - 30th July 2026

Magicka Warden (MagDen) DPS Build for ESO Update 50. This is a pure class Warden setup with very good single target damage and useful support for the group.

The main setup is built for damage, but Warden can make a few small changes to become extremely supportive with minimal DPS loss. It can switch to to provide , or use an Ice Staff front bar to provide .

Parsed 186.9k DPS in the Full Damage setup.

Works in normal and veteran dungeons, trials, hard modes, Dragonstar Arena, and Blackrose Prison.

This is a group build for Dungeons and Trials. If you're looking for a Solo build, check out the Magicka Warden Solo Build.

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Simulated Parse Tables

I built a simulator that takes the current setup from the guide and plays it through the listed rotation. It uses the listed gear, skills, Champion Points, race, Mundus, food, potions, target armor and target health. It tracks skill casts, light attacks, DoT ticks, cooldowns, execute scaling, crits and status effect rolls. It assumes 97% of light attacks hit and a 0.025 second weave average.

Comparison tables in this guide use the deterministic sim on the 21 million HP Iron Atronach trial dummy. The Base Setup is treated as the default.

For comparison tables I keep the setup identical and change one thing at a time. That makes the tables better for comparing options than random dummy parses, where one run can get better crits, different status effects or a better execute window.

Stampede Tick Jitter

The sim assumes lines up cleanly with ticks. Real ticks are close to 1 second apart, but not exactly. In my 186.9k CMX parse for example, hit at 19.198s, but ticked at 21.191s, which was 0.007s before the 2 second enchant cooldown was ready. then waited for the next tick and hit at 22.241s. The same kind of miss happened from 25.201s to 28.223s and 36.536s to 39.538s, etc.

This makes the sim overperform by overcounting compared to a real parse. In the real parse, fired off on average every 2.45 seconds, even though the enchant's cooldown is only 2 seconds.

Base Setup

Run DPS
21m deterministic sim
169.3k DPS
100 random 21m sims
Lowest 165.3k DPS
Highest 178.2k DPS

Full Damage Setup

The Full Damage setup changes the Base Setup: replaces , replaces on the back bar, and the armor changes from 6 Light / 1 Medium to 5 Medium / 2 Light

Run DPS
21m deterministic sim
183.5k DPS
Real 21m CMX parse
186.9k DPS
100 random 21m sims
Lowest 177.4k DPS
Highest 189.7k DPS
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Class Mastery

Class Masteries are a new U50 system where each class picks 2 of 5 passive bonuses (Class Mastery Points, not Skill Points). Activating subclassing disables Class Mastery, so it's a tradeoff between keeping your native skill lines or subclassing.

Default

Warden Class Mastery

Wild Adaptation

The battlefield is your grove. Tend to it.

Gain 333 Weapon and Spell Damage for each status effect on your target, up to a maximum of 1665.

Notes

Simply the best damage option.

Warden Class Mastery

Glacial Obstinance

Tap into the wellspring of permafrost's resolve.

Upgrades to also activate when casting Winter's Embrace abilities and to grant 15% Weapon and Spell Damage for 10 seconds if you are at full Health after the heal.

Notes

Simply the best damage option.

Situational

Warden Class Mastery

Tundra's Maw

Expose your enemies to unrelenting cold.

Applying to an enemy also applies for 2 seconds, increasing their Critical Damage taken by 20%.

Notes

Replaces . It can provide an extremely strong buff to your group, and it's roughly a 7.4% DPS loss.

Not worth it

Warden Class Mastery

Green-Keeper's Hide

The twisting of seasons has tempered your will.

Reduce your damage taken by 3% for every status effect active on your attacker, up to a maximum of 15%.

Notes

Not useful for this setup.

Warden Class Mastery

Bountiful Harvest

Share in the spoils of nature's abundance.

Upgrades rank 2 of to grant you and your group members for 3 seconds and an additional 125 Magicka and Stamina, up to once every 2 seconds.

Notes

Not useful for this setup.

Class Mastery Simulated Parse Damage Change
+
169.3k DPS
Baseline
+
156.8k DPS
-7.4%

Skill Setups

Base Setup

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

Front Bar Back Bar
Slot 1: Traveling KnifeFrost / Assassin's Misery / Berserk Slot 1: Winter's RevengeMorph of Impaling Shards
Slot 2: Subterranean AssaultMorph of Scorch Slot 2: Arctic BlastMorph of Arctic Wind
Slot 3: Ulfsild's ContingencyFrost / Lingering Torment / Intellect and Endurance Slot 3: Lotus BlossomMorph of Lotus Flower
Slot 4: Barbed TrapMorph of Trap Beast Slot 4: StampedeMorph of Critical Charge
Slot 5: Cutting DiveMorph of Dive Slot 5: Blue BettyMorph of Betty Netch
Ultimate: Wild GuardianMorph of Feral Guardian Ultimate: Wild GuardianMorph of Feral Guardian
  • ( , , ) - a spammable which increases chance to apply Status Effects on affected enemies by 100% for 10 seconds, and grants for 20 seconds, increasing your damage done by 5%
  • - a delayed ability that deals decent damage in an AoE in front of you. The fact that it's a Stamina ability that has to be re-activated every 6 seconds helps with sustaining Magicka
  • ( , , ) - deals damage in an AoE, applies a 22 second DoT, grants and , increasing your Magicka and Stamina recoveries by 15%, and is your AoE spammable
  • - a DoT that applies the status effect at the start and grants , increasing your Critical Damage by 10%
  • - a 10 second Bleed DoT. Since it's an Animal Companions skill, it also triggers
  • - slotted on both bars so the bear is active. Hold the active Ultimate until the last few seconds of the fight because of
  • - a ground DoT that deals a lot of damage when you count in the procs, triggered thanks to this skill's increased innate chance to proc status effects
  • - a 20 second Frost DoT around you which will deal a lot of damage by proccing the status effect
  • - its healing will constantly proc , greatly improving our sustain, and it provides and
  • - a gap closer which leaves a ground DoT under your target which will constantly proc your enchantment and increase your Direct Damage done thanks to set
  • - gives Magicka back over time, grants and , and every 5 seconds either removes one negative effect or, if none is removed, increases your damage done by 5% for 5 seconds. You can recast it early if you need to cleanse an important debuff.

Whenever you need to slot situational skills, replace unless stated otherwise

  • - extremely good ability for trash packs, you can pre-buff it a few seconds before entering combat
  • - an Ultimate you should use in trash packs
  • - an execute spammable for trash packs. It costs Stamina but you only have to switch to it when enemies are low, so it's possible to sustain it
  • - a decent DoT that you'll be able to sustain in the Destruction Staff setup
  • - use it as your source of whenever you're assigned to mechanics that separate you from your group, like for example portal in the Nahviintaas fight, Reef Hearts in the Reef Guardian fight, bridge in the Taleria fight, etc.
  • - a self-heal you'll need for some fights
  • - Magicka-costing ability that heals you when you take damage and at the end, which means you can spam it to constantly re-proc the direct heal. Use it when you need a self-heal you can spam under pressure. This ability can also target allies which can be either a good or a bad thing depending on the situation
Rotation Simulated Parse Damage Change
Priority List
169.3k DPS
Baseline
Static Rotation
156.4k DPS
-7.7%

Priority List

This is just a list of priorities. Simply recast abilities when they run out and follow this list of priorities when there are multiple things to refresh.

  • 1. If the fight is about to end, you can use 's active ability instead of holding the Ultimate
  • 2.
  • 3.
  • 4.
  • 5.
  • 6.
  • 7.
  • 8.
  • 9.
  • 10. debuff
  • 11.
  • 12. spammable

Pre-buff

These abilities can be pre-cast before entering combat

Other Setups

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

Example of a setup you can use for trash packs

Front Bar Back Bar
Slot 1: Traveling KnifeFrost / Assassin's Misery / Berserk Slot 1: Winter's RevengeMorph of Impaling Shards
Slot 2: Subterranean AssaultMorph of Scorch Slot 2: Channeled AccelerationMorph of Accelerate
Slot 3: Ulfsild's ContingencyFrost / Lingering Torment / Intellect and Endurance Slot 3: Lotus BlossomMorph of Lotus Flower
Slot 4: Arctic BlastMorph of Arctic Wind Slot 4: StampedeMorph of Critical Charge
Slot 5: Whirling BladesMorph of Whirlwind Slot 5: Blue BettyMorph of Betty Netch
Ultimate: Wild GuardianMorph of Feral Guardian Ultimate: Wild GuardianMorph of Feral Guardian

What Changes

Changes compared to the Base Setup

  • replaces on front bar
  • replaces on back bar
  • replaces

Additional Info

  • You can also pre-buff , and then use in that slot

Passives

Class

Weapon

Armor

Guild

Racial

Craft

Class - Animal Companions

Bond with Nature - High Priority

Savage Beast - High Priority

Flourish - High Priority

Advanced Species - High Priority

Gear

A base setup that will work for most situations and which should be your starting point when making situational setups. It assumes your group provides , , and nothing more

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

Light Armor gives penetration through the passive, so it doesn't depend on your group composition. Medium Armor can be stronger but needs your group to provide penetration. Use Light Armor if you don't know what your group brings, Medium Armor if you do.

Gear Slot Set Weight/Type Trait Enchantment
HeadHead Medium
ShouldersShoulders Light
ChestChest Light
HandsHands Light
BeltBelt Light
LegsLegs Light
FeetBoots Light
NeckNecklace Jewelry
RingRing Jewelry
RingRing Jewelry
MainhandFrontbar Main Hand Dagger
OffhandFrontbar Off Hand Dagger
MainhandBackbar Main Hand Greatsword

This setup does 169.3k DPS

Fallback Gear

Body (Light)
Whorl of the Depths - Trial Set (Dreadsail Reef)

If you don't have it, use in order

  1. - Trial Set (Lucent Citadel)
  2. - Crafted
  3. - Crafted
Weapons and Jewelry
Aerie's Cry - Class Set (Infinite Archive)

If you don't have it, use in order

  1. - Trial Set (Lucent Citadel)
  2. - Trial Set (Hel Ra Citadel)
  3. - Dungeon Set (Unhallowed Grave)
  4. - Dungeon Set (Frostvault)
  5. - Dungeon Set (Falkreath Hold)
  6. - Crafted
  7. - Crafted
Monster Helm
Slimecraw - Monster Set (Wayrest Sewers I)

Alternative (same bonus)

  1. - Direfrost Keep
  2. - Scalecaller Peak
  3. - Moongrave Fane
  4. - Stone Garden
  5. - Bedlam Veil
  6. - Night Market

Gear Set Comparisons

Damage comparison for the set options.

Body (Light)

Compares X Light set + weapons and jewelry.

Source
Body Set Source Simulated Parse Damage Change
Trial - Dreadsail Reef
169.3k DPS
Baseline
Trial - Lucent Citadel
166.0k DPS
-1.9%
Scribing
3 Stacks 165.9k DPS
0 Stacks 160.0k DPS
-2.0% -5.5%
Crafted
161.3k DPS
-4.7%
Overland - Deshaan
160.3k DPS
-5.3%
Crafted
160.1k DPS
-5.5%
Overland - Blackwood
159.4k DPS
-5.8%
Crafted
157.6k DPS
-6.9%
Crafted
157.2k DPS
-7.2%

Front Bar Weapons

Daggers are the default weapon. Lightning Staff and Inferno Staff are the best ranged weapons for when mechanics make melee annoying, with Bow and Greatsword behind them.

Front Bar Weapon Skill Changes Simulated Parse Damage Change
Dual Wield Daggers None
169.3k DPS
Baseline
Lightning Staff -> , ->
155.9k DPS
-7.9%
Inferno Staff -> , ->
152.7k DPS
-9.8%
Bow ->
150.2k DPS
-11.3%
Greatsword ->
148.1k DPS
-12.6%
Ice Staff -> , ->
150.2k DPS
-11.3%
Restoration Staff ->
141.9k DPS
-16.2%
One Handed and Shield ->
138.4k DPS
-18.2%

The front bar weapon and listed skills change. Daggers use and . Every one-weapon option uses a weapon. One Handed and Shield uses a one handed weapon plus a shield.

Situational Swaps

Alternative setups for different goals and content types

Content-Specific Swaps

  • Change the backbar enchant from to for the Full Damage setup

Use the Penetration Calculator to fine-tune your penetration for different content. Overland enemies have 9,100 armor while Instanced enemies (Arenas and Dungeons) have 18,200.

Tool Penetration Calculator Check your total armor penetration in ESO and see exactly how much DPS you're losing. Find out if you've hit the penetration cap for the type of content you're doing.
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Champion Points

Unlock Order

WarfareWarfare
6% Direct Damage
6% Single Target
205 Weapon and Spell Damage
8% Critical Damage and Healing
Critical Damage Cap
Replace with for the Medium gear setup or if your supports are providing enough Critical Damage for you to reach the 125% cap without
More Healing
is a decent Champion Point if you need more HPS
FitnessFitness
1500 Magicka on kills
1731 Armor
10% Movement Speed
90 Health, Stamina and Magicka Recovery
CraftCraft
20% Movement Speed out of combat
Quality of Life
The Craft tree is non-combat utility. Steed's Blessing is the only slottable that matters for group content, giving you extra movement speed between fights.

Race

The difference between best and worst race is about 4% of DPS and there is no content in the entire game that you'd be blocked from completing because of choosing a bad race.

High Elf
Best for 12-Man
High 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
Spell Recharge ~104 lower resource per second, 5% less damage taken while channeling
Syrabane's Boon 2000 Max Magicka
Elemental Talent 258 Weapon & Spell Damage
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 1910 Max Stamina & Magicka
Resist Flame 4620 Flame Resistance
Ruination 258 Weapon & Spell Damage
Khajiit
Best for 4-Man
Khajiit
Why pick this
Khajiit's Critical Damage is more valuable than High Elf/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 12% Critical Damage
Lunar Blessings 915 Max Health, Stamina and Magicka
Robustness 90 Health, Stamina, Magicka Recovery
Race Simulated Parse Damage Change
High Elf
169.3k DPS
Baseline
Dark Elf
169.3k DPS
-0.0%
Orc
167.9k DPS
-0.8%
Khajiit
167.2k DPS
-1.2%
Breton
165.2k DPS
-2.4%
Argonian
164.5k DPS
-2.8%
Imperial
162.8k DPS
-3.8%
Nord
162.8k DPS
-3.8%
Redguard
162.8k DPS
-3.8%
Wood Elf
162.8k DPS
-3.8%

Mundus

  • Default

    5.53% Critical Chance(9.04% with 7 )
    Use in all content
  • Situational

    2744 Penetration(4489 with 7 )
    An option if you're using Medium Armor and your group isn't providing enough penetration, but a Light Armor set with Mundus is always going to be stronger

Attributes

You should always put all 64 attribute points into Magicka.

Health
0
Stamina
0
Magicka
64
All points into Magicka

Food

This build should sustain properly with the default food. Use the sustain options if you need more Magicka or Stamina Recovery.

  • Default

    Max Health +5,414 Max Magicka +4,938
    Use for most content.
  • Sustain

    Max Health +3,326 Max Magicka +3,080 Health Recovery +406 Magicka Recovery +338
    Use if you still struggle with Magicka sustain. It lowers your Max Health and Max Magicka compared to the default food, but means you don't have to use as a semi-spammable just to sustain.
    Cheaper alternative
    Difference Max Health +3,094 −232 Max Magicka +2,856 −224 Health Recovery — −406 Magicka Recovery +315 −23
  • Sustain

    Max Health +4,312 Health Recovery +406 Stamina Recovery +369 Magicka Recovery +369
    Use if you want Stamina and Magicka sustain from food. It lets you replace .
    Cheaper alternative
    Difference Max Health +3,927 −385 Health Recovery — −406 Stamina Recovery +357 −12 Magicka Recovery +357 −12
  • Full Damage

    Max Magicka +6,048
    Max Magicka only. Use for content where you can get away without Max Health.
  • Full Damage

    Max Magicka +4,592 Magicka Recovery +459
    Use for the same content as when you want more Magicka sustain. It means you don't have to use as a semi-spammable just to sustain, but I parsed better with and as a filler.

Potions

  • Default

    Restore Health Restore Stamina Restore Magicka
    Most of the time you should use Tri-Stat potions. They restore Health, Stamina and Magicka.
    Craft with: Columbine Bugloss Mountain Flower
  • Situational

    Restore Magicka
    Use Spell Power potions whenever you aren't using .
    Craft with: Lady's Smock Namira's Rot Corn Flower

Parses

All parses are recorded on the 21 million Target Dummy.

Full Damage
186,895 DPS
Full Damage
186,895DPS
21mil Iron Atronach Dummy
Patch
Update 50
Armor
5 Medium / 2 Light
Gear Setup
Full Damage
Skill Setup
Base
Potion
Food
Mundus
Race
High Elf
CMX Parse
CMX Setup
Recording


Gameplay

Kyne's Aegis
Trial
Rockgrove
Trial
Graven Deep
Dungeon
Scalecaller Peak
Dungeon
Kyne's Aegis
Trial Veteran
Rockgrove
Trial Veteran
Graven Deep
Dungeon Veteran Hard Mode
Scalecaller Peak
Dungeon Veteran Hard Mode
Kyne's Aegis Veteran Log
Patch: Update 50
Rockgrove Veteran Log
Patch: Update 50
Graven Deep Veteran Hard Mode Log
Patch: Update 50
Scalecaller Peak Veteran Hard Mode Log
Patch: Update 50

FAQ

Yes. The Full Damage setup parsed 186.9k DPS. MagDen has very good single target damage and can switch to useful support for the group.

Light Armor gives penetration through the passive, so it doesn't depend on your group composition. Medium Armor can be stronger but needs your group to provide penetration, for example through . Use Light Armor if you don't know what your group brings, Medium Armor if you do.

Yes, you can replace the Dual Wield Daggers with other weapons. Lightning Staff and Inferno Staff are the best ranged weapons for when mechanics make melee annoying, with Bow and Greatsword behind them. Replacing the backbar Greatsword is not recommended because of the set which requires a Two Handed weapon.

High Elf and Dark Elf are the best races for Warden DPS in 12-man Trials, and Khajiit is the best for 4-man Dungeons. The difference between best and worst race is about 4% - see the Race section for more details.

Builds ESO DPS Builds DPS builds for Veteran Trials, Hard Modes, and 4-man arenas, verified through gameplay and clears. Pure class, subclass, one bar, heavy attack.


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