Elder Scrolls Online has a great deal of customization options among its classes, so it can be overwhelming. It uses a dual bar system where you can quickly swap between weapons and skillsets at the press of a button. But that’s just more complications. Thankfully you can create builds that just use one bar, like this one bar PvE Magicka Sorcerer Build.
There isn’t really one single “one bar” build. Finding out the best one that works for you is often a matter of experimentation. So, try this, but if it doesn’t work for you, change what doesn’t work. However, you will definitely be able to get a capable defense/attack from this build.
If it isn’t clear, as you level your character and decide on where to put your stats and Champion Points, you’re going to want to focus mainly on improving magicka. Build your Health and Stamina only as secondary.
Skills for One Bar PvE Magicka Sorcerer Build
We’ll start with what skills you need for a One Bar PvE Magicka Sorcerer Build. I feel it’s easier to explain the gear you’ll want if you know what you’re slinging. So, my recommended one bar build looks like this:
Weapon: Lightning Staff
| Skill | Skill Line | Base Skill | Use |
| Mystic Orb | Undaunted | Necrotic Orb | Attack |
| Unstable Wall of Elements | Destruction Staff | Wall of Elements | Attack |
| Critical Surge | Storm Calling | Surge | Damage buff |
| Summon Volatile Familiar | Daedric Summoning | Summon Unstable Familiar | Passive damage/damage mitigation |
| Summon Twilight Tormentor | Daedric Summoning | Summon Winged Twilight | Passive damage/damage mitigation |
| Greater Storm Atronach | Daedric Summoning | Summon Storm Atronach | Passive damage/damage mitigation |
This build provides a great deal of passive damage from your summons, gives you two straightforward attacks to keep you engaged, and a buff to keep your damage high enough to take down difficult targets.
Your rotation should start by summoning your familiar and twilight tormentor. Once they’re at your side, it’s time for Critical Surge. Throw a Mystic Orb, then an Unstable Wall of Elements. It’s then time to mix in your heavy attack. Whenever one of your skills expires, recast it. Once your Ultimate is charged, unleash it.
Summon Volatile Familiar>Summon Twilight Tormentor>Critical Surge>Mystic Orb>Unstable Wall of Elements.
Gear for One Bar PvE Magicka Sorcerer
Get your crafting character ready to work out some upgrades for the One Bar PvE Magicka Sorcerer’s best gear.
Sergeant’s Mail
This is going to sound somewhat strange for a magic-centric character, but my recommended set Sargeant’s Mail. That means it’s heavy armor. It gets dropped in the Wayrest Sewer Dungeons (1 and 2). It might sound bulky (you can always change its appearance at an Outfit Station if it interferes with your drip), but the helpfulness of its bonuses are apparent:
- (2 items) Adds 1206 Maximum Health
- (3 items) Adds 129 Health Recovery
- (4 items) Adds 129 Weapon and Spell Damage
- (5 items) When you deal damage with a Heavy Attack, you gain a stack of Sergeant’s Focus for 5 seconds, increasing the damage of your Heavy Attacks by 645 per stack. This effect can occur once every second and stacks up to 4 times.
Not hard to gain, upgrades your heavy attack (which you’ll be using, er, heavily), your spell damage, and Health. Very effective.
Deadly Strike
If you’re willing to do some PvP in Cyrodiil, you can supplement with Deadly Strike gear. This is useful, because you don’t need to pile on the equipment in order to get some useful effects:
- (2 items) Adds 129 Weapon and Spell Damage
- (3 items) Adds 657 Critical Chance
- (4 items) Adds 129 Weapon and Spell Damage
- (5 items) Increase the damage your damage over time and channeled attacks do by 15%.
As mentioned, you can find Deadly Strike in Cyrodiil.
Oakensoul Ring
For any One Bar build, the Oakensoul ring is indispensable. It prevents you from swapping between your weapon sets, but… that’s the point of this build. That was already our objective. So, why not just take that option a way in favor of some of these terrific perks.
- (1 item) While equipped, you are unable to swap between your Primary and Backup Weapon Sets and gain Minor Berserk, Minor Courage, Major Brutality, Major Sorcery, Major Prophecy, Major Savagery, Minor Force, Minor Protection, Major Resolve, Minor Mending, Minor Fortitude, Minor Intellect, Minor Endurance, Minor Heroism, Minor Slayer, Minor Aegis, and Empower.
Damned right. You can get the Oakensoul ring through the Antiquities system. You’re going to need to focus your search around High Isle and Amenos.
Other considerations
Beyond what has already been listed here, there are a few other things you’ll want to consider.
In terms of the race you choose for your character, High Elf (Altmer) is probably your best bet, as its passives are magicka and destruction staff-based. Breton is the next best, as they also receive Magicka Bonuses. Dunmer also gets bonuses to spell damage, but the Dual Wield proficiency and Stamina boosts are largely wasted.
Otherwise, the race of your character isn’t a crucial decision. Choose the one you want to play as or build around the suggested ones. It’s up to you.
As for the Mundus sign you’ll want to align with, the build provided here doesn’t depend too much on it. However, I’d recommend either The Lover for additional attack damage or The Steed for better survivability.
For your potions, I’m a simple person. I usually just go with something that boosts your Health/Stamina/Magicka (I always have a glut of one type or another after so many years of playing.) However, you probably also want something that can heal you since you don’t have any direct healing skills to keep yourself topped up.
Finally, if you’re playing by yourself. Your survivability can be increased dramatically by keeping a companion with you. Also, they’re fun. I mean, I find them fun.
