Hyperioxes
Hyperioxes

One Bar Heavy Attack Sorcerer DPS Build | 125k DPS | ESO Guide

DPS One Bar Magicka Heavy Attack Pure Class Sorcerer
Up to date for: Update 51 - 18th October 2026
Last changed: Update 51 - 18th October 2026

One Bar Heavy Attack Sorcerer DPS Build for ESO Update 51. This is an easy Heavy Attack Sorc setup where Lightning Staff Heavy Attacks do the main work while and Sorcerer pets add damage without making the rotation complicated.

The setup is the practical version because it is less reliant on teammates. The setup is stronger, but it requires more from your team to perform well.

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

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Simulated DPS is up by 2.1% compared to U50.

Skills

  • now has 3 charges instead of 2
  • now costs 3240 Magicka instead of being free

Sorcerer

  • now grants 2974 Offensive Penetration instead of
  • now heals for 6% of Max Health at rank 2 instead of 10%
  • now only procs from Sorcerer ability damage, but its chance went up to 20% from 5% and it can proc once every 0.1 seconds instead of 0.3

Consumables

  • now uses the Essence of Spell Protection name and updated icon
Article ESO Update 51 PTS Patch Notes & Changes ESO Update 51 PTS patch notes covering buff hybridization, class and weapon changes, Werewolf, item sets, Solo Dungeons, and undocumented changes.

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, Heavy Attacks, DoT ticks, cooldowns, Ultimate casts, crits and status effect rolls.

Every comparison table in this guide is the average of 10 deterministic sims, with the trial dummy's health spread between 20 and 22 million HP. A single sim on exactly 21 million HP can be off by up to 0.7%, because the result depends on when the killing hit lands. The Oakensoul 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
Full Damage - deterministic sim (20-22m average)
123.2k DPS
and enchant
Real 21m CMX parse
125k DPS
Recorded in game with the Rakkhat setup
100 random 21m Full Damage sims
Lowest 118.7k DPS
Highest 130.7k DPS
This is why random parses are unreliable when crits and status effects roll differently
Practical setup - deterministic sim (20-22m average)
115.2k DPS
and enchant
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Class Mastery

Class Masteries are a 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

Sorcerer Class Mastery

Font of Power

Within you is a wellspring of near unlimited power.

Upgrades rank 2 of to work with any Sorcerer ability and increases your Weapon and Spell Damage for 10 seconds. The Weapon and Spell Damage increases by 1% for every 1750 Max Magicka or Stamina you have, whichever is higher.

Notes

Best damage option for both setups.

Sorcerer Class Mastery

Calculated Defense

Success is a certainty when nothing is left to chance.

While beginning to use a Sorcerer ability or an ability with a cast time, you gain a damage shield for 0.5 seconds that can absorb Damage Shield. This effect is based off your Max Health. If the shield does not break, you and nearby group members gain 6% Weapon and Spell Damage for 20 seconds.

Damage Shield

Coefficient33% Max Health
TagsDamage ShieldSingle TargetDirect

Notes

Grants your entire team a unique 6% Weapon and Spell Damage buff and improves your survivability.

Situational

Sorcerer Class Mastery

Static Reverberation

The battlefield crackles with untapped potential. Make use of it.

When you deal damage with a Sorcerer ability, you have a 20% chance to deal Shock Damage, up to once every 0.1 seconds.

The chance increases by 1% for every 1% missing Health the target has. The chance is divided by 1 plus every permanent pet you have active.

Shock Damage

Coefficient31.56% Weapon or Spell Damage
Status Chance10%
TagsShockSingle TargetDirect

Notes

is only worth it if another Sorcerer in the group is already providing 's 6% Weapon and Spell Damage bonus. If nobody else has it, is better than even for your own damage.

Not worth it

Sorcerer Class Mastery

Conservation of Energy

Spellcasting is second nature to you. A skill honed by tireless study.

Upgrades rank 2 of to work with all abilities with a cost, excluding cost per tick abilities, and restores Magicka and Stamina when it activates.

Magicka

Coefficient1.5% Max Magicka

Stamina

Coefficient1.5% Max Stamina

Notes

Not worth it for this setup.

Sorcerer Class Mastery

Sphere of Influence

Magicka extends your reach, a benefit to those who fight beside you.

Casting a damage shield on yourself or an ally grants an additional shield that absorbs up to Damage Shield for 4 seconds and 225 Health, Magicka, and Stamina Recovery for 12 seconds.

Damage Shield

Coefficient15% higher Max Health or Max Magicka
Cap25% of target's Max Health
TagsDamage ShieldSingle TargetDirect

Notes

Not worth it for this setup.

Class Mastery Simulated Parse Damage Change
+ external
117.3k DPS
+1.8%
115.2k DPS
Baseline
115.1k DPS
-0.1%

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: Unstable Wall of ElementsMorph of Wall of Elements
Slot 2: Daedric PreyMorph of Daedric Curse
Slot 3: Crystal WeaponMorph of Crystal Shard
Slot 4: Summon Volatile FamiliarMorph of Summon Unstable Familiar
Slot 5: Summon Twilight MatriarchMorph of Summon Winged Twilight
Ultimate: Summon Charged AtronachMorph of Summon Storm Atronach
  • - A ground DoT which explodes at the end, which can be triggered early by recasting the ability, making it a decent AoE spammable. enemies standing inside of it will be debuffed with which increases their damage taken from Heavy Attacks by 70%, and they'll be thanks to the on your weapon.
  • - increases damage done by your pets by 50% and deals AoE damage at the end.
  • - makes your next Heavy Attacks deal bonus damage, applies a 1000 armor debuff and triggers , increasing your Max Magicka by 10%.
  • - an ability that summons a pet, which can be reactivated to deal damage in an AoE around this pet over 20 seconds.
  • - an ability that summons a pet, which can be reactivated to heal 2 targets.
  • - a powerful AoE Ultimate which gets boosted by . It will also keep proccing status effect. An ally can also activate the Charged Lightning synergy which grants all nearby allies (including you) for 10 seconds, which increases damage done by 10%.

is the safest to replace, but if someone else takes care of you can replace , and if you don't need the heal you can replace .

  • - 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.
  • - this morph deals a bit more damage than the morph but you lose the access to the heal. It is an option depending on what you're trying to achieve, use it if you don't mind sacrificing a backup heal for a bit more damage. Don't cast it except for prebuff.
  • - grants you a massive damage shield for 6 seconds so it's a good skill for when you need more survivability.
Rotation Simulated Parse Damage Change
Priority List
115.2k DPS
Baseline
Static Rotation
114.1k DPS
-1.0%

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. (No Oakensoul setup) if your Empower is out or if it's going to run out by the end of the Heavy Attack you're channeling
  • 2. whenever it's ready
  • 3.
  • 4.
  • 5.
  • 6.

Pre-buff

These abilities can be pre-cast before entering combat.

  • (if using that morph)

Other Setups

A skill setup for when you're replacing with other options like , or

Front Bar Back Bar
Slot 1: Ulfsild's Contingency Slot 1: Bound AegisMorph of Bound Armor
Slot 2: Daedric PreyMorph of Daedric Curse
Slot 3: Crystal WeaponMorph of Crystal Shard
Slot 4: Summon Volatile FamiliarMorph of Summon Unstable Familiar
Slot 5: Summon Twilight MatriarchMorph of Summon Winged Twilight
Ultimate: Summon Charged AtronachMorph of Summon Storm Atronach

What Changes

Changes compared to the Base Setup

  • (, , ) replaces .
  • Backbar for passive and .

Additional Info

  • Since is a Mages Guild skill, it triggers the passive, which grants you for 10 seconds.
  • This setup requires your group to provide .

Static Rotation

  • 1.
  • 2.
  • 3.
  • 4.
  • 5.
  • 6.
  • 7.
  • 8.
  • 9.

Pre-buff

These abilities can be pre-cast before entering combat.

  • (if using that morph)

Skill Setup Comparison

Setup Simulated Parse Damage Change
No Oakensoul Setup (with ) ( changed to )
122.4k DPS
+6.2%
No Oakensoul Setup (with )
119.9k DPS
+4.0%
Base Setup ( changed to )
117.9k DPS
+2.3%
No Oakensoul Setup (with ) (without )
115.9k DPS
+0.6%
Base Setup
115.2k DPS
Baseline

Passives

There are no passives you need to skip with this build

Class

Weapon

Armor

Guild

Racial

Craft

Class - Dark Magic

Unholy Knowledge - Medium Priority

Blood Magic - High Priority

Persistence - Low Priority

Exploitation - High Priority

Gear

Base Setup is your starting point and works for most situations. Crafted Only is a beginner version using only craftable sets. No Oakensoul is the setup.

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

Usually I show both Light and Medium armor setups, with the Medium armor setups being stronger but requiring more penetration from your team. In this case, I'm only showing the Light setup because is so much stronger than other sets that it beats them despite being Light. There's no reason to go with Medium armor unless you simply don't own .

Gear Slot Set Weight/Type Trait Enchantment
HeadHead Medium
ShouldersShoulders Light
ChestChest Heavy
HandsHands Light
BeltBelt Light
LegsLegs Light
FeetBoots Light
NeckNecklace Jewelry
RingRing Jewelry
RingRing Jewelry
MainhandFrontbar Main Hand Lightning Staff

Fallback Gear

Body
Noble Duelist's Silks - Dungeon Set (Blessed Crucible)

If you don't have it, use in order

  1. - Dungeon
  2. - Crafted
  3. - Crafted
Weapons and Jewelry
Sergeant's Mail - Dungeon Set (Wayrest Sewers)

If you don't have it, use in order

  1. - Dungeon
  2. - Dungeon
  3. - Dungeon
  4. - Crafted
  5. - 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

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.

Gear Set Comparisons

Damage comparison for set options.

Body (Light)

Compares X Light body set + weapons and jewelry, while using and .

Source
Body Set Source Simulated Parse Damage Change
Dungeon - Blessed Crucible
115.2k DPS
Baseline
Dungeon - Blackheart Haven
112.1k DPS
-2.7%
Crafted
3 Stacks 111.3k DPS
0 Stacks 107.0k DPS
-3.4% -7.1%
Crafted
108.4k DPS
-5.9%
Overland - Deshaan
107.9k DPS
-6.4%
Crafted
106.5k DPS
-7.5%
Crafted
106.4k DPS
-7.7%
Crafted
106.2k DPS
-7.8%
Crafted
105.0k DPS
-8.8%
Crafted
103.5k DPS
-10.2%
Trial - Aetherian Archive
103.4k DPS
-10.3%

Additional Info

  • Use enchant instead of if your supports are providing .
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Champion Points

Unlock Order

WarfareWarfare
20% Light and Heavy Attack Damage
10% Critical Damage
8% Critical Damage and Healing
205 Weapon and Spell Damage
More Healing
is a decent Champion Point if you need more HPS
Critical Damage Cap
Replace with if your supports are providing enough Critical Damage for you to reach the 125% cap without Fighting Finesse. If you still reach the cap without , replace it with as well
FitnessFitness
1400 Max Health
1731 Armor
10% Movement Speed
15% stronger damage shields
Craft Craft
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 4.4% 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
High Elf
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
Dark Elf
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
Race Simulated Parse Damage Change
High Elf
115.2k DPS
+0.0%
Dark Elf
115.2k DPS
Baseline
Khajiit
113.3k DPS
-1.6%
Orc
113.0k DPS
-1.9%
Breton
112.3k DPS
-2.6%
Argonian
111.1k DPS
-3.6%
Imperial
110.2k DPS
-4.4%
Nord
110.2k DPS
-4.4%
Redguard
110.2k DPS
-4.4%
Wood Elf
110.2k DPS
-4.4%

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

This build doesn't have sustain issues so you only need to choose between damage and survivability

  • 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
  • Full Damage

    Max Magicka +6,048
    Max Magicka only. Use for content where you can get away without Max Health.
Setup Simulated Parse Damage Change
116.6k DPS
+1.2%
115.2k DPS
Baseline

Potions

  • Default

    Restore Health
    Use as your default.
    Craft with: Bugloss Mountain Flower Mudcrab Chitin
  • Situational

    Restore Health Restore Stamina Immovability
    Makes you immune to CCs, allowing you to continue channeling your Heavy Attacks. Use it in fights with lots of stuns, knockbacks, etc.
    Craft with: Columbine Mountain Flower Wormwood
  • No Oakensoul

    Restore Magicka
    Use only when you're not using .
    Craft with: Corn Flower Dragonthorn Lady's Smock

Parses

All parses are recorded on the 21 million Target Dummy.

No Oakensoul (Rakkhat)
124,951 DPS
No Oakensoul (Rakkhat)
124,951DPS
21mil Iron Atronach Dummy
Patch
Update 51
Armor
5 Light / 2 Medium
Gear Setup
No Oakensoul (Rakkhat)
Skill Setup
No Oakensoul (with Twilight Tormentor)
Potion
Food
Mundus
Race
Dark Elf
and enchant
CMX Parse
CMX Setup
Recording

Gameplay

Lucent Citadel
Trial
Lep Seclusa
Dungeon
Dreadsail Reef
Trial
Rockgrove
Trial
Moon Hunter Keep
Dungeon
Cloudrest
Trial
Lucent Citadel
Trial
Aetherian Archive
Trial
Lucent Citadel
Trial Veteran
Lep Seclusa
Dungeon Veteran Hard Mode Trifecta
Dreadsail Reef
Trial Veteran
Rockgrove
Trial Veteran
Moon Hunter Keep
Dungeon Veteran Hard Mode
Cloudrest
Trial Veteran
Lucent Citadel
Trial Veteran
Aetherian Archive
Trial Veteran
Lucent Citadel Veteran Log
Patch: Update 51
Lep Seclusa Veteran Hard Mode Trifecta Log Guide
Dreadsail Reef Veteran Log
Rockgrove Veteran Log
Moon Hunter Keep Veteran Hard Mode Log
Cloudrest Veteran Log
Patch: Update 47
Lucent Citadel Veteran Log
Patch: Update 47
Aetherian Archive Veteran Log
Patch: Update 47

FAQ

It's both. A Heavy Attack has 2 channeled ticks which are considered Damage over Time and 1 final tick which is considered Direct Damage.

High Elf and Dark Elf are best because of their Weapon and Spell Damage.

No. Other weapon types do a lot less damage because buffs a Lightning Staff Heavy Attack on all three hits, the two channel ticks and the final hit. They also have no cleave because they do not have .

Yes. The Practical setup does 115.2k DPS, while the Full Damage setup parsed 125k DPS. It's strong enough for all Veteran content in ESO and one of the easiest DPS builds to play because Sorcerer pets do a lot of the damage passively.

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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