Last updated: Update 45 - 28th April 2025
This is a roleplay build where I'm not always choosing the most optimal option
While One Hand and Shield isn’t usually the ideal weapon type for Solo, it has its niche, and that niche are fights with a lot of blockable direct damage, like for example Anthelmir in Oathsworn Pit or basically any fight in the Bal Sunnar dungeon. And even outside of that niche, it’s not that far behind Dual Wield in terms of DPS.
This build is capable of soloing every Veteran dungeon that doesn’t have a specific mechanic that requires multiple people. It’s also capable of soloing most Hard Mode dungeons, and with some adjustments even the more difficult ones.
In this guide I’ll be regularly using the terms Regular and Difficult. Regular refers to content that is intended to be solo-ed (such as Maelstrom Arena or Vateshran Arena) and to any overland content such as World Bosses, Dolmens, Dragons, Volcanic Vents, Harrowstorms, Mirrormoor Incursions, etc. Majority of dungeon fights will also fall under that category. Difficult refers to extremely difficult dungeon fights.
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: Shield Throw | Slot 1: Soul Burst |
Slot 2: Burning Embers | Slot 2: Eruption |
Slot 3: Noxious Breath | Slot 3: Elemental Susceptibility |
Slot 4: Barbed Trap | Slot 4: Elemental Blockade |
Slot 5: Flames of Oblivion | Slot 5: Molten Whip |
Ultimate: Flawless Dawnbreaker | Ultimate: Standard of Might |
Molten Whip and
Soul Burst are the first skills that have to go when you need to slot something situational, unless the situational skill specifically says that it's replacing something else
Priority List
I don't use a static rotation so 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
Thanks to the Deadly Bash passive, this build has potential to utilise "bash-weaving", which means using a bash after each ability. If you want to do that, make sure to set a separate keybind for Bash instead of using the Block+Light Attack combination, as blocking will halt your Stamina Recovery. You should stop bash-weaving once your stamina gets too low.
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 with lots of damage mitigation for bosses that hit very hard
Front Bar | Back Bar |
---|---|
Slot 1: Shield Throw | Slot 1: Burning Embers |
Slot 2: Revealing Flare | Slot 2: Eruption |
Slot 3: Noxious Breath | Slot 3: Elemental Susceptibility |
Slot 4: Ulfsild's Contingency | Slot 4: Elemental Blockade |
Slot 5: Flames of Oblivion | Slot 5: Resolving Vigor |
Ultimate: Temporal Guard | Ultimate: Standard of Might |
The only passive you specifically have to skip is Tri Focus
Class - Ardent Flame
Combustion - High Priority
Warmth - Low Priority
Searing Heat - High Priority
World in Ruin - High Priority
Example of a beginner setup made with just crafted gear.
Gear Slot | Set | Weight/Type | Trait | Enchantment |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Head |
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Medium | ![]() ![]() |
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![]() Shoulders |
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Medium | ![]() ![]() |
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![]() Chest |
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Heavy | ![]() ![]() |
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![]() Hands |
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Medium | ![]() ![]() |
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![]() Belt |
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Light | ![]() ![]() |
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![]() Legs |
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Medium | ![]() ![]() |
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![]() Boots |
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Medium | ![]() ![]() |
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![]() Necklace |
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Jewelry | ![]() |
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![]() Ring |
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Jewelry | ![]() |
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![]() Ring |
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Jewelry | ![]() |
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![]() Frontbar Main Hand |
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Any 1-handed | ![]() |
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![]() Frontbar Off Hand |
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Shield | ![]() ![]() |
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![]() Backbar Main Hand |
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Ice Staff | ![]() |
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The setup in the table uses only crafted gear, but if you already own parts of the Regular setup like Ring of the Pale Order you can start using them immediately
If you want to Solo some difficult content without Ring of the Pale Order you'll have to add
Resolving Vigor to your skill setup, but for the easier stuff the healing from
Burning Embers will be enough
The weight distribution of the setup from the table is 1 Heavy 5 Medium 1 Light so that you can start leveling up all your armor skill lines. Once you transition to Regular setup you'll be using 6 Medium 1 Light most of the time, switching to 1 Heavy 5 Medium 1 Light only against more difficult fights
You don't need to start with crafted gear, simply pick 2 sets from the Alternative section that are easiest for you to obtain
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
Overland:
All of these are tradable and can be bought from other players
Dungeons:
This is my suggested setup for regular content, such as Solo Arenas, World Bosses, Dolmens, Dragons, Volcanic Vents, Harrowstorms, Mirrormoor Incursions and majority of the dungeons.
Gear Slot | Set | Weight/Type | Trait | Enchantment |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Head |
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Light | ![]() |
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![]() Shoulders |
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Medium | ![]() |
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![]() Chest |
![]() |
Medium | ![]() |
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![]() Hands |
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Medium | ![]() |
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![]() Belt |
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Medium | ![]() |
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![]() Legs |
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Medium | ![]() |
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![]() Boots |
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Medium | ![]() |
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![]() Necklace |
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Jewelry | ![]() |
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![]() Ring |
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Jewelry | ![]() |
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![]() Ring |
![]() |
Jewelry | ![]() |
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![]() Frontbar Main Hand |
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Any 1-handed | ![]() |
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![]() Frontbar Off Hand |
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Shield | ![]() |
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![]() Backbar Main Hand |
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Ice Staff | ![]() |
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If you want to switch to a situational set it's best to replace Ansuul’s Torment, especially since most good situational sets also provide Minor Slayer.
Essence Thief provides a lot of sustain so replacing it only makes sense in fights where you can't retrieve the
Essence Thief pool, like for example in any Dragon fight. Without
Essence Thief you can forget about sustaining bash-weaving and you might have to heavy attack once or twice before
Standard of Might will replenish your Stamina with
Battle Roar
For example, a default setup for trash packs would replace Ansuul's Torment with
Sul-Xan’s Torment
Gear that can be stronger than the setup from the table in specific situations or when specific circumstances are present
This is my suggested setup for soloing extremely difficult fights in dungeons.
Gear Slot | Set | Weight/Type | Trait | Enchantment |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Head |
![]() |
Medium | ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
![]() Shoulders |
![]() |
Medium | ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
![]() Chest |
![]() |
Heavy | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() Hands |
![]() |
Medium | ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
![]() Belt |
![]() |
Light | ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
![]() Legs |
![]() |
Medium | ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
![]() Boots |
![]() |
Medium | ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
![]() Necklace |
![]() |
Jewelry | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() Ring |
![]() |
Jewelry | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() Ring |
![]() |
Jewelry | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() Frontbar Main Hand |
![]() |
Any 1-handed | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() Frontbar Off Hand |
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Shield | ![]() |
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![]() Backbar Main Hand |
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Ice Staff | ![]() |
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Warfare
Fitness
When it comes to solo PvE, you need both damage and survivability so pretty much all races have useful racials.
The best race for dealing damage is Khajiit. While the Critical Damage from Feline Ambush can sometimes be wasted due to Critical Damage being capped at 125%, it will never happen in solo content, because there will be no tanks or healers providing you with the Major Force buff.
The best race for survivability is Nord. The Rugged racial will provide around 6% damage mitigation.
HEALTH
0
STAMINA
64
MAGICKA
0
For most content you should put all 64 points into Stamina. For difficult content you should devote as many attribute points as necessary to Health - for some content you’ll be able to get away with 32 Health 32 Stamina, for the extremely difficult stuff you’ll need 64 Health.
Use the Weapon Power potions (Increase Weapon Power, Weapon Critical, Restore Stamina). They'll greatly improve your sustain and provide Major Brutality and Major Savagery which are crucial. You can craft them by combining
Blessed Thistle,
Dragonthorn
and
Wormwood.
46.7k on the 6mil dummy using Regular setup
Recording of the 46.7k parse
Venomous Claw instead of Burning Embers - 47.6k DPS
Here you can see this build tackling Veteran dungeons
Solo Veteran Hard Mode Scalecaller Peak
Solo Veteran Bal Sunnar
Log containing both of these dungeon clears - https://www.esologs.com/reports/Bqr9JGdb8wPFjLtV
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