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GINX TV > Guides & Tutorial > Elder Scrolls Online

ESO Best Dragonknight Stamina Build

Looking to make the most out of your Stamina-focused Dragonknight? Here's our best Dragonknight build in ESO.
By Shreyansh Katsura | 
First Published November 20, 2023, 15:37
ESO Best Dragonknight Stamina Build
Shreyansh / Zenimax Online

Dragonknight is one of the most powerful melee classes in Elder Scrolls Online that has incredible survivability and can deal an insane amount of single-target and AOE damage over time. 

Our Dragonknight Stamina build is an absolute tank that deals massive fire and poison damage and has the potential to survive the toughest PvE encounters solo. Continue reading to find out how to put together the best Dragonknight Stamina build in ESO, including details like the best active and passive abilities, champion skills, gear set, and Mundus Stones.

Table of Contents

Best Active Abilities For The Dragonknight Stamina Build In ESO

Front Bar Skills

Skill Description
Venomous Claw Rake an enemy with your claw, dealing 3698 Poison Damage and an additional 16476 Poison Damage over 24 seconds. The poison seeps into the target and deals increased damage the longer it lasts, dealing 12% more damage every 2 seconds. Enemies hit by the initial hit are afflicted with the Poisoned status effect.
Molten Whip Lash an enemy with flame, dealing 7398 Flame Damage. If you strike an enemy that is immobile or stunned, you set them Off Balance. Whenever you activate a different Ardent Flame ability while in combat, you gain a stack of Seething Fury, increasing the damage of your next Molten Whip by 20% and your Weapon and Spell Damage by 100 for 15 seconds. This effect stacks up to 3 times
Deadly Cloakd Envelop yourself in a protective cloak of razors, gaining Major Evasion for 20 seconds, reducing damage from area attacks by 20%. Every 2 seconds the shrapnel will pulse, dealing 1719 Physical Damage to all enemies within 5 meters.
Barbed Trap Set a sharpened blade trap at your location, which takes 1.5 seconds to arm and lasts for 20 seconds. When triggered, the trap deals 4002 Bleed Damage, an additional 11990 Bleed Damage over 20 seconds, and grants you Minor Force, increasing your Critical Damage by 10% for the duration. The damage has a higher chance to apply the Hemorrhaging status effect. Enemies who activate the trap are immobilized for 2 seconds.
Flames of Oblivion Activate an aura of flames which launches a fireball at 3 enemies every 5 seconds, dealing 5732 Flame Damage. While slotted on either bar, you gain Major Prophecy and Savagery, increasing your Spell and Weapon Critical rating by 2629.
Flawless Dawnbreaker Arm yourself with Meridia's sacred sword and dispense her retribution, dealing 9688 Physical Damage to enemies in front of you and an additional 11622 Physical Damage over 6 seconds. After activating, your Weapon and Spell Damage is increased by 300 for 20 seconds.

Back Bar Skills

Skill Description
Stampede Launch across the earth and smash an enemy, dealing 4227 Physical Damage to them and all nearby enemies. This attack is always a Critical Strike. After reaching your target, you sunder the ground beneath you, dealing 968 Physical Damage to all enemies in the area every 1 second for 15 seconds.
Noxious Breath Exhale a corrosive blast to enemies in front of you, dealing 5732 Poison Damage and an additional 14184 Poison Damage over 24 seconds. Afflicts enemies with Major Breach, reducing their Physical and Spell Resistance by 5948.
Resolving Vigor Let loose a battle cry, instilling yourself with resolve and healing for 16416 Health over 5 seconds. After casting you gain Minor Resolve, increasing your Physical and Spell Resistance by 2974, for 20 seconds.
Volatile Armor Release your inner Dragon to gain Major Resolve, increasing your Physical and Spell Resistance by 5948 for 20 seconds. You release a spray of fiery spikes around you, causing enemies hit to take 5544 Flame Damage over 20 seconds. While active, the armor returns 284 Flame Damage to any enemy that uses a direct damage attack against you in melee range. This ability scales off your Physical and Spell Resistance.
Carve Focus your strength into a mighty swing, dealing 5285 Bleed Damage to enemies in front of you, and causing them to bleed for an additional 8724 Bleed Damage over 12 seconds. Hitting a target that is already bleeding from this ability extends the duration by 10 seconds, up to a maximum of 32. You also gain a damage shield that absorbs 5974 damage for 6 seconds.
Standard of Might Call down a battle standard, dealing 3435 Flame Damage every 1 second for 20 seconds to enemies and applying Major Defile to them, reducing their healing received and Health Recovery by 16%. Standing in the area increases your damage done and reduces damage taken by 15%. An ally near the standard can activate the Shackle synergy, dealing 10743 Flame Damage to enemies in the area and immobilizing them for 5 seconds.

You begin by casting skills that buff up your damage. These are Volatile Armor, Flames of Oblivion, and Deadly Cloak. Volatile Armor deals massive AOE flame damage while also increasing your defenses. Flames of Oblivion, as the name suggests, also deal AOE flame damage while increasing your spell and weapon critical chance. Lastly, Deadly Cloak envelops you in a shield that reduces the damage taken from AOE attacks. Additionally, it deals pulsating Physical damage to enemies over time. 

With your buffs up, it's time to engage with the enemies. Start by casting Stampede, Carve, and Noxious Breath. Stampede deals a critical strike Physical attack to a single enemy, which later transitions into a minor AOE DOT.  Carve deals AOE Bleed damage to enemies over time. It also grants you a damage shield that absorbs large chunks of attacks. It's also one of the reasons why this build is so tanky. Noxious breath is very important because it not only deals AOE poison damage over time but also weakens enemy defenses.

Next, cast the remaining two DOT skills on your front bar, which are Venomous Claw and Barbed Trap. Venomous Claw deals poison damage over time to a single enemy while also inflicting the poison status effect on nearby enemies. Barbed Trap, on the other hand, deals massive AOE Bleed damage over time while increasing your critical damage. Enemies who activate the trap also get immobilized temporarily, giving you an extra advantage. 

With all your buffs up and DOTs running, it's time to spam your primary attack, which is Molten Whip. It deals a crippling amount of flame damage to a single target. Since your DOTs are already dealing flame damage, Molten Whip also gains damage buff, which stacks up to three times. Continue to spam this ability until one of your DOTs becomes inactive. When that happens, take a moment to cast that DOT ability again, and go back to spamming Molten Whip. 

As for your Ultimates, you would want to wait until all your DOTs abilities are up and running to get the most out of it. Whether you prefer Flawless Dawnbreaker or Standard of Might, casting either of those will buff your weapon and spell damage, allowing your DOTs to deal even more damage for a short amount of time. 

In between, don't forget to cast Major Resolve to heal yourself. It also improves your defenses, so it's always good to have it running, especially when you face tougher enemies like dungeon bosses.

Best Passive Abilities For The Dragonknight Stamina Build In ESO

heavyarmorbonus.PNG
Skill Description
Combustion Increases the damage of your Burning and Poisoned status effects by 33%. When you apply Burning to an enemy, you restore 1000 Magicka. When you apply Poisoned to an enemy, you restore 1000 Stamina. These effects can occur once every 3 seconds, individually of each other.
Warmth When you deal direct damage with an Ardent Flame ability, you reduce the enemy's Movement Speed by 30% for 3 seconds.
Searing Heart Increases the damage over time of your Fiery Breath, Searing Strike, and Dragonknight Standard abilities by 25% and the duration by 4 seconds.
World in Ruin Increases the damage of your Flame and Poison attacks by 5%.
Iron Skin Increases the amount of damage you block by 10%
Burning Heart
While a Draconic Power ability is active, your healing received is increased by 12%.
Elder Dragon Increases your Health Recovery by 258 for each Draconic Power ability slotted
Scaled Armor Increases your Physical and Spell Resistance by 1650.
Eternal Mountain Increases duration of your Earthen Heart abilities by 20%
Battle Roar When you cast an Ultimate ability, you restore 51 Health 50 Magicka, and 50 Stamina for each point of the Ultimate spent.
Mountain's Blessing When you cast an Earthen Heart ability, you and your group gain Minor Brutality for 20 seconds, increasing your Weapon Damage by 10% If you are in combat, you also generate 3 Ultimate. This effect can occur once every 6 seconds.
Helping Hands When you cast an Earthen Heart ability with a cost, you restore 1120 Stamina. This effect cannot activate when using a Stamina costing ability and must cost more than the restored value.
Forceful Your Light and Heavy Attacks damage up to 3 other nearby enemies for 100% of the damage inflicted to the primary target.
Heavy Weapons Grants a bonus based on the type of weapon equipped: Swords increase your Weapon and Spell Damage by 258. Axes increase your Critical Damage done by 12%. Maces increase your Armor Penetration by 2974.
Balanced Blade Reduces the Stamina cost of your Two-Handed abilities by 15%.
Follow Up When you complete a fully-charged Heavy Attack, your damage done with Two Handed attacks increases by 10% for 4 seconds.
Battle Rush Increases your Stamina Recovery by 30% for 10 seconds after killing a target.
Slaughter  Increases damage with Dual Wield abilities by 20% against enemies with under 25% Health.
Dual Wield Expert Increases Weapon and Spell Damage by 6% of off-hand weapon's damage
Controlled Fury Reduces the Stamina cost of Dual Wield abilities by 15%.
Ruffian Gives you a 15% damage bonus when attacking stunned, immobilized, disoriented, or silenced enemies.
Twin Blade and Blunt Grants a bonus based on the type of weapon equipped: Each axe increases your Critical Damage done by 6%. Each mace increases your Offensive Penetration by 1487. Each sword increases your Weapon and Spell Damage by 129. Each dagger increases your Critical Chance rating by 657.
Medium Armor Bonuses Each piece of Medium Armor does the following: Reduces the cost of Sprint by 1% Reduces the cost of Sneak by 5% Reduces the cost of Block by 3% Reduces damage taken from Area of Effect attacks by 2% for 2 seconds after you use Roll Dodge Increases Movement Speed by 2% while immune to crowd control
Dexterity Increases your Critical Damage and Healing done rating by 2% for every piece of Medium Armor equipped.
Wind Walker Increases your Stamina Recovery by 4% per piece of Medium Armor equipped. Reduces the Stamina cost of your abilities by 2% per piece of Medium Armor equipped.
Improved Sneak Reduces the cost of Sneak by 7% for each piece of Medium Armor equipped. Reduces the size of your detection area while Sneaking by 5% for each piece of Medium Armor equipped.
Agility Increases your Weapon and Spell Damage by 2% for each piece of Medium Armor worn.
Athletics Increases the Movement Speed bonus of Sprint by 3% for each piece of Medium Armor equipped. Reduces the cost of Roll Dodge by 4% for each piece of Medium Armor equipped.
Intimidating Presence Allows you to Intimidate NPCs in conversation. Reduces the Stamina cost of your Fighters Guild abilities by 15%.
Slayer

Increases your Weapon and Spell Damage by 3% for each Fighters Guild ability slotted.
Banish the Wicked You generate 3 Ultimate whenever you kill an enemy.
Skilled Tracker Your Fighters Guild abilities deal an additional 10% damage. This bonus doubles against player Vampires and Werewolves.
Undaunted Command Activating a synergy restores 4% of your Max Health, Stamina, and Magicka. Health 1134 Stamina, and 825 Magicka.
Undaunted Mettle Increases your Max Health, Stamina, and Magicka by 2% per type of Armor (Heavy, Medium, Light) that you have equipped.

For passives, we first recommend unlocking all the Dragonknight ones to increase the damage of your fire and poison attacks. Next, don't forget to get all the Medium Armor bonuses to take full advantage of your gear set. We also recommend getting all the Fighter and Undaunted guilds passives to buff your weapon damage and improve stamina recovery.

Best Champion Skills For The Dragonknight Stamina Build In ESO

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Constellation Type Skill  Description
Warfare Wrathful Strikes
Grants 41 Weapon and Spell damage to your damaging abilities per stage
Warfare Master At Arms Increase your damage done with direct damage attacks by 3% per stage. 
Warfare Biting Aura Increase your damage done with area of effect attacks by 3% per stage.
Warfare Thaumaturge Increase your damage done with damage over time attacks by 3% per stage.
Fitness Boundless Vitality Grants 28 Max Health per stage. 
Fitness Rejuvenation Grants 1.8 Health, Magicka, and Stamina Recovery per stage.
Fitness Fortified Grants 34.6 Armor per stage. 
Fitness Bloody Renewal Restore 300 Stamina per stage, whenever you kill an enemy.
Craft Steed's Blessing Increases your out of combat Movement Speed by .4% per stage.
Craft Rationer Adds 10 minutes to the duration of any food or drink that increases your character's stats per stage. 
Craft Liquid Efficiency Whenever you use a potion or a poison you have a 10% 
Craft Treasure Hunter Increase the quality of items you find in treasure chests.

Likewise, with the Champion Skills, you want to equip the skills that increase your damage output, increase max health, and improve Magicka recovery.

Best Gear Set For The Dragonknight Stamina Build In ESO

Weapon / Armor Trait  Set Bonus How To Get

Order's Wrath (Dagger)

Order's Wrath (Dagger)

Nirnhoned -  Increases Damage of this weapon by 7.5%.

Charged - Increases chance to apply status effects by 182.5%.

 (2 items) Adds 657 Critical Chance. Craftable in High Isle.
Order's Wrath (Two Hand Greatsword) Infused - Increases weapon enchantment effect by 15% and reduces enchantment cooldown by 50%. (3 items) Adds 129 Weapon and Spell Damage. Craftable in High Isle.
Order's Wrath (Necklace) Bloodthirsty - Increases your Weapon and Spell damage against enemies under 90% Health by up to 350. (4 items) Adds 657 Critical Chance. Craftable in High Isle.
Order's Wrath (Ring) Bloodthirsty - Increases your Weapon and Spell damage against enemies under 90% Health by up to 350. (5 items) Adds 943 Critical Chance, Increases your Critical Damage and Critical Healing by 8%. Craftable in High Isle.
Venomous Smite (Chest) Divines - Increase Mundane Stone effects by 9.1%. N/A Random drop in Western Skyrim.
Venomous Smite (Belt) Divines - Increase Mundane Stone effects by 9.1%. (2 items) Adds 657 Critical Chance Random drop in Western Skyrim.
Venomous Smite (Shoes) Divines - Increase Mundane Stone effects by 9.1%. (3 items) Adds 657 Critical Chance Random drop in Western Skyrim.
Venomous Smite (Pants) Divines - Increase Mundane Stone effects by 9.1%. (4 items) Adds 129 Weapon and Spell Damage Random drop in Western Skyrim.
Venomous Smite (Hands) Divines - Increase Mundane Stone effects by 9.1%. (5 items) Dealing Critical Damage inflicts Hunter's Venom on your enemy for 10 seconds, dealing 2847 Poison Damage to your target and enemies within 6 meters of them every 2 seconds. This effect can occur once every 15 seconds and scales off the higher of your Weapon or Spell Damage. Random drop in Western Skyrim.
Stormfirst (Head) Divines - Increase Mundane Stone effects by 9.1%. (1 item) Adds 129 Stamina Recovery

 Obtained from Tempest Island Dungeon.
Stormfirst (Shoulder) Divines - Increase Mundane Stone effects by 9.1%. (2 items) When you deal damage, you have a 10% chance to create a thunderfist to crush the enemy, dealing 1054 Shock damage every 1 second for 3 seconds to all enemies within 4 meters and a final 12686 Physical damage when the fist closes. This effect can occur once every 8 seconds and scales off the higher of your Weapon or Spell Damage. Obtained from Tempest Island Dungeon.
Ring of the Pale Order (Mythic Ring)  Bloodthirsty - Increases your Weapon and Spell damage against enemies under 90% Health by up to 350. (1 item)  Restore 20% of the damage you deal as Health. This value is decreased by 4% per ally you are grouped with. You cannot be healed by anyone but yourself, your pets, or your Companions. Obtain its five leads.

We recommend equipping five pieces of the Venomous Smite set to increase your critical chance and damage. The set bonus also includes a devastating poison attack that deals damage over time. Equipping two pieces of Stormfirst will take care of your Stamina Recovery while inflicting an additional Shock attack that deals damage over time.

You can buff your critical damage even more by equipping five pieces of the Order's Wrath set. It also increases weapon and spell damage as well as critical healing. Lastly, since this is a solo build, Mythic Ring of the Pale Order is an excellent option because it restores 20% of the damage you deal as health.

Best Races For The Dragonknight Stamina Build In ESO

Race Bonus
Dark Elf Increased Max Magicka, Stamina, Weapon, and Spell Damage.
Khajit Increased Max Magica and additional Critical Damage.
Wood Elf Increased Max Stamina, Stamina Recovery, Movement Speed, and Physical and  Spell Penetration.

All three are great choices because they offer bonuses that you need for this particular build. As such, it's more about whether you want that extra critical, spell damage, or increased 

Best Mundus Stones For The Dragonknight Stamina Build In ESO

Mundus Stone Effect

Lover

 Increases Physical and Spell Penetration by 2744.

The Lover Mundus Stone is an excellent choice because this build needs that extra Physical and Spell penetration for better sustain, and it provides exactly that.