Hyperioxes
Hyperioxes

One Bar Breath Dragonknight DPS Build | 132k DPS | ESO Guide

DPS One Bar Magicka Pure Class Dragonknight
Up to date for: Update 50 - 29th July 2026
Last changed: Update 50 - 1st June 2026

One Bar Magicka Dragonknight DPS Build built around the reworked ability, a channeled fire breath attack that ramps up in damage over 4.8 seconds and synergizes with the ultimate. Same core as the full Breath Dragonknight build, just condensed to one bar.

Obviously weaker than the two bar version, but still competitive for a One Bar build in ESO Update 50. This is the version you should use if you hate bar swapping.

This build parses 131.6k DPS with the Medium Armor setup on the Iron Atronach dummy.

Looking for more damage? Check out the two bar Breath Dragonknight DPS Build which parses 148k DPS.

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

The video is from an older patch - the written guide below is more up to date.
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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, 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 100% 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 Medium Armor 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.

Run DPS Notes
21m deterministic sim
130.8k DPS
Used for comparison tables in this guide
Real 21m CMX parse
131.6k DPS
Recorded in game
100 random 21m sims
Lowest 125.6k DPS
Highest 134.4k DPS
This is why random parses are unreliable when crits and status effects roll differently
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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

Dragonknight Class Mastery

Inexorable Descent

Be as the landslide. Let nothing stop you.

Improves your passive to increase the potency of your damage done, healing done, and damage shield strength by 1% per stack.

Notes

Simply the best damage option.

Dragonknight Class Mastery

Wildfire Embers

Fire forged within can never be extinguished. Fan the flames.

When your Dragonknight damage over time effects end, you apply Wildfire Embers to the target, dealing Flame Damage over 12 seconds. This effect stacks up to 12 times and increases in damage by 25% per stack.

Flame Damage

Total Coefficient7.01% Max Stamina/Magicka + 73.95% Weapon/Spell Damage
Tick RateEvery 2s (6 ticks)
Status Chance3%
TagsFlameSingle TargetDoT
Not in Tooltip

Wildfire Embers' damage does not benefit from some Weapon Damage sources like or .

Notes

Simply the best damage option.

Not worth it

Dragonknight Class Mastery

Resolute Defense

You are as unyielding as a mountain.

Each second you remain Bracing, you increase the amount of damage you block by 6%, up to 5 times.

Blocking damage has a 20% chance to restore 500 Stamina. This effect can occur once every block cost.

Notes

Not useful for this setup.

Dragonknight Class Mastery

Booming Voice

Let your voice echo across the peaks.

Activating rank 2 of now also grants 5 Health, Magicka, and Stamina Recovery for every Ultimate spent for 10 seconds after a delay of 15 seconds.

Notes

Not useful for this setup.

Dragonknight Class Mastery

Lead From the Front

Let others be swept along in the wake of your flame.

Activating rank 2 of grants you and group members within 28 meters of you and for 1 second per 15 Ultimate spent, increasing damage done and reducing damage taken by 10%.

Notes

Not useful for this setup.

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: Engulfing DragonfireMorph of Dragonfire Breath
Slot 2: Searing ClawMorph of Searing Strike
Slot 3: Shatterspike MantleMorph of Earthspike Mantle
Slot 4: IncinerateMorph of Inferno
Slot 5: Banner Bearer
Ultimate: Take FlightMorph of Dragon Leap
  • - the main ability of this build, a 4.8 second channeled attack which causes you to breathe fire in front of you (0.3 second windup and then deals damage every 0.5 seconds, 10 ticks in total). Its damage ramps up by 5% each tick up to 50% on the last tick, but it always deals maximum damage while 's bonus is active. Unlike other channeled abilities, this one doesn't go on cooldown when you get interrupted.
  • - deals direct damage and applies a 10 second DoT which deals 10% more damage every 2 seconds. The initial hit is guaranteed to proc Burning status effect.
  • - your source of Major Resolve which also applies a 20 second DoT to enemies around you and grants you a buff which adds 100 damage to all of your damage ticks.
  • - an ability which releases a fiery wave around you on cast and then every 5 seconds for 15 seconds. It has increased base chance to proc Burning status effect. Having it slotted passively grants you Major Savagery and Prophecy.
  • ( , , ) - a toggle which will drain your Stamina and Magicka. The Focus script will grant you a 6% bonus to Magical Damage. The Signature script will grant you 6 Weapon and Spell Damage per 1% of bonus movement speed you have, which will always grant you at least 60 thanks to , and 180 briefly after casting (situational skill), with possibly more if your teammates provide other movement speed bonuses. The Affix script will grant you Minor Heroism which will increase your Ultimate generation allowing you to keep up better uptime on .
  • - a cheap ultimate which gives you a 20% Damage Done against Monsters buff for 15 seconds. Your always deals maximum damage while 's buff is active.

If you need to slot something situational, replace .

  • - a very strong DoT which procs the passive and grants Minor Force. It should be part of your base setup before you obtain .
  • - an ability that causes AoE explosions around you every 2 seconds for 30 seconds. It will also grant you Major Evasion for the duration, reducing your AoE damage taken by 20%. It will also grant you Major Expedition for 4 seconds after casting, increasing your Movement Speed by 30%. It's a perfect skill for trash packs, because it can be pre-cast before engaging them, giving you more time to channel . It's also a good situational skill for boss fights that have a lot of mechanics dealing AoE damage.
  • - an ability which restores resources based on your missing resources. Use it if you can't sustain.
  • - a support ability which provides your entire team with Major Brutality and Sorcery and isn't that big of a DPS loss for you to run. Getting Major Brutality through this will also allow you to use different potions.
  • - a self-heal you'll need for some fights.
  • - a gap closer which can be useful in fights where you have to move around a lot.
  • - the other morph of . It deals less damage but heals you for a decent amount on cast and then continues to heal you whenever it ticks. Use it if you need more healing.
  • ( , , other script) - when using Heroism potions you can change the script to something else. Usually it would have to be , but if you're already getting it from or from a group member you could instead use or scripts, depending on what other buffs your team is providing.

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.

Inside of your window you can freely cancel to refresh DoTs. Outside of , you want to finish and refresh DoTs after it ends.

You ideally want to start a cast of when has 2-3 seconds left, so that the initial weak phase of gets bypassed by 's buff, because the later phase deals high damage regardless.

  • 1. when ready
  • 2.
  • 3.
  • 4.
  • 5.

Pre-buff

These abilities can be pre-cast before entering combat

Final Setups

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

A setup for trash packs

Front Bar Back Bar
Slot 1: Engulfing Dragonfire
Slot 2: Quick Cloak
Slot 3: Shatterspike Mantle
Slot 4: Incinerate
Slot 5: Banner Bearer
Ultimate: Take Flight

What Changes

  • replaces .

Passives

Some trees are only needed when using situational skills, for example Fighters Guild provides nothing without

Class

Weapon

Armor

Guild

Alliance War

Racial

Craft

Class - Ardent Flame

Combustion - High Priority

Traumatic Burns - High Priority

Fan the Flames - High Priority

A Soul Ablaze - 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. It assumes your group provides Major Breach, Minor Breach, Infused Crusher and nothing more

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

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

This setup parses 126,773 DPS

Gear that is easier to obtain and can be used while you work towards the best gear

Crafted

All of these are tradable and can be bought from other players

No Overland, Dungeon or Trial gear is listed as the Crafted options are superior.

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 Light
ShouldersShoulders Light
ChestChest Medium
HandsHands Light
BeltBelt Light
LegsLegs Medium
FeetBoots Light
NeckNecklace Jewelry
RingRing Jewelry
RingRing Jewelry
MainhandFrontbar Main Hand Dagger
OffhandFrontbar Off Hand Dagger

The crafted setup parses 111,023 DPS

When using it, replace with since this setup doesn't get Minor Force from .

Front Bar Back Bar
Slot 1: Engulfing DragonfireMorph of Dragonfire Breath
Slot 2: Barbed TrapMorph of Trap Beast
Slot 3: Shatterspike MantleMorph of Earthspike Mantle
Slot 4: IncinerateMorph of Inferno
Slot 5: Banner Bearer
Ultimate: Take FlightMorph of Dragon Leap
  • replaces , because you aren't getting Minor Force from yet

Gear Set Comparisons

Damage comparison for the set options.

Body (Light)

Compares X Light set + weapons and jewelry, with slotted.

Source
Body Set Source Simulated Parse Damage Change
Trial - Dreadsail Reef
126.8k DPS
Baseline
Crafted
3 Stacks 123.0k DPS
0 Stacks 118.3k DPS
-3.0% -6.7%
Crafted
119.6k DPS
-5.7%
Overland - Deshaan
118.9k DPS
-6.2%
Class Set - Infinite Archive
118.6k DPS
-6.5%
Crafted
118.3k DPS
-6.7%
Crafted
117.9k DPS
-7.0%
Crafted
116.2k DPS
-8.4%

Front Bar Weapons

Damage comparison for front bar weapon options.

Front Bar Weapon Simulated Parse Damage Change
Dual Wield Daggers
130.8k DPS
Baseline
Bow
129.1k DPS
-1.3%
Greatsword
128.7k DPS
-1.6%
Lightning Staff
126.9k DPS
-3.0%
Inferno Staff
122.6k DPS
-6.3%
One Handed and Shield
121.5k DPS
-7.1%
Ice Staff
121.0k DPS
-7.5%
Restoration Staff
119.6k DPS
-8.6%

Daggers use and . Every one-weapon option uses a weapon. One Handed and Shield uses a one handed weapon plus a shield.

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Champion Points

WarfareWarfare
6% Direct Damage
Because more than 60% of your damage is Direct
6% AoE Damage
Because more than 60% of your damage is AoE
205 Weapon and Spell Damage
Next strongest CP damage-wise
8% Critical Damage and Healing
Next strongest CP damage-wise
Critical Damage Cap
Replace with if your supports are providing enough Critical Damage for you to reach the 125% cap without Fighting Finesse
More Healing
is a decent Champion Point if you need more HPS
FitnessFitness
1400 Max Health
Survivability
1731 Armor
Survivability
10% Movement Speed
Boosts your Cavalier's Charge
90 Health, Stamina and Magicka Recovery
Sustain
Sustain in fights with lots of adds
and are good sustain CPs for dungeon fights with lots of adds
Craft Craft
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 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
Dark Elf
130.8k DPS
0.0%
High Elf
130.8k DPS
0.0%
Orc
129.0k DPS
-1.4%
Breton
126.4k DPS
-3.4%
Argonian
124.6k DPS
-4.7%
Khajiit
124.6k DPS
-4.7%
Wood Elf
124.0k DPS
-5.2%
Redguard
123.3k DPS
-5.7%
Imperial
123.3k DPS
-5.7%
Nord
123.3k DPS
-5.7%

Mundus

  • Default

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

Attributes

You should always put all 64 attribute points into Magicka.

Health
0
Stamina
0
Magicka
64
All points into Magicka

Food

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

  • Default

    Max Health +5,414 Max Magicka +4,938
    Use for most content.
    Cheaper alternative
    Difference Max Health +5,395 −19 Max Magicka +4,936 −2
  • Sustain

    Max Health +3,326 Max Magicka +3,080 Health Recovery +406 Magicka Recovery +338
    Use when you need more sustain.
    Cheaper alternative
    Difference Max Health +3,094 −232 Max Magicka +2,856 −224 Health Recovery — −406 Magicka Recovery +315 −23
  • Full Damage

    Max Magicka +6,048
    Max Magicka only. Use for parsing or content where you can get away without Max Health. adds Magicka Recovery if needed, at the cost of some of the Max Magicka.

Potions

  • Default

    Restore Stamina
    Most of the time you should use the Weapon Power potions. They'll improve your Stamina sustain and provide Major Brutality which is crucial.
    Craft with: Blessed Thistle Dragonthorn Wormwood
  • Situational

    Restore Magicka
    Spell Power potions are very similar to Weapon Power potions, except they improve your Magicka sustain instead of Stamina sustain. The drawback is that the Major Sorcery they provide doesn't stack with your Minor Brutality from passive, so they're only equivalent to Weapon Power potions if there's someone in your team using the Dawn's Wrath skill line and providing Minor Sorcery with passive.
    Craft with: Lady's Smock Namira's Rot Corn Flower
  • Full Damage

    Restore Magicka Restore Stamina
    Heroism potions restore both Stamina and Magicka and can provide 100% uptime on Minor Heroism, allowing you to use a different Affix script on your , however you'll need another source of Major Brutality or Sorcery, like for example yours or a groupmate's . You could also put on your own , in which case we're back to square one in terms of buffs, but now our potions restore both Stamina and Magicka. This approach is straight up stronger but isn't recommended as part of regular setup because of how expensive Heroism potions are.
    Craft with: Dragon Rheum Dragon's Blood Columbine
  • Situational

    Restore Health Restore Stamina Restore Magicka
    Tri-Stat potions are basically Heroism potions without the Minor Heroism, and they're much cheaper. You can use them if you want potions which restore both Stamina and Magicka and you're already getting Major Brutality/Sorcery from somewhere else.
    Craft with: Columbine Bugloss Mountain Flower
  • Survivability

    Restore Health
    If you want to greatly improve your survivability you can instead use Armor Potions. You'll need another source of Major Brutality/Sorcery and most likely you'll also have to slot , or get more sustain in other ways.
    Craft with: Bugloss Mountain Flower Mudcrab Chitin

Parses

All parses are recorded on the 21 million Target Dummy

Medium Armor
131,628 DPS
Medium Armor
131,628DPS
21mil Iron Atronach Dummy
Patch
Update 50
Armor
6 Medium / 1 Light
Gear Setup
Medium Armor
Skill Setup
Regular
Potion
Spell Power Potion
Food
Mundus
Race
Dark Elf
Medium Armor setup
CMX Parse
CMX Setup
Recording

Gameplay

Kyne's Aegis
Trial
Kyne's Aegis
Trial Veteran
Kyne's Aegis Veteran Log
Patch: Update 49

FAQ

If you hate bar swapping. The one bar version parses 131k DPS with Medium Armor, and is built around the same gameplay. If you want more damage, check out the two bar Breath Dragonknight DPS Build.

Yes, you can replace the Dual Wield Daggers with other weapons. Bow and Greatsword have the smallest DPS loss (about 1-2%). Lightning Staff is about 3%, Inferno Staff about 6%, Sword and Shield about 7%, and Ice Staff and Restoration Staff are around 8-9%. The regular setup doesn't use any Dual Wield skills, but the trash setup uses which you'd need to replace - for example with when switching to Greatsword, or with any weapon.

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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