Looking to create the best possible Magicka DPS Build in The Elder Scrolls Online? Picking the right race is a great place to start! In this article we will explore the best Races for Magicka DPS Builds in ESO.

Best Attributes For Magicka DPS Builds

Before we dive into discussing the best races for Magicka DPS Builds in The Elder Scrolls Online, let’s briefly discuss what stats tend to work best. The primary stat you will want to focus on is your Spell/Weapon Damage, along with your Maximum Magicka. Other stats such as Health, Critical Damage, Magicka Recovery and Cost Reduction can also be useful, though not as powerful in end-game situations.

The Best Race For Magicka DPS Builds In ESO

The best race currently for Magicka DPS in The Elder Scrolls Online is High Elf or Khajiit. Both of these races parse extremely close to one another in end-game DPS settings.

1. High Elf

The racial skills of the High Elves reflect their magical affinity by increasing their weapon and spell damage, resource recovery, base magicka and experience gain. These innate bonuses help define the race as proud and powerful spellcasters.

High Elves have the following Racial Passives in The Elder Scrolls Online.

• High Born: Increases experience gain with the destruction staff skill line by 15%. Increases your experience gained by 1%.
• Spell Recharge: When you activate an ability, you restore 625 Magicka and Stamina, based on whichever is lowest. This effect can occure once every 6 seconds.
• Syrabane’s Boon: Increases your Maximum Magicka by 2000.
• Elemental Talent: Increases your Weapon and Spell Damage by 258.

2. Khajiit

The racial skills of the feline Khajiit reflect their natural versatility and guile, giving them bonuses to pickpocketing, stealth, resource recovery as well as base health, magicka and stamina. These bonuses help them thrive in many aspects of life.

Khajiits have the following Racial Passives in The Elder Scrolls Online.

• Cutpurse: Increases experience gain with the medium armor skill line by 15%. Increases your chance to successfully pickpocket by 5%.
• Robustness: Increases your Health Recovery by 100 and your Stamina and Magicka Recovery by 85.
• Lunar Blessings: Increases your Maximum Health, Magicka and Stamina by 915.
• Feline Ambush: Increases your Critical Damage and Critical Healing by 12%. Decreases your detection radius in Stealth by 3 meters.

Honorable Mentions For Magicka DPS Builds In ESO

These races in The Elder Scrolls Online also have strong passives related to Magicka, so they will be nearly identical in terms of damage under most circumstances except in the most highly-optimized groups.

3. Dark Elf

The racial skills of the Dark Elves reflect their intellect and agility, giving them bonuses in dual wielding, flame and lava resistance, weapon and spell damage, and base magicka and stamina. These bonuses allow them to adapt to anything.

Dark Elves have the following Racial Passives in The Elder Scrolls Online.

• Ashlander: Increases experience gain with the Dual Wield skill line by 15%. Reduces the damage taken from environmental lava by 50%.
• Dynamic: Increases your Maximum Magicka and Maximum Stamina by 1910.
• Resist Flame: Increases your Flame Resistance by 4620.
• Ruination: Increases your Weapon and Spell Damage by 258.

The Best Sustain Races in ESO

These races in The Elder Scrolls Online have some passives that will benefit Magicka DPS Builds, but their focus is more on resource sustain, making them helpful in some situations.

1. Breton

The racial skills of the Bretons reflect their affinity for the arcane, increasing their base magicka, magicka recovery, light armor, alliance point gain, spell resistance, and cost reduction of spells, allowing them to cast spells with little pause.

Bretons have the following Racial Passives in The Elder Scrolls Online.

• Opportunist: Increases experience gain with the light armor skill line by 15%. Increases your alliance points gained by 1%.
• Gift Of Magnus: Increases your Maximum Magicka by 2000.
• Spell Attunement: Increases your Spell Resistance by 2310. This effect is doubled if you are afflicted with Burning, Chilled or Concussed. Increases your Magicka Recovery by 130.
• Magicka Mastery: Reduces the Magicka cost of your abilities by 7%.

2. Argonian

Argonian racial skills reflect their people’s perilous swamp environment, giving bonuses to healing done, restoration staves, disease and poison resistance, resources gained from consuming potions, swimming speed, plus base health, magicka and stamina.

Argonians have the following Racial Passives in The Elder Scrolls Online.

• Amphibian: Increases experience gain with the Restoration Staff skill line by 15%. Increases your Swimming Speed by 50%.
• Life Mender: Increases your healing done by 6%.
• Argonian Resistance: Increases your Maximum Health by 1000 and your Disease and Poison Resitance by 2310.
• Resourceful: Increases your Maximum Magicka and Maximum Stamina by 1000. When you drink a potion you restore 3125 Health, Magicka and Stamina.

The Final Word

Keep in mind that Racial Passives account for a fairly small percentage of overall efficiency in The Elder Scrolls Online. If you want to completely min/max your character then the above recommendations will help, but remember that this is a GAME, and ultimately you need to play how you want in order to enjoy it.

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